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| Award | $3,000 or $5,000 |
| Eligible programs | All degree programs |
| Deadline | November 15th |
| Eligibility requirements | To qualify for this scholarship, you need to meet the following criteria:
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International student loan provider Mpower also offers scholarships exclusively for international students and DACA recipients. One scholar will receive $5,000 while four regional runners-up will get $3,000 each. The only main requirement is that you attend a school that Mpower works with — it’s meant to be broad so more students have the opportunity to participate. Scholars are chosen based on the essay you submit with your application, as well as your potential to make a positive impact as a scientist, entrepreneur, leader or change-maker.
| Award | Tuition, fees and living expenses |
| Eligible programs | Graduate and doctoral programs |
| Deadline | March 31st |
| Eligibility requirements | You must meet the following criteria to qualify for this program:
Eligible countries include:
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This is actually a half-scholarship, half-loan program that funds the full tuition of international scholars pursuing master’s and doctoral programs, though master’s students get preference. The foundation selects students based on financial need, academic records, the reputation of the program you’re accepted to and the relevance of your studies to Aga Khan’s focus: development.
The loan portion of this program comes with a 5% annual service charge, which students must repay over five years. Repayments don’t begin until six months after you graduate. And all students must have a cosigner.
| Award | Cost of attendance (COA) for up to two years |
| Eligible programs | Graduate and professional degrees or research at a US university |
| Deadline | Varies by country |
| Eligibility requirements | Eligibility requirements and selection procedures vary depending on where you live. You can find out if you’re eligible through the Fulbright website. |
This merit-based scholarship sponsored by the US State Department covers up to two years of graduate-level study. It’s meant to promote cultural exchange and is available to all academic disciplines. While it’s highly competitive, eligibility requirements vary depending on your nationality.
This might not be the best choice if you want to stay in the US after your studies, though. Depending on the type of visa you receive, you might be required to return home for a few years after finishing your program.
| Award | $500 or $2,000 |
| Eligible programs | Undergraduate and graduate programs |
| Deadline | December 2nd |
| Eligibility requirements | You must meet the following requirements to qualify for this scholarship:
You must also write an essay that meets the following requirements:
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This scholarship is an essay contest meant for students studying design and technology. One student will win $2,000 to go toward their COA, while two runners-up will receive $500 each. You can apply by filling out an online form and uploading your essay on the CG Trader website by the December 2nd deadline.
| Award | Up to $10,000 per year for up to two years |
| Eligible programs | Undergraduate and graduate programs — excluding studying Medical Sciences or a new language |
| Deadline | October 15th |
| Eligibility requirements | You must meet the following criteria to qualify for this scholarship:
OAS member countries include:
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The Organization of American States (OAS) offers a wide range of scholarships and grants to students from member countries. You can use this to fund the second part of your undergraduate degree and a full master’s — high school seniors will need to look elsewhere.
Aside from completing an online application, you’ll need to submit several documents including copies of your transcripts and your highest-earned diploma. You can reach out to the OAS national liaison office in your country with any questions.
| Award | $18,000 for a master’s or first professional degree, $20,000 for a PhD or $30,000 for postdoctoral work |
| Eligible programs | Graduate, doctoral and postdoctoral programs |
| Deadline | November 15th |
| Eligibility requirements | You need to meet the following requirements to qualify for this program:
Additional requirements for degree-seeking applicants include:
Additional requirements for research applicants include:
Members of Graduate Women International (GWI) may be eligible for this fellowship for study outside of the US — including international branches of US institutions. *You don’t need proof of proficiency if English is your native language, you have a secondary or undergraduate degree from an English-speaking school, or you studied full time at an English-speaking university for at least one semester between November 2017 and November 2019. Otherwise, you must take the TOEFL and earn at least a 550 on the paper-based test, 79 on the Internet-based test or 60 on the revised paper-delivered test. |
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) has been offering fellowships to female international students since 1917. It covers up to two years of graduate or postgraduate work for women who intend to start their professional careers in their home countries.
The AAUW considers factors such as your history of community or civic service in your home country, your commitment to advance women and girls and the feasibility of your plan of study. Preference is given to women from underrepresented areas of their home countries or those who’ve attended schools that aren’t top-level universities.
| Award | Up to $12,500 |
| Eligible programs | Graduate and doctoral programs at any school, as well as undergraduate programs at Cottey College |
| Deadline | Eligibility forms are due by December 15th |
| Eligibility requirements | You must meet the following criteria to qualify for this scholarship:
Doctoral students working on a dissertation don’t qualify, though undergraduate international students at Cottey College are also eligible. *Women who are permanent residents for tax reasons are eligible for this scholarship. |
The Philanthropic Educational Organization (PEO) has been offering its International Peace Scholarship to female graduate students from around the world since 1949. This need-based program won’t cover your whole degree — it’s meant to cover part of your COA along with other financial aid. It could be a good option for students just starting a graduate program, since you don’t need to be enrolled to qualify. It’s also open to international undergraduate students pursuing a degree at Cottey College.
| Award | Up to $15,000 |
| Eligible programs | Doctoral programs |
| Deadline | March 29th |
| Eligibility requirements | You must meet the following criteria to qualify for this scholarship:
Eligible countries include:
Ineligible academic disciplines include:
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This merit-based grant is meant to help fund doctoral studies and professional research abroad. You might want to give it a closer look if you’re studying a discipline in the humanities — especially subjects related to development and sustainability. It can be a great resource for students who need funding to conduct fieldwork, visit libraries or collaborate with international peers. The downside? You can only qualify for this grant once.
Don’t qualify for any of these? Want more options? You might want to check out these online databases that include scholarship opportunities for international students:
From government funding to fellowships and grants, there are a few different types of free financial aid available to international students.
Keep these pointers in mind when searching for and applying to scholarships as an international student:
It’s important for all students to pay attention to deadlines. But as an international student, you might want to make sure you get your scholarship applications in as early as possible. That’s partly because many financial aid programs are on a first-come, first-served basis. It’s also because you need to be able to prove you have the funds to pay for school in order to get a student visa.
Your financial aid options as an international student studying in the US might be limited. But there are several scholarships, grants and fellowships that only offer funding for international students — especially for graduate, doctoral and postgraduate programs.
You can learn more about your other options with our guide to student loans for international students.
What GPA do I need to get a full scholarship?
It depends on the program. Need-based scholarships might not consider academics at all. Merit-based programs typically require a 2.0 or 3.0 GPA or higher, depending on the scholarship. Even if you have poor grades or attended a school that doesn’t use the GPA system, don’t write off scholarship programs. You still might qualify if you meet other criteria.
Can I get a scholarship to study abroad in the US?
It’s possible. You might be able to find funding through your home university, especially if you attend an American school. However, most US scholarship programs for international students only cover full-degree programs — unless you’re conducting research for a graduate or postgraduate degree.
Is the FAFSA available to international students?
Generally, no. To fill out the FAFSA, you must be a US citizen, permanent resident or an eligible noncitizen — which excludes student visas.
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