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Scholarships are an invaluable opportunity for international students to receive the support they need to reach their educational objectives. Not only do they provide financial aid, recognition and a sense of belonging in the academic community, but they also offer academic recognition.
Researching scholarship options for international students is essential. Some are merit-based, while others are need-based. To make sure you do your research thoroughly, here is some helpful advice:
Merit-Based Scholarships
International students have access to many merit-based scholarships that can help cover educational costs and give you the chance to study at a top-rated college. Before applying for any of these scholarships, make sure that they fit your individual needs and goals.
Merit-based scholarships are awarded based on your academic performance, leadership qualities, volunteer activities and community service. Typically, these funds provide either a one-time payment or a portion of tuition expenses.
Scholarships are not guaranteed, but they can be an excellent way to reduce some of your annual costs. To apply, you need to submit a comprehensive admissions application as well as a list of your extracurricular activities.
This scholarship program is designed to attract talented students interested in pursuing graduate degrees at Tsinghua University. To be eligible, you must meet several requirements, such as outstanding academic performance; leadership and community involvement; and a wide-ranging interest in science, literature, and the arts. Furthermore, you must possess a minimum GPA of 3.0 and high SAT or ACT scores.
Candidates must be admitted to either a master’s or doctoral program at Tsinghua. The award is worth up to $16,000 annually and renewable for four years; it covers tuition fees as well as providing a living stipend.
The Knight-Hennessy Scholarship provides financial assistance to up to 100 outstanding international students from Asia, Africa and Latin America as they pursue master’s degrees at Tsinghua. In addition to providing a one-time stipend for travel and expenses, this fellowship also offers year-round mentoring services as well as access to the school’s academic, social and professional development initiatives.
Another merit-based scholarship program is the ETH Zurich Masters Scholarship. This is an incredible chance for students to pursue a master’s degree in global affairs at one of Europe’s premier institutions – ETHZ.
In addition to these scholarship programs, there are plenty of other financial assistance options for students during their undergraduate or graduate studies. If you want to learn more about available scholarships, take a look at the websites of these organizations and discover what options are available to you.
Maintaining high grades, extracurricular activities, and leadership abilities is the best way to earn a full-ride scholarship. Unfortunately, these awards are competitive and unlikely to come your way unless you have achieved something truly remarkable in life.
Need-Based Scholarships
If you can’t afford to study in the US, there are still plenty of ways to finance your education. These include loans and grants that may be available for international students.
Research your options carefully and determine which path best meets your objectives. This could include pursuing a US degree, taking a gap year, or undertaking an independent project (like running your own business).
Universities often provide merit scholarships for international students based on academic performance, leadership and extracurricular involvement as well as financial need. These awards may be large-scale annual scholarships or partial tuition scholarships that last a specified amount of time.
Scholarship programs tend to be highly competitive, so if you don’t meet the financial need for the university you wish to attend, chances are slim that you will receive any assistance.
One way to gain a better understanding of your financial situation is to create a College Scholarship Service (CSS) Profile. This online tool, which offers more detail than the FAFSA, allows you to demonstrate to colleges how much money is available for educational expenses.
Once you’ve created your CSS Profile, it can be submitted with your university application. After the school has reviewed your information and made an admission decision based on need-based scholarship eligibility, they will make their own admission decision.
International students wishing to apply for need-based aid must indicate this in their admission application. Those admitted without having declared their intention to seek financial aid will not be eligible to do so in subsequent years.
Every year, the University of Oregon offers several competitive cash-based scholarships to international students who demonstrate financial need and academic merit. Popular awards include The Pressman Family Scholarship, Global Scholars Program, and UO International Award.
If you’re interested in applying for these awards, the International Student Services website offers scholarship applications. In order to complete this application, you must possess a valid social security number.
Departmental Scholarships
Departmental scholarships are awards given by academic departments rather than the Student Financial Aid Office. Typically, these awards go to juniors and seniors who have declared a major, are on track to graduate, and have demonstrated their dedication to their chosen field by performing well academically.
Many colleges and universities offer departmental scholarships to international students as a means of financing your education, as well as building a support system from faculty, staff, and other international students at the institution. With these opportunities available, it can be an excellent way to finance your studies while building a network of peers within the college or university that shares similar goals.
To find departmental scholarships, reach out to both your college or university and individual departments within that institution. Each department may have its own application process and deadlines, so be sure to inquire if you have any queries about a given scholarship.
Some colleges and universities may even have their own online scholarship search tool. These will let you filter by major and country, making it easy to quickly locate and apply for scholarships that fit your objectives.
Academic performance and promise are often the basis for merit or need-based scholarships, while departmental awards take into account financial need as well. Therefore, it’s essential to review each scholarship’s eligibility requirements before applying as some may require various qualifications such as test scores or essays.
Clark University offers the Presidential LEEP Scholarship to international students that covers full tuition and on-campus room and board for four years. According to John Twombly, Deputy Director for Admissions and Scholarships, applicants should do their research.
In addition to academic scholarships, many schools also provide student life scholarships. These may include travel or sports scholarships as well as financial aid for living expenses like rent, utilities and food.
To be eligible for these scholarships, you must be an undergraduate or graduate student and possess a cumulative high school GPA of at least 3.5. Returning international students are also eligible.
International Student Scholarships
Scholarships are an excellent way for international students to finance their college education. Colleges typically offer these scholarships in order to attract the top international talent. Some scholarships are merit-based while others are need-based.
When applying for a scholarship, your academic record and extracurricular activities will be taken into consideration. The stronger your credentials and activities are, the greater your chances of being selected for consideration.
For instance, The University of Minnesota International Scholarships offers the Global Excellence Scholarship which pays $15,000 annually to full-time international students. This scholarship is renewable for two and three years as long as you maintain high grades and demonstrate financial need.
Other international student scholarships include the Fulbright Program, which offers full tuition grants to qualified individuals from around the world who want to spend time in America for research or other activities. These awards are given to international students from diverse backgrounds.
International students have the option of work-study as a way to finance their education. Unfortunately, this type of aid is only available to those eligible for federal student aid; thus, those without access or who don’t have jobs related to their degree programs won’t benefit from this option.
International students have other sources of aid available to them that aren’t eligible for federal student aid, such as private scholarships and institutional aid. These can usually be found on each school’s website or through third-party sources like scholarship databases.
Finding scholarships for international students can often be found in the Scholarships for International Students section of a college website. Many colleges have dedicated pages to this topic, usually providing details on both their own scholarships as well as those offered by other organizations.
Another way to locate scholarships for international students is to search through a scholarship database such as Sallie Mae. These databases are free and provide an extensive range of possibilities, saving time by matching you to scholarships based on academic record, interests and goals.
