Comprehensive Guide to Scholarships for International Students in the United States
Top universities in the United States are globally renowned for cutting-edge research, world-class faculty and state-of-the-art facilities that enable students to achieve their full potential.
However, high tuition fees and living expenses often make it unaffordable for brilliant international students to study there. This is where scholarships come in – they provide crucial financial assistance to make quality American education accessible for deserving students from across the world.
There are a variety of need-based and merit-based scholarship programs specifically targeted at international applicants spanning undergraduate, graduate and doctoral levels across diverse study disciplines. If you are an ambitious student looking to study in the US, this guide explores the popular scholarship options available:
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Prestigious US Government Scholarships
The US government offers some much coveted and highly competitive scholarships for international students through various State Department run programs:
Fulbright Foreign Student Scholarship
- Fully funded scholarship for Master’s or Ph.D degrees
- Offered in over 140 countries including India
- Covers tuition, living stipend, health insurance, air tickets
- Requires outstanding academic and leadership credentials
EducationUSA Opportunity Funds
- Financial aid for undergraduate or graduate studies
- Offered in 50+ countries via US Embassy tie-ups
- Award includes tuition fee, living and travel expenses
- Strong grades and admission letter must
US Agency for International Development (USAID)
- Targeted at students from developing countries
- For vocational, undergraduate and graduate courses
- Offers partial or full scholarships contingent on specific country aid policies
- May require recipients to return home after studies
So if you have an outstanding academic record and the drive to be a future leader in your domain, apply to relevant US government-sponsored scholarship programs.
University Level Merit & Need-Based Aid
Hundreds of prominent universities across the US offer generous scholarships to attract and enable meritorious international applicants:
Undergraduate Merit Scholarships
- Awarded based on exemplary high school scores, extracurriculars and essays
- Often covers 25%-100% of total program tuition fees
- Renewable yearly subject to meeting minimum GPA criteria
Graduate Research & Teaching Assistantships
- Assigns students research projects or teaching duties
- Includes annual stipend of $15,000 – $30,000 plus tuition fee waiver
- Requires a faculty member to sponsor your research or TA application
Need-Based Financial Assistance
- Offered based on family income certificates demonstrating financial hardship
- Award includes tuition fee coverage plus living expense grants
- Supports applications through fellowships or part-time jobs
So beyond your grades, also highlight research interests, specialized skills and financial constraints in scholarship application essays to universities.
External Private Funding Sources
Many philanthropic foundations, corporates, communities and non-profit organizations also provide scholarships, fellowships and stipends to support international students pursuing US education across diverse disciplines:
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
- For economically disadvantaged African students
- Offers undergraduate & graduate scholarships mainly at top Canadian universities
- Guaranteed $10,000+ financial assistance per year renewable upto 5 years
Google Lime Scholarship
- Merit-based award for underserved students pursuing computer science degrees
- For women, minorities and students with disabilities
- $10,000 scholarship plus peer support community
Sovereign Indigenous & International Scholarships
- For full-time graduate studies related to indigenous people, lands or culture
- Valued at $15,000 per year plus additional travel funding
- Must demonstrate commitment to indigenous human rights activism
Along with the major national scholarship databases, also look at niche platforms like iie.org, fundingusstudy.org etc catering specifically to international applicants seeking financial aid for US education.
Application Tips for Winning Scholarships
Here are some crucial strategies to adopt for your scholarship application journey:
✔ Start early – Begin researching scholarship options actively 1-2 years before intended year of study
✔ Focus your search – Identify scholarship programs aligned to your nationality, study preferences, skills and needs
✔ Meet all eligibility criteria – Carefully evaluate if you meet the specified eligibility parameters before applying
✔ Prepare a stellar application – Portray your candidature positively highlighting achievements, leadership experience and career goals through all required application materials
✔ Obtain competitive scores in standardized tests like TOEFL, GRE, GMAT etc. They are often the first filter criteria
✔ Apply widely – Increase chances of success by applying to multiple relevant scholarship programs
✔ Follow up persistently – Check application status and send polite reminders as needed till you get a definitive decision
I hope this guide provides you detailed information and tips to identify and win suitable international student scholarships for reputed undergraduate and graduate programs across the United States. Plan judiciously and make your American education dream come true!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common scholarship-related questions answered for international students interested in US education:
What are my chances of winning US scholarships as an international student?
With an outstanding academic record, extracurricular profile and persuasive application essays highlighting your achievements and aspirations, your chances are quite good for needs and merit-based scholarship programs.
Which graduate disciplines get the most US scholarships?
Master’s and Ph.D programs in STEM disciplines like Computer Science, Engineering, Applied Mathematics, Sciences tend to get more assistantships and grants from universities and external organizations.
When should I ideally start applying to US scholarships?
*For undergraduate students, actively start searching for and applying to relevant scholarships at least 12-18 months before intended year of study. For Master’s applicants, start 10-12 months in advance. *
What components comprise a competitive US scholarship application?
Strong grades, high English test scores, well-written essays explaining your goals and achievements, recommendation letters highlighting your strengths and research proposal/statement of purpose are key for a winning application.
How many external scholarships should I ideally apply for?
Along with assistantships and grants from target universities you are applying to, make sure to additionally apply to at least 5-6 external undergraduate and 10+ external graduate scholarship providers relevant to your background and field of study.
Please feel free to reach out for any other USA education related questions!