US scholarships for international students 

Learn about scholarships available to study in the US and make your international education cost-effective and affordable.

Studying abroad can be expensive, and this is even more true in locations with top universities, such as the US.

The government, charities, and universities offer many scholarship programmes to help students benefit from a great education irrespective of their financial background.

Different scholarships have different eligibility requirements and different benefits. While some can fully cover your expenses, others only partially pay for your tuition. Going through many scholarships and finalising a few that suit you can help relieve any financial stress.

We’ve listed out some of the common US scholarships in this article, including:

• US government scholarships for international students
• Private scholarships for international students studying in the US
• US University scholarships for international students

US government scholarships for international students

Fulbright foreign student program

The Fulbright foreign student program is one of the most popular US government-funded scholarships that provides financial aid for graduates for one year or more. Over 4,000 talented students from 160 countries benefit from this scholarship every year.

You need to hold a bachelor's degree to be eligible to apply for this scholarship, and you cannot apply if you are not from the pre-approved list of 160 countries. Students from all disciplines barring medical science are eligible. You can apply for this scholarship through the Fulbright foreign student program website.

Hubert Humphrey fellowship program

The Hubert Humphrey Fellowship program helps professionals come to the US for 10 years to further upskill themselves through short courses, work experience programs, conferences, and networking. This scholarship does not apply to those pursuing a degree program. The Humphrey organisation also conducts seminars and workshops for their candidates through their stay in the US.

You need to have at least a bachelor's degree and a minimum of 5 years of full-time professional experience to be eligible. Note that only candidates from a select number of countries like India, Nepal, Pakistan and Thailand can apply for this scholarship.

Private scholarships for international students studying in the US

#YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship

#YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship is a collective effort from 57 universities to encourage intercultural education. To apply, you need to submit a video or an essay showing your interest in international education and intercultural learning. All international students studying in the participating universities are eligible to apply for the scholarship.

AAUW international fellowship

The American Association of University Women (AAUW) offers the AAUW international fellowship to help female international students study a full-time course in the US. Women pursuing both graduate-level degrees and postgraduate level degrees are eligible to apply. The Scholarship amount awarded can be between $5,000-$18,000 for a master or a professional degree and $18,000-$30,000 for a graduate or a postdoctoral programme.

NextGen scholarship

The NextGen scholarship is awarded to a bright international student pursuing a bachelor's degree at a US university in Washington DC, Maryland, or Virginia. The student is expected to have at least a 3.0 GPA at the time of application. The maximum amount awarded is $1,000, and you can only spend the scholarship amount on your tuition.

Note: The scholarships mentioned above are just some of the most famous ones. There are many more organisations offering many scholarship opportunities for international students.

US University scholarships for international students

US universities encourage the internationalisation of their student pool. Many universities offer multiple complete and partial scholarships to help support talented students through their education every year.

While shortlisting your university, check to see if your university provides financial aid for the course you've chosen. If it does, you can apply for financial assistance while sending in your university application after making sure that you meet all the eligibility requirements.