International Student/Study Abroad Scholarships

The decision to attend college in another country can be a difficult one to make. Being far away from your friends and family and being thrust into an unfamiliar environment is tough. Add in the problems of linguistic and cultural differences, even among fairly similar nations, as well as the high cost of studying abroad and you can see how it might be both mentally and emotionally taxing to be an international student.

Scholarships and other financial aid can help take care of at least one of these concerns, but knowing where to look for such opportunities can also be a challenge. How do you find international student scholarships? Where do you start looking for money for college if you plan to study internationally? Do you apply for financial aid in your home country or in the country you travel to? What assistance is offered to international students?

What are International Scholarships?

International Scholarships are the primary form of financial assistance available to students who wish to study in another country. Organizations exist to grant scholarship awards to students from the U.S. who wish to spend anywhere from a semester to four years attending college in another country, as well as students from other countries who wish to complete a portion of their studies in the United States. The best way to find out about international student scholarships and grants is to do a scholarship search.

Students should also check with the school they’ll be attending to find out about other available scholarships for international students. Scholarships and other forms of financial aid are out there if you know where to look. Start early and be diligent and you might be surprised by all the international student scholarship opportunities you’ll find.

Frequently Asked Questions About International and Study Abroad Scholarships

What types of International student scholarships are available?

Similar to domestic scholarships, there are a number of different types of international scholarships out there. Both merit-based and need-based, geo-specific and so on. Below is a breakdown of all of the aforementioned.

• Merit-Based: As can be done with the domestic variety, a student can earn a scholarship for international study by excelling academically, achieving high test scores, or exhibiting exceptional ability in extracurricular activities.
• Need-Based: Again, basically the same criteria for other scholarships; if you can demonstrate financial need via the FAFSA or other official and provable means accepted by the college or university to which you are applying, you may qualify for these scholarships.
• Country-Specific: A number of countries offer scholarships exclusively to students from specific countries or regions of those countries. You should research these, but will automatically be matched to them when you create a profile on Scholarships.com
• Program-Specific: These scholarships take into account the field of study or career path you are pursuing. It is not uncommon for Organizations to specifically target those in the health field, for example, or engineering.
• Diversity: Being inclusive of as many cultures, ethnicities, races and other similar factors comes into play with international scholarships as it does with other types of financial aid. It is important to keep this in mind as you search for scholarships.

What are the basic requirements for international scholarships?

Most of the requirements are quite similar to domestic scholarships. However, with the latter, you would be more focused on the ACT or SAT. To study in the U.S., if you are not a U.S. Citizen, you would need to submit the IELTS (international English Language Testing System) or TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) if you are going to be studying in an American University. The exception would be if your native language is English or you have taken a minimum of two years of formal school instruction for English prior to the application deadline.

When should I begin looking and applying for international scholarships?

Like with any other scholarships, you really should begin researching the entire process and applying for any financial aid you are qualified to receive as early as you possibly can. Give yourself as much time as possible to ensure you don't miss any deadlines.

Is it possible to find a full scholarship to cover tuition as well as related expenses?

Absolutely! While they are certainly not easy to get, there are a number of universities and other Organizations that will offer a full ride scholarship for the right student prospect.