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The United States is a popular place to study. And it’s no surprise that that popularity makes it expensive. Universities and colleges in the U.S. will ask you to prove you have enough funds before they will accept you.
Many international students will think that it’s too much for them to afford. But there are ways to get there that won’t break the bank.
Top of that list are scholarships.
Scholarships come in all shapes and sizes. The money and eligibility will be different for each one, so don’t expect they’ll all fit you and your needs.
They are competitive too, so it’s worth applying to all the ones you can to increase your chances.
Your College
In 2012-2013 more than $8.8 billion in financial support was given to international students studying in the U.S.
Most of this aid comes directly from the colleges and universities.
Once you know which college you want to go to (and have been accepted at), first look for scholarships that institution offers international students. They may have some that apply to particular countries, or fields of study – so enquire with them before you go looking elsewhere. The admissions teams will be able to point you to any scholarships they might have.
Your Home Country
The U.S. may offer scholarships to students from your own country (or region). Or your country might run aid programs itself. For example, the East-West Center Scholarships and Fellowships are aimed at international students from the Asia-Pacific region studying in the U.S. Contact your own government’s education body to find out what’s on offer.
U.S. Government-funded programmes
Open to international students in all fields (excluding medicine), the Fulbright Foreign Student Program is the most well-known of government-funded scholarships for international students. It offers scholarships for graduate students to study in the US for one year or more.
Find and contact your nearest U.S. Embassy to find out what’s else you could be eligible for.
Lastly, the Institute of International Education publishes an annual guide called Funding For United States Study. It lists over 800 grants and awards that are offered to international students coming to the U.S.
Good luck!