Options for University of California scholarships for internationals?

I'm from outside the U.S. and looking to apply to a UC school, but I'm worried about funding. Do any of the University of California campuses offer scholarships that specifically help international students cover costs? What should I know about applying for these?

Yes, several University of California (UC) campuses do offer scholarships for international students. While these scholarships are often highly competitive, they can be a great way to help offset the costs of attendance.

Here is a brief overview of a few campuses within the UC system where international students form part of the eligible pool of scholarship candidates:

1. UC Berkeley: The Berkeley International Office administers several endowed scholarships for international students. Some of these include the Allan Sharlin Memorial Scholarship, the Dr. and Mrs. Shuen-Doi Lee Scholarship for Chinese Studies, and the Giannini Foundation Scholarship.

2. UC Davis: UC Davis offers the Regents Scholarship, which is the most prestigious award offered to entering undergrads. International students are eligible for this scholarship.

3. UCLA: UCLA offers scholarships through its Scholarship Resource Center (SRC) as well as college-specific scholarships, many of which are available to international students. However, UCLA stipulates that international students must provide proof of sufficient funding during their studies.

Apart from these specific campus-based scholarships, it’s always a good idea to look for external scholarship opportunities in your home country or internationally. Just keep in mind that admission to UC schools is extremely competitive, especially for international students, and scholarships are even more so.

When applying, pay close attention to application deadlines, make sure you meet all the eligibility criteria and always submit strong applications with clear reasoning of why you should be the recipient. A thoughtful, detailed application can go a long way in helping you secure funding.

Lastly, remember that Berkeley and UCLA are need-agnostic for international students, meaning they don’t consider your ability to pay when making their admissions decisions. Other UCs, like Davis, are need-aware, which means they might take into account your ability to pay when deciding whether to admit you. Therefore, identifying schools based on their financial aid policies can be a useful strategy in your college search process.