Are there scholarships at MIT for international students?

MIT has always been my dream school, but I'm an international student. Are there scholarships specifically available for internationals, and how competitive is the process to secure one?

Yes, MIT does offer need-based financial aid to international students. In fact, MIT is one of the few institutions in the U.S. that awards aid on a need-blind basis, even for international applicants. This means that your financial need doesn't influence whether you're accepted or not.

In the aid awarding process, MIT considers all of its students (U.S. residents and internationals alike) in the same pool for institutional aid. They meet the full demonstrated financial need of all accepted students. This means if you are admitted and can demonstrate that you need financial assistance, MIT will provide an aid package that meets 100% of your demonstrated need.

The process to apply for financial aid at MIT involves submitting a CSS Profile (or the MIT Certification of Finances for International Students).

While this isn't a merit-based scholarship, and you should be prepared for the competitive admissions process at MIT, the financial support available to international students is significant. The barrier here is not so much about securing aid, but about earning admission into the institution, as MIT has a low acceptance rate.

Your financial aid offer will be based on your family's financial situation, not on academic merit or extracurricular accomplishments. Remember, your financial circumstances are considered separately from your admissions application, so applying for aid won't negatively impact your chances of being accepted.

You may also want to explore external scholarships, which could come from organizations in your home country or international organizations, to supplement any financial aid you might receive from the university. Be proactive in seeking these additional opportunities as many outside scholarships have early deadlines.