Skip to main content
What are your chances of acceptance?
Your chance of acceptance
Duke University
Loading…
UCLA
Loading…
+ add school
Your chancing factors
Unweighted GPA: 3.7
1.0
4.0
SAT: 720 math
200
800
| 800 verbal
200
800

Extracurriculars

Low accuracy (4 of 18 factors)

How Do Scholarship Financial Aid Packages for International Students Work?

I'm trying to understand how financial aid packages, specifically scholarships for international students, operate. Are there particular conditions or limitations? I'm hoping to get a clearer picture of the financial aid structure for non-domestic students.

7 months ago

Financial aid for international students can be quite complex due to the diversity of available funding sources and terms. Here's a basic breakdown to help you understand how the system works:

1. Institutional Scholarships: These are scholarships provided directly by the colleges or universities. Some institutions have awards specifically for international students, while others may permit international students to compete for general scholarships. These can be merit-based, need-based, or a combination of both. For example, Harvard University provides need-based scholarships to students from all over the world.

2. External Scholarships: These are scholarships provided by external organizations such as private foundations, non-profit entities, corporations, etc. They have their own specific criteria, and international students need to apply to these scholarships separately. The Rotary Foundation Scholarship is one popular example.

3. Grants: Some institutions may offer international students grants, which are like scholarships but are typically need-based, not merit-based.

4. Work-study: This is a form of financial aid where students are given the opportunity to work part-time, often on campus, to help cover their educational expenses. Note that this is more common for domestic students due to visa restrictions, but some schools may offer on-campus work opportunities for international students as well.

5. Country-Specific Scholarships: Some countries have exchange programs that offer scholarships to students from specific countries. An example of this is the Fulbright Program, which supports international educational exchange between U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries.

6. Government Scholarships: Some countries offer scholarships to their citizens who wish to study abroad.

It's important to keep in mind that eligibility and conditions can vary widely amongst these different forms of financial aid. For instance, some scholarships could cover only tuition, while others might include living expenses, books, etc. Also, international students might need to meet additional, specific criteria, such as maintaining a certain GPA or completing a portion of their schooling in their home country.

The best way for an international student to navigate this complex system is to do thorough research and directly contact the financial aid offices of the schools they're interested in. It's also important to start searching and applying for scholarships early, as many have very strict deadlines.

7 months ago

About CollegeVine’s Expert FAQ

CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.