
Tips to Improve Your Scholarship Chances
Before we delve into the scholarships themselves, let’s go through some of the best practices for applying for scholarships. Ideally, this will make your application process as smooth as possible and increase your possibilities of winning! And without dwelling any longer, here they are:- Create a Spreadsheet
- The scholarship’s name
- The provider/organization
- The application link/URL
- The account you created to apply for the scholarship
- Eligibility criteria (e.g. standardized test scores, age, GPA, etc.)
- The deadline
- Important contact details (for you or the organization)
- Attached documents (e.g. letters of recommendation, essays)
- Demonstrate Strong Writing Skills
- Obtain High Scores on Standardized Tests (IELTS, TOEFL, GRE, etc.)
- Gather References
- Ask for Help When You’re Stuck
Avoid these Common Scholarships Mistakes
Just as there are many ways to improve your chances of getting a scholarship, there are also many things that can hurt your chances. Here are some things to avoid when applying for a scholarship:- Not writing your own essay
- Applying at the Last Minute
- Apply to Only Few Scholarships
Private Scholarships for International Students
It is now time to review the scholarships for international students themselves! A great option for international students is private scholarships, often offered by local, state, and even national organizations. Because these are numerous and the requirements are peculiar to each organization, students are sure to find some that qualify. So keep reading! $2,500 Christian Connector Scholarship- Eligibility: To qualify for this scholarship, students must be enrolled for the first time as a full-time student at a Christian college or university.
- Deadline: May 31 (annually)
- Amount: $2,500
- Eligibility: Women planning to pursue full-time undergraduate or graduate studies in the United States who are not citizens or permanent residents of the United States
- Opens: August 1; Deadline: November 15
- Amount: $18,000 to $30,000
- Eligibility: Outstanding students from various countries in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East who wish to pursue graduate study in the United States.
- Deadline: March 2022 (exact date varies by country)
- Amount: Scholarships awarded 50% loan and 50% grant to cover tuition and living expenses of students
- Eligibility: Students from around the world who wish to study and conduct research in the United States. To find out if this program is available in your home country, be sure to check out this handy country finder. The specific criteria vary by country.
- Deadline: Varies
- Amount: Varies by country. Winners typically receive fee and tuition waivers for two semester/courses + healthcare benefits + enrichment activities
- Eligibility: Women who are at least 25 years old and are nationals of a country on the MMEG Country Eligibility List. Applicants must already be enrolled as a full-time student at a US or Canadian university and maintain their full-time student status for the next academic semester.
- Opens: September 15 (every year); Deadline: January 15 (annually)
- Amount: Up to $15,000
- Eligibility: International students who exhibit the highest standards of academic excellence, relevant experience and who are passionate about responsible business.
- Deadline: March 4, 2022
- Amount: $41,000
- Eligibility: High school students and graduate students
- Opens: February 24, 2022; Deadline: May 31, 2022
- Amount: $12,000
- Eligibility: International students from World Bank WBG member countries that are graduates of master’s level studies or currently pursuing a PhD in Economics or related field.
- Deadline: March 31, 2022
- Amount: $42,750
- Eligibility: The scholarships award talented international students pursuing a graduate degree in finance related courses.
- Deadline: Varies by scholarship
- Amount: $13,000 to $26,000
- Eligibility: Undergraduate, Masters, and PhD students from African descent.
- Deadline: Varies by scholarship
- Amount: Varies
- Eligibility: The scholarship is awarded to male and female professionals who are living in OKP countries
- Opens: February 2, 2022; Deadline: November 21, 2022
- Amount: Fully Funded
- Eligibility: Highly talented international students who have been admitted to a master’s programme at the Maastricht University.
- Deadline: Varies
- Amount: $32,000 (including tuition fee waiver and monthly stipend)
- Eligibility: Undergraduate and Postgraduate international students
- Amount: $7,200
- Deadline: Varies
- Eligibility: The scholarship is open to international students with relevant professional experience and a history of supporting their countries’ development efforts who are applying to master degree program in development-related topic.
- Deadline: February 28, 2022 and May 27, 2022
- Amount: Travel allowance, Tuition, medical insurance, monthly subsistence allowance to cover all living expenses (accommodations, food, books, etc.)
- Eligibility: Undergraduate and graduate international students
- Deadline: January 15 each year
- Amount: $10,000 (winner), $2,000 (runner-up), 2,000 (honorable mention)
Other Sources for Private Scholarships for International Students
If none of these apply to you, there are other places to look for private scholarships! Some of them include:- University teachers, librarians, and guidance counselors – Ask if school-sponsored scholarships are available
- Your guardians’/parents’ employers: Ask if their employers offer scholarships. If you are unsure, you can contact their human resources (HR) department for more information.
- Your employer: Ask if your company offers scholarships for high school seniors.
- Your Place of Worship – Ask if there are any scholarship opportunities available. Alternatively, you can ask if private fundraising events are allowed.
- International Education Financial Aid (IEFA) Scholarship Search
- Institute of International Education (IIE) program search tool
University-Specific Merit-Based Scholarships for International Students
- Another good place to look for scholarships is your prospective university! If you really want generous merit-based aid, check out these universities and colleges that offer such scholarships for international students:
- The American University Emerging Global Leaders Scholarship is awarded to an international student who needs a visa to study in the United States.
- The EGS scholarship includes tuition fees, accommodation and full board! (Up to four years, provided enough courses are maintained)
- BU automatically considers its first-year international students for Presidential and Trustee Scholarships
- The Vienna International Scholarship Program (WISP) is available to international students who have made impressive contributions both inside and outside the classroom.
- Clark University offers a variety of Clark Merit Scholarships for international students
- The International Scholar Award is presented to non-US students with outstanding academic and extracurricular achievement.
- $3,000/year (renewable annually)
- GW offers the Presidential Academic Scholarship, International Baccalaureate Scholarship, You are Welcome Here Scholarship and more for international students
- The amount varies depending on the scholarship.
- Harvard offers a wide variety of scholarships for international students graduating from countries around the world.
- International undergraduate students are automatically considered for undergraduate scholarships in their first year of study
- International doctoral students are eligible for university scholarships, fellowships, and teaching/research assistantships
- The Charles J. Turck Presidential Honor Scholarship is awarded to a proportion of international students who demonstrate the potential for academic excellence.
- Between $12,500 and $15,000 per year
- OSU offers a variety of scholarships for international undergraduate and graduate students
- International students may also be eligible for scholarships based on their field of study or university.
- First-year international applicants are automatically considered for a variety of generous merit-based scholarships.
- The University of Arkansas offers nearly 100 different scholarships for international students
- UChicago offers a variety of merit-based scholarships for international students
- The International Distinction in Education Award (IDEA) is open to freshman international students graduating from high school outside the United States.
- Between $500 and $10,000 per year
- The National Non-Resident Scholarships are available for international students graduating from a US high school.
- UNLV is offering the International Student Scholarship to current students with a minimum GPA of 2.75
- $500 per academic semester
- First-year international students are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships worth up to $27,000 per year
- International transfer applicants are automatically considered for scholarships of up to $16,000 per year
- USC offers a variety of merit-based scholarships for international students
- UW-Madison offers a variety of generous merit-based scholarships for international students
- Most have a February 1 deadline.
- Vanderbilt University allows its international freshmen to apply for all of its merit-based scholarships
- International students are eligible for most Wake Forest scholarship programs