It takes a lot to study in the US. In fact, for many international students even after they spend years studying in school, long hours preparing for entrance exams after school, and carefully preparing applications between semesters, they discover another, more difficult task: paying for it all.
Because the cost of tuition at many US colleges and universities in contingent on residency, international students by their very nature pay costly out-of-state tuition and international student fees. Though it can be expensive, the good news is that a number of resources exist to help you fund your education abroad. In addition to personal savings, for example, international student loans and scholarships are also available. Unfortunately, while international student loans are easily accessible to all (if they have a cosigner with good credit!), international scholarships can be highly competitive. After all, students are competing with peers who are just as driven as they are! Fortunately, however, there a few factors that can help you stand out from the pack and improve your chances of receiving assistance:
1) Apply! It may sound silly but because international students are not eligible for some scholarships many assume that they are not eligible for any. Nothing could be further from the truth. Many options exist and dedicated resources like IEFA and InternationalScholarships exist to help you.
2) Write (Well)! Since an essay or other written submission is often the only time the award committee will hear your perspective, it is important to make it as compelling as possible. Concentrate not just on the mechanics but also on the style. Reading the submissions of past winners can give you a good feel for what the judges are looking for.
3) Stand Out! Not all scholarships are need-based – some are merit-based. You should examine your skill set and look for examples of how you shine. By so doing you can determine if there are scholarships available to reward them for what you are already doing – or inspire you to start doing more!
Serious ??
want a full funded scholarship in construction Engineering field USA or UK in august 2014.
Hi Mohammad, we may have loans for you depending on the school you choose in the USA. Check out our eligible schools to see if you’re eligible. If you want a scholarship, we recommend IEFA as it is a comprehensive resource for international scholarships.
I’m a medical laboratory student & i hope i will get this scolar.
i need scholarship
How can i apply for the scholarship?
Hi Malomodotun – thanks for your questions. We have a webinar coming up on January 30th at 10:30 AM EST that will be addressing just that – how do you apply for an international scholarship. We’ll be announcing registration on our blog shortly so stay tuned.
I am a Sierra Leonean I saw your scholarship on the net I am interested in it please help me how to go about it for the Masters. program.
Hi Alex – thanks for your comment however we do not have any scholarships that we offer. We instead provide loans for international students, study abroad students, and foreign students. If you have any questions on this, please don’t hesitate to let us know.
I need some help in securing a scholarship or a student loan.
Hi Julie – thanks for your comment. You can start the student loan process here on our apply page.
I would like to participate in the scholarship programs granted for your institution. Please, I want to know what is required of me ?
Hi Eyoel, thanks for contacting us. Unfortunately we do not provide scholarships, but I recommend checking out IEFA.org as there are thousands of scholarships available for you. You will need to check each award to see what is required.
I am seeking a financial assistance for my higher studies. Can you help me ….?
Thanks for contacting us Aqeel! Check out our comparison tool to see what lenders will work with you at your school – https://www.internationalstudentloan.com/apply/
I’m excited to join the conversation! I am a graduate student studying at Berklee College of Music in Valencia, Spain. It doesn’t appear to be many choices out there for the mature student. I would welcome any leads one can offer.
Hi Kodjo – thanks for joining the conversation! Unfortunately there aren’t any student loans available but you may want to check out IEFA.org as they list scholarships that you may be eligible for. You may also want to contact your school to see if they know of any options, and to see if they have any financial aid packages for international students.
please i need student loan because i am caming a poor family and i am not moyen to payment fees etc
Thank you for think me
Hi Floria – thanks for contacting us. You can find your international student loan here: https://www.internationalstudentloan.com/apply/
Remember, with international student loans you are borrowing this money which you’ll need to pay back based on the conditions of your loan.
hi! i knew about international student loan long time ago!! i even registered to ur newsletters and have been looking for co-signer but not yet succed!! my problem is i don’t have any relationship in USA to be my cosigner. i want continue my graduate studies in Architecture and town planning abroad. but how could my dream come true!!??? need help!
Hi Mano, thanks for following us and signing up for our newsletter. It’s a hard situation as every US lender requires a US cosigner. This is because these loans have no collateral attached to it, so they need someone to be held responsible in case a student defaults on their loan. If this is tricky for you, then you may want to look at other options like scholarships or financial aid from your school. Best of luck!
HI, I would like to now about scholarship for graduate program at Colorado school of mines. Thank you.
Hi Zolboo – thanks for your message. If you are looking for specific scholarship programs through your school, we recommend contacting them directly to see if there are any scholarships available for international students.
Hello!
I’m Spanish, I’m studying grade 11 in Canada and I would like to get an scholarship to study medical research in an english-speaking country. What should I do? Thank you!
Hi Patricia, the first step is to apply and get accepted into that school. Your school may have scholarships available so it’s important to ask your admissions officer and international student advisor what financial aid is available. To get started, we recommend our partner InternationalStudent.com’s school search.
Pls i will like to know if i can get some scholarship to continue the study of my program which is Integrated Development Studies. If Yes , kindly provide me with some links that i can find some. Thanks
Hi, am Godwin Angwe am a Nigerian i want a loan but don’t know any Cosigner in the USA and am not a citizen what should i do?
Hi Godwin – unfortunately you will need to have a US cosigner to apply for private student loans.