Scholarships for International Students Planning to Study in the USA

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It is essential to plan your entire U.S. education, including how to finance it, before you leave your home country. Some colleges, universities, and U.S. consulates require foreign students to provide certification of funding for the entire planned period of study.

You may be looking for scholarships to finance your education. This is a list of resources compiled by us to help your search. Don’t overlook the possibility of academic and need-related scholarships from the college or university where you’ll be studying. We hope you find this useful!

• Berkeley College International Student Scholarships
• Berkeley International Application Form
• College Week Live
• Fulbright Foreign Student Program
• CollegeScholarships.org
• Federal Student Aid Types
• GotChosen
• Scholars4Dev
• The Ultimate Scholarship Guide
• Sport-Scholarships.com

Loans for International Students studying in the USA

• Sallie Mae
• Global Student Loan
• StudyAbroadLoans.com

		Berkeley College International Student Scholarships Berkeley College is a business and fashion college in New York. Founded in 1931, Berkeley College offers international students a superior education based on an intensive business curriculum. Students from around the world choose the proven, career-focused programs of Berkeley College in the heart of New York City. The College’s reputation is well respected among business and industry executives who participate in the design of its academic courses. This helps students acquire the knowledge and skills that employers demand in both the national and international job markets. Berkeley College international student scholarships are awarded based on both financial need and past academic history. To receive consideration, your scholarship application must be submitted along with your application for admission. Scholarship awards are non-transferable, and must be used for the quarter and for the location for which you are accepted. Any changes are subject to further review. Scholarship recipients must maintain a minimum Grade Point Average of 3.0 and full-time degree seeking status. berkeleycollege.edu International Application Form
		College Week Live CollegeWeekLive believes that a college education is the key to having opportunities in life. That's why their scholarship will reward students who are working hard to research, apply and choose a college. Winning is easy - all you need to do is login to CollegeWeekLive and visit 3 colleges that interest you. One lucky winner will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship every month. And many other winners may find the college of their dreams. Visit: International.collegeweeklive.com www.collegeweeklive.com
		Fulbright Foreign Student Program A mainstay of America’s public-diplomacy efforts, the Fulbright Foreign Student Program brings citizens of other countries to the United States for Master’s degree or Ph.D. study at U.S. universities or other appropriate institutions. The program has brought some of the world’s finest minds to U.S. campuses and offers program participants insight into U.S. society and values. http://foreign.fulbrightonline.org
		CollegeScholarships.org "We created this site to serve people who are interested in college funding. What makes us unique is that we list a broad array of funding opportunities without asking for information from you. There are no long forms to fill out in order to access our resources. For example, you can find any of the following without filling out forms with your personal information." Visit www.collegescholarships.org
		Federal Student Aid Types Worried you won’t be able to get aid? Most people are eligible for financial aid for college or career school. Learn about the eligibility criteria for the federal student aid programs. Visit studentaid.ed.gov/eligibility
		GotChosen GotChosen offers scholarship opportunities for U.S. and international students. GotChosen's scholarships are dedicated to helping students meet their financial needs in order to fulfill a higher education. The largest scholarship, GotScholarship $40K Give Away, has been awarded twice with the third to be awarded in October 2013. Open to all fields of study, the $40,000 scholarship is not awarded based on academic achievement or financial need. Instead, the winner is selected by a random drawing. GotScholarship $40k Give Away $3,000 Lights, Camera, Action Video Scholarship $1,000 Every Month Scholarship *Students must be 18 years or older to enter. Go to GotChosen's website to review the rules for eligibility for each scholarship. www.gotchosen.com
		Scholars4Dev scholars4dev, short for Scholarships for Development, is an updated listing of international scholarships specifically for people from developing countries, people who would like to pursue development-related fields, and people who seek global and national development through further education. "It is our aim to help people find opportunities for higher education and become agents of development in their own countries and the rest of the world." Visit www.scholars4dev.com
		The Ultimate Scholarship Guide If you’re still looking for scholarships that fit your needs, look through the listings provided by the sites and pages on this link. These sites are established, reputable, and have put many students in touch with the resources they need to help pay for school. Visit www.shopsleuth.com/resources/scholarship-guide
		Sport-Scholarships.com Great site for athletes looking for sport scholarships. Available for international students looking to study in the USA in 10 different languages. Visit www.sport-scholarships.com

Loans for International Students studying in the USA

If you were unable to find a scholarship, you may qualify for a wide variety of private student loan products when you apply with a creditworthy co-signor who is a permanent U.S. citizen. Cosigners may be family members, friends, associates, or anyone else willing to provide help.

		Sallie Mae Sallie Mae has student loans for foreign nationals studying in the United States. Sallie Mae International offers several student loan programs for students: who are not U.S. citizens and who are attending a U.S. college or university in short-term study abroad programs or full-time enrollment, toward a full degree. Visit Sallie Mae
		Global Student Loan The Global Student Loan® is the ONLY comprehensive education loan for international and distance learning students that does not require a co-signer in the host country. Visit www.globalslc.com/
		StudyAbroadLoans.com "For International Students studying in the USA, we also provide an international student loan program for you to help fund your education in the US. Each of our low-hassle study abroad loan programs offer competitive interest rates, no application fees and fast and easy loan application and processing. " Visit www.studyabroadloans.com/

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Student Visa

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Basic guide to start you off on your student visa application process. However, some countries have specific requirements in addition to the standards we have discussed here. Contact the closest US embassy or consulate for more information on student visas in your country. 

Residence abroad
The intent to leave the US at the end of your studies
Enough money to cover the cost of tuition and fees as well as living expenses.

Types of Student Visas

It’s likely that you will be applying for the F-1 student visa if you are applying to an undergraduate program. F-1 visas are for students who are pursuing a degree from a US university or attending an English as a Second Language course. Exchange students must complete the J visa application.

Both types of student visas allow you to work on and off campus. You may work on campus only 20 hours per week except during vacation periods in which you may work full time. There are no restrictions on how many hours you work off-campus, though you may have trouble finding an employer who will hire you on a student visa.

If you are married with children, you will need to obtain separate non-immigrant visas for each family member.
Student Visa Application

Before you begin your student visa application, your school needs to send you a receipt enrolling you in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). This is a database found on the web that allows government agencies and colleges to keep track of foreign students.

Along with your completed application, you must submit:

Form I-20 A-B, the certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant (F-1) Student Status and for Academic and Language Students
OR Form 1-20 M-N, Certificate of Eligibility for Non-Immigrant (M-1) Student Status for Vocational Students
Passport
One 2x2 photograph

You may also be required to submit transcripts, diplomas, standardized test scores and evidence that you can support yourself financially and pay for the cost of your tuition.
Student Visa Interview

The student visa interview is an important but painless part of the application process. You will need to reserve an appointment with a US embassy or consulate. Visa wait times can be found at most embassy websites.

At your interview, you will be asked basic questions about your future plans. What degree program will you be taking? Why do you want to study in America? These are easy questions that you should be able to answer.

To your interview, you must bring:

- Completed visa form
- Payment receipt of the SEVIS fee
- Visa application processing fee
- Visa-qualifying document
- Financial support documents

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Documents Required in Support of a Financial Aid Application

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Before a Financial Aid application will be considered, a student must first be admitted. Students wishing to apply for Scholarship and Financial Aid must submit the application (with supporting documentation)

Supporting documentation is required for all Need-Based aid applications as follows:

US Students :

A copy of your parents', and your own (if applicable), most recent tax return (if the current year is not available, the previous year's will suffice) and a copy of the Student Aid Report (SAR) obtained by completing the FAFSA. Quest's school code is G40753. Submission of this application is not an application for US government student loans, nor is only completing the FAFSA. Students must complete our separate application found here.

Canadian Students : 

A copy of your parents', and your own (if applicable), most recent income tax summaries. If the current year tax returns are not complete, the previous year's will suffice.
Other International Students : 

A copy of your parents', and your own (if applicable) most recent income tax information, an income statement from an employer, or other documentation relevant to the application form.

Families may choose to include a letter in addition to these supporting documents to further explain their financial situation.

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Foreign Student Application Process

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As an international student, you want to start applying to colleges as early as possible. At the latest, applications should be sent a year in advance and it’s preferable to start applying at least two years ahead.

Keep in mind that most schools have a deadline between November and January for entry into the fall semester, so plan accordingly. 

No matter how good your grades were in your home country, it’s advisable to apply to at least three to five colleges since international student admissions are so competitive.

Before you start gathering documents to send to your intended colleges, you should contact them to get information and application forms. Most American universities have an international student services department to help students like you.

When you speak with a college adviser, make sure you meet the academic requirements of the school. You don’t want to waste money on an application for a school you are not qualified to attend.

Generally, colleges will require you to submit:

- Certificate of completion from your secondary school (or post-secondary school if you are applying to graduate school)
- Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) scores
- SAT or ACT scores for undergraduates and the GRE, GMAT, MCAT or LSAT for graduates.
- Letters of recommendation
- Application fee

Although this is the general admission process, each college has its own unique application restrictions and requirements. For example, UCLA, a highly selective university, requires students to have a superior average in their secondary school transcripts. They require students from India and Pakistan who are applying to a master’s degree program to hold a bachelor’s degree in engineering or a master’s degree in any other area. Otherwise, the student must enroll in an undergraduate program.

Odessa College in Texas requires international students to provide proof of immunizations against diphtheria and tetanus within the past 10 years, a negative test result of tuberculosis and a sound bill of health both physically and mentally.
I’ve Submitted My Application ... Now What?

It takes between six and eight weeks for colleges to send out determination letters. It’s also common for them to send out acceptance or rejection letters between April and May for the fall semester.

Once you receive all your determination letters, it’s time to whittle your choices to one. If you were accepted by more than one school, it’s considered good manners to contact the schools you will not be attending to let them know.

After you have been accepted, your TOEFL or IELTS scores are submitted, and the college is certain that you have the funds to attend, the institution will send you a certificate of eligibility, which is required for the next step in your journey: the student visa application.

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