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Paying for Graduate School – 49 Awards and Fellowships

Scholarship for USA — Sat, 26 Dec 2009 00:11:38 +0000

Paying for graduate school can be difficult, especially in universities in the US where tuition is expensive. International students are not allowed to work off campus, which makes paying for graduate school harder for someone that has no income source for at least two years while they are completing their degree. However, there are a limited number of grants, fellowships and scholarships available for international students that make it easier to pay for graduate school. Qualifying for one of these grants will provide money for graduate school that can significantly reduce the burden of paying for school.

Below is a list of private organizations that provide funding for graduate school through scholarship programs. Some of these programs are very well known like the Fulbright Foreign Student Program and the Rhodes Scholarship.

Bookmark this page so you can refer to it often during your scholarship search process. You can also sign up for our free email updates to stay up-to-date with the latest scholarships for graduate students. For colleges under $10,000 go here.

Scholarships for International Students at UW-Madison

Scholarship for USA — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 02:40:33 +0000

The University of Wisconsin Madison (UW-Madison) has had record number of international student enrollment during the 2009 fall semester. Of these 2,214 were graduate students, 1,433 undergrads, 227 non-degree-seeking students, and 105 taking professional coursework. The university attributes this increase in international student enrollment due to the university’s high ranking in U.S. News and World Report rankings, the fall in the US dollar which has made an US education more affordable, and a streamlined visa process which makes it easier to obtain F1 student visas.

Tuition price tag for an UW-Madison education is not cheap. Undergraduate tuition for a year is $23,063, graduate tuition is about $25,000. Although there are no full scholarships for international students, there are a number of awards and fellowships that are available to defray the cost of tuition and living expenses. Here is a list of resources for international students at UW-Madison where they can find scholarship money for college. Bookmark this page so you can come back to it later, or better yet, sign up for our email updates.

Grants and awards for undergraduate and incoming students

L&S Honors Program Grants and Awards
http://www.honors.ls.wisc.edu/SiteContent.aspx?prev=1&id=46

L&S Scholarships
http://www.lssaa.wisc.edu/scholarships/

Athletic Scholarships
www.uwbadgers.com

Engineering Freshman Academic Achievement Award
studentservices.engr.wisc.edu/money/scholarships/merit.html

Pathways Scholars Program
www.lssaa.wisc.edu/psp/index.php

Wisconsin Idea Undergraduate Fellowship
http://www.morgridge.wisc.edu/wif.html

Hilldale Undergraduate/Faculty Research Fellowships & Holstrom Environmental Scholarships
http://www.provost.wisc.edu/uaa/docs/Hilldale.pdf

Wisconsin Alumni Association Outstanding Student Award for Juniors & Seniors
www.uwalumni.com/scholarships

University Book Store Academic Excellence Awards
http://www.provost.wisc.edu/uaa/docs/Bookstore.pdf

Pharmacy New Student Scholarship
http://www.finaid.wisc.edu/scholarships.html#14

School of Pharmacy Continuing Student Scholarship
http://www.finaid.wisc.edu/scholarships.html#14

College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Scholarships
http://www.cals.wisc.edu/students/financing/

Journalism & Mass Communication Scholarships
http://www.journalism.wisc.edu/undergrad/scholarships.html

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Alumni Council Scholarship
http://www.uwalumni.com/glbtac

Office of Student Financial Services
http://www.finaid.wisc.edu/

Grants and awards for graduate students

The Graduate School Fellowships
http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/admin/fellowships/index.html

University Book Store Academic Excellence Awards
http://www.provost.wisc.edu/uaa/docs/Bookstore.pdf

Pharmacy New Student Scholarship
http://www.finaid.wisc.edu/scholarships.html#14

School of Pharmacy Continuing Student Scholarship
http://www.finaid.wisc.edu/scholarships.html#14

College of Agriculture & Life Sciences Scholarships
http://www.cals.wisc.edu/students/financing/

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Alumni Council Scholarship
http://www.uwalumni.com/glbtac

Tinker-Nave Short-Term Field Research Grants
http://www.lacis.wisc.edu/navefield.html

Scott Kloeck-Jenson International Pre-Dissertation Travel Grant
http://global.wisc.edu/skj/

Scott Kloeck-Jenson International Internship Grant
http://global.wisc.edu/skj/

More resources: Top Engineering Schools Under $12,000

Sample Recommendation Letter

Scholarship for USA — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 04:03:01 +0000

A recommendation letter is an important piece in the graduate application process. Sometimes graduate schools ask applicants to supply multiple recommendation letters. It is usually a good idea to get recommendation letters from past professors, superiors/managers at work or from leaders in organizations that you have been a part of. Often times, people that you request recommendation letters from are busy professionals that don’t have the time to draft a recommendation letter for you. In cases like that, they’ll ask you to write a sample recommendation letter which they can edit and sign off before they send it to your school. Below is a sample recommendation letter, so you can get an idea of what a professional recommendation letter looks like. I had published a sample personal statement a few days ago, which would also be helpful to read.

To whom it may concern:

It is indeed a pleasure to provide Dilip Kumar with this letter of recommendation. I have known him for more than two years as a student and as the president of the Indian Students Association.

Dilip has been among the top students in my classes, has excellent presentation skills, and is very articulate. He is conscientious about the quality of his work and has demonstrated a good grasp of leadership, entrepreneurship, team dynamics, and excellence. Although my courses are about the modern mechanics of a business in a global environment, I place great emphasis on superior communications skills, teamwork, social responsibility, ethics, and concern for health and welfare of others in society.

Dilip is a good public speaker and he can convey his ideas professionally and succinctly. His writing skills are superior and his diction, spelling, grammar, and level of research are clearly superlative. Yet he is able to adapt his style to address different audiences. In his leadership role in assigned projects, he showed great skill in organizing the projects, scheduling the activities, reporting on the progress, and in motivating the others to a successful conclusion.

Dilip has a strong work ethic and an exemplary character. His education, training, and other skills are complemented by a genuine concern for others and an eagerness to serve and do his best. The notable characteristic that I and other professors here have remarked about Dilip is his deep sincerity, friendliness, and integrity. As president of the Indian Students Association, Dilip demonstrated his leadership skills through planning and organizing many cultural events that promoted better international relations among the community.

Dilip has expressed an interest for pursuing a graduate degree. He has a genuine desire to learn more, and he has the intellectual acumen and work ethic to succeed. As a professor and consultant to industry, I feel that Dilip would be an asset to your institute, and I have no reservation in recommending him to you. Please call me at: 123 456 7890 or e-mail me at: professor@xyz.edu if you have any questions.

International Trustee Scholarship at Lake Forest College

Scholarship for USA — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 03:37:44 +0000

Lake Forest College is a coeducational undergraduate institution located just 30 miles north of Chicago in the small city of Lake Forest, Illinois. Lake Forest College provides generous assistance to international students if they are unable to pay the full cost of a college education. If international students qualify, Lake Forest College will provide financial help in the form of grants, scholarships and a campus job. The maximum grant/scholarship total for the 2009-2010 academic year is $22,000. A limited number of International Trustee Scholarships of $23,500 are also offered.

International Trustee Scholarships

Participation in this scholarship program is by invitation only. The admission office goes through the admission applications and sends out invitations to the top 25 candidates as of January 1^st. The selected students are then required to write an essay and interview with a faculty member.

Application Requirements:

1. GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale or class rank in the top 20%

2. SAT score of 1310 (math and verbal combined) or ACT score of 30

3. Submission of the College Board Subject Tests (formerly SAT II Subject Tests) is highly recommended.

5 Things to Prepare International Students for Study in the USA

Scholarship for USA — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 22:25:48 +0000

Admission to highly ranked colleges in the USA is very competitive. This can get even more competitive for international students when they are seeking scholarships from the college to fund their studies. International students can do a few things while they are in high school to increase their chances of admission to a US college with scholarship.

Do Well in Academics

Picture By: scui3asteveo

Students must do well in academics to have a shot at getting into the top ranked schools. Grades in high school are very important and are looked at very closely during the admission process.

Take Challenging Classes

Admission counsellors like to see that you took challenging classes in high school. Sign up for advanced classes even if they are optional for you in high school. If you are taking General Math, also take Advanced Math. This will give the impression that you are an above average student and like to go above and beyond what is required. It is not enough to just take advanced classes but one must also do well in those classes.

Take the SAT and TOEFL

Take the SAT and TOEFL and score high on these tests. High scores on these tests can set you apart from other students seeking admission. Many colleges use the SAT score as a criteria for both admission and scholarship decisions. A high score on the TOEFL can also be used to waive some English as a Second Language (ESL) classes that many colleges make mandatory for their international students to take in their first semester.

Participate in Extracurricular Activities

Almost every admission application to a US college will ask you to list your extracurricular activities. A lot of weight is given to an application that shows student involvement in extracurricular activities. Colleges want to admit students that do well in school but who are also active in their communities. So get out there and do something. Get involved in clubs, organizations, do voluntary work, play sports, help in your local soup kitchen. Take on responsibility and leadership roles whenever you can. Showing that you have leadership experience can give a tremendous boost to your admission and scholarship application.

Take the SAT II Subject Tests

Although many colleges do not require the SAT subject tests anymore, it does not hurt to take these tests as it will set you apart from the other applicants. Good scores on these tests will help in getting scholarships.

In-State Tuition Scholarship at MSU Mankato

Scholarship for USA — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 05:09:39 +0000

Minnesota State University Mankato provides an in state tuition scholarship for international students. All international students are eligible as long as they maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 (undergraduate) or 3.0 (graduate) and perform 25 hours of voluntary service every semester. This involves doing activities that are cultural in nature and are meant to share foreign cultures with the local population. Both undergraduate and graduate students are eligible for this scholarship. The scholarship is valid for four and a half years for undergraduate students from the first date of enrollment and two and a half years for graduate students.

In-state scholarships are great for international students who are not able to qualify for the limited competitive scholarships available for international students. Click here to read my article on in-state scholarships.

REQUEST MORE INFORMATION
Click for Undergraduate admission information
Click for Graduate admission information

Need Based Financial Aid for International Students

Scholarship for USA — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:43:06 +0000

A number of colleges and universities in the US offer need based financial aid to international students. This means that the university will pay for whatever expenses you are unable to cover on your own. You will need to calculate how much of the cost you can pay and the university will pay the rest through a combination of scholarships, grants and employment. Most of the colleges that do offer need based aid to international students put students applying for aid in a separate pool during the admission process. Admission to the institution from within the pool is usually much harder because of the competition. Therefore these schools advise you not to apply for aid if you are able to afford the cost as this will increase your changes of admission.

A handful of these colleges (Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Amherst, etc.) offering need based financial aid to international students are also need blind in their admission decision. This means that your capacity to pay for your education will not factor in the admission decision because these universities have a need blind admission policy. Your chances for admission will remain the same whether you apply for aid or not. Basically if you can get in, the expenses will be taken care of. As you can imagine, the universities and colleges offering need based financial aid to international students is limited and the competition is extremely intense. International students who usually get these scholarships are well accomplished in academics and extracurricular activities. Obtaining a seat in any one of these U.S. colleges will get you through college without any financial worries.

Colleges that offer need based financial aid to international students are:

Amherst College

Brown University

California Institute of Technology

Claremont McKenna College

Georgetown University

Grinnell College

Harvard University

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Northwestern University

University of Chicago

University of Pennsylvania

University of Richmond

This may not be a comprehensive list of all the colleges offering need based financial aid to international students. If you know of other schools that offer similar financial aid, please add it to the comments section.

USA Scholarship for the Average International Student

Scholarship for USA — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 23:18:32 +0000

We all know how competitive it can get for an international student to get a scholarship at an American university. Not all universities offer scholarships to international students and those that do only have a limited number of scholarships. The competition for these scholarships can be fierce. Typically there are thousands of students from all over the world competing for each scholarship. Many of these students have perfect SAT scores, excellent high school GPA and involvement in extracurricular activities. The average international students’ application for scholarship often gets lost amongst the applications of these overachieving international students.

This does not mean that the average international student has no chance for a scholarship at an US university. There are many universities and colleges in the United States that offer international students scholarships as long as they have decent academic performance in high school.

In-state Tuition
At most state universities, out of state students and international students
are assessed a higher tuition rate than students that live in that state. Often, this tuition is almost twice that of what local students pay. Many universities will offer their international students an opportunity to pay in-state tuition as long as they fulfill certain criteria. These can include maintaining a certain GPA while on the in-state tuition scholarship and/or doing volunteer activities. One such school that has an excellent in-state tuition scholarship for all its’ international students is Saint Cloud State University in Minnesota. The in-state tuition scholarship can make affording a. U.S. university very affordable for international students, especially for those that do not have outstanding results and achievements.

Full tuition scholarship at Texas A&M University

Scholarship for USA — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:41:15 +0000

There are numerous scholarships for international students available at the Texas A&M University. The Good Neighbor Scholarship awards full scholarship to students from the Caribbean and North, South and Central America. Other scholarships at A&M range from $500-$2500. However, international students need to be enrolled at the university for a few semesters before they become eligible for most of these scholarships, grants and awards.

Eppright Outstanding International Student Award
One $2,000 cash award is presented annually to an international student who has excelled in academics, leadership, service, and participation in extracurricular activities. This is the highest honor bestowed on an international student at Texas A&M.

Eligibility: Graduate students with a 3.50 GPR or undergraduates with a 3.00 GPR, who have participated extensively in campus and community extracurricular activities in leadership positions, and who have been enrolled at Texas A&M for at least two full semesters, not counting the current semester. This award is announced as a highlight of International Week.

Duration of Award: A one-time cash award given annually.

Bill and Rita Stout Academic Excellence Award
A one-time award of up to $600 will be given each year along with an appropriate plaque to recognize international undergraduate students for outstanding achievement in academics and leadership at Texas A&M.

Eligibility: Applicants must be undergraduate students holding a non-immigrant visa, enrolled at Texas A&M, and who have not previously received this award. Students must have a minimum of 30 academic credits and a minimum GPR of 3.0. The student must demonstrate that they possess a strong interest in promoting international relations between people of all cultures. First preference for the award is given to those students enrolled full-time at TAMU/Koriyama.

Duration of Award: One Semester.

Shibata International Memorial Scholarship
An award of approximately $500 will be given to an international student who is currently enrolled in Texas A & M University.

Eligibility: The applicant must be an international student who is currently enrolled at Texas A & M University, has demonstrated high academic standards, and has a curiosity and openness to people and traditions of other countries. In addition, the student must be actively involved in organizations other than international ones.

Duration of Award: One semester.

Texas/Mexico Education Scholarship
This is a State of Texas award available to international students who are citizens of Mexico. It provides in-state tuition for recipients. Approximately 40 awards are available.

Eligibility: Financially needy undergraduates and graduates are eligible. Only a restricted number are available to Mexican students transferring from border institutions.

Duration of Award: Variable, depending on the award made, but never longer than a year duration. Students must reapply at the end of each award period if they want to be considered for additional awards.

Good Neighbor Scholarship
This state of Texas scholarship provides a complete waiver of tuition to eligible international students from countries in the Caribbean and North, Central, and South America. Scholarship winners must still pay all applicable university fees. Applicants compete with other international students from their home countries throughout the state of Texas for a limited number of awards that are given to a certain number of students from each country. Awards are based on academic merit. Competition is intense, and final award decisions are made by The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, not Texas A&M.
Important Notice:
This scholarship program is constantly under review and could be discontinued at any time. You are strongly urged not to rely on this award as a means to finance your studies.

Eligibility:

Student must be enrolled in the semester in which the scholarship is awarded.

Citizenship from any country in the Caribbean and North, Central, or South America, except the United States and Cuba, also must have been a resident of one of these nations for at least five years.

Hold a non-immigrant visa (ex. F-1, J-1). and must plan to return to your home country upon the completion of your academic program.

Must be in good academic standing in the program in which you are currently enrolled. Undergraduates must have a minimum GPR of 2.0. Graduate students must have a minimum GPR of 3.0.

Must have completed at least one full academic semester at Texas A&M University, not including the current semester, in your current degree program.

May not be a member of the communist party.

Duration of Award: Awards last one semester. There is the possibility of receiving awards for all three semesters of the year.

Tina Watkins Scholarship
The Tina Watkins Scholarship was established by friends and colleagues in honor of Tina Watkins, who devoted her life to improving relationships and meeting the needs of International Students. One award of $500.00 will be made to an international student each Spring and Fall semester. Awards are based on academic merit, financial need, and the length of time a student has been enrolled at Texas A&M University. Scholarships will be directly applied to a student’s tuition and fee bill at Texas A&M University for their next semester’s enrollment.

Eligibility: Only self supported international students currently enrolled at Texas A&M University are eligible for the Tina Watkins Scholarship. Full-time ELI students are not eligible. Prospective students are not eligible. Applicants must be enrolled in their first, second, or third semester as degree seeking students at Texas A&M University at the time of their application. Students must be in good academic standing to apply: minimum cumulative GPR for Undergraduates — 2.0, and Graduates — 3.0. Students cannot be the recipient of a Tina Watkins Scholarship more than once.

Duration of Award: One Semester

Iranian American Women’s Society for Education Scholarship
The Society of Iranian American Women for Education has provided $10,000 in scholarships for Texas A&M students of Iranian descent. The SIAWE is a non-profit charitable organization with no religious preferences or political affiliations. The SIAWE has made the growth and advancement of Iranian students as one of its major goals. Scholarship recipients will receive credit toward tuition and fees at Texas A&M University. Scholarship awards will vary in amounts but will not exceed $2,000. Awards will be distributed in equal amounts over two semesters.

Eligibility
To be eligible to receive a SIAWE Scholarship a student must:

Be of Iranian descent, in legal F-1 status.

Be currently attending or have accepted admission at Texas A&M University.

Must have a current GPA of at least 2.5 and maintain at least a 2.5 GPA during the fall semester to receive funding for the spring.

Demonstrate financial need.

Be enrolled as full time Texas A&M student in fall and spring semester of the award year.

If the applicant is a new student, coming from a high school, submit a copy of the high school transcript with a GPA of 3.0 or greater. (This pertains to new students coming from high school.)

Have a signed degree plan on file if applicable. Students coming from high school must have evidence of having discussed their academic plans with a Texas A&M academic advisor.

Submit an essay in English of about 300 words to convey to the Scholarship Selection Committee personal information that they want to be considered in evaluating their needs and qualifications for receiving financial assistance. Also, they must indicate their intended major and career goals.

The scholarship recipients MUST attend the scholarship gala on March 25, 2006 in Houston, Texas.

The recipient must EXPRESSLY grant SIAWE access to his/her academic records and allow the confidential release of information to respective donors/contributors to his/her Scholarship Awards recipients.

Duration of Award: Two Semesters

Florence Terry Griswold Scholarship I
The FLorence Terry Griswold Scholarship I is awarded annually by the Pan American Round Tables of Texas. This Scholarship, named in honor of the founder of the Pan American Round Tables, assists a female student from one of the Pan American countries (other than the United States) in pursuing her studies in the state of Texas.

Eligibility: An applicant must be a female student who is a native citizen of one of the Pan American countries (other than the United States) defined as those countries which comprise the Organization of American States/Pan American Union. She must hold a bachelor’s or equivalent degree, and be furthering her work on a master’s or equivalent degree at a state-supported college or university in Texas. Preference will be given to an applicant who will return to her native country and put her U.S. study and training to user there after completion of her graduate degree.

Duration of Award: A grant of at least $2,500 for one year (1/2 per semester or 1/3 per trimester). The grant is usually $2,500, but in some years it might be greater if funds are available.

Begum Akhtar Akram International Scholarship
This scholarship is funded in honor of the grandmother of a student from Pakistan who made his education and the education of several others possible during her life and continues to make a difference in the lives of all those around her. The recipient will receive an award of $1000.

Eligibility: An applicant must be an undergraduate international student (F-1 visa holder) from Pakistan, who is currently enrolled at Texas A&M University. He/She must have demonstrated financial need or hardship. He/She must also have demonstrated high academic standards, and a love and appreciation for the Aggie Traditions. The applicant must be in good academic standing with the University and have a current TAMU GPR of 3.0. He/She must be actively involved in and taken a leadership role in organizations other than international ones.

Duration of Award: A one-time cash award given annually.

Additional Info:
Standardized Tests: SAT or ACT required
TOEFL required
Application fee: $75 non refundable application fee

Texas A&M University
College Station, Texas 77843

Request more information

University of South Florida – International Student Scholarship

Scholarship for USA — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:55:32 +0000

The University of South Florida offers multiple scholarships for international students. The International Undergraduate Scholars Award (I-USA) provides $15,000 for four years to international students and the USF International Student Scholarship provides $500 per year for four years to qualified international students.

The University of South Florida is one of the nation’s top 63 public research universities and one of 39 community-engaged, four-year public universities as designated by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The university offers 219 degree programs at the undergraduate, graduate, specialist and doctoral levels, including the doctor of medicine. The university has a $1.8 billion annual budget, an annual economic impact of $3.2 billion, and serves more than 46,000 students on campuses in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Sarasota-Manatee and Lakeland.

International Undergraduate Scholars Award (I-USA)
The International Undergraduate Scholars Award (I-USA) awards scholarships to outstanding international students who meet competitive selection criteria and provide evidence of scholarly and leadership excellence. Applicants must be international students whose permanent residence is outside the United States (US citizens, dual citizens and permanent residents or pending permanent residents are not eligible to apply). This scholarship provides $60,000 ($15,000 annually for four years) for undergraduate coursework at USF. USF I-USA Scholars are eligible for an additional award of $500 annually as USF Honors College students. Scholarship applications must be submitted by April 15, 2008 for priority consideration.
Scholarship Requirements:

Must be an international student whose permanent residence is outside the United States (US citizens, dual citizens and permanent residents or pending permanent residents are not eligible to apply)
Must be an admitted freshman enrolling for the Summer or Fall semester (Transfer students and students seeking Spring admission are not eligible to apply)
Demonstrate leadership, community involvement and academic honors
Achieve a minimum secondary/high school Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.5 or equivalent
Achieve a score of 1350+ SAT (critical reading & quantitative sections only) or 30+ ACT composite

USF International Student Scholarship
The USF International Student Scholarship provides $2,000 ($500 per year for up to four years). This scholarship is designed for international students. To be considered for this award you must meet the minimum requirements:

A high school GPA of 3.3 (as calculated by USF)
An 1130+ SAT or 25+ ACT

There are numerous other scholarships for foreign students available at USF. However, for these other scholarships, international students will have to compete directly with U.S. students.

Additional info:
Application fee – Non refundable $30 application fee is required
Standardized Tests: SAT or ACT required
TOEFL required

University of South Florida
4202 E. Fowler Avenue SVC1036,
Tampa, FL 33620-6900
Tel: (813) 974-3350