Funding your US Degree: Academic and Sports Scholarships
Below is a list of some academic scholarships for international students. They are funded by the US government or by private organisations or by specific institutions.
Government-funded US scholarships for international students
● Fulbright Foreign Student Program – Perhaps the most popular government-funded US scholarships for international students, Fulbright offers scholarships for graduate students, young professionals and artists to study in the US for one year or more. Open to international students in all fields excluding medicine.
● Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Program – This is a non-degree scholarship programme for international, experienced professionals wishing to undertake 10 months of academic study in the US. Although the funding doesn’t support degree qualifications, students are able to study and develop their knowledge at academic institutions across the nation.
Non-governmental US scholarships for international students
● Abbey Road Summer Scholarships – Abbey Road is offering US scholarships worth $1,000 for language and art students, as well as $500 fellowships for “summer enrichment” at institutions within the states.
● Civil Society Leadership Awards – Fully-funded scholarships are available for students from eligible countries to study in the US or another host country at master’s level.
● Tortuga Backpacks Study Abroad Scholarship – Awarded twice a year to passionate international students wishing to study in the US. Worth $1,000.
● David P. Shapiro Autism Scholarship – A one-time scholarship worth $1,000 open to current or prospective students in the US diagnosed with autism.
For Asian students:
● East-West Center Scholarships and Fellowships – Scholarships to study in the US within selected institutions, aimed at international students from the Asia-Pacific region.
● Japan-United States Friendship Commission – An initiative run by Japan and the US, this commission offers grant programs to Japanese students wishing to study in the US (and vice versa).
For female students:
● AAUW International Fellowships – Fellowships offered by the American Association of University Women for female international students to study in the US.
● Bat and Ball Game Women’s Sports Scholarship – A scholarship offering $1,000 to a woman currently studying a sports-related degree at any US university.
The above list is just a glimpse at the scholarships available to international students. More information and advice can be found contacting the public affairs department at the US embassy in the capital city of your home country or by contacting the university's financial aid department directly.
University specific scholarships:
Harvard University Scholarships -
Undergraduate and graduate students are fully funded by Harvard if they receive a scholarship. For master’s, the amount of scholarship is not guaranteed. It offers scholarships for 2018 to international students so that the financial difficulty will not hinder international students from attending this excellent university.
Princeton University Scholarships- Princeton offers the maximum amount for undergraduate and graduate students, so they are fully funded. For master’s, the amount of scholarship is not guaranteed.
The above list is just a glimpse at the scholarships available to international students. More information and advice can be found contacting the public affairs department at the US embassy in the capital city of your home country or by contacting the university's financial aid department directly.
Funding Your US Education as an International Student Via Sports Scholarships
A sports scholarship is an excellent way of combining education with high-level sports whilst getting your undergraduate or graduate degree paid for. The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA),The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and The National Junior College Athletic Association(NJCAA) regulate athletic scholarships . They are fiercely competitive and there are many rules about how the students receive sports scholarships. However, this is one of the best options for international student athletes who want to study in the United States. Each of the associations will have their own eligibility criteria for international students. If you are serious about getting recruited for a sports scholarship in the US, be sure to have the following:
● Video clips of your performance highlights
● Coaches recommendations
● A track record of sports excellent
● A track record of academic excellence
Remember, coaches receive hundreds and thousands of young aspiring athletes each year. To stand out amongst the thousands, you must be eager, proactive, determined, and self driven. You’ll need to impress your future coach since the decision on scholarships are decided by the coaching staff alone.
Let us know if you have any questions about this article.
