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Financial Aid for International Students

globe over passport and foreign currencyThe following is a list of financial aid and scholarship resources for international students.

A word of caution : If a scholarship has an application fee, don't apply. If you have to pay money to get money, it is probably a scam.

 

College Planning Resources

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Cal Poly Sources of Aid

Online Sources of Aid

  • Abroad Planet Scholarship Resources
    Online community of international students studying in the United States
  • American Association of University Women (AAUW)
    Educational Foundation International Fellowships - International Fellowships are awarded for full-time study or research to women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Both graduate and postgraduate study at accredited institutions are supported.

  • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
    Gates Millenium Scholarships - Tuition for low-income minority students seeking undergraduate and graduate degrees.
    African Women in Agricultural Research and Development - Graduate fellowships for female, African scientists to pursue careers in agricultural research and development.

  • College Board
    Free online financial aid source for scholarships, grants, and loans for all college-bound students, including permanent residents and international students wishing to study in the United States.
  • The Denmark-American Foundation
    The Denmark-America Foundation & the Fulbright Commission offer grants, traineeships, and advising for Danes and Americans.
    Fiolstræde 24, 3.sal, 1171 Copenhagen K, Denmark
  • FastWeb
    Free online scholarship search service.
  • Fulbright
    Foreign students apply for Fulbright Fellowships through the binational Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassies in their home countries.
  • IEFA
    Scholarships for study abroad and for study in the United States. Use the search tool to look for specific scholarships or browse through them all. Most are specific to study at certain universities, but some are not.
  • Institute of International Education
    IIE, an independent non-profit organization founded in 1919, is a world leader in the exchange of people and ideas. IIE administers over 200 programs serving more than 20,000 individuals each year.
  • International Education Financial Aid
    Free online scholarship search service designed for international students
  • International Scholarships
    Free online scholarship database for international students wishing to study worldwide
  • LASPAU
    List of financial aid available to students from North and South America. LASPAU itself does not offer grants, scholarships, fellowships, or loans. Those interested in applying for a LASPAU-administered program should apply directly to the sponsoring agencies and should contact those agencies to request information on criteria for eligibility and other application-related information. Below is a list of grant programs administered by LASPAU, organized by country.
  • Leo S. Rowe Pan American Fund
    Interest-free loans up to $15,000 for students from Latin America and the Caribbean OAS Member countries.
  • Mobility International USA
    Free online scholarship resource for non–U.S. citizens with disabilities.
  • NAFSA Association of International Educators
    While NAFSA is not focused on providing resources or assistance directly to students, they do provide some resources and links to more student-oriented Web sites.
  • National Science Foundation
    Provides funding programs for undergraduate and graduate students.
  • The Norway-America Association
    Drammensveien 20 C, 0255 Oslo 2, Norway
  • Organization of American States
    OAS offers a number of fellowships to qualified applicants from OAS member states for graduate, undergraduate, and short term programs.
    Department of Fellowships and Training
    Trainee Selection Division
    Washington, DC 20006-4499
  • Rotary International
    The Rotary Foundation's educational programs include Ambassadorial Scholarships, Grants for University Teachers, Group Study Exchange, and Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution.
    One Rotary Center
    1560 Sherman Avenue
    Evanston , IL 60201-3698 USA
  • United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
    Free online searchable database for scholarships to international students

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Online Sources for Graduate and Post-Graduate Students

  • American Association of University Women (AAUW)
    Educational Foundation International Fellowships - International Fellowships are awarded for full-time study or research to women who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. Both graduate and postgraduate study at accredited institutions are supported.
  • The American-Scandanavian Foundation
    15 East 65th St , New York , NY 10021
    (212) 879-9779
    The American-Scandinavian Foundation offers funding (usually at the graduate level) for Scandinavians to undertake study of research programs in the United State. Candidates for awards are recommended to the ASF by our cooperating organizations, as follow: Eligibility: Applicants must be citizens of Denmark, Finland, Iceland , Norway or Sweden. The number and size of awards granted annually varies widely between countries. Contact ASF's cooperating organizations for specific information regarding eligibility, award size and application deadlines. ASF's Fellowship and Grant Division will be happy to assist with general inquiries.

  • Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
    Gates Millenium Scholarships - Tuition for low-income minority students seeking undergraduate and graduate degrees.
    African Women in Agricultural Research and Development - Graduate fellowships for female, African scientists to pursue careers in agricultural research and development.

  • Ford Foundation International Fellowship Program
    The International Fellowships Program provides support for up to three years of formal graduate-level study leading to a masters or doctoral degree. Fellows are selected from countries in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America, and Russia , where the Ford Foundation maintains active overseas programs. U.S. nationals are not eligible, although Fellows may study in the United States.

  • The National Academies
    Grants and fellowships for graduate students.
  • National Science Foundation
    Provides funding programs for undergraduate and graduate students.
  • Organization of American States (OAS) Fellowships
    OAS offers a number of fellowships to qualified applicants from OAS member states for graduate, undergraduate, and short term programs.
    Department of Fellowships and Training
    Trainee Selection Division
    Washington, DC 20006-4499
  • P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship Fund for Women
    International Peace Scholarship (IPS) is available to women from countries other than the US and Canada pursuing graduate studies. An applicant must be qualified for admission to full-time graduate study and working toward a graduate degree. In order to qualify for her first scholarship, an applicant must have a full year of coursework remaining. Maximum award amount is $6,000 annually and the application deadline is December 15.
    P.E.O. International Pease Scholarship Fund
    P.E.O. Executive Office
    3700 Grand Avenue
    Des Moines , Iowa 50312-2899
    515-255-3153 (p) / 515-255-3820 (f)
  • UNESCO/Keizo Obuchi Research Fellowship Programme
    Researchers with advanced degrees (M.A., M.Sc. or equivalent) in developing countries may apply for fellowships ranging from US$ 6,000 to US$ 10,000. The amount varies according to duration and place of study. The program is financed by Japan through its funds in trust program for capacity-building of human resources. It grants a total of 20 fellowships a year to researchers in four areas: environment, intercultural dialogue, information and communication technologies, and peaceful conflict resolution.

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Educational Loans for International Students

  • American Express
    This loan is only available for students from Germany , Hong Kong and Taiwan . It is intended to help students pay for graduate or undergraduate studies in the USA and it is secured in the student's home country. It requires a co-signer in that country who fits a specific profile as designated by the American Express branch in that country.
  • USA Office to contact :
    American Express Educational Loans
    P.O. Box 87562
    San Diego , CA 92138
    1-800-500-9950
  • Germany
    DM10,000 - DM100,000, interest rate - 12%, application fee - None
    American Express Bank GmbH
    Theodor-Heuss-Allee 112
    60486 Frankfurt/M. Tel. (069)97 97-44 44
    Fax. (069)97 97-50 53
  • Hong Kong
    HK$80,000 - HK$400,000, interest rate - Prime + 3%, handling free - 3% deducted at disbursement
    Quarry Bay Office
    20/F, Somerset House
    979 King's Road
    Quarry Bay
  • Taiwan
    NT$300,000 - NT$1,500,000, interest rate - 90-Day Primary Commercial Paper + 3%, loan fee - 3% deducted at disbursement
    American Express Bank
    2/F 214 Tun Hwa N. Rd.
    Taipei, R.O.C. Tel. (02)2514-4017/8
  • International Education Finance Corp.
    International Student Loan Program (ISLP)
    424 Adams Street
    Milton , MA 02186
    1-617-696-7840
    FAX 1-617-698-3001
    Iefc@aol.com
  • First Union National Bank
    Educaid EXTRA International Student Loan Program
    Tel. 1-800-955-8805, Contact person - Faye Becker
    1-617-426-0681
    1-800-255-8374
  • Educational Finance Group
    Tel. 1-508-862-2528, contact person - Mike Galvin
    TERI Loan 1-800-255-8378
  • Leo S. Rowe, Pan American Fund Grants
    This program provides student loans to competent persons from Latin American and Caribbean countries.
    Tel. 202-458-6208, Fax. 202-458-3878 or 9897
    1889 F. St. NW , Washington , DC 20006
    rowefund@oas.org
  • International Student Loan.com
    This loan requires a U.S. cosigner
    Tel.1-866-235-2255 (toll-free)
    1-617-535-7710 (direct line)
  • Citibank
    Citiassist program
    Requires a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent resident co-signer
    1-800-745-5473 or 1-800-846-1290, contact person-Todd Woodlee
  • Global Student Loan Corporation
    Does not require an US co-signer
    212-736-9666
    info@globalslc.com
  • Credila Financial Services
    Student loans for Indian students studying in the USA. Requires parents in India to be co-borrowers.
    loan@credila.com

Books on Funding

  • "Funding for U.S. Study" by The Institute of International Education
  • "The International Students' Scholarship Handbook" by Turning Point

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International Stduents and Scholars