Studying in the US can be affordable if you plan well in advance, so you can apply to a range of scholarships offered by the top universities and colleges in the USA before deadlines. Open to meritorious international students to help them fund their studies, these financial aids can be partial or fully paid, depending on the criteria, course and the institution. Many scholarships and bursaries are also offered by the American government, and various private and public establishments as well. When applying to any of these scholarships, make sure you check the criteria carefully, along with the application closing date.
Here are the criteria’s on which you will get a scholarship for studying in the US:
Good academic scores are the most important criterion for most scholarships.
Additional factors like chosen destination, subject, and study level may also impact eligibility.
Some scholarships consider extracurricular activities and volunteering as additional advantages.
Each scholarship has specific eligibility criteria:
Some may only require an application.
Others may have additional conditions to fulfil.
For research-centric programs, you may need to submit written assignments.
Reach out to the university admissions centre if you have any doubts.
The amount of money available and the type of award varies between institutions. Certain research programs may provide up to 100% of the tuition fee besides covering a part of your living expenditures. You may experience higher competition when you apply for government scholarships in comparison to the university scholarships. So, we suggest you start with the procedure about 8-12 months before your preferred intake in the USA begins.
Learn more about, the cost of studying in the USA
Here are some popular scholarship programs you can apply to study in the US as an Indian student:
S.no. | Name of the scholarship | Description |
1 | Fulbright- Nehru Fellowships | Applicable for international students who are applying to master’s or PhD programs; this scholarship covers tuition fees, accident, and sickness coverage as per US guidelines, airfare, and living costs You will receive a monthly stipend to support your course in case of PhD. However, for other levels of education, the grant and duration may differ It covers only J-1 visa support (Source:http://www.usief.org.in/Fellowships/Fulbright-Nehru-Master-Fellowships.aspx |
2 | Hubert Humphrey Fellowship Program | This program is a part of the Fullbright program, and aims to bring an accomplished young and mid-career professional from a developing country to study in the US for 10 months of non-degree graduate study and related practical experience A new offering in this program is Long-Term English (LTE) language training – limited to minority, rural, or non-elite crowd that lacks in required language skills but are outstanding in their field LTE participant is given an intensive 20-25-week pre-academic training to enhance their language skills This program covers tuition fees, monthly maintenance allowance, living expenses, airfare, professional expenses like field trips etc. (Source: http://www.usief.org.in/Fellowships/Fulbright-Nehru-Master-Fellowships.aspx) |
3 | #YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship | It’s a scholarship and social media campaign designed to welcome international students into US higher education system irrespective of the subject area You are required to submit an essay or video which depicts your initiative and interest to promote intercultural exchange activities In this, the participating university and college will offer you two annual and renewable scholarships that will include a minimum cover of 50% of tuition fees to enroll in the selected international undergraduate program Your essay or multimedia project should highlight the leadership skills that you may wish to apply on the university campus (Source: https://www.youarewelcomehereusa.org/) |
4 | IEFA | This is a summer program sponsored by Abbey Road Inc. which grants scholarships to a 14-18 aged high school student that shows exemplary performance in their academics and extracurricular activities It offers five $1,000 student scholarships each year in specific areas (feel free to reach out to IDP for more information) The award amount is $500 (Source:https://www.iefa.org/scholarships/2323/$1,000_Level_Summer_Scholarships) |
5 | AAUW International Fellowships | These fellowships are awarded to international women students for full-time study and research in the US. It supports both graduate and post-graduate students accredited in the US institutions Amount of scholarships is: Master’s/first professional degree: $20,000 Graduate or Postdoctoral: $25,000-$50,000 The duration is up to five International Fellowships This is for master’s/first professional degrees that will be renewable for a second year Source:https://www.aauw.org/ |
*This is an indicative list, speak with your IDP experts for details and the best available options suited to your profile
Also, most American universities and colleges have their own list of scholarships for Indian students. Don’t worry if you get stuck anywhere, our international education experts will be more than happy to guide you through.
Ques 1: How do I find scholarships to study in the US?
Ans. There are many resources available to find scholarships to study in the US, including scholarship search engines, college and university websites, and private scholarship providers.
Ques 2: How do I find scholarships to study in the US?
Ans. Eligibility requirements for scholarships vary depending on the scholarship provider and the specific scholarship. Some scholarships are open to all students, while others are limited to specific groups of students, such as students from certain countries or students pursuing certain fields of study.
Ques 3: What is the application process for scholarships to study in the US?
Ans. The application process for scholarships varies depending on the scholarship provider and the specific scholarship. Typically, students will need to fill out an application form and provide supporting documents, such as transcripts, essays, and letters of recommendation.
Ques 4: When is the best time to apply for scholarships to study in the US?
Ans. The best time to apply for scholarships varies depending on the scholarship provider and the specific scholarship. Some scholarships have deadlines several months in advance of the start of the academic year, while others may have rolling deadlines or be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis.
Ques 5: Can I apply for multiple scholarships to study in the US?
Ans. Yes, you can apply for multiple scholarships to study in the US. In fact, it is often recommended that students apply for as many scholarships as possible to increase their chances of receiving financial aid.