International students are eligible for scholarships in the same way as US students, although they may need to provide additional documentation during the application process. Many international students come to the United States in search of quality higher education, and this resource provides information primarily for students with nonimmigrant visas (F-1, J-1, etc.). Information for permanent residents of the United States is also included. The minimum scholarship aid is available to international students, and most of it is reserved for postgraduate studies.
Institutions offer little or no discount on tuition, although both private and public institutions may waive application fees in some situations. EduPASS (The Smart Student Guide for Study in the USA) also offers a comprehensive glossary of terms relevant to student financial aid. The budgeted cost of attendance is a calculation of the total cost of each institution that is used to determine a student's level of financial need. This is a total of tuition, mandatory fees, room, board (where applicable), and estimated cost of books and other living expenses (and sometimes travel) for students at the particular institution.
Separate determinations may be made for students living at home or independently, at the discretion of the institution. EduPass provides a list of costs to include in your personal budget in addition to tuition, accommodation and meals. Geographic location will affect your spending as a result of different living costs. There are several cost-of-living calculators available on the Internet that can help you compare costs between two U.
S. locations. You may want to create a budget spreadsheet to keep track of the expenses you already know. Download a sample generic budget spreadsheet (19 kb) to keep track of each of your expenses.
Check with your university to take advantage of available supplements or fee waivers. Some public and private universities offer financial incentives for students to attend their institution. Most of the institutional aid available to international students is reserved for postgraduate studies in the form of assistantships and scholarships. Because it's uncommon for U.
institutions to offer aid to international undergraduate students, these scholarships are usually quite competitive. Remember that both public and private institutions may waive application fees in some situations; be sure to check with your university to take advantage of any supplements or exemptions they may offer. Merit-based scholarships are awarded on the basis of skills, talents or special abilities. Your university may have scholarships based on TOEFL scores, academic record, artistic ability, musical ability, or athletic aptitude.
Merit-based scholarships are often very competitive; you will need to demonstrate exceptional skill in the required area to be considered. Need-based scholarships are awarded based on financial need; those students who can demonstrate need at a predetermined level are eligible for this type of aid. Many scholarships for undergraduate studies are available only for U. citizens and nationals; however, there are databases of free scholarships as well as private, corporate, non-profit and government scholarship funds that serve international undergraduate students.
Department of Education and EduPass offer tips and resources to protect students from rogue organizations. Although rare, international student loans are available to people who meet certain criteria; a guarantor is someone who guarantees and is responsible for payment to the lending institution if for any reason they are unable to repay the loan. A variety of organizations and institutions offer private loans to international students; many provide assistance aimed at students from specific regions or countries who meet certain criteria. Non-immigrant students are not eligible for employment in federal work-study positions; federal regulations governing nonimmigrant categories F, M, and J strictly limit both the type and amount of other types of work students may perform in the United States.
Working without authorization in the United States is a serious matter and is considered a violation of immigration status; rules regarding employment of non-immigrant students are complex so be sure to discuss questions about eligibility with your campus International Student Advisor before accepting any job. It's also important to understand that working on or off campus cannot be your only source of funding; most jobs will provide money at best for basic living expenses only. Many forms of financial aid available to international undergraduate students are taxable; however, some exemptions may apply depending on visa type, length of time in the United States and type of grant or financial aid received. If your home country maintains a tax treaty with the United States you may qualify for full refund of taxes withheld from your financial aid grant by filing a non-resident tax return (1040NR) with a letter stating that your home country has a tax treaty with the United States; check with your international student advisor or campus tax office for more information.
According to EduPass, international undergraduate students are more likely to get a tax exemption if their financial aid is designated as an educational award rather than a work-related award; citizens and nationals, lawful permanent residents, refugees and asylees qualify for federal financial aid in the form of loans, grants or work-study opportunities while other categories may also qualify depending on circumstances.
