What comes to your mind first, when you hear the words international students grants in the U.S?
We have frequently or occasionally heard about grants as students and might not necessarily understand what it means.
Most people tend to mistake grants for loans but, we will be explaining to you exactly what grant is and how you can make judicious use of them.
What is A Grant?
Grant is a specific amount of money or fund allocated by an organization ( Government or NGOs) to assist students or the general public in a particular way of need.
It could be to help students further their academics, provide materials for learning, or assistance for palliatives just as in the case of the pandemic ( for example ).
These funds are provided without an intention for the beneficiaries to pay back in any way, but loans are meant to be paid back either by the exact amount given or with a sort of interest attached.
What You Need to Know About International Students Grants in The U.S
• International student grants in the U.S are usually granted for the following reasons: grants based around the subject you choose and grants awarded for nationality.
• You can apply for both national and international grants of varying amounts.
• Grants can be offered as subject-based grants
• You can receive a grant based on your country of origin for studying abroad
• Grants are given as Hardship funds or scholarships by your chosen university and
• Grants are given by charities or official bodies
How to Apply for Studies Grant in The U.S
As a student in need of a grant, you need to note that the process of applying for a grant is cutthroat and aggressive even though you can be awarded multiple grants at a time.
The whole process of application arrangements had to start 18months before embarking on the program because of the complex nature of compiling documents for record purposes.
The reason for the early arrangement is that grants are competitive and many people are in for it, so you have to strive to register ahead for a better result by following the steps below.
• Obtain the application form
• Explain the reason why you need the money
• State what you’ll eventually use the money for
• Table what peculiarly distinguishes you from the other applicants.
These instructions should be strictly carried out in other to get the best outcome.
What you need to Look out for while Applying for a Grant
• Grants that centers on your country
• Grants that are based on your place of origin
• Grants proposed by your school
• Grants with a subject-base
• Grants awarded by charities
• Grants are given by NGOs
• Grants based on hardship.
Criteria for Application of Grants?
Whenever you set out to apply for a grant, have it at the back of your mind that every grant has criteria for application.
Such criteria range from the applicant’s ideal age, state, nationality, financial status, and grades in school.
Do not be too quick to make applications for any grant without having thorough research and investigation as to how it is being done accurately.
Organizations And Institutions That Are Fund Sources
There are lots of these fund sources to know, but we will explain 3 of them in our discussion.
US Department Of Education
They provide funding or grants to students, local and state education agencies, and also NGOs.
Check out their funding page for more information on their upcoming grants and supports opportunities that you can grab.
Bill And Melinda Gates Foundation.
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is a private funding source and their support is in supporting educational programs that build students for college, work, and good citizenship through academic challenges ( rigors ) and personal attention.
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation
Charles Stewart Mott Foundation is also a private funding source that focuses on children from low to medium income communities looking for grants.
Also, there are some higher institutions (public and private) that offer a certain percentage of money for students to assist in their education.
These institutional financial aids are provided for graduates students internationally in form of assistance.
Although it is not usual for higher institutions in the USA to give grants to international students who are undergraduates, the scholarships are quite aggressive.
Most schools usually remove the application fees of their students in most instances, so you have to pay attention to this opportunity as many students may not care to note.
As a student who needs a scholarship in your school, you have to possess and demonstrate special ability and talent.
These special abilities and talents could be skills, exceptional academic record, musical abilities, artistic abilities, Merit-based, etc.
Your abilities in these areas have to be extremely good to acquire this opportunity.
Also, international students who are in need are being granted Scholarships, so most times as an international student, you should go to your department in school to confirm your legibility.
In addition, one can acquire a scholarship base on their need.
Some students are less privileged, bereaved while in school, orphans, and might not be able to cover their expenses, for these reasons, they can be eligible for some scholarships, grants, or loans.
Scholarships and Grants
Grants of this nature are mostly available to citizens and permanent residents of the US.
International undergraduate students can be opportune to free Scholarship databases and corporate, private and government Scholarship database comes in two forms
The one that comes with charges and the ones that come free without any cost.
You can make research and find out free databases, but you have to be conscious of some Scholarships that are not genuine.
Do not send your bank or credit card details to any organization that promises scholarships without proper consultation on how they work.
You can check on how legit it is by making inquiries through the office of the international student at the university you want to apply to.
Beyond this, the U.S. Department of education and EDUPASS also give tips and resources to secure students from organizations that are not trustworthy.
International Students Grants in the U.S
Below are examples of the most reliable and trusted grants for international students that are supported and administered by individual colleges and universities.
The University of Cincinnati Grant
The University of Cincinnati is given out a limited number of grants for international students who want to further their degree program in the school.
University of Cincinnati International Students grants come in form of financial help to students at both the undergraduate and graduate levels
Criteria for accessing the UC grants is that students must be full-time and awards are determined based on academic excellence and serious financial need.
Columbia College
Columbia College is another good example of reliable grants for international students in the USA.
The grants are available to only freshman and transfer students who have good academic results.
The grants which are valued at $ 1000 are for international students who meet the college’s stringent academic requirements.
Lewis and Clark University
is offering varieties of grants through Davis United World Scholarship for eligible international students.
The Lewis and Clark grants are given and determined by a combination of financial need and a good academic achievement
Eligible foreign students can stand a chance of getting up to $10,000 in financial aid.
The American Association of University Women
This is another good grants opportunity for international students that is strictly women from 116 countries of the world.
The American Association for women gives funds and resources to help women further their graduate and Master’s degrees at a college or university in the United States.
Eligible candidates are selected based on good academic performance and a commitment to the development of women and girls in their home individual countries.
Fulbright Education Exchange Program
The Fulbright Education Exchange Program is a wonderful grant of financial aid to foreign students that is supported by the U. S. Department of State.
The Fulbright gives diverse robust merit-based grants for foreign students studying in the United States.
Most Fulbright grants provide funding that covers round-trip transportation, monthly stipends for the duration of the grant, and full or partial tuition.
However, not all Fulbright scholarship grants are available in all countries, if you are interested, you have to check the Fulbright website for a list of participating countries.
Tiffin University Dean Grants For International students.
International merit scholarships are awarded to full-time international students during their first year at Tiffin University.
The amount awarded to a first-year, transfer, or graduate student is the amount they can continue to receive during their enrollment at Tiffin University.
We do not move scholarship amounts up after the first year. This scholarship can not go toward bookstore charges. To maintain the full amount of the scholarship students must be enrolled in full-time status.
If a student is enrolled in less than full-time status their international scholarship will be prorated to account for the number of credits they are enrolled in.
Students are only eligible to receive ONE institutional scholarship/discount. All financial aid documents required for financial aid and all admissions documents required for admissions is required.
Financial Aid will NOT disburse onto accounts until all final official documents are received.
Note: “All eligible undergraduate students are required to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to receive any Tiffin University Aid. This includes but is not limited to Academic Scholarships, Athletic Scholarships, Dragon Assistant Grant, Arts Scholarships, and Leadership Scholarships.”
Fund Sourcing Websites for Legit Scholarship
College Board: This website is an online financial aid source for scholarships, loans, and grants for all permanent residents and international students.
Abroad Planet Scholarship Resources: also an online body for international students studying in the US.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO): This Scholarship is free and is a searchable database.
International education financial aid, a free online Scholarship search service: It was established for the international students
Fastweb: Free online Scholarship search service
Mobility International USA: This is a free online scholarship resource for the disabled who are not the citizens of USA.
So, there you have the best five international student grants in the US for your consideration and other sources that can support your education.