Scholarships and Financial Aids for USA Students
Students from the United States of America (USA) can study in other parts of world through the Financial Aids, Loans and Scholarships provided by the USA government and other private organizations. Most foreign study destination for US students may include countries like, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, China, Japan, South Korea, Israel, Brazil, UK, Russia, Ireland, Norway, Netherlands and other European countries.
Most of the universities can colleges from the countries mentioned about may participate in the US Federal Government loan programs that allow US students to study abroad.
The USA Government Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program has three major categories, including Stafford Loans, PLUS Loans, and Consolidation Loans.
Most of the universities can colleges from the countries mentioned about may participate in the US Federal Government loan programs that allow US students to study abroad.
The USA Government Federal Family Education Loan (FFEL) program has three major categories, including Stafford Loans, PLUS Loans, and Consolidation Loans.
- PLUS Loans are for the parents of undergraduates.
- Grad PLUS loans are for graduate students.
- Consolidation Loans combine multiple loans into one loan.
Stafford Loans for USA Students
The Stafford Loans are for undergraduate and graduate students, and fall into two groups:
Subsidised: Students must demonstrate financial need to qualify for the subsidised Stafford Loan. The federal government, on behalf of the borrower, pays the interest that accrues while the student is in school, during authorised deferment periods, and for six months after the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time. The borrower begins paying the interest when the loan enters repayment.
Unsubsidised: Students are not required to demonstrate financial need to qualify for the unsubsidised Stafford Loan. Unlike the subsidised loan, the borrower must pay all the interest that begins to accrue immediately upon disbursement regardless of enrolment status or loan deferments. Interest can be paid monthly or quarterly or be capitalised (added to the principal balance).
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for a loan, the you must:
Subsidised: Students must demonstrate financial need to qualify for the subsidised Stafford Loan. The federal government, on behalf of the borrower, pays the interest that accrues while the student is in school, during authorised deferment periods, and for six months after the student ceases to be enrolled at least half-time. The borrower begins paying the interest when the loan enters repayment.
Unsubsidised: Students are not required to demonstrate financial need to qualify for the unsubsidised Stafford Loan. Unlike the subsidised loan, the borrower must pay all the interest that begins to accrue immediately upon disbursement regardless of enrolment status or loan deferments. Interest can be paid monthly or quarterly or be capitalised (added to the principal balance).
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for a loan, the you must:
- Be enrolled or accepted for enrolment at least half-time in an eligible degree or certificate program at an eligible institution.
- Have a high school diploma or its equivalent.
- Be in good standing and making satisfactory academic progress if currently enrolled.
- Be a citizen, permanent resident or eligible non-citizen of the United States.
- Not be in default or owe a refund on any federal education grant or loan unless satisfactory arrangements have been made to repay the outstanding debt.
Stafford Loan Limits
The US federal government has set annual and aggregate limits on the amount of money a student can borrow under the Stafford Loan program. A student may receive a subsidised loan, an unsubsidised loan or a combination of the two for each academic period.
However, the total amount of all the Stafford Loans may not exceed the loan limits for the academic period. This total amount is calculated on the student’s dependency status, grade level and length of the program of study that the student is enrolled. An academic period may be one semester, two semesters or three semesters.
For more information, please visit the US Department of Education website and click on the "Funding" tab for further information on US student loans.
Website : https://studentaid.gov/
For more information on US federal loans, call the Federal Student Aid Information Centre toll-free on 1-800-4-FED-AID.
The US federal government has set annual and aggregate limits on the amount of money a student can borrow under the Stafford Loan program. A student may receive a subsidised loan, an unsubsidised loan or a combination of the two for each academic period.
However, the total amount of all the Stafford Loans may not exceed the loan limits for the academic period. This total amount is calculated on the student’s dependency status, grade level and length of the program of study that the student is enrolled. An academic period may be one semester, two semesters or three semesters.
For more information, please visit the US Department of Education website and click on the "Funding" tab for further information on US student loans.
Website : https://studentaid.gov/
For more information on US federal loans, call the Federal Student Aid Information Centre toll-free on 1-800-4-FED-AID.
Scholarships for USA Students
The USA government and private organizations offer wide range of scholarship opportunities for international study for US students. It is recommended that US students must apply for these scholarships before taking up studies abroad. Some of the Scholarships that USA students are eligible to apply for studies abroad are listed below.
- Asian Development Bank Scholarships
- World Bank Scholarships
- Rotary International Scholarships
- World Health Organization Scholarships
- Rockefeller Foundation Scholarships
- The Association of Commonwealth Universities - US students can secure scholarships through the Associaltion of Commonwealth Universities scholarships. Commonwealth postgraduate students offered by governments, Rotary International, World Bank, World Health Organization, Asian Development Bank, United Nations, Rockefeller Foundation, and other organisations.
- Asian Development Bank Scholarships
- World Bank Scholarships
- Rotary International Scholarships
- World Health Organization Scholarships
- Rockefeller Foundation Scholarships
- Institute for International Education (IIE) - Describes IIE administered fellowships available to US graduate students wishing to study and/or conduct research abroad. Check out for
Washington University James Harrison Steedman Memorial Fellowships in Architecture - Provides assistance to architecture graduates, regardless of age, to travel and study architecture abroad.
Fulbright Scholarship - The largest US international exchange program offering opportunities for students, scholars and professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools worldwide.
Fulbright Anne-Wexler Scholarship in Public Policy - Funded through the Government of Australia's Australia Awards program and administered by the Australian-American Fulbright Commission, the Fulbright-Anne Wexler scholarships provide funding for Americans to study for a master's program in public policy in Australia.
The Explorers Club Exploration Fund - Supports graduate study abroad students in exploration and field research. Open to graduate students only.
Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships - Designed to encourage original and significant study of ethical or religious values in all fields. Open to graduate students only.
US Department of Education, Jacob K. Javits Fellowships - Provides financial assistance to students of superior ability in the fields of the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Open to graduate students only.
American Australian Association - The American Australian Association Education Fund awards individual fellowships of up to $US25,000 each year in its USA to Australia Program. With this Australian scholarship, the Association encourages intellectual interchange and the fellowships are intended to build on the strong social and economic partnership between Australia and the United States.
Arts International Lila Wallace – Readers Digest International Artists - Provides funding for visual artists for international residencies. Open to all levels.
Population Council Fellowships in the Social Sciences - Supports the advanced training studies or study plans in population in order to contribute to meeting the needs of the population field by processing high-level scientific and technical skills.
International Education Financial Aid (IEFA) - IEFA is a resource for financial aid, scholarship, and grant information for US and international students wishing to study abroad.
IIE Passport - IIE manages a database of study abroad scholarships, fellowships and grants. The IIE Passport Study Abroad website allows students to search by country or field of study.
Rotary Foundation - The purpose of the Ambassadorial Scholarship program is to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries. The program sponsors several types of scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as for qualified professionals pursuing vocational studies.
Gilman International Scholarship Program - This program seeks to lower the barriers to undergraduate study abroad by offering scholarships to students with financial need. The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship program is sponsored by the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of State and administered by the Institute of International Education. The award is up to $US5,000 for semester or academic programs.
American Institute for Foreign Study - AIFS annually awards more than $US250,000 in scholarships to students who demonstrate high academic achievement, or students who demonstrate financial need.
Hispanic Study Abroad Scholars - This program aims to address the causes of the gap in US study abroad demographics and provides scholarships for Hispanic students.
Diversity Abroad Study Abroad Scholarships - In partnership with Globalinks Learning Abroad and The Foundation for Asia Pacific Education, Diversity Abroad will offer $A1,000 scholarships for undergraduate students to study abroad in the Asia/Pacific region during summer, fall and spring terms. This program is aimed at increasing non-traditional students participation in education abroad in the Asia/Pacific region.
FinAid - Information about financial aid for study abroad and exchange programs.
East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes for US Graduate Students - The primary goals of EAPSI are to introduce students to East Asia and Pacific science and engineering in the context of a research setting, and to help students initiate scientific relationships that will better enable future collaboration with foreign counterparts. Other scholarship opportunities from the National Science Foundation .
Australian-American Health Policy Fellowship (opens in a new window) - The Australian-American Health Policy Fellowship offers a unique opportunity for outstanding, mid-career U.S. professionals—academics, government officials, clinical leaders, decision-makers in managed care and other private health care organizations, and journalists—to spend up to 10 months in Australia conducting research and working with leading Australian health policy experts on issues relevant to both countries.
There are other scholarships that American students are eligible to apply, check listings below
Fulbright Scholarship - The largest US international exchange program offering opportunities for students, scholars and professionals to undertake international graduate study, advanced research, university teaching, and teaching in elementary and secondary schools worldwide.
Fulbright Anne-Wexler Scholarship in Public Policy - Funded through the Government of Australia's Australia Awards program and administered by the Australian-American Fulbright Commission, the Fulbright-Anne Wexler scholarships provide funding for Americans to study for a master's program in public policy in Australia.
The Explorers Club Exploration Fund - Supports graduate study abroad students in exploration and field research. Open to graduate students only.
Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships - Designed to encourage original and significant study of ethical or religious values in all fields. Open to graduate students only.
US Department of Education, Jacob K. Javits Fellowships - Provides financial assistance to students of superior ability in the fields of the arts, humanities, and social sciences. Open to graduate students only.
American Australian Association - The American Australian Association Education Fund awards individual fellowships of up to $US25,000 each year in its USA to Australia Program. With this Australian scholarship, the Association encourages intellectual interchange and the fellowships are intended to build on the strong social and economic partnership between Australia and the United States.
Arts International Lila Wallace – Readers Digest International Artists - Provides funding for visual artists for international residencies. Open to all levels.
Population Council Fellowships in the Social Sciences - Supports the advanced training studies or study plans in population in order to contribute to meeting the needs of the population field by processing high-level scientific and technical skills.
International Education Financial Aid (IEFA) - IEFA is a resource for financial aid, scholarship, and grant information for US and international students wishing to study abroad.
IIE Passport - IIE manages a database of study abroad scholarships, fellowships and grants. The IIE Passport Study Abroad website allows students to search by country or field of study.
Rotary Foundation - The purpose of the Ambassadorial Scholarship program is to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries. The program sponsors several types of scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as for qualified professionals pursuing vocational studies.
Gilman International Scholarship Program - This program seeks to lower the barriers to undergraduate study abroad by offering scholarships to students with financial need. The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship program is sponsored by the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of State and administered by the Institute of International Education. The award is up to $US5,000 for semester or academic programs.
American Institute for Foreign Study - AIFS annually awards more than $US250,000 in scholarships to students who demonstrate high academic achievement, or students who demonstrate financial need.
Hispanic Study Abroad Scholars - This program aims to address the causes of the gap in US study abroad demographics and provides scholarships for Hispanic students.
Diversity Abroad Study Abroad Scholarships - In partnership with Globalinks Learning Abroad and The Foundation for Asia Pacific Education, Diversity Abroad will offer $A1,000 scholarships for undergraduate students to study abroad in the Asia/Pacific region during summer, fall and spring terms. This program is aimed at increasing non-traditional students participation in education abroad in the Asia/Pacific region.
FinAid - Information about financial aid for study abroad and exchange programs.
East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes for US Graduate Students - The primary goals of EAPSI are to introduce students to East Asia and Pacific science and engineering in the context of a research setting, and to help students initiate scientific relationships that will better enable future collaboration with foreign counterparts. Other scholarship opportunities from the National Science Foundation .
Australian-American Health Policy Fellowship (opens in a new window) - The Australian-American Health Policy Fellowship offers a unique opportunity for outstanding, mid-career U.S. professionals—academics, government officials, clinical leaders, decision-makers in managed care and other private health care organizations, and journalists—to spend up to 10 months in Australia conducting research and working with leading Australian health policy experts on issues relevant to both countries.
There are other scholarships that American students are eligible to apply, check listings below
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