Comfortable, affordable and convenient housing can make or break your study abroad experience in Canada. Navigating the housing market in big cities like Toronto and Vancouver can feel especially challenging. But here’s the good news: With the right tools and preparation, you can secure a place that fits your budget and your living preferences!
Start your search early
This might sound obvious, but the sooner you can start your housing search the better. Canada is one of the most popular countries for international students, which means student housing in big cities can fill up quickly – particularly near colleges and universities. A great place to start your search is with your school. In most cases, Canadian schools will have dedicated housing resources for students, including housing boards with on- and off-campus rental listings.
Know your budget
When you start your search for housing in Canada, you need to know how much you can afford to pay every month. It’s a good idea to keep this amount a little lower than what you can actually afford since rent doesn’t typically include utilities and internet – unless you’re living on-campus, of course. It’s also smart to open a Canadian banking account as you’re preparing to move abroad. This will help you set aside money for your rent each month without incurring potentially high foreign exchange and transfer fees. You can learn more about student banking in Canada with TD Bank.*
Living on-campus can be the most affordable option for international students, and the cost often includes utilities, internet and meal plans. Plus, when you live on campus, you avoid excessive transportation costs since you won’t have to commute to your classes. Living on-campus is also a great way to meet other students. But remember, on-campus housing is often limited. Apply early to secure an on-campus option such as a dorm room or shared apartment.
Look for off-campus housing with roommates
Off-campus housing, especially if you have roommates, can be just as affordable as on-campus housing – although it doesn’t usually offer the same convenience. But where on-campus housing offers convenience, off-campus housing offers a more full experience of Canadian culture since you’ll be living like a true local. To start your off-campus search, determine your monthly budget and your location preferences. Then, explore the variety of reputable Canadian housing websites like RentBoard, Casita and other platforms specific to your city.
Sharing a house or apartment with other students is one of the most cost-effective ways to live in major Canadian cities like Toronto or Vancouver where rent prices can be high. Websites like Kijiji, Facebook Marketplace and Roomster can help you find roommates. Remember to always meet potential roommates and visit the space before committing to anything. If a deal is too good to be true, or if someone is demanding money upfront, it might be a sign of a potential scam.
Go beyond downtown
In major cities, the downtown neighborhoods are often the most expensive. The solution? Expand your search to just a few miles outside of downtown to find lower prices. You might be able to research which neighborhoods are popular for students since many take this approach. But keep in mind that the further away from campus you live, the more you’ll have to pay in transportation costs.
Let’s recap
Finding affordable housing in a major Canadian city might take some extra effort and planning – but as long as you start early, know your budget, and consider all your options, you’ll be able to find options that fit your preferencesandyour budget. If you’re having trouble finding a place before your academic period starts, look into short-term rentals (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.). While these options are less affordable, they can help you get settled in your new city while continuing your search for longer-term housing. Happy apartment hunting!
*MPOWER has referral agreements with TD Bank and may earn referral fees from this relationship.
When applying to a university in the U.S., you must take specific tests to be accepted into the program of your choice. As an international student whose first language is not English, one of these is a standardized test to assess your proficiency in the English language. Several companies offer tests accepted by most universities worldwide, but one of the top tests is the TOEFL.
What is the TOEFL?
TOEFL stands for Test of English as a Foreign Language. It is a standardized test created and offered by the Educational Testing Service. This test is one of the tests available to international students who wish to study in the U.S. but whose first language is not English. The TOEFL tests an applicant’s ability to read, write, listen to and speak English in an academic setting. As one of the most widely accepted standardized tests for English language proficiency, it’s used in more than 150 countries and 11,500 institutions worldwide.
How is the TOEFL structured?
The test is divided into four sections:
Reading – Thirty to 40 questions with 54 to 72 minutes to complete.
Listening – Thirty-nine questions with 41 to 57 minutes to complete.
Speaking – Four tasks with 20 minutes to complete.
Writing – Two tasks with 50 minutes to complete.
The total test time is three hours, with 30 minutes to check in and get organized and a 10-minute break between the second and third sections.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of each section:
Reading
This section requires you to read three or four passages of about 700 words taken from university-level textbooks. You will answer 10 questions per passage. The answers can be found in the relevant passage, so there is no need to be familiar with the topic.
Listening
This test section determines how well you can understand lectures and conversations. This includes assessing your basic understanding, understanding the speaker’s opinions and attitude and how well you can pull and analyze information from what you heard.
You will hear three or four lectures lasting three to five minutes. There will be six questions for each lecture. You will also hear two or three conversations lasting three minutes. There will be five questions per discussion. You may take notes while listening to the lectures and exchanges to help when you are answering the questions.
Speaking
In this section, you will answer four questions to assess how well you can speak academic English. The first question will require you to respond based on your thoughts, experiences and opinions. The other three questions require you to combine your speaking skills with listening and/or reading, which you would encounter in a real-life setting. All your responses will be recorded as you speak into the microphone.
Writing
The writing section assesses how well you communicate in written English. There are two tasks. The first is an integrated writing task requiring you to respond to a short written passage and a short audio lecture. The second is an independent writing task requiring you to write an essay based on your thoughts, experiences and opinions.
TOEFL Scoring
The TOEFL is scored on a scale of zero to 120, weighted evenly between the four sections. This means each section is worth 30 points and the total score is the sum of the scores in each section. For example, if you score 28 in reading, 27 in writing, 25 in listening and 26 in speaking, your total score would be 28 + 27 + 25 + 26 = 106.
Even though each section of the test has a maximum of 30 points, the proficiency range for each section varies. Here’s the proficiency breakdown based on section scores:
Reading
Advanced – Scores between 24 and 30.
High-Intermediate – Scores between 18 and 23.
Low-Intermediate – Scores between four and 17.
Below Low-Intermediate – Scores between zero and three.
Listening
Advanced – Scores between 22 and 30.
High-Intermediate – Scores between 17 and 21.
Low-Intermediate – Scores between nine and 16.
Below Low-Intermediate – Scores between zero and eight.
Speaking
Advanced – Scores between 25 and 30.
High-Intermediate – Scores between 20 and 24.
Low-Intermediate – Scores between 16 and 19.
Basic – Scores between 10 and 15.
Below Basic – Scores between zero and nine.
Writing
Advanced – Scores between 24 and 30.
High-Intermediate – Scores between 17 and 23.
Low-Intermediate – Scores between 13 and 16.
Basic – Scores between seven and 12.
Below Basic – Scores between zero and six.
Remember, there is no pass or fail with the TOEFL. Instead, the university you are applying to will interpret your score based on its requirements.
Access to your TOEFL score will come in the form of a score report that you will have access to roughly six days after taking the test. Eight days after taking the test, your score report will be ready to download as a PDF. This is not an official copy of the score report. However, ETS will send an official copy of your test results to up to four schools of your choice.
If you wish to dispute your test scores and the ETS agrees that your scores may not be valid, you will be able to do one of the following:
Have your scores canceled and retake the test at no charge.
Have your scores canceled and the test fee refunded.
Submit the issue for arbitration (if you are in the U.S. when you take the test).
TOEFL cost
The cost of the TOEFL varies depending on what country you are taking it in. In general, it ranges from US$185 to US$265. Other fees include:
Late registration – US$40.
Rescheduling – US$60.
Reinstatement of canceled scores – US$20.
Additional score reports – US$20 per report.
Score review of the Reading or Listening section – US$80.
Score review of the Speaking or Writing section – US$120.
Insufficient funds – US$30.
How to take the TOEFL
To register for the TOEFL, you can use your ETS account, which also serves as your gateway to the entire testing process. When it comes to taking the TOEFL, you have the flexibility of choosing between multiple options. The exam can be undertaken at a certified test center conveniently located either nearby or in various international locations. For your convenience, ETS offers a user-friendly and easily navigable database containing all the authorized TOEFL testing locations, both within the United States and abroad. You can take the exam at a test center near you or online from home. There is a paper-based test available, but taking the online test, known as the internet-based test (iBT), is preferred. If you take the paper-based test, you will do so at a testing center over two sessions.
The TOEFL iBT can be taken in testing centers, and there is a TOEFL Home Edition if you want to take it from home. If you take the test in a test center, you will be provided with all the equipment and the testing environment you need to complete your test.
If you take the TOEFL at home, a proctor will monitor your exam. You will need to prepare your environment as follows:
A laptop or desktop computer (no Chromebooks, phones or tablets).
A single screen or monitor.
An up-to-date operating system – Windows 8 or 10 or Mac OS X 10.5 or higher.
A reliable and fast internet connection.
Chrome or Firefox browser.
The ETS Secure Test Browser, which can be downloaded from the TOEFL website.
A web camera capable of providing a 360-degree view of the room in which you are taking the test.
Internal or external speaker (headphones or earbuds are not allowed).
An internal or external microphone (must not be part of a headset).
You must ensure the environment in which you are taking the test is private and quiet. Your computer must be on a table or desk, and you should be seated in a chair. The computer and the chair must be positioned to have a clear view of you and the door, which must be closed.
You must dress appropriately without a watch, jewelry, head coverings (unless previously approved), purses, bags or other technology. Your cell phone may be used for check-in but must be removed from the testing area. There is no eating or drinking during the test, and you should not have books, notepads or writing implements nearby. Once you start the test, your browser will be locked, and you won’t be able to access anything else on your computer.If you want something to help you take notes, you are allowed a physical whiteboard or a piece of paper with a sheet protector. You can then use an erasable marker and a whiteboard eraser for taking notes. When the test is over, you must show your proctor that all notes have been erased.
Once you finish the test, you will receive your results in 13 calendar days for the paper-based test and three to five days after the online test. You can check these results on the Test Taker Portal. Online test results will be mailed to you 13 days after your test date, and results will be sent to institutions requiring an original copy. Test results will not be emailed to you or disclosed over the phone.
If you do not pass the TOEFL, you can retake the test every 12 days, and there is no limit on the number of times you can take it.
Canceling or rescheduling the TOEFL
You can cancel the TOEFL test for a refund of 50% of the paid test fee or pay an additional fee to change the date of your test registration. This must be done no later than three full days before the test date. Any refunds owed to you will take three to four weeks to be credited to your account. If you wish to reschedule, you must do so at least four full days before your test date, and you will be charged a fee of US$60.
TOEFL preparation and tips
Now that you know what to expect when taking the TOEFL, here are some final tips:
Take practice tests before you take the real one, so you can become familiar with the types of questions on the test and the test format.
Carefully read all the test instructions before you begin the exam.
Create a study routine to make the most of your study time. This should include setting up a study schedule, sticking with it and ensuring you take study breaks. The goal is not to overwhelm yourself.
Always pay close attention to the time when taking the test.
Always review your answers after you finish.
Practice writing within a strict time frame.
Practice taking notes.
Practice speaking to yourself in English and practice speaking English with anyone you know who speaks the language.
Practice reading English through news articles, blogs and books.
Watch and listen to English media, including television shows, movies, radio, videos and podcasts.
Finally, when taking the test, skip any questions you are unsure of and go back to them once you have finished answering all the questions in that section. Remember that you must check your answers for each section before you move on because once you leave a section, you can’t go back.
Final word on the TOEFL
Proving you are proficient in English is only one of many steps you must take when applying to a university in the U.S., but it’s important. The last thing you want is to arrive in the U.S., start your studies and have difficulty keeping up because you don’t understand the course content, your professors or your fellow students. The TOEFL assesses how well you can converse in English, but it can also assess your English language strengths and weaknesses.
IELTS stands for International English Language Testing System. It’s one of the top tests in the world for proving English language proficiency. Many non-native English speakers need to take the IELTS exam when going to an English-speaking country to live, work or go to school. If you are an international student wishing to study at a university or college in the U.S., you will take the IELTS Academic. You can use your results to prove your English proficiency at an academic level.
What is the IELTS?
The IELTS is an exam testing English proficiency that is jointly owned and offered by the British Council, IDP IELTS and Cambridge University Press & Assessment. The IELTS Academic test is designed to assess your ability to use the English language in an academic setting and to study at the degree level you’ve applied for in countries such as the U.S., the U.K., Canada, New Zealand and Australia. More than 11,000 organizations around the world recognize the IELTS.
IELTS Exam Structure
The IELTS consists of four sections: listening, reading, writing and speaking.
The listening, reading and writing sections are taken together on the same day. However, the speaking part of the test is typically taken a week before or after the other sections. The total time for the listening, reading and writing portions of the test is two hours and 45 minutes. The overall test is broken down as follows:
Listening
This part of the test takes 30 minutes. You will listen to four recordings, including:
Recording 1 – A casual conversation between two people.
Recording 2 – A monologue, such as a speech.
Recording 3 – A conversation between two to four people in an educational setting.
Recording 4 – A monologue on an academic subject.
This part of the test evaluates your ability to understand what you hear, including the main ideas, facts, attitudes and opinions, and to follow how ideas are developed through speech.
Reading
This part of the test takes 60 minutes. It is made up of 40 questions designed to test your reading skills, including your understanding of the main ideas of the material. You must know how to skim and read in detail to understand any logical arguments and the writer’s attitudes and opinions.
Writing
This part of the test takes 60 minutes. It is made up of two formal writing tasks, as follows:
Task 1 – In your own words, explain, describe or summarize the information on a graph, chart, diagram or table.
Task 2 – Write an essay based on a specific problem, argument or point of view.
Speaking
This part of the test takes 11 to 14 minutes. There are three parts as follows:
Part 1 – Answer questions about yourself and topics familiar to you.
Part 2 – Discuss a specific topic, with one minute to prepare and two minutes of speaking time.
Part 3 – Answer questions about the topic you spoke about in Part 2.
IELTS Scoring
The IELTS uses a band score system. Each test section is scored separately on a scale of one to nine in increments of 0.5. Here is a breakdown of what each point on the scoring scale means:
1 – Non-user
2 – Intermittent user
3 – Extremely limited user
4 – Limited user
5 – Moderate user
6 – Competent user
7 – Good user
8 – Very good user
9 – Expert user
You will end up with four scores at the end of your test. These four scores will also be averaged to give you an overall band score. If the average of your four scores ends in .25, your band score will be rounded up to the nearest half point. If the average of your four scores ends in .5, your band score will be rounded up to the nearest whole point.
When qualifying for university, most schools require a minimum overall band score of 6.5 and all individual sections no lower than 5.5. If you don’t score high enough to qualify for acceptance the first time, you will know what areas of English language communications you need to focus on to raise your score. For example, you may have scored well in the listening and reading parts of the test, but not as well on the writing and speaking parts. If you disagree with your scores, you may apply to have your test remarked by a senior examiner.
IELTS Cost
The cost of the IELTS varies by country. Examples of the cost as of 2023 in certain countries are:
Brazil – 840 BRL
Canada – CA $319
China – NTD 7,000
Denmark – DKK 1,895
Finland – EUR 250
France – EUR 235
Germany – EUR 229
India – 13250 INR
Iran – IRR 30,500,000
Italy – EUR 238
Japan – 25,380 JPY
Mexico – MXN 3,600
Netherlands – EUR 225
Norway – NOK 2,950/3,000
Spain – EUR 220
Sweden – SEK 2,500
Switzerland – CHF 369
How to Take the IELTS
The IELTS can be taken in a test center on paper or on a computer or remotely online. Online tests are the preferred option and are offered in most countries around the world. Even if the test is taken remotely online, human examiners will monitor the listening, reading and writing parts of the test in real time and grade the test. The speaking test will be done via video conference with a live IELTS examiner.
If you take the IELTS at a test center, you will be supplied with everything you need to take the test. If you are taking the test at home, you will need to have the following:
A laptop or desktop computer (no Chromebooks, phones or tablets).
An up-to-date operating system.
A reliable and fast internet connection.
The Safe Exam Browser (SEB) downloaded from the IELTS website.
The Zoom app.
A web camera, providing a 360-degree view of the room where you are taking the test.
Internal or external speakers or headphones.
A microphone.
A photo of yourself to be checked against a picture of your ID before beginning the test.
You must also ensure that the environment where you are taking the exam is private and quiet. You are not permitted to have phones, smart watches, books or notes nearby or on your person. Once you start the test, your browser will be locked, and you won’t be able to access anything else on your computer.
Once you finish the test, you will receive your results in 13 calendar days for the paper-based test and three to five days after the online test. You can check these results on the Test Taker Portal. Online test results will be mailed to you 13 days after your test date, and results will be sent to institutions requiring an original copy. Test results will not be emailed to you or disclosed over the phone.
If you do not do well enough on the IELTS test, you can retake it as soon as you feel ready. However, to get a better score, you will need to put in the work to improve your English proficiency.
Canceling or rescheduling the IELTS
You can cancel your scheduled test before the test date as follows:
More than 14 days before – You will get a refund of 75% of your test fee.
Six to 14 days before – You will get a refund of 50% of your test fee.
Five days or less – You will not receive a refund.
You can reschedule your test more than 14 days before the scheduled date, typically for 25% of the original test fee.
The new date for your test must be within three months from your original test date. Anything beyond three months will be considered a cancellation. You cannot reschedule your test within 14 days of your test date. This will also be considered a cancellation.
IELTS Preparation
Ultimately, you need to spend significant time preparing for the IELTS test. How much will depend on your current level of proficiency in English. You should begin preparing at least two to four weeks before your test date and use the preparation materials supplied on ielts.org. These include practice tests and other materials. You should also create a study plan and stick with it.
Study tips weeks before the IELTS
Your IELTS study plan should include the following:
Practice writing English within a strict time frame.
Practice taking notes in English.
Practice speaking to yourself in English and practice speaking English with anyone you know who speaks the language.
Read English writing through news articles, blogs and books.
Watch and listen to English media, including television shows, movies, radio, videos and podcasts.
Commit to learning a new word every day.
Take practice tests before you take the real one to become familiar with the test format and the types of questions.
Approach practice tests as if they were the real test by checking the answers in each section and timing yourself.
Study tips for the day of the IELTS
Use the English language in every way possible before your test. When your test day arrives, the following tips will help you:
If you are taking the test in a test center, arrive early enough to register and get settled. If you are taking the test at home, give yourself time to set up your space so you are ready on time.
Read all the test instructions carefully before you begin the exam.
Develop a study routine to make the most of your study time. This means setting up a study schedule and sticking with it, ensuring you take breaks and don’t overwhelm yourself.
Pay attention to the time when taking the test. A clock will be on the wall if you are in a test center. If you take the online test from home, a clock will be on the screen.
Review your answers for each section after you are finished. You will be given time at the end of each section to go through and check your answers, but once you move on to the next section, you will not be able to go back.
The IELTS Is Important
When it comes to studying in the U.S., being able to communicate in all forms in English is essential, not only for being accepted into your school of choice but also to get the most out of your time in the U.S. The IELTS is one of the best tests to help you assess your English proficiency and see where you need to improve if you aren’t at the level you need to be.
To explore further details about the IELTS exam, browse through eduPASS today for comprehensive information.
Master of Science Degrees in the US: A Guide for International Students
If you’re a STEM graduate planning to pursue a Master of Science degree in the United States, you know it’s a huge commitment and getting into a program can be challenging. This guide will help you navigate your choices, the application process and everything else you need to know to pursue your M.S. in the U.S.
Why earn a Master of Science degree in the US?
If you are on the fence about whether to pursue a Master of Science degree in the United States, here are a few reasons why it is a good decision:
Top-notch schools – The U.S. has some of the best schools in the world, including Yale, Harvard, Stanford and MIT.
State-of-the-art technology – American universities have leading edge technology and resources.
Superior faculty – Many of the teaching faculty at U.S. universities are highly qualified experts and industry professionals who produce top research in their fields.
Opportunity to network – There are plenty of opportunities to network within your field at professional events, such as seminars, conferences and employment fairs.
Ability to conduct research – Graduate programs in the U.S. emphasize research, making it possible for you to connect in-depth research to a theory or idea you are passionate about.
Assistantships – Most universities and M.S. programs provide students with assistantships, which provide students with financial support and allow them to assist their professors.
Internships – M.S. students in the U.S. are encouraged to participate in internships that will help them gain the experience they need to enter the workforce.
Post-graduation opportunities – Once you have graduated with your master’s degree in the U.S., you may have additional opportunities for teaching or research assistantships in your field.
In addition to these tangible benefits, you will also be able to enjoy life in the U.S. This includes engaging life on campus and the ability to take in U.S. culture and explore the diversity that the U.S. offers.
What you need to apply to a Master of Science program in the US
As long as you have an undergraduate degree, from anywhere in the world, you can submit an application for a Master of Science in the U.S. To apply, you will need the following:
A bachelor’s degree certificate in the same field in which you want to earn your M.S. (some universities may allow you to enroll in an M.S. without a related bachelor’s degree).
A minimum GPA of 3.0 (typically) for your undergraduate studies.
At least one letter of recommendation.
Your graduate admission test results (if required), such as the GRE for liberal arts programs, GMAT for business programs, LSAT for law school or MCAT for medical school.
A research proposal.
Proof of English proficiency if English is not your first language.
Proof you can pay for your program.
Resume and relevant work experience.
Proof of relevant extracurricular activities.
Statement of purpose that showcases your goals, future aspirations and suitability for the program.
How to choose a university for a Master of Science program in the US
Choosing the right school for your Master of Science degree in the U.S. is not to be taken lightly. You need to research what schools and programs are right for you. After all, there are a lot of things to take into account. Here’s what to consider when selecting the right university
Determine the type of program you are interested in.
Check the academic reputation of the schools you are considering.
Look into the qualifications and reputations of the professors supervising graduate students and determine if you want to work with them.
Check the school’s ranking within the U.S. and on the international stage.
Learn the detailed requirements of the school and your program of choice to ensure you are eligible to apply.
Research the tuition fees at your schools of choice.
Consider where the school is located. Is it in a part of the country you would enjoy living in, and can you afford to live there?
Check to see what type of support the school offers to international students.
Find out what campus culture and student life are like.
Application process for earning a Master of Science degree in the US
In general, the U.S. offers two-year Master of Science programs. Research each program to determine what the admissions requirements are, whether it is right for you and whether you are eligible.
Most U.S. universities have an early deadline for application submissions that tends to fall within December or January and a regular deadline in March or April. In addition, some universities will accept applications throughout the year. When you submit your application, there will be an application fee, typically between $50 and $100. While you can apply to as many master’s programs as you wish, it is common for students to shortlist their preferred universities to a maximum of six.
Once you know which schools you want to apply to, you must go through the application process for each one. While each school may have unique requirements, the general application process requires that you:
Check the specific requirements for your university.
Fill out the application form.
Send in all required documentation along with the application form.
Pay the application fee.
Attend an interview – this is a requirement of some universities and programs to determine whether you are a good fit.
Once you have received your acceptance letter, it’s time to take the next steps to study in the U.S. These include:
Applying for your student visa (requires a copy of your acceptance letter).
Applying for scholarships, grants and other funding.
Paying your enrollment fee if required.
Arranging your living accommodations, whether on-campus or off-campus.
How to finance your Master of Science degree in the US
Going to school in the U.S. as an international student is expensive. Tuition ranges from around $30,000 to $120,000 annually, with law, medicine and business degrees at the more expensive end. Each university will post the fees for its M.S. programs on its website, along with a financial aid calculator.
Despite the cost of a Master of Science degree, you can make your dream of studying in the U.S. come true. When it comes to financing your education in the U.S., you need to consider the following:
Tuition.
Additional fees.
Travel to the U.S.
Living expenses.
Health insurance.
Fortunately, there are several ways to fund your M.S. in the US. These include the following:
Savings
You may have some savings set aside, particularly if you have been working in your field. If so, you are well on your way to financing your M.S. in the U.S.
Family
You may be fortunate enough to have family members who can help you pay for your education. Again, this is a great step toward paying for your expenses.
Assistantship
As a graduate student, you will likely be eligible for a stipend that will help cover your tuition and living expenses in exchange for being an assistant to your professor. This may include assisting with undergraduate labs and marking undergraduate assignments.
Scholarships and grants
There are many sources for scholarships and grants, and that may include your university and private organizations. The best place to start your search for scholarships and grants is the financial aid department at your university.
Student loan
Stipends, scholarships and grants can help you fund your master’s program in the U.S. However, as an international student, you can also get an international student loan to make up the remainder of the money you need.
When getting a student loan, you may apply with a private lender. They will typically require you to have the following:
A completed loan application.
A good credit history in the U.S., or a cosigner who is an American citizen or permanent resident with a good credit history.
Proof of identity.
Proof of identity.
Proof of acceptance into your program of study.
Your student visa.
Your passport.
Copies of documentation for qualifying exams.
Educational transcripts and your degree certificate.
Estimation of the costs of studying and living in the U.S.
Some private lenders offer no-cosigner loans if you don’t have a credit history in the U.S. or a cosigner.
Lenders with no-cosigner options will consider your:
Home country.
Past academic performance.
M.S. degree program.
Career goals.
Employment prospects after graduation.
Top universities with Master of Science programs in the US
There are hundreds of good universities in the U.S. for international students seeking a master’s degree. However, some schools stand out as the very best. These include:
Harvard University.
Stanford University.
Yale University.
Princeton University.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
California Institute of Technology (Caltech).
Columbia University.
University of Chicago.
University of Pennsylvania.
Cornell University.
Duke University.
Brown University.
Carnegie Mellon University.
University of California at Berkeley.
University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).
New York University (NYU).
Northwestern University.
John Hopkins University.
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor.
University of Texas.
University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign.
University of Washington.
Georgia Institute of Technology.
University of Wisconsin at Madison.
Top types of Master of Science programs in the US
There are over two million types of Master of Science programs in the U.S. and dozens of potential M.S.programs. The top programs in the U.S. include:
M.S. in Finance
M.S. in Data Science.
M.S. in Computer Science.
M.S. in Marketing.
M.S. in Business Analytics.
M.S. in Biomedical Engineering.
M.S. in Artificial Intelligence.
Final word on Master of Science programs in the US
Taking the next step in your education with a Master of Science degree in the U.S. will open many doors for you in your field of interest. From there, you can move on to a promising career or go back to school to obtain your doctoral degree in your field. The experience and skills you gain by getting a master’s degree cannot be overstated.
The key to getting the best M.S. education in the U.S. is to find the right school for you and ensure you have all the funding you need. This way, when you arrive in the U.S. ready to begin your studies, you won’t have to worry about your program or finances. Instead, you can focus on your studies and enjoy the experience of studying abroad.
Ultimate Guide to the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)
Suppose you already have an undergraduate degree and have set your sights on a Master of Business Administration (MBA). In that case, you will want to stand out from other applicants applying for the same program. This is especially true as an international student. One of the best ways to do this is to take the GMAT and get a high score. This score, along with your previous academic performance, work experience, and other supporting materials, will be used to determine whether you can handle the requirements of an MBA.
What Is the GMAT?
GMAT stands for Graduate Management Admission Test. Recognized globally, the Graduate Management Admission Council (GMAC) developed and administered the test globally. It is also the test that any student, domestic or international, must take as part of the application process for an MBA program at any university in the U.S.
How Is the GMAT Structured?
The GMAT tests an applicant’s critical thinking skills, including analyzing and evaluating qualitative and quantitative material and logical problem-solving within time constraints. To accomplish this, the GMAT exam is divided into four sections:
Quantitative reasoning
Verbal reasoning
Integrated reasoning
Analytical writing assessment
The total test time is about three hours, not including two optional eight-minute breaks. Test takers must also check in 30 minutes before the start of the test.
Let’s take a look at the sections of the GMAT exam in more detail.
Quantitative
You have 62 minutes to complete his section of the GMAT. There are 31 questions divided into problem-solving and data sufficiency. This section evaluates the applicant’s ability to analyze data and use reasoning skills to interpret and draw conclusions from the data.
Verbal
This section of the GMAT is the longest at 65 minutes and includes 36 questions covering:
Reading comprehension
Critical reasoning
Sentence correction
Integrated Reasoning
You will have 30 minutes to complete this section of 12 questions covering:
Multi-source reasoning
Graphics interpretation
Two-part analysis
Table analysis
This section assesses the applicant’s ability to process and evaluate information from different sources and formats.
Analytical Writing Assessment
You will have 30 minutes to complete this section of a single topic for which the applicant must provide an analysis of an argument. The goal is to determine the applicant’s ability to apply critical thinking to problems and communicate ideas effectively.
GMAT Scoring
Each section of the GMAT is given its score, and the scores for each section are added together for a total test score. Thus, you can expect five scores. The scoring for each section is summarized below:
Quantitative – Scored in 1-point increments on a scale of zero to 60. Scores below six and above 51 are rare.
Verbal – Scored in 1-point increments on a scale of zero to 60. Scores below six and above 51 are rare.
Integrated Reasoning – Scored in 1-point increments on a scale of one to eight.
Analytical Writing Assessment – Scored in half-point increments on a scale of zero to six.
The total score for the GMAT exam is given in 10-point increments on a scale from 200 to 800. This overall score is based on both the accuracy of the answers and the difficulty of the questions selected by the applicant.
You should aim for a score of at least 710. The top MBA programs in the U.S. typically look for scores between 710 and 740. This isn’t as difficult as it sounds. Even though the test is challenging, most test takers only answer 50% to 70% of the questions and still score in the low 700s.
You will be able to see your unofficial score as soon as you have finished the test. Your official score will be available as an official score report accessed through your mba.com account within 7 to 20 business days. Your score on the test is valid for five years, and you can send your official score report to five separate programs at no extra cost. If you took the test online, you can send the official score report within 48 hours of receiving it.
GMAT Cost
The cost of the GMAT varies based on country. In North America, the exam costs US$275. However, there are additional fees to take into consideration. These include:
Enhanced score report – US$30: This optional report provides details on your GMAT score. It includes additional information about how well you performed compared to others, such as your percentile ranking.
Score report – US$35: When you take the GMAT, you can choose up to five schools or programs to send your scores to. If you want to send your scores to more than five, you must pay this fee for each additional program.
Canceling your score – US$25.
Reinstating your score – US$50.
AWA Essay Rescoring – US$45: The GMAT has an essay writing section called the Analytical Writing Assessment (AWA). If your essay score doesn’t reflect your true ability, you can request a reassessment by paying this fee. Another reader will review your essay and assign a new score.
How to Take the GMAT Exam
You can take the GMAT at an official test center or have a reliable and fast-wired internet connection.
An operating system that is either Windows 8.1 or 10 or Mac OS X 10.13 or higher.
A Chrome or Safari browser.
Internal or external speaker (earbuds and headphones are not permitted).at home online. Exceptions to the online at-home option are the countries of China, Iran, Sudan, Cuba, and North Korea. You can register to take the test through your mba.com account and receive confirmation via email. The test is a computer-adaptive test, which means it will select the next question based on your previous answers. For this reason, you will always be challenged during the test.
If you take the GMAT at one of their test centers, you will be supplied with the space and tools you need to take the test. This includes:
A partitioned testing station.
A computer with the appropriate accessories.
Earplugs to minimize noise disturbance.
Erasable markers and a notepad that contains five legal size sheets of laminated paper.
If you choose to take the test at home, you will have to meet specific requirements in terms of technology and environment. You will need:
A laptop or desktop computer (no Chromebooks.).
A single screen or monitor.
Internal or external microphone (not part of a headset).
A camera that provides a 360-degree view of the room in which you are taking the test.
You will need to take photos or a video of your test area before you start the test to prove you don’t have any books around or any other material within reach. You must also have your photo ID on hand to prove your identity.
You must also ensure that the environment in which you take the GMAT is private and quiet. Your computer must be on a table or desk, and you should be seated in a chair. You must dress appropriately without a watch, jewelry, head coverings (unless previously approved), purses, bags, or other technology. There is no eating or drinking during the test, and you should not have books, notepads, or writing implements nearby.
If you want something for scratching notes on, you can use a physical or virtual whiteboard. The virtual whiteboard is accessible through the testing platform and will have unlimited workspace.
If you use a physical whiteboard, ensure you have it in time for the test. It must be no bigger than 12 inches by 20 inches (30 cm by 50 cm), and you can have two dry-erase markers and one dry-erase whiteboard eraser. The whiteboard must be completely clean before you start the test, and you will have to show both sides of the board before the exam starts, before you take a break, and before the end of the exam.
There are two optional eight-minute breaks during the test. If you choose to take these breaks, you must follow the online instructions. If you leave your desk during your break, you must leave the camera running; if you are using a physical whiteboard, you must leave it at your desk. If you are not back at your desk when your break time is up, the extra time you are gone will be deducted from your test time.
If you do not obtain your desired score on the GMAT the first time, you can retake it in 16 days, up to five times in 12 months, and up to eight times over your lifetime.
Canceling or Rescheduling the GMAT Exam
If you want to cancel your GMAT exam registration, you can get a portion of your fees back. In the U.S., the refund breakdown is as follows:
More than 60 days before the date of your test – US$100.
15-60 days before the date of your test – US$75.
14 days or less before the date of your test – US$50.
You must pay a fee if you wish to reschedule your GMAT exam. These fees are as follows:
More than 60 days before the date of your test – US$50.
15-60 days before the date of your test – US$100.
14 days or less before the date of your test – US$150.
GMAT Preparation
It is recommended that you begin test preparation at least four weeks before the date of your GMAT exam. You can visit the mba.com website to access any official test preparation materials for the exam. There is a free practice book you can download, practice tests available, and resources for further preparation. In addition, here are some tips and strategies to help you prepare for and take the GMAT:
Make yourself intimately familiar with the structure, format, and content of the exam.
Review any material from the university courses you have previously taken.
Create a study routine that allows you to make the most of your study time. This means setting up a study schedule and sticking with it, ensuring you take breaks and avoid overwhelming yourself.
Read the instructions thoroughly before beginning the test.
Since all the questions are of equal value, don’t spend too much time on one question. Choose an answer and move on. You can always go back if you need to.
If you change an answer on a paper test, thoroughly erase the old answer and fill in the oval for your answer.
Check your answers as you go because you cannot return to any question once you have moved on.
Always pay close attention to the time.
If you are uncertain about a question, try the process of elimination to narrow your choices down and increase your chances of getting the answer right. Or leave the question unanswered. You will not get points for an unanswered question but will not lose points. If you answer a question and the answer is wrong, you will not get any credit for the answer. You will lose a quarter of a point if there are five choices or a third of a point if there are four choices.
Final Word on the GMAT
Your education is one of the most important things in your life. It represents your future, and taking the GMAT will get you one step closer to getting that education at the university of your dreams. And that is only the beginning.
For more information on taking the GMAT, visit eduPASS today.
The U.S. is home to some of the world’s most prestigious universities, making it a destination for many international students. If you have your sights set on studying in the U.S., you are setting yourself up for a bright future. That being said, as an international student, you have more steps than domestic students to get accepted and attend university in the U.S. This is especially true if English is not your first language and you need English as a second language (ESL) instruction. If this applies to you, then read on for everything you need to know about English as a second language.
What Is English as a second language?
English as a second language is used for programs and courses that teach English to people whose first language is not English. Anyone who has moved or is planning to move to an English-speaking country and wants to work or go to school there can take ESL. In many cases, proving you can communicate fluently in English is required for work or school.
How does an English as a second language program work?
You’ll learn more than basic grammar and spelling when enrolling in an ESL program. You’ll also learn the basic concepts and rules of the English language and how they’re used in an academic setting.
Why English as a second language?
As an international student hoping to study at a university in the U.S., you’ll have to prove you are proficient in English to be accepted at the school of your choice. The content of your program will be challenging enough, and the school wants to be sure that language is not a barrier. This means you need to know English well enough to communicate at an academic level.
To prove that you can read, write, listen to, and speak English at this level, you’ll be required to take a standardized test that assesses your proficiency in these areas. You must achieve a minimum score in each area of English communication and a minimum overall score to be able to attend university. Each university has its own requirements for this, so you will need to check with your school for their specific requirements.
Taking an ESL program is a way to help prepare for this type of test before you even go to the U.S. to study. However, even when you pass an English language standardized test, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be 100 percent ready to communicate in English in every situation once you move to the U.S. Not only will you have to communicate in your classes at school, but you’ll also need to communicate with your peers and out in the real world when you shop, socialize and go for a night out. For this reason, you may also want to consider taking ESL once you get to the U.S.
Is It difficult to learn English as a second language?
English is one of the most difficult languages to learn. It’s full of complex grammar rules with many exceptions. Add to this the fact that there are many different dialects of English within the U.S. alone, a non-English speaker can be left feeling confused during a conversation.
Fortunately, learning English as a second language is possible despite the challenges. People do it every day. The key is to study English, use it in every form as much as you can and do the following:
Learn the basic rules of grammar.
Memorize the exceptions to the rules.
Practice reading, writing, listening to and speaking English whenever possible.
When learning online, use an online translator to help learn proper pronunciation.
Use an online dictionary to learn synonyms for words.
Stay motivated, especially when it feels tough.
Many people begin learning English as a second language in their home country. This is a great way to start preparing to take a test of your English proficiency.
ESL standards and levels
There are a few different national and international ESL standards. The primary one in the U.S. is World-Class Instructional Design and Assessment (WIDA). On an international level, the top standards are TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
People who take ESL are starting at different levels of English proficiency. Some people have already been speaking English at some level. Others may not know much English, but already know one or two other languages, which means they understand how to learn a new language. For this reason, there are different levels of ESL to be aware of. These levels vary depending on the standard used. WIDA and TESOL have the following levels:
Starting (TEDOL)/Entering (WIDA).
Emerging.
Developing.
Expanding.
Bridging.
Reaching (WIDA only).
The CEFR levels are:
A1 – Basic
A2
B1 – Independent
B2
C1 – Proficient
C2
ESL Programs and Courses
When choosing an English as a second language program, enroll in an accredited program that is of the highest quality. Every country has its national accreditation bodies for assessing potential programs. If you are enrolling in an ESL program in your home country, look for accredited programs in your home country. In the U.S., the top accreditation bodies are:
Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training (ACCET)
Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA)
In addition, there are two primary associations in the U.S. for intensive English programs (IEPs). These are:
There are also many online resources for ESL students, including:
General ESL Resources
Activities for ESL Students – Published by The Internet TESL Journal, this is a collection of online activities for ESL students and instructors of any level.
Dave’s ESL Café – Developed by Dave Sperling of The English Language Institute at San Diego State University, this site for ESL students and instructors contains a massive collection of links separated into more than 100 categories. These include phonics, grammar, writing, literacy, business English, public speaking and listening.
English as a second language – Developed by Rong-Chang Li, this website offers links to hundreds of free learning resources for ESL students and instructors, including categories such as grammar, reading, writing, listening, vocabulary, newspapers, magazines, business English, pronunciation, quizzes and dictionaries.
College Writing for ESL Students
Once accepted into and attending university in the U.S., it can still be common for international students to need help when doing written assignments. If you find yourself in this position, the following resources can help:
Advice on Academic Writing – Developed by Dr. Margaret Procter, coordinator of writing support at the University of Toronto, this site offers college-level writing and grammar information in a wide range of categories, such as style and editing; article critique and book review; writing an annotated bibliography; writing a lab report; writing about poetry, art history, history, physics; and specific types of writing.
Paradigm Online Writing Assistant – Developed by Chuck Guilford, this is an award-winning online writer’s guide and handbook. It is suitable for writers no matter what their level of English proficiency.
Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) – Published by the OWL at Purdue University, this resource offers a vast collection of resources to help you with many aspects of writing. Resources include a variety of printable handouts and other materials, PowerPoint presentations and workshops, a Purdue search engine and current and back issues of a student newsletter about writing.
Writer’s Web – Published by the University of Richmond, this resource takes you through the various stages of the writing process. It includes links to topics, such as: how to get started; how to write a first draft; how to focus on and connect ideas; how to analyze information and present an argument; sentence structure and mechanics; and how to edit for clarity and style.
Keep in mind that before you ever go to school in the U.S. and even if you have gone through an English as a second language program, you will still need to prove you can communicate effectively in English. This means you’ll need to take a test to verify your proficiency in the English language. There are several test options available, including:
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)
International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC)
First Certificate in English (FCE)
Certificate in Advanced English (CAE)
Business Language Testing Service (BULATS)
Of these, the TOEFL and the IELTS are the most widely recognized throughout the U.S. and the world. The TOEFL is offered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS, and is recognized by more than 11,500 institutions around the world. The IELTS is an exam jointly owned and offered by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia and Cambridge Assessment English. More than 11,000 organizations around the world recognize the IELTS.
Preparing for Your TOEFL or IELTS
Now that you have a solid understanding of both the TOEFL and the IELTS, here are some final preparation and test-taking tips you might find useful:
Take practice tests to become familiar with the types of questions on the test and the test format.
Read all the test instructions carefully before you begin the exam.
Develop a study routine to make the most of your study time. This means setting up a study schedule and sticking with it, making sure you take breaks and making sure you’re not overwhelming yourself.
Always pay attention to the time when taking the test.
Always review your answers after finishing.
Practice writing within a strict time frame.
Practice taking notes.
Practice speaking to yourself in English and practice speaking English with anyone you know who speaks the language.
Read English writing in the form of news articles, blogs and books.
Watch and listen to English media, including television shows, movies, radio, videos and podcasts.
Skip questions you are unsure of and go back to them once you have finished answering all the questions. Remember that you must check your answers for each section before you move on because once you leave a section, you can’t go back.
Take English as a second language seriously
Being able to communicate in English in any setting or situation is the key to having a great experience studying and living in the U.S. It’s not only required at a certain level to be accepted into your program of study, but also necessary for communicating with the people you meet and making lasting personal and professional connections. So, study hard, practice, and get the most out of your ESL program so you can get the most out of your time in the U.S.
For more information on ESL programs and exams or how we can help you, visit eduPASS today.
Education Loans for International Students in the U.S.
If you are an international student planning to get your education in the U.S., you are likely looking at some significant expenses. It costs a lot to go to university or college as an international student in the U.S., so unless you are independently wealthy or have a lot of savings, you will have to find the funding you need to finance your studies and living expenses.
In some cases, you may be able to get grants and scholarships to cover at least some of the costs. Fortunately, there are also education loans for international students in the U.S. The key is knowing what these loans are, whether you qualify, and how to get one.
How to Get an Education Loan to Study in the U.S.
There is one main type of student loan for international students: private student loans. The loans you are eligible for will depend on a number of factors, but in most cases, you will need to apply for a loan with a private lender. With this in mind, here are the two types of private loans for international students in the U.S.
Cosigner private student loans
One common type of loan from a private lender is a cosigner loan. As an international student, chances are you have no credit history within the U.S., which makes it difficult for a potential lender to assess how likely you are to pay a loan back. A credit history is a history of borrowing money and paying it back on time. Even if you have a good credit history in your home country, it wont be recognized in the U.S.
A cosigner is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who has an established credit history. They sign the credit agreement with you and are obligated to pay off the loan if you cannot. This provides extra security for the lender, and you will receive an interest rate that is influenced by the credit history of the cosigner. Co-signing a loan represents a significant risk for the cosigner, so you may not be able to find a cosigner.
No-cosigner private student loans
The reality is that many international students who come to the U.S. to study dont know anyone who can act as a co-signer on a loan. This leaves them with fewer choices when it comes to getting loans for international students in the U.S.
Fortunately, there are lenders who have no-cosigner student loans available for international students. In this situation, the lender will look at criteria other than a students credit. These criteria include your academic standing, the school you are going to, your program of study, your career goals, when you will be graduating, and your earning potential after graduation.
The thing to remember with a no-cosigner loan for international students in the U.S. is that you will end up paying a higher interest rate. The good news is that you can still fund your higher education aspirations, and with a higher salary after graduation you can pay back the loan and establish yourself at the next level professionally.
Educational Loan Terms for International Students in the U.S.
You already know what a cosigner on a student loan is. However, when applying for education loans for international students in the U.S., it is important that you have a full understanding of all the terms associated with international student loans. After all, there are plenty of terms that go along with these loans, including the following:
Student loan interest rate
The interest rate is a percentage of the principal balance of your loan that you have to pay in addition to the amount borrowed. This interest rate might be fixed, meaning it will be the same throughout the life of the loan, or variable, which means it can change over the life of the loan.
International students who get an education loan in the U.S. and opt for a variable rate will generally be given an interest rate based on one of the following two indexes:
Prime interest rate This is an index that is determined by the federal fund rate set by the U.S. Federal Reserve.
Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR) This is an index administered by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York that reflects the cost of borrowing cash overnight, collateralized by Treasury securities.
Your lender will let you know which index they are using to determine your interest rate, which will be a combination of the index used and an additional margin that is determined by the lender. The margin is sometimes influenced by the lenders evaluation of your ability to repay the loan timely..
Student loan annual percentage rate (APR)
This is the total cost of the loan annualized over the life of the loan, and this figure includes interest and fees assessed for originating the loan. As a result, the APR is an easy number to use to compare different loan options and determine which is the better choice.
Student loan fees
Fees are all the charges you may have to pay when you get a student loan in addition to the principal loan amount and the interest rate. These fees must be disclosed to an applicant and be noted in the lenders credit agreement. These fees may or may not be included, depending on your lender:
Origination fee This is generally calculated as a percentage of the requested loan amount and is a fee you pay to have the loan processed and executed.
Application fee This is a fee you may pay when you submit your loan application, and it is non-refundable.
Late payment penalty This is a fee you will pay if you are late making a student loan payment, and may be charged as early as one day after your payment due date. Typically, lenders give you a grace period of 10 to 15 days to pay the amount due without incurring a penalty.
Prepayment penalty This is a fee you may be charged if you pay off a large chunk of the principal at once or make a lot of extra payments on the principal, which results in you paying off your loan early. This prepayment penalty compensates the lender for their loss money earned through interest over the life of the loan.
Student loan repayment period
This is how long you have to repay the loan, including the principal amount and the interest rate. You might have a 10-year repayment period that will be broken down into a repayment schedule. This schedule includes how much of each monthly payment goes toward the principal and how much goes toward interest, how the principal balance will decrease over the repayment period, and how much interest will be paid over the life of the loan.
In-School and post graduation payments
If youre considering taking out a loan to pay for school, its important to understand how in-school and post-graduation payments work. While some lenders may require you to start making full repayments right away, many offer low or no-payment periods. This means you might not have to make any repayments while youre still in school, or your lender may only require interest-only payments during that time. This can give you some financial breathing room while you focus on your studies, and allow you to start making full repayments once youve graduated and found a job. Be sure to check with your lender to find out what options are available to you.
Student loan defaults
When you default on your loan, it means you have gone too long without paying the principal and interest that is currently owed on your loan. In most cases, this is 270 days for federal student loans and 120 days for private student loans. When you default on your student loan, your account will end up in collections. Contact your lender if you are having trouble repaying your student loan. It is important to note that defaulting on a student loan may severely impact your credit rating.
Finding a Lender for an Education Loan in the U.S.
When looking for an education loan for international students in the U.S., you need to do your homework. The best place to start is with the school you plan to attend. They may be able to provide you with the names of lenders that give student loans with and without a cosigner. It will then be up to you to thoroughly check out each lenders terms and conditions, including:
The maximum amount of money you can borrow
The interest rate you will pay
Whether that interest rate is fixed or variable
How long you will have to repay the loan
When and how you will get the funds
You will need to apply for the loan directly through the lender. This will involve submitting your loan application and submitting all required supporting documentation. Once your loan is approved, the funds are most often disbursed through your school. This entire process takes roughly six weeks, so make sure you leave enough time to get your money before you need it.
Top Private Lenders for International Student Loans in the U.S.
Here are some of the best private lenders for international student loans in the U.S.:
MPOWER Financing Offers fixed-rate no-cosigner, no-collateral loans to students enrolled in one of the 400 schools the lender supports, based on future income potential.
Ascent Student Loans No-cosigner loans with flexible repayment plans and affordable interest rates.
Discover Student Loans A cosigner is required for students enrolled in a qualifying school, but there are no additional fees and there is a grace period while the student is in school.
Prodigy Finance Variable rate loans are available to students studying medicine, law, engineering, business, and public policy.
Sallie Mae A cosigner is required for students enrolled in a qualifying school, 3 repayment plan options mean students could lower the total cost of their borrowing by making payments while studying.
Wells Fargo This loan requires a cosigner for undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at eligible schools, has a grace period that lasts for six months after graduation, and does not charge application or origination fees. Students can start to repay their loan during the grace period without penalty.
For more information on finding education loans for international students in the U.S. or to find out how we can help you,. Its time to get the financing you need for the future you have been dreaming of.
Cost of Studying in the U.S. for International Students
If you are an international student who has decided to do your post-secondary education in the U.S., congratulations! Studying abroad comes with many benefits that go beyond just getting an education. You get a chance to experience a different culture, learn how to navigate living in a new country, and become more attractive to employers who value life and world experience. However, the cost of studying in the U.S. for international students is not to be taken lightly.
While you should not let the cost of studying in the U.S. limit you or hold you back, you need to be aware of how much it will cost you to travel to and live in the U.S. while studying there. Most importantly, you must understand that many expenses go above and beyond your tuition. With this in mind, here are the factors that go into the cost of studying in the U.S. for international students.
International Student Tuition Cost
Since tuition is the first thing many people think about when considering the cost of going to university, lets cover this first. For international students in the U.S., the cost total of attendance is high much higher than it is for domestic students. Generally, attending school in the U.S will cost between US$10,000 and US$55,000 per year. However, the actual cost will depend on where you study and the type of program you enroll in. With this in mind, here is a breakdown of the costs:
Community college between US$6,000 and US$20,000 per year
Bachelors degree between US$20,000 and US$40,000 per year
Masters degree between US$20,000 and US$45,000 per year
Doctoral degree between US$28,000 and US$55,000 per year
Remember that the cost of a masters degree in the U.S. for international students will depend on what you are studying. An MBA can be more expensive than a masters degree in another discipline. In addition, if you are studying in a professional degree program, such as medicine, law, or engineering, you may face much higher tuition than you would if you were studying education or humanities.
It is also essential to keep in mind that the cost varies between schools. Some community colleges and universities are less expensive than others for a comparable program. This difference is affected by factors such as the schools location and level of prestige.
Travel Costs
When considering the cost of studying in the U.S. for international students, you need to consider the cost of travel. After all, if you cant get to the U.S. from your home country, nothing else matters. This means factoring in the cost of your:
Plane ticket
Other modes of travel once you reach the U.S.
Travel insurance
Passport
Luggage
You will also need to have enough money available to travel home during the school year, or at the very least, to travel home in the summer if you choose to , or to travel home in the case of an emergency.
U.S. Student Visa Costs
You will need to apply for and be granted a U.S. student visa to study in the U.S. as an international student. While this is not terribly expensive, you should factor the cost into your overall costs. The cost of an international student visa in the U.S. depends on your visa type. The application fee is US$160. Then, the cost of the visa is as follows:
F student visa This is the visa you will need to study full-time at a post-secondary institution, and the application costs US$510.
M student visa This is the visa you will need for non-academic or vocational studies in the U.S., and it costs US$160.
J student visa This is the visa you will need if you are an exchange visitor in the U.S., and it costs US$160.
Textbooks and Miscellaneous Fees
In addition to the tuition you will have to pay each year, you will need to have money available to buy the textbooks and pay any additional fees you might owe throughout the school year. The average cost of books and fees is US$500 to US$1,000 per year. Again, this depends on the school you are going to and your program of study.
Cost of Student Housing and Accommodations
The next thing you need to consider is the cost of your accommodations while living in the U.S. There are several accommodation options to consider. You might want to live on campus to be fully immersed in the university or college experience. You might want to live off campus to immerse yourself in the local community. You may also opt for the most inexpensive accommodation possible to make the most of your finances.
With all of this in mind, here are the average costs of the various accommodation options:
Campus housing US$800 to US$900 per month
Homestay (living with a host family) US$600 to US$2,000 per month
Rental US$300 to US$3,000+ per month
These costs are a rough average. The cost of accommodations will depend on many factors, the most significant of which is your location. Some cities are more expensive to live in than others. The cost of renting an apartment will also depend on whether you are renting it on your own or you have roommates, and it may come furnished or unfurnished. If it is unfurnished, you will need to buy furniture, so youll need to factor that into your budget.
Cost of Living
International students total cost of studying in the U.S. includes the daily cost of living. This means your food, utilities, internet, and transportation costs. If you choose to live on campus, most (if not all) of these expenses will be included in your residence fees. In most cases, you can pay for a meal plan at your university, which will cost on average between US$150 and US$350 per month, depending on the school and the type of meal plan you get.
If you are living off campus and in a homestay situation, you will again have most of these living expenses included in your monthly rent. You may just pay basic rent and take responsibility for your own food costs, or you may pay more in rent and eat meals with your host family.
If you choose to rent an apartment on your own or with roommates off campus, you will be responsible for all your living expenses. You may find student rentals that include utilities (heat, electricity, water), and some even include internet and cable. If not, you will be responsible for paying for them on your own and your food. If you live with roommates, you will likely split your utility, internet, and cable costs.
Living off campus also means you may have transportation costs to consider. You can walk or bike to school if you live close to campus. If not, you will need to pay for public transportation. You will also need to pay for transportation when you get groceries or do other things in the city.
With the above in mind, here is the average cost of the various living expenses in the U.S.:
Food US$2,500 per year
Electricity US$50 to US$100 per month
Heat US$50 to US$100 per month
Internet US$45 to US$50 per month
Water/sewer/garbage US$50 to US$75 per month
Transportation US$20 to US$100+ per month
Again, these costs are average and vary depending on where you live. For example, you will pay more for a monthly bus pass in New York City than in Los Angeles or Chicago.
Health Insurance
As an international student in the U.S., you will need health insurance because medical care is expensive. You could face thousands of dollars in medical bills if you get sick or injured. Health insurance for international students will ensure you are covered and can rest assured you can get the care you need without having to choose between that and your education.
When you come into the country on a J visa, you will be required by law to get health insurance. If you come in on an F or M student visa, U.S. law does not require you to have health insurance, but your university or college might. Either way, you should have it for your own protection and peace of mind.
Many universities and colleges offer health insurance to their students. If you go this route, you are looking at an average cost of US$700 and US$1,000 per school year. The price will vary if you go with a private insurer, but averages between US$30 and US$140 per month.
Miscellaneous Costs
While we have covered the major costs of studying in the U.S., it is important to remember that there will be costs that come up that arent included here. You might want to mail home gifts to your family and friends. You might want to eat out, go to a movie every once in a while, do some sightseeing, or travel within the U.S. You might need to buy clothing or shoes while you are away (think: buying a winter coat and boots or season-appropriate clothing).
Whatever the case, it is wise to set aside at least US$2,000 for miscellaneous expenses. After all, you dont want to miss out on opportunities because you can afford them, and you dont want to go without the additional items you need to live comfortably.
Ways to Cover the Cost of Studying in the U.S. for International Students
With so many expenses associated with studying in the U.S., it is essential to consider how you will comfortably cover them all. Fortunately, there are options. These include:
Savings If you have money saved up, you can use this toward your expenses.
Family help You may have family who can help you pay for your education in the U.S.
Grants and scholarships There are grants and scholarships available to international students. Check with your university or college for more information.
International student loans There are several loan options for international students, including cosigner and no-cosigner loans.
Work income While studying in the U.S. on a student visa, you may be permitted to work to help cover the cost of living, depending on your visa status. If allowed, you can usually work up to 20 hours per week during the school year and full-time during the summer.
It Is Possible to Cover the Cost of Studying in the U.S. for International Students
While this might seem like a lot, it is possible to manage the costs of studying in the U.S.. The key is to plan, determine the specific costs associated with the school you are attending and the city where you are going to school, and then budget accordingly. With so many financing options available, there is a way to make it happen.
Always remember that your university is there to help. The international student office has numerous resources and can help you find financing and accommodations. This way, you can be sure you have what you need to pay for your international educational experience and make the most out of studying abroad.
Health Insurance for International Students in the U.S.
If you are an international student going to the U.S. for your post-secondary education, you may feel mixed emotions. On the one hand, you are excited and ready to face this next challenge head-on. On the other hand, you are perhaps a little nervous and overwhelmed by everything you have to do to prepare. One of the biggest concerns is being able to afford to live in the U.S. while you study, and health insurance for international students in the U.S. is part of those living expenses.
Health Insurance for International Students in the USA
Living in the U.S. while you are going to school as an international student is expensive. Chances are, you are financing your education through a combination of scholarships, grants, and international student loans. Even with this funding, you may find it challenging to make ends meet, particularly if you need medical care. This is where health insurance for international students in the U.S. comes in.
Medical care is expensive. As an international student studying in the U.S., if you were to get sick or get hurt in an accident, you probably wouldnt be able to pay for your medical care on your own. You may even have to choose between paying your tuition or paying for your medical care. This can cause a lot of stress, especially when you are far away from your home country, and it makes health insurance for international students in the U.S. critical for your peace of mind when going to school in the U.S.
Is Health Insurance a Requirement for International Students in the USA?
Health insurance for international students in the U.S. who are coming in on an F visa (either F1 or F2) or for an M visa (M1 and M2), which is the visa requirement for students who are taking a non-degree program or professional certification, is not required by law in the U.S. However, it is required for a J visa (J1 and J2), which is the type of visa for exchange students who are in the country temporarily.
Even though the U.S. government does not require F visa applications to have health insurance, many universities require their domestic and international students to have it. This is why many universities and colleges offer health insurance plans. It is essential to check with your university to determine their requirements regarding health insurance for international students in the U.S.
Remember that your travel insurance is not a substitute for health insurance for international students in the U.S.. Travel insurance is designed to cover you for the short term, and it will not be as comprehensive as the health insurance you get as an international student living in the U.S.
When Should F Visa Applicants Get Health Insurance?
Ideally, you should apply for your health insurance before you leave for the U.S. This will in many cases ensure you are covered from the moment you set foot on U.S. soil. If you are getting health insurance through your university, they may require you to set it up before you travel. If you dont get your health insurance before you arrive, make sure you apply as soon as you get to the U.S. You dont want to leave yourself unprotected for any length of time once you are in the country.
International Student Insurance Plans
There are two options when it comes to health insurance for international students in the U.S.: health insurance through your university or a private health insurance policy. Depending on where you go to school, you may or may not have a choice between these two options.
Health Insurance Through University
Most universities offer their own health insurance, and some universities make it mandatory to sign up for the insurance they offer. If health insurance is required at your university, you may not be allowed to register for your classes without it. The last thing you want is to start your classes late in the semester because you didnt fulfill the health insurance requirement at your university.
When it comes to universities that make their health insurance plans mandatory, you may or may not be able to have that condition waived in favor of getting third-party insurance from a private insurance company. If your university will waive the requirement of signing up for their insurance program, you will need to prove you already have your own. In addition, this waiver will require the insurance you get to meet specific requirements, such as:
A sufficient policy maximum, which is typically at least US$50,000
A low deductible per policy period or per medical condition to minimize your out-of-pocket expenses
Coverage for mental health as well as physical health
Maternity coverage for female students
Coverage for any pre-existing conditions, such as diabetes
Coverage for the repatriation of your remains, so your remains can be sent back to your home country should you pass away in the U.S.
Please note that you will need to comply with the specific waiver requirements and the above are for illustration only.
In addition, you will want to ensure you have COVID-19 coverage and get the best medical care if you get COVID. After all, COVID-19 affects everyone differently, and you have no way of knowing beforehand how much medical care you will need, which could include anything from prescription medication to hospitalization.
Keep in mind that some universities will allow no option other than using their insurance. For example, if you go to school in Massachusetts, you may not be able to enroll in any health insurance plan other than that of your university because the Massachusetts Universal Health Care Act requires full-time students to have insurance from a qualified domestic insurance program.
At the same time, some universities dont offer health insurance at all, which means you have no other option than to go out and find it through a private insurer. In addition, if you apply to study under an Optional Practical Training (O.P.T.) program, which means you can work in your field while studying, in some cases you will no longer qualify for your universitys health insurance program. This also requires you to find your health insurance through a private insurer.
Health Insurance Through Private Insurers
If you are considering getting your health insurance from a private insurer, the most important thing is to do your research and ensure you get it from a reputable company. In many instances, it is possible to get private health insurance for international students in the U.S. for a lower cost than getting that insurance from a university.
When looking for health insurance through a private insurer, an excellent place to start is with the international student office at your university. They may be able to guide you to the most reputable insurers. You should look for certain things in a private insurer to ensure you get the best possible coverage. This includes:
A choice of plans to meet your needs
Coverage of at least US$100,000
Flexible payment plans
24/7 customer service
The health insurer being billed directly (meaning you dont have to pay out of pocket)
Convenient online access to support
Partnerships with doctors, clinics, and hospitals
Coverage for consultations, basic and emergency dental care, and surgery
Coverage for pre-existing conditions (if you need it)
Coverage for family members and dependents (if you need it)
COVID-19 coverage
Evacuation and the repatriation of your remains if you pass away while in the U.S.
You may also want to consider a plan that will cover you if you travel outside the U.S. during your studies. After all, there are many exciting places to experience, such as Canada and the Caribbean.
How to Get International Student Health Insurance
It is wise to check the health insurance program offered by your university before you start looking for third-party insurance. You might find it more convenient and more affordable than private health insurance. When you check with your university, you should check the following:
Whether they have a health insurance plan
Whether payment for the health insurance plan is included in your tuition or whether you have to pay for it separately
Whether their health insurance plan is mandatory, and if so, whether they have an optional waiver
If you have the option of getting your health insurance from a private insurance company, take the time to research companies and plans or find a broker who can help you find a plan. To choose where to get your coverage, whether that is through the university or a private insurer, you will need to list the benefits you will need in your plan, including coverage for:
Prescription medication
Dental care
Eye checkups and prescription lenses
Dependents (if you have any)
Dental and Optical coverage can cause insurance costs to spike. Typically a plan has emergency cases for dental and eye care to keep the cost lower, and it’s recommended that you get a dental and eye check before coming to the U.S..
With all this information, you will be able to choose a plan that is right for you.
If you’re an international student studying in the US and looking for health insurance, check out InternationalStudent.com for comprehensive and affordable coverage options tailored to your unique needs.
Understanding Your Student Health Insurance Plan
Regardless of where you get your health insurance as an international student, you must research to find a good insurance company and ensure you fully understand the terms and coverage of the policy you choose. Some health insurance plans that are offered to international students do not originate within the U.S. These plans may be limited in their coverage and the period of that coverage, which can leave students without the help they need if they require medical care.
The other thing to consider is the cost of the plan. While choosing the most inexpensive plan you can find may be tempting, this is not typically the best option. While this type of plan may cut down on costs in the short term, it may not offer good coverage, which could cost far more down the road. It is also essential to understand that the cost of your health insurance will depend on a few factors, including:
Your age
The coverage you choose
Where you will be living
Final Word on International Student Health Insurance
When studying in the U.S. as an international student, you will want to find a balance between saving money in every way you can while ensuring you can live comfortably and securely, knowing all your needs are covered. Getting the proper health insurance for international students in the U.S. is a vital part of the overall preparation you need to make to have peace of mind while studying abroad. So, be sure to take the time you need to research your health insurance options and make preparations before you travel to the U.S. For more information on health insurance for international students in the U.S. or to find out what we can do for you, reach out to one of our eduPASS team members today or visit InternationalStudent.com/insurance. Its time to start your international journey the right way.
Cost of Studying in the U.S. for International Students
If you are an international student who has decided to do your post-secondary education in the U.S., congratulations! Studying abroad comes with many benefits that go beyond just getting an education. You get a chance to experience a different culture, learn how to navigate living in a new country, and become more attractive to employers who value life and world experience. However, the cost of studying in the U.S. for international students is not to be taken lightly.
While you should not let the cost of studying in the U.S. limit you or hold you back, you need to be aware of how much it will cost you to travel to and live in the U.S. while studying. Most importantly, you must understand that many expenses go above and beyond your tuition. With this in mind, here are the factors that go into the cost of studying in the U.S. for international students.
International Student Tuition Cost
Since tuition is the first thing many people think about when considering the cost of going to university, lets cover this first. For international students in the U.S. the cost total of attendance is high much higher than it is for domestic students. Generally, attending school in the U.S will cost between $10,000 and $55,000 per year. However, the actual cost will depend on where you study and the type of program you enroll in. With this in mind, here is a breakdown of the costs:
English language classes between $700 and $2,000 per month
Community college between $6,000 and $20,000 per year
Bachelors degree between $20,000 and $40,000 per year
Masters degree between $20,000 and $45,000 per year
Doctoral degree between $28,000 and $55,000 per year
Remember that the cost of a masters degree in the U.S. for international students will depend on what you are studying. An MBA can be more expensive than a masters degree in another discipline. In addition, if you are studying in a professional degree program, such as medicine, law, or engineering, you may face much higher tuition than you would if you were studying education or humanities.
It is also essential to keep in mind that the cost varies between schools. Some community colleges and universities are less expensive than others for a comparable program. This difference is affected by factors such as the schools location and level of prestige.
Travel Costs
When considering the cost of studying in the U.S. for international students, you need to consider the cost of travel. After all, if you cant get to the U.S. from your home country, nothing else matters. This means factoring in the cost of your:
Plane ticket
Other modes of travel once you reach the U.S.
Travel insurance
Passport
Luggage
You will also need to have enough money available to travel home during the school year, or at the very least to travel home in the summer if you choose to, or to travel home in the case of an emergency.
U.S. Student Visa Costs
You will need to apply for and be granted a U.S. student visa to study in the U.S. as an international student. While this is not terribly expensive, you should factor the cost into your overall costs. The cost of an international student visa in the U.S. depends on your visa type. The application fee is $160. Then, the cost of the visa is as follows:
F student visa This is the visa you will need to study full-time at a post-secondary institution, and the application costs $510.
M student visa This is the visa you will need for nonacademic or vocational studies in the U.S., and it costs $160.
J student visa This is the visa you will need if you are an exchange visitor in the U.S., and it costs $160.
Textbooks and Miscellaneous Fees
In addition to the tuition you will have to pay each year, you will need to have money available to buy the textbooks and pay any additional fees you might owe throughout the school year. The average cost of books and fees is $500 to $1,000 per year. Again, this depends on the school you are going to and your program of study.
Cost of Student Housing and Accommodations
The next thing you need to consider is the cost of your accommodations while living in the U.S. There are several accommodation options to consider. You might want to live on campus to be fully immersed in the university or college experience. You might want to live off campus to immerse yourself in the local community. You might opt for the most inexpensive accommodation possible to make the most of your finances.
With all of this in mind, here are the average costs of the various accommodation options:
Campus housing $800 to $900 per month
Homestay (living with a host family) $600 to $2,000 per month
Rental $300 to $3,000+ per month
These costs are a rough average. The cost of accommodations will depend on many factors, the most significant of which is your location. Some cities are more expensive to live in than others. The cost of renting an apartment will also depend on whether you are renting it on your own or you have roommates, and it may come furnished or unfurnished. If it is unfurnished, you will need to buy furniture, so youll need to factor that into your budget.
Cost of Living
International students total cost of studying in the U.S. includes the daily cost of living. This means your food, utilities, internet, and transportation costs. If you choose to live on campus, most (if not all) of these expenses will be included in your residence fees. In most cases, you can pay for a meal plan at your university, which will cost on average between $150 and $350 per month, depending on the school and the type of meal plan you get.
If you are living off campus and in a homestay situation, you will again have most of these living expenses included in your monthly rent. You may just pay basic rent and take responsibility for your own food costs, or you may pay more in rent and eat meals with your host family.
If you choose to rent an apartment on your own or with roommates off campus, you will be responsible for all your living expenses. You may find student rentals that include utilities (heat, electricity, water), and some even include internet and cable. If not, you will be responsible for paying for them on your own and your food. If you live with roommates, you will split your utility, internet, and cable costs.
Living off campus also means you may have transportation costs to consider. You can walk or bike to school if you live close to campus. If not, you will need to pay for public transportation. You will also need to pay for transportation when you get groceries or do other things in the city.
With the above in mind, here is the average cost of the various living expenses in the U.S.:
Food $2,500 per year
Electricity $50 to $100 per month
Heat $50 to $100 per month
Internet $45 to $50 per month
Water/sewer/garbage $50 to $75 per month
Transportation $20 to $100+ per month
Again, these costs are average and vary depending on where you live. For example, you will pay more for a monthly bus pass in New York City than in Los Angeles or Chicago.
Health Insurance
As an international student in the U.S., you will need health insurance because medical care is expensive. You could be facing thousands of dollars in medical bills if you get sick or injured. But health insurance for international students will ensure you are covered and can rest assured you can get the care you need without having to choose between that and your education.
When you come into the country on a J visa, you will be required by law to get health insurance. If you come in on an F or M student visa, U.S. law does not require you to have health insurance, but your university or college might. Either way, you should have it for your own protection and peace of mind.
Many universities and colleges offer health insurance to their students. If you go this route, you are looking at an average cost of $700 and $1,000 per school year. The price will vary if you go with a private insurer, but averages between $30 and $140 per month.
Miscellaneous Costs
While we have covered the major costs of studying in the U.S., it is important to remember that there will be costs that come up that arent included here. You might want to mail home gifts to your family and friends. You might want to eat out, go to a movie every once in a while, do some sightseeing, or travel within the U.S. You might need to buy clothing or shoes while you are away (think: buying a winter coat and boots or season-appropriate clothing).
Whatever the case, it is wise to set aside at least $2,000 for miscellaneous expenses. After all, you dont want to miss out on opportunities because you can afford them, and you dont want to go without the additional items you need to live comfortably.
Ways to Cover the Cost of Studying in the U.S. for International Students
With so many expenses associated with studying in the U.S., it is essential to consider how you will comfortably cover them all. Fortunately, there are options. These include:
Savings If you have money saved up, you can use this toward your expenses.
Family help You may have family who can help you pay for your education in the U.S.
Grants and scholarships There are grants and scholarships available to international students. Check with your university or college for more information.
International student loans There are several loan options for international students, including cosigner and no-cosigner loans.
Work income While studying in the U.S. on a student visa, you may be permitted to work to help cover the cost of living, depending on your visa status. If allowed, you can usually work up to 20 hours per week during the school year and full-time during the summer.
It Is Possible to Cover the Cost of Studying in the U.S. for International Students
While this might seem like a lot, it is possible to manage the costs of studying in the U.S.. The key is to plan, determine the specific costs associated with the school you are attending and the city where you are going to school, and then budget accordingly. There is a way to make it happen with so many financing options available.
Always remember that your university is there to help. The international student office has numerous resources and can help you find financing and accommodations. This way, you can be sure you have what you need to pay for your international educational experience and get the most out of studying abroad.
One of the best aspects of the American higher education system is the numerous excellent school options, ranging from community colleges to career schools to private liberal arts colleges to large public universities. Other factors include a schools geographic location, size, and degree programs.
Because the United States provides many options and some of the best facilities in the world, it has attracted millions of international students to its universities and colleges. The possibilities are almost endless, with over 3,000 colleges and universities in the United States. However, deciding which program to attend is difficult because there are many options.
American colleges and universities are as diverse as the worlds many countries. As a result, you must establish your priorities. So how can you be sure youll feel at ease at a school halfway around the world?
Following these steps is an excellent place to start! You are the only person who can decide what your right fit college or university will feel like. However, if you follow the steps outlined below, you will be well equipped to select the best U.S. college or university for your needs.
Steps to Finding the Perfect U.S. University
We have compiled a list of criteria to assist you in your search. All these factors are essential, but some may be more important than others, depending on your preferences. Consider these points as you refine your priorities.
Do not dismiss your intuition! Even if youve always been told that such decisions should be based on logic, youll spend the next three to six years studying your subject, so make sure your heart is in the right place.
The most crucial step in determining the best college or university for you is identifying the situations in which you excel. If youre unsure of those circumstances, you can evaluate them by asking yourself a few key questions.
Are you someone who thrives on complex tasks? If so, you may be ready to transfer to a highly competitive academic institution. Do you enjoy being in large crowds? It might be worthwhile to include a large research university on your list. Or are you someone who struggles with change?
Then it might make more sense to look for a university or college comparable in size to the one you are currently attending. Consider the pillars of your values and look for opportunities to grow personally and intellectually.
Maintain an open mind
It is easy to become attached to one or two dream schools when first learning about American universities. Many students begin their college search by compiling a list of schools they believe are perfect.
However, after visiting campus, taking a virtual tour, or speaking with an admission representative, the reality of the schools culture and programs may differ from your expectations. Many students discover their ideal school is not what they expected after broadening their search. All students must keep an open mind, take a risk, and research or visit schools that were not initially on their wish list.
Make a list of Top Universities
Make a list of institutions that interest you and thoroughly research each one. For more insider tips, visit university websites for official information, course prospectuses, and even student forums. If possible, make contact with alums. Their stories are significant because they can provide insight into how your future may unfold.
Once youve decided on the subject you want to study in the United States, you should begin your search. University rankings and subject-specific rankings can be beneficial in locating U.S. universities that are a good fit for your interests. Make a list of institutions that interest you and thoroughly research each one.
Use Your Network for Research
Current students and alums are excellent resources for learning more about a university because they can provide perspectives and experiences that a printed brochure or website cannot. You dont even have to travel thousands of miles to meet them. Contact your schools counselor and ask them to assist you in contacting current students at the universities you are interested in.
The sense of pride and enthusiasm people develop for their university is one of the most impressive aspects of the U.S. university system. Its not uncommon. This pride is often manifested in competitive sports programs but can also be found in many other areas. Dont be afraid to contact someone you dont know; alums have been where you are and know how to make the process easier.
An alum network accompanies this university pride. These networks help people stay connected to their university while providing professional development and advancement opportunities. Its not uncommon for graduates in the United States to land their first job through connections or information provided by a universitys alum network.
When deciding on the best school for you, think about the network that will support your degree and help you get where you want to go.
Location of University in the U.S.
The location is also an important consideration when selecting a U.S. university. Yes, you want to study in the United States, but each state and city has its personality, culture, climate, economy, and history, etc. Some states have a higher proportion of international students than others.
The universitys location is critical, considerations include the campus presence, accessibility, climate, and proximity to large cities or natural sites. Look through guides to help you gather more pieces of information and make your decision.
Course specialization in the U.S.
Large research universities typically provide a diverse range of disciplines at a high level. However, even the most prestigious universities are leaders in their respective fields; for example, Harvard is well-known for its law school, while Berkeley is well-known for its medical school. Of course, this does not imply that other faculties at these universities are weak, but you should focus on solid universities in your area of interest.
If you know what you want to study, make sure that each university you apply to has an accredited program in that field. Popular majors, such as business and information technology, are available at almost all colleges and universities. However, you should plan if you are interested in a more specialized field, such as marine biology or archaeology.
Even if you enjoy the university as a whole, you may be interested in a particular aspect of your subject. You should check to see if it is covered in the curriculum on offer.
Total Cost of Study
Calculate the TOTAL cost of your education, including living expenses. This information is frequently available on the websites of colleges. Tuition at elite, private colleges and universities is typically higher than at public universities.
A few private institutions have very competitive costs compared to public universities. You must research to determine the cost of your studies at a U.S. university and your ability to pay.
Majors, Minors, and Credits in Liberal Arts Education
Liberal Arts colleges and universities offer specialized humanities and social and behavioral sciences education. They provide a wide variety of potentially significant subjects, such as Political Science, Religion, and Sociology. If you want to study a minor subject, you can do so at any university. Some Majors even permit a Minor to replace supporting coursework. Each Major and Minor has a set number of credits that must be completed to graduate. The definition of credit can be complex for someone not born in the United States to grasp. Credit is given for the time spent studying or in class.
Rankings
When selecting a university, the rankings produced by several independent institutions are an excellent place to start, but they should be viewed with caution.
These rankings can provide information about certain aspects of schools, but they may leave out important information such as student satisfaction, engagement, and alums performance.
They may also be biased toward smaller universities that specialize in a few key areas. Many students believe that Ivy League schools are the only ones worth considering when many non-Ivy schools are more well-regarded collectively and in many individual programs. All U.S. universities are known for something, so make sure to cast a wide net.
The American Student Experience
The primary distinction between the U.S. and a UK student is that, whereas the UK student is encouraged to be an expert in a single field, a U.S. student is more likely to succeed if they can demonstrate a breadth of knowledge.
On the social front, students in the United States are much more likely to spend time together, particularly on campus. Eating and playing sports together and belonging to sororities and fraternities are essential to university education. Many students will live on campus for their entire four-year degree.
Cultural Capital and Global Awareness
Universities in the United States make every effort not to promote cultural capital and to treat all students equally, regardless of social status. Outside of the lecture halls and classrooms, however, students from lower socioeconomic backgrounds may find themselves at a disadvantage and be looked down upon by those from higher socioeconomic backgrounds.
Graduate Schools and Degrees
Ensure you seek information and apply for the correct degree program during your research and application process. You are applying for undergraduate studies if you have completed secondary school (high school) or some university studies without earning a degree for either a two-year associates degree or a four-year bachelors degree. Most of these programs do not require you to apply for a specific degree, only for admission to the college or university.
Learn about the student housing available at U.S. universities.
Moving to a different country to further their education is exciting and terrifying for most international students. It is critical to begin your research early and gather all the information you require to live comfortably during your studies.
Most universities in the United States provide on-campus housing. That will be fantastic for you because you will most likely share a kitchen with other students and have plenty of opportunities to interact and get to know them. You must double-check all of these details for each university to which you intend to apply.
Scholarship and Funding
If you are applying for a scholarship, your application for admission must be meticulous, even if you are applying to a University where there is little to no competition.
You should consider scholarships and funding when considering how to pay for a U.S. education. Not all U.S. universities provide scholarships to international students, and government loans are not always available to cover tuition and fees. Despite this, rising university fees worldwide have made the U.S. university system quite competitive compared to other European countries.
Students ethnic composition
American universities are home to an array of students, coming from all corners of the world. International students bring a unique set of experiences and diversity of thoughts that serve to shape the learning environment. It’s inspiring to see how cultures intertwine on campus through collaborations and friendships this is what higher education should look like!
Receiving an education here in the United States not only provides students with academic growth opportunities, but also teaches them how to empathize with those different than themselves; a powerful tool needed in a globally connected world. By helping foster an educational setting where people put their differences aside and learn from one another, American universities are paving the way for future generations to come together peacefully.
Entry Requirement
The TOEFL exam is a source of anxiety for most international students. However, it is nearly impossible to avoid unless you have been educated in English. Each program has its own requirements, and the higher the TOEFL score requirement, the more prestigious the university. Before applying, always research the requirements of each school.
Some universities offer a TOEFL waiver option, which appeals to many international students. It usually entails studying at the universitys intensive English program (or another affiliated English program) until the final level is completed. Many universities have agreements with some private language schools, such as ELS Language Centers, that allow students to enter without a TOEFL score.
Visit Campuses If Possible
You may be fortunate enough to be able to visit the U.S. and visit the universities you are interested in person to learn more about them. Alternatively, you could meet university representatives at university fairs in a nearby city.
As an international student, online communication methods can be especially beneficial. We recommend that you attend virtual university fairs or online information sessions, where you can speak with university representatives and students from the comfort of your home.
Accreditation
It is critical to understand whether a college or university is accredited. Accreditation certifies that a school or program meets a set academic standard. If you attend an unaccredited college or university, you will be unable to transfer your credits to an accredited college or university. Your degrees may not be recognized in your home country, and you may be unable to obtain the job you seek.
Accrediting bodies are classified into two types: institutional and professional. Your government may require you to get a degree from a school that is accredited in both types of ways.
The entire school is considered for accreditation. Professional accreditation is determined by judges within those professions and is based on the standards maintained by a specific school, such as law, medicine, engineering, or business.
Trust your instinct
It is frequently stated that college fit” is difficult to define because it is unique to each individual. Only you can honestly know if a university is a right fit for you after going through all the steps and asking the above questions.
They say, You know when you know. Trust your instincts if you have conducted an open-minded, thorough search and believe a particular university is right for you. The university application process is just that: a process. Trust each step, and you will find yourself on a path leading to a U.S. college or university where you can call yourself a student.
Conclusion
As you can see, making your dream a reality isnt so complicated once you create a solid plan and focus on researching your best options. When youve compiled a list of colleges and universities that interest you, narrow it down to six to eight schoolsbest wishes on your search.
You can find contact information for the school and reach out to them for more research about their programs.
How Nigerians Can Get a Loan to Study in the U.S. & Canada
Want to further your education and improve your employment prospects? Consider an international education!
International students from all over the world study abroad in the U.S. and Canada every year. Nigerians are the largest population of students from Africa that routinely come to the U.S. In fact, during the 2018-2019 school year, there were over 13,000 Nigerian students in the U.S! Its definitely an exciting opportunity for aspiring Nigerian students.
From talking with many students, we know that financing your future degree is one of your first questions. While both scholarships and student loans are great options to explore, this article focuses on student loans. Read on to learn more about international student loans.
Student Loan Requirements and Eligibility
Most student loans require cosigners or collateral to mitigate risk for the lender. Typically, the cosigner must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident with good credit. There are, however, a few loan options such as MPOWER Financing and Prodigy Finance, for Nigerians without a cosigner or collateral.
The loan options available to you will depend on your degree program, level of education, and the rating of your university. Do your research and see which loans your university recommends.
You will most likely be required to provide the following information when applying for a loan:
Proof of enrollment at a university in the U.S. or Canada
A valid Visa
Address in country of study
And depending on your loan, a cosigner
What Will a Student Loan Cover
Your student loan can be used to cover most expenses related to your education. This can include tuition, housing, transportation, books, other materials, food, etc. Just make sure you check with your university what you can use the funds for and budget well! You will have to pay the loan back over time.
Student Loan Finder!
To find the best loan for you, check out our Student Loan Finder! Enter your profile to review your loan options and see which products we recommend. Its free, quick, and easy!
Youve achieved your dream of studying in the USA, congrats! But now its time for the details of planning and preparing for your time abroad. One important thing youll need to live and study in the USA is health insurance.
Why do I need it? And what is covered?
You might not think you need it, but emergencies happen, and youll be glad you thought ahead to obtain health insurance. Whether its a broken bone, a car accident, or even the flu, you absolutely need insurance coverage in the USA. Without it, youll still get treated in an American hospital or clinic, but youll have to pay out-of-pocket for the services. The price of healthcare in the USA can be astronomical without insurance, so its extremely important to plan ahead and sign up for a plan. Even something as simple as an ambulance ride can cost up to $2500USD! Its a fact of life in the U.S. and U.S. citizens need health insurance too!
What is covered by the insurance depends on which company and type of plan you select. You can choose to add on dental or eye care insurance, or special coverage in disaster situations, like earthquakes or hurricanes. Additionally, for students studying abroad, many insurance companies offer the option to be flown back in emergency situations to a hospital in your home country.
What are the requirements to get insurance?
While international students on F1 visas do not have insurance requirements, most university programs will require students to obtain health insurance in the USA. Some universities will require their international students to purchase school-sponsored insurance coverage, or even offer it for a reduced fee or free through an on-campus job. Be sure to double check what your university offers and requires!
Students on a J1 visa are required by the U.S. government to obtain health insurance that meets the following criteria:
Medical benefits of at least $100,000 per accident or illness
Repatriation of remains coverage amounting to $25,000
Expenses associated with the emergency medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his or her home country in the amount of $50,000
A deductible of no more than $500 per accident or illness
What should you know before buying insurance?
Plan ahead. Make sure you have a budget ready for your insurance abroad. We recommend setting aside $1,500 for your time in the U.S. to cover any unexpected medical costs, in addition to any expected physical exams or medications.
If you have preexisting conditions or prescription requirements, make sure your insurance plan covers or helps with those costs.
Who do you recommend as an insurance provider?
There is no one-size-fits-all insurance plan for international students. The needs of each student will vary, and each school will have different requirements. Our friends at International Student Insurance are leaders in their field, and can help you find the right plan.
International Student Insurance ( ISI) specializes in understanding the needs of each student and helping them navigate the U.S. healthcare system as well as their schools insurance requirements. At International Student Insurance, they can:
Find a plan that will meet your needs as well as any requirements you need to meet
Offer online enrollment where you can start coverage as soon as the same day
Provide flexibility including monthly payments and flexible start and end dates
Offer online support including a digital ID card, online claims tracking, and a Student Zone where you can manage your plan
A stellar college admissions essay is what separates accepted from rejected students. It may not seem like a high priority after youve worked so hard on grades and test scores, but your essay helps tell your student story. It’s important to take your time planning, writing, and reviewing your admissions essay as its the final piece to get you into your dream school.
What is a College Admissions Essay?
A college admissions essay is how you tell your personal story to the school. In the essay you should explain your background, your passions, and what sets you apart from other applicants. Tell the story of your student journey, why youre interested in the school and what you hope to accomplish next. Be truthful, engaged, and explain what motivates you as a student.
Why do colleges ask for one? Why is it important?
When thousands of students are applying to limited spots at a university, the school needs something besides academics to differentiate applicants. Things like admissions essays, recommendation letters, and extracurriculars are important for helping you stand out as a student! The essay gives the university a better idea of who you are, how you got to where you are, and where you want to go next.
Tips for Writing a Great College Admissions Essay
Brainstorming: Based on the prompt you were given, you should first brainstorm some ideas of what you want to write about. Some prompts may be very specific and personal, others might want to test your writing skills and creativity. Read what they are asking of you, and figure out what the end goal is. How does it relate to you? Your life? Your interests? Your future goals? A challenge you have overcome? Take notes and narrow down your essay topic. Make sure the topic you choose is something important to you, so that the writing will exhibit your passions and motivations well.
Create an Outline: An outline will help you guide your story and organize your thoughts. Make sure it answers the prompt, and exhibits your strengths. Plan out your introduction, body, and conclusion with the details of your story. You can plan to open with a quote, a question, an anecdote, whatever feels most natural for you as a writer. This essay should highlight your voice.
Start Writing: Start writing your essay early and write multiple drafts. Keep the essay focused and personal so the reader stays engaged. Stick to the essay prompt and include specific details, examples, and explanations. Make sure to be yourself and dont just write about your grades and test scores.
Review and Revise: After youve written a draft, make sure to proofread and have at least one other person review your essay as well. Check for grammar and the flow of your storytelling. Is it easy to follow? Does it answer the prompt? Does it present you as a motivated student? One tip to check all of this is to read it outloud. It can help catch any awkward phrases or missing pieces of the story.
How to show proof of funds for Canada immigration (Express Entry)
So youre applying for your Express Entry Federal Skilled Worker Program or Express Entry Federal Skilled Trades Program application, or you just want to be prepared and informed to immigrate to Canada.
As you might start to realize, you will need to provide quite a few details about yourself. Usually this is the part where things start to get tricky, and this is when most of our clients come to us with questions and one of the most important ones is How to show proof of funds for Canada immigration.
Proof of Funds Skilled Immigrants
As of the February 21st, 2020, the funds you will need in order to settle to Canada are as follows:
What this means
To apply for Permanent Residence without Canadian skilled work experience, you will need to provide proof that you have enough funds to settle and support yourself. To work this grid out, simply count yourself as 1, and then if you wish to bring another person (your spouse/common-law) and/or your children (dependents), simply count how many you are in total and look at the amount required. Please note that after 7 people, any extra family member will be another $3,492.
For example, if youre bringing your partner, yourself and two children, you will need to prove that you have at least $24,083 in funds to settle in Canada.
Please note you will need to prove funds for ALL your dependents even if they are not travelling with you.
What proof of funds is accepted?
You will need to prove that the money you have is readily available to you. This means no equity on property, and no borrowing money from another person. You can, however, use the funds in a joint account with your spouse as proof if theyre coming with you.
Moreover, if you are bringing your spouse and want to use an account under their name as part of proof, you may do so only if you have proof of access to their account.
For proof, IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) requires official letters from Banks or financial institutions with the following requirements:
Letter(s) must:
be printed on your financial institutions letterhead
include their contact information (address, telephone number and email address)
include your name
list outstanding debts such as credit card debts and loans
include, for each current bank and investment account, the
account numbers
date each account was opened
current balance of each account
balance for the past 6 months
Once you have these, please keep them with you and note that your funds must be available when you register your profile, apply for Permanent Residency, and when they issue you a permanent resident visa. You must prove to an immigration officer that you can legally access the money to use when you arrive.
For more information check out this article on the website of the Government of Canada.
Still have questions regarding the proof of funds? Find out if youre eligible and if you have all the proof required:
eduPASS is proud to be your go-to-guide for studying in the U.S. Are you worried about how to study abroad in the U.S.? This article will give you tips on which important steps you need to take in order to make it to North America!
Tip #1: Check out this Immigration & Visa Webinar!
The U.S. Visa Process after COVID-19 with Ex-Vice Consul of U.S. Embassy
COVID-19 temporarily paused processing of U.S. visas, but things are looking hopeful for aspiring and graduated students now that several embassies have resumed accepting visa applications. We know, however, there still must be countless questions running through your mind. Click here to watch a session hosted by our friends at MPOWER with Mandy Feuerbacher, a former consular officer of the U.S. Government to answer your questions.
Tip #2: Learn more about your Green Card Options
Check out this new article on our website explaining the benefits of the EB-5 visa for international students! Click to learn more about the timeline and perks such as tuition savings.
Tip #3: Study Abroad with MPOWERs Expertise!
In need of more assistance throughout your university search? MPOWER Financing is now offering services to help you find your best fit school in the U.S. or Canada. To learn more, visit their website.
Tip #4: Ready, Set, GRE Test Prep!
College entrance exams can be daunting, but there is a wealth of information online now to help you prepare and succeed. This helpful article breaks down what the GRE is and how to prepare, including subject tests.
Tip #5: Touring Universities
Still researching your school options? This article shares a few great tips on how to tour colleges remotely during COVID!
Tip #6: Things to Know Before You Go
Already enrolled in a graduate program? Check out this article with 5 tips from a Georgetown professor on how to make the most of your time in school.
Tip #7: Financial Advice for Your First Year in the U.S.
Studying abroad can be expensive – but worth it in the long run. Check out these 11 tips on saving money, spending habits, and more as a college student in the U.S.
The best way to win a scholarship is to apply for those with criteria that fit your specific profile. But how do you find those elusive scholarships? By looking at the list for international students that weve compiled for you below!
Applying to college as an international student can be daunting enough without thinking about how to pay for it. However, there are many companies with scholarships for prospective undergraduate students studying in the United States. International applicants, especially undergraduate students, often find it hard to find fully funded scholarships. Thats why we created our list of partners that support the dreams of international students with everything from undergraduate scholarships right through to MBA funding opportunities.
Scholarship Competitions for International Students
All
Scholarships for Women
Students Looking to Make a Difference
Students from Developing Countries
Students from Around the World
The Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship provides scholarships to students from select developing countries who have no other source of financial help for their graduate studies. The scholarships are 50 percent grant and 50 percent loan.
The American Association of University Women offers fellowships for non-American women who want to earn a Masters or doctorate in the USA. Priority is given to women who can demonstrate commitment to the advancement of women and girls, and the scholarship may be reapplied every year of the program.
The Civil Society Leadership Awards offers full scholarships for Masters students from specific countries who are dedicated to fostering social change.
Foreign Fulbright Student Program offers scholarships for graduate students from around the world (as well as young professionals and artists) to study in the USA.
International Student has a comprehensive and searchable database of grants, scholarships, loan programs, and other information for international students.
The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program provides comprehensive financial coverage, including tuition, a monthly stipend, airfare, health insurance, and travel allowance, to students from developing countries who have provided support to their home countrys development and who are applying for a development-related Masters program.
MPOWER Financing offers scholarships for international and DACA students. Its Global Citizen Scholarship Program has the broadest eligibility criteria and is offered throughout the year, and niche scholarships are also available.
Websites That Allow International Students to Search for Scholarships
The College Board supports 7 million students each year as they prepare for college and also oversees the SAT college admission test. Their website offers scholarship and other financial aid and internship information from more than 2,200 programs.
International Student specifically provides a scholarship search for international students. Its comprehensive and searchable database of grants, scholarships, loan programs and other information ensures that students from around the world have as many resources as possible to find ways to pay for college.
Fastweb provides access to 1.5 million scholarships worth $3.4 billion. Students create a profile and are able to keep track of their applications on the website.
Buddy4Study is a scholarship search engine for Indian students applying to schools in the USA and in other countries.
Edukasyon lists various scholarships for students from the Philippines.
Borrowing money through a private, legal lender is the best way to afford school without involving the mafia ? . Numerous companies lend to U.S. citizens, but those that offer loans for international students are fewer and further between.
Most lenders require international students to get a loan with a cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. This gives the lender security in case the borrower cant afford to pay back the loan or leaves the USA. Unfortunately, it also limits who is able to get a loan, as some potential borrowers may not have family or friends in the USA who are willing or financially able to act as a cosigner.
However it is possible to get an international student loan without a cosigner from a small number of lenders.
Loan terms and conditions
Even when you do find a lender willing to provide student loans for international students, its important to consider the loan rates, since theyll affect you for the next many years. Private student loans are usually credit-based, as opposed to federal student loans using FAFSA, and provide either variable interest rate loans or fixed interest rate loans. Variable-interest loans, which are also known as floating-rate loans, provide loan terms that change depending two factors: The benchmark used to be based on the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) but it is now based on the SOFR (the Secured Overnight Financing Rate), while the fixed spread evaluates a borrowers likeliness of repaying the loan. Variable-interest loans are risky, since, unlike diamonds, the rate isnt forever; even if a low SOFR at the start gives you a low-interest rate, if SOFR increases, so does your interest rate. By contrast, fixed-interest rate loans remain the same throughout the course of the loan, but of course this can also be risky, because if a borrower starts with a high rate then that rate will remain high throughout the tenure of the loan. Many people advise that in uncertain economic times, a fixed-rate loan is best for international students who desire stability and certainty in their repayment plans.
As you start doing the math, you should also take into account other terms of the loan that might affect when you pay and how much you pay. Is there a grace period before you have to start repaying the loan? Are there penalties for prepayment or paying back the loan early? Are there late fees? Whats the actual process for paying every month? Can the terms of the loans be changed? And when will you be able to afford doing fun things again?
Refinancing your loan
What happens if your interest rate is so high that youre having trouble paying back the loan? You can refinance.
Refinancing gets you a new loan with a lower interest rate and/or lower monthly payments, or lets you switch the type of loan you have. To be clear, borrowers who are able to get their loan refinanced will end up repaying their loan for a longer period of time than the terms of their original loan, but will end up paying less money overall so its still a good plan.
Where to get a loan
Below is a list of some of our favorite private lenders. Whether you apply to one of these or to another company you find yourself, dont forget to look closely at the terms of a loan before you sign anything. If youre going to be paying someone back for years, you might as well be comfortable with how you do it.
MPOWER Financing provides loans to international students studying in the USA or Canada based on their future income potential and without requiring a cosigner or collateral. It offers fixed interest rates to students in any field of study as long as students are accepted or enrolled in one of the schools supported by the company and are in their last two years of study. There is an interest rate discount for eligible students who enroll in autopay. MPOWER also provides other benefits to students including scholarships and career support services.
Ascent is an award-winning private student loan company that gives students more opportunities to pay for college with or without a cosigner. Ascent offers affordable rates, no fees, flexible repayment plans, and exclusive benefits (such as 1% cash back, scholarships, a Refer A Friend Program, a Rewards Program, and more). Check your pre-qualified rates in 4 easy steps without impacting your credit score.
Discover Student Loans is run by Discover Bank, and it provides student loans to international students who attend an eligible school in the USA. Loan terms and conditions require a cosigner but do not charge any fees or require payments while students are still in school. Plus, loan amounts from Discover can cover up to 100 percent of education costs, so some lucky borrowers will be able to cover their total cost and wont have to research additional sources of financial aid.
Prodigy Finance offers variable-rate loans to students in business, engineering, law, public policy, and medical programs who attend school in a country that is not their home country. Instead of requiring a cosigner, Prodigy provides loan and repayment terms based on its predictive credit model, which assesses more than 150 variables that determine how much each applicant can afford after graduating.
Students getting an international education in the USA are eligible to get a loan from Sallie Mae as long as they have a cosigner. Though Sallie Mae doesnt provide personalized interest rates until an application is completed, they do advertise discounts when borrowers choose in-school repayment and paying by auto debit. There are no origination or pre-payment fees, and borrowers may be able to pay only interest for the first year after graduation.
International student loans abound at Wells Fargo, which provides loan products for both undergraduate and graduate students at an eligible school. Borrowers arent required to start payments until six months after graduation but are able to do so without penalties while still enrolled. Wells Fargo also doesnt charge application or origination fees, but it does require a cosigner for international students who apply for a loan. Graduate students must also have an established credit history in the USA to be eligible.
MPOWER Financing provides student loan refinancing options to those whove earned a degree from a top university and have started their career in the USA. It offers fixed interest rates without requiring a cosigner or collateral. Other benefits include a chance to build a credit history in the USA, and there are no prepayment penalties.
How international students can benefit from a U.S. Green Card: A guide to the EB-5 Visa
The EB-5 Visa Program administered by the U.S. Government grants Green Cards to foreign applicants and their immediate family (spouses and children up to the age of 21) when they invest $900,000 for a limited period in a vetted and secure real estate project in the United States.
These green cards are usually processed within a 24-30 month period and upon the return of the investment of $900,000, the overall costs are as low as $85,000.
Since the program was created in 1990, over 78,000 families have applied to receive the benefits of U.S. permanent residency, which include greater educational and professional opportunities.
Challenges International Students Face in the United States and how the EB-5 Visa Can Help
In the competitive landscape and the maze of the U.S. visa system, most international students face significant challenges. The EB-5 Visa can address the following concerns:
a)Limited quotas for international student admission at U.S. universities.
Students applying to study at U.S. universities with a Green Card do not face admissions quotas, and therefore have higher acceptance rates compared to international students needing an F1 visa.
b)Restrictions in the time and conditions under which a student is eligible to study and work in the U.S. through the F1 student visa and the OPT program
EB-5 Visa holders do not need to worry about the constant pressures of the ever-changing legal landscape of the visa rules, and have the freedom to live anywhere in the U.S. and for as long as they would like to.
c)Limitations on pursuing their preferred career path and having access to entrepreneurial opportunities. Difficulty in securing sponsorship after graduation for the H1-B work permit, which is subject to a lottery system, is highly scrutinized and does not allow the permit holder to easily change jobs or get promoted
U.S. permanent residents have the ability to pursue work opportunities, both during their studies and after graduating, across any industry and in any location
With nearly 1.5 million foreign students graduating from U.S. colleges and universities each year, only a very small percentage of them are able to pursue their American Dream without a Green Card.
What Additional Benefits does an EB-5 Visa Offer?
The EB-5 Visa does not only offer greater access to the educational and professional opportunities outlined above. U.S. Permanent Residents also benefit from:
a)Potential savings on tuition:
Green Card holders may be eligible for in-state tuition fees, which are typically lower than those of foreign nationals.
b) Having a path to U.S. Citizenship:
An EB-5 Visa holder can apply for U.S. Citizenship after 5 years of residency, and faces no additional requirements when applying
c)Flexibility to choose which family members get Green Card coverage:
An EB-5 investment can be made on behalf of a child aspiring to study in the U.S., or an entire family including an applicants spouse and any children under the age of 21
d) Quicker adjudication time compared to other U.S. Permanent Residency Options:
Some routes to U.S. permanent residency involve frustratingly long waiting times (up to 25 years), while the EB-5 program usually grants a green card within 24-30 months.
The EB-5 Visa Application Timeline:
Evaluation and Decision Stage (3-6 months):
? Evaluate EB-5 and requirements – Speak with a trusted advisor that has experience working with students to understand the requirements.
? Prepare an EB-5 application- Work with an EB-5 partner with a strong management team and development partners.
? Invest your funds in a high quality project – Complete investment contracts and wire investment into an escrow account until USCIS confirms receipt of the application.
Approval of Application (24 – 30 months):
? Receive your application approval within 24-30 months and schedule a consular interview or an adjustment of status to receive your 2 Year Conditional Green Card.
Conditional Green Card Phase (2 years)
? During these 2 years, Green Card holders that do not already live in the U.S. must visit at least once every 6 months.
? Benefits of a Conditional Green Card are the same as a Permanent Green Card.
Permanent Green Card & Return of Investment (60 Months from Application)
? Upon completion of 2 years of Conditional Permanent Residency, you can apply for your Permanent Green Card.
? Receive your base investment of $900,000 back.
Option to Apply for U.S. Citizenship
? You can apply for Citizenship following 5 years of permanent residency (including the Conditional residency phase).
Find out if you are eligible to invest in the EB-5 Investor Visa Program, and then determine whether youd like to pursue this path for yourself.
Please fill out the form below for additional information on the EB-5 Investor Visa Program
eduPASS is partnering with MPOWER to share resources with international students during this unprecedented health and economic crisis. As you continue to plan for your time abroad in the U.S., we hope to be your guide.
Did you know our website has tons of great resources and information in preparation for studying in the U.S.? We recently updated our immigration and visa page, and in case you missed it, heres our May and June shortlists of useful resources.
Keep reading for the latest on COVID-19 and international education.
Immigration/Visa: Will COVID-19 affect my visa status?
Trump Administration Rescinds International Student Policy: The U.S. government had threatened to ban international students if their university studies went online in the fall due to the pandemic. Due to the large global response, including 18 U.S. states suing over the new ICE restrictions, the Trump administration has rolled back this decision. You can read more here.
Stay up to date on the most recent changes to immigration regulations for new visa applications in the U.S. and new restrictions for fall online students. To learn more, visit these two links (1) and (2) from our Global Immigration Partners.
Where can I find mental health resources for international students?
We had all hoped life would be returning to normal soon, but that doesnt seem to be the case. So while were still practicing social distancing, be sure to take care of your mental health. Here is a guide from the CDC on coping with stress during COVID-19.
COVID-19 and the MCAT
Has this pandemic inspired you to apply to medical school? Check out this article about the way COVID-19 has changed the MCAT testing this summer.
Can I still apply to scholarships?
Yes! Check out UNIGO for a great list of scholarship opportunities. You can search by country, degree type, major, extracurriculars, and more! Head to their website here, and good luck!
Webinar on COVID-19 and the U.S. Healthcare System for International Students
Our friends at MPOWER hosted another informational webinar for students on healthcare! Click the link to learn how you can make the most of your health insurance plan as an international student. They were joined by Jennifer Frankel who has helped thousands of students over the last 11 years select the best health insurance. You can watch the recording here.
Ways to have fun at home!
Need a break from the news? How about Some Good News? Watch The Office star John Krasinski deliver happy news from his home to yours.
Big Harry Potter fan? (Us too!) Check out Harry Potter at Home for quizzes, puzzles, new chapter readings, and more!
Enjoy podcasts? Try this one on mental health and wellness from The Happiness Lab! They even have bonus coronavirus episodes.
eduPASS is a resource for aspiring international students, especially during this current uncertainty. We hope you and your loved ones are staying safe during this unprecedented health crisis, and that we continue to be a source of guidance.
As you consider your plans for fall 2020, we recommend you take a look at the resources available on our website, like our guide for choosing the best school for you. The rankings are based on things like value, safety, and a welcoming campus for international studentsyou can read more here. eduPASS is partnering with MPOWER to share even more resources for international students. We encourage you to take a look at our June edition of resources below and share it with anyone who can benefit.
Where can I find additional test prep help?
Our friends at MPOWER hosted a webinar with CollegeDekho about how COVID-19 has affected the role of GMAT/GRE scores in your admission process. You can check out the recording here.
What are the most recent U.S. visa restrictions?
Stay up to date on the COVID-19 effects on U.S. visas and entry for international students. Follow the updates and restrictions from USCIS here.
What are universities doing in the fall?
Follow along for all the university updates on this page here to know first what schools are deciding for Fall 2020 and check out this post to see how universities are responding to COVID-19 to help you pick the best school.
I need extra help working and studying from home – where can I find resources?
Switching to an online classroom or working from home is a stressful transition. Check out this article for some helpful tips on how to get the most out of your working and studying at home.
Where can I find IELTS resources?
Our friends at WES.org shared this helpful article on how to best use your extra time to prepare for the IELTS exam! Find the article here and read more about the three-part series on tips to ace the exam and practice your English skills.
How do I stay up to date with the current events?
The news can be extremely overwhelming right now. Make sure you still get updates on the COVID-19 crisis. Please be sure to follow reputable sources like the World Health Organization Coronavirus Map.
Ways to have fun at home!
Miss traveling? Visit cool sites like Easter Island and more from home with this new app! Read more about it here.
Big animal fan? A lot of aquariums and zoos are offering live cam views of their facilities. Check out the Monterey Bay Aquarium here!
Cooking a lot more from home? Follow these 11 celebrity chefs sharing tips on cooking during quarantine! Check it out here.
Entrance Exams Required to Study an MS or MBA in the USA
Most undergraduate and graduate programs require standardized testing as part of their application processes.
Graduate school programs require testing as part of the application process, and these differ based on the program or degree. In addition, international students for both undergraduate and graduate programs are often required to submit their scores from the TOEFL to measure their English language skills.
Dont be nervous if you feel completely unprepared for these tests. Theyre terrifying for everyone, which is why prep courses, practice tests, and private tutoring are widely available. And theyre worth it: scholarships are sometimes offered based on high scores, even for international students. Keep in mind that each of these tests have fees, so doing well the first time is better for your confidence as well as your budget.
List of exams required to study in the USA
GRE: The GRE is the most common test for applicants to graduate school programs. The test is completed on a computer and evaluates verbal reasoning (literacy), quantitative reasoning (math), and analytical writing (two essays). The reasoning sections are scored on a scale of 130 – 170, and the essay is scored on a scale of 1 to 6.
GMAT: Most business schools such as an MBA or Master of Finance program require the completion of the GMAT as part of the application. This computer test consists of the quantitative (math) section, verbal section, and integrated reasoning section, and an analytical writing assessment (essay). The quantitative and verbal sections are each scored with a maximum of 800. The integrated reasoning section measures how the test taker evaluates data and is scored on a scale of 1 to 8. The writing assessment is scored on a scale of 1 to 6.
English Language Exams: There are two important English language exams to consider when preparing to study in the USA, either the TOEFL or the IELTS. Be sure to check which one your university may require. English language exams are also important in obtaining a visa.
To learn more about these exams, click here for additional information.
eduPASS recommendations for preparation
CollegeDekho is the leading provider of study abroad counselling in but not limited to India with more than 1100 admissions in universities in 2019-20. Some of the top placements include MIT, Stanford, UC Berkeley, UCLA, Purdue, UMass, NYU, Columbia, Cornell, Carnegie Mellon, TU Munich, Waterloo, McGill, U Toronto, UBC. They offer online test prep services for GRE and GMAT and receive 1.5 million visitors monthly looking for information on graduate education.
Each university have a different criteria for their MS programs, but the basic requirements are:
Standardized test score (Like GRE).
English Language proficiency (like IELTS/TOEFL).
Previous education (Undergraduate or Postgraduate).
What exams are required to study in USA?
For undergraduate education, you’ll have to appear for SAT and for graduate education you’ll have to appear for either GRE or GMAT. You are also required to take an English Language Proficiency test (like IELTS or TOEFL).
What exam is required for MBA in USA?
You’ll need a valid GMAT score to study MBA in the USA. However, some of the business schools also consider GRE for their MBA admissions.
COVID-19 Resources: For Aspiring International Students | May 2020
We hope you and your loved ones are safe and well during this unprecedented health crisis. Aspiring students are revisiting their options abroad, and we know evaluating these global dreams can be more complicated than ever.
That’s why eduPASS has partnered with MPOWER Financing to provide resources for potential students exploring their options. We encourage you to take a look at our curated list below, share with anyone that could benefit, and stay tuned for better times ahead!
Where can I find additional help for the U.S. Visa Process?
Our friends at MPOWER hosted a webinar with a special guest, a multicountry Ex-Vice Consul of the U.S. Embassy, to talk about how the current health crisis will possibly change the visa process for incoming international students. You can check out the recording here.
Can I still apply to scholarships?
Yes! Many people think that its impossible to get a scholarship as an international student, but luckily thats not true. There are plenty of opportunities and well help you stand out!
Will Fall classes start on campus?
What’s going to happen at U.S. colleges this fall? We don’t have a crystal ball, but a mix of these 15 scenarios is our educated guess.
Can eduPASS help me find housing?
Weve partnered with 4Stay, an off-campus housing platform to help you explore short-term housing options. Please visit their website if this could be helpful.
What Are the Top Universities in the USA for International Students?
A New Ranking Based on What Matters to YOU!
Choosing which of the best universities in the USA to attend can seem overwhelming. There are so many rankings to choose fromall based on whats important to U.S. students, and sometimes using data only from U.S. citizens.
Fortunately, MPOWER Financing, which was founded by former international students and has been recognized as a top lender for international students by U.S. News and NerdWallet, used its big data expertise to create a ranking of the best universities in the USA exclusively for international students. This university ranking is based on the three factors that matter most to international students and their families: value, safety, and a welcoming atmosphere for international students. The ranking also builds on MPOWERs Financing prior research to identify schools that provide great outcomes for international students, since the company lends money to students who attend universities in the USA based on the each students future earning potential.
The rankings are based on data, not opinion-based surveys, and were created without influence or input from universities. MPOWER ranked all U.S. schools with more than 500 international students enrolled on campus according to these 3 factors:
1. Value (65%): This is by far the most important factor for international students, who continually ask, But is a U.S. degree worth the cost?and thats why it has the greatest weight in the ranking. This was broken down into several different drivers of value:
Payback period (45%): While some rankings use return on investment (ROI), for international students, payback period is a better metric. Why? Because ROI calculations are often calculated over a period of at least 10 yearsor sometimes an entire career! International students often consider a shorter time horizon, given that they may face uncertainty about whether or how long they will be able to stay and work in the U.S. The payback metric is simple and intuitive: the number of months it would take to pay back each schools total sticker(listed) price, based on that schools average post-graduation salary.
Cost of living (5%): Tuition and fees arent the only driver of cost; the cost of rent and other living expenses varies widely around the U.S., so this has been factored in as well.
Availability of financial aid resources for international students on school websites (5%): This was used as a proxy for a schools willingness to provide international students with scholarships and other forms of financial aid. As a provider of no-cosigner loans and scholarships for international students, MPOWER knows that access to funding is a major barrier to studying abroad.
Percentage of students receiving financial assistance (10%): One of the worst-kept secrets in U.S. higher education is that the actual price that students pay is often quite different from the listed price shown on their website or admissions materials. While the payback period analysis focuses on the sticker price, this metric highlights the percentage of students who pay less than the sticker price. Its a good proxy for whether talented international students are likely to get a discount.
2. Welcoming atmosphere for international students (25%): International students often wonder Will I fit in on campus? While data cant definitively answer that question, three proxies were used to determine how welcoming a campus will be to international students:
The total number of international students (15%): Theres strength in numbers! The number of international students enrolled gives a sense of a universitys openness to international students. In addition, universities with larger numbers of international students are more likely to have well-staffed International Student Services (ISS) offices and student clubs for students from your country.
The percentage of international students (5%): Although similar to the metric above, this metric adjusts for the total size of the student body to reflect the proportion that is comprised of international students.
Availability of ethnic food near campus (5%): One of the best ways to beat homesickness is to eat your moms cookingor the next best thing! Google Maps data was used to determine the availability of restaurants serving non-American food within one mile of campus.
3. Campus safety (10%): Safety is a top concern of international students, especially women. The best data to assess safety are the official Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) statistics on crime on college campuses. To ensure a fair comparison across campuses, which vary greatly in size, the data was converted into crimes per thousand students and then converted it into a relative safety score.
The Top 30 U.S. Schools for International Students
Using these factors, all U.S. schools with more than 500 international students were evaluated. For each factor, the raw score (e.g., the payback period in months, or the cost of living in dollars) was converted into an index score. The higher the index, the better the school scored on that metric.
Based on this analysis, these are the top 30 U.S. schools for international students!
School Name
Final Ranking
Total Weighted Index Score
Payback Period Index (High Score = Short Payback, Low Score = Long Payback) [45%]
Cost of Living Index (High Score = Most Expensive, Low Score = Least Expensive) [5%]
Funding Information Availability Index (High Score = Most Available, Low Score = Least) [5%]
Percentage of Students Receiving Financial Aid Index (High Score = Highest %, Low Score = Least) [10%]
Number of International Students Index (High Score = Most Intnl Students, Low Score = Least) [15%]
Percentage of International Students (High Score = Largest %, Low Score = Least) [5%]
Campus Safety Index (High Score = Safest, Low Score = Least Safe) [10%]
Ethnic Food Availability Index (High Score = Most Available, Low Score = Least) [5%]
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
1
72.54
79
54
30
49
82
50
82
100
Michigan Technological University
2
70.6
90
80
30
93
9
36
87
70
University of California-Irvine
3
70.18
85
82
30
60
48
41
60
100
Texas Tech University
4
69.64
98
89
30
56
22
18
75
40
North Dakota State University
5
68.62
90
99
60
67
6
12
84
70
The University of Texas at Dallas
6
68.04
71
79
60
65
44
48
85
100
Texas A & M University-College Station
7
68.02
86
78
30
48
39
17
72
100
Clemson University
8
66.62
83
88
60
93
11
13
81
40
Illinois Institute of Technology
9
66.56
71
75
60
100
24
100
55
70
SUNY at Binghamton
10
66.46
77
100
100
64
19
33
76
70
University of California-Davis
11
66.22
76
83
60
63
46
37
47
100
San Diego State University
12
65.2
91
67
30
44
20
17
59
100
University of California-San Diego
13
65.04
64
80
30
52
83
52
70
70
University of California-Berkeley
14
64.68
80
77
60
48
50
35
42
70
University of South Florida-Main Campus
15
64.62
73
83
30
79
35
24
82
70
The University of Texas at Austin
16
64.48
77
80
30
43
38
22
81
100
University of California-Los Angeles
17
62.79
76
76
30
56
51
34
48
70
Northeastern University
18
61.24
67
54
30
70
51
71
67
40
North Carolina State University at Raleigh
19
61.07
68
76
30
50
35
31
99
70
New York University
20
60.24
41
46
60
45
100
58
93
100
Harvard University
21
60.02
67
48
60
56
48
46
59
70
University of Florida
22
59.77
61
82
30
91
44
25
77
40
Georgia Institute of Technology
23
59.39
58
59
100
67
48
49
69
40
University of Utah
24
59.37
69
81
100
77
17
16
62
40
Columbia University
25
59.27
38
48
100
52
80
78
88
100
Oklahoma State University
26
58.71
71
92
30
78
13
16
80
40
University of Southern California
27
58.02
48
56
60
58
83
54
75
40
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor
28
55.52
47
74
100
53
51
33
61
100
Johns Hopkins University
29
52.86
45
79
100
52
35
42
61
100
Boston University
30
48.96
36
54
60
48
58
52
60
100
But Wait…the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is #1 and Harvard is #21! How Can That Be?
This ranking is based on the three factors that matter most to international studentsvalue (mostly based on payback period), safety, and hospitality to international studentswhich means the results are somewhat different from rankings based on other factors!
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, for example, ranks highly because it has a relatively low sticker price (which means a shorter payback period), lots of international students, and a safe campus near lots of international food options.
Despite its greater prestige and name recognition, Harvard (although still one of our top recommended schools!) does not rate quite as highly. Why? Because it has a higher sticker price, resulting in a longer payback period than, say, University of Illinois; a smaller number of international students (perhaps not surprising given its smaller student body); and an urban campus which, like most urban campuses, tends to be not as safe as a campus in a rural area or small town.
Of course, Harvard could still be a great choice if youre looking for top-notch academics and a prestigious degree and youre comfortable with a slightly longer payback period, fewer international students, and an urban campus.
So How Should I Use This List?
No one should decide which school to attend solely based on this list. The most important factor, of course, is whether the degree program you are seeking is offered by the schooland whether this degree program has the right reputation, areas of concentration, opportunities for research or consulting, and career placement track record for YOU.
But once you know which schools offer the right degree program for you, this list can be helpful in narrowing down your listor even bringing new schools to your attention! If youre interested in pursuing a STEM degree and value campus safety and an affordable degree (but dont mind the cold or being in a rural area!), for example, you might consider Michigan Technological University.
Once youve used this list and other resources to narrow down your list to the top 5 or 10 schools, we suggest talking to the following:
? The Financial Aid Office, the Recruitment Office, and the school/department you would be in, to discuss what financial aid/scholarships they might be able to offer you.
? The Career Services Office of the university (or better yet, your program) to find out about job placement rates and starting salaries for students with the degree you are seeking, with international students broken out separately if possible. This, combined with information on your financial aid package, will allow you to calculate your actual payback period and ROI!
? The International Student Services Office, to discuss what support services are available for international students.
? Members of the international student association orbetter yetan association of students from your country (e.g. the Chinese Student Association or the Indian Student Association), to find out how welcoming the campus is to international students, and what opportunities you will have to connect with other international students.
Once youve done that, youll be ready to make a great, data-driven decision about the best school for YOU!
The Best of the Rest: Honorable Mentions
In addition to the 30 schools that were ranked in the previous table, MPOWER also identified a further 70 schools that provide great value for international students. We encourage you to review this list (arranged by state and then alphabetically) to uncover other hidden gems among U.S. schools.
Which Student Loan Repayment Plan is Right for Me?
Getting an international student loan to study in the USA
can be expensiveand confusing.
At eduPASS, we work with international students every day to understand their student loan options. One of the most frequent questions we hear is which student loan repayment option is cheapest? The answer is that it largely depends on six factors. Read on to learn more!
The Top Six Factors to Consider When Evaluating International Student Loan
Repayment Options
#1: Loan Term
The term of your international student loan is the length of time you have to pay back your loan. The term is usually expressed in months, so a 10-year loan has a term of 120 months.
The shorter your loan term, the higher your monthly payments will be, but the lower your overall cost. The longer your loan term, the lower your monthly payments, but the higher your overall cost.
To illustrate this point, lets assume you borrow $20,000 at an annual interest rate of 12% (which means the interest charged on a monthly basis is 1%, or 1/12 of 12%). Using a simple loan repayment calculator, you can see that your monthly payment (assuming interest is calculated on a monthly basis) with a 5-year loan term would be $445. (Note: Figures are rounded to the nearest dollar.) Now adjust this to a 10-year term, and youll see that your monthly payment drops to $287.
Comparison of Payment Stream for $20,000 Student Loan: 10-Year vs. 5-Year Loan
10-year term
5-year term
Monthly Payment(Principal + Interest)
$287
$445
Number of Months
120
60
Total Amount Youll Pay
$34,440
$26,700
As the above example illustrates, the 10-year term is a
better option if you think you wont be able to afford a monthly payment of
$445, which is what youd pay with a 5-year term. Most personal finance experts
recommend that you spend no more than 10% of your post-graduation income on
loan payments. So, if you expect to earn a post-graduation salary of only
$3,000 per month, the most you will reasonably be able to pay per month is
$300making the 10-year loan a more affordable option.
However, if youre an MBA student likely to make, say,
$9,000 a month, you should be able to easily afford $445 per month. In that
case, you should choose the 5-year option. Why? Because youll end up saving
over $8,000!
Of course, theres yet a better option. Most lenders offer no prepayment penalty, which means you could choose a loan with a longer-term but make extra payments and apply these towards the principal when you are able. That will allow you to pay off the loan early and reduce the total amount you pay!
#2: Interest Rate and APR
Most students seeking a loan to study in the USA focus on
the interest rate first. Why? Because lower interest rates mean lower interest
charges, which means lower payments.
But theres a catch! Some international student loans have fixed rates, which means the rate will never change. But be aware that if you choose a variable rate loan, you dont actually know what your interest rate will be over the life of the loan. If you want to learn more, check out eduPASSs detailed explanation of the difference between fixed-rate and variable-rate international student loans and what it means for your loan payments!
Many international students are less familiar with the term
APR and dont realize how important this is. APR stands for Annual Percentage Rate, and it refers to the
total annualized cost of borrowing, including both interest payments and any
other fees. The most common fee with student loans is an origination fee, which
is usually expressed as a percentage of the loan amount and compensates the
lender for the cost of processing the loan. This fee is often added to the
amount the student is borrowing to cover education expenses.
Since origination fees vary by lender, the absolute best way to compare products is to compare APRs. But remember, as discussed above, this is only a reliable comparison if both products are fixed-rate loans!
#3: Lender Discounts
When evaluating lender options, be sure to ask about any
discounts for which you may qualify. These could significantly reduce your
interest rate and therefore your monthly payments. Be sure to factor any
discounts in when using a student loan repayment calculator to estimate future
payments!
Many students assume that its always best to get an
international student loan that does not require payments while the student is
in school.
But is that true?
Avoiding in-school payments can certainly be less stressful;
it can allow students to focus on their studies without worrying about getting
an on-campus job or assistantship.
But the downside is that interest on your loan accrues, which
means that all of the interest payments you are deferring are actually added to
the balance of your loan, and then you pay interest on that interest meaning that, the longer you defer payments, the more
you owe!
Lets take that same example of a $20,000 loan at 12%
interest and examine two different repayment options: (a) you make no payments
while in school for 24 months and then, after graduation, make payments for
both interest and principal over a 10-year period, or (b) you make
interest-only payments while in school and then, after graduation, make
payments for both interest and principal over that same 10-year period.
Comparison of Payment
Stream for $20,000 Student Loan: Deferring Payments While in School vs. Making
In-School Interest-Only Payments
Option A: No In-School Payments
Option B: In-School Interest-Only Payments
Monthly Payment While in School
$0
$200
Monthly Payment After Graduation
$364
$287
Total Amount Paid over Life of Loan [Calculated as (Monthly in -school payment x 24 months) + (Monthly after-graduation payment x 120 months)]
$43,680
$39,240
Why are monthly payments post-graduation higher under option
(a)?
Because after graduation, your balance under option (a) has
grown substantially. Why? Because in the first month, $200 in interest accrued
but was not paid. As a result, your principal balance increased to $20,200. The
second month, your interest is now calculated on this new balance, so the
interest that accrues is now $202, and your principal balance increases to
$20,402. So by the end of 24 months, your balance has risen to $25,395.
In contrast, under option (b), you still owe just $20,000,
because no interest has accrued.
As you can see, this makes a big difference when calculated
post-graduation monthly payments. So, choosing not to make in-school payments
will cost you over $4,000 more on a loan of $20,000!
If you want even more details, check out this blog post on private student loan repayment options from
Credible.
#5: Payment Currency
When comparing international student loan options, remember
to check the currency in which you must make payments.
If this currency matches the currency in which you expect to
be paid after graduation, you will not have any currency risk. In this case,
you can more easily forecast whether you will be able to afford your loan
payments.
However, if these currencies differ, you will face currency
risk. What does that mean? It means that, if the currency you are working in
appreciates vis-à-vis the currency in which you will be making payments, you
will save money, but if it depreciates you could end up paying moremaybe a lot
more!
#6: Ease of Making Payments Across Borders
Currency risk isnt the only consideration if you are going
to be earning money in one currency and paying your lender in another.
You also need to consider foreign transaction fees!
These fees can be substantial, so check to see how the
lenders you are considering handle cross-border payments. Some lenders that
cater to international students, like MPOWER Financing, have partnerships with
companies like Flywire,
which allows borrowers to make payments via their mobile phone from anywhere in
the world at a fraction of the cost.
The Bottom Line on International Student Loan Repayment Plans
The bottom line is that you need to research all of these
factors. Dont be shy about asking lenders for details. We wish you the best of
luck with choosing the right loan repayment option for you!
International Student Loan Variable or Fixed Rate – which should I choose?
If youre looking for an international student loan to study
in the USA, one of your first considerations is whether to get a fixed or
variable rate student loan. But theres a lot of confusion about the difference
between these two types of student loans, and what this means in terms of
future payments and financial risk.
The good news is that Edupass has you covered – read on for everything you need to know!
Fixed vs. Variable Interest Rate Private Student Loans to Study in the U.S.
Fixed-rate loans are just what they say they arefixed, which means that your rate never goes up! A fixed interest rate, for example, will simply be quoted as 12% or 10.5%.
Variable interest rates, also known as floating or adjustable interest rates, change based on market fluctuations. They are determined by two components:
The benchmark, that fluctuates with market conditions; and
The spread, which is the additional amount you will be charged over and above the benchmark, expressed as a percent.
The standard benchmark for variable student loan rates used to be the LIBOR or, to give it its full name, the London Interbank Offered Rate. This has now been replaced to a greater extent, at least in the United States, with SOFR (the Secured Overnight Financing Rate).
A variable interest rate is quoted with the benchmark and the spread, e.g., SOFR + 8%. The loan agreement will also specify how often your rate will be adjusted (e.g., every month or every quarter, based on changes to the underlying benchmark rate).
So Which is Better: A Fixed Rate or Variable Rate Student Loan?
The short answer is that it depends on your tolerance for risk. The initial interest rate for variable rate student loans is typically lower than for fixed rates, but if and when market rates spike, the interest rates on these loans can surpass fixed interest rates.
There are three major advantages of a fixed-rate student loan over a variable rate loan:
You know in advance the total amount you will pay over the life of the loan, which means you can more accurately estimate the return on investment for your degree.
The lender bears all interest rate risk. If rates go up, its cost of capital goes up but your interest rate and loan payment stay the same!
That said, theres one major advantage for variable rate student loans: if market rates stay low, you may end up paying less for a variable rate loan than for a fixed rate loan.
Of course, if the benchmark goes up sufficiently high, youll end up paying significantly more. And if youre lucky and it goes down, youll pay even less than the introductory rate.
Market Trends Suggest Variable Rates Will Rise, But No One Can Say by How Much
How Fixed-Rate International Student Loans to Study in the USA Work: An Example
Lets say you borrow $30,000, and you repay the student loan principal and interest over a 10-year period, with payments to be made monthly at a 12% fixed interest rate.
Using a student loan repayment calculator or a simple Excel formula, you can calculate that your monthly payment will be $430.31 (assuming interest is calculated on a monthly, not daily, basis). You will pay this same amount every single month for ten years. The only thing that will change is the relative proportion of each payment that is for interest or principal. In the beginning of your loan, a higher percentage of the payment goes towards interest and, in later periods, more of this payment goes towards paying down the principal.
In the first month, for example, you still owe $30,000, so the interest payment would be $300. You calculate this by multiplying the amount owed by the quotient of the annual interest rate divided by the number of payment periods in a year. So, since payments are made monthly and there are 12 months in a year, the monthly interest paid in the first month is $30,000 x (.12/12) = $300. The difference between your $430.31 payment and the $300 interest charge is $130.31, so your principal is reduced by $130.31.
The next month, you calculate interest based on the new principal amount of $29,869.59. While the payment stays constant at $430.31, now only $298.70 is attributable to interest, so the amount of principal paid increases to $131.72.
Assuming that you make on-time payments, do not pay off the loan early, and do not receive any lender interest rate discounts, you will pay a total of $51,649.54 over the course of the loanand this will not change regardless of market conditions!
How Variable-Rate International Student Loans to Study in the USA Work: An Example
Lets take the same $30,000, 10-year student loan from the fixed-rate example but assume that its a variable rate loan with an interest rate of SOFR + 8%.
That means youll pay 10% interest initially (because 2% + 8%=10%). The lender calculates the monthly payment as if the rate will stay constant (even though it wont!), so the initial monthly payment will be $396.45 (assuming interest is calculated monthly, not daily). So for that first month, youll save about $34 over what you would have paid to borrow the same amount with a 12% fixed-rate loan (see fixed-rate example above).
If SOFR rises to 4%, however, your interest rate will rise to 12% (because 4% + 8% = 12%). Now youre paying the same interest rate as you would in the fixed-rate example above. The lender will then recalculate your monthly payment based on three factors: (a) the new interest rate of 12%, (b) the number of months you have left on your loan, and (c) the amount of principal you still owe.
If SOFR rises to 8%, your interest rate will rise to 16% (because 8% + 8% = 16%). Lets say this happens at the end of year 4, so you have 72 months remaining on your loan. Lets assume that you have $22,106.17 in principal outstanding. (This is the principal that would be outstanding if interest rates rose at a constant 1.5% per year over these four years and the rate was only adjusted at the beginning of each year.) Your new monthly payment would be $479.52, roughly $50 more than you would be paying per month under the fixed-rate scenario above.
On the flip side, lets say SOFR rates go down to 1% at the end of year 1, so you have 108 months remaining on your loan and $28,159.74 in principal outstanding. (This is the principal that would be outstanding after making 12 months of $396.45 payments with a 10% interest rate, as described at the beginning of this section.) Your new interest rate would be 9% and your monthly payment would then go down to $381.36…and stay there until rates rise again.
The Bottom Line on Fixed vs. Variable Rates
The bottom line is that only you know if youre willing to take the risk that your payments will suddenly jump in return for a lower introductory rate.
And remember, fixed vs. variable isnt the only factor driving a loans affordability. Other factors include:
The length of the loan period The longer you have to pay back your loan, the lower individual payments will be but the more you will end up paying overall!
Whether interest accrues while you are in school If you are not making interest payments while in school, the interest that accrues will be added to the principal amount so the principal amount will actually increase over and above what you originally borrowed! That means that monthly payments will be higher when the loan starts to amortize.
Lender discounts Some lenders will offer you discounts in exchange for completing certain requirements. Edupass affiliate MPOWER Financing, for example, offers an interest rate discount on its fixed-rate loans for enrolling in autopay.
We wish you the best of luck with choosing the right loan product for you!
What is the difference between fixed and variable rate loans?
Fixed-rate loan means the rate of interest on your loan does not change over time. Variable-rate loan is where the rate of interest of your loan can change (based in “index”) over time
What is better variable or fixed interest rate?
Variable interest rates can start at a lower rate than a fixed interest rate, but depending on the circumstances of the market, the variable interest rate may increase over time and further increasing your monthly repayment as well.
The Edupass Toolkit: Everything International Students Need to Know to Get a Scholarship in the USA
Many people
think that its impossible to get a scholarship as an international student,
but luckily thats not true. There are plenty of opportunities if you know
where to lookand how to stand out.
Thats where
Edupass comes in. Were dedicated to helping people from around the world who
want to study in the USAand removing whatever obstacles are in their way, from
immigration to financing.
On this
page, well walk you through the four essential steps to getting a scholarship
and link you to all the resources you need to succeed in each step.
Step #1: Know the Different Types of Scholarships for International Students in the USA
Need-based: Exclusively for students from socioeconomically disadvantaged (i.e. low-income) backgrounds. Each scholarship program defines need differently, so read the eligibility criteria typically. You may need to provide supporting documentation (such as your familys tax return) to qualify.
AcademicMerit: For students who demonstrate outstanding academic performance or potential. Eligibility is often restricted to students with a certain GPA, a certain class rank, or other evidence of academic distinction.
Membership in an underrepresented or specific group: For students who meet certain diversity criteria. Some of these may be only for women, or from individuals from a particular country or region, or for individuals with particular immigration status.
School-based eligibility: For students enrolled or accepted at a particular school.
Major/degree-based eligibility: For students accepted or enrolled in a specified major or degree program (e.g. nursing, business, engineering).
Step #2: Identify Scholarships for Which You Qualify
Decide which of the categories in step #1 you qualify for and use these criteria to search for scholarships.
First, investigate university scholarships. Contact your schools Office of International Student
Services and Office of Financial Aid to ask about scholarships that your school
offers directly to international students. If youve received an offer of
financial aid from another school, mention that! Some schools will match the
other offers you have.
Then identify scholarships for international students offered by other organizations. A great place to start is our list of scholarships for international students. Be sure to use your school, your degree/major, and your country of origin as search terms. If you are low-income, search for need-based scholarships, and if youre female, search for scholarships specifically for women!
Step #3: Narrow Down the List to the International Student Scholarships Right for You
Narrow your focus! Prioritize applying to those scholarships for which you are most competitive. Remember that you are more likely to win scholarship competitions with more limited applicant pools. If, for example, you are a Brazilian woman interested in computer science, you are more likely to win MPOWER Financings Women in STEM Scholarship, or a scholarship specifically for Brazilians, than a scholarship open to a larger pool of applicants!
Step #4: Write a Great Scholarship Essay
Its critical to write a compelling
application and essay. Want some tips? Check out:
This terrific FREE webinar from Edupass affiliate MPOWER Financing: How to Get a Scholarship to Study in the USA, which includes very specific feedback about what constitutes a good essay, gathered from MPOWERs experience reviewing thousands of scholarship applications; and
This fantastic article from Harvard University about how to write a compelling personal statement. While its written for applicants for admission to Harvard rather than scholarship applicants, the advice is still very relevant.
Step #5: Submit Your Application on Time!
Watch those deadlines! Submit all required materials by the deadline, taking into account any differences in time zones.
Can I Get a Student Loan Without Asking My Parents for Collateral?
One of the biggest concerns for international students looking for
education financing is the impact on their families, and one of the biggest
impacts occurs when a lender requires a student loan recipient to provide
collateral. Since students typically do not have sufficient collateral, that
means his or her parents, or other relatives, must provide the collateral.
Read on to find out what collateral is, why is it required, and how you can get a student loan without collateral or a cosigner!
What is Student Loan Collateral, and Why
Do Student Lenders Typically Require It?
Traditional lenders are very risk-averse. To limit their financial risk, they typically require collateral for most, if not all, loans. Loans backed by collateral are also known as secured loans.
Collateral is defined as something of value that is pledged to support
the loan. For a home loan, the collateral is simply the house that is purchased
with the home loan; if the borrower fails to make payments and the loan goes
into default, the lender is able to take possession of the house and sell it to
recoup its losses. For a car loan, the collateral is typically the car
purchased with the loan.
Student loans are a bit different as, unlike a home or car loan, there is no underlying asset. For this reason, collateral may take several different forms. Typically, however, it is a home, a parcel of land, or jewelry or other assets. If the student later misses several consecutive payments and the loan is declared in default, this collateral is seized by the lender as payment.
How Much Collateral Is
Typically Required to Secure a Student Loan with a Traditional Lender?
The value of the collateral pledged to support the student loan must
generally be equal toor exceedthe amount borrowed. That means that if you are
looking to borrow $50,000, the combined value of the assets pledged must be
greater than $50,000. Many international students simply do not have assets worth
this much, and they often do not have relatives able or willing to pledge
collateral worth that much.
How Do Lenders Determine
the Value of the Collateral Pledged?
U.S. lenders typically require an appraisal of the home or other asset pledged by a neutral third party to verify the actual value of the asset. In other countries, an employee from the lender may visit the home of the borrower or the individual pledging collateral for the borrower to personally inspect his or her home, jewelry, or other assets.
What Are the Advantages
and Disadvantages of Collateralized Student Loans?
The most obvious disadvantage of collateralized student
loans is that many international students and their families simply do not have
the assets required to qualify for such a loan so its not even an option!
Even for students who do have this option, however, there
are some drawbacks. If you yourself do not have sufficient assets, you must
find a relative or friend who is willing to pledge their assets to secure your
student loan. Many students are reluctant to rely on friends or family, or to
create this kind of financial risk for their friends of family. In addition,
collateralizing these assets means that the assets cannot be pledged for other
types of loans. If, for example, your family operates a business and uses its
home as collateral for a business loan, the family business may no longer have
access to the same credit as before.
Some students also find that a pledge of assets comes with
strings attached; in return for providing the necessary collateral, for
example, a family member might require the student to join the family business
after graduation, or want some control over what degree the student should
seek.
If, however, you yourself have the assets needed to secure the loan, or if you have family members willing to provide the collateral and this does not create an undue burden on them, by all means, consider collateralized loan options! Because the risk to the lender is reduced, the interest rates for these loans are typically lower than for an unsecured student loan.
Can I Get an
International Student Loan to Study in the USA Without Collateral?
The great news is that there are options for students who
cannot provide collateral, or do not wish to do so!
Sallie Mae, the largest private student lender in the USA, offers uncollateralized student loans (also known as signature loans) for international studentsbut you will need a cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and has a good U.S. credit history. Other private U.S. lenders offering this option for a signature loan with a creditworthy U.S. cosigner include Wells Fargo, Citizens One, Ascent, and Discover.
This is only an option, of course, if you have a wealthy relative who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident and is willing to be responsible for making payments if you are unable or unwilling to do so. Even if you do have such a relative, keep in mind that you are placing them at considerable financial risk. If you fail to make payments for a period of 90 days or more, the lender may declare the loan in default. This allows the lender to take a number of actions that could harm your cosigners credit, increase their costs of borrowing, subject your cosigner to a lawsuit, and result in the seizure of his or her assets or garnishment of wages. The consequences of default for the cosigner on your international student loan are quite serious.
So, Can I Get an International Student Loan to Study in the USA Without Collateral or a U.S. Cosigner?
For students who dont have a creditworthy U.S. cosigneror
dont want to burden their relatives with a request for collateralthere are
two other great options:
eduPASS First Recommendation
MPOWER Financing, an affiliate of Edupass that was named the best lender for international students by U.S. News and World Report, is a U.S.-based lender that offers fixed-rate U.S.-dollar denominated loans to students from 190+ countries to study at 350+ universities in the USA and Canada, covering ANY degree program and major at those schools. MPOWER Financing does not require a cosigner, collateral, or a U.S. credit score. Students must, however, be within two years of graduation, so undergraduates in their first two years of study are not eligible for an MPOWER loan.
eduPASS Second Recommendation
Prodigy Finance is a UK-based company that makes variable-rate loans in British pounds. Prodigy Finance has more restrictions on borrowers country of origin, university, and degree program than MPOWER Financing does, so check carefully to see if you are eligible. Prodigy Finance is a particularly good option for students looking to do an MBA or STEM program in Europe, as MPOWER Financing only lends to international students in the USA and Canada.
The Bottom Line: Consider All Factors When Deciding if a Collateralized Student Loan is Right for You
We cant tell you which optionsecured or unsecured, with or
without a cosigneris right for you. Only you know whether you have a relative
willing and able to provide collateral and/or serve as a qualified cosigner.
And only you know if this would cause an undue burden to this relative or put a
strain on your relationship.
Its important, though, to weigh all the risks and consider the relative cost of each option. Then you can begin comparing student loan products based on other important factors, such as interest rates, repayment periods, and lender discounts and other services, with the aid of a good student loan repayment calculator.
Good luck, and please check out some of the other financial aid resources and tips on Edupass as you continue your education journey!
Usually, banks require a collateral security for education loan. However, there are some private lenders like MPOWER Financing who offer education loans without collateral.
What is the difference between a secured and unsecured student loan?
Secured student loans usually demands a collateral security (any non-movable asset) and/or a loan guarantor. Whereas, unsecured student loans are not backed by any collateral or guarantor.
How can I get a student loan without my parents?
To get a student loan without your parents, you should apply for a no-cosigner loan. Some private lenders like MPOWER Financing offer student loans without requiring a cosigner or a collateral.
Finding Scholarships for International Students in the USA & Canada
Scholarships are the ideal way to pay for college, because you never have to pay back the money. Unfortunately, international education is expensive! Scholarships for foreign students in the USA and Canada are not as common as scholarships for US and Canadian citizens, and they can be harder to find.
But thats why Edupass is here to share some tips and tricks for international students, and to point you to key sites and resources. And that best part is that we’ve got you covered, whether you’re an undergraduate or graduate student, and whether you’re studying for an MBA, a Master’s degree in Biology or Computer Science, or a Ph.D. in Systems Engineering!
Find and Win Scholarships and Financial Assistance to Study in the USA & Canada: Top 5 Dos and Donts
DO research the different categories of scholarship programs for international studentsand know which ones you are eligible for!
The main categories include:
Need-based: Typically includes income limit and may require supporting documentation
AcademicMerit: Based on your grade point average, class rank, etc.
Membership in an underrepresented or specific group: Offered to women, minorities, certain nationalities or immigration statuses, etc.
School-based eligibility: Limited to those accepted at or enrolled in a certain school
Major/degree-based eligibility: For students accepted or enrolled in a particular major or degree program (e.g. nursing, business, engineering)
Once you are familiar with the different categories, figure out which categories are most appropriate for your personal situation.
DO start by contacting your university
The simplest, most direct way to get financial aid is through your university. Most merit-based and need-based scholarships are for domestic students, but some universities offer scholarships for international students.
Start by contacting your universitys Office of International Student Services and Office of Financial Aid. Dont be shy about explaining your personal financial situationand emphasizing that financial aid is a key factor in your decision about which school to attend. If you have been accepted to another school and received a scholarship award from that school, definitely mention it. Some schools will offer to match your other financial aid packages!
DO research home-country scholarships
Some national governments offer scholarships and/or low-cost loans for their most promising students to pursue higher education abroad. In some cases, the financial aid is structured as a loan, with the interest rate reducedor some portion of the loan principal forgivenif the student returns to his or her home country after graduation.
DO leverage scholarship search enginesand get creative with your search criteria!
Search engines such as IEFA are a great way for you to identify scholarships you are eligible for. When searching, remember that you have a better chance of winning if (a) there is a small pool of potential applicants, and (b) you meet all the eligibility criteria and excel when judged against the evaluation criteria! So scour the Internet for scholarships that meet these criteria.
Start by identifying those scholarships where you meet the eligibility criteriabut few others do. If youre a low-income woman from Brazil studying engineering, for example, search for need-based scholarships for Brazilians, women in general, women from Brazil, women in a STEM (Science, Technology, Mathematics, and Engineering), women in engineering and Brazilian women in engineering. Make sure to get creative with your search terms. In the example above, try both Brazilian and Brazil, as well as women and female. Also try searching the College Boards website for scholarships for international students at your specific university.
Once you have identified scholarships where you meet the eligibility criteria, but relatively few others do, dive into the second phase of your research. Now read the details about each scholarship competition. How will winners be selected? If, for example, its on the basis of an essay, youll have a better chance of winning if youre a good writer and can come up with a unique way of answering the essay question.
After youve done your research, identify the 5-10 scholarships you have the best chance of winning and start the application process!
DO ask a friend or family member to review your work before submitting
Many scholarship providers will automatically reject an application with incomplete or missing information, or with a poorly written essay. So ask a friend or family member to review your application before submission and check to make sure youve met all the submission requirements.
If an essay in English is required, ask a native English speaker to review and check your spelling and grammar!
DONT use your essay to beg for money
The scholarship provider knows you need money for schoolthats why youre applying for a scholarship. Focus on answering the essay question to the best of your ability and highlighting how you are just the type of student they are looking for.
Not sure how to do that? Just look at the selection or evaluation criteria. If the criteria section says that the provider is looking for students whove demonstrated outstanding leadership potential, for example, talk about your leadership roles on campus or in your community and what youve accomplished. If the scholarship is for public health students, on the other hand, focus on your experience spearheading a campaign to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS or increase polio vaccination rates.
Be specific and conciseand never lie. Highlighting any awards or recognition youve received never hurts, either, and scholarship providers will appreciate it if you include a link!
DONT re-use an essay you used for another purpose
Scholarship providers want to see that youve thought about their specific questionand youve answered it.
DONT wait until the last minute to submit your application
You dont want to find out that theres a last-minute website glitch, that youve forgotten a key part of the application, or that youve failed to take into account any time zone difference! Apply early and, if you dont receive a confirmation message, politely contact the scholarship provider to see if your application was received.
DONT fall for a scam
Start by eliminating any scholarships that have an application fee, as these are probably financial aid scams.
DONT ignore other ways to pay for schoollike teaching assistantships
Many universities in the United States and Canada offer work as teaching assistants for graduate students, especially Ph.D. students, as part of a university’s financial aid package. This can be arranged even before you leave your home country and typically involves working with students in the lab, grading papers, and tutoring undergraduates. Similarly, many Ph.D. students have the opportunity to work in research lab.
If you are interested in this option, be sure to contact your university’s financial aid office, as well as the department in which you will be studying.
Even if you are unable to secure a teaching assistant position in your field, you still may be able to arrange to be a teaching assistant for classes in your native language. If, for example, you are a native Mandarin speaker, ask the professor of Mandarin Chinese if you can assist him or her in grading papers. You may also more informally arrange to tutor students.
Once you are on campus, you could also explore work on campus. This could mean working on campus in the cafeteria, library, dormitories, or various university offices; serving as a referee for sports matches at your university; or working in some other capacity. International students are legally allowed to work an average of 20 hours per week on-campus in the US.
If youre applying to a top university in the USA, youve probably been asked for your Grade Point Average (GPA). Its a standard feature on most school application forms, as well as financial aid forms, scholarship applications, and loan applications, and youll hear about it a lot.
But what exactly is a GPA? And what should you do if your undergraduate or high school grades were calculated differently? How can you convert those grades (or any other grades) into a cumulative GPA easily understood in the USA?
Well tell you all about how schools, scholarship providers, and lenders use GPAs in their decisions; teach you how to calculate your own cumulative GPA; identify useful GPA conversion tools that will allow you to convert your percentage grades into a GPA; and discuss how other factors can affect GPA calculations.
What is a GPA? And what is the difference between a semester GPA and a cumulative GPA?
In the USA, both high schools and colleges and universities usually calculate a GPA based on a 4-point grading scale.
The system works like this:
For each class a student takes, the student receives a letter grade. An A is the highest grade in this system, and an F is the lowest grade. (F stands for Failed.)
Each letter grade is assigned a standard numeric value:
Letter Grade
Corresponding Numeric Value
A
4.0
A-
3.67
B+
3.33
B
3.0
B-
2.67
C+
2.33
C
2.0
C-
1.67
D+
1.33
D
1.0
D-
0.67
F
0
To figure out the students semester GPA, each class grade is converted to its numeric value and then averaged together. (If every class has the same number of credit hours, they are weighted equally, but if they have different credit hours then it will be a weighted average.) This means that if a student took four classes in a semester, receiving an A (4.0), an A- (3.67), a B+ (3.33), and a C+ (2.67), all with the same number of credit hours, those four numbers would be added together and then divided by 4. So this students GPA for the semester would be 3.42.
Traditionally, all GPAs were calculated based on the chart above. But, more recently, some high schools have adopted weighted GPAs, giving an extra 1.0 to advanced classes. These classes are often classified as Honors, Advanced Placement (AP), or International Baccalaureate (IB). So, for example, lets say that a student took five classes in her last semester of high school and received all As. However, two of those classes were IBs. To calculate her GPA, three of her classes would be assigned values of 4.0 each and her two IB classes would be assigned 5.0 each. Her weighted semester GPA would therefore be
4.4.
Schools also calculate each students cumulative GPA, which is calculated in the same way as a semester GPA but covers all the classes that the student has taken so far.
How do schools use GPAs in the admissions process?
Schools use a students GPA as one key factor in the admissions process, but its not the only factor. In general, the higher your GPA, the higher your chances of getting in to a school. And the more selective the institution, the higher your GPA needs to be for the incoming class of 2021 at Harvard University, for example, the average high school GPA was 4.18.
Its important to note that GPA data for schools in the USA is generally provided as a range; theres often not a strict cutoff since other factors also affect admission to a school. Plus, GPAs tend to get somewhat less weight in admissions decisions for Masters degrees and MBA programs, especially if applicants have significant work experience and have a demonstrated track record of professional achievement.
How do scholarship providers and student lenders use GPAs?
Some scholarship competitions only consider candidates with a GPA above a certain threshold. For example, a scholarship competition may be open only to students with a GPA above 3.0.
If youre an international student applying for scholarships that require you to list your GPA, its very important to convert your grades into the U.S.-formatted GPA. Why? If the scholarship provider cant determine if you meet the GPA requirement, you wont pass their eligibility check and wont even be considered! So when you search through scholarship listings, make sure you have your GPA already calculated.
Some student lenders operate in much the same way. Private lenders, whether in your home country or in the USA, typically dont ask about your grades if your loan is collateralized, meaning that your parents have mortgaged their home or other property to secure the loan. Thats because the lender knows your educational or financial prospects dont matter since it can seize your parents property if you fail to make your payments.
If, however, you have a no-cosigner loan, where the loan is based on your future earning potential and not your parents assets, the lender will most likely ask about your grades. Grades are an excellent prediction of your future success and your ability to finish your degree program, get a great job, and pay the lender back which is all loan providers care about. Of course, companies issuing no-cosigner loans also consider other predictors of future success, such as the reputation of your university, the value of your degree program, and your prior professional experience.
How can you convert your percentage or other grades to a semester or cumulative GPA?
To get started calculating your American GPA, try the iGPA Calculator. Its a free tool that gives you an approximate GPA based on the standard 4.0 scale.
The challenge for international students, of course, is that converting your GPA to its equivalent in the USA can be more complex than simply performing a straight mathematical conversion. Other factors that might be taken into consideration include:
The overall grading culture and practices of your home country (in some countries, the average grade might be the equivalent of a 2.0 in the USA, while in others it might be 3.0).
The grading practices of your particular high school (if applying for undergraduate programs in the USA)
or undergraduate institution (if applying for a graduate program).
The difficulty of courses taken and how an American institution assesses them.
This is where an official credential evaluation can be useful. Its a verified report that takes all these factors into account and can be sent to college admissions officers, job recruiters, financial institutions, and other organizations that require official documentation of your academic accomplishments in your home country.
This page contains excerpts from IRS Publication 901 US Tax Treaties(November 1995 Revision). Pages 14-21 of this publication provide information of interest to foreign students. This document has been prepared as a public service, and may be missing sections from the original. All sections of this publication that are not directly relevant to the topic of student financial aid have been omitted, so we strongly suggest that you refer to the original publication for official information. It is not intended to act as a substitute for the official version available from the IRS, but rather to provide a convenient online reference. The information on this page is not guaranteed to be correct. It has not been reviewed or approved by the IRS, so we strongly suggest that you refer to the original publication for official information. To order IRS publications and forms, call 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676) or visit the IRS web site.
Introduction
The USA (USA) has income tax treaties (conventions) with a number of foreign countries. Under these treaties, residents of foreign countries are taxed at a reduced rate, or are exempt from USA income taxes on certain items of income they receive from sources within the USA. These reduced rates and exemptions vary among countries and specific items of income.
This publication will tell you whether a tax treaty between the USA and a particular country offers a reduced rate of, or possibly a complete exemption from, USA income tax for residents of that particular country.
You should use this publication only for quick reference. It is not a complete guide to all provisions of every income tax treaty.
If the treaty does not cover a particular kind of income, or if there is no treaty between your country and the USA, you must pay tax on the income in the same way and at the same rates shown in the instructions for Form 1040NR. Also see Publication 519, USA Tax Guide for Aliens.
Tax treaties reduce the USA taxes of residents of foreign countries. With certain exceptions, they do not reduce the USA taxes of USA citizens or residents. USA citizens and residents are subject to USA income tax on their worldwide income.
Many of the individual states of the USA tax the income of their residents. Therefore, you should consult the tax authorities of the state in which you live to find out if that state taxes the income of individuals and, if so, whether the tax applies to any of your income.
Disclosure of a treaty-based position that reduces your tax
If you take the position that any USA tax is overruled or otherwise reduced by a USA treaty (a treaty-based position), you generally must disclose that position on Form 8833, Treaty-Based Return Position Disclosure Under Section 6114 or 7701(b), and attach it to your return. If you are not required to file a return because of your treaty-based position, you must file a return anyway to report your position. The filing of Form 8833 does not apply to a reduced rate of withholding tax on noneffectively connected income, such as dividends, interest, rents or royalties, or to a reduced rate of tax on pay received for services performed as an employee, including pensions, annuities, and social security. For more information, get Publication 519, USA Tax Guide for Aliens.
If you fail to file Form 8833, you may have to pay a $1,000 penalty. Corporations are subject to a $10,000 penalty for each failure.
Tax Exemptions Provided by Treaties
This publication contains discussions of the exemptions from tax and certain other effects of the tax treaties on the following types of income:
Certain pay for personal services performed as a nonresident alien,
Pay as a foreign professor or teacher who teaches or performs research in the USA for a limited time,
Amounts received from abroad for maintenance and studies by a foreign student or apprentice who is here for study or experience, and
Wages, salaries, and pensions received as a nonresident alien paid by a foreign government.
Students and Apprentices
Residents of the following countries who are in the USA to study or acquire technical experience are exempt from USA income tax, under certain conditions, on amounts received from abroad for their maintenance and studies.
This exemption does not apply to the salary paid by a foreign corporation to one of its executives, a citizen and resident of a foreign country who is temporarily in the USA to study a particular industry for an employer. That amount is a continuation of salary and is not received to study or acquire experience.
For each country listed there is a statement of the conditions under which the exemption applies to students and apprentices from that country.
Amounts received from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) under provisions of the Visiting Fellows Program by residents of the following countries are exempt from USA income tax to the extent provided for in the respective countries’ current tax treaties with the USA: Belgium, China, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Iceland, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Morocco, the Netherlands, Norway, Pakistan, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, the Slovak Republic, Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, and Tunisia.
However, amounts received from NIH under the Visiting Associate Program and Visiting Scientist Program are not exempt from USA tax as a grant, allowance, or award.
Australia
A resident of Australia or an individual who was a resident of Australia immediately before visiting the USA who is temporarily here for full-time education is exempt from USA income tax on payments received from outside the USA for the individual’s maintenance or education.
Austria
A resident of Austria who is temporarily in the USA only as a student at a university, college, school, or other educational institution is exempt from USA income tax on amounts received from abroad for study and maintenance. An apprentice (including Volontaere and Praktikanten) who is a resident of Austria and is temporarily in the USA only to acquire business or technical experience is also exempt from USA income tax on amounts received from abroad for study and maintenance.
A resident of Austria who receives a grant, allowance, or award from a nonprofit religious, scientific, literary, or educational organization is exempt from USA income tax on the payments from that organization. Pay for personal services is not exempt.
A resident of Austria who is an employee of an Austrian enterprise, or an organization of the kind mentioned in the preceding paragraph, is exempt from USA income tax on pay from abroad paid by that enterprise or organization if:
The individual is temporarily in the USA for no more than one year only to acquire technical, professional, or business experience from any person other than the enterprise or organization by which employed, and
The annual income for services, wherever performed, is not more than $10,000.
Barbados
A student or business apprentice who is a resident of Barbados on the date of arrival in the USA and is here for full-time education or training is exempt from USA income tax on payments received from outside the USA for the individual’s maintenance, education, or training.
Nevertheless, an individual who qualifies for this exemption may instead choose to be treated as a resident alien of the USA for all USA income tax purposes. Once made, this choice applies for the entire period that the individual remains qualified for exemption and may not be revoked without the permission of the USA competent authority.
Belgium
An individual who is a resident of Belgium on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily in the USA primarily to study at a university or other recognized educational institution in the USA, obtain professional training, or study or do research as a recipient of a grant, allowance, or award from a governmental, religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational organization is exempt from USA income tax on the following amounts:
Gifts from abroad for maintenance, education, study, research, or training,
The grant, allowance, or award, and
Income from personal services performed in the USA of up to $2,000 for each tax year.
An individual is entitled to the benefit of this exemption for a maximum of 5 years.
An individual who is a resident of Belgium on the date of arrival in the USA and who is in the USA as an employee of, or under contract with, a resident of Belgium is exempt from USA income tax for a period of 12 consecutive months on up to $5,000 received for personal services if the individual is in the USA primarily to:
Acquire technical, professional, or business experience from a person other than that resident of Belgium or other than a person related to that resident, or
Study at an educational institution.
An individual who is a resident of Belgium on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily present in the USA for not longer than one year as a participant in a program sponsored by the USA Government primarily to train, research, or study is exempt from USA income tax on income received for personal services for the training, research, or study in the amount of $10,000.
Canada
A full-time student, trainee, or business apprentice who is or was a Canadian resident immediately before visiting the USA is exempt from USA income tax on amounts received from sources outside the USA for maintenance, education, or training.
Also see Publication 597, Information on the USA-Canada Income Tax Treaty.
China, People’s Republic of
A student, business apprentice, or trainee who is a resident of the People’s Republic of China on the date of arrival in the USA and who is present in the USA solely to obtain training, education, or special technical experience is exempt from USA income tax on the following amounts:
Payments received from abroad for maintenance, education, study, research, or training,
Grants or awards from a government, scientific, educational, or other tax-exempt organization, and
Income from personal services performed in the USA of up to $5,000 for each tax year.
An individual is entitled to this exemption only for the time reasonably necessary to complete the education or training.
Commonwealth of Independent States
An individual who is a resident of a C.I.S. member and who is temporarily in the USA primarily to study at an educational or scientific research institution or to obtain training for qualification in a profession or specialty is exempt from USA income tax on amounts received as stipends, scholarships, or other substitute allowances necessary to provide ordinary living expenses. An individual is entitled to the benefit of this exemption for a maximum of 5 years and for less than $10,000 in each tax year.
An individual who is a resident of a C.I.S. member and who is temporarily in the USA primarily to acquire technical, professional, or commercial experience or perform technical services and who is an employee of, or under contract with, a resident of a C.I.S. member is exempt from USA income tax on the amounts received from that resident. Also exempt is an amount received from USA sources, of not more than $10,000, that is necessary to provide for ordinary living expenses. The exemption contained in this paragraph is limited to one year.
An individual who is a resident of a C.I.S. member and who is temporarily present in the USA under an exchange program provided for by an agreement between governments on cooperation in various fields of science and technology is exempt from USA income tax on all income received in connection with the exchange program for a period not longer than one year.
Cyprus
An individual who is a resident of Cyprus on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily here primarily to study at a university or other recognized educational institution in the USA, obtain professional training, or study or do research as a recipient of a grant, allowance, or award from a governmental, religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational organization is exempt from USA income tax on the following amounts:
Gifts from abroad for maintenance, education, or training,
The grant, allowance, or award, and
Income from personal services performed in the USA of up to $2,000 for each tax year.
An individual is entitled to this exemption for up to 5 tax years and for an additional period as is necessary to complete, as a full-time student, educational requirements for a postgraduate or professional degree from a recognized educational institution.
An individual who is a resident of Cyprus on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily here as an employee of, or under contract with, a resident of Cyprus is exempt from USA income tax for not more than one year on income from personal services for a maximum of $7,500 if the individual is in the USA primarily to either:
Acquire technical, professional, or business experience from a person other than a resident of Cyprus or other than a person related to that resident, or
Study at a university or other recognized educational institution.
An individual who is a resident of Cyprus on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily here for a period of not more than one year as a participant in a program sponsored by the USA Government primarily to train, research, or study is exempt from USA income tax on income for personal services for the training, research, or study. This exemption is limited to $10,000.
Czech Republic
An individual who is a resident of the Czech Republic at the beginning of his or her visit to the USA and who is temporarily present in the USA is exempt from USA income tax on certain amounts for a period of up to 5 years. To be entitled to the exemption, the individual must be in the USA for the primary purpose of:
Studying at a university or other accredited educational institution in the USA,
Obtaining training required to qualify him or her to practice a profession or professional specialty, or
Studying or doing research as a recipient of a grant, allowance, or award from a governmental, religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational organization.
If the individual meets any of these requirements, the following amounts are exempt from USA tax:
The payments from abroad, other than compensation for personal services, for the purpose of maintenance, education, study, research, or training,
The grant, allowance, or award, and
The income from personal services performed in the USA of up to $5,000 for the tax year.
An individual who is a Czech resident at the beginning of the visit to the USA and who is temporarily present in the USA as an employee of, or under contract with, a Czech resident is exempt from USA income tax for a period of 12 consecutive months on up to $8,000 received for personal services if the individual is in the USA primarily to:
Acquire technical, professional, or business experience from a person other than the Czech resident, or
Study at a university or other accredited educational institution in the USA.
An individual who is a Czech resident at the time he or she becomes temporarily present in the USA and who is temporarily present in the USA for a period not longer than 1 year as a participant in a program sponsored by the USA government for the primary purpose of training, research, or study, is exempt from USA income tax on up to $10,000 of income from personal services for that training, research, or study.
These exemptions do not apply to income from research undertaken primarily for the private benefit of a specific person or persons.
Denmark
A student or apprentice who is a citizen of Denmark and lives in the USA only to study or acquire business experience is exempt from USA income tax on amounts (other than the student’s own income) received from abroad for maintenance and studies.
Egypt
An individual who is a resident of Egypt on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily in the USA primarily to study at a university or other recognized educational institution in the USA, obtain professional training, or study or do research as a recipient of a grant, allowance, or award from a governmental, religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational organization is exempt from USA income tax on the following amounts:
Gifts from abroad for maintenance, education, study, research, or training,
The grant, allowance, or award, and
Income from personal services performed in the USA of up to $3,000 each tax year.
An individual is entitled to the benefit of this exemption for a maximum of 5 tax years and for any additional period of time needed to complete, as a full-time student, educational requirements as a candidate for a postgraduate or professional degree from a recognized educational institution.
An individual who is a resident of Egypt on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily in the USA as an employee of, or under contract with, a resident of Egypt is exempt from USA income tax for a period of 12 consecutive months on up to $7,500 received for personal services if the individual is in the USA primarily to:
Acquire technical, professional, or business experience from a person other than that resident of Egypt or other than a person related to that resident, or
Study at a university or other educational institution.
An individual who is a resident of Egypt on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily in the USA for no more than one year as a participant in a program sponsored by the USA Government primarily to train, research, or study is exempt from USA income tax on income received for personal services for the training, research, or study for a maximum of $10,000.
Finland
A full-time student, trainee, or business apprentice who is a resident of Finland immediately before visiting the USA is exempt from USA income tax on amounts received from sources outside the USA for maintenance, education, or training.
France
An individual who is a resident of France on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily in the USA primarily to study at a university or other accredited educational institution in the USA, obtain professional training, or study, or do research as a recipient of a grant, allowance, or award from a governmental, religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational organization is exempt from USA income tax on the following amounts:
Gifts from abroad for maintenance, education, study, research, or training,
The grant, allowance, or award, and
Income from personal services performed in the USA of up to $2,000 each tax year.
An individual is entitled to the benefit of this exemption for a maximum of 5 tax years.
An individual who is a resident of France on the date of arrival in the USA and who is in the USA as an employee of, or under contract with, a resident of France is exempt from USA income tax for one tax year on up to $5,000 received for personal services if the individual is in the USA primarily to:
Acquire technical, professional, or business experience from a person other than that resident of France or a corporation 50% or more of the voting stock of which is owned by that resident of France, or
Study at an educational institution.
Germany
A student or business apprentice (including Volontaere and Praktikanten) who is or was immediately before visiting the USA a resident of Germany and who is present in the USA for full-time education or training is exempt from USA income tax on amounts from sources outside the USA for maintenance, education, or training.
An individual who is or was immediately before visiting the USA a resident of Germany is exempt from USA tax on amounts received as a grant, allowance, or award from a nonprofit religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational organization.
Individuals described in the previous two paragraphs are also exempt from USA tax on compensation for dependent personal services of up to $5,000 per year if:
They are present in the USA for not more than 4 years, and
The services are performed for the purpose of supplementing funds available otherwise for maintenance, education, or training.
If the individual’s visit exceeds 4 years, the exemption is lost for the entire visit unless the competent authorities of Germany and the USA agree otherwise.
An individual who is a resident of Germany and who is employed by a German enterprise or by a nonprofit religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational organization is exempt from USA tax on compensation paid by the employer from outside the USA if:
The individual is temporarily in the USA for not more than one year to acquire technical, professional, or business experience from any person other than his or her employer, and
The compensation is not more than $10,000.
If the compensation is more than $10,000, none of the income is exempt.
Greece
A student or business apprentice who is a resident of Greece and is temporarily in the USA only to study or acquire business experience is exempt from USA income tax on amounts received from sources outside the USA for maintenance or studies.
Hungary
An individual who is a resident of Hungary immediately before arrival in the USA and is here for full-time education or training is exempt from USA income tax on payments received from outside the USA for the individual’s maintenance, education, or training.
The full-time student or trainee may instead choose to be treated as a resident alien of the USA for USA income tax purposes. Once made, the choice applies for the entire period that the individual remains qualified for exemption as a full-time student or trainee and may not be changed unless permission is obtained from the USA competent authority.
Iceland
An individual who is a resident of Iceland on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily in the USA primarily to study at a university or other recognized educational institution in the USA, obtain professional training, or study or do research as a recipient of a grant, allowance, or award from a governmental, religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational organization is exempt from USA income tax on the following amounts:
Gifts from abroad for maintenance, education, study, research, or training,
The grant, allowance, or award, and
Income from personal services performed in the USA of up to $2,000 each tax year.
An individual is entitled to the benefit of this exemption for a maximum of 5 years.
An individual who is a resident of Iceland on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily in the USA as an employee of, or under contract with, a resident of Iceland is exempt from USA income tax for a period of 12 consecutive months on up to $5,000 received for personal services if the individual is in the USA primarily to:
Acquire technical, professional, or business experience from a person other than that resident of Iceland or other than a person related to that person, or
Study at an educational institution.
An individual who is a resident of Iceland on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily present in the USA for not longer than one year as a participant in a program sponsored by the USA Government primarily to train, research, or study is exempt from USA income tax on income received for personal services for the training, research, or study for a maximum of $10,000.
India
An individual who is a resident of India immediately before visiting the USA and who is temporarily in the USA primarily for studying or training is exempt from USA income tax on payments from abroad for maintenance, study, or training. The exemption does not apply to payments borne by a permanent establishment in the USA or paid by a USA citizen or resident, the USA Government, or any of its agencies, instrumentalities, political subdivisions, or local authorities.
Under the treaty, if the payments are not exempt under the rule described above, an individual described in the previous paragraph may be eligible to deduct exemptions for his or her spouse and dependents and the standard deduction. The individual must file Form 1040NR or Form 1040NR-EZ to claim these amounts. For information on how to claim these amounts, see Chapter 5 in Publication 519.
The individual is entitled to these benefits only for a period of time considered reasonable or customarily required to complete studying or training.
Indonesia
An individual who is a resident of Indonesia immediately before visiting the USA and who is temporarily in the USA is exempt from USA income tax on certain amounts for a period of up to 5 years. To be entitled to the exemption, the individual must be temporarily in the USA for full-time study at a USA university, school, or other recognized educational institution, or for full-time study, research, or training as a recipient of a grant, allowance, or award from either the USA or Indonesian Government, a scientific, educational, religious, or charitable organization, or under a technical assistance program entered into by either the USA or Indonesian Government. If the individual meets any of these requirements, the following amounts are exempt from tax:
All payments from abroad for maintenance, education, study, research, or training,
The grant, allowance, or award, and
Income from personal services performed in the USA of up to $2,000 each tax year.
An individual who is a resident of Indonesia immediately before visiting the USA and is temporarily in the USA only as a business or technical apprentice is exempt from USA income tax for a period of 12 consecutive months on up to $7,500 received for personal services.
Ireland
A student or business apprentice from Ireland who is receiving full-time education or training in the USA is exempt from USA income tax on payments received from persons in Ireland for maintenance, education, or training.
Israel
An individual who is a resident of Israel on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily in the USA primarily to study at a university or other recognized educational institution in the USA, obtain professional training, or study or do research as a recipient of a grant, allowance, or award from a governmental, religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational organization is exempt from USA income tax on the following amounts:
Gifts from abroad for maintenance, education, study, research, or training,
The grant, allowance, or award, and
Income from personal services performed in the USA of up to $3,000 each tax year.
An individual is entitled to the benefit of this exemption for a maximum of 5 tax years.
An individual who is a resident of Israel on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily in the USA as an employee of, or under contract with, a resident of Israel is exempt from USA income tax for a period of 12 consecutive months on up to $7,500 received for personal services if the individual is in the USA primarily to:
Acquire technical, professional, or business experience from a person other than that resident of Israel or other than a person related to that resident, or
Study at a university or other educational institution.
An individual who is a resident of Israel on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily in the USA for no more than one year as a participant in a program sponsored by the USA Government primarily to train, research, or study is exempt from USA income tax on income received for personal services for the training, research, or study for a maximum of $10,000.
Italy
A student or business apprentice (trainee) who is a resident of Italy on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily in the USA only for education or training is exempt from USA income tax on amounts received from outside the USA for maintenance, education, and training.
Jamaica
A student who is a resident of Jamaica on the date of arrival in the USA and is here for full-time education or training is exempt from USA income tax on payments received from outside the USA for the student’s maintenance, education, or training.
An individual who is a resident of Jamaica on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily in the USA as an employee of, or under contract with, a resident of Jamaica is exempt from USA income tax for a period of 12 consecutive months on up to $7,500 of net income from personal services if the individual is in the USA primarily to:
Acquire technical, professional, or business experience from a person other than that resident of Jamaica or other than a person related to that resident, or
Study at a university or other recognized educational institution.
An individual who qualifies for one of the exemptions discussed above may instead choose to be treated as a resident alien of the USA for all USA income tax purposes. Once made, the choice applies for the entire period that the individual remains qualified for exemption and may not be revoked unless permission is obtained from the USA competent authority.
Japan
An individual who is a resident of Japan on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily in the USA primarily to study at a university or other accredited educational institution in the USA, obtain professional training, or study or do research as a recipient of a grant, allowance, or award from a governmental, religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational organization is exempt from USA income tax on the following amounts:
Gifts from abroad for maintenance, education, study, research, or training,
The grant, allowance, or award, and
Income from personal services performed in the USA of up to $2,000 each tax year.
An individual is entitled to the benefit of this exemption for a maximum of 5 years.
An individual who is a resident of Japan on the date of arrival in the USA and who is in the USA as an employee of, or under contract with, a resident of Japan is exempt from USA income tax for a period of 12 consecutive months on up to $5,000 received for personal services if the individual is in the USA primarily to:
Acquire technical, professional, or business experience from a person other than that resident of Japan, or
Study at an educational institution.
An individual who is a resident of Japan on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily present in the USA for not longer than one year as a participant in a program sponsored by the USA Government primarily to train, research, or study is exempt from USA income tax on income received for personal services for the training, research, or study in the amount of $10,000.
Korea, Republic of
An individual who is a resident of the Republic of Korea on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily in the USA primarily to study at a university or other recognized educational institution in the USA, obtain professional training, or study or do research as a recipient of a grant, allowance, or award from a governmental, religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational organization is exempt from USA income tax on the following amounts:
Amounts from abroad for maintenance, education, study, research, or training,
The grant, allowance, or award, and
Income from personal services performed in the USA of up to $2,000 each tax year.
An individual is entitled to the benefit of this exemption for a maximum of 5 years.
An individual who is a resident of Korea on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily in the USA as an employee of, or under contract with, a resident of Korea is exempt from USA income tax for one year on up to $5,000 received for personal services if the individual is in the USA primarily to:
Acquire technical, professional, or business experience from a person other than that resident of Korea or other than a person related to that resident, or
Study at an educational institution.
An individual who is a resident of Korea on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily present in the USA for not longer than one year as a participant in a program sponsored by the USA Government primarily to train, research, or study is exempt from USA income tax on income received for personal services for the training, research, or study for a maximum of $10,000.
Luxembourg
Certain residents of Luxembourg are exempt from USA income tax on income received from abroad for employment or amounts received from abroad for their maintenance, education, or training if they are temporarily in the USA. To qualify for this exemption they must be temporarily in the USA only as:
Students at a university, college, school, or other recognized educational institution, or
Business apprentices for not more than one year, or
Recipients of a grant, allowance, or award from a religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational organization primarily to study or research.
Certain other residents of Luxembourg who are temporarily in the USA for no more than one year are exempt from USA income tax for that period on pay, including pay from an employer abroad, of not more than $5,000. To qualify for this exemption they must be employees of, or under contract with, a Luxembourg enterprise or a Luxembourg religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational organization and be in the USA only to acquire technical, professional, or business experience from a person other than that enterprise or organization.
Residents of Luxembourg are also exempt from USA income tax on certain income if they are in the USA for no more than one year only for training, research, or study under an arrangement with the USA Government. The income that is exempt in this case is that received for services directly related to this training, research, or study and includes pay from their employer abroad. The amount exempt may not be more than $10,000.
Malta
A student, apprentice, or business trainee who is or was a resident of Malta immediately before arrival in the USA and is here for full-time education or training is exempt from USA income tax on payments received from outside the USA for the individual’s maintenance, education, or training.
An individual who qualifies for the exemption discussed above may instead choose to be treated as a resident alien of the USA for USA income tax purposes. Once made, the choice applies for the entire period the individual remains qualified for exemption and may not be changed unless permission is obtained from the USA competent authority.
Mexico
A student or business apprentice who is a resident of Mexico immediately before visiting the USA and is in the USA solely for the purpose of education or training is exempt from USA tax on amounts received from sources outside the USA for the individual’s maintenance, education, or training.
Morocco
An individual who is a resident of Morocco on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily in the USA primarily to study at a university or other recognized educational institution in the USA, obtain professional training, or study or do research as a recipient of a grant, allowance, or award from a governmental, religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational organization is exempt from USA income tax on the following amounts:
Gifts from abroad for maintenance, education, study, research, or training,
The grant, allowance, or award, and
Income from personal services performed in the USA of up to $2,000 each tax year.
An individual is entitled to the benefit of this exemption for a maximum of 5 years.
Netherlands
An individual who immediately before visiting the USA is a resident of the Netherlands and who is present in the USA primarily for full-time study at a recognized university, college, or school or securing training as a business apprentice is exempt from USA income tax on the following amounts:
Payments from abroad for maintenance, education, or training, and
Income from personal services performed in the USA of up to $2,000 each tax year.
The individual is entitled to this exemption only for a period of time considered reasonable or customarily required to complete studying or training.
An individual who immediately before visiting the USA is a resident of the Netherlands and is temporarily present in the USA for a period not exceeding 3 years for the purpose of study, research, or training solely as a recipient of a grant, allowance, or award from a scientific, educational, religious, or charitable organization or under a technical assistance program entered into by either the Netherlands or the USA, or its political subdivisions or local authorities is exempt from USA income tax on the following amounts:
The amount of the grant, allowance, or award, and
Income of up to $2,000 for personal services performed in the USA for any tax year if the services are connected with, or incidental to, the study, research, or training.
An individual is not entitled to these exemptions if, during the immediately preceding period, the individual claimed the exemption discussed earlier under Professors, Teachers, and Researchers.
New Zealand
A resident of New Zealand or an individual who was a resident of New Zealand immediately before visiting the USA who is in the USA for full-time education is exempt from USA income tax on amounts received from abroad for maintenance or education.
Norway
An individual who is a resident of Norway on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily in the USA primarily to study at a university or other recognized educational institution in the USA, obtain professional training, or study or do research as a recipient of a grant, allowance, or award from a governmental, religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational organization is exempt from USA income tax on the following amounts:
Gifts from abroad for maintenance, education, study, research, or training,
The grant, allowance, or award, and
Income from personal services performed in the USA up to $2,000 each tax year.
An individual is entitled to the benefit of this exemption for a maximum of 5 tax years.
An individual who is a resident of Norway on the date of arrival in the USA and who is in the USA as an employee of, or under contract with, a resident of Norway is exempt from USA income tax for a period of 12 consecutive months on up to $5,000 received for personal services if the individual is in the USA primarily to:
Acquire technical, professional, or business experience from a person other than that resident of Norway or other than a person related to that resident of Norway, or
Study at an educational institution.
Also exempt is a resident of Norway who is present in the USA for not longer than one year as a participant in a program sponsored by the Government of the USA primarily to train, research, or study. The individual is exempt from tax on income from personal services performed in the USA and received for the training, research, or study, for a maximum of $10,000.
Pakistan
Residents of Pakistan temporarily in the USA are exempt from USA income tax on certain income they may receive. To be entitled to this exemption, they must be in the USA only as students at a recognized university, college, or school, or as recipients of grants, allowances, or awards from religious, charitable, scientific, or educational organizations of Pakistan primarily to study or research. The income exempt in these cases is any payment from abroad for maintenance, education, or training, and any pay for personal services of not more than $5,000 for any tax year.
Other residents of Pakistan who are temporarily in the USA for no more than one year are exempt from USA income tax on pay of not more than $6,000 received for that period, including pay from the enterprise or organization of which they are employees or with which they are under contract. To qualify for this exemption, they must be employees of, or under contract with, a Pakistani enterprise or religious, charitable, scientific, or educational organization and be in the USA only to acquire technical, professional, or business experience from a person other than that enterprise or organization.
Also exempt from USA income tax on certain income are residents of Pakistan temporarily in the USA under an arrangement with the USA Government, or any of its agencies or instrumentalities, only for study, training, or orientation. They are exempt from tax on income of not more than $10,000 for services directly related to their training, study, or orientation, including income from their employer abroad.
Philippines
An individual who is a resident of the Philippines on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily in the USA primarily to study at a university or other recognized educational institution in the USA, obtain professional training, or study or do research as a recipient of a grant, allowance, or award from a governmental, religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational organization is exempt from USA income tax on the following amounts:
Gifts from abroad for maintenance, education, study, research, or training,
The grant, allowance, or award, and
Income from personal services performed in the USA of up to $3,000 each tax year.
An individual is entitled to the benefit of this exemption for a maximum of 5 years.
An individual who is a resident of the Philippines on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily in the USA as an employee of, or under contract with, a resident of the Philippines is exempt from USA income tax for a period of 12 consecutive months on up to $7,500 received for personal services if the individual is in the USA primarily to:
Acquire technical, professional, or business experience from a person other than that resident of the Philippines or other than a person related to that resident, or
Study at an educational institution.
An individual who is a resident of the Philippines on the date of arrival in the USA, and who is temporarily in the USA (for no more than one year as a participant in a program sponsored by the USA Government) primarily to train, research, or study, is exempt from USA income tax on income received for personal services for the training, research, or study, up to a maximum of $10,000.
Poland
An individual who is a resident of Poland on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily in the USA primarily to study at a university or other recognized educational institution in the USA, obtain professional training, or study or do research as a recipient of a grant, allowance, or award from a governmental, religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational organization is exempt from USA income tax on the following amounts:
Gifts from abroad for maintenance, education, study, research, or training,
The grant, allowance, or award,
Any other payments received from Poland, except income from performing personal services, and
Income from personal services performed in the USA of up to $2,000 each tax year.
An individual is entitled to the benefit of this exemption for a maximum of 5 years.
An individual who is a resident of Poland on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily in the USA as an employee of, or under contract with, a resident of Poland is exempt from USA income tax for one year on up to $5,000 received for personal services if the individual is in the USA primarily to:
Acquire technical, professional, or business experience from a person other than that resident of Poland or other than a person related to that resident, or
Study at an educational institution.
An individual who is a resident of Poland on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily in the USA for not longer than one year as a participant in a program sponsored by the USA Government primarily to train, research, or study is exempt from USA income tax on up to $10,000 of income received for personal services for the training, research, or study.
Romania
An individual who is a resident of Romania on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily in the USA primarily to study at a university or other recognized educational institution in the USA, obtain professional training, or study or do research as a recipient of a grant, allowance, or award from a governmental, religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational organization is exempt from USA income tax on the following amounts:
Gifts from abroad for maintenance, education, study, research, or training,
The grant, allowance, or award, and
Income from personal services performed in the USA of up to $2,000 each tax year.
An individual is entitled to the benefit of this exemption for a maximum of 5 years.
An individual who is a resident of Romania on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily in the USA as an employee of, or under contract with, a resident of Romania is exempt from USA income tax for one year on up to $5,000 received for personal services if the individual is in the USA primarily to:
Acquire technical, professional, or business experience from a person other than that resident of Romania or other than a person related to that resident, or
Study at an educational institution.
An individual who is a resident of Romania on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily in the USA for not longer than one year as a participant in a program sponsored by the USA Government primarily to train, research, or study is exempt from USA income tax on up to $10,000 of income received for personal services for the training, research, or study.
Russia
An individual who is a resident of Russia at the beginning of his or her visit to the USA is exempt from USA tax on payments from abroad for maintenance, education, study, research, or training and on any grant, allowance, or other similar payments. To be entitled to the exemption, the individual must be temporarily present in the USA primarily to:
Study at a university or other accredited educational institution,
Obtain training required to qualify him or her to practice a profession or professional specialty, or,
Study or do research as a recipient of a grant, allowance, or other similar payments from a governmental, religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational organization.
The individual is entitled to this exemption only for a period of time necessary to complete the study, training, or research, but the exemption for training or research may not extend for a period exceeding 5 years.
These exemptions do not apply to income from research if it is undertaken primarily for the private benefit of a specific person or persons.
Slovak Republic
An individual who is a resident of the Slovak Republic at the beginning of his or her visit to the USA and who is temporarily present in the USA is exempt from USA income tax on certain amounts for a period of up to 5 years. To be entitled to the exemption, the individual must be in the USA for the primary purpose of:
Studying at a university or other accredited educational institution in the USA,
Obtaining training required to qualify him or her to practice a profession or professional specialty, or
Studying or doing research as a recipient of a grant, allowance, or award from a governmental, religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational organization.
If the individual meets any of these requirements, the following amounts are exempt from USA tax:
The payments from abroad, other than compensation for personal services, for the purpose of maintenance, education, study, research, or training,
The grant, allowance, or award, and
The income from personal services performed in the USA of up to $5,000 for the tax year.
An individual who is a Slovak resident at the beginning of the visit to the USA and who is temporarily present in the USA as an employee of, or under contract with, a Slovak resident is exempt from USA income tax for a period of 12 consecutive months on up to $8,000 received from personal services if the individual is in the USA primarily to:
Acquire technical, professional, or business experience from a person other than the Slovak resident, or
Study at a university or other accredited educational institution in the USA.
An individual who is a Slovak resident at the time he or she becomes temporarily present in the USA and who is temporarily present in the USA for a period not longer than 1 year as a participant in a program sponsored by the USA government for the primary purpose of training, research, or study, is exempt from USA income tax on up to $10,000 of income from personal services for that training, research, or study.
These exemptions do not apply to income from research undertaken primarily for the private benefit of a specific person or persons.
Spain
An individual who is a resident of Spain at the beginning of the visit to the USA and who is temporarily in the USA primarily to study at a USA university or other accredited educational institution, to obtain training to become qualified to practice a profession or professional specialty, or to study or do research as a recipient of a grant, allowance, or award from a governmental, religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational organization is exempt from USA income tax on the following amounts:
Payments from abroad (other than compensation for personal services) for maintenance, education, study, research, or training,
The grant, allowance, or award, and
Income from personal services performed in the USA of up to $5,000 for each tax year.
An individual is entitled to the benefit of this exemption for a maximum of 5 years.
An individual who is a resident of Spain at the beginning of the visit to the USA and is temporarily in the USA as an employee of, or under contract with, a resident of Spain is exempt from USA income tax for a period of 12 consecutive months on up to $8,000 received for personal services if the individual is in the USA primarily to:
Acquire technical, professional, or business experience from a person other than that Spanish resident, or
Study at a university or other accredited educational institution in the USA.
Both the $5,000 and $8,000 exemptions include any amount excluded or exempted from tax under USA tax law.
These exemptions do not apply to income from research carried on mainly for the private benefit of any person rather than in the public interest.
Sweden
A resident of Sweden is exempt from USA income tax on amounts received from abroad as income for employment or payments for maintenance, education, or training if temporarily in the USA only as:
A student at a recognized university, college, or school,
A business apprentice, or
The recipient of a grant, allowance, or award from a religious, charitable, scientific, or educational organization for the purpose of study or research.
A resident of Sweden is also exempt from USA income tax on certain pay if temporarily in the USA only for training, research, or study under an arrangement with the USA Government. The pay exempt in this case is that received for services directly related to the training, research, or study and includes wages from an employer abroad. This pay is exempt only if it is not more than $10,000.
Switzerland
A student or apprentice who is a resident of Switzerland and temporarily visits the USA only to study or acquire business or technical experience is exempt from USA income tax on payments from abroad for maintenance or studies.
Trinidad and Tobago
An individual who is a resident of Trinidad and Tobago on the date of arrival in the USA and who is temporarily in the USA primarily to study at a university or other accredited educational institution in the USA, obtain professional training, or study or do research as a recipient of a grant, allowance, or award from a governmental, religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational organization is exempt from USA income tax on the following amounts:
Gifts from abroad for maintenance, education, study, research, or training,
The grant, allowance, or award, and
Income from personal services performed in the USA of up to $2,000 each tax year, or, if the individual is obtaining training required to qualify to practice a profession or a professional specialty, a maximum of $5,000 for any tax year.
An individual is entitled to the benefit of this exemption for a maximum period of 5 tax years.
An individual who is a resident of Trinidad and Tobago on the date of arrival in the USA and who is in the USA as an employee of, or under contract with, a resident or corporation of Trinidad and Tobago is exempt from USA income tax for one tax year on up to $5,000 received for personal services if the individual is in the USA primarily to:
Study at an educational institution, or
Acquire technical, professional, or business experience from a person other than that resident or corporation of Trinidad and Tobago.
Also exempt is a resident of Trinidad and Tobago who is present in the USA for not longer than one year as a participant in a program sponsored by the USA Government primarily to train, research, or study. The individual is exempt from tax on income from personal services performed in the USA and received for the training, research, or study for up to a maximum of $10,000.
Tunisia
An individual who is a resident of Tunisia immediately before visiting the USA and who is in the USA for full-time study or training is exempt from USA income tax on the following amounts:
Payments from abroad for full-time study or training,
A grant, allowance, or award from a governmental, religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational organization to study or engage in research, and
Income from personal services performed in the USA of up to $4,000 in any tax year.
The individual is entitled to this exemption for a maximum of 5 years.
United Kingdom
A student or business apprentice who is a resident of the United Kingdom at the time of arrival in the USA and who is receiving full-time education or training in the USA is exempt from USA income tax on payments received from abroad for maintenance, education, or training.
This page contains an excerpt of the text of IRS Publication 519 USA Tax Guide for Aliens (1995 Revision). This document has been prepared as a public service, and may be missing sections from the original. It is not intended to act as a substitute for the official version available from the IRS, but rather to provide a convenient online reference. The information on this page is not guaranteed to be correct. It has not been reviewed or approved by the IRS, so we strongly suggest that you refer to the original publication for official information. To order IRS publications and forms, call 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676) or visit the IRS web site.
We’ve excerpted only the sections that directly speak to the topic of scholarships and fellowships. Other sections of the document that discuss issues relevant to students are not included. Please order the full publication from the IRS.
Exclusions from Gross Income
Scholarships and Fellowship Grants
If you are a candidate for a degree, you may be able to exclude from your income part or all of the amounts you receive as a scholarship or fellowship grant. The rules discussed here apply to both resident and nonresident aliens.
Source of grant.
Nonresident aliens must first determine the source of the grant. If a nonresident alien receives a grant that is not from USA sources, it is not subject to USA tax.
Generally, the source of a scholarship or fellowship grant is the residence of the payer regardless of who actually disburses the funds. However, see Services to be performed outside the USA, later.
For example, scholarship or fellowship payments for research or study in the USA made by the USA, a noncorporate USA resident, or a domestic corporation, are from USA sources. Similar payments from a foreign government or foreign corporation are foreign source payments even though the funds may be disbursed through a USA agent. Payments made by an entity designated as a public international organization under the International Organizations Immunities Act are from foreign sources.
Services to be performed outside the USA.
Scholarship or fellowship grants received by nonresident aliens for services to be performed outside the USA are not USA source income.
If you are a nonresident alien and you must include all or part of your grant in your income, see Students and trainees in Chapter 4 for information on how this income is taxed.
How to report.
If you file Form 1040NR, report the total amount of your grant on line 12, and the nontaxable portion, if any, on line 29. If you file Form 1040NR-EZ, report the total amount of your grant on line 5, and the nontaxable portion on line 8.
Qualified scholarship.
A qualified scholarship is any amount you receive as a scholarship or fellowship grant that you use according to the conditions of the grant for:
Tuition and fees required to enroll in, or to attend, an educational institution, or
Fees, books, supplies, and equipment that the educational institution requires for the courses of instruction.
Amounts you receive from a scholarship or fellowship that you use for other expenses, such as room and board or travel, are not excludable from income.
Terms of grant.
Your scholarship or fellowship can still qualify as tax-free even if the terms do not provide that it only be used for tuition and and course-related expenses. It will qualify if you use the grant proceeds for tuition and course-related expenses. However, if the terms of the grant require its use for other purposes, such as room and board, or specify that the grant cannot be used for tuition or course-related expenses, the amounts received under the grant cannot be excluded from income.
Candidate for a degree.
The term candidate for a degree means a student (whether full or part-time) who:
Attends a primary or secondary school or is pursuing a degree at a college or university, or
Attends an educational institution that is authorized and accredited to provide a program that is acceptable for full credit toward a bachelor’s or higher degree, or to provide a program of training to prepare students for gainful employment in a recognized occupation.
Payment for services.
You cannot exclude from income the portion of any scholarship or fellowship, including any tuition reduction, that represents payment for teaching, research, or other services which the grantor requires as a condition for receiving the scholarship or fellowship. This is true even if all candidates for a degree are required to perform the services as a condition for receiving the degree.
Example.On January 7, 1995, Maria Gomez is notified of a scholarship of $2,500 for the spring 1995 semester. As a condition for receiving the scholarship, Maria must serve as a part-time teaching assistant. Of the $2,500 scholarship, $1,000 represents payment for her services. Assuming that Maria meets all other conditions, she can exclude no more than $1,500 from income as a qualified scholarship.
Paying Tax Through Withholding or Estimated Tax
Reduced Withholding on Scholarships and Fellowship Grants
There is no withholding on a qualified scholarship as described in Chapter 3.
If you are a nonresident alien student or grantee with an F,J,M, or Qvisa, and you receive a USA source grant or scholarship that is not fully exempt, the withholding agent (usually the payer of the scholarship) can reduce the withholding tax to 14% of the taxable part of the grant or scholarship.
To reduce the withholding tax on your scholarship or grant, you must complete a Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate,every year and give it to the withholding agent.
You are allowed a prorated part of allowable personal exemptions when you complete Form W-4. Figure the prorated part by multiplying the number of days you expect to be in the USA in 1996, times the daily exemption amount ($6.97) for each allowable exemption. The prorated exemption amount should be shown on the line specified for entering an allowance for yourself on the Personal Allowances Worksheet that comes with Form W-4.
If you are a student who qualifies under Article 21(2) of the USA-India Income Tax Treaty, and you are not claiming deductions for away-from-home expenses or other itemized deductions (discussed next), enter the standard deduction on the line specified for entering an allowance based on your marital status and/or job situation on the worksheet. The standard deduction amount for 1996 is $4,000 if you are single or $3,350 if you are married. All other nonresident aliens must enter 0. Enter a zero (-0-) on the lines specified for entering allowances for your spouse and dependents on the worksheet unless you are a resident of Canada, Mexico, Japan, the Republic of Korea, a USA national, or an Indian student. If you are a resident of Canada, Mexico, Japan, the Republic of Korea, or a USA national, an additional daily exemption amount may be allowed for your spouse and each of your dependents. If you are a student who is eligible for the benefits of Article 21(2) of the USA-India Income Tax Treaty, you can claim an additional daily exemption amount for your spouse. You can also claim an additional amount for each of your dependents not admitted to the USA on F-2, J-2, or M-2 visas.
You also can claim other expenses that will be deductible on your Form 1040NR. These include away-from-home expenses (meals, lodging, and transportation), certain state and local income taxes, charitable contributions, and casualty losses, discussed earlier under Itemized Deductions in Chapter 5. They also include business expenses, moving expenses, and the IRA deduction discussed under Deductions in Chapter 5.
You can also enter the part of your grant or scholarship that is not taxable under USA tax law or under a tax treaty. Use the Deductions and Adjustments Worksheet in Form W-4 to claim these other expenses.
If you file a Form W-4 to reduce or eliminate the withholding on your scholarship or grant, you must file an annual USA income tax return to be allowed the exemptions and deductions you claimed on that form. If you are in the USA during more than one tax year, you must attach a statement to your yearly Form W-4 indicating that you have filed a USA income tax return for the previous year. If you have not been in the USA long enough to be required to file a return, you must attach a statement to your Form W-4 saying you will file a USA income tax return when required.
After the withholding agent has accepted your Form W-4, tax will be withheld on your scholarship or grant as if it were wages. The gross amount of the income is reduced by the exemptions and deductions allowed from Form W-4 and the withholding tax is figured on the remainder.
You will receive a Form 1042-S from the withholding agent (usually the payer of your grant) showing the gross amount of your scholarship or fellowship grant less the withholding allowance amount, the tax rate, and the amount of tax withheld. Use this form to file your annual USA income tax return.
Social Security and Medicare Taxes
Students and Exchange Visitors
Services performed by you as a nonresident alien temporarily in the USA as a nonimmigrant under subparagraph F,J,M, or Q of section 101(a)(15) of the Immigration and Nationality Act are not covered under the social security program if the services are performed to carry out the purpose for which you were admitted to the USA. This means that there will be no withholding of social security or Medicare taxes from the pay you receive for these services. However, these types of services are very limited, and generally include only on-campus work, practical training, and economic hardship employment.
Nonresident Alien Students
If you are a nonresident alien admitted to the USA as a student, you generally are not permitted to work for a wage or salary or to engage in business while you are in the USA. In some cases, a student is granted permission to work and it is so noted on the student’s copy of Immigration Form I-20, Certificate of Eligibility for Nonimmigrant Student Status, or Form I-688B, Employment Authorization Document. Social security and Medicare taxes are not withheld from pay for the work.
The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) permits on-campus work for students in F-1 status if it does not displace a USA resident. On-campus work means work performed on the school’s premises. On-campus employment includes work performed at an off-campus location that is educationally-affiliated with the school. On-campus work under the terms of a scholarship, fellowship, or assistantship is considered part of the academic program of a student taking a full course of study and is permitted by the INS. In this case, there will be no notation on Form I-20 concerning the work, no Form I-688B will be issued, and social security and Medicare taxes are not withheld from pay received for it.
Employment due to severe economic necessity is sometimes permitted for students in F-1 status. This requires approval by a Designated School Official. Students granted permission to work due to severe economic necessity will be issued Form I-688B by INS. Social security and Medicare taxes are not withheld from pay for this work.
Students who have been in F-1 status (except students in English language programs) for at least one academic year (or nine consecutive months) can accept employment for practical training related to the course of study upon approval of the designated school official and after authorization by the INS. If the training is required or for credit or is part of a work-study or cooperative education program, it can be authorized by the school with a notation on Form I-20. Otherwise, such training is considered optional and requires approval by the school and the issuance of Form I-688B by INS and is limited to 12 months. Students in M-1 status who have completed a course of study can accept employment or practical training for up to six months and must have a Form I-688B issued by INS. Social security and Medicare taxes are not withheld from F-1 or M-1 students’ pay for these services.
In all other cases, any services performed by a nonresident alien student are not considered as performed to carry out the purpose for which the student was admitted to the USA. Social security and Medicare taxes will be withheld from pay for the services unless the pay is exempt under the Internal Revenue Code.
Exchange Visitors
Nonresident aliens are admitted to the USA as nonimmigrant exchange visitors under section 101(a)(15)(J) of the Immigration and Nationality Act through the sponsorship of approved organizations and institutions that are responsible for establishing a program for the exchange visitor and for any later modification of that program. Generally, an exchange visitor who has the permission of the sponsor can work for the same reasons as the students discussed above. In these cases, permission is granted by a letter from the exchange visitor’s sponsor or by endorsement from the program sponsor on Form IAP-66, Certificate of Eligibility.
Social security and Medicare taxes are not withheld on pay for services of an exchange visitor who has been given permission to work and who possesses or obtains a letter of authorization from the sponsor. In all other cases, services performed by an exchange visitor are not considered as performed to carry out the purpose for which the visitor was admitted to the USA. Social security and Medicare taxes are withheld from pay for the services unless the pay is exempt under the Internal Revenue Code.
Your spouse or child may be permitted to work in the USA with the prior approval of the INS and issuance of Form I-688B.
Nonresident aliens admitted to the USA as participants in cultural exchange programs under section 101(a)(15)(Q) of the Immigration and Nationality Act may be exempt from social security and Medicare taxes. Aliens with Q visas are aliens whose employment or training affords the opportunity for culture-sharing with the American public. They are allowed to work in the USA for a specific employer in an approved cultural exchange program. The employer must be the petitioner through whom the alien obtained the Q visa. Social security and Medicare taxes are not withheld from pay for this work. Aliens with Q visas are not permitted to engage in employment outside of the exchange program activities.
Refunds of Taxes Withheld in Error
If social security or Medicare taxes were withheld in error from pay you receive that is not subject to these taxes, contact the employer who withheld the taxes for reimbursement. If you are unable to get a full refund of the amount from your employer, file a claim for refund with the Internal Revenue Service on Form 843, Claim for Refund and Request for Abatement, and attach a copy of your Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, to prove the amount of social security and Medicare taxes withheld. Also attach a copy of your visa (if not stamped on Form I-94), INS Form I-94, Arrival/Departure Record, and INS Form I-538,Application by Nonimmigrant Student (FI) for Extension to Stay, School Transfer or Permission to Accept or Continue Employment. You must also attach a statement from your employer indicating the amount of the reimbursement your employer provided and the amount of the credit or refund your employer claimed or you authorized your employer to claim. If you cannot obtain this statement from your employer, you must provide this information on your own statement and explain why you are not attaching a statement from your employer.
File the claim for refund (with attachments) with the IRS office where your employer’s returns were filed. If you do not know where your employer’s returns were filed, file your claim with the Internal Revenue Service Center, Philadelphia, PA 19255.
Tax Treaty Benefits
Provision D – For Trainees, Students, and Apprentices
Students, apprentices, and trainees generally are exempt from tax on remittances (including scholarship and fellowship grants) received from abroad for study and maintenance. Also, under certain circumstances, a limited amount of compensation received by students, trainees, and apprentices may be exempt from tax.
IRS Pub. 515: Withholding of Tax on Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Corporations
This page contains an excerpt of the text of IRS Publication 515Withholding of Tax on Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Corporations(November 1995 Revision), pages 12-19. This document has been prepared as a public service, and may be missing sections from the original. It is not intended to act as a substitute for the official version available from the IRS, but rather to provide a convenient online reference. The information on this page is not guaranteed to be correct. It has not been reviewed or approved by the IRS, so we strongly suggest that you refer to the original publication for official information. To order IRS publications and forms, call 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676) or visit the IRS web site.
Scholarships and Fellowship Grants
A scholarship or fellowship grant (Income Code 15) paid to a nonresident alien who is temporarily present in the USA may or may not be subject to withholding. First, determine the source of the grant. If the grant is from foreign sources, no withholding is required.
Source of income.
Scholarships, fellowship grants, grants, prizes and awards made by domestic sources are generally treated as income from sources within the USA. However, see Nonresident alien recipient, later. Those made by foreign sources are treated as income from foreign sources.
Nonresident alien recipient.
Scholarships, fellowship grants, grants, targeted grants, and achievement awards received by nonresident aliens for activities conducted outside the USA are treated as foreign source income.
Fellowship Grants From USA Sources
Whether a fellowship grant from USA sources is subject to withholding depends on the nature of the payments and whether the recipient is a candidate for a degree.
Candidate for a degree.
Do not withhold on a qualified scholarship from USA sources granted and paid to a candidate for a degree. A qualified scholarship means any amount paid to an individual as a scholarship or fellowship grant to the extent that, in accordance with the conditions of the grant, the amount is to be used for the following expenses:
Tuition and fees required for enrollment or attendance at an educational organization, and
Fees, books, supplies, and equipment required for courses of instruction at the educational organization.
You must withhold tax at the rate of 14% on amounts received from USA sources by an alien present in the USA on an F,J, M, or Q visa that are related to the scholarship but are not for tuition and related expenses. You must withhold at the 14% rate on additional amounts such as room, board, or incidental expenses received under the scholarship.
Nondegree candidate.
If the person receiving the scholarship or fellowship grant is not a candidate for a degree, and is present in the USA on an F,J,M, or Q visa, you must withhold tax at the rate of 14% on the total amount of the grant that is from USA sources if the following requirements are met:
The grant must be for study, training, or research at an educational organization in the USA, and
The grant must be made by:
A tax-exempt organization operated for charitable, religious, educational, etc. purposes,
A foreign government,
A federal, state, or local government agency, or
An international organization, or a binational or multinational educational or cultural organization created or continued by the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (known as the Fulbright-Hays Act).
If the grant does not meet both (1) and (2) above, you must withhold at a 30% rate on the amount of the grant that is from USA sources.
Reduced withholding.
Nonresident alien students or grantees who receive USA source grants or scholarships may be entitled to reduced withholding on the taxable part of the grant or scholarship. The students or grantees must have an F,J,M, or Q visa.
Before applying the 14% withholding rate to the amount of the grant that is subject to withholding, you should allow the student or grantee the benefit of a deduction for one personal exemption, prorated on a daily basis of $6.97 during the period in 1996 he or she expects to be in the USA. If the student or grantee is a resident of Canada, Mexico, Japan, or South Korea, or a USA national (defined later), the individual is generally entitled to the same additional personal exemptions as a USA citizen. The exemptions are prorated on a basis of $6.97 per day for each allowable exemption in 1996. The additional exemptions for residents of Japan and South Korea must be prorated based on their gross income effectively connected with a USA trade or business. The rules for this proration are discussed in detail in Publication 519.
Also, if you wish, you may further reduce the taxable part of the grant or scholarship. To do this, you can use the information provided by the student or grantee on Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate. The student or grantee must complete Form W-4 annually following the instructions given here and forward it to you, the payer of the scholarship, or your designated withholding agent. You may rely on the information on Form W-4 unless you know or have reason to know it is incorrect. The withholding agent will be liable for the tax to be withheld, and must file Form 1042 and a Form 1042-S (discussed later) for each student or grantee who files a Form W-4 with the agent.
Each individual student or grantee who files a Form W-4 must file an annual USA income tax return to be allowed the exemptions and deductions claimed on that form. If the individual is in the USA during more than one tax year, he or she must attach a statement to the annual Form W-4 indicating that the individual has filed a USA income tax return for the previous year. If he or she has not been in the USA long enough to have to file a return, the individual must attach a statement to the W-4 saying that a timely USA tax return will be filed.
A prorated portion of allowable personal exemptions based on the projected number of days he or she will be in this country is allowed. This is figured by multiplying the daily exemption amount ($6.97 for 1996) by the number of days the student or grantee expects to be in the USA during the year. The prorated exemption amount should be shown on line A of the Personal Allowances Worksheet that comes with Form W-4. (Line references are to the 1995 form.)
On Line B, a student or grantee who qualifies under Article 21(2) of the USA-India Income Tax Treaty can enter the standard deduction if he or she does not claim away-from-home expenses or other itemized deductions (discussed later). The standard deduction is $4,000 for single persons and $3,350 for married persons. All other nonresident aliens must enter 0.
Generally, a zero (-0-) should be shown on lines C and D of the worksheet. But, an additional daily exemption amount may be allowed for the spouse and each dependent if the student or grantee is –
A resident of Canada, Mexico, Japan, or South Korea,
A USA national, or
Eligible for the benefits of Article 21(2) of the USA-India Income Tax Treaty.
These additional amounts should be entered on lines C and D, as appropriate.A USA national is an individual who is either a citizen of American Samoa, or a Northern Mariana Islander who chose to become a USA national.
As lines E and F of the worksheet do not apply to nonresident aliens subject to this procedure, there should be no entries on those lines.
The nonresident alien student or grantee may deduct away-from-home expenses (meals, lodging, and transportation) on Form W-4 if he or she expects to be away from his or her tax home for 1 year or less. The amount of the claimed expenses should be the anticipated actual amount, if known. If the amount of the expenses is not known at the time the W-4 is filed with you, the current per diem allowance in effect for participants in the Career Education Program under the Federal Travel Regulations may be claimed on Form W-4. The allowable amount is $18.00 per day.
The actual expenses or the per diem allowance should be shown on line A of the worksheet in addition to the personal exemption amount.
The student or grantee can claim other expenses that will be deductible on Form 1040NR. These include certain state and local income taxes, charitable contributions, casualty losses, and moving expenses. He or she should include these anticipated amounts on line A of the worksheet.
The student or grantee can also enter on line A of the worksheet, the part of the grant or scholarship that is tax exempt under the statute or a tax treaty.
Lines A through D of the Personal Allowances Worksheet are added and the total should be shown on line G.
The payer of the grant or scholarship must review the Form W-4 to make sure all the necessary and required information is provided. If the withholding agent knows or has reason to know that the amounts shown on the Form W-4 may be false, the withholding agent must reject the W-4 and withhold at the appropriate rate. However, if the only incorrect information is that the student or grantee’s stay in the USA has extended beyond 12 months, the withholding agent may withhold under these rules, but without a deduction for away-from-home expenses.
After receipt and acceptance of the Form W-4, the payer must withhold as if the grant or scholarship income were wages. The gross amount of the income is reduced by the total amount of exemptions and deductions on the Form W-4 and the withholding tax is figured on the remainder.
When completing Form 1042-S for the student or grantee, enter the gross scholarship or fellowship grant in column (b), enter the withholding allowance amount from line G of the Personal Allowances Worksheet of Form W-4 in column (c), and show the net of these two amounts in column (d).
Compensation for services rendered
as an employee by an alien who also is the recipient of a scholarship or fellowship grant usually is subject to graduated withholding according to the rules discussed later in Compensation Subject to Graduated Withholding.This includes taxable amounts an individual who is a candidate for a degree receives for teaching, doing research, and carrying out other part-time employment required as a condition for receiving the scholarship or fellowship grant. An exception to this requirement for alien students, teachers, and researchers can be found under Treaty Benefits, discussed earlier.
Amounts of per diem for subsistence
paid by the USA Government (directly or by contract) to a nonresident alien engaged in a training program in the USA under the Mutual Security Act of 1954 are not subject to 14% or 30% withholding. This is true even though the alien may be subject to income tax on those amounts.
Other Grants, Prizes and Awards
Other grants, prizes, and awards made by domestic sources are treated as income from sources within the USA (however, see Nonresident alien recipient, earlier). Those made by foreign sources are treated as income from foreign sources. These provisions do not apply to salaries or other compensation for services.
Grant defined.
The purpose of a grant must be to achieve a specific objective, produce a report or other similar product, or improve or enhance a literary, artistic, musical, scientific, teaching, or other similar capacity, skill, or talent of the grantee. A grant must also be an amount which does not qualify as a scholarship, fellowship grant or prize or award.
Prizes and awards defined.
Prizes and awards are amounts received as prizes primarily in recognition of religious, charitable, scientific, educational, artistic, literary, or civic achievement. An amount is a prize or award only if:
The recipient was selected without any action on his or her part to enter the contest or proceeding,
The recipient is not required to render substantial future services as a condition to receive the prize or award, and
The prize or award is transferred by the payer to a governmental unit or tax-exempt charitable organization as designated by the recipient.
Targeted grants and achievement awards.
Targeted grants, and achievement awards received by nonresident aliens for activities conducted outside the USA are treated as income from foreign sources. Targeted grants and achievement awards are issued by exempt organizations or by the USA (or one of its instruments or agencies), a State (or a political subdivision of a State), or the District of Columbia for an activity (or past activity in the case of an achievement award) undertaken in the public interest.
Compensation for Personal Services Performed
This section explains the rules for withholding tax from compensation for personal services. Compensation for personal services is subject to withholding at either the 30% rate or graduated rates.
Compensation Subject to 30% Withholding
You generally must withhold tax at the 30% rate on compensation you pay to a nonresident alien individual for labor or personal services performed in the USA, unless that compensation is specifically exempted from withholding or subject to graduated withholding. This rule applies regardless of your place of residence, the place where the contract for service was made, or the place of payment.
Compensation for independent personal services
(Income Code 16). Independent personal services (a term commonly used in tax treaties) are personal services performed by an independent nonresident alien contractor as contrasted with those performed by an employee. This category of compensation includes payments for professional services, such as fees of an attorney, physician, or accountant made directly to the person performing the services.
Compensation for independent personal services is subject to withholding and reporting as follows.
Statutory.
You must withhold at the statutory rate of 30% on all payments unless the alien enters into a withholding agreement or receives a final payment exemption (discussed later).
The amount of compensation subject to 30% withholding may be reduced by the personal exemption amount ($2,550 for 1996) if the alien gives you a properly completed Form 8233. A nonresident alien is allowed only one personal exemption. However, individuals who are residents of Canada, Mexico, Japan, or South Korea, or are USA nationals (defined below) are generally entitled to the same exemptions as USA citizens.
Students and business apprentices covered by Article 21(2) of the USA-India Income Tax Treaty may claim an additional exemption for their spouse if a joint return is not filed, and if the spouse has no gross income for 1996 and is not the dependent of another taxpayer. They may also claim additional exemptions for children who reside with them in the USA at any time during 1996, but only if the dependents are USA citizens or nationals or residents of the USA, Canada, or Mexico. They may not claim exemptions for dependents who are admitted to the USA on F-2, J-2, or M-2 visas.
Each allowable exemption must be prorated according to the number of days during the tax year during which the alien performs services in the USA. Multiply the number of these days by $6.97 (the daily exemption amount for 1996) to figure the prorated amount. Residents of Japan and South Korea must make a further proration of their additional exemptions based on their gross income effectively connected with a USA trade or business. The rules for this proration are discussed in detail in Publication 519, USA Tax Guide for Aliens.
A USA national is an individual who is either a citizen of American Samoa, or a Northern Mariana Islander who chose to become a USA national.
Example 1.
Hans Schmidt, who is a resident of Germany, worked (not as an employee) for a USA company in the USA for 100 days during 1996 before returning to his country. He earned $6,000 for the services performed (not considered wages) in the USA. Hans is married and has three dependent children. His wife did not work and had no income subject to USA tax. Hans is allowed $697 as a deduction against the payments for his personal services performed in the USA (100 days x $6.97). Tax is withheld at 30% on the rest of his earnings, $5,303 ($6,000 – $697). A tax of $1,590.90 was withheld from Hans’ earnings (30% of $5,303).
Example 2.
If, in Example 1, Hans were a resident of Canada or Mexico or a national of the USA, working under contract with a domestic corporation, $3,485 (100 days x $6.97 per day for each of five exemptions) would be allowed against the payments for personal services performed in the USA. Tax would be withheld at 30% on $2,515 ($6,000 – $3,485), the rest of his earnings. A tax of $754.50 would have been withheld from Hans’ earnings (30% of $2,515).
Withholding agreements.
Compensation for personal services of a nonresident alien who is engaged during the tax year in the conduct of a USA trade or business may be wholly or partially exempted from withholding at the statutory rate if an agreement has been reached between the Assistant Commissioner (International) and the alien individual as to the amount of withholding required. This agreement will be effective for payments covered by the agreement that are made after the agreement is executed by all parties. The alien individual must agree to timely file an income tax return for the current tax year.
Final payment exemption.
The final payment of compensation for independent personal services may be wholly or partially exempt from withholding at the statutory rate. The nonresident alien must have been engaged during the tax year in the conduct of a USA trade or business. This exemption is available only once during an alien individual’s tax year. It applies to the last payment of compensation, other than wages, for personal services rendered in the USA that the individual expects to receive from any withholding agent during the tax year.
To obtain the final payment exemption, the nonresident alien, or the alien’s agent, must file the forms and provide the information required by the Assistant Commissioner (International). This information includes, but is not limited to, the following items:
A statement by each withholding agent from whom amounts of gross income effectively connected with the conduct of a USA trade or business have been received by the alien individual during the tax year. It must show the amount of income paid and the amount of tax withheld. The withholding agent must sign each statement and include a declaration that it is made under penalties of perjury.
A statement by the withholding agent from whom the final payment of compensation for personal services will be received showing the amount of final payment and the amount that would be withheld if a final payment exemption is not granted. The withholding agent must sign the statement and include a declaration that it is made under penalties of perjury.
A statement by the individual that he or she does not intend to receive any other amounts of gross income effectively connected with the conduct of a USA trade or business during the current tax year.
The amount of tax that has been withheld (or paid) under any other provision of the Code or regulations for any income effectively connected with the conduct of a USA trade or business during the current tax year.
The amount of any outstanding tax liabilities, including any interest and penalties, from the current tax year or prior tax periods.
The provision of any income tax treaty under which a partial or complete exemption from withholding may be claimed, the country of the individual’s residence, and a statement of sufficient facts to justify an exemption under such treaty.
The alien individual must submit a statement, signed and verified by a declaration that it is made under the penalties of perjury, that all the information provided is true, and that to his or her knowledge no relevant information has been omitted.If satisfied with the information provided, the Assistant Commissioner (International) will determine the amount of the alien individual’s tentative income tax for the tax year on gross income effectively connected with the conduct of a USA trade or business. Ordinary and necessary business expenses may be taken into account if proved to the satisfaction of the Assistant Commissioner (International).
The Assistant Commissioner (International) will provide the individual with a letter to you, the withholding agent, stating the amount of the final payment of compensation for personal services that is exempt from withholding, and the amount that would otherwise be withheld that may be paid to the individual due to the exemption. The amount of compensation exempt from withholding cannot be more than $5,000. The alien individual must give two copies of the letter to you and must also attach a copy of the letter to his or her income tax return for the tax year for which the exemption is effective.
Tax treaties.
Under most tax treaties, compensation for independent personal services performed in the USA is exempt from USA income tax only if the independent nonresident alien contractor performs the services during a period of temporary presence in the USA (usually not more than 183 days) and is a resident of the treaty country. Thus, the compensation is not exempt from USA tax if the contractor is a USA resident.
Independent nonresident alien contractors use Form 8233 to claim an exemption from withholding under a tax treaty. For more information, see Treaty Benefits, earlier, under Withholding Exemptions and Reductions.
Often, you must withhold under the statutory rules on payments made to a treaty country resident contractor for services performed in the USA. This is because the factors on which the treaty exemption is based may not be determinable until after the close of the tax year. The treaty country resident contractor must then file a USA income tax return to recover any overwithheld tax and to provide the IRS with proof that he or she is entitled to a treaty exemption.
Compensation Subject to Graduated Withholding
Salaries, wages, or any other compensation for personal services (referred to collectively as wages) paid to nonresident alien employees are subject to graduated withholding in the same way as for USA citizens and residents if the wages are effectively connected with the conduct of a USA trade or business. Any wages paid to a nonresident alien individual for personal services performed as an employee for an employer are generally exempt from the 30% withholding.
Also exempt from the 30% withholding is compensation for personal services performed as an employee for an employer if it is effectively connected with the conduct of a USA trade or business and would be treated as wages subject to graduated withholding except that it is specifically excepted from wages. See Compensation that is not wages, later for examples of employment for which compensation is not wages.
Employer-employee relationship.
For compensation for personal services to qualify as wages, there must be an employer-employee relationship.
Under the common law rules, every individual who performs services subject to the will and control of an employer, both as to what shall be done and how it shall be done, is an employee. It does not matter that the employer allows the employee considerable discretion and freedom of action, as long as the employer has the legal right to control both the method and the result of the services.
If an employer-employee relationship exists, it does not matter what the parties call the relationship. It does not matter if the employee is called a partner, coadventurer, agent, or independent contractor. It does not matter how the pay is measured, how the individual is paid, or what the payments are called. Nor does it matter whether the individual works full- or part-time.
The existence of the employer-employee relationship under the usual common law rules will be determined, in doubtful cases, by an examination of the facts of each case.
An employee
generally includes any individual who performs services if the relationship between the individual and the person for whom the services are performed is the legal relationship of employer and employee. This includes an individual who receives a supplemental unemployment compensation benefit that is treated as wages.
No distinction is made between classes of employees.
Superintendents, managers, and other supervisory personnel are employees. Generally, an officer of a corporation is an employee, but a director acting in this capacity is not. An officer who does not perform any services, or only minor services, and neither receives nor is entitled to receive any compensation is not considered an employee.
An employer
is any person or organization for whom an individual performs or has performed any service, of whatever nature, as an employee.
The term employer includes not only individuals and organizations in a trade or business, but organizations exempt from income tax, such as religious and charitable organizations, educational institutions, clubs, social organizations, and societies. It also includes the governments of the USA, the states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia, as well as their agencies, instrumentalities, and political subdivisions.
Two special definitions of employer that may have considerable application to nonresident aliens are:
An employer includes any person paying wages for a nonresident alien individual, foreign partnership, or foreign corporation not engaged in trade or business in the USA (including Puerto Rico as if a part of the USA), and
An employer includes any person who has control of the payment of wages for services that are performed for another person who does not have that control.
For example, if a trust pays wages, such as certain types of pensions, supplemental unemployment compensation, or retired pay, and the person for whom the services were performed has no legal control over the payment of the wages, the trust is the employer.
These special definitions have no effect at all upon the relationship between an alien employee and the actual employer when determining whether the compensation received is considered to be wages.
If an employer-employee relationship exists,
the employer ordinarily must withhold the income tax from wage payments by using the percentage method or wage-bracket tables as shown in Publication 15, Circular E, Employer’s Tax Guide.
Compensation that is not wages.
Employment for which the compensation is not considered wages (for graduated income tax withholding), includes, but is not limited to, the following:
Agricultural labor if the total cash wages paid to an individual worker during the year is less than $150 and the total paid to all workers during the year is less than $2,500. But even if the total amount paid to all workers is $2,500 or more, wages of less than $150 per year paid to a worker are not subject to income tax withholding if certain conditions are met. For these conditions, see Publication 51, Circular A, Agricultural Employer’s Tax Guide.
Services of a household nature performed in or about the private home of an employer, or in or about the clubrooms or house of a local college club, fraternity, or sorority. A local college club, fraternity, or sorority does not include an alumni club or chapter and may not be operated primarily as a business enterprise. Examples of these services include those performed as a cook, janitor, housekeeper, governess, gardener, or houseparent.
Certain services performed outside the course of the employer’s trade or business for which cash payment is less than $50 for the calendar quarter.
Services performed as an employee of a foreign government, without regard to citizenship, residence, or where services are performed. These include services performed by ambassadors, other diplomatic and consular officers and employees, and nondiplomatic representatives. They do not include services for a USA or Puerto Rican corporation owned by a foreign government.
Services performed within or outside the USA by an employee or officer (regardless of citizenship or residence) of an international organization designated under the International Organizations Immunities Act.
Services performed by a duly ordained, commissioned, or licensed minister of a church, but only if performed in the exercise of the ministry and not as an employee of the USA, a USA possession, or a foreign government, or any of their political subdivisions. These also include services performed by a member of a religious order in carrying out duties required by that order.
Tips paid to an employee if they are paid in any medium other than cash or, if in cash, they amount to less than $20 in any calendar month in the course of employment.
Services performed outside the USA.
Compensation paid to a nonresident alien (other than a resident of Puerto Rico, discussed later) for services performed outside the USA is not considered wages and is not subject to graduated withholding or 30% withholding.
Withholding exemptions.
The amount of wages subject to graduated withholding may be reduced by the personal exemption amount ($2,550 for 1996). The personal exemptions allowed in figuring wages subject to graduated withholding are the same as those discussed earlier under Compensation for independent personal services (Income Code 16), except that an employee must claim them on Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate.
Special instructions for Form W-4.
A nonresident alien subject to wage withholding must give the employer a completed Form W-4 to enable the employer to figure how much income tax to withhold. In completing the form, nonresident aliens should use the following instructions instead of the instructions on Form W-4. (Line references are to the 1995 form.)
Check only Single marital status on line 3 (regardless of actual marital status).
Claim only one withholding allowance on line 5, unless a resident of Canada, Mexico, Japan, or South Korea, or a USA national.
Request that additional tax of $4.00 per week be withheld on line 6. If the pay period is two weeks, request that $8.00 be withheld instead.
Do not claim Exempt withholding status on line 7.
These instructions restrict a nonresident alien’s filing status, generally limit the number of allowable exemptions, and require additional tax to be withheld because a nonresident alien cannot claim the standard deduction.Students and business apprentices from India.
Students and business apprentices who are eligible for the benefits of Article 21(2) of the USA-India Income Tax Treaty can claim additional withholding allowances on line 5 for the standard deduction and their spouses. They can claim an additional withholding allowance for each dependent not admitted to the USA on F-2, J-2, or M-2 visas. Also, they do not have to request additional withholding on line 6.
Reporting requirements for wages and withheld taxes.
The employer must report the amount of wages and deposits of withheld income and social security and Medicare taxes by filing Form 941, Employer’s Quarterly Federal Tax Return. Household employers should see Publication 926, Household Employer’s Tax Guide for information on reporting and paying employment taxes on wages paid to household employee.
Form W-2.
The employer must also report on Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, the wages subject to withholding and withheld taxes and give copies of this form to the employee. For more information, see the instructions for these forms and Circular E.
Trust fund recovery penalty.
If you are a person responsible for withholding, accounting for, or depositing or paying employment taxes, and willfully fail to do so, you can be held liable for a penalty equal to the full amount of the unpaid trust fund tax, plus interest. A responsible person for this purpose can be an officer of a corporation, a partner, a sole proprietor, or an employee of any form of business. A trustee or agent with authority over the funds of the business can also be held responsible for the penalty.
Willfully in this case means voluntarily, consciously, and intentionally. You are acting willfully if you pay other expenses of the business instead of the withholding taxes.
Federal unemployment (FUTA) tax.
The employer must pay federal unemployment tax and file Form 940 or 940-EZ, Employer’s Annual Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return.Only the employer pays this tax; it is not deducted from the employee’s wages. In certain cases, wages paid to students and railroad and agricultural workers are exempt from FUTA tax. For more information, see the instructions for these forms and Circular E.
Compensation for dependent personal services
(Income Code 17). Dependent personal services are personal services performed in the USA by a nonresident alien individual as an employee rather than as an independent contractor.
Compensation for dependent personal services is subject to withholding and reporting as follows.
Statutory.
Ordinarily, you must withhold on compensation (wages) for dependent personal services using graduated rates. The nonresident alien must complete Form W-4 as discussed earlier, under Special instructions for Form W-4, and you must report wages and income tax withheld on Form W-2. However, the nonresident alien may be exempt from tax or withholding of tax if any of the following four exceptions applies.
Exception 1.
Compensation paid for labor or personal services performed in the USA is deemed not to be income from sources within the USA and is exempt from USA income tax if:
The labor or services are performed by a nonresident alien temporarily present in the USA for a period or periods not exceeding a total of 90 days during the tax year,
The total compensation does not exceed $3,000, and
The compensation is for labor or services performed as an employee of, or under a contract with –
A nonresident alien individual, foreign partnership, or foreign corporation that is not engaged in a trade or business in the USA, or
A USA citizen or resident individual, a domestic partnership, or a domestic corporation, if the labor or services are performed for an office or place of business maintained in a foreign country or in a possession of the USA by this individual, partnership, or corporation.
If the total compensation is more than $3,000, the entire amount is income from sources in the USA and is subject to USA tax.
Exception 2.
Compensation paid by a foreign employer to a nonresident alien for the period the alien is temporarily present in the USA on an F,J,M, or Q visa is exempt from USA income tax. For this purpose, a foreign employer means:
A nonresident alien individual, foreign partnership, or foreign corporation, or
An office or place of business maintained in a foreign country or in a USA possession by a domestic corporation, a domestic partnership, or an individual USA citizen or resident.
Example.A French citizen who works for the Paris branch of a banking company incorporated in New York was admitted to the USA for a temporary period on a J visa to study monetary theory. The alien continued to receive a salary from the foreign branch while studying in the USA. The salary would not be subject to regular wage withholding if the alien filed with his or her employer a proper statement claiming the exemption.
Statement required.
The statement must be provided in duplicate, must contain the alien’s name, address, and taxpayer identification number, and it must certify that:
The alien is not a citizen or resident of the USA, and
The income to be paid to the alien is exempt from USA income tax, and why the income is exempt.
The statement must be dated, must identify the tax year and the income to which it applies, and must be signed by the alien including a written declaration that it is made under the penalties of perjury. Attach the duplicate copy of the statement to the Form 1042 that you file with the IRS.Exception 3.
Compensation paid to certain residents of Canada or Mexico who enter or leave the USA at frequent intervals is not subject to graduated income tax withholding or 30% withholding. These aliens must either:
Perform duties in transportation services (such as a railroad, bus, truck, ferry, steamboat, aircraft, or other type) between the USA and Canada or Mexico, or
Perform duties connected with an international project, relating to the construction, maintenance, or operation of a waterway, viaduct, dam, or bridge crossed by, or crossing, the boundary between the USA and Canada or the boundary between the USA and Mexico.
To qualify for the exemption from withholding during a tax year, a Canadian or Mexican resident must give the employer a statement in duplicate with name, address, and identification number, and certifying that the resident:
Is not a USA citizen or resident,
Is a resident of Canada or Mexico, whichever applies, and
Expects to perform the described duties during the tax year in question.
The statement can be in any form, but it must be dated and signed by the employee, and must include a written declaration that it is made under penalties of perjury. Attach the duplicate copy of each statement to the Form 1042 that you file with the IRS.
Canadian and Mexican residents employed entirely within the USA.
Neither the transportation service exception nor the international projects exception applies to the compensation of a resident of Canada or Mexico who is employed entirely within the USA and who commutes from a home in Canada or Mexico to work in the USA. If an individual works at a fixed point or points in the USA (such as a factory, store, office, or designated area or areas), the wages for services performed as an employee for an employer are subject to graduated withholding.
Exception 4.
Compensation paid for services performed in Puerto Rico by a nonresident alien who is a resident of Puerto Rico for an employer (other than the USA or one of its agencies) is not subject to withholding.
Compensation paid for either of the following types of services is not subject to wage withholding if the alien does not expect to be a resident of Puerto Rico during the entire tax year.
Services performed outside the USA but not in Puerto Rico by a nonresident alien who is a resident of Puerto Rico for an employer other than the USA or one of its agencies, or
Services performed outside the USA by a nonresident alien who is a resident of Puerto Rico, as an employee of the USA or any of its agencies.
To qualify for the exemption from withholding for any tax year, the employee must give the employer a statement showing the employee’s name and address and certifying that the employee:
Is not a citizen or resident of the USA, and
Is a resident of Puerto Rico who does not expect to be a resident for that entire tax year.
The statement must be signed and dated by the employee and contain a written declaration that it is made under penalties of perjury.
Tax treaties.
Compensation for dependent personal services under some tax treaties is exempt from USA income tax only if both the employer and the employee are treaty country residents and the nonresident alien employee performs the services while temporarily living in the USA (usually for not more than 183 days). Other treaties provide for exemption from USA tax on compensation for dependent personal services if the employer is any foreign resident and the employee is a treaty country resident, and the nonresident alien employee performs the services while temporarily in the USA. See Claiming exemption from withholding, discussed earlier under Treaty Benefits.
Compensation for teaching
(Income Code 18). This category is given a separate income code number because most tax treaties provide at least partial exemption from withholding and from USA tax. Compensation for teaching means payments to a nonresident alien professor, teacher, or researcher by a USA university or other accredited educational institution for teaching or research work at the institution.
Statutory.
Graduated withholding of income tax usually applies to all wages, salaries, and other compensation for teaching and research paid by a USA educational institution during the period the nonresident alien is teaching or performing research at the institution. If a nonimmigrant alien is temporarily present in the USA on an F,J,M, or Q visa, no social security, Medicare, or FUTA (unemployment) taxes should be withheld or paid if the alien is performing services to carry out a purpose for which the alien was admitted to the USA.
Tax treaties.
Under most tax treaties, compensation for teaching is exempt from USA tax and from withholding for a specified period of time when paid to a professor, teacher, or researcher who is a resident of the treaty country and not a citizen of the USA (see Table 2). The USA educational institution paying the compensation must report the amount of compensation paid each year on Form 1042-S. See Claiming exemption from withholding, discussed earlier under Treaty Benefits.
Compensation during training
(Income Code 19). This category refers to compensation (as contrasted with remittances, allowances, or other forms of scholarships or fellowship grants – see Scholarships and Fellowship Grants, earlier) for personal services performed while a nonresident alien is temporarily in the USA as a student, trainee, or apprentice, or while acquiring technical, professional, or business experience.
Statutory.
Wages, salaries, or other compensation paid to a nonresident alien student, trainee, or apprentice for labor or personal services performed in the USA are subject to graduated withholding. If a nonimmigrant alien student or trainee is present temporarily in the USA on an F,J,M, or Q visa and is performing services to carry out a purpose for which admitted to the USA, no social security, Medicare, or FUTA tax should be paid or withheld.
Tax treaties.
Many tax treaties provide an exemption from USA tax and from graduated withholding, on compensation paid to nonresident alien students or trainees during training for a limited period, up to a maximum dollar amount per year. See Claiming exemption from withholding, discussed earlier under Treaty Benefits. In addition, some treaties provide an exemption from tax and withholding for compensation paid by the USA Government or its contractor to a nonresident alien student or trainee who is temporarily present in the USA as a participant in a program sponsored by the USA Government (see Table 2). However, a USA resident, the USA Government agency, or its contractor must report the amount of compensation on Form 1042-S.
Artists and Athletes
Because many tax treaties contain a provision for compensation to artists and athletes, a separate category – Earnings as an artist or athlete (Income Code 20) – is assigned these payments for withholding purposes. This category includes payments made for performances by public entertainers (such as theater, motion picture, radio, or television artists, or musicians) or athletes.
Statutory.
You must withhold tax at a 30% rate on payments to artists and athletes for services performed as independent contractors. See Compensation for independent personal services, earlier for more information. You must withhold tax at graduated rates on payments to artists and athletes for services performed as employees. See Compensation for dependent personal services, earlier for more information. However, in any situation where the nature of the relationship between the payor of the income and the artist or athlete is not ascertainable, you should withhold at a rate of 30%. See Special events and promotions, earlier under Treaty Benefits for more information.
Central withholding agreements.
Nonresident alien entertainers or athletes performing or participating in athletic events in the USA may be able to enter into a withholding agreement with the IRS for reduced withholding provided certain requirements are met. Under no circumstances will a withholding agreement reduce taxes withheld to less than the alien’s anticipated income tax liability.
Nonresident alien entertainers or athletes requesting a central withholding agreement must submit the following:
A list of the names and addresses of the nonresident aliens to be covered by the agreement.
Copies of all contracts that the aliens or their agents and representatives have entered into regarding the time period and performances or events to be covered by the agreement including, but not limited to, contracts with:
employers, agents, and promoters,
exhibition halls,
persons providing lodging, transportation, and advertising, and
accompanying personnel, such as band members or trainers.
An itinerary of dates and locations of all events or performances scheduled during the period to be covered by the agreement.
A proposed budget containing itemized estimates of all gross income and expenses for the period covered by the agreement, including any documents to support these estimates.
The name, address, and telephone number of the person the IRS should contact if additional information or documentation is needed.
The name, address, and employer identification number of the agent or agents who will be the central withholding agents for the aliens and who will enter into a contract with the IRS. A central withholding agent ordinarily receives contract payments, keeps books of account for the aliens covered by the agreement, and pays expenses (including tax liabilities) for the aliens during the period covered by the agreement.
When the IRS approves the estimated budget and the designated central withholding agents, the Associate Chief Counsel (International) will prepare a withholding agreement. The agreement must be signed by each withholding agent, each nonresident alien covered by the agreement, and the Assistant Commissioner (International).
Generally, each withholding agent must agree to withhold income tax from payments made to the nonresident alien; to pay over the withheld tax to the IRS on the dates and in the amounts specified in the agreement; and to have the IRS apply the payments of withheld tax to the withholding agent’s Form 1042 account. Each withholding agent will have to file Form 1042 and Form 1042-S for each tax year in which income is paid to a nonresident alien covered by the withholding agreement. The IRS will credit the withheld tax payments, posted to the withholding agent’s Form 1042 account, in accordance with the Form 1042-S. Each nonresident alien covered by the withholding agreement must agree to file Form 1040NR or, if he or she qualifies, Form 1040NR-EZ.
A request for a central withholding agreement should be sent to the following address at least 90 days before the agreement is to take effect:
Internal Revenue Service Chief
Special Procedures Section CP:IN:D:C:C:SPS Room 3311
950 L'Enfant Plaza South, S.W.
Washington, DC 20024
Tax treaties.
Under many tax treaties, compensation paid to public entertainers or athletes for services performed in the USA is exempt from USA income tax only when the services are performed during a limited period of temporary presence in the USA and the compensation is within limits provided in the tax treaty that applies.
Independent contractors may claim an exemption from withholding under a tax treaty by filing Form 8233. Employees may claim an exemption from withholding under a tax treaty by filing a statement with their employers. For more information, see Treaty Benefits, discussed earlier under Withholding Exemptions and Reductions.
Often, however, you will have to withhold at the statutory rates on the total payments to the entertainer or athlete. This is because the exemption may be based upon factors that cannot be determined until after the end of the year. See Special events and promotions, earlier, under Treaty Benefits.
IRS Pub. 513: Tax Information for Visitors to the USA
IRS Pub. 513 is no longer a current document updated by the IRS. Please see information about taxation of nonresident aliens on the IRS site for further guidance. This page contains an excerpt of the text of IRS Publication 513 Tax Information for Visitors to the USA (1995 Revision). This document has been prepared as a public service, and may be missing sections from the original. It is not intended to act as a substitute for the official version available from the IRS, but rather to provide a convenient online reference. The information on this page is not guaranteed to be correct. It has not been reviewed or approved by the IRS, so we strongly suggest that you refer to the original publication for official information. To order IRS publications and forms, call 1-800-TAX-FORM (1-800-829-3676) or visit the IRS web site.
Introduction
If you have income from the USA, you may have to file a USA income tax return even if you are only visiting this country. This publication summarizes for you the requirements of USA income tax law. See If You Need Help at the end of this publication for how to get more information.
Some of the tax laws that apply to nonresident aliens are different from those that apply to USA resident aliens. You are a nonresident alien if you are not a USA citizen and you don’t meet either the substantial presence test or the green card (Alien Registration Card) test.
Under USA tax law, you may be a resident alien if you are in the USA for as little as 31 days during the calendar year, and your stay during the current year and the preceding 2 years is long enough to meet the substantial presence test. For details on this test, and the green card test, get Publication 519, USA Tax Guide for Aliens.
You should know that under USA immigration law most visitors who come to the USA are not allowed to work here. Please check with the Immigration and Naturalization Service before getting a job.
Who Must File an Income Tax Return
If you are visiting the USA for pleasure and receive no income from USA sources, you do not have to file a USA income tax return.
If you are a nonresident alien and you work or are engaged in a trade or business in the USA, you must file a USA income tax return regardless of the amount of your income or whether your income is exempt from USA tax.
If you perform personal services in the USA at any time during the tax year, you usually are considered engaged in a trade or business in the USA. The only exception to this rule follows.
Employees of foreign persons, organizations, or offices.
If three conditions exist, your performance of personal services in the USA during the time you are a nonresident alien is not considered engaging in a trade or business in the USA. The income from those services is not considered to be from USA sources and is tax exempt. If you do not meet any one of the conditions, you are considered to be engaged in a trade or business in the USA and your income from personal services performed in the USA is considered to be from USA sources.
The three conditions are:
You perform personal services as an employee of or under a contract with a nonresident alien individual, foreign partnership, or foreign corporation, not engaged in a trade or business in the USA; or you work for an office or place of business maintained in a foreign country or possession of the USA by a USA corporation, a USA partnership, or a USA citizen or resident, and
You perform these services while you are a nonresident alien temporarily present in the USA for a period or periods of not more than a total of 90 days during the tax year, and
Your pay for these services is not more than $3,000.
If you are not engaged in a trade or business in the USA, you must file a return if you have USA income from which not enough tax was withheld to cover the USA tax you owe.
You must file a return if you are claiming a refund of income taxes withheld or previously paid. Also, you must file a return if you want to claim the benefit of any allowable deductions or exemptions. For example, if you do not have a job or trade or business in the USA, but you do have rental or royalty income from an interest in USA real property, you may choose to treat that activity as a USA trade or business. To claim a deduction for any allowable expenses related to that business, you must file a return.
With certain exceptions, you must file a return when you take the position that a USA tax treaty overrules or modifies a USA tax law. You must provide special information with the return, including a statement of facts supporting your position. For details, see Reporting Treaty Benefits Claimed in Chapter 9 of Publication 519.
What Income Is Taxed
Nonresident aliens generally are taxed only on certain income from sources in the USA and on certain income connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the USA.
Taxable income from USA sources includes, but is not limited to:
Wages, salaries, commissions, fees, tips, etc., for services performed in the USA,
Interest (with certain exceptions) and dividends,
Rents and royalties,
Profits or losses from the sale of merchandise within the USA, and
Gains and losses from the sale of certain real property.
What Tax Forms You May Need
If you are a nonresident alien and you must file an income tax return, use Form 1040NR, USA Nonresident Alien Income Tax Return, unless you qualify to use Form 1040NR-EZ, USA Income Tax Return for Certain Nonresident Aliens With No Dependents.
If you have income from which no (or not enough) USA tax is withheld, you also may need to file Form 1040-ES(NR), USA Estimated Tax for Nonresident Alien Individuals.
Before leaving the USA, you may have to file Form 1040-C,USA Departing Alien Income Tax Return, or Form 2063, USA Departing Alien Income Tax Statement.
These forms are briefly discussed later. Be sure to get Publication 519, which is a complete tax guide for aliens.
Income Tax Withholding
If you work for an employer, that employer will usually take income tax out of your wages and pay it over to the USA government. This is called withholding. The rate of withholding depends on the amount of your income and the information you give your employer on Form W-4,Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate. The amount withheld is credited against the tax owed when you file your USA tax return.
Household employees.
If you work as household help, your employer does not have to withhold income tax. However, you may agree to voluntary income tax withholding by filing a Form W-4, Employee’s Withholding Allowance Certificate, with your employer. The agreement goes into effect when your employer accepts the agreement by beginning the withholding. You or your employer may end the agreement by letting the other know in writing.
30% flat rate.
If you do not work as an employee, any compensation you receive for your services is subject to withholding at a 30% flat rate. Income tax must be withheld at a flat rate of 30% on the following types of income from USA sources unless they are connected with the conduct of a USA trade or business, or the rate has been lowered by tax law or income tax treaty:
Interest (other than interest on bank deposits, savings and loan, credit union, or similar accounts, amounts held by insurance companies under agreements to pay interest, or certain portfolio debt obligations)
Dividends
Rents
Social security benefits (85% of the annual amount)
Annuities (payments from pensions, trusts, etc.)
Royalties.
When and Where to File
If you are an employee and you receive wages subject to USA income tax withholding, file by the 15th day of the 4th month after your tax year ends. If you file for the 1995 calendar year, your return is due April 15, 1996. (If you have not previously established a tax year other than the calendar year, you must use the calendar year as your tax year.)
If you did not receive wages subject to USA income tax withholding, you must file by the 15th day of the 6th month after your tax year ends. For the 1995 calendar year, file your return by June 17, 1996 (June 15 falls on a Saturday).
Form 1040NR-EZ and Form 1040NR must be sent to the Internal Revenue Service Center, Philadelphia, PA 19255, USAA.
When to file for deductions and credits.
To get the benefit of deductions or certain credits, you must timely file a true and accurate return. For information on what is considered timely for this purpose, see Chapter 7 in Publication 519.
Penalties.
The law provides penalties for filing your tax return late and for late payment of any tax due. However, a penalty will not be charged if you can show that you had reasonable cause for filing your return or paying any tax after the due date.
Estimated Tax Payment: Form 1040-ES(NR)
You may have taxable income from which no USA income tax is withheld. Or the tax withheld may not be enough to cover the income tax that you estimate you will owe at the end of the year. If this is true, and if you have income effectively connected with a trade or business in the USA, you may have to pay estimated tax. An addition to the tax is charged if you underpay your estimated tax.
Income connected with a trade or business includes pay received as an employee that is subject to withholding. It does not, however, include pay subject to withholding at a flat 30% rate or lower treaty rate.
Generally, there will be no addition to the tax for the underpayment of estimated tax if the total income tax to be withheld from your 1996 income is at least:
90% of the tax to be shown on your 1996 USA income tax return, or
100% of the tax shown on your 1995 USA income tax return (if your 1995 return covered all 12 months of the year).
Note: If your adjusted gross income for 1995 (Form 1040NR, line 31) was more than $150,000 ($75,000 if you are married filing separately for 1996), substitute 110% for 100% in (2) above.
Also, there will be no addition to the tax if the tax due (after subtracting withheld tax) for 1996 is less than $500.
When to pay.
Generally, you must make your first payment of estimated tax by the due date for filing the previous year’s Form 1040NR or Form 1040NR-EZ.
For more information,
refer to the instructions for Form 1040-ES(NR), USA Estimated Tax for Nonresident Alien Individuals, and see Estimated Tax Form 1040-ES(NR) in Chapter 8 of Publication 519.
Note: If you expect to be a resident of Puerto Rico during the entire year, use Form 1040-ES or Form 1040- ES(Espanol) to make your payments.
Departing Aliens – Sailing or Departure Permit
Before leaving the USA, you must file Form 1040-C, USA Departing Alien Income Tax Return, or Form 2063, USA Departing Alien Income Tax Statement. These forms must be filed to get a certificate of compliance (known as a sailing or departure permit) from the Internal Revenue Service. However, see the discussion, later, under Aliens who do not need a sailing or departure permit.
A certificate of compliance certifies that you have satisfied the USA income tax laws. This is not your final tax return.
If you are required to file a USA income tax return for the year, file Form 1040NR or Form 1040NR-EZ after the end of the year. You have to file this form whether or not you owe more tax or are entitled to a refund of tax paid. Treat the tax you paid with Form 1040-C as a credit against the tax on your income tax return.
Clearance.
You should apply for your tax clearance at least 2 weeks before you leave the USA. The clearance, however, may not be issued more than 30 days before you leave. If both you and your spouse are aliens and are leaving together, both of you must go to the IRS office.
Please be prepared to give your planned date of departure and bring the following records with you if they apply:
A valid passport with your alien registration card or visa.
Copies of your USA income tax returns filed for the past 2 years. (If you were in the USA for less than 2 years, bring copies of the income tax returns you filed in that period.)
Receipts for income taxes paid on these returns.
Receipts, bank records, canceled checks, and other documents that prove your deductions, business expenses, and dependents claimed on the returns.
A statement from each employer you worked for this year, showing wages paid and tax withheld. If you are self-employed, you must bring a statement of income and expenses up to the date you plan to leave.
Proof of any payments of estimated tax for the past year, as well as the current year.
Documents showing any gain or loss from the sale of personal property, including capital assets and merchandise.
Documents concerning scholarships or fellowship grants, including verification of the grantor, source, and purpose of the grant.
Documents indicating qualification for special tax treaty benefits.
Aliens who do not need a sailing or departure permit.
If you are included in one of the following categories, you do not have to get a sailing or departure permit before leaving the USA.
Representatives of foreign governments with diplomatic passports, members of their households, and servants accompanying them.
Employees of international organizations and foreign governments (other than diplomatic representatives covered under category 1) who received no income from sources in the USA and whose pay for official services to the foreign government or international organization is excluded from income under USA tax law. This exception also applies to members of their households if they had no income from sources in the USA.
The following aliens, if they have received no taxable income from USA sources during the current tax year (up to and including the date they leave) or during the previous tax year –
Alien visitors for pleasure on a B-2 visa,
Alien visitors for business on a B-1 visa, or both a B-1 and a B-2 visa, who do not remain in the USA or a USA possession for more than 90 days during the tax year,
Aliens in transit through the USA or any of its possessions on a C-1 visa, or under a contract, such as a bond agreement between a transportation line and the Attorney General according to section 238(c) of the Immigration and Nationality Act,
Aliens who enter the USA on a border-crossing identification card, or for whom a passport, visa, and border-crossing identification card is not required. These aliens must be visitors for pleasure, visitors for business who do not remain in the USA or a USA possession for more than 90 days during the tax year, or visitors in transit through the USA or any of its possessions, or
Alien military trainees who come to the USA for training under the sponsorship of the Department of Defense and who leave the USA on official military travel orders.
Alien students, industrial trainees, or exchange visitors, including their spouses and children, who come to the USA on F, H-3, H-4, or J visas only and who receive no income from sources within the USA while in the USA under those visas other than –
Allowances to cover expenses incident to study or training in the USA, such as expenses for travel, maintenance, and tuition,
The value of any services or food and lodging connected with this study or training,
Income from employment authorized by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), or
Certain interest income that is not effectively connected with a USA trade or business.
Alien students, including their spouses and children, who come to the USA on M visas only and who receive no income from USA sources while in the USA on those visas, other than –
Income from employment authorized by the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), or
Interest on bank deposits and amounts held by an insurance company under an agreement to pay interest on them.
Residents of Canada or Mexico who frequently commute between their country and the USA to work, and whose wages are subject to the withholding of USA tax.
If you are in one of these categories and are exempt from getting a sailing or departure permit, you must be able to support your claim for exemption with evidence (identification, etc.) showing that you are entitled to the exemption.
Exceptions:
If you are an alien in category 1 or 2, above, and you filed the waiver under section 247(b) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to keep your immigrant status, you must get a sailing or departure permit.
If you are an alien in category 1 or 2, and your income is exempt from USA tax because of an income tax treaty, or certain consular or international agreements, you do not lose this tax exemption by signing the section 247(b) waiver. However, you must get a sailing or departure permit even though your income is exempt.
If You Need Help
If you need help in filing your income tax return and getting your sailing or departure permit, you should go to an office of the Internal Revenue Service in the area where you are located. If this is not possible, you may go to an IRS office in the area of your departure.
The IRS has other publications to help you with any problems you may have about USA tax laws. They are:
You may get these and other publications and forms by writing to the Eastern Area Distribution Center, P.O. Box 85074, Richmond, VA 23261-5074, USAA., or by calling toll-free 1-800-TAX-FORM (829-3676) if you are in the USA.
NSF 94-139 – Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI)
Title : NSF 94-139 (Reprint)- Grant Opportunities for Academic Liaison with Industry (GOALI) Type : Program Guideline NSF Org: ENG Date : March 6, 1995 File : nsf94139
GRANT OPPORTUNITIES FOR ACADEMIC LIAISON WITH INDUSTRY (GOALI)
Engineering Directorate Guidelines FY 1995 FACULTY AND STUDENTS IN INDUSTRY
Target Date: January 16, 1995 INDUSTRY ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS IN ACADEME
Target dates may apply to certain disciplinary programs INDUSTRY – UNIVERSITY COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS Target dates may apply to certain disciplinary programs Directorate for Engineering National Science Foundation GOALI Engineering Directorate Guidelines for FY 1995 I. INTRODUCTION The general guidelines for preparing a proposal in response to the GOALI initiative are contained in the GOALI FY95 Announcement (NSF 94-138) and the NSF Grant Proposal Guide (GPG) ( NSF 94-2).
These guidelines provide supplemental information regarding preparation and submission of proposals to the NSF Directorate for Engineering (ENG). According to the Announcement, the GOALI initiative aims to synergize industry-university partnerships by making investment funds available to support an eclectic mix of industry-university linkages.
Special interest is focused on affording the opportunity for: (1) faculty, students and postdoctoral fellows to conduct research and gain experience in an industrial setting, (2) industry scientists and engineers to bring industry’s perspective and integrative skills to academe, and (3) interdisciplinary industry-university teams to conduct long-term projects. GOALI seeks to promote collaboration across a broad spectrum of industry-university interests, including education, research, and management of technological innovation. Within this broad scope, proposals are especially encouraged in the engineering design of products and processes and in the enablement of next generation manufacturing systems and enterprises. The characteristics of the GOALI mechanisms for the industry-university collaboration in ENG are presented below.
These characteristics define the required level of interaction with industry and the corresponding deadlines for GOALI proposal submissions. The proposers may combine or modify these mechanisms, or propose other arrangements to achieve the GOALI objectives. Such combinations or arrangements should retain a level of industry-university interaction and commitments comparable to the suggested mechanisms described in the following sections. The participation of a co-investigator or co-adviser from industry in a collaborative project or industrial fellowship must be confirmed by a letter from the industrial partner. The letter should show the plan of interaction with the academic institution, the time commitment of the industrial researcher(s), and the nature of the work and cost sharing. An industry-university agreement on intellectual property including publication and patent rights must be included. Proposals will be evaluated in accordance with the four general criteria described in GPG, and the GOALI objectives.
The industry-university interaction must be presented in the ?Proposal description? as shown below. In Fiscal Year 1994, the first year of the GOALI initiative, awards for approximately $4 million were made. In Fiscal Year 1995 the award funds are expected to increase. Proposals in the GOALI initiative will compete with all other proposals within the respective research/educational program. Applicants interested in submitting proposals for GOALI must contact the appropriate ENG Program Director in their area of research/education prior to proposal submission. Refer to the GPG, Appendix A, for a list of programs and telephone numbers.
II. SUGGESTED GOALI MECHANISMS A. FACULTY AND STUDENTS IN INDUSTRY
Opportunities are made available for academic personnel to gain research experience in an industrial setting. The following opportunities are options to be considered: o Engineering Faculty in Industry – for engineering faculty to conduct research for three to twelve months in industry, or on an industrially relevant project at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST); (the support is for new interactions only). o Graduate Student Industrial Fellowship – for engineering graduate students (preferably Ph.D. students) for full-time work in industry or NIST in an area related to his/her research under the guidance of an academic adviser and an industrial mentor. o Postdoctoral Industrial Fellowship – for an engineering postdoctoral fellow for full-time work in industry or on an industrially relevant project at NIST, under the guidance of an academic advisor and an industrial mentor.
Proposal description: The proposal must include the research plan, industry- university collaboration plan, and facilities and resources that will be available to support the research during the visit. Graduate students must provide a resume showing the student’s special qualifications, and a statement of planned interactions with the academic adviser and industrial mentor. Postdoctoral fellows must include a resume, a professional goal statement, and a statement of planned interaction with the academic advisor and industrial mentor. The postdoctoral fellow must be awarded the Ph.D. degree between January 1, 1993 and August 30, 1995. Awards will be made only to fellows holding a Ph.D. degree. Proposals should contain a supporting letter from the industrial mentor for graduate students or postdoctoral fellows. Budget: Engineering Faculty in Industry Awards will typically range from $25,000 to $50,000 for up to one year, and may include: 50 percent of the faculty salary and fringe benefits during the industrial residency period; up to 20 percent of the total requested amount may be used for travel and research expenses for the faculty and his/her students, including materials but excluding equipment; and up to 10 percent of the total direct cost may be allocated for administrative expenses in lieu of indirect costs.
Engineering Faculty in Industry proposals must include a commitment of funds from the industrial partner or NIST to support the other 50 percent of the salary and fringe benefits during the industrial residency. Matching resources from NIST are subject to availability of funding in the NIST program area. The total matching amount must be shown on line M. (Cost Sharing) of the proposal budget, NSF Form 1030. The allocation of matching funds to each budget item must be specified on the Budget Explanation Page. Equipment purchases or equipment discounts are not acceptable as matching funds for the faculty salary. Graduate Student Awards will be for up to one year with award amounts up to $25,000 for a graduate student industrial fellowship and up to $75,000 for a graduate student traineeship site (involving several students), and may include the following: a stipend of $1,500 to $2,000 per month for one or two semesters (three to twelve months); transportation expenses for the graduate student; a 10 percent allowance for the faculty adviser for research-related expenses excluding equipment, and an additional allowance up to 10 percent of the total direct cost for the sponsoring academic institution for administrative expenses, in lieu of indirect costs.
Awards may be made for the support of individual students (individual graduate student industrial fellowship), as supplements to existing Directorate for Engineering grants, or for a group of two to three graduate students at a given site (graduate student traineeship site) through either an initial proposal submission to the Directorate for Engineering or supplements to existing Directorate for Engineering grants.
Postdoctoral Industrial Fellowship Awards from NSF will be for amounts up to $42,000 per year for one or two years and may include the following: 67 percent of the stipend for the postdoctoral fellow; transportation and moving expenses (limited to $3,000); up to 10 percent of the total budget allowance may be used by the faculty adviser for research- related expenses; and an allowance up to 10 percent of the total indirect cost for the sponsoring academic institution for administrative expenses in lieu of indirect costs. The industrial sponsor (or NIST) is expected to provide the remaining 33 percent of the stipend as matching funds. Matching resources from NIST are subject to availability of funding in the NIST program area. The total matching amount must be shown on line M. (Cost Sharing) of the proposal budget, NSF Form 1030.
B. INDUSTRY ENGINEERS AND SCIENTISTS IN ACADEME
Opportunities are made available for industry personnel to interact with the academic community. The following opportunities are options to be considered: o Industry Presence on Campus – for industrial engineers and scientists to visit academe for two to twelve months in order to catalyze collaborative research and/or provide innovations in teaching and engineering curricula; and o Industry-Based Graduate Assistantship – for part-time engineering students, with permanent positions in industry to continue their graduate studies, particularly toward the Ph.D. The stipend will partially support the time necessary for course work and interaction with a faculty research adviser. Proposal description: The proposal is submitted by the host university, on behalf of an academic principal investigator or the student’s adviser and a co-principal investigator or student’s co-adviser from industry.
The visitor must maintain his/her initial affiliation in industry during the project. Proposals for Industry Presence on Campus awards must include the objectives of the research/educational project, and a plan of the industry- university interaction on campus. Proposals for Industry- Based Graduate Assistantships must include the research plan, a resume of the graduate student showing the student’s special qualifications, training arrangements, description of the facilities and graduate student working conditions. Budget: Industry Presence on Campus Awards are for a maximum of $50,000 for up to one year, to cover up to 67 percent of the total budget and may include the following: part-time salary support for the visiting specialist(s); expenses for student projects; teaching enhancement; and visits of faculty and students to the industrial site.
Matching commitments from the industrial partner and/or the university, totaling at least the remaining 33 percent is required. The total matching amount and the matching source(s) must be shown on line M. (Cost Sharing) of the proposal budget, NSF Form 1030. Industry-Based Graduate Assistantship Awards are limited to $20,000 per year for one year (new awards) including indirect cost. Requests may be made as a regular proposal submission to the Directorate for Engineering or as a supplement to an existing Directorate for Engineering grant. A statement detailing the cost-sharing from industry and university is required.
C. INDUSTRY – UNIVERSITY COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS Opportunities are made available for long-term collaborative industry-university projects for individuals or small groups. These research and education projects are jointly designed and implemented by university and industry engineers and scientists. The principal investigators and their students are encouraged to perform their research partially at the industrial sites. These awards are also available to universities currently receiving support via industry from the Advanced Technology Program (ATP) of NIST or Technology Reinvestment Project (TRP) support. The ATP and TRP projects are focused on applications in strategic areas of importance to national competitiveness. NSF may provide, on a competitive basis, funds for complementary projects dedicated to basic understanding, conceptual, high-risk/high- return research. Proposal description: The proposal must describe the research approach and a detailed plan of the industry-university collaboration including the tasks for both partners. The purpose of the eventual visit(s) in industry or in academe must be explained. In the last year of the project, the principal investigator must plan at least two industrial seminars, one of which should be within the collaborating industrial unit. If the support is concurrent to an ATP or TRP project, the synergy arising from the NSF-supported research and other research should be described. Budget: NSF funds are for university research/educational activities. The university grant may support activities of faculty and his/her students and research associates in the industrial setting. When a faculty visit to industry is planned, NSF will support 50% of the faculty salary including fringe benefits and indirect cost for the time spent in industry. The other 50% of the faculty salary during the visit will be covered by matching funds from industry or the university. For those institutions currently receiving ATP or TRP federal funds, those funds may not be used to support faculty visits. NSF may also support travel expenses for students or other research associates who are working on the project. Industry cost sharing and technological relevance of the research are essential evaluation criteria for these projects. During the project, the principal investigator may apply for supplementary funding to experiment with the basic research results in industry, if such an opportunity develops.
III. TARGET DATES
The target date for the submission of proposals for “Faculty and Students in Industry” is January 16, 1995 for receipt at NSF. Award decisions are expected to be made around May 15, 1995. Awards will start no later than September 30, 1995. All other proposals are accepted throughout the year according to the review process established in each disciplinary program. Note that several divisions have target dates for unsolicited proposals. For a list of target dates, refer to the NSF Bulletin or contact the appropriate disciplinary program.
IV. WHO MAY SUBMIT USA
Institutions of higher education that confer degrees in research areas normally supported by the ENG Directorate may submit proposals on behalf of faculty members with full-time appointments. Only USA Citizens, Nationals, or Permanent Residents are eligible to apply for fellowships and assistantships. Grants provided for “Faculty and Students in Industry” are non-renewable and the respective visiting professor, postdoctoral fellow or graduate student may not reapply; faculty holding adjunct appointments are not eligible for award. Participation by women and under-represented minority engineers and scientists and those with disabilities is encouraged.
V. INQUIRIES
As noted in the GOALI Announcement, telephone and mail inquiries should be addressed directly to the disciplinary program director in the corresponding research/education area in the Directorate for Engineering. Refer to the GPG, Appendix A, for a list of programs and phone numbers. For generic comments on new mechanisms for GOALI in Engineering write to Dr. M.C. Roco (NSF, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230, Suite 525).
VI. PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS AND REQUESTS FOR SUPPLEMENTS
Proposals and requests for supplements must be prepared and submitted in accordance with the “NSF Grant Proposal Guide” (GPG), (NSF 94-2), the GOALI Announcement, (NSF 94-138), and this ENG Directorate brochure. All forms for proposal submission are available in the GPG and must be used where required in the GPG. The format should follow the sequence as shown in section II.C. of the GPG. All commitment letters, industry-university agreement letters on intellectual property, and documentation of collaborative arrangements of significance to the proposal should be provided as supplementary documentation and included in Section I of the proposal.
This supplementary documentation will not be counted towards the 15-page Project Description limitation. All requests for supplemental funding (2 copies) should be sent directly to the disciplinary Program Director. Proposals should refer to this Announcement by number, NSF 94-139. The proposal Cover Sheet (NSF Form 1207 in GPG) should identify the disciplinary program area in the top left box of the “NSF Organizational Unit,” and the initiative GOALI (NSF 94-138; NSF 94-139) in the lower box assigned for the “Program Announcement/Solicitation no./Closing date.” Ten (10) copies of the formal proposal should be sent to: NSF 94-139/(NSF Program/Division,) Proposal Processing Unit, P60 National Science Foundation 4201 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA 22230
VII. AWARD ADMINISTRATION
Awards will be made to the academic institutions for the collaborative projects between academe and industry. Grants are administered in accordance with the terms and conditions of NSF GC-1 (5/94), Grant General Conditions, or FDP-II, Federal Demonstration Project General Terms and Conditions, copies of which may be requested from the NSF Forms and Publications Unit, telephone 703-306-1130. More comprehensive information is contained in the NSF Grant Policy Manual (NSF 88-47) available through a subscription offered by the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20420. Copies of most program announcements are available electronically using the Science and Technology Information System (STIS).
The full text can be searched on-line, and copied from the system. Instructions for use of the system are in NSF 94-4 “STIS Flyer.” A printed copy is available from the Forms and Publications Unit. An electronic copy may be requested by sending a message to “stis@nsf.gov” (Internet). The Foundation provides awards for research in the sciences and engineering. The awardee is wholly responsible for the conduct of such research and preparation of the results for publication. The Foundation, therefore, does not assume responsibility for such findings or their interpretation. The Foundation welcomes proposals on behalf of all qualified scientists and engineers, and strongly encourages women, minorities, and persons with disabilities to compete fully in any of the research and research-related programs described in this document. In accordance with Federal statutes and regulations and NSF policies, no person, on grounds of race, color, age, sex, national origin, or disability shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or be subject to discrimination under any program or activity receiving financial assistance from the National Science Foundation. The National Science Foundation has TDD (Telephone Device for the Deaf; 703-306-0090) capability, which enables individuals with hearing impairment to communicate with the Division of Personnel Management for general information about NSF programs and employment. Facilitation Awards for Scientists and Engineers with Disabilities (FASED) FASED provides funding for special assistance or equipment to enable persons with disabilities (investigators and other staff, including student research assistants) to work on an NSF project.
See the FASED program announcement (NSF 91-54), or contact the FASED Coordinator in the Directorate for Education and Human Resources, 703-306-1636. Patent Policy Unless otherwise provided in the grant letter, the NSF Grant Policy Manual (Section 751.3 implementing the Bayh-Dole Act, 35 USAC. 200 et seq.) applies. For more information see GC-1 and FDP-II. Privacy Act and Public Burden Statements The information requested on the application materials is solicited under the authority of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended. It will be used and disclosed in connection with the selection of qualified proposals. See NSF-50 System of Records, “Principal Investigator/Proposal File and Associated records,” 53 Fed. Reg. 26691 (July 14, 1988). Submission of the requested information is voluntary.
Failure to provide full and complete information, however, may reduce the possibility of your receiving an award. Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 20 hours per response, including the time for reviewing instructions. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to: Herman G. Fleming Reports Clearance Officer Division of Contracts, Policy, and Oversight National Science Foundation, Arlington, VA 22230 and to: Office of Management and Budget Paperwork Reduction Project (3145-0023 and 3145-0058) Washington, D.C. 20503 Catalog of Federal Assistance Number 47.041-Engineering OMB 3145-0023 and OMB 3145-0058;PT:34;KW:0600000; NSF 94-139 (Replaces NSF 93-149) For suggestions on new mechanisms for GOALI in ENG write to Dr. M.C. Roco (NSF, 4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230, Suite 525).
NSF 93-147 — A Selected List of Fellowship and Other Support Opportunities for Advanced Education
Title : NSF 93-147 -- A Selected List of Fellowship and Other Support
Opportunities for Advanced Education
Type : Report
NSF Org: EHR
Date : March 7, 1995
File : ns93147a
A SELECTED LIST OF FELLOWSHIP AND OTHER
SUPPORT OPPORTUNITIES FOR
ADVANCED EDUCATION
for USA Citizens and Foreign Nationals
Prepared Under Contract with the
the National Science Foundation
by the Fellowship Office
Office of Scientific & Engineering Personnel
National Research Council
National Academy of Sciences
Washington, D.C.
Copies of this booklet are available from
The Publications Office
National Science Foundation
1800 G Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20550
1993
ALCOHOL, DRUG ABUSE, AND MENTAL HEALTH
ADMINISTRATION
1. Individual Predoctoral National Research Service
Awards for MD/PhD Fellows
2. National Research Service Awards for Individual
Fellows
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN
EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
1. American Fellowships
a. Postdoctoral Fellowships
b. Dissertation Fellowships
2. Selected Professional Fellowships
3. International Fellowships
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
1. Postdoctoral Fellowships
2. Physicians Research Training Award
AMERICAN COUNCIL OF LEARNED SOCIETIES
1. Grants for East European Studies
2. Fellowships
3. Grants for Chinese Studies
AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR PHARMACEUTICAL
EDUCATION (AFPE)
1. AFPE Graduate Fellowships
2. "Springboard to Teaching" Fellowship
AMERICAN GEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE
Minority Participation Scholarship Program
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
1. Established Investigator
2. Clinician Scientist Award
3. Medical Student Research Fellowship
4. Minority Scientist Development Award
5. International Research Fellowship
AMERICAN INDIAN GRADUATE CENTER
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS
1. AIA/AAF Scholarship Program for Professional
Degree Candidates
2. AIA/AAF Scholarship for Advanced Study and
Research
3. Minority/Disadvantaged Scholarships Program
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF INDIAN STUDIES
AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION
1. Research Training Fellowships
2. Pediatric Pulmonary Research Fellowships
3. Nursing Research Training Awards
4. Behavioral Science Dissertation Grants
THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL
HISTORY
1. Fellowship Program
2. Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Fund
3. Lerner-Gray Fund for Marine Research
4. Frank Chapman Memorial Fund
THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY
Corporate Sponsored Scholarships for Minority
Undergraduate Students in Physics
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
1. Minority Fellowship Program
2. Doctoral Traineeships in Neuroscience
THE AMERICAN-SCANDINAVIAN FOUNDATION
1. ASF Awards for Scandinavians
2. Fellowships and Grants for Study in Scandinavia
AMERICAN SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
Research Doctoral Fellowships in Sociology
ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION
1. Postdoctoral Fellowship
2. Arthritis Investigator Award
3. Doctoral Dissertation Awards for Arthritis Health
Professionals
4. New Investigator Grant for Arthritis Health
Professions
5. Arthritis Biomedical Science Grant
6. Arthritis Clinical Science Grant
7. Physician Scientist Development Award
ASSOCIATION ON AMERICAN INDIAN AFFAIRS
1. AAIA/Adolph Van Pelt Special Fund for
Indian Scholarships
2. Emergency Aid and Health Professions Scholarships
3. Sequoyah Graduate Fellowships
4. Displaced Homemakers Scholarship
AT&T BELL LABORATORIES
1. Engineering Scholarship Program (ESP)
2. Dual Degree Scholarship Program (DDSP)
3. Cooperative Research Fellowship Program for
Minorities (CRFP)
4. Graduate Research Program for Women
(GRPW)
AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH COUNCIL
1. Queen Elizabeth II Fellowships
2. Australian Research Fellowships
3. Australian Senior Research Fellowships
4. Australian Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
BUNTING INSTITUTE OF RADCLIFFE COLLEGE
1. Science Scholars Fellowship Program
2. Bunting Fellowship Program
3. Peace Fellowship
4. Berkshire Summer Fellowship
CALIFORNIA STUDENT AID COMMISSION
Graduate Fellowship Program
THE CANADA COUNCIL
Canada Council Killam Research Fellowships
CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON
CENTER FOR ADVANCED STUDY IN THE
BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
Postdoctoral Fellowships
COCA-COLA SCHOLARS FOUNDATION
THE JANE COFFIN CHILDS MEMORIAL
FUND FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH
Postdoctoral Fellowships
COMMITTEE ON INSTITUTIONAL COOPERATION (CIC)
1. CIC Predoctoral Fellowships Program in the
Sciences, Mathematics and Engineering
2. CIC Predoctoral Fellowships Program in the
Social Sciences
3. CIC Predoctoral Fellowships Program in the
Humanities
COMMITTEE ON SCHOLARLY COMMUNICATION
WITH THE PEOPLE'S
REPUBLIC OF CHINA (CSCPRC)
1. Graduate Program
2. Research Program
THE COMMONWEALTH FUND OF NEW YORK
The Harkness Fellowships
COUNCIL FOR INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE OF
SCHOLARS
1. Fulbright Scholar Program Grants for Faculty and
Professionals: Research and Lecturing--American
Scholars
2. Fulbright Awards for University Teaching and
Advanced Research-Non-USA Scholars
3. Fulbright Awards for University Teaching
Scholars-in-Residence
4. Indo-American Fellowship Program
5. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Advanced
Research Fellowships
6. Japan Today
AARON DIAMOND FOUNDATION
Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in the Biomedical
and Social Sciences
DUMBARTON OAKS
Dumbarton Oaks Fellowships and Junior
Fellowships,
Summer Fellowships in Byzantine Studies,
Pre-Columbian Studies, and Studies in
Landscape Architecture
2. Bliss Prize Fellowship in Byzantine Studies
EAST-WEST CENTER
1. Fellow
2. Predoctoral Fellowship
3. Graduate Degree Student
4. Post-Doctoral Fellowships in Asia Pacific Area
Studies
EUROPEAN LABORATORY FOR PARTICLE
PHYSICS
1. Fellowships
2. Scientific Associates Programme
3. Corresponding Fellowships
FLORIDA ENDOWMENT FUND FOR HIGHER
EDUCATION
McKnight Doctoral Fellowship Program
JOHN E. FOGARTY INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR
ADVANCED STUDY IN THE HEALTH
SCIENCES
1. Senior International Fellowship Program
2. Foreign Supported Fellowships for U. S.
Scientists
3. International Research Fellowship Program
4. Health and Biomedical Scientist Exchanges
a. Health Scientist Exchange Program
b. Biomedical Research Exchanges
5. Fogarty International Research Collaboration
Award (FIRCA)
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO)
OF THE UNITED NATIONS
1. Technical Assistance Fellowships
2. Andre Mayer Research Fellowships
THE FORD FOUNDATION
1. Ford Foundation Predoctoral and Dissertation
Fellowships for Minorities
2. Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships
for Minorities
GERMAN ACADEMIC EXCHANGE SERVICE
(DAAD)
1. Study Visit Research Grants for Faculty
2. Research Grants for Recent PhDs and PhD
Candidates
3. DAAD-Fulbright Grants
GERMAN MARSHALL FUND OF THE UNITED
STATES
Research Fellowship
JOHN SIMON GUGGENHEIM MEMORIAL
FOUNDATION
HEART AND STROKE FOUNDATION OF CANADA
1. Research Scholarships
2. Research Fellowships
FANNIE AND JOHN HERTZ FOUNDATION
HOWARD HUGHES MEDICAL INSTITUTE
1. Howard Hughes Medical Institute Predoctoral
Fellowships in Biological Sciences
2. Research Training
Fellowships for
Medical Students
3. Postdoctoral Research Fellowships for
Physicians
HUGHES AIRCRAFT COMPANY
1. Bachelor's Scholarship Program (Most awards
are Work-Study)
2. Masters Fellowship Program (Work-Study or
Full-Study)
3. Doctoral Fellowship Program (Work-Study or Full-
Study)
HUMAN FRONTIER SCIENCE PROGRAM
ORGANIZATION (HFSPO)
1. Human Frontier Science Program--Long-Term
Fellowships
2. Human Frontier Science Program Short-Term
Fellowships
INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE
1. Health Professions Preparatory Scholarship Program
for Indians
2. Health Professions Scholarship Program
INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED STUDY
Postdoctoral Study
INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
1. Fulbright Grants
2. Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program
INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY
(IAEA)
IAEA Fellowship Program
INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH & EXCHANGES
BOARD (IREX)
1. Edmund S. Muskie Fellowship Program
2. Developmental Fellowships
3. Individual Advanced Research Opportunities for US
scholars in Azarbaijan, the Baltics, the
Commonwealth of Independent States, and Georgia
4. Individual Advanced Research Opportunities for
USA Scholars in Eastern Europe
5. Individual Advanced Research Opportunities in the
USA for Scholar from Azarbaijan,
the Baltics, Commonwealth of Independent States,
and Georgia
6. Individual Advanced Research Opportunities in the
USA for Scholars from Eastern Europe
INTERNATIONAL UNION AGAINST CANCER
1. American Cancer Society International Cancer
Research Fellowships
2. Yamagiwa-Yoshida Memorial International Cancer
Study Grants
3. International Cancer Technology Transfer
Fellowships (ICRETT)
W.K. KELLOGG FOUNDATION
National Fellowship Program
KENNEDY MEMORIAL TRUST
Kennedy Scholarships
LALOR FOUNDATION
Research Awards
LATIN AMERICAN SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM OF
AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES (LASPAU)
MARSHALL AID COMMEMORATION
COMMISSION
British Marshall Scholarships
MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH
INSTITUTE
MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA
1. Fellowships
2. Dental Fellowships
3. Centennial Fellowships
4. Studentships
MINORITY ACCESS TO RESEARCH CAREERS
(MARC) PROGRAM
1. Honors Undergraduate Research Training
Grants
2. Predoctoral Fellowships
3. Faculty Fellowships
4. Visiting Scientist Fellowships
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF EDUCATION
Spencer Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES/NATIONAL
RESEARCH COUNCIL
1. Cooperation in Applied Science and Technology
(CAST)
2. Collaboration in Basic Science and Engineering
(COBASE)
3. Radioactive Waste Management Program
NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT SCHOLARSHIP
PROGRAM FOR OUTSTANDING NEGRO
STUDENTS
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE
ADMINISTRATION (NASA)
1. NASA Graduate Student Fellowships in
Global Change Research
2. Graduate Student Researchers Program
a. Graduate Student Researchers Program
(GSRP)
b. Graduate Student Researchers Program
Underrepresented Minority Focus
3. National Space Grant College and Fellowship
Program
4. Cooperative Education Program
NATIONAL CONSORTIUM FOR GRADUATE
DEGREES FOR MINORITIES IN ENGINEERING
AND SCIENCE (GEM)
1. Master's Degree in Engineering
2. PhD Degree in Engineering
3. PhD Degree in Natural Science
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES
1. Fellowships for University Teachers
2. Fellowships for College Teachers and
Independent Scholars
3. Program for Historically Black Colleges and
Universities - Faculty Graduate Study Program
4. Summer Stipends
5. Younger Scholars
6. Summer Seminars
a. Summer Seminars for College Teachers
b. Summer Seminars for School Teachers
7. Study Grants
8. Dissertation Grants
NATIONAL HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND
NATIONAL HUMANITIES CENTER
Fellowships
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH)
1. Career Development Awards
2. National Research Service Awards
a. Individual Postdoctoral Fellowships
b. Institutional Grants
NATIONAL MEDICAL FELLOWSHIPS, INC
1. National Medical Fellowships
2. National Medical Fellowships/Fellowship Program
in Academic Medicine
NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP CORPORATION
NATIONAL PHYSICAL SCIENCE CONSORTIUM
Graduate Fellowships for Minorities and Women
in the Physical Sciences
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
Resident, Cooperative, and Postdoctoral Research
Associateship Programs
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
1. NSF Graduate Research Fellowships
a. NSF Graduate Fellowships
b. NSF Minority Graduate Fellowships
2. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Postdoctoral Fellowships In Science
3. NSF Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral
Research Fellowships
4. NSF Chemical Sciences Postdoctoral Research
Fellowships
5. NSF Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
(JSPS) Postdoctoral Awards for USA
Researchers
6. NSF Science and Technology Agency of Japan
Postdoctoral Awards for USA Researchers
7. NSF Awards for Japanese-Language Study by
Researchers
in Science and Engineering
8. Summer Institute in Japan for USA Graduate Students
in Science and Engineering
9. Program for Long and Medium-Term Research at
Foreign
Centers of Excellence
10. Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in
Environmental Biology
11. Mid-Career Fellowship Opportunities in
Environmental Biology
12. NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Plant
Biology
13. NSF Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowship
Program in Biological/Social, Behavioral and
Economic Sciences
14. NSF Minority Graduate Travel Awards in Biological/
Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences
15. NSF Earth Sciences Postdoctoral Research
Fellowships
16. NSF Research Fellowships in Marine Biotechnology
and the Ocean Sciences
17. Postdoctoral Program in Ocean Modeling
NATIVE AMERICAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND, INC.
MESBEC Program and NALE Program
NATURAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING
RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA
Visiting Fellowships in Canadian Government
Laboratories
NEW YORK STATE SCHOLARSHIPS AND
FELLOWSHIPS
1. Regents Scholarships
a. Regents Health Care Scholarships for Medicine
or Dentistry
b. Regents Professional Opportunity
Scholarships
2. Regents Physician Loan Forgiveness Program
3. Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarships
NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION
(NATO)
1. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Science Fellowships
2. Fellowships Programme of the Committee on the
Challenges of Modern Society of NATO
ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES (OAS)
PRA Fellowships (Regular Training Program)
PAN AMERICAN HEALTH ORGANIZATION (PAN
AMERICAN SANITARY BUREAU)
Fellowships
P.E.O.
International Peace Scholarships
THE POPULATION COUNCIL
1. Population Fellowships in the Social Sciences
2. Population Council Biomedical Fellowships
THE RHODES SCHOLARSHIP
ROCHE INSTITUTE OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
Postdoctoral Fellowships
THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION
1. Rockefeller Foundation Biotechnology Career
Fellowships
2. Rockefeller Foundation Fellowships in the
Humanities
ROTARY FOUNDATION OF ROTARY
INTERNATIONAL
1. Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarship
2. Multi-Year Ambassadorial Scholarship
3. Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarship
4. Freedom from Hunger Scholarships
5. Japan Program Scholarships
ROYAL NORWEGIAN COUNCIL FOR SCIENTIFIC
AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH
Research Fellowships
ALFRED P. SLOAN FOUNDATION
Sloan Research Fellowships
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
1. Senior Postdoctoral Fellowships, Postdoctoral
Fellowships, Predoctoral Fellowship,
Graduate Student Fellowships
2. Faculty Research Fellowships
3. Smithsonian Minority Internship Program
SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL
1. SSRC-MacArthur Foundation Fellowships on Peace
and Security in a Changing World
2. International Predissertation Fellowship
Program
3. Abe Fellowship Program
SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES RESEARCH
COUNCIL OF CANADA
1. Postdoctoral Fellowships
2. Doctoral Fellowships
3. NSERC/SSHRC Master's Scholarships in
Science Policy
SOCIETY OF EXPLORATION GEOPHYSICISTS (SEG)
FOUNDATION
Scholarships and Grants-in-Aid
HATTIE M. STRONG FOUNDATION
Student Loan Fund
TAU BETA PI
Graduate Fellowships
HARRY S. TRUMAN SCHOLARSHIP
FOUNDATION
Undergraduate and Graduate Scholarships
USA AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT (A.I.D.), OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL
TRAINING
Thomas Jefferson Fellowship Program
USA AIR FORCE, OFFICE OF SCIENTIFIC
RESEARCH
USAF Laboratory Graduate Fellowship Program
USA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
USDA/1890 National Scholars Program
USA DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate
Fellowship Program
USA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
1. Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program
2. Need-Based Awards
3. Indian Fellowship Program
4. Patricia Roberts Harris Fellowships Program
USA DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE)
1. Integrated Manufacturing Predoctoral
Fellowships
2. University/DOE Laboratory Cooperative Program:
Student Research Participation, Laboratory
Graduate Research Participation, Thesis Parts
Research Participation, Faculty Research
Participation, Supplemental Education and Training
Activities
3. Applied Health Physics Fellowship Program
4. Graduate Fellowships for Global Change
5. Environmental Restoration and Waste
Management Fellowship
6. Industrial Hygiene Fellowship Program
7. Magnetic Fusion Energy Technology Fellowship
Program
8. Magnetic Fusion Science Fellowship Program
9. Nuclear Engineering & Health Physics
Fellowships
10. Alexander Hollaender Distinguished Postdoctoral
Fellowship Program
11. Education for Global Change Distinguished
Postdoctoral Fellowships
12. Fusion Energy Postdoctoral Research Program
13. Postgraduate Research Programs
14. Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE)
Faculty Research Program at the National Center
for Toxicology Research and ORISE Postgraduate
Research Program at the National Center for
Toxicological Research
USA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES
National Health Services Corps (NHSC) Scholarship
Program
USA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, NATIONAL
INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE
Graduate Research Fellowship Program
USA FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
USA DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
USA INFORMATION AGENCY (USAI.A.)
1. Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program
2. Fulbright Awards for University Teaching and
Advanced Research -USA and Foreign Scholars
(Administered on behalf of USAI.A. by the
Council for International Exchange of Scholars -
see page 12)
3. Fulbright Grants for Graduate Study and Research
(Administered on behalf of USAI.A. by the
Institute of International Education -see page 27.)
4. Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program
(Administered
on behalf of USAI.A. by the Institute of
International Education - see page 46.)
UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE
1. Distinguished Fellow and Peace Fellow
Awards
2. Peace Scholars
U. S. NAVY, OFFICE OF NAVAL RESEARCH
Office of Naval Research Graduate Fellowships
USA NAVY, OFFICE OF NAVAL TECHNOLOGY
Postdoctoral Fellowships .
USA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Graduate Fellowship Program
ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT FOUNDATION
Humboldt Research Fellowships for Foreign
Scholars
WESTINGHOUSE SCIENCE TALENT SEARCH
THE WHITAKER FOUNDATION
Graduate Fellowships in Biomedical Engineering
WHITE HOUSE FELLOWSHIPS
WOODROW WILSON INTERNATIONAL CENTER
FOR SCHOLARS
Fellowships in the Humanities and Social Sciences
WOODROW WILSON NATIONAL FELLOWSHIP
FOUNDATION
1. Andrew W. Mellon Fellowships in Humanistic
Studies
2. Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation
Fellowships
3. Doctoral Dissertation Research Grants in
Women's Studies
WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION
1. Summer Student Fellowship
2. Postdoctoral Awards in Ocean Science and
Engineering
3. Research Fellows in Marine Policy and
Ocean Management
4. Traineeships in Oceanography for
Minority Undergraduates
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
WHO Fellowships
ZONTA INTERNATIONAL
Amelia Earhart Fellowship Awards
SOME PUBLICATIONS LISTING
FELLOWSHIPS SCHOLARSHIPS,
AND STUDENT LOANS
Following is a partial list of publications containing
information on student financial aid opportunities.
Many of these publications are large-volume source
books, and should be available at public libraries
and college and university libraries. Prices of
publications are not listed because they are subject
to change without notice. Additional information
about student financial aid opportunities is available
in college catalogues.
1. Annual Register of Grant Support: A
Directory of Funding Sources, 26th edition,
R. R. Bowker, 121 Chanton Road, New
Providence, New Jersey 07974.
2. Barron's Educational Series, P. O. Box
8040, 250 Wireless Boulevard, Hauppage,
New York 11788.
3. Catalogue of Federal Domestic Assistance,
complied by the USA Office of Management
and Budget. For sale by the Superintendent
of Documents, USA Government Printing
Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.
4. College Financial Aid Annual, College
Research Group, Simon and Schuster, 200
Old Tappan Road, Old Tappan, New Jersey
07675.
5. College Handbook Foreign Students
Supplement, College Board Publications,
Dept. S81, Box 886, New York, New York
10101-0886.
6. The Complete Grants Sourcebook for Higher
Education, American Council on Education,
One Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C.
20036.
7. Conservation Directory, National Wildlife
Federation, 1400 16th St. N.W.,
Washington D.C. 20036-2266.
8. Directory of Financial Aids for Minorities
and Directory of Financial Aids for Women,
by Gail Ann Schlachter, 1993-95 edition,
Reference Service Press, 1100 Industrial
Road, San Carlos, California 94070.
9. Directory of Grant Support and Technical
Assistance for Native Americans, Center for
Economic Development Research & Assist-
ance, New Mexico State University, Las
Cruces, New Mexico 88003-0001.
10. Directory of International Grants and
Fellowships in the Health Sciences, John E.
Fogarty International Center, National
Institutes of Health, Building 31, Room
B2C39, 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda,
Maryland 20892.
11. Directory of Research Grants, Oryx Press,
4041 North Central Avenue, Suite 700,
Phoenix, Arizona 85012-3397.
12. Entering Higher Education in the USA: A
Guide on Admission and Financial Planning
for Students from Other Countries, College
Board Publications, Box 886, New York,
New York 10101.
13. Financial Aid for Minorities: Awards Open
to Students with any Major, Financial Aid
for Minorities in Business and Law,
Financial Aid for Minorities in Education,
Financial Aid for Minorities in Engineering
and Sci-ence, Financial Aid for Minorities in
Health Fields, and Financial Aid for
Minorities in Journalism/Mass
Communications, Garrett Park Press, P. O.
Box 190F, Garrett Park, Maryland 20896.
14. Financial Aids for Higher Education
Catalogue, by Oreon Keeslar and Judy
Keesler Santamaria, 15th edition, William
C. Brown Co., 2460 Kerper Boulevard,
Dubuque, Iowa 52001.
15. The Foundation Directory and Foundation
Grants to Individuals, The Foundation
Center, 888 Seventh Avenue, New York,
New York 10106.
16. Graduate Guide to Grants, Harvard
University, Graduate School of Arts and
Sciences, Office of Student Financial Aid,
Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02138.
17. The Graduate Scholarship Book, by Daniel
J. Cassidy, second edition, Prentice Hall,
Engle-wood Cliffs, New Jersey 07632.
18. Graduate Student Financial Support,
Council of Graduate Schools, One Dupont
Circle, N.W., Suite 430, Washington, D.C.
20036-1173.
19. Grants at a Glance, published by the
Association for Women in Science, 1522 K
St., N.W., Suite 820, Washington, D.C.
20005.
20. Grants and Fellowships of Interest to
Historians, American Historical Association,
400 A Street, S.E., Washington, D.C.
20003.
21. The Grants Register, St. Martin's Press, 175
5th Avenue, New York, New York 10010.
22. Guide to Programs, National Science
Foundation. Available free of charge from
the Publications Office, National Science
Foundation, Washington, D.C. 20550.
23. Higher Education Opportunities for
Minorities and Women - Annotated
Selections, USA De-partment of Education.
For sale by the Superintendent of
Documents, USA Government Printing
Office, Washington, D.C. 20402.
24. Institute of International Education. The
following titles are available from the
Communications Division, 11E, 809 United
Nations Plaza, New York, New York,
10017: Teaching Abroad, Fulbright Grants
for Study Abroad, USA Academic Year
Abroad, Vacation Study Abroad.
25. International Visitors Guide to USA Higher
Education, four booklets, one of which is
Financing Higher Education for Non-
Traditional Students, Division of
International Education, American Council
on Education, Suite 800, One Dupont
Circle, Washington, D.C. 20036.
26. Lovejoy's Guide to Financial Aid, Simon
and Schuster, 200 Old Tappan Road, Old
Tappan, New Jersey 07675.
27. Need a Lift?, American Legion National
Emblem Sales, P. O. Box 1050,
Indianapolis, Indiana 46206.
28. Opportunities in Africa, The African-
American Institute, available through
Interbook Inc., 131 Varick Street, 2nd
Floor, New York, New York 10013.
29. Scholarships, Fellowships, Grants, and
Loans, The College Blue Book, 24th
edition, Mac-Millan Publishing Company,
866 Third Avenue, New York, New York
10022.
30. A Selected Bibliography of Financial Aid for
Health Careers, Undergraduate Medical
Education, American Medical Association,
515 North State Street, Chicago, Illinois
60610.
30. Scholarships, Fellowships, and Loans, 9th
edition, Gale Research, 835 Penobscot
Building, Detroit Michigan 48226.
31. Sources of Financial Aid Available to
American Indian Students, Indian Resource
Development, Box 30003, Dept. 3IRD, Las
Cruces, New Mexico 88003-0003.
32. Student Financial Aid - Speech Pathology
and Audiology, American Speech, Language
and Hearing Association, 10801 Rockville
Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852. Free
pamphlet.
Title : NSF 93-147 -- A Selected List of Fellowship and Other Support
Opportunities for Advanced Education
Type : Report
NSF Org: EHR
Date : March 7, 1995
File : ns93147b
ALCOHOL, DRUG ABUSE, AND MENTAL HEALTH ADMINISTRATION
Address for application information:
Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration
Grants Management Branch
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, Maryland 20857
1. Individual Predoctoral National Research Service Awards for
MD/PhD Fellows
Purpose of Program: Intended for students who are enrolled in an
academic program which leads to a combined MD/PhD degree.
Citizenship: USA or permanent resident
Level: Graduate
Field(s) Supported: The following areas as they relate to
alcohol-derived, drug abuse, or mental health/mental illness: 1)
basic processes; 2) incidence and prevalence; 3) etiology,
description, diagnosis, and pathogenesis; 4) treatment development,
assessment, and evaluation; 5) public health/prevention.
Duration of awards: up to 6 years
Number of Awards: 13 new awards in 1991
Deadline: September 10
Stipend for 1993-94: $12,000
Allowances and amounts: Tuition for both medical and graduate
training in addition to a $2,000 institutional allowance.
2. National Research Service Awards for Individual Fellows [Awards
funded by National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
(NIAAA), National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), and National
Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)]
Purpose of program: To provide support to individuals for research
training in specified areas of biomedical and behavioral research
to help ensure that highly trained scientists will be available in
adequate numbers and in the appropriate research areas and fields
to meet the nation's alcohol, drug abuse, and mental health
research needs.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Predoctoral, postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: The following areas as they relate to
alcohol-derived, drug abuse, or mental health/mental illness: 1)
basic processes; 2) incidence and prevalence; 3) etiology,
description, diagnosis, and pathogenesis; 4) treatment development,
assessment, and evaluation; 5) public health/prevention.
Other requirements: Predoctoral: Completion of two or more years of
graduate work and enrollment in a doctoral degree program by the
beginning date of the fellowship; Postdoctoral: Receipt of a PhD,
MD, ScD, PsyD, or equivalent degree as of the beginning date of the
fellowship. Certification by an authorization official of the
degree-granting institution that all requirements have been met is
also acceptable.
Duration of awards: 2 to 3 years
Number of Awards: 97 new Predoctoral awards in 1991; 54 new
Postdoctoral awards in 1991.
Application deadline: January 10, May 10, September 10
Stipend for 1993-94: Predoctoral--$12,000; Postdoctoral--$19,214 to
$33,366
Allowances and amounts: Institutional allowance: $3,000 Predoctoral
sponsored by non-Federal institution; $3,000 Postdoctoral sponsored
by non-Federal institution; $2,000 for Postdoctoral sponsored by a
Federal laboratory.
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF UNIVERSITY WOMEN EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
Address for application information:
American Association of University Women Educational Foundation
1111 16th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
1. American Fellowships
Purpose of program: To award fellowships to women who have achieved
distinction or show promise of distinction in their fields.
Citizenship: USA citizens or permanent residents
a. Postdoctoral Fellowships
Level: For women who hold the doctorate at the time of application.
Field(s) supported: Unrestricted
Other requirements: Preference is given to women who have held the
doctorate at least three years.
Number of awards: 9 (1 designated for an underrepresented minority)
Duration of awards: 12 months: July 1-June 30
Application deadline: November 15
Stipend for 1993-94: $20,000-$25,000
Allowances and amounts: None
b. Dissertation Fellowships
Level: Applicants must have completed all course work, passed all
preliminary exams, and have their dissertation research proposal
(or plan) approved by November 15. Applicants are expected to
receive a doctoral degree at the end of the fellowship year.
Field(s) supported: All fields of study except engineering.
(Engineering applicants see Selected Professional Fellowship.)
Other requirements: Students holding a fellowship for the purpose
of writing a dissertation the year before the AAUW Fellowship year
are not eligible.
Number of awards: 50
Duration of awards: 12 months: July 1-June 30
Application deadline: November 15
Stipend for 1993-94: $13,500
Allowances and amounts: None
2. Selected Professional Fellowships
Purpose: To provide awards to women for the final year of graduate
study in fields where women's participation has traditionally been
low.
Citizenship: USA citizens or permanent residents
Level: Final year of graduate study
Field(s) and other requirements: Focus professions fellowships are
limited to women from minorities historically underrepresented in
business administration (MBA, two-year programs only), law (JD),
and medicine (MD) (DO). Science/technology fellowships are
available for the final year of a master's degree in architecture,
computer/information science, engineering, and
mathematics/statistics. Also available are dissertation fellowships
for doctoral candidates in engineering who will complete all
required course work and have passed all preliminary exams by
November 15. It is expected that fellows will receive their
doctoral degrees at the end of the fellowship year.
Number of awards: 40
Duration of awards: September 1-June 30 for focus professions and
science/technology groups; July 1-June 30 for engineering
dissertation fellowships.
Application deadline: December 15 for all applicants except MBA
category, which is February 1, and engineering dissertation
category, which is November 15.
Stipend for 1993-94: $5,000-$9,500; $13,500 for engineering.
Allowances and amounts: None
3. International Fellowships
Purpose of program: To award International Fellowships for full-
time graduate or postgraduate study or research in the United
States to women of outstanding ability who are not citizens or
permanent residents of the USA.
Citizenship: Citizens of countries other than the USA.
Level: Graduate: applicant must have earned an academic degree
equivalent to the USA bachelor's degree at the time of
application.
Field(s) supported: Unrestricted
Other requirements: 1) a specific plan of study or research that
will advance the applicant's professional competence; 2) upon
completion of studies, fellows must return to their home countries
to pursue a professional career; preference will be given to
applicants who can verify that a definite position awaits them; 3)
intention of applicant to devote full time to her graduate work
during the fellowship year; 4) satisfactory English proficiency
(for study in the USA) unless applicant's native language is
English or she is presently enrolled in a university in the United
States, she must submit a recent score on one of the following
tests of English: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL),
University of Michigan Examination for Proficiency in English, or
American Language Institute, Georgetown University (ALIGU)
Examination. Preference is given to women residing in their home
countries at the time of application and women whose credentials
prove prior commitment to the advancement of women and girls
through civic, community, or professional work.
Number of awards: Approximately 40 International Fellowships are
awarded for graduate study or advanced research at an approved
institution in the USA Women who are members in their own
countries of national associations or federations affiliated with
the International Federation of University Women are eligible for
six AAUW-IFUW awards, which are made for advanced research in any
country other than the Fellow's own.
Duration of awards: September 1-May 31
Application deadline: December 1
Stipend for 1993-94: $14,000; no provision for travel.
Allowances and amounts: None
AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY
Address for application information:
American Cancer Society
Research Department
1599 Clifton Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30329
1. Postdoctoral Fellowships
Purpose of program: To allow young investigators to qualify for an
independent career in research.
Citizenship: USA citizens or permanent residents of the
USA who have legally declared intent to become citizens.
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Biomedical fields related to the problems of
neoplasia.
Number of awards: 83 funded for fiscal year 1991.
Duration of awards: 1-3 years
Application deadline: March 1 and October 1
Stipend for 1993-94: $22,000, $24,000 and $26,000 for the first,
second and third years respectively.
Allowances and amounts: When requested in the application, an award
may include: 1) the cost of the Fellow's travel (equal to tourist
air fare or up to a maximum of 20 per mile by privately owned
auto) to the site of training (and return, if overseas); 2) an
institutional allowance in any amount up to $2,000 per year to help
defray costs incurred by the institution in which the Fellow's
training is pursued.
2. Physicians Research Training Award
Purpose of program: To provide research training for physicians to
bring them to the level of competence of a PhD.
Citizenship: Same as for Postdoctoral Fellowships above
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Biomedical fields related to the problem of
neoplasia
Number of awards: 10
Duration of awards: 1-3 years
Application deadline: March 1 and October 1
Stipend for 1993-94: $40,000, $42,000 and $44,000
Allowances and amounts: Same as the Postdoctoral Fellowships above
AMERICAN COUNCIL OF LEARNED SOCIETIES
Address for application information:
Office of Fellowships and Grants/ACLS
228 East 45th Street
New York, New York 10017-3398
1. Grants for East European Studies
Purpose of program: To support advanced training and research on
East Europe
Citizenship: USA citizens or permanent residents
Level: Graduate, postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: East European studies; all disciplines of the
humanities and social sciences
Other requirements: Research must be conducted primarily outside
the countries of East Europe (Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia,
Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Yugoslavia).
Number of awards: 25
Duration of awards: 6-12 months postdoctoral, 1 year graduate
Application deadline: December 1, 1992
Stipend for 1993-94: Postdoctoral up to $30,000; Graduate up to
$15,000, plus expenses
2. Fellowships
Purpose of program: To support postdoctoral research in all
disciplines of the humanities and the humanities-related social
sciences.
Citizenship: USA or permanent residents of the USA
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Philosophy; aesthetics; philology, languages,
literature, and linguistics; archaeology; art history and
musicology; history (including history of science, law, and
religions); cultural anthropology; folklore; and economics,
geography, political science, psychology, sociology and the natural
sciences when the project brings to bear a predominantly humanistic
emphasis.
Number of awards: 45
Duration of awards: 2 months to 1 year
Application deadline: September 30
Stipend for 1993-94: $20,000 maximum
3. Grants for Chinese Studies
Fellowships for Postdoctoral Research and Fellowships for
Dissertation Research Abroad
Purpose of program: To support advanced training and research in
Chinese area studies
Citizenship: No restrictions, but postdoctoral applicants must be
resident in USA at least 2 years; predoctoral applicants must be
enrolled full-time in a USA university.
Level: Graduate, postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Chinese area studies; all disciplines of
humanities and social sciences.
Other requirements: These programs are not intended to support
research within the Peoples Republic of China.
Number of awards: 15 per year
Duration of awards: 6 to 12 months
Application deadline: December 1, 1992
Stipend for 1993-94: Postdoctoral up to $25,000; Dissertation up to
$20,000
AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR PHARMACEUTICAL EDUCATION (AFPE)
Address for application information:
American Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education (AFPE)
618 Somerset Street
P.O. Box 7126
North Plainfield, New Jersey 07060
1. AFPE Graduate Fellowships
Purpose of program: To provide future leaders for the pharmacy
profession.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Graduate, postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Pharmaceutical sciences
Other requirements: Students must be enrolled in pharmacy school
graduate programs.
Number of awards: 88
Duration of awards: 1 year, with possibility of renewal for 2 more
years.
Application deadline: March 1
Stipend for 1993-94: $6,000, $7,500, or $16,000
2. "Springboard to Teaching" Fellowship
Purpose of program: To encourage pharmacy graduate students nearing
the completion of their PhD to consider a teaching career in a
college of pharmacy.
Citizenship: USA citizens or permanent residents
Level: Award provides up to $7,500 to students for their last year
of graduate study toward the PhD, and then $15,000 over a two-year
period for a research project when they accept a teaching
appointment in a pharmacy college.
Field(s) supported: Pharmaceutical sciences
Other requirements: Students should be completing studies for the
PhD during the academic year following the award announcement;
should have a strong desire to teach in a pharmacy college.
Number of awards: 7
Duration of awards: 3 years (last year of graduate study and two-
year period for a research project once a teaching appointment in
a pharmacy college has been accepted).
Application deadline: March 1
Stipend for 1993-94: See above.
AMERICAN GEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE
Address for application information:
Minority Geoscience Scholarships
American Geological Institute
4220 King Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22302-1507
Title of program: Minority Participation Scholarship Program
Purpose of program: To give financial assistance to prospective
geoscience students currently underrepresented in the geoscience
profession.
Citizenship: USA
Eligible ethnic minority groups: Black Americans, Hispanic
Americans, Native Americans (American Indian, Eskimo, Samoan or
Hawaiian)
Level: Undergraduate, graduate
Field(s) supported: Geology, geophysics, geochemistry, hydrology,
physical oceanography, meteorology, planetary geology, and earth-
science education
Other requirements: Applicants are judged on their potential for
professional success. Selections are based on academic excellence
and financial need.
Number of awards: 80
Duration of awards: 1 year (renewable)
Application deadline: February 1
Stipend for 1993-94: $500 - $10,000
AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
Address for application information:
American Heart Association
Division of Research Administration
7272 Greenville Avenue
Dallas, Texas 75231-4596
1. Established Investigator
Purpose of program: To assist promising physicians and scientists
to develop independent research careers in academic medicine and
biology.
Citizenship: USA citizenship or USA permanent visa
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Cardiovascular functions and disease, and
stroke.
Number of awards: Variable
Duration of awards: 5 years
Application deadline: June 1
Stipend for 1993-94: $45,000
Allowances and amounts: Fringe benefits; institutional
supplementation permitted.
2. Clinician Scientist Award
Purpose of program: To encourage promising clinically trained
physicians to undertake careers in investigative science.
Citizenship: USA citizenship or USA permanent visa
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Cardiovascular functions and disease, and
stroke.
Other requirements: 1) MDs, or persons holding equivalent medical
degrees, having a minimum of 3 years post-MD clinical training; 2)
MD/PhD graduates with clinical training but lacking relevant
research training.
Number of awards: Variable
Duration of awards: 3 years; possible 2-year extension for
initiation of investigative careers.
Application deadline: June 1
Stipend for 1993-94: $40,000-$44,000
Allowances and amounts: Fringe benefits; institutional
supplementation permitted.
3. Medical Student Research Fellowship
Purpose of Program: Institutional award to encourage medical
students to engage in full-time research training for one or more
years prior to graduation.
Citizenship: USA citizenship or USA permanent visa
Level: Graduate
Field(s) Supported: Cardiovascular functions and disease, and
stroke.
Other Requirements: This is an institutional award for accredited
medical schools; only one application per medical school to support
a maximum of six fellows; students already enrolled in an MD/PhD
degree program are not eligible.
Duration of awards: up to 3 years
Application deadline: June 1
Stipend for 1993-94: $12,000
Allowances and amounts: $1,800 per year for trainee-related
expenses.
4. Minority Scientist Development Award
Purpose of program: To assist promising scientists who are members
of ethnic groups underrepresented in the field of cardiovascular
research to develop independent research programs;provides research
training in highly qualified preceptor's laboratory for two years.
Citizenship: USA citizenship or USA permanent visa
Eligible ethnic minority groups: Black, Hispanic, Native American,
and Pacific Islander
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Cardiovascular functions and disease, and
stroke.
Other requirements: Ordinarily 2-5 years relevant postdoctoral
research required at award activation. Junior and clinical faculty
seeking basic research training may apply.
Number of awards: Variable
Duration: 5 years
Application deadline: June 1
Stipend for 1993-94: $40,000-$44,000
5. International Research Fellowship
Purpose of program: A postdoctoral research training program in the
USA and foreign research centers for individuals who are building
cardiovascular research careers but who are not yet independent.
Citizenship: USA citizens or permanent residents
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Cardiovascular functions and disease, and
stroke.
Other requirements: Applicant must hold an MD, DO, PhD or
equivalent domestic or foreign degree at time of award activation.
Number of awards: Variable
Duration of award: 1 year with option to extend for an additional
year.
Application deadline: June 1
Stipend for 1993-94: $25,000
AMERICAN INDIAN GRADUATE CENTER
Address for application information:
American Indian Graduate Center
4520 Montgomery Boulevard, N.E., Suite 1-B
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87109
Title of program: American Indian Graduate Center (AIGC)
Purpose of program: The mission of AIGC is to enhance the cultural
and economic well-being of American Indians and Alaska Natives
through graduate education grants and services.
Citizenship: USA
Eligible ethnic minority groups: American Indians and Alaska
Natives
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: All fields of graduate study offering a
master's or doctoral degree.
Other requirements: Applicants must be: 1) a member of a federally-
recognized American Indian tribe or Alaska Native group in the
USA; 2) attending a college/university accredited by a nationally-
recognized accrediting association; 3) admitted into a master's or
doctoral degree program as a full-time graduate student; and 4) in
need of financial aid.
Number of awards: 1991-92: 425 awardees
Duration of awards: Master's: 2 years; Doctorates: 4 years; Law:
3 years and must apply each year.
Application deadline: Summer: April 15; Academic Year: June 1
Stipend for 1993-94: Not yet known.
Allowances and amounts: AIGC awards are based on a percentage of
each awardee's unmet financial need, and awards are not for any
specific need but for the awardees' college and personal costs as
itemized by the college financial aid office.
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS
Address for application information:
American Architectural Foundation
Scholarship Programs
1735 New York Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006
1. AIA/AAF Scholarship Program for Professional Degree Candidates
Purpose of program: For students who are currently (a) in the 3rd
or 4th year of a five-year program that results in a BArch or
equivalent; (b) in the 4th or 5th year of a six-year program that
results in an MArch or equivalent; or (c) in the 2nd or 3rd year of
a three-to-four-year program that results in an MArch and whose
undergraduate degrees are in disciplines other than architecture.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Undergraduate, graduate
Field(s) supported: Architecture
Other requirements: All candidates must be students in, or
applicants to, schools accredited by the National Architectural
Accrediting Board or recognized by the Royal Architectural
Institute of Canada. Each school must screen its students to select
those who will receive an application. Awards will be based on a
statement of goals, strong academic performance, recommendations,
and need.
Number of awards: Multiple
Duration of awards: 1 year
Application deadline: February 1
Stipend for 1992-93: $500 to $2,500 ($230,000 distributed among 220
awardees for 1992-93 academic year)
2. AIA/AAF Scholarship for Advanced Study and Research
Purpose of program: To provide financial assistance to
practitioners, interns, or educators who wish to pursue an advanced
degree or conduct research under the auspices of a USA university
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: Architecture and related disciplines
Other requirements: A professional degree in architecture is
required. Awards will be based on the merit of the proposed
program for study or research.
Number of awards: Variable; 10 in 1992-93
Duration of awards: 1 time/1 year
Application deadline: February 15
Stipend for 1992-93: $1,000 to $2,500 ($20,000 distributed among 10
awardees for 1992-93 academic year)
3. Minority/Disadvantaged Scholarships Program
Purpose of program: To provide scholarship opportunities to
students from minority and/or disadvantaged backgrounds in their
attainment of a professional degree in architecture. The program
provides financial assistance to high school graduates entering
degree programs at schools of architecture approved by the National
Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB).
Citizenship: USA citizens or permanent residents
Level: Undergraduate
Eligible ethnic minority groups: American Indian, Black/African
American, Hispanic, and others from disadvantaged backgrounds
Field(s) supported: Architecture
Other requirements: High school seniors, technical school/junior
college students transferring to an NAAB school of architecture,
and college freshmen who are entering a program leading to a
professional degree (BArch or MArch) are eligible to apply.
Candidates must be nominated by one of the following: An individual
architect or firm, an AIA chapter, a community design center, a
guidance counselor or teacher, the dean, department head, or
professor from an accredited school of architecture, or the
director of a community, civic, or religious organization.
Number of awards: Approximately 20 annually
Duration of awards: 1 year. Awards may be renewed for 2 additional
years (total of 3) if recipient remains in an accredited school of
architecture, has a continued financial need, and adheres to all
program requirements.
Application deadline: December 1 for nominations; January 15 for
applications.
Stipend: Varies according to need; not intended to cover total cost
of education.
AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF INDIAN STUDIES
Address for application information:
American Institute of Indian Studies
1130 East 59th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60637
Purpose of Program: To support the advancement of knowledge and
understanding of India, its people and culture, primarily through
research conducted in that country by American scholars.
Citizenship: USA and resident aliens of the USA
Level: Postdoctoral, graduate
Field(s) Supported: All fields relating to India
Other Requirements: Each of the fellowships (Senior Research,
Short-Term, Fellowships for Scholarly Development, Junior
Fellowships, Translation Projects, and Performing Arts) has its own
stipulations.
Number of awards: Varies according to the amount of support the
Institute receives each year.
Duration of awards: Varies
Application deadline: July 1
Stipend for 1993-94: Varies
AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION
Address for application information:
American Lung Association
Medical Affairs Division
1740 Broadway
New York, New York 10019-4374
Overall purpose of the following awards: To assist in the conquest
of lung disease, the promotion of lung health and the development
of academic scientists.
1. Research Training Fellowships
Purpose of program: To train individuals who have demonstrated a
commitment to a career in investigative or academic medicine
relevant to lung disease.
Citizenship: USA citizens and holders of USA permanent
visas training in the USA; Canadian citizens eligible if training
in USA schools.
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Fields related to prevention and control of
lung disease.
Other requirements: MD, DO, PhD or ScD degree, or comparable
qualifications
Number of awards: Variable
Duration of awards: 1 year; may be renewed for an additional year.
Application deadline: October 1
Stipend for 1993-94: $32,500
2. Pediatric Pulmonary Research Fellowships
Purpose of program: To focus on the development of academic
pulmonary physicians in pediatrics.
Citizenship: USA citizens and holders of USA permanent
visas training in the USA; Canadian citizens eligible if training
in USA schools.
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Fields related to prevention and control of
lung disease.
Other requirements: During the fellowship, major attention must be
placed on research training, although one-third of the training
time may be devoted to clinical activities.
Number of awards: Variable
Duration of awards: 1 year; may be renewed for an additional year.
Application deadline: October 1
Stipend for 1993-94: $32,500
3. Nursing Research Training Awards
Purpose of program: To stimulate the training of professional
nurses in fields related to lung health.
Citizenship: USA citizens and holders of USA permanent
visas training in the USA; Canadian citizens eligible if training
in USA schools.
Level: Doctoral
Field(s) supported: Fields related to prevention and control of
lung disease.
Other requirements: Must be professional nurses holding masters
degrees who are matriculated in full-time doctoral programs with a
focus relevant to lung disease. Priority will be given to
individuals who will pursue an academic career.
Number of awards: Variable
Duration of awards: 1 year; may be renewed for an additional year.
Application deadline: October 1
Stipend for 1993-94: Up to $11,000 per year
4. Behavioral Science Dissertation Grants
Purpose of program: To stimulate training at the doctoral level in
fields of science related to social, behavioral, epidemiological,
psychological, and educational aspects of lung health.
Citizenship: USA citizens and holders of USA permanent
visas training in the USA; Canadian citizens eligible if training
in USA schools.
Level: Dissertation
Field(s) supported: Science fields related to the social,
behavioral, epidemiologic, psychological and educational aspects of
lung health.
Other requirements: Applicants must be matriculating in a full-time
doctoral program with an academic career focus.
Number of awards: Variable
Duration of awards: May be renewed for a total of three years.
Application deadline: October 1
Stipend for 1993-94: Up to $21,000 per year (maximum of $16,000 for
stipend and $5,000 for research support).
THE AMERICAN MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY
Address for application information:
Office of Grants and Fellowships
American Museum of Natural History
New York, New York 10024
1. Fellowship Program
Purpose of program: To provide opportunity for postdoctoral
researchers to conduct independent study on some aspect of the
Museum's natural history collections.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Anthropology, mineral sciences, vertebrate and
invertebrate zoology and paleontology
Number of awards: 12 per year
Duration of awards: 1 year
Application deadline: January 15
Stipend for 1993-94: $21,000
Allowances and amounts: Relocation allowance; research expenses and
publication costs
2. Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Fund
Purpose of program: To provide modest grants to graduate students
and those who have recently received their doctorate to study North
American fauna.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral (up to 5 years
after PhD)
Field(s) supported: Fields related to North American fauna
Other requirements: This grant supports research, not tuition.
Number of awards: 79 in 1992
Duration of awards: 1 year or field season
Application deadline: February 15
Allowances and amounts: Range of funding: $200-$1,000; average
award: $650
3. Lerner-Gray Fund for Marine Research
Purpose of program: To provide modest grants to graduate students
and those who have recently received their doctorate to study
marine zoology anywhere in the world.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Graduate, postdoctoral (up to 5 years after PhD)
Field(s) supported: Fields related to marine zoology, except botany
Other requirements: This grant supports research, not tuition.
Number of awards: 88 in 1992
Duration of awards: 1 year
Application deadline: March 15
Allowances and amounts: Range of funding: $200-$1,000; average
award: $725.
4. Frank Chapman Memorial Fund
Purpose of program: To provide modest grants to graduate students
and those who have recently received their doctorate to study
ornithology.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Ornithology
Other requirements: This grant supports research, not tuition.
Number of awards: 65 in 1992
Duration of awards: Approximately 1 year
Application deadline: January 15
Allowances and amounts: Range of funding: $200-$1,000; average
award: $600.
THE AMERICAN PHYSICAL SOCIETY
Address for application information:
The American Physical Society
335 E. 45th Street
New York, New York 10017-3483
Title of program: Corporate Sponsored Scholarships for Minority
Undergraduate Students in Physics
Purpose of program: To increase significantly the level of minority
participation in physics in this country.
Citizenship: USA
Eligible ethnic minority groups: Black, Hispanic or Native American
Level: Undergraduate
Field(s) supported: Physics
Other requirements: High school senior, college freshman or
sophomore who is majoring in physics or plans to do so.
Number of awards: 15-20
Duration of awards: One year, with possible renewal for a second
year, based on academic performance and approval of APS Selection
Committee, school and corporate sponsor.
Application deadline: February 25
Stipend for 1993-94: $2,000
Allowances and amounts: $500 to physics department of institution
which hosts one or more APS minority undergraduate scholars.
AMERICAN PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
Address for application information:
American Psychological Association
750 First Street, N.E.
Washington, D.C. 20002
1. Minority Fellowship Program
Purpose of program: Designed to have impact at multiple levels on
the status of ethnic and racial minorities in provision and receipt
of psychological services and the formulation and conduct of psych-
ological research.
Citizenship: USA citizenship or USA permanent residents
Eligible ethnic minority groups: American Indian/Alaskan Native,
Asian, Black/African American, Hispanic, Pacific Islander
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: Clinical psychology, counseling psychology,
school psychology, experimental psychology
Other requirements: 1) Acceptance into PhD (or PsyD) program in
psychology; 2) an expressed commitment to research, delivery of
clinical services, and involvement in minority issues in mental
health and behavioral sciences.
Number of awards: 30
Duration of awards: 3 years with yearly evaluation
Application deadline: January 15
Stipend for 1993-94: $8,800
Allowances and amounts: Awards are granted on a cost-sharing
arrangement with graduate departments to cover tuition, allowance
for books and materials, a living maintenance stipend and other
related expenses.
2. Doctoral Traineeships in Neuroscience
(Funded by the National Institute of Mental Health)
Purpose of program: To increase the number of ethnic and racial
minorities who complete the doctorate in neuroscience, and to
increase the representation of ethnic and racial minorities in the
neuroscience community who conduct research in areas identified as
important by the NIMH, including basic brain research related to
normal and abnormal functioning and behavior.
Citizenship: USA citizenship or USA permanent residents
Eligible ethnic minority groups: Including but not limited to
Black/African Americans, Latinos, American Indians, Alaskan
Natives, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders.
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: Developmental neurobiology, molecular
neurobiology, membrane biophysics, neuroanatomy, neuroimmunology,
neuropharmacology, neuropathology, neurotoxicology,
neurophysiology, psychobiology.
Other requirements: Applicants must: 1) be enrolled in a full-time
doctoral program, listed in Neuroscience Training Programs in North
America, or a program approved by the APA Minority Fellowship
Program in Neuroscience Advisory Committee; 2) be pursuing careers
as research scientists.
Duration of awards: Up to a maximum of three years
Application deadline: January 15
Stipend for 1993-94: $8,800
Allowances and amounts: Amounts vary, depending on Federal
allocations and on the cost-sharing arrangements with universities
to cover tuition, allowances, etc.
THE AMERICAN-SCANDINAVIAN FOUNDATION
1. ASF Awards for Scandinavians
Address for application information:
Denmark-Amerika Fondet, Dr. Tvaergade 44, 1302 Copenhagen K,
Denmark; Suomi-Amerika Yhdistysten Liitto, Mechelininkatu 10,
SF-001 00 Helsinki, Finland; Islenzk-Amerika Felagid, P.O. Box
7051, Reykjavik, Iceland; Norse-Amerika Foreningen, Drammensveien
20 C, 0255 Oslo 2, Norway; Sverige-Amerika Stiftelsen, Box 5280,
S-102 46, Stockholm, Sweden
Purpose of program: To encourage advanced study and research in the
USA; to promote cultural appreciation.
Citizenship: Citizens of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden
Level: Graduate, postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Those which can be pursued with special merit
in the USA.
Other requirements: Consult cooperating organizations (see above)
Number of awards: 70-75
Duration of awards: Usually one full year, but may vary from
several weeks to 6-12 months.
Application deadline: Consult cooperating organizations (see
above).
Stipend for 1992-93: $2,500 to $15,000
2. Fellowships and Grants for Study in Scandinavia
Address for application information:
Exchange Division
The American-Scandinavian Foundation
725 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10021
Purpose of program: To encourage advanced study and research; to
promote cultural appreciation.
Citizenship: USA citizens or USA permanent residents
Level: Graduate, postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Generally unrestricted, but implicit is the
special merit of pursuing the program in Scandinavia; beginning
studies in any subject are not supported.
Number of awards: 35-40
Duration of awards: Several weeks to one full year.
Application deadline: November 1 for fully-completed applications
Stipend for 1992-93: $2,500 to $15,000
AMERICAN SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION
(Funding provided by National Institute of Mental Health)
Address for application information:
Minority Fellowship Program
American Sociological Association
1722 N Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
Title of program: Research Doctoral Fellowships in Sociology
Purpose of program: To contribute to the development of sociology
by recruiting persons who will add differing orientations and
creativity to the field. Prospective and current graduate students
with interests in the sociology of mental health/illness will be
selected for these awards.
Citizenship: USA citizens and permanent residents
Eligible ethnic minority groups: Including but not limited to
persons who are Black, Latino/Hispanic (Chicano, Cuban, Puerto
Rican), American Indian, Asian American (Chinese, Japanese, Korean)
and Pacific Islanders (Hawaiian, Guamanian, Samoan, Filipino).
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: Sociology and mental health related issues.
Applicants should have a clear mental health focus and preferably,
but not necessarily, be studying at a university with training
programs in mental health and related issues.
Other eligibility requirements: Upon completion of degree, fellows
are required to engage in behavioral research and/or training for
a period equal to the length of support beyond 12 months.
Number of awards: Approximately 10
Duration of awards: Up to 3 years
Application deadline: December 31
Stipend for 1993-94: $8,000
Allowances and amounts: Arrangements for the payment of tuition
will be made with the university or department.
ARTHRITIS FOUNDATION
Address for application information:
Research Department
Arthritis Foundation
1314 Spring Street, N.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
1. Postdoctoral Fellowship
Purpose of program: To encourage qualified physicians and
scientists to embark on careers in research broadly related to the
understanding of arthritis and the rheumatic diseases.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral
Fields supported: Relevant biomedical fields
Other requirements: No more than 6 years of laboratory experience
for MD's; no more than 4 years of post-degree experience for PhD's.
Individuals at or above the assistant professor level, or those who
have a tenured position are ineligible to apply.
Number of awards: 25 new awards in 1992-93
Duration of awards: 2 years with possible renewal for third year
Application deadline: September 1
Stipend for 1992-93: $18,500 - $32,500
Allowances and amounts: $500 institutional grant for travel,
research expenses, etc.
2. Arthritis Investigator Award
Purpose of program: To provide support to physicians and scientists
in research broadly related to arthritis for the period between
completion of postdoctoral training and establishment of
independence.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Medical and basic biomedical research
Other requirements: Minimum of 3 years, maximum of 7 years
postdoctoral research experience.
Number of awards: 20 new awards in 1992-93
Duration of awards: 2 years with possible renewal for third year
Application deadline: September 1
Stipend for 1992-93: $49,000 which can be used for salary or
research expenses, or both.
Allowances and amounts: $1,000 institutional grant for travel,
research expenses, insurance, etc.
3. Doctoral Dissertation Awards for Arthritis Health Professionals
Purpose of program: To advance the research training of arthritis
health professionals in investigative or clinical teaching careers
as they relate to the rheumatic diseases.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: Research project related to arthritis
management and/or comprehensive patient care in rheumatology
practice, research, or education. Suitable studies include:
functional, behavioral, nutritional, occupational, or
epidemiological aspects of patient care and management.
Other requirements: Membership or eligibility for membership in
his/her professional organization. Dissertation project preferred.
Number of awards: 2 in 1992-93
Duration of awards: One or two years
Application deadline: September 1
Stipend for 1992-93: $10,000
4. New Investigator Grant for Arthritis Health Professions
Purpose of program: To encourage PhD level professionals who have
research expertise to design and carry out innovative research
projects related to the rheumatic diseases.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Arthritis management and/or comprehensive
patient care in rheumatology practice, research, or education.
Other requirements: Must have received PhD or equivalent doctoral
degree within the last 5 years; demonstrated research experience.
Number of awards: Usually 3
Duration of awards: One or two years
Application deadline: September 1
Stipend for 1992-93: $25,000
5. Arthritis Biomedical Science Grant
Purpose of program: To encourage and support high quality, original
biomedical research closely related to understanding the etiology,
pathogenic mechanisms, and control of arthritis and related
rheumatic diseases in adults and children.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Medical and biomedical research
Other requirements: MD, PhD or equivalent. Must be assistant
professor level or higher at any non-profit institution.
Number of awards: 10 in 1992-93
Duration of awards: 1 to 3 years
Application deadline: September 1
Stipend for 1992-93: $75,000
6. Arthritis Clinical Science Grant
Purpose of program: To encourage and support high quality original
research on problems closely related to diagnosis, prognosis,
management, and health care delivery and epidemiology of adults and
children with arthritis and related rheumatic diseases.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Clinical research
Other requirements: Open to physicians and arthritis health
professionals with doctoral degrees associated with any nonprofit
USA institution. At least one physician with expertise in the
disease area being studied should be closely associated with the
project.
Number of awards: 1 to 3 (2 in 1992-93)
Duration of awards: 1 to 3 years
Application deadline: September 1
Stipend for 1992-93: $75,000
7. Physician Scientist Development Award
Purpose of program: To encourage qualified physicians without
significant prior research experience to embark on careers in
biomedical and/or clinical research related to the understanding of
arthritis and the rheumatic diseases.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral
Other requirements: Designed for applicants with an MD,DO or
equivalent degree within the past seven years who have completed
training in internal medicine, pediatrics or orthopedics, and will
have completed one year of specialty training in rheumatology or a
residency in orthopedics surgery as of beginning of award tenure.
PhDs are not eligible.
Number of awards: Approximately 5
Duration of awards: 2 years, may be renewed for 3rd year
Application deadline: September 1
Stipend for 1993-94: $27,000 - $32,000
Allowances and amounts: $500 institutional grant
ASSOCIATION ON AMERICAN INDIAN AFFAIRS
Address for application information:
Harriett Skye
Association on American Indian Affairs
245 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1801
New York, New York 10016-8728
Purpose of programs: To help Native American people and their
communities in meeting the challenges they face--in the ways they
see fit.
Citizenship: USA
Eligible ethnic minority groups: Native American Indians, Alaska
Natives (at least 25%); must have certification of degree of Indian
blood; must be enrolled member of an American Indian tribe or
Alaska Native corporation.
1. AAIA/Adolph Van Pelt Special Fund for Indian Scholarships
Level: Undergraduate, graduate
Fields supported: Unrestricted
Number of awards: Varies
Duration of awards: Up to four years toward any one degree
Application deadline: June 1
Stipend: First year, $500; second year $600; third year $700;
fourth year $800
2. Emergency Aid and Health Professions Scholarships
Level: Undergraduate
Fields supported: Unrestricted
Other eligibility: Must be an undergraduate enrolled full-time
Number of awards: Varies
Duration of awards: One scholarship per academic year
Application deadline: No deadlines
Stipend: $50 to $300
3. Sequoyah Graduate Fellowships
Level: Graduate
Fields supported: Unrestricted
Number of awards: 10
Duration of awards: 1 year
Application deadline: September 13th
Stipend: $1,500, paid in two equal installments
4. Displaced Homemakers Scholarship
Other requirements: Men or women, aged 30 or older
Level: Undergraduate
Fields supported: Unrestricted
Number of awards: Varies
Duration of awards: 3 years
Application deadline: September 1
Awards and amounts: Help with child care, transportation, some
living expenses for those who could not otherwise attend college
AT&T BELL LABORATORIES
Address for application information:
AT&T Bell Laboratories
101 Crawfords Corner Road, P. O. Box 3030
Holmdel, NJ 07733-3030
1. Engineering Scholarship Program (ESP)
Purpose of program: To provide educational opportunities and
increase talent pool of engineers for underrepresented minorities
and women high school seniors.
Citizenship: USA citizens and permanent residents
Eligible ethnic minority groups: Black, Hispanic, Native American
and all women
Level: Undergraduate
Fields supported: Computer science, computer engineering, systems
engineering, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering
Number of awards: 15
Duration of awards: Renewable up to 4 years
Application deadline: January 15
Allowances and amounts: Full tuition, room and board, book stipend
2. Dual Degree Scholarship Program (DDSP)
Purpose of program: Provide a liberal arts and technical 5-year,
3/2 degree program between the Atlanta University Center Colleges
(Morehouse, Spelman, Morris, Brown, and Clark-Atlanta Univ.) and
Georgia Tech. Auburn, Rensselaer, Rochester Institute of Tech.,
Boston U., U. of Alabama.
Citizenship: USA citizens and permanent residents
Eligible ethnic minority groups: Black, Hispanic, Native American
Indian
Level: Undergraduate
Fields supported: BA in mathematics, computer science, physics and
a BS in electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer
engineering, industrial engineering
Other requirements: Must be accepted to Morehouse, Spelman, Morris
Brown, or Clark Atlanta University.
Number of awards: 3
Duration of awards: Renewable up to 5 years
Application deadline: Dec. 31
Allowances and amounts: Full tuition, room and board, book stipend
3. Cooperative Research Fellowship Program for Minorities (CRFP)
Purpose of program: To identify and develop scientific and
engineering research ability among members of underrepresented
minority groups, and to increase their representation in the
sciences and engineering.
Citizenship: USA citizen or USA permanent resident
Eligible ethnic minority groups: Blacks, Native American Indians,
and Hispanics
Level: Graduate
Fields supported: Chemistry, chemical engineering, communications
science, computer science/engineering, electrical engineering,
information science, materials science, mathematics, mechanical
engineering, operations research, physics, and statistics
Number of awards: 8
Duration of awards: 4-5 years
Application deadline: January 15
Stipend for 1993-94: $13,200
Allowances and amounts: Tuition and fees, book allowance, travel
allowance, summer job
4. Graduate Research Program for Women (GRPW)
Purpose of program: To identify and develop research ability in
women and to increase their representation in science and
engineering.
Citizenship: USA citizens or USA permanent residents
Level: Graduate
Fields supported: Chemistry, chemical engineering, communications
science, computer science/engineering, electrical engineering,
information science, materials science, mathematics, mechanical
engineering, operations research, physics, and statistics
Number of awards: 4 fellowships, 6 grants
Duration of awards: 4-5 years
Stipend for 1993-94: $13,200 fellowships/$1,500 grants
Allowances and amounts: Tuition and fees, book allowance, travel
allowance, summer job
AUSTRALIAN RESEARCH COUNCIL
Address for application information:
Australian Research Council
Research Development Section
ARC Fellowships Program
GPO Box 9880,
Canberra ACT 2601
1. Queen Elizabeth II Fellowships
Purpose of program: To encourage research in Australia by young
postdoctoral graduates of exceptional promise and proven capacity
for original work.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Biological, chemical, earth, engineering,
mathematical, physical, social sciences and humanities. Clinical
medicine and dentistry are not supported.
Other requirements: Applicant must: 1) have a PhD; 2) have recent
publications in international refereed journals; 3) normally have
(at most) six years of postdoctoral experience; 4) have above
average distinctions--outstanding academic record.
Number of awards: 15
Duration of awards: 5 years
Application deadline: March 1
Allowances and amounts: Research support grant--$10,500 per annum.
2. Australian Research Fellowships
Purpose of program: To strengthen Australia's national research and
development capability by providing opportunities for established
researchers to undertake research of national significance.
Citizenship: Unrestricted; preference given to Australians.
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Biological, chemical, earth, engineering,
mathematical, physical, social sciences and humanities. Clinical
medicine and dentistry are not supported.
Other requirements: Applicant must have a PhD and normally have at
least 3 years of postdoctoral experience at time of application.
Number of awards: 25
Duration of awards: 5 years
Application deadline: March 2
Allowances and amounts: Research support grant--$5,500 per annum.
3. Australian Senior Research Fellowships
Purpose of program: To provide opportunities for outstanding
researchers with proven international reputations to undertake
research of significant benefit to Australia.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Biological, chemical, earth, engineering,
mathematical, physical and social sciences, and humanities.
Clinical medicine and dentistry are not supported.
Other requirements: Applicant must have a PhD and must be at least
a senior lecturer, or a principal or senior research scientist of
equivalent rank.
Number of awards: 15
Duration of awards: 5 years
Allowances and amounts: Research support grant.
4. Australian Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
Purpose of program: To strengthen Australia's national research and
development capability by providing opportunities for postdoctoral
level researchers to undertake research of international
significance.
Citizenship: Unrestricted; preference given to Australians.
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Biological, chemical, earth, engineering,
mathematical, physical and social sciences, and humanities.
Clinical medicine and dentistry are not supported.
Other requirements: Applicant must: 1) have submitted their PhD
thesis at the time of commencement of the fellowship; 2) must have
the agreed support of the host institution; 4) have no more than 3
years of postdoctoral experience at the time of application.
Number of awards: 50
Duration of awards: 3 years
Allowances and amounts: Research support grant--$3,500 per annum.
Title : NSF 93-147 -- A Selected List of Fellowship and Other Support
Opportunities for Advanced Education
Type : Report
NSF Org: EHR
Date : March 7, 1995
File : ns93147c
BUNTING INSTITUTE OF RADCLIFFE COLLEGE
Address for application information:
Bunting Institute of Radcliffe College
34 Concord Avenue
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
1. Science Scholars Fellowship Program
Purpose of program: To support women scientists at any level in
their careers in the fields of science listed below.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Astronomy; molecular and cellular biology;
biochemistry; chemistry; cognitive and neural sciences;
mathematics; computer science; electrical, aerospace, and
mechanical engineering; materials science; naval architecture;
ocean engineering; oceanography; physics; and geology.
Other requirements: Receipt of doctorate at least two years prior
to appointment.
Number of awards: 8
Duration of awards: 1 year
Application deadline: Usually early October
Stipend for 1993-94: $31,300
Allowances and amounts: Up to $3,000 in research expenses.
2. Bunting Fellowship Program
Purpose of program: To support women of exceptional promise and
demonstrated accomplishments who wish to pursue independent study
in the academic and professional fields listed below.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral, equivalent professional experience
Field(s) supported: All fields of scholarship, professions,
creative writing, poetry, visual and performing arts, music, and
sciences not included in Science Scholars Fellowship.
Other requirements: Receipt of doctorate at least two years prior
to appointment, or equivalent professional experience for
non-academic appointment.
Number of awards: 5-8 out of an applicant pool of 600-700.
Duration of awards: 1 year
Application deadline: Usually early October
Stipend for 1992-93: $28,500
3. Peace Fellowship
Purpose of program: To support women actively involved in finding
peaceful solutions to conflict or potential conflict among groups
or nations.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Number of awards: 1
Duration of awards: 1 year
Application deadline: January 15 for 1993-94 fellowships; varies
yearly.
Stipend for 1993-94: $25,000
Allowances and amounts: some funds for travel and research
4. Berkshire Summer Fellowship
Purpose of program: To support women historians with a PhD at the
postdoctoral level.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Any field of history
Duration of awards: Summer months
Application deadline: January 15 for 1993-94 fellowships; varies
yearly.
Stipend for 1993-94: $3,000
CALIFORNIA STUDENT AID COMMISSION
Address for application information:
Central Inquiry Division
California Student Aid Commission
P.O. Box 942845
Sacramento, California 94245-0845
Title of program: Graduate Fellowship Program
Purpose of program: To afford opportunity for graduate study to
unusually able persons.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: All graduate fields requiring advanced degrees.
Other requirements: Applicant must be: 1) a California resident and
attend school in California; 2) a first or second year graduate
student at time award is activated.
Number of awards: Approximately 500
Duration of awards: Up to 4 years
Application deadline: March 2 for 1990
Allowances and amounts: Tuition and fee payment only up to $6,490
maximum.
THE CANADA COUNCIL
Address for application information:
Killam Program
The Canada Council
99 Metcalfe Street
P.O. Box 1047
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K1P 5V8
Title of program: Canada Council Killam Research Fellowships
Purpose of program: To provide released time to an individual
scholar to pursue independent research.
Citizenship: Canadian or landed immigrant resident in Canada, only.
Level: Senior scholar (8 to 12 years beyond the PhD)
Field(s) supported: Humanities, social sciences, natural sciences,
health sciences, engineering, and studies linking disciplines
within these broad fields.
Number of awards: 15 to 18 new awards per year
Duration of awards: 2 years
Application deadline: June 30
Stipend for 1993-94: $53,000
Allowances and amounts: Full fringe benefits based on actual
salary.
CARNEGIE INSTITUTION OF WASHINGTON
Title of program: Carnegie Institution of Washington Fellowships
Address for application information:
Write to Director of department in field of applicant's choice: 1)
Department of Embryology, 115 West University Parkway, Baltimore,
Maryland 21210 (research toward a better understanding of the
molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying differentiation,
growth, and morphogenesis and the manner in which these processes
are coordinated in a number of developing systems, both normal and
abnormal); 2) Geophysical Laboratory, 5251 Broad Branch Road, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20015 (physico-chemical studies of geological
problems, with particular emphasis on the processes involved in the
formation and evolution of the Earth's crust, mantle, and core); 3)
Carnegie Observatories, 813 Santa Barbara Street, Pasadena,
California 91101 and Las Campanas, Chile (programs of astronomical
research on the structure and dimensions of the universe and the
physical nature, chemical composition, and evolution of celestial
bodies); 4) Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, 5241 Broad Branch
Road, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20015 (a wide range of studies in
physics and related sciences, including astrophysics, geophysics
and geochemistry, and planetary physics); 5) Department of Plant
Biology, 290 Panama Street, Stanford, California 94305 (research on
the study of photosynthesis, and on the physiological and bio-
chemical mechanisms that underlie the functional diversity and
adaptations of plants).
Purpose of program: To train research scientists
Citizenship: Unrestricted; efforts are made to recruit qualified
women and minorities.
Level: Postdoctoral; by special arrangement, predoctoral Fellows to
undertake thesis research
Field(s) supported: See above.
Number of awards: Approximately 30
Duration of awards: 1 to 2 years
Application deadline: Varies in each department
Stipend for 1992-93: As recommended by director of each department
Allowances and amounts: Grants may sometimes include travel funds.
CENTER FOR ADVANCED STUDY IN THE BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
Address for application information:
Director
Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences
202 Junipero Serra Boulevard
Stanford, California 94305
Title of program: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Purpose of program: To provide scholars of exceptional achievement
or promise free time to devote to their own study and to associate
with colleagues in the same discipline or related fields.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Include but not limited to: anthropology, art
history, biology, classics, economics, education, history, law,
linguistics, literature, mathematical and statistical specialties,
medicine, musicology, philosophy, political science, psychiatry,
psychology, and sociology.
Other requirements: Fellows must spend the fellowship year at the
Center. Fellows are selected from nominations from academic
administrators, well known scholars, and former Fellows.
Number of awards: Approximately 50 per year.
Duration of awards: 9 to 12 months (September to August)
Application deadline: The Center welcomes nominations at any time.
Stipend for 1993-94: In most cases, based on the Fellow's salary
for the preceding academic year.
Allowances and amounts: Travel expenses
COCA-COLA SCHOLARS FOUNDATION
Address for application information:
Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation, Inc.
One Buckhead Plaza, Suite 1000
3060 Peachtree Road, N.W.
Atlanta, Georgia 30305
Title of Program: Scholarship
Purpose of program: To provide scholarships to high school seniors
for college.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Undergraduate
Field(s) supported: Unrestricted
Other requirements: Applicant must reside in participating Coca-
Cola bottler's territory. All high schools located within a
participating bottler's territory will automatically receive
applications at the beginning of the school year. Applications are
available through high school guidance offices only.
Number of awards: 150
Duration of awards: Renewable up to four years
Application deadline: October 31
Allowances and amounts: 100 awards at $1,000 per year; 50 awards at
$5,000 per year.
THE JANE COFFIN CHILDS MEMORIAL
FUND FOR MEDICAL RESEARCH
Address for application information:
The Jane Coffin Childs Memorial Fund for Medical Research
333 Cedar Street
P.O. Box 3333
New Haven, Connecticut 06510
Title of program: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Purpose of program: To further research into the causes, origins
and treatment of cancer through the award of postdoctoral
fellowships.
Citizenship: Unrestricted - awards to foreign nationals made only
for work in the USA; awards to USA citizens tenable in the USA
or any foreign country.
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: See above.
Other requirements: Applicants in general should not have more than
one year of postdoctoral experience.
Number of awards: Approximately 25
Duration of awards: Two - three years
Application deadline: February 1
Stipend for 1993-94: $24,000 the first year; $25,000 the second
year; $26,000 the third year
Allowances and amounts: Allowance of $1,500 a year toward the cost
of research usually will be made available to the laboratory
sponsoring the Fellow.
COMMITTEE ON INSTITUTIONAL COOPERATION (CIC)
Address for application information:
CIC Predoctoral Fellowships Program
Kirkwood Hall, Room 111
Indiana University
Bloomington, Indiana 47405
Participating universities: University of Chicago, University of
Illinois at Chicago and Urbana-Champaign, Indiana University,
University of Iowa, University of Michigan, Michigan State
University, University of Minnesota, Northwestern University, Ohio
State University, Pennsylvania State University, Purdue University,
University of Wisconsin-Madison and Milwaukee.
1. CIC Predoctoral Fellowships Program in the Sciences, Mathematics
and Engineering
Purpose of program: To increase the representation of African
Americans, American Indians, Mexican Americans and Puerto Ricans
among PhD recipients in the sciences, mathematics, and engineering.
Citizenship: USA
Eligible ethnic minority groups: See above
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: All scientific fields that lead to the PhD;
applications are especially encouraged in agricultural sciences,
biological sciences, chemistry, engineering, mathematical sciences,
medical sciences, physical and geological sciences, and physics.
Other requirements: Recipients are selected on the basis of
academic achievement, ethnicity, and area of study. Recipients must
pursue programs of study leading to PhD degrees, and must be
accepted as graduate students by at least one of the CIC
universities. Fellowships can be used only at the CIC universities.
Duration of awards: up to 5 academic years
Application deadline: January 5 of each year
2. CIC Predoctoral Fellowships Program in the Social Sciences
Purpose of program: To increase the representation of African
Americans, American Indians, Mexican Americans, and Puerto Ricans
among PhD recipients in the basic social science disciplines.
Citizenship: USA
Eligible ethnic minority groups: See above
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: Anthropology, economics, geography, history,
political science, psychology, and sociology.
Other requirements: Fellowship recipients are selected on the basis
of academic achievement, ethnicity, and area of study. Recipients
must be accepted for admission by at least one of the CIC
universities, and must pursue programs of study leading to PhD
degrees. Fellowships can be used only at the CIC universities.
Number of awards: 25
Duration of awards: up to 5 academic years
Application deadline: January 5 of each year
Stipend for l992-93: $10,000
Allowances and amounts: Full tuition for the academic year.
3. CIC Predoctoral Fellowships Program in the Humanities
Purpose of program: To increase the representation of African
Americans, American Indians, Mexican Americans, and Puerto Ricans
among PhD recipients in the humanities.
Citizenship: USA
Eligible ethnic minority groups: See above.
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: American studies, art history, classics and
classical languages, comparative literature, English and American
literature, folklore, Germanic languages and literature,
linguistics, music (theory and musicology only), philosophy,
religious studies, Romance languages and literature (French,
Italian, Portuguese, Spanish), Slavic languages and literature,
theatre and drama.
Other requirements: Fellowship recipients are selected on academic
achievement, ethnicity, and area of study. Recipients must be
accepted for admission by at least one of the CIC universities, and
pursue programs of study leading to PhD degrees. The fellowships
can be used only at the CIC universities.
Number of awards: 10
Duration of awards: Up to 5 academic years
Application deadline: January 5 of each year
Stipend for 1992-93: $10,500
Allowances and amounts: Full tuition for the academic year.
COMMITTEE ON SCHOLARLY COMMUNICATION WITH THE PEOPLE'S
REPUBLIC OF CHINA (CSCPRC)
Address for application information:
CSCPRC
National Academy of Sciences
2101 Constitution Avenue
Washington, D. C. 20418
Purpose of program: To facilitate scholarly exchanges with the
People's Republic of China.
1. Graduate Program
Citizenship: USA citizens or USA permanent residents
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: Social sciences and humanities
Other requirements: Offers support for individuals enrolled in a
graduate program in the social sciences and humanities to do course
work in an academic discipline at a Chinese university; or for
individuals with the MA for social sciences and humanities course
work and/or dissertation research at a Chinese university. Requires
Chinese language proficiency acquired through at least 3 years of
college-level study or its equivalent, preferably including time in
a Chinese language environment such as Taiwan.
Number of awards: Variable
Duration of awards: Requires minimum tenure of 1 academic year.
Application deadline: October 10 for 1992
Stipend for 1992-93: Variable
Allowances and amounts: Variable
2. Research Program
Citizenship: USA citizens or U.S permanent residents
Level: PhD or equivalent
Field(s) supported: Social sciences and humanities
Other requirements: Supports in-depth research on China, the
Chinese portion of a comparative study, or an exploratory survey of
an aspect of contemporary China; gives preference to those who have
not previously participated in the program, but encourages former
participants to apply on the basis of publications derived from an
earlier visit.
Number of awards: Variable
Duration of awards: 2 months to 1 year
Application deadline: October
Stipend for 1992-93: Variable
Allowances and amounts: Variable
THE COMMONWEALTH FUND OF NEW YORK
Title of program: The Harkness Fellowships
Addresses for application information:
In Great Britain:
28 Bedford Square
London WC1B 3EG
England
In Australia:
Mr. Roger D.B. Beale
Department of Transport and Communications
GPO Box 594
Canberra
ACT 2601
Australia
In New Zealand:
Mr. R.E.W. Elliott
15 City View Road
Harbourview
Lower Hutt
New Zealand
Purpose of program: To promote international understanding by
enabling students to study and travel in the continental United
States.
Citizenship: Australia, New Zealand or the United Kingdom
Level: Graduate, postdoctoral (over 21, but preference to those
between their mid 20's to mid 40's).
Field(s) supported: In Australia and New Zealand -- unrestricted;
in the United Kingdom -- health, education, people in cities
Other requirements: In Australia and New Zealand -- Degree or
equivalent qualification conferred by professional body, or an
outstanding record of achievement in the creative arts, journalism,
business or other comparable career; candidates wishing to study
for an MBA must have had substantial full-time postgraduate admin-
istrative experience in addition to degree requirements. Candidates
must not have spent more than 6 months in the USAA. following
their 19th birthday and may not be currently studying in the USA
In the United Kingdom--Fellowships are open to individuals active
in any part of the public, business or voluntary sectors, who have
demonstrated exceptional personal and intellectual qualities, and
professional achievement. Candidates must show promise of becoming
leaders in their chosen fields. Academics and researchers are
eligible, but must show active interest in the practical
applications of their work. Preference will normally be given to
those who have not already spent substantial periods in the United
States.
Number of awards: For 1992: 11 U.K., 5 Australia, 2 New Zealand
Duration of awards: 12 to 21 months in Australia and New Zealand;
7 to 12 months in the United Kingdom
Application deadline: Variable, but generally: Australia-August;
New Zealand-September; U.K.-mid October. All dates are in year
preceding year of award.
Stipend for 1993-94: ?1,400-?2,400 per month.
Allowances and amounts: Travel to and from USA, living allowances,
USA travel allowance, medical insurance, tuition.
COUNCIL FOR INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE OF SCHOLARS
Address for application information:
Council for International Exchange of Scholars
Suite 5M
3007 Tilden Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008-3009
1. Fulbright Scholar Program Grants for Faculty and Professionals:
Research and Lecturing--American Scholars
Purpose of program: To enable Americans to learn first-hand about
other countries and cultures, and to promote academic and
professional development. [Administered on behalf of the USA
Information Agency (USIA)].
Citizenship: USA
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: All academic fields and some professions
Other requirements: PhD or comparable professional qualifications;
university or college teaching experience; and, for selected
assignments, proficiency in a foreign language.
Number of awards: Approximately 1,000 (700 university lecturing and
300 advanced research).
Duration of awards: 2 months to 1 academic year
Application deadline: June 15 for Australia and South Asia. August
1 for Africa, Northeast and Southeast Asia, Central and Eastern
Europe, territories of the former USSR, Western Europe, Latin
America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and North Africa,
Canada. Other deadlines are in place for special programs.
Stipend for 1993-94: Stipends vary by country.
Allowances and amounts: Generally includes international travel and
miscellaneous allowances.
2. Fulbright Awards for University Teaching and Advanced Research-
Non-USA Scholars
Address for application information: Cultural Affairs Officer of
the USA Embassy or the binational Educational Commission or
Foundation in the scholar's own country.
Purpose of program: To increase mutual understanding between the
people of the USA and the people of other countries, and to
promote academic and professional development. [Administered on
behalf of the USA Information Agency (USIA).]
Citizenship: Non-USA citizens; each must apply in country of
citizenship.
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: All academic disciplines
Other requirements: PhD or comparable professional qualifications;
university or college teaching experience; proficiency in English.
Number of awards: Approximately 1,000
Duration of awards: 3 months to 1 academic year
Application deadline: Varies by country.
Stipend for 1993-94 : Varies by country.
Allowances and amounts: Generally includes monthly stipend,
international travel, and miscellaneous allowances.
3. Fulbright Awards for University Teaching Scholars-in-Residence
Purpose of program: Foreign scholars are invited to lecture at USA
institutions in order to strengthen the international dimension of
teaching programs at institutions with limited opportunities to
receive foreign scholars and to enrich established area studies or
international programs.
Citizenship: Citizens of countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia,
and the Middle East that participate in the Fulbright program.
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Preference is given to humanities and social
sciences scholars as well as professionals from the media or
government.
Other requirements: USA institutions submit proposals to host a
scholar. The proposals contain cost-sharing provisions.
Number of awards: Approximately 40
Duration of awards: 1 academic year or term
Application deadline: November 1
Allowances and amounts: Round-trip travel for grantee and, for full
year awards, one accompanying dependent; monthly maintenance
allowance; allowances for travel, books, and essential services.
Cost sharing by host institution.
4. Indo-American Fellowship Program
Purpose of program: To draw into educational exchange USA citizens
who are not India specialists and who have had limited or no prior
experience in India.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: All academic fields, except clinical medicine
and professional fields such as architecture, business, law, museum
work, and creative areas.
Other requirements: PhD or comparable professional qualifications
Number of awards: 12 long term (6 to 10 months), 9 short term (2 to
3 months).
Application deadline: June 15
Stipend for 1993-94: $1,700 per month, of which $800 is payable in
USA dollars and the balance in rupees.
Allowances and amounts: Monthly maintenance allowance,
international travel, supplementary research and other allowances.
5. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Advanced Research
Fellowships
Purpose of program: To support research projects of a historical,
political, economic or social nature of direct interest to the
Atlantic Alliance.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Social sciences on topics related to the
Atlantic Alliance including political/military studies.
Other requirements: PhD or equivalent professional status
Number of awards: Up to 3
Duration of awards: 2 to 12 months
Application deadline: January 1
Stipend for 1993-94: 240,000 Belgian francs or the equivalent in
the currency of any other member country.
Allowances and amounts: Travel
6. Japan Today
Purpose of program: To assist academics or professionals who want
to enhance or update their knowledge of Japan in order to
contribute to the current dialogue between Japan and the USA
Participants will be able to conduct interviews, consultations,
lectures and/or on-site visits.
Citizenship: USA
Fields supported: Architecture, business, environmental studies,
government, journalism and media, law, and social work as well as
most academic disciplines, excluding the arts.
Other requirements: Terminal degree; limited to no prior experience
in Japan within the past 5 years; Japanologists are not included in
this program; language capability helpful but not required.
Duration of awards: six to twelve weeks
Number of awards: Approximately 5
Application deadline: August 1
Allowances and amounts: Per diem sufficient to cover living
expenses during the term of the award; a research allowance;
international and domestic travel.
AARON DIAMOND FOUNDATION
Address for application information:
Aaron Diamond Foundation Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
5 Penn Plaza, Room 308
New York, New York 10001
Title of Program: Aaron Diamond Foundation Postdoctoral Research
Fellowships in the Biomedical and Social Sciences (administered by
the New York State Health Research Council)
Purpose of program: To support AIDS and drug abuse research, both
biomedical and social science aspects, while attracting promising
M.D.'s and Ph.D.'s to engage in intensive research training in New
York City institutions. Women and minorities are especially
encouraged to apply.
Citizenship: USA citizens, those who have applied for citizenship
and those who are permanent residents and have an Alien
Registration Receipt Card are given preference, as one program goal
is to retain promising researchers within New York City
institutions.
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Diverse biomedical and social science fields,
broadly interpreted as relevant to AIDS and drug abuse.
Other requirements: Preference is given to those with three years
or less postdoctoral research experience and those relocating to
New York City. Prospective fellows apply as part of a team, to
include a potential mentor from a New York City institution.
Preference is given to newly forming, rather than existing, fellow-
mentor teams.
Number of awards: 25 (awarded yearly: 1991-93)
Duration of awards: 2-3 years
Application deadline: July 30
Stipend for 1992-93: $36,000, with $2,000 increases in years 2 and
3 of the award.
Allowances and amounts: $25,000 research allowance, plus $5,000
institutional allowance ($2,000 of which must be used to directly
benefit the Fellow).
DUMBARTON OAKS
Trustees for Harvard University
Address for application information:
Office of the Director
Dumbarton Oaks
1703 32nd Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20007
1. Dumbarton Oaks Fellowships and Junior Fellowships, Summer
Fellowships in Byzantine Studies, Pre-Columbian Studies, and
Studies in Landscape Architecture.
Purpose of Program: To promote study and pursue research at
Dumbarton Oaks in the fields of Byzantine Studies, Pre-Columbian
Studies and Studies in Landscape Architecture.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Junior Fellowships -- students who at the time of
application have fulfilled all preliminary requirements for a PhD
and will be working on a dissertation or final project at Dumbarton
Oaks under the direction of a faculty member at their own
university; Fellowships -- scholars who hold, or will hold at the
time of residence at Dumbarton Oaks, a doctorate or have
established themselves in their field and wish to pursue their own
research; Summer Fellowships -- scholars on any level of
advancement.
Field(s) supported: Byzantine Studies (including related aspects of
late Roman, Early Christian, western medieval, Slavic and Near
Eastern studies); Pre-Columbian Studies (of Mexico, Central
America, and Andean South America); and Studies in Landscape
Architecture.
Other requirements: Fellows are expected to be able to communicate
satisfactorily in English.
Number of awards: Approximately 35 per year
Duration of awards: Full academic year or single term. Summer
Fellowships--6-9 weeks.
Application deadline: November 1
Stipend for 1993-94: $18,000 for Fellows for a full academic year;
$11,000 for a Junior Fellow.
Allowances and Amounts: $1,500 dependent allowance; $800 research
allowance; travel expense reimbursement up to $1,300 for Fellows
residing outside the USA; plus housing arrangements. Summer
Fellows receive maintenance allowance of $125 per week plus housing
arrangements, weekday lunch and travel expense reimbursement up to
$1,300.
2. Bliss Prize Fellowship in Byzantine Studies
Purpose of program: To provide encouragement, assistance, and
training to outstanding college seniors who plan to enter the field
of Byzantine Studies.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Seniors in college or those who have earned a BA.
Field(s) supported: Areas involving Byzantine civilization and
culture.
Other requirements: Applicants must have completed at least one
year of Greek and must be applicants to graduate school in any
field of Byzantine Studies; Bliss Fellowships are normally
restricted to candidates currently enrolled in USA or Canadian
universities or colleges.
Duration of awards: 1 to 2 years
Application deadline: Nominations by student advisors are due
November 1; application materials from the applicant are due
November 15.
Allowances and amounts: Graduate school tuition and living expenses
up to $25,000 and a summer travel allowance up to $5,000.
EAST-WEST CENTER
Address for application information:
East-West Center
Award Services Office, Burns Hall 2066
1777 East-West Road
Honolulu, Hawaii 96848
1. Fellow
Purpose of program:
To attract international scholars and authorities to the Center for
involvement in specific Center projects along with EWC staff and
other participants, and to promote cooperation with foreign
institutions through participation of their staff in EWC projects
Citizenship: USA, Asia, and Pacific Islands
Level: Post-graduate
Fields supported: Culture and communication, economic development
and policy, environment and policy, population, non-renewable
resources, international relation, Pacific Islands development,
journalism.
Other eligibility: Must be invited by EWC or nominated by
cooperating institutions.
Number of awards: 200-300
Duration of awards: Visiting fellows: up to 3 months; research
fellows: up to 36 months
Application deadline: Varies according to citizenship
Stipend: Related to academic/professional rank, and/or relevant
research experience, and/or current salary
Allowances and amounts: EWC residence hall accommodations in guest
facility optional for fellows on award for six months or less
2. Predoctoral Fellowship
Purpose of program: To strengthen relations with institutions in
Asia, Pacific Islands and USA by enabling PhD candidates from
these institutions to work in specific EWC projects relevant to
their dissertations.
Citizenship: USA, Asia, and Pacific Islands
Level: Dissertation
Fields: Areas of EWC projects
Other eligibility: Good academic record and test scores
Number of awards: 5
Duration of awards: 6-10 months
Application deadline: January
Stipend for 1992-93: $1,250 per month
Allowances and amounts: Transportation and other approved EWC
academic expenses may be provided, shared office space
3. Graduate Degree Student
Purpose of program: To support master's and doctorate degree
programs at the University of Hawaii and provide opportunities to
participate in Center research programs and activities.
Citizenship: USA, Asia, and Pacific Islands
Fields supported: Graduate fields eligible for support at the
University of Hawaii that relate to EWC projects
Other eligibility: Good academic record and test scores
Number of awards: Varies
Duration of awards: Up to 24 months for master's; up to 48 months
for doctorate
Application deadline: Varies according to citizenship
Stipend for 1992-93: $516 per month
Allowances and amounts: Tuition, book allowance, EWC approved
academic expenses, accommodations in EWC dormitory
4. Post-Doctoral Fellowships in Asia Pacific Area Studies
Purpose of program: To enable recent doctoral recipients to
participate in on-going research in addition to preparing
dissertation for publication.
Citizenship: USA, Asia, and Pacific Islands
Level: Postdoctoral
Fields Supported: Areas of EWC projects
Number of awards: 4-5
Duration of awards: 12 months
Application deadline: Varies according to citizenship
Stipend for 1992-93: $2,500 per month
Allowances and amounts: Transportation, EWC residence hall
available for two months while locating off-campus housing, shared
office space.
EUROPEAN LABORATORY FOR PARTICLE PHYSICS (European Organization for
Nuclear Research--CERN)
Address for application information:
Fellows and Associates Service
Personnel Division
CERN
CH-1211 Geneva 23
Switzerland
1. Fellowships
Purpose of Program: To allow young post-graduates to gain
experience by working in a research or development group.
Citizenship: Candidates must be nationals of the Member States of
CERN: Austria, Belgium, Czech and Slovak Federal Republic,
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands,
Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United
Kingdom.
Level: Graduate, Postdoctoral
Field(s) Supported: Experimental and theoretical particle physics,
as well as various related activities in applied physics,
electronics, computing, and engineering.
Duration of awards: 1 year and usually extended for a second year
Application deadline: Normally, early November and early April of
each year.
Stipend for 1992-93: 5000-7000 Swiss francs per month
2. Scientific Associates Programme
Purpose of program: To establish and maintain contacts with
scientists at laboratories throughout the world.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Experimental and theoretical particle physics,
and advanced development work and related research in a broad range
of applied sciences and engineering.
Number of awards: About 60
Duration of awards: Normally up to 1 year
Application deadline: Mid-February and mid-October of each year
Stipend for 1992-93: 4000-10000 Swiss francs per month
Allowances and amounts: For non-residents: Associates - 9-12% of
stipend for non-residents Family - 273 Swiss francs per month;
Child - 301 Swiss francs per month
3. Corresponding Fellowships
Purpose of Program: Granted to scientists holding research or
teaching positions to help them keep abreast of developments in
particle physics and related fields.
Citizenship: Limited to citizens of CERN Member States.
Level: Postdoctoral
Fields supported: Particle physics and related fields
Other Requirements: Restricted to citizens of smaller Member States
and are intended for scientists who have already had experience at
CERN.
Duration of awards: Up to 6 months
Stipend: While Corresponding Fellows are at CERN, their parent
institutes are expected to continue normal salary payments.
Allowances and amounts: Subsistence allowance to cover the
additional costs of living in Geneva.
FLORIDA ENDOWMENT FUND FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
Address for application information:
Florida Endowment Fund for Higher Education
Suite 1525
201 East Kennedy Boulevard
Tampa, Florida 33602
Title of program: McKnight Doctoral Fellowship Program
Purpose of program: To address the underrepresentation of
African-American faculty at colleges and universities in the state
of Florida by increasing the pool of African- Americans qualified
with PhD degrees to teach at the college or university level
Citizenship: USA
Eligible ethnic minority group(s): African-Americans
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: Arts and sciences, business, engineering and
mathematics and science education
Other requirements: Applicant must have obtained at least a
bachelor's degree from a regionally accredited college or
university.
Number of awards: 25 per year
Duration of awards: 3 years; fourth and fifth year funded by
institution if necessary.
Application deadline: January 15
Stipend for 1993-94: $11,000
Allowances and amounts: Full tuition and fees not to exceed $5,000
per year; total fellowship is worth $16,000 per year
JOHN E. FOGARTY INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR ADVANCED STUDY IN THE
HEALTH SCIENCES
Address for application information:
International Research and Awards Branch
Fogarty International Center
Building 31, Room B2C39
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
1. Senior International Fellowship Program
Purpose of program: To provide opportunities for established USA
scientists to conduct collaborative research abroad.
Citizenship: USA citizens or USA permanent residents
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Biomedical, behavioral and health sciences
Other requirements: The applicant must hold a doctoral degree in
one of the biomedical, behavioral, or health sciences; have 5 years
or more postdoctoral experience; have professional experience in
one of the biomedical, behavioral, or health sciences for at least
2 of the last 4 years; hold a full-time appointment on the staff
of the USA nominating institution (which must be a non-Federal
public or private not-for-profit research, clinical, or educational
institution); be invited by a not-for-profit foreign institution;
and not be employed by the Federal government. Previous Senior
International Fellows may apply for a second award.
Number of awards: Approximately 40
Duration of awards: 3 to 12 months; split term is possible, minimum
3 month terms.
Application deadlines: January 10, May 10, September 10
Stipend for 1993-94: $15,000
Allowances and amounts: Round-trip fare, economy class on USA air
carrier, for Fellow; institutional allowance of up to $6,000 for 12
months (prorated for lesser periods); foreign living allowance:
$24,000.
2. Foreign Supported Fellowships for U. S. Scientists
Purpose of program: To enhance the exchange of research experience
and information in the biomedical, behavioral, and health sciences.
Citizenship: U. S. citizens or U.S permanent residents
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Biomedical, behavioral, and health sciences
Participating countries: England, Finland, France, Germany,
Ireland, Israel, Japan, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and Taiwan.
Other requirements: The eligibility requirements of each program
differ. At a minimum, each candidate must have an earned doctoral
degree and research experience in the proposed area of study as
demonstrated by publications in peer-reviewed scientific journals.
Brochures on each program are available upon request.
Number of awards: Varies with each country.
Duration of awards: 3 months to 12 months, but varies by country.
Application deadline: Applications to programs supported by Germany
and Taiwan can be submitted at any time; all other programs have an
annual receipt date of May 10.
Stipend for 1993-94: Varies with each country.
3. International Research Fellowship Program
Purpose of program: To provide opportunities for foreign postdoc-
toral scientists in the formative stages of their careers to extend
their research experience in a USA laboratory.
Citizenship: Approximately 50 countries and 4 regions/ areas
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Biomedical, behavioral, and health sciences
Other requirements: The applicant must hold an earned doctoral
degree (MD,PhD,DVM,DDS) or the equivalent in a health science
field; have demonstrated the ability to engage in independent basic
or clinical research; submit a research proposal in an area of one
of the biomedical or behavioral sciences; have a sponsor in the
USA at a nonprofit institution who has agreed to accept the
applicant for research on the applicant's proposed project; have
assurance from a nonprofit institution in the home country that
there is a position to which the applicant can return after
completion of the fellowship; and be proficient in spoken and
written English.
Number of awards: About 90
Duration of awards: 12-24 months
Application deadline: August 1 and November 15
Stipend for 1993-94: $21,000-$32,300 per year
Allowances and amounts: Round-trip fare, economy class on USA air
carrier, for Fellow; institutional allowance of $5,000 for
non-Federal Fellows.
4. Health and Biomedical Scientist Exchanges
This program is supported by bilateral agreements between the
USA and participating countries; therefore, similar
opportunities exist for scientists from participating countries.
Address for application information:
International Coordination and Liaison Branch
Fogarty International Center
Building 31, Room B2C11
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
a. Health Scientist Exchange Program
Purpose of program: To foster collaboration between health
professionals and scientists in the USA and Hungary,
Poland, Romania or Russia in studying health problems that are of
mutual interest and importance.
Citizenship: U. S. citizens or USA permanent residents
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Biomedical, behavioral and health sciences
Other requirements: The applicant must have professional experience
appropriate to the proposed study and be affiliated with a U. S. or
private nonprofit educational, research, or clinical institution.
Number of awards: Not specified
Duration of awards: 2-12 weeks (variations may be considered if
justified)
Application deadline: Continuous
Stipend for 1993-94: Awardees receive lodging, per diem, and
round-trip expenses.
b. Biomedical Research Exchanges
Purpose of program: To conduct collaborative biomedical research of
mutual benefit to the USA and Bulgaria.
Citizenship: USA citizens or U.S permanent residents
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Biomedical, behavioral, and health sciences
Other requirements: The applicant must have professional experience
appropriate to the proposed study, and be affiliated with a USA or
private nonprofit educational or research institution.
Number of awards: Not specified
Duration of awards: Short term (2-12 weeks); long term (3-6 months)
Application deadline: Continuous
Stipend for 1993-94: Awardees receive lodging, per diem, and
round-trip expenses.
5. Fogarty International Research Collaboration Award (FIRCA)
Purpose of Program: To facilitate cooperation and collaboration
between USA scientists and scientists in Central and Eastern
Europe, Latin America and the non-USA Caribbean that will expand
and enhance the NIH-supported research program of the USA
Principal Investigator and benefit the scientific interests of the
collaborating foreign scientist.
Field(s) supported: Biomedical, behavioral and health sciences
Other requirements: The USA applicant must be the Principal
Investigator of an NIH research project grant that will be active
and funded during the proposed grant award period. The foreign
collaborator must be from a country located in the geographical
regions commonly known as Central and Eastern Europe, Latin
America, or the non-USA Caribbean. Special application
instructions are necessary and are available from the International
Research and Awards Branch.
Number of awards: Dependant on budget allocation (estimated 40+ new
awards each year)
Duration of awards: 1-3 years, depending on the number of years
remaining on the NIH grant at time of award.
Application deadlines: October 1, February 1 and June 1
Stipend for 1993-94: Up to $20,000 in direct costs per year, for up
to three years. Funds may be used for: materials, supplies, and
equipment for the foreign scientist's research laboratory, and
travel and short-term living (per diem) expenses for the Principal
Investigator and/or the foreign collaborator, and their research
associates, as justified by the scientific needs of the project.
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION (FAO) OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Address for application information:
Contact FAO representative in home country.
1. Technical Assistance Fellowships
Purpose of program: To equip qualified personnel to aid technical,
economic, and social development of their own countries.
Citizenship: Nationals of countries with which agreements have been
signed under the United Nations Development Programme or Trust Fund
arrangements with various donor countries.
Level: Candidates must have basic and technical education and
practical experience in field of fellowship.
Other requirements: Awards made only as part of specific projects
of technical assistance operated by FAO.
Field(s) supported: Agriculture, fisheries, forestry, nutrition,
agricultural economics, and statistics.
Number of awards: About 1,000 per year.
Duration of awards: Ranges from 1 month to 5 years.
Stipend for 1993-94: Varies from country to country according to
rates established by the United Nations.
Allowances and amounts: Book allowance, termination allowance,
degree allowance (for thesis publication).
2. Andre Mayer Research Fellowships
Purpose of program: To provide opportunity for Fellows to carry out
selected research projects within the framework of FAO's current
Programme of Work.
Citizenship: Nationals of all member countries.
Level: Available to experienced and highly qualified research
workers for independent research.
Field(s) supported: Agriculture, fisheries, forestry, nutrition,
agricultural economics, and statistics.
Other requirements: Awards made only through governmental
designation.
Number of awards: About 4 every 2 years.
Duration of awards: From 1 to 2 years.
Stipend for 1993-94: Varies from country to country according to
rates established by the United Nations; $100 for family if
accompanying Fellow.
Allowances and amounts: No set allowances, as requests are
considered on an individual basis.
THE FORD FOUNDATION
Address for application information:
Fellowship Office
National Research Council
2101 Constitution Avenue
Washington, D. C. 20418
1. Ford Foundation Predoctoral and Dissertation Fellowships for
Minorities
Purpose of program: To increase the presence of underrepresented
minorities on the nation's college and university faculties by
offering doctoral fellowships to members of the six minority groups
most severely underrepresented in the nation's PhD population, the
pool from which colleges and universities draw their faculties.
Citizenship: USA
Eligible ethnic minority groups: Alaskan Natives (Eskimo or Aleut),
Native American Indians, Black/African Americans, Mexican
Americans/Chicanos, Native Pacific Islanders (Polynesian or
Micronesian), and Puerto Ricans
Level: Predoctoral (beginning graduate), Dissertation (all course
work and examinations completed)
Field(s) supported: Behavioral and social sciences, humanities,
engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, and biological
sciences, or interdisciplinary programs comprised of two or more
eligible disciplines. Awards will not be made in such areas as
business administration and management, health sciences, public
health, home economics, library science, speech pathology and
audiology, personnel and guidance, social work, fine arts and
performing arts, and education; in addition, awards will not be
made for work leading to terminal master's degrees, doctorates in
education (PhD or EdD), Doctor of Fine Arts (DFA) degrees, or
professional degrees in such areas as medicine, law, or business.
Other requirements: Predoctoral: Applicants must: 1) plan to work
toward the PhD or ScD degree; 2) not have completed, by the
beginning of the fall application period, more than 30 semester
hours, 45 quarter hours, or equivalent, of graduate-level study in
fields supported by this program; 3) have Graduate Record
Examinations (GRE) General Test scores from tests taken since
October 1, 1987.
Dissertation: Applicants must: 1) work toward the PhD or ScD
degree; 2) have finished all required course work and examinations
except for the defense of the dissertation; 3) be admitted to
degree candidacy by January 31 of the competition year; 4) expect
to complete the dissertation during the year of fellowship tenure,
but in no case later than fall of the following year.
Number of awards: Approximately 55 Predoctoral fellowships and 20
Dissertation fellowships
Duration of awards: Predoctoral - 3 years; Dissertation -1 year
Application deadline: November
Stipend for 1993-94: Predoctoral - $11,500 per year; Dissertation -
$18,000
Allowances and amounts: Predoctoral - $6,000 institutional grant in
lieu of tuition and fees; Dissertation - None
2. Ford Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowships for Minorities
Purpose of program: To enable teacher-scholars of high ability who
are members of minority groups that have been traditionally
underrepresented among the nation's behavioral and social
scientists, humanists, engineers, mathematicians, physical
scientists, and life scientists to engage in postdoctoral research
and scholarship in an environment free from the interference of
their normal professional duties. The goal is to help these
teacher-scholars achieve greater recognition in their respective
fields to develop the professional associations that will make them
more effective and productive in academic employment.
Citizenship: USA
Eligible ethnic minority groups: Native American Indians or Alaskan
Natives (Eskimo or Aleut), Black/African Americans, Mexican
Americans/Chicanos, Native Pacific Islanders (Micronesian or
Polynesian), and Puerto Ricans
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Behavioral and social sciences, humanities,
engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, and biological
sciences, or interdisciplinary programs comprised of two or more
eligible disciplines. Awards will not be made in professions such
as medicine, law, social work, library science, and such as
business administration and management, fine arts and performing
arts, speech pathology and audiology, health sciences, public
health, home economics, personnel and guidance, and education.
Other requirements: Applicants must: 1) have earned the PhD degree
or ScD degree for no more than seven years as of the application
deadline date; 2) be preparing for, or already engaged in, college
or university teaching or research.
Number of awards: Approximately 25
Duration of awards: 9 or 12 months
Application deadline: January
Stipend for 1993-94: $25,000
Allowances and amounts: Travel and relocation allowance up to
maximum of $3,000; cost-of-research allowance of $2,000
administered by the fellowship institution; $2,500 grant-in-aid to
home institution for Fellow's use upon completion of fellowship
tenure.
Title : NSF 93-147 -- A Selected List of Fellowship and Other Support
Opportunities for Advanced Education
Type : Report
NSF Org: EHR
Date : March 7, 1995
File : ns93147d
GERMAN ACADEMIC EXCHANGE SERVICE (DAAD)
Address for application information:
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
950 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
1. Study Visit Research Grants for Faculty
Purpose of program: To sponsor research projects in Germany
Citizenship: USA
Level: Faculty members/ researchers
Field(s) supported: Unrestricted
Other requirements: At least 2 years teaching and/or research
experience after PhD or equivalent
Number of awards: Variable
Duration of awards: 1 to 3 months
Application deadline: November 1
Stipend for 1993: DM 3,000 to DM 3,300 per month
Allowances and amounts: Monthly maintenance allowance and travel
subsidy
2. Research Grants for Recent PhDs and PhD Candidates
Purpose of program: To sponsor dissertation or postdoctoral
research
Citizenship: USA
Level: Dissertation, postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Unrestricted
Other requirements: Age limits: Doctoral candidates-32 years;
Postdoctoral candidates-35 years
Number of awards: Variable
Duration of awards: 2 to 6 months
Application deadline: November 1
Stipend for 1993: DM 1,555 per month
Allowances and amounts: Monthly maintenance allowance, possible
domestic travel subsidy
3. DAAD-Fulbright Grants
Address for application information:
Fulbright advisor on campus, or
Institute of International Education
809 United Nations Plaza
New York, New York 10017
Purpose of program: To sponsor graduate studies at German
universities, and research in connection with doctoral dissertation
Citizenship: USA
Level: Graduate, dissertation
Field(s) supported: Unrestricted
Other requirements: Good knowledge of German language required; age
limit-32 years
Duration of awards: 1 academic year
Application deadline: October 31
Stipend for 1993: Monthly allowance, international travel, etc.
Information concerning the following may be obtained from the
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD): language courses; programs
dealing with various aspects of political, economic and cultural
life in modern-day Germany; fellowships for research in social,
communal and intellectual history of German-speaking Jewry; grants
for studying the structure and function of German law; and visits
by student groups to study specific German subjects and/or
institutions.
GERMAN MARSHALL FUND OF THE UNITED STATES
Address for application information:
The German Marshall Fund of the USA
11 Dupont Circle, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
Title of program: Research Fellowship Program
Purpose of program: To improve the understanding of significant
contemporary economic, political, and social developments involving
the USA and Europe; to assist established USA scholars
at various stages in their academic careers.
Citizenship: USA citizens or permanent residents
Level: Postdoctoral or equivalent
Field(s) supported: Projects may focus on either comparative
domestic or international issues.
Other requirements: Applicants must have completed all degree
requirements by the time of application, and should have completed
one or more research projects which have received critical review.
The program will not support preparation for any degree. The
following selection criteria are important: scholarly
qualifications, achievements, and promise; originality and
importance of the proposed work; contemporary relevance of the
project; and likelihood of completing the proposed project during
the Fellowship period.
Number of awards: Approximately 11
Duration of awards: 4 months to 1 year
Application deadline: November 15
Stipend for 1992-93: $30,000
Allowances and amounts: $2,000 for travel
JOHN SIMON GUGGENHEIM MEMORIAL FOUNDATION
Address for application information:
John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation
90 Park Avenue
New York, New York 10016
Title of program: Fellowships
Purpose of program: To further the development of scholars and
artists by assisting them to engage in research in any field of
knowledge and creation in any of the arts, under the freest
possible conditions and irrespective of race, color, or creed.
Citizenship: There are two annual competitions-one open to citizens
and permanent residents of the USA and Canada, and the
other to citizens and permanent residents of Latin America and the
Caribbean.
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Any field of knowledge and creation in any of
the arts.
Other requirements: These Fellowships are on an advanced
professional level, awarded to men and women who have already
demonstrated exceptional capacity for productive scholarship or
exceptional creative ability in the arts.
Number of awards: About 175
Duration of awards: 1 year generally (not more than 12 months, or
fewer than 6)
Application deadline: October 1 (USA and Canada);
December 1 (Latin America and the Caribbean).
Stipend for 1992-93: About $26,000 (average)
HEART AND STROKE FOUNDATION OF CANADA
Address for application information:
160 George Street, Suite 200
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada K1N 9M2
1. Research Scholarships
Purpose of program: To support individuals who have demonstrated
ability for research and desire to undertake independent research
in cardiovascular or cerebrovascular fields.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Cardiovascular or cerebrovascular fields
Other requirements: For tenure at Canadian universities only;
applicant must be nominated by host institution.
Number of awards: 40
Duration of awards: 5 years
Application deadline: September
Stipend for 1992-93: $42,015 to $53,305
Allowances and amounts: $1,500 travel allowance
2. Research Fellowships
Purpose of program: To provide funds for research development and
training in the cardiovascular or cerebrovascular fields.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular fields
Number of awards: 70
Duration of awards: 2 years post PhD; 3 years post MD
Application deadline: November 15
Stipend for 1992-93: $26,790 to $42,585
Allowances and amounts: $1,000 travel allowance
FANNIE AND JOHN HERTZ FOUNDATION
Address for application information:
Fannie and John Hertz Foundation
Box 5032
Livermore, California 94551-5032
Title of program: Fellowships
Purpose of program: To support graduate students in the applied
physical sciences
Citizenship: USA
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: Engineering and applied physics, applied
chemistry, applied mathematics; not joint PhD/Professional Degree
programs.
Other requirements: During last two years of undergraduate study,
a GPA of A- or better; a bachelor's degree by the time Fellowship
tenure begins; attendance at one of 29 specified graduate schools.
Number of awards: About 25 per year
Duration of awards: 4 years, on average; 5 years maximum
Application deadline: October 24
Stipend for 1993-94: $16,000
Allowances and amounts: $8,000 to $10,000
HOWARD HUGHES MEDICAL INSTITUTE
1. Howard Hughes Medical Institute Predoctoral Fellowships in
Biological Sciences
Address for application information:
Fellowship Office
National Research Council
2101 Constitution Avenue
Washington, D. C. 20418
Purpose of program: To promote excellence in biomedical research by
helping prospective researchers with exceptional promise obtain
high-quality graduate education.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: Biochemistry, biophysics, biostatistics, cell
biology and regulation, developmental biology, epidemiology,
genetics, immunology, mathematical biology, microbiology, molecular
biology, neuroscience, pharmacology, physiology, structural
biology, virology
Other requirements: Fellowships are intended for students at or
near the beginning of their graduate study toward a PhD or ScD
degree in the designated fields. Those eligible at the time of
application may be college seniors, college graduates with no or
limited postbaccalaureate graduate study in the biological
sciences, and first-year graduate students, or others who have
completed a limited amount of graduate work, including individuals
who are pursuing or who hold the MPH, MD, DDS, or DVM for support
for work toward the PhD or ScD degree in the biological sciences
listed above. Applicants whose primary language is not English are
required to submit recent scores from the Test of English as a
Foreign Language (TOEFL). Fellows who are not citizens or nationals
of the USA may study only at appropriate nonprofit USA
institutions; Fellows who are USA citizens or nationals may study
in the USA or abroad. All applicants must have scores from the
Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test; in addition, it is
desirable that all applicants have scores from a GRE Subject Test
in the field most closely related to their chosen area of graduate
study.
Number of awards: 66
Duration of awards: Three years with option to extend for an
additional two years
Application deadline: November
Stipend for 1993-94: $14,000
Allowances and amounts: $12,700 cost-of-education allowance in lieu
of tuition and fees
2. Research Training Fellowships for Medical Students
Address for application materials:
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Office of Grants and Special Programs
4000 Jones Bridge Road
Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815-6789
Purpose of program: To strengthen and expand the pool of medically
trained researchers by enabling selected medical students with an
interest in fundamental research to spend a year of intensive work
at a research laboratory.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Graduate
Fields supported: Biochemistry, biophysics, biostatistics, cell
biology and regulation, developmental biology, epidemiology,
genetics, immunology, mathematical biology, microbiology, molecular
biology neuroscience, pharmacology, physiology, structural biology,
and virology.
Other eligibility: Applicants must be enrolled in MD or DO degree
programs in medical schools in the USA Students may apply during
any year of their medical studies, but applications in the fourth
year must defer graduation until completion of the fellowship year.
The fellowships are not available to students enrolled in MD/PhD,
PhD, or ScD programs or to holders of the Phd or ScD degree.
Fellowship research must be conducted at an academic or not-for-
profit research institution in the USA, but not at the National
Institutes of Health.
Number of awards: 60
Duration of awards: One year
Application deadline: Early December
Stipend for 1993-94: $14,000
Allowances and amounts: $4,500 research allowance; $4,700
institutional allowance
3. Postdoctoral Research Fellowships for Physicians
Address for application information:
Howard Hughes Medical Institute
Office of Grants and Special Programs
4000 Jones Bridge Road
Chevy Chase, Maryland 20815-6789
Purpose of program: To support physician-scientists who are seeking
additional research training with a view to becoming independent
investigators when they assume faculty positions
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral
Fields supported: Biochemistry, biophysics, biostatistics, cell
biology and regulation, developmental biology, epidemiology,
genetics, immunology, mathematical biology, microbiology, molecular
biology, neuroscience, pharmacology, physiology, structural
biology, and virology
Other eligibility: Applicants must have attained the first medical
degree (MD, MD/PhD, MBBS, DO) no earlier than 1984. Prior to start
of fellowship, applicant must have completed at least 2 years of
postgraduate clinical training and must not have completed more
than 2 years of fundamental research training. There are no
citizenship requirements, but applicants who are not USA citizens
must carry out their proposed research training at a USA
institution and must have and maintain an appropriate visa. The
Institute will not handle visa matters for applicants.
Number of awards: 25
Duration of awards: Three years
Application deadline: Early January
Stipend for 1993-94: $35,000-$55,000
Allowances and amounts: Annually, $15,000 research allowance;
$12,000 institutional allowance
HUGHES AIRCRAFT COMPANY
Address for application information:
Hughes Aircraft Company
Corporate Fellowship and Rotation Programs
P.O. Box 80028 (C1/B168)
Los Angeles, California 90080-0028
Purpose of program: To enable young men and women to attain
advanced degrees in engineering and scientific disciplines.
Types of programs: Work-Study Fellows attend a university near a
Hughes facility in order to work between 20 and 36 hours per week
for the company while studying part time. Full-Study Fellows attend
a university distant from a Hughes facility and are on leave of
absence from the company while studying full time.
Citizenship: USA
Field(s) supported: Electrical, computer, mechanical, systems, and
aerospace engineering; computer science; applied mathematics;
physics.
Duration of awards: 1 year (renewable as required)
Number of awards: Approximately 50
Stipend for 1992-93: Work-Study-$3,000; Full-Study-$12,000
Stipend for 1993-94: Undetermined at this time; however, will
probably be the same as 1992-93.
Allowances and benefits: Educational expenses; salary for periods
of work at Hughes; Hughes Employees' benefits; travel and
relocation expenses.
1. Bachelor's Scholarship Program (Most awards are Work-Study)
Level: Undergraduate
Other requirements: 1. Upper Division standing or an AA degree with
a major interest in the fields listed above; 2. overall grade-point
average of at least 3.0 out of a possible 4.0 for work completed
during first 2 years of undergraduate study; 3. ten to twelve weeks
of full-time employment during the summer months prior to beginning
of study in the fall. Work-Study Scholars attend one of the Univer-
sity of California or California State University campuses located
in Southern California; the California Institute of Technology; the
University of Southern California; or Loyola Marymount University.
Application deadline: March 15
Allowances and amounts: Tuition, books, miscellaneous academic
fees.
2. Master's Fellowship Program (Work-Study or Full-Study)
Level: Graduate
Other requirements: 1. A Bachelor's degree in one of the fields
listed above; 2. overall grade-point average of at least 3.0 out of
a possible 4.0 or the equivalent upon graduation (emphasis is
placed on electronics and related disciplines); 3. admission to
graduate school without condition; 4. ten to thirteen weeks of
full-time work prior to beginning graduate study on the fellowship.
Most Work-Study Fellows attend one of the University of California
or California State University campuses located in Southern
California; the California Institute of Technology; the University
of Southern California; or Loyola Marymount University.
Application deadline: For course work to begin with the fall term,
spring graduates should submit applications by March 15, though
earlier application is recommended. For MS Fellowship awards
starting in January, completed applications should be submitted by
September 15.
Allowances and amounts: Tuition, books, miscellaneous academic
fees, stipend.
3. Doctoral Fellowship Program (Work-Study or Full-Study)
Level: Graduate
Other requirements: 1. A Master's degree or equivalent graduate
study in one of the fields listed above; 2. academic standing in
the top percentile of the class (minimum grade-point average in
undergraduate and graduate studies should be 3.5 out of 4.0 or the
equivalent); 3. admission to an approved graduate school without
condition; 4. qualified to pursue doctoral work in the field
selected. Most Work-Study Fellows attend the University of
California at Los Angeles, the University of Southern California,
or the California Institute of Technology; Full-Study Fellows
attend universities throughout the USA including the
University of California at Berkeley; Stanford University;
Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Cornell University;
University of Arizona; University of Colorado; Georgia Institute of
Technology; University of Illinois; University of Michigan; Purdue
University and other major institutions. Note: Applicants with
graduate study beyond the master's degree will be given special
consideration for awards.
Application deadline: January 10
Allowances and amounts: Tuition, books, miscellaneous academic
fees, stipend.
HUMAN FRONTIER SCIENCE PROGRAM ORGANIZATION (HFSPO)
Address for application information:
20, place des Halles
67000 Strasbourg Cedex
France
1. Human Frontier Science Program Long-Term Fellowships
Purpose of program: To promote, through international cooperation,
basic research into the complex mechanisms of living organisms,
including man, and to make results available worldwide: to
encourage, early in their careers, researchers to play an important
role in originating and pursuing creative research.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: 1) Basic research for the elucidation of brain
functions. Priority areas are perception and cognition; movement
and behavior; memory and learning; and language and thinking. 2)
Basic research for the elucidation of biological functions through
molecular level approaches. Priority areas are expression of
genetic information; morphogenesis; molecular recognition and
responses; and energy conversion.
Other requirements: Scientists have to be from one of the eligible
countries to work in another country; candidates from non-eligible
countries may apply for fellowships to work in any of the eligible
countries which are all EC member states, USA, Canada, Japan,
Switzerland. Candidates must not start their fellowship later than
5 years after PhD and are not expected to move within the same
country; HFSPO fellowships cannot be held in the same country where
the candidate obtained his PhD.
Number of awards: 128 in 1992
Duration of awards: 1-2 years
Application deadline: 30 September
Stipend for 1993-94: Approximately $44,000 per year.
Allowances and amounts: Travel and removal cost to and from host
country; research expenses; travel expenses; living allowance;
family allowance; and language training.
2. Human Frontier Science Program Short-Term Fellowships
Purpose of program: To promote through international cooperation
basic research into the complex mechanisms of living organisms,
including man, and to make results available worldwide; to
encourage, early in their careers, researchers who are expected to
play an important role in originating and pursuing creative
research.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: 1. Basic research for the elucidation of brain
functions. Priority areas are perception and cognition; movement
and behavior; memory and learning; and language and thinking. 2.
Basic research for the elucidation of biological functions through
molecular level approaches. Priority areas are expression of
genetic information; morphogenesis; molecular recognition and
responses; and energy conversion.
Other requirements: Scientists have to be from one of the eligible
countries to work in another country; candidates from non-eligible
countries may apply for fellowships to work in any of the eligible
countries which are all EC member states, USA, Canada, Japan,
Switzerland. Short-term fellowships are reserved for those who
wish to work for a short period up to three months in another
country to learn or develop new techniques or use instruments not
available in their own country.
Number of awards: About 20 (in 1991).
Duration of awards: 2 weeks to 3 months
Application deadline: None
Stipend for 1993-94: Approximately $60. per diem.
Allowances and amounts: Travel to and from host institute.
INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE
Address for application information:
Indian Health Service Scholarship Program
Twinbrook Metro Plaza, Suite 100
12300 Twinbrook Parkway
Rockville, Maryland 20852
1. Health Professions Preparatory Scholarship Program for Indians
Purpose of program: To provide financial support for Indian
students to enroll in courses leading to baccalaureate degrees in
preprofessional health disciplines.
Citizenship: USA
Eligible ethnic minority groups: American Indians, Alaskan Natives
Level: Undergraduate
Field(s) supported: Pre-accounting, pre-engineering, pre-medical
technology, pre-nursing, pre-pharmacy, pre-physical therapy, pre-
sanitation. Category emphasis changes annually.
Other requirements: Priority is given to students in their junior
or senior years of college. Applicants must: 1) maintain good
standing with their respective colleges; 2) be high school
graduates or equivalent; 3) have capacity to complete a health
professional course of study; 4) be enrolled full-time, or accepted
for full-time enrollment, in a baccalaureate degree program in an
eligible field.
Number of awards: Approximately 100 (new and renewal)
Duration of awards: Up to 2 years
Application deadline: Mid-May
Stipend for 1992-93: $736 per month
2. Health Professions Scholarship Program
Purpose of program: To provide financial assistance to students
enrolled in health professions and allied health professions
programs.
Citizenship: USA
Eligible ethnic minority groups: American Indians, Alaskan Natives
Level: Undergraduate, graduate
Field(s) supported: Chemical dependency counseling (Masters level
only), substance abuse services (Masters of Science in Management -
MSM), clinical psychology (PhD only), counseling psychology (PhD
only), computer science (BS), dentistry, dietician (BS),
engineering (civil, environmental and mechanical-BS), health
education (Masters level only), medicine (allopathic and
osteopathic), nurse practitioner (RNA, CNM, FNP), nursing (ADN,
BSN, MSN), optometry, pharmacy (BS), physician assistant (BS),
physical therapy, public health (MPH only), public health nutrition
(Masters level only), radiologic technology, sanitarian (BS
environmental health, environmental science and occupational safety
and health), sonography, accounting (BS), para-optometric.
Other requirements: Applicant must: 1) be high school graduate or
equivalent; 2) be enrolled, or accepted for enrollment, in a
full-time study program leading to a degree in a nationally
accredited health related professions school in the USA Awardees
must enter into a service obligation for a minimum of 2 years to
provide health services on completion of their health education
program, i.e., for each year of scholarship support the recipient
must enter service in one of the following: Indian Health Service
(may include assignment to a tribal health program); urban Indian
organization assisted under Title V of Public Law (P.L.) 94-437;
private practice in a designated health manpower shortage area
addressing the health care needs of a substantial number of
Indians; or a program conducted under contract entered into under
the Indian Self Determination Act (P.L. 93-638).
Duration of awards: Up to 4 calendar years
Application deadline: Mid-May
Stipend for 1992-93: $767 per month
Allowances and amounts: Tuition and required fees; $300 for travel
INSTITUTE FOR ADVANCED STUDY
Address for application information:
Administrative Officer of specific school
Institute for Advanced Study
Olden Lane
Princeton, New Jersey 08540
Title of program: Postdoctoral Study
Purpose of program: To provide opportunity for postdoctoral
research for scholars of unusual ability and achievement
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: The School of Historical Studies is concerned
generally with the history of western and near eastern
civilization, emphasizing in particular Greek and Roman
civilization, Islamic Culture, and the history of art; School of
Mathematics-pure mathematics; School of Natural Sciences-theoret-
ical physics in the fields of particle physics, field theory,
astrophysics, and theoretical biophysics; School of Social Science-
multidisciplinary, comparative and international approach to
historical and contemporary problems.
Number of awards: 150-160
Duration of awards: Generally for the academic year; occasionally
for one term
Application deadline: October 15 for Historical Studies; December
1 for Mathematics and Social Science; December 15 for Natural
Sciences.
Stipend: Varies according to school and seniority of visiting
member.
Allowances and amounts: Some travel allowances.
INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION
1. Fulbright Grants
Address for application information:
USA Student Programs Division
Institute of International Education
809 United Nations Plaza
New York, New York 10017-3580
Title of Program: Fulbright Grants
Purpose of Program: To enable the government of the USA
to increase mutual understanding between the people of the USA and
the people of other countries through the exchange of persons,
knowledge, and skills.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Graduate
Field(s) Supported: Open to all fields of study where conditions
permit.
Other Requirements: B.A. or equivalent by the beginning of date of
the grant; proficiency in the language of the country of
application sufficient to carry out proposed study or research;
good health.
Number of awards: Approximately 600
Duration of awards: One academic year
Application deadline: October 31
Stipend for 1992-93: Varies
Allowances and amounts: Grants are calculated on the costs of
travel to and from and the cost of living in the host country. Also
included, settling-in allowances, tuition waivers, if applicable.
2. Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program
Address for application information:
Note: Applications are received from and submitted to USA
Information Service Posts (usually within American Embassy) or
Fulbright Commissions within the candidates home countries.
Purpose of program: To provide mid-career professionals from
developing countries (including selected European countries) with
a year of study and related professional experience, and to provide
them with a shared experience of American society and culture, and
exposure to current approaches to the fields in which they work.
Citizenship: Citizens of developing countries, including selected
Eastern European and CIS countries.
Level: Graduate; however the level of education of participants
varies from bachelor's degree to PhD or MD.
Field(s) supported: Natural Resources and Environmental Management;
Public Policy Analysis and Public Administration; Economic
Development; Agricultural Development/Agricultural Economics;
Finance and Banking; Human Resource Management/Personnel; Urban and
Regional Planning; Public Health Policy and Management; Technology
Policy and Management; Educational Planning; and
Communications/Journalism.
Other requirements: Candidates must apply from within their home
country. Minimum qualifications include an undergraduate degree,
five years of substantive professional experience (within home
country immediately prior to award), demonstrated leadership
qualities, and fluency in English (TOEFL scores required).
Number of awards: Approximately 140 each year
Application deadline: Dependent upon country.
Allowances and amounts: Fellowships include travel, tuition,
medical coverage and monthly stipend.
INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY (IAEA)
Address for application information:
The atomic energy establishment of the applicant's country
Title of program: IAEA Fellowship Program
Purpose of program: To train the necessary personnel to undertake
the development of nuclear energy applications for peaceful
purposes in their own countries.
Citizenship: Citizens of economically developing countries,
countries that are members of the United Nations, or of one of the
specialized agencies, or of the IAEA.
Level: Graduate, postdoctoral, or equivalent of graduate in
technical training or experience.
Field(s) supported: Peaceful uses of nuclear energy: agriculture,
medicine, biology, hydrology, industry, engineering and technology,
and safety in nuclear energy.
Other requirements: Applicant must be a non-USA national who is a
scientist, technologist, teacher or administrator in some aspect of
nuclear science; have English language competence, and suitable
professional background. Needs of the country concerned, number of
fellowships previously awarded to nationals of that country, and
evidence and assurance that the Fellow's training will be
effectively utilized for two years on his/her return home, will be
considered.
Number of awards: 75-90 new awards
Duration of awards: Approximately 3 to 12 months
Application deadline: No established deadlines
Stipend for 1992: $810 to $1,580 per month
Allowances and amounts: Book allowance ($60 per month), health
insurance, international travel (round trip to USA and return),
research and tuition fees (if any).
INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH & EXCHANGES BOARD (IREX)
Address for application information:
Internatonal Research & Exchanges Board
1616 H Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006
1. Edmund S. Muskie Fellowship Program
Purpose of program: Grants to citizens of the countries of
Azarbaijan, the Baltics, Georgia, and the Commonwealth of
Independent States for graduate study in the Untied States in law,
public administration, economics, and business administration.
Level: Graduate
Fields supported: Law, public administration, economics, and
business administration only
Other eligibility: Applicants must take TOEFL plus GRE, GMAT, or
LSAT as appropriate; be under 40 years of age; lack of alternate
funding in the USA; hold an undergraduate degree; know
English.
Number of awards: 150 in 1992-93 academic year
Duration of awards: Up to two years
Application deadline for 1994: Fall 1993
Stipend: Stipend, tuition, room, board, international
transportation, domestic transportation in the USA, and
health insurance.
2. Developmental Fellowships
Purpose of program: To prepare scholars for eventual field research
in Azarbaijan, the Baltics, Eastern Europe, Georgia, and the
Commonwealth of Independent States. Preference is given to under-
represented disciplines, development of competence in under-studied
geographic areas, and/or development of dual area competence.
Citizenship: United State citizen or permanent resident
Level: Advanced doctoral candidacy, postdoctoral
Fields supported: Preference for scholars in fields such as
archaeology, anthropology, business, economics, geography,
demography, law, musicology, political science, psychology,
sociology, and other fields underrepresented in American research
on the region.
Other eligibility: All successful Developmental Fellows should
expect to apply for a subsequent IREX exchange grant to undertake
research in the region. These fellowships are intended for
training within the USA. No support is given for routine
graduate course work or dissertation research.
Number of awards: 19 for the 1992-93 academic year
Duration of awards: 3 to 24 months
Application deadline: February 15
Stipend for 1993-94:
Allowances and amounts:
3. Individual Advanced Research Opportunities for USA scholars in
Azarbaijan, the Baltics, the Commonwealth of Independent States,
and Georgia
Purpose of program: Placement and access for advanced predoctoral
and postdoctoral scholars at institutions in Azarbaijan, the
Baltics, Georgia, and the Commonwealth of Independent Sates,
depending on research needs.
Citizenship: USA citizen or permanent resident
Level: Advanced doctoral candidacy and postdoctoral
Fields supported: All fields eligible; priority given to humanities
and social sciences.
Other eligibility: Command of language of host country sufficient
for research; affiliation with USA university as faculty member or
advanced doctoral candidate.
Number of awards: 60 for the 1992-93 academic year
Duration of awards: 2 to 12 months
Application deadline: November 1, 1992 for participation during
academic year 1993-94
Stipend: Stipend in lieu of salary
Allowances and amounts: Round-trip transportation, lodging and
local costs, research allowance
4. Individual Advanced Research Opportunities for USA Scholars in
Eastern Europe
Purpose of program: Long-term research placement and access for
predoctoral and postdoctoral scholars at institutions in Albania,
Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the former
Yugoslav Republics
Citizenship: USA citizen or permanent resident
Level: Advanced doctoral candidacy, postdoctoral
Other eligibility: Exchange applicants in modern foreign languages
and area studies must apply simultaneously for Department of
Education Fulbright-Hays grants
Number of awards: 55 grants for 1992-93
Application deadline: November 1 for following year
Stipend: All grantees receive a dollar stipend prior to departure;
graduate students receive a monthly allowance; salaried
participants receive up to one-half salary pro-rated for the grant
period
Allowances and amounts: Host country will provide stipend in local
currency, book and photocopy allowance, housing for the participant
and family (except in the former Yugoslav republics, where a
nominal housing allowance is supplemented by IREX), free medical
care; international transportation; allowances for passport, visa
fees, and excess baggage expenses; married grantees with family
accompanying for four or more months receive a contribution for
family airfare; graduate students in this category also receive a
family maintenance allowance.
5. Individual Advanced Research Opportunities in the USA
for Scholar from Azarbaijan, the Baltics, Commonwealth of
Independent States, and Georgia
Purpose of program: Long-term and short-term research placement and
access for predoctoral and postdoctoral scholars at institutions in
the USA, depending on project needs.
Citizenship: Countries of Azarbaijan, the Baltics, Georgia, or the
Commonwealth of Independent States
Level: Advanced predoctoral and postdoctoral
Other eligibility: Candidate of Science degree; command of English
sufficient for research; affiliation with university or research
institution
Number of awards: 65 for 1991-92
Duration of awards: Under negotiation
Application deadline: Under negotiation
Stipend: Under negotiation
Allowances and amounts:
6. Individual Advanced Research Opportunities in the USA for
Scholars from Eastern Europe
Purpose of program: Long-term research placement and access for
predoctoral and postdoctoral scholars from institutions in Albania,
Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and the former
Yugoslav Republics
Citizenship: Albania, Bulgaria, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Poland,
Romania, and the former Yugoslav Republics
Level: Advanced doctoral candidate and postdoctoral
Fields supported: Open to scholars from all fields
Other eligibility: Command of English sufficient for advanced
academic research; normally, affiliation with a university or
research institution as a faculty member or advanced doctoral
candidate.
Number of awards: 65 for 1992-93
Application deadline: varies
Allowances and amounts: From sending country: international
transportation; from IREX: housing for participant and family
(except scholars from the former Yugoslav Republics who receive a
normal housing supplement); stipend, book and photocopy allowance,
research funds; domestic travel for participants; medical insurance
for participants.
INTERNATIONAL UNION AGAINST CANCER
Address for application information:
International Union Against Cancer
3, rue du Conseil-General
1205 Geneva, Switzerland
Citizenship: Unrestricted
1. American Cancer Society International Cancer Research
Fellowships
Purpose of program: To work in collaboration with outstanding
scientists abroad on original projects in the basic, clinical, or
behavioral areas of cancer research.
Level: Open to highly qualified and recognized senior investigators
who have been actively engaged in cancer research for at least five
years.
Number of awards: Approximately 15
Duration of awards: Minimum of 6 and maximum of 12 months.
Application deadline: October 1
Allowances and amounts: Average award value: US$30,000. Stipends
are based on the candidates' cost estimates and adjusted to UICC
scales. Allowances are made for a spouse and 2 children under 18,
if they accompany the Fellow for a minimum of 6 months. A
contribution is made towards least expensive international return
travel for the Fellow and all eligible dependents.
2. Yamagiwa-Yoshida Memorial International Cancer Study Grants
Purpose of program: To establish bilateral research projects which
exploit complementary materials or skills, including advanced
training in experimental methods and special techniques.
Level: Open to experienced and scientifically or medically
qualified investigators who are actively engaged in cancer
research.
Number of awards: Approximately 15
Duration of awards: Periods between 1 and 3 months; extendable by
original duration
Application deadline: January 1 and July 1
Allowances and amounts: Average grant value: US$8,000. Grants
comprise contributions toward living expenses for up to 3 months
and least expensive international return travel. No support for
dependents.
3. International Cancer Technology Transfer Fellowships (ICRETT)
Purpose of program: To go abroad to learn or to teach up-to-date
research techniques, to transfer appropriate technology, or to
acquire advanced expertise in clinical management, diagnostic, and
therapeutic skills.
Level: Open to scientifically or medically qualified cancer
investigators and clinicians who are actively engaged in cancer
research or clinical oncology practice.
Number of awards: Approximately 120
Duration of awards: Up to 3 months
Application deadline: Applications may be submitted at any time.
Allowances and amounts: Average award value: US$2,800. Awards
comprise contributions towards living expenses for up to 1 month
and least expensive international return travel. Home and/or host
institutes are encouraged to provide living expenses for longer
periods. No support for dependents.
W.K. KELLOGG FOUNDATION
Address for application information:
The Kellogg National Fellowship Program
W.K. Kellogg Foundation
P.O. Box 5196
Battle Creek, Michigan 49016-5196
Title of program: National Fellowship Program
Purpose of program: To foster the development of effective and
broad leadership skills and abilities.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Candidates must be in the early years of their careers and
have exhibited leadership potential. Candidates are judged on the
basis of emerging leadership rather than on academic accomplish-
ments. Awards are not given for research or academic degree study.
Field(s) supported: All fields; special emphasis on agriculture,
education, health, and leadership.
Number of awards: Up to 50
Duration of awards: 3 years.
Application deadline: December 15
Grant for 3 year period: $35,000
Allowances and amounts: 12 1/2% of salary (up to a limit) to
employer.
KENNEDY MEMORIAL TRUST
Address for application information:
Kennedy Memorial Trust
16 Great College Street
London SW1P 3RX
England
Title of program: Kennedy Scholarships (The British national
memorial to President John F. Kennedy)
Purpose of program: To provide opportunity for postgraduate study
at Harvard University or Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Citizenship: United Kingdom
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: Unrestricted
Other requirements: Candidates must: 1) be British citizens at the
time of application who are resident in the United Kingdom or have
been wholly or mainly educated there; 2) have graduated not more
than 3 years before the year of the scholarship from a United
Kingdom university, university college or polytechnic; or 3) be
currently studying for a first or higher degree and have spent two
of the last five years at their university, college or polytechnic
and will have graduated prior to taking up a scholarship. Qualities
of personal character as well as intellectual attainment and
promise will be considered. Preference will be given to candidates
who intend to pursue social or political studies, interpreted in
the widest sense.
Number of awards: Up to 12
Duration of awards: 1 year; 2 years exceptionally
Application deadline: End of October
Stipend for 1993-94: At least $11,500
Allowances and amounts: Travel, tuition, health benefits
LALOR FOUNDATION
Address for application information:
Lalor Foundation
Building C-100F
3801 Kennett Pike
Wilmington, Delaware 19807
Title of program: Research Awards
Purpose of program: To promote intensive research in the areas
indicated and to assist and encourage able young investigators in
academic positions to follow research careers in mammalian
reproductive physiology.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Mammalian reproductive physiology and
biochemistry for yielding improved methods of sterilization,
contraception and/or termination of pregnancy.
Other requirements: Candidate must have earned a doctoral degree
(younger people who have held the doctorate for less than 5 years
are preferred). The institution proposed for research must be
tax-exempt.
Number of awards: 15
Duration of awards: 1 year
Application deadline: January 15
Stipend for 1993-94: Up to $20,000 (grants may range up to $20,000;
this must cover stipend, overhead, laboratory and miscellaneous
expenses; institutional overhead may not exceed 8%).
LATIN AMERICAN SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM OF AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES
(LASPAU)
Address for application information:
LASPAU
25 Mt. Auburn Street
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138
Title of program: Scholarships
Purpose of program: To upgrade the teaching, research, technical-
-assistance, and administrative staffs of universities and develop-
ment-related institutions in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Citizenship: Latin American and Caribbean nationals
Level: Graduate, principally
Field(s) supported: All fields of study with the exception of
professional-degree programs in medicine and veterinary medicine
Other requirements: Scholarship recipients must be nominated by
participating institutions that guarantee their re-employment upon
completion of program. Tenable only at USA and Caribbean
institutions.
Number of awards: Approximately 350 per year
Duration of awards: 1 to 4 years (length of academic program plus
English language training)
Application deadline: June
Stipend for 1993-94: Approximately $12,000 per year (including in-
surance and educational-materials allowance)
Allowances and amounts: Monthly maintenance rate depends on
location of studies; allowances for educational materials,
conference attendance, research expenses, thesis preparation,
medical insurance.
MARSHALL AID COMMEMORATION COMMISSION
Address for application information:
Mid-Eastern Region:
British Embassy
Cultural Department
3100 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008
Mid-Western Region:
British Consulate-General
33 North Dakota Street
Chicago, Illinois 60602
North-Eastern Region:
British Consulate-General
25th Floor
Federal Reserve Plaza
600 Atlantic Avenue
Boston, Massachusetts 02210
Southern Region:
British Consulate-General
Suite 2700
Marquis One Tower
245 Peachtree Center Avenue
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Pacific Region:
British Consulate-General
1 Sansome Street
San Francisco, California 94104
or
Reference Division
British Information Services
845 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Title of Program: British Marshall Scholarships
Purpose of Program: To enable young Americans of high ability to
study for a degree at a British University.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Graduate
Field(s) Supported: Unrestricted
Other Requirements: Aged not more than 26 years by October 1 of the
year in which the award is made; be a graduate of (or about to
graduate from) a 4-year college of university in the USAA.; and
have maintained, after the Freshman year, a GPA of 3.7 (A-) or
better.
Number of awards: 40
Duration of awards: 2 years with possible extension for third year
Application deadline: October 12
Allowances and amounts for 1993-94: About ?12,500 which includes
payment of tuition fees; residence and cost of living expenses;
travel to and from the USA; and, grant for books, thesis
preparation, and approved travel in connection with studies.
Allowance for dependent spouse may be provided.
MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES RESEARCH INSTITUTE
Address for application information:
Mathematical Sciences Research Institute
1000 Centennial Drive
Berkeley, California 94720
Title of program: Mathematical Sciences Research Institute Research
Positions
Purpose of program: To provide opportunities for mathematical
research.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: All fields in the mathematical sciences
Other requirements: Applicant must be no more than five years
beyond the PhD; positions tenable only at the Institute.
Number of awards: Approximately 20
Duration of awards: 1 year
Application deadline: November 30
Stipend for 1993-94: $30,000
Allowances and amounts: Travel allowance, limited to $500 for USA
applicants; can be higher for foreign applicants.
MEDICAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA
Address for application information:
Medical Research Council of Canada
Tower B, 5th Floor
1600 Scott Street
Ottawa, Ontario
CANADA K1A 0W9
1. Fellowships
Purpose of Program: Fellowship awards for research training are
offered in order to maintain the supply of independent
investigators in the health sciences in Canada.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Basic, applied, and clinical research in Canada
in the health sciences.
Other requirements: Fellowships must be held in Canada.
Duration of awards: 1 to 5 years depending on degrees held.
Application deadline: April 1 and November 15
Stipend for 1992-93: $26,790-$42,585 depending on years of
experience.
Allowances and amounts: Research and travel allowance: $1,800 the
first year and $1,300 thereafter.
2. Dental Fellowships
Purpose of Program: This program is intended to provide training
for Dental Fellows in order to increase the number of dental
clinician-teachers well-versed in research methods and capable of
independent research work.
Citizenship: Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada
Level: Individuals with a DDS degree (or equivalent)
Fields supported: Dental health sciences
Duration of awards: Up to 5 years
Application deadline: January 1
Stipend for 1992-93: $27,100-$42,585 depending on years of
experience.
Allowances and amounts: Research and travel allowance: $1,800 the
first year and $1,300 thereafter.
3. Centennial Fellowships
Purpose of Program: Offered for full-time training in the health
sciences to candidates of special academic distinction who wish to
broaden their fields of interest.
Citizenship: Canadian citizens or permanent residents of Canada
Level: Postdoctoral
Fields supported: Basic, applied, and clinical research in Canada
in the health sciences.
Duration of awards: 1 to 3 years
Application deadline: November 15
Stipend for 1992-93: $37,420-$44,520 depending on degree and years
of experience.
Allowances and amounts: Research and travel allowance: $3,850 the
first year and $3,350 thereafter.
4. Studentships
Purpose of Program: Offered to highly qualified graduate students
who are undertaking full-time training in research in the health
sciences leading to an MSc or PhD degree (or the equivalent).
Citizenship: Primarily for Canadian citizens or permanent residents
of Canada, but in exceptional cases awards will be made to foreign
applicants wishing to pursue study at a Canadian university.
Level: Graduate
Fields supported: Basic, applied, and clinical research in Canada
in the health sciences.
Duration of awards: Up to 5 years
Application deadline: December 1
Stipend for 1992-93: $15,295
Allowances and amounts: Research and travel allowance: $700 the
first year and $400 thereafter.
MINORITY ACCESS TO RESEARCH CAREERS (MARC) PROGRAM
Address for application information:
MARC Program
National Institute of General Medical Sciences
National Institutes of Health
Westwood Building, Room 950
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
1. Honors Undergraduate Research Training Grants
Purpose of program: To prepare undergraduate students to compete
successfully for entry into graduate programs leading to a PhD in
a biomedical science.
Citizenship: USA citizens or USA permanent residents
Eligible ethnic minority groups: American Indians, Blacks,
Hispanics, Pacific Islanders
Level: Undergraduate
Field(s) supported: Biology, chemistry, physics, psychology,
computer science, mathematics (with biology or chemistry)
Other requirements: Program offers grants to four-year colleges and
universities with substantial enrollment of ethnic minorities in a
state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands,
the Canal Zone, Guam, American Samoa, or USA Trust
Territories of the Pacific Islands.
Number of awards: 63
Duration of awards: 5 years
Application deadline: September 10, January 10, May 10
Stipend for 1993-94: $6,732
Allowances and amounts: Full tuition and fees, travel to a national
meeting, faculty release time and other trainee related expenses.
2. Predoctoral Fellowships
Purpose of program: To support entry of selected graduates of the
MARC undergraduate research training programs into graduate
biomedical research training leading to the PhD or MD/PhD degree.
Citizenship: USA citizens or USA permanent residents
Eligible ethnic minority groups: American Indians, Blacks,
Hispanics, Pacific Islanders
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: Biomedical sciences
Other requirements: Acceptance into a specified PhD program in
biomedical science or a combined MD/PhD program
Number of awards: 98
Duration of awards: 3 to 5 years
Application deadline: September 10, January 10, May 10
Stipend for 1993-94: $8,800
Allowances and amounts: Full tuition and fees; $2,000 institutional
costs
3. Faculty Fellowships
Purpose of program: To provide advanced research training for
selected faculty members of 4-year colleges, universities and
health professional schools with substantial minority enrollment.
Citizenship: USA citizen or USA resident
Level: Graduate, postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Biology, chemistry, genetics, microbiology,
pharmacology, biophysics, physiology, psychology, biostatistics,
toxicology.
Other requirements: Applicant must be a full-time faculty member;
letter of nomination from minority institution official required.
Duration of awards: 1 to 3 years
Application deadline: September 10, January 10, May 10
Stipend for 1993-94: $25,000
Allowances and amounts: $3,000 institutional costs
4. Visiting Scientist Fellowships
Purpose of program: To strengthen research and teaching programs
for the benefit of students and faculty at minority institutions by
drawing upon the special talents of scientists from other
institutions.
Citizenship: USA citizen or USA resident
Level: Senior scientists
Field(s) supported: Appropriate disciplines and research at the
minority institution.
Other requirements: Joint proposal prepared by minority institution
and designated scientist.
Duration of awards: 3 months to 1 year
Application deadline: September 10, January 10, May 10
Stipend for 1993-94: Current salary
Allowances and amounts: Round trip travel between visiting
scientist's home institution and sponsoring institution, and $3,000
institutional costs.
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF EDUCATION
Address for application information:
National Academy of Education
School of Education - CERAS 507
Stanford University
Stanford, California 94305-3084
Title of program: Spencer Post-Doctoral Fellowship Program
Purpose of program: To promote scholarship in the USA and abroad
on matters relevant to the improvement of education in all of its
forms.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Education, humanities, social and behavioral
sciences; the research must be relevant to the improvement of
education.
Other requirements: In the 1993/94 program applicants must have
received their PhD, EdD, or equivalent degree between January 1,
1988 and January 1, 1994.
Number of awards: up to 30 per year
Duration of awards: 1 academic year at full-time or 2 academic
years at half-time
Application deadline: January 2
Stipend for 1994-95: $35,000 for one academic year of research, or
$17,500 for each of two contiguous years, working half-time
NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES/NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
Address for application information:
National Academy of Sciences
Office for Central Europe and Eurasia
2101 Constitution Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20418
Title of program: USA - Central Europe and Eurasia Joint
Scientific Initiatives
Purpose of program: Short-term project development visits are
intended to provide American scientists with opportunities to work
with their foreign counterparts to develop funding proposals for
submission to the National Science Foundation or other funding
organizations; long-term research visits are intended to facilitate
exchanges and collaborations that will lead to significant
scientific publications jointly authored by USA and foreign
colleagues.
Citizenship: American specialists must be USA citizens or those
who will obtain USA citizenship at least six months prior to the
requested beginning date of their programs; visiting specialists
must hold CEE citizenship.
Level: American applicants must hold Ph.D. or equivalent research
experience at least 6 months prior to the requested beginning date
of their programs; CEE applications must hold a Ph.D. (kandidat)
degree, or research training and experience equivalent to a
doctoral degree, at least six months prior to the requested
beginning date of their programs.
Other eligibility: American applicants are expected to make all
logistical and administrative arrangements directly with their CEE
colleague; specialists who have received their doctoral degree
within the past six years are strongly encouraged to apply.
1. Cooperation in Applied Science and Technology (CAST)
Purpose of program: To support American specialists who wish to
host and assist scientists and engineers from the former Soviet
Union who have been involved in defense-related research in
applying their skills to civilian activities.
Fields supported: Applied mathematics/statistics, control theory,
computer science, aeronautics, applied physics, materials science,
nuclear science, electronics, chemistry, microbiology, virology,
and all branches or engineering. Although priority will be given
to NIS specialists in defense-related fields, other fields or
specialists not previously engaged in defense work will be
considered on a case-by-case basis.
Other eligibility: Participating countries: NIS (Armenia,
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova,
Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan);
successful applications will set forth mutual benefits to the USA
and to the NIS, such as prospects for longer-term collaboration,
commercial opportunities, or improvements in livelihood and quality
of life; all visits must commence in calendar year 1993.
Number of awards: Variable
Duration of Award: 9 months
Stipend: $11,100 in 1993
2. Collaboration in Basic Science and Engineering (COBASE)
Other eligibility: Participating countries: Azerbaijan, Armenia,
Belarus, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia,
Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania,
Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Slovenia,
Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan
Fields supported: Agricultural, forestry, fishery and plant
sciences; environmental sciences; archaeology and anthropology;
geography; biological sciences; history and philosophy of science;
chemistry; mathematics; computer science; physics; earth sciences;
psychology; engineering; and science and technology policy.
Proposals in the economic and social sciences that involve
development of new analytical methods will be considered on a case-
by-case basis.
Number of awards: Variable
Duration of awards: Short-term project development grants: 2 weeks;
Long-term research grants: 1 to 6 months
Application deadline: In 1993: February 28; June 25; December 10
Stipend: $2,000 - $2,200 for short-term; $3,600 - $12,000 for long-
term
3. Radioactive Waste Management Program
Purpose of program: Support American specialists who wish to host
their colleagues from the former Soviet Union for a period of six
to nine months for research on managing radioactive waste.
Other eligibility: Participating countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia,
Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and
Uzbekistan; funds to be used in academic year 1993.
Fields supported: Policy and practices regarding environmental
remediation and control of materials contaminated by radioactive
and other hazardous waste; research directed at improving the
effectiveness, economics, safety, and public acceptability of
methods of handling, storing, and permanently disposing of
radioactive and associated hazardous waste; analyses and
investigations related to waste partitioning to facilitate
permanent disposal; and analyses and investigations related to
geological disposal of wastes.
Application deadline: Postmark deadline 1993: February 28
Stipend: $7,000 - $21,000
NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM FOR OUTSTANDING NEGRO
STUDENTS
Address for application information:
Contact High School Guidance Counselor
Title of program: Scholarships
Purpose of program: To honor and assist academically able Black
high school students.
Eligible ethnic minority groups: Black Americans
Citizenship: USA
Level: Undergraduate
Other requirements: To enter the competition, high school students
take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit
Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), usually in the junior
year, request consideration, and meet participation requirements.
Information about the Achievement Program may be found in the
PSAT/NMSQT Student Bulletin, distributed by guidance personnel to
students who will take the PSAT/NMSQT administered by high schools
in October.
Number of awards: Approximately 600
Duration of awards: About two thirds of the awards are for one
year; the others are renewable for each of the four college years.
Stipend for 1993-94: $2,000 one-time awards, and four-year
scholarships that provide between $250 and $2,000 or more annually.
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION (NASA)
1. NASA Graduate Student Fellowships in Global Change Research
Address for application information:
NASA/Headquarters
Mail Code SE
Washington, D.C. 20546
Purpose of program: To train the next generation of earth
scientists and engineers to help analyze, interpret and manage the
wealth of data and information generated during the Earth Observing
System era, in support of the USA Global Change Research Program.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Graduate students working toward PhD
Field(s) supported: Climate and hydrologic systems (including
tropical precipitation), ecological systems and dynamics,
biogeochemical dynamics, solid Earth processes, human interactions,
solar influences, and data and information systems. Atmospheric
chemistry and physics, ocean biology and physics, ecosystem
dynamics, hydrology, cryospheric processes, geology, and geophysics
are all acceptable areas of research, provided that the specific
research topic is relevant to NASA's global change research efforts
including the Earth Observing System, the Tropical Rainfall
Measuring Mission, and Mission to Planet Earth.
Other requirements: Applicants must be admitted to or already
enrolled in a full-time PhD program at accredited USA
universities. Preference is given to USA citizens, but foreign
nationals enrolled in or accepted to USA universities may apply.
Number of awards: 40 to 50 each year
Duration of awards: 1 year, may be renewed annually up to 2
additional years.
Application deadline: April
Stipend for 1992-93: $20,000 per year
Allowances and amounts: $2,000 is available by request for faculty
advisor's use in support of student's research.
2. Graduate Student Researchers Program
Address for application information:
NASA/Headquarters
Code FEH
Washington DC 20546
Purpose of program: To support graduate students pursuing advanced
degrees in science and engineering
Citizenship: USA
Level: Graduate
Fields supported: Science and engineering fields related to space
Other eligibility requirements: Must be full-time graduate students
at a USA university
Duration of awards: 3 years
Application deadline: February 1
Stipend for 1993-94: $16,000
Allowances and amounts: $3,000 student allowance, $3,000 university
allowance
a. Graduate Student Researchers Program (GSRP)
Number of awards: 80
b. Graduate Student Researchers Program Underrepresented Minority
Focus
Eligible ethnic minority groups: Blacks, American Indians,
Hispanics, Pacific islanders, and individuals with disabilities
that limit major life activity
Other eligibility requirements: Historically Black College or
University students are not eligible.
Number of awards: 50
3. National Space Grant College and Fellowship Program
Address for application information:
Dr. E. Julius Dash
NASA Headquarters
Mail Code FEH
Washington, DC 20546
Purpose of program: To provide support for undergraduate and
graduate students involved in aeronautics and space, science, and
engineering research. In addition, the program intends to
establish a national network of universities with interests and
capabilities in aeronautics, space and related fields; to encourage
cooperative programs among universities, aerospace industry and
federal, state and local governments; to encourage
interdisciplinary training, research and public service programs
related to aerospace; to recruit and train professionals,
especially women, underrepresented minorities and persons with
disabilities, for careers in aeronautics and space-related science
and engineering; and to develop a strong science, mathematics, and
technology education base from elementary through university
levels.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Graduate, Undergraduate
Fields supported: All aeronautics and space-related fields
Number of awards: Varies; about 600 in 1992 (awardees competitively
selected by 52 Space Grant State Consortia Committees)
Duration of awards: Varies
Application deadline: Varies from consortium to consortium
Allowances and amounts: Varies from consortium to consortium
4. Cooperative Education Program
Address for application information:
NASA Headquarters, Code FPP, Agency Personnel Policy Branch,
Washington DC 20546
Purpose of program: To provide college students with professional
work experience related to their major fields of study, and to
serve as a feeder program into entry-level positions with NASA,
especially in science and engineering
Citizenship: USA citizen or permanent resident who will
become a USA citizen by graduation time
Level: Undergraduate, Graduate
Fields supported: Engineering, applied science, and mathematics;
some positions in administrative and technical support also
available.
Number of awards: varies
Duration of awards: Students begin the program after their freshman
year and can work up to three months after graduation or completion
of degree requirements.
Stipend: Students are paid under the General Schedule (GS) Federal
pay system and are hired at grades GS-1 through GS-9 according to
their level of education and the level of difficulty of the work
that will be performed.
Allowances and amounts: Paid vacations, holidays and sick leave;
major medical, dental, and life insurance; in some installations,
possible training and tuition assistance and payment for
transportation between school and work site.
NATIONAL CONSORTIUM FOR GRADUATE DEGREES FOR MINORITIES IN
ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE (GEM)
Address for application information:
GEM
Box 537
Notre Dame, Indiana 46556
Title of program: GEM Fellowship Programs
Purpose of program: To increase the pool of minority students who
receive graduate degrees annually in engineering and science.
Citizenship: USA
Eligible ethnic minority groups: Black Americans, American Indians,
Mexican-Americans, Puerto Ricans
Level: Graduate
Application deadline: December 1 annually
1. Master's Degree in Engineering
Field(s) supported: All accredited engineering disciplines
Other requirements: Applicant must have attained at least junior
year status in an engineering program. Awardees are required to: 1)
attend a GEM Master's Program member university and 2) intern at a
member employer location during the summer.
Number of awards: 222
Duration of awards: 3 semesters/4 quarters
Stipend for 1992-93: $6,000 per academic year
Allowances and amounts: All tuition and fees
2. PhD Degree in Engineering
Field(s): All accredited engineering disciplines
Other requirements: Applicants must have or be in the process of
attaining a master's degree. Awardees are required to attend a GEM
PhD Engineering Program member university.
Number of awards: 20
Duration of awards: 3-5 years
Stipend for 1992-93: $12,000 per calendar year
Allowances and amounts: All tuition and fees
3. PhD Degree in Natural Science
Field(s): Natural Science disciplines
Other requirements: Applicant must have attained at least junior
year status in an accredited science discipline. Awardees are
required to: 1) attend a GEM PhD Science Program member university
and 2) intern at a member employer location during at least one
summer prior to or during the graduate program.
Number of awards: 25
Duration of awards: 3 to 5 years
Stipend for 1992-93: $12,000 per calendar year
Allowances and amounts: All tuition and fees
Title : NSF 93-147 -- A Selected List of Fellowship and Other Support
Opportunities for Advanced Education
Type : Report
NSF Org: EHR
Date : March 7, 1995
File : ns93147e
NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES
Address for application information
Division of Fellowships and Seminars
Room 316
National Endowment for the Humanities
1100 Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W.
Washington, D. C. 20506
Citizenship: USA; also, citizens of any country may apply
(except to Dissertation Grants) if they have resided in the USA
for the 3 years immediately preceding the application deadline.
Fields supported for all programs: In the act that established the
Endowment, the term humanities includes, but is not limited to, the
study of the following disciplines: history; philosophy; languages;
linguistics; literature; archaeology; jurisprudence; the history,
theory, and criticism of the arts; ethics; comparative religion;
and those aspects of the social sciences that employ historical or
philosophical approaches.
1. Fellowships for University Teachers
Purpose of program: To enable faculty in PhD-granting departments
and post-graduate professional school faculty to pursue advanced
study and research that will enhance their capacities as teachers,
scholars, or interpreters of the humanities, and that will make
significant contributions to thought and knowledge in the
humanities.
Level: Postdoctoral
Other requirements: The following are not eligible: Surveys of
courses and programs in other institutions, the preparation of
institutional curricula, empirical educational research projects,
work in the creative and performing arts, and studies in the social
and natural sciences that do not employ historical or philosophical
approaches. Applicants may not be degree candidates or seeking
support for a degree.
Number of awards: Approximately 110
Duration of awards: 6 to 12 months
Application deadline: May 1 of each year
Stipend for 1993-94: Up to $30,000
Allowances and amounts: Some assistance may be provided within the
limits of the stipend to help defray costs of necessary travel. No
allowance is given for other expenses.
2. Fellowships for College Teachers and Independent Scholars
Purpose of program: To enable college and university faculty who
are members of non-PhD granting departments and independent
scholars to pursue advanced study and research that will enhance
their capacities as teachers, scholars, or interpreters of the
humanities and that will make significant contributions to thought
and knowledge in the humanities.
Level: Postdoctoral
Other requirements: The following are not eligible: Surveys of
courses and programs in other institutions, the preparation of
institutional curricula, empirical educational research projects,
work in the creative and performing arts, and studies in the social
and natural sciences that do not employ historical or philosophical
approaches. Applicants may not be degree candidates or seeking
support for a degree.
Number of awards: 110
Duration of awards: 6 to 12 months
Application deadline: May 1 of each year
Stipend for 1993-94: Up to $30,000
Allowances and amounts: Some assistance may be provided within the
limits of the stipend to help defray costs of necessary travel. No
allowance is given for other expenses.
3. Program for Historically Black Colleges and Universities -
Faculty Graduate Study Program
Purpose of program: To strengthen the teaching of the humanities at
historically Black colleges and universities by providing one year
of support for teachers at these institutions to complete work
toward a doctoral degree in the humanities.
Level: Graduate
Other requirements: Applicants must have the qualifications to
pursue one year of graduate study, potential for making strong
contributions to teaching in the humanities, at least one year of
graduate work completed, and must be a faculty member at a
historically Black college or university.
Number of awards: Approximately 10
Duration of awards: 9 to 12 months
Application deadline: March 15 of each year
Stipend for 1992-93: Up to $30,000
Allowances and amounts: Stipends replace salary lost through the
taking of leave and, within the limits of the maximum $30,000
stipend, may cover some costs of necessary travel, tuition, books,
and other associated expenses.
4. Summer Stipends
Purpose of program: To provide support for faculty members in
universities and two-year and four-year colleges and for others
working in the humanities to pursue two consecutive months of
full-time study and research. Applicants whose projects require
significant travel to libraries' archives or other collections may
apply for the stipend with travel supplement.
Level: Postdoctoral
Other requirements: Up to 3 members of each college and university
in the USA and territorial possessions may be nominated;
no more than 2 should be junior nominees, no more than 2 should be
senior nominees. Independent scholars and faculty on terminal
contracts may apply without nomination.
Number of awards: Approximately 200
Duration of awards: 2 months
Application deadline: October 1
Stipend for 1993: $4,000 without travel; $4,750 with necessary
travel.
5. Younger Scholars
Purpose of program: To provide support for high school and
undergraduate students to carry out projects of research and
writing in the humanities during the summer.
Level: Undergraduate; high school
Number of awards: Up to 200
Duration of awards: 9 weeks during the summer
Application deadline: November 1
Stipend for 1993: $2,400/2,000 for college students and high school
students; each stipend includes $400 for project adviser.
6. Summer Seminars
Prospective seminar directors, who can obtain proposal guidelines
from the Division of Fellowships and Seminars, are urged to discuss
their ideas with NEH program staff before formal submission
a. Summer Seminars for College Teachers
Purpose of program: To provide opportunities for faculty members at
undergraduate colleges to work with distinguished scholars in their
own fields or in other fields related to their interests in a
variety of the disciplines of the humanities.
Level: Postdoctoral
Other requirements: Intended primarily for individuals who teach
undergraduate courses, but independent scholars are eligible to
apply. Preference is given to applicants who have not recently had
access to the resources of a major library or other research
facility.
Number of awards: 600 participants, 50 seminar directors
Duration of awards: 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 weeks
Application deadline: March 1
Stipend for 1993: Up to $4,000 for participants; up to 27.78% of
salary for Directors.
b. Summer Seminars for School Teachers
Purpose of program: To provide opportunities for teachers of
kindergarten through grade 12 to work on a variety of texts in the
humanities under the direction of distinguished teachers and active
scholars.
Level: Postgraduate
Other requirements: Seminars are designed primarily for teachers of
grades 7 through 12; other school personnel, K-12, are also
eligible to apply.
Number of awards: Approximately 900 participants, 60 directors
Duration of awards: 4, 5 or 6 weeks
Application deadline: Participants: March 1
Stipend for 1993: Up to $3,200 for participants; up to 22.2% of
academic year salary for directors.
7. Study Grants
Purpose of Program: To provide support for college and university
teachers to undertake independent study to increase knowledge of
their own disciplines or related disciplines, to enrich their
understanding of the humanities, and to pursue intellectual
projects that will inform their teaching. Awards are made for
intensive study rather than for research intended primarily for
publications.
Level: Postdoctoral
Other requirements: Applicants must be full-time faculty members
who have completed 3 years of teaching and who have regular
undergraduate teaching responsibilities in the humanities.
Applicants may not have held an NEH Fellowship for College teachers
and Independent Scholars or another major research grant.
Recipients of NEH Summer Stipends must wait 5 years before they are
eligible for a Study Grant.
Number of awards: Approximately 100
Duration of awards: 6 weeks
Application deadline: August 15 each year
Stipend for 1993: $3,000
8. Dissertation Grants
Purpose of Program: To provide support for doctoral candidates in
the humanities to complete the writing of their dissertations.
Level: Doctoral
Other requirements: Applicants must have completed all requirements
for the Ph.D. except the dissertation. Only two Dissertation
Grants will be awarded to candidates from any one Ph.D.-granting
institution.
Number of awards: Approximately 50
Duration of awards: 6 to 12 months
Application deadline: November 15
Stipend for 1993-94: $17,500
NATIONAL HISPANIC SCHOLARSHIP FUND
Address for application information:
National Hispanic Scholarship Fund
P.O. Box 728
Novato, California 94948
Title of program: National Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Purpose of program: To award scholarships to college students.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Undergraduate; graduate
Field(s) supported: Fields unrestricted.
Other requirements: Student must be enrolled and attending a
college in the USA or Puerto Rico on a full-time basis;
must have completed a minimum of fifteen units of college work;
and, must be of Hispanic background.
Number of awards: Varies each year--3,226 for 1991.
Duration of awards: One school year.
Application deadline: April 1 to June 15
Stipend for 1993-94: Up to $1,000
NATIONAL HUMANITIES CENTER
Address for application information
Fellowship Program
National Humanities Center
7 Alexander Drive, P.O. Box 12256
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709-2256
Title of program: Fellowships
Purpose of program: To support advanced study in the humanities.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: From promising young scholars several years beyond the
doctorate to senior scholars of recognized accomplishment.
Field(s) supported: History, philosophy, literature, and all other
fields of the humanities; in addition, representatives of the
natural and social sciences, the arts, the professions, and public
life may be admitted if their work has humanistic dimensions.
Number of awards: 35 to 40 annually
Duration of awards: Generally for the academic year (September
through May); a few may be awarded for the fall or spring semester.
Application deadline: October 15
Stipend: Stipends are individually determined in accordance with a
scholar's needs and the Center's ability to meet them.
Stipend for 1993-94: average $25,000; maximum $35,000
Allowances and amounts: Travel expenses to and from the Center for
Fellows and families.
NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH)
Address for application information
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Office of Grants Inquiries
Division of Research Grants
Room 449, Westwood Building
5333 Westbard Avenue
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
Citizenship: USA citizens or non-citizen nationals or
non-citizens lawfully admitted for permanent residence
Field(s) supported: Basic and applied scientific inquiry related to
the causes, diagnosis, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of
human diseases and disabilities; the fundamental biological
processes of growth, development, and aging; and the biological
effects of the environment.
1. Career Development Awards (Clinical Investigator Awards,
Academic Investigator Awards, Research Career Development Awards,
Physician and Dentist Scientist Awards).
Purpose of programs: To provide opportunities for career
development for young research scientists in order to promote
research in the health-related sciences
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Health-related sciences
Other requirements: Candidates must be nominated by a non-Federal
public or private nonprofit institution engaged in health-related
research and located in the USA or its possessions and
territories; must have, depending on the specific award, a range of
1 to 10 years of relevant research and/or professional experience
prior to the beginning date of the award.
Duration of awards: 3 to 5 years, depending on specific award
Application deadline: Usually February 1, June 1, October 1
Salary for 1993-94: $50,000
Allowances and amounts: Salary support not to exceed $50,000
annually. Supplementation of salary from non-government sources is
allowable. Some awards provide from $10,000-$20,000 for research
support costs.
2. National Research Service Awards
Application deadline: January 10, May 10, September 10
a. Individual Postdoctoral Fellowships
Purpose of program: To offer scientists with a doctoral degree the
opportunity to receive full-time research training in areas that
reflect the national need for biomedical and behavioral research
Level: Postdoctoral
Other requirements: Doctoral degree (PhD, MD, etc.) from an
accredited domestic or foreign institution by start of award;
sponsorship by a private or public institution; service payback for
support beyond 12 months.
Number of awards: 1700 (estimated total fellowships)
Duration of awards: 1, 2, or 3 years
Stipend for 1993-94: $18,600-$32,300 depending on relevant
experience after receipt of qualifying doctoral degree.
Allowances and amounts: Institutional allowance of $3,000 ($2,000
at Federal labs); round trip travel fare for those training at
foreign institutions
b. Institutional Grants
Purpose of program: These grants are made to eligible institutions
to develop or enhance pre-PhD and postdoctoral research training
opportunities for individuals who are interested in preparing for
careers in biomedical or behavioral research. The training program
director at the grantee institution will be responsible for the
selection and appointment of trainees and for the overall direction
of the program.
Level: Graduate, postdoctoral
Other requirements: Institution-Domestic nonprofit private or
public institution; Predoctoral Trainee-A baccalaureate degree as
of the beginning date of appointment; training at the
postbaccalaureate level in a program leading to the award of PhD or
ScD degree or equivalent. Awards may not support study leading to
the MD, DO, DDS, or other similar professional degree. Service-
Research and/or teaching payback for support beyond 12 months;
Postdoctoral Trainee-Doctoral degree (PhD, MD, etc.) from
accredited domestic or foreign institution; Service-Research and/or
teaching payback for support beyond 12 months.
Number of awards: 9,800 (estimated total trainees)
Duration of awards: Institution-5 years; Predoctoral Trainee-Up to
5 years; Postdoctoral Trainee-Up to 3 years
Stipend for 1993-94: Predoctoral-$8,800; Postdoctoral-
$18,600-$32,300
Allowances and amounts: Training-related expenses: $1,500 per year
for predoctoral and $2,500 per year for postdoctoral, plus health
insurance for the individual, tuition and fees, and Trainee travel.
3. Information concerning Senior Fellowships and Short Term
Traineeships for Students in Health Professional Schools is
available from the Office of Grants Inquiries at the above address.
Information on individual predoctoral fellowships for nurses can be
obtained from:
Dr. Janet Heinrich
National Center for Nursing Research
Building 31, Room 5803
National Institutes of Health
9000 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, Maryland 20892
NATIONAL MEDICAL FELLOWSHIPS, INC.
Address for application information
National Medical Fellowships, Inc.
254 West 31 Street
New York, New York 10001
Citizenship: USA
Eligible ethnic minority group(s): Black Americans, Mexican
Americans, American Indians, mainland Puerto Ricans
1. National Medical Fellowships
Purpose of program: To increase the number of physicians from
underrepresented minority medical groups.
Level: Medical students
Field(s) supported: Allopathic and osteopathic medicine
Other requirements: Must be accepted by an American medical school.
Number of awards: Approximately 1,000
Application deadline: First time applicants-August 31; renewals-May
31.
Stipend for 1993-94: $2,000
2. National Medical Fellowships/Fellowship Program in Academic
Medicine
Purpose of program: To encourage careers in biomedical research and
academic medicine.
Level: Medical students
Field(s) supported: Basic biomedical research
Other requirements: Currently enrolled medical students in good
academic standing; nomination from dean who must identify senior
scientist willing to be mentor during fellowship period.
Number of awards: 35
Duration of awards: 8 to 12 weeks.
Application deadline: December 1
Stipend for 1993-94: $6,000
Allowances and amounts: Of the stipend, $4,000 earmarked for
students; up to $2,000 can be used to offset mentor's expenses.
NATIONAL MERIT SCHOLARSHIP CORPORATION
Address for application information
Contact High School Guidance Counselor
Title of program: National Merit Scholarship Program
Purpose of program: To provide academic recognition and college
undergraduate scholarships to scholastically able high school
students.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Undergraduate
Field(s) supported: Unrestricted
Other requirements: To enter the competition, high school students
take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit
Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT), usually in the junior
year, and meet participation requirements. Information about the
Merit Program may be found in the PSAT/NMSQT Student Bulletin,
distributed by guidance personnel to students who will take the
PSAT/NMSQT administered by high schools in October.
Number of awards: Approximately 6,300
Duration of awards: About one-third of the awards are for one year;
the remainder are renewable for the four college years.
Stipend for 1993-94: Variable; one-time awards, $2,000; four-year
scholarships provide between $250 and $2,000 or more annually.
NATIONAL PHYSICAL SCIENCE CONSORTIUM
Address for application information:
National Physical Science Consortium
c/o New Mexico State University
Box 30001, Department 3NPS
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003-0001
Title of program: Graduate Fellowships for Minorities and Women in
the Physical Sciences
Purpose of program: To increase the pool of minorities and women in
the physical sciences by providing doctoral fellowships and
graduate school informational referrals.
Citizenship: USA
Ethnic and Gender requirements: Hispanics (all groups), Black
Americans, American Indians (all groups), and women (any ethnicity)
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: Astronomy, chemistry, computer science,
geology, material science, mathematics, and physics
Other requirements: Must be a graduating physical science senior
(undergraduate); or be obtaining a master's degree in a physical
science discipline from a non-PhD granting institution; or have
completed a bachelor's or master's degree in a physical science
discipline and have been in the workforce at least one year; and
must pursue graduate study at a participating NPSC member
university.
Number of awards: 38 in 1992
Duration of awards: 5-6 years
Application deadline: November 15 of each year
Stipend: $10,000 for years 1 & 2 plus summer employment at
sponsoring employer's worksite; $12,500 for years 3 & 4; and
$15,000 for years 5 & 6
Allowances and amounts: Tuition and fees are provided by the PhD
granting institution in which the Fellow is enrolled.
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL
Address for application information
Associateship Programs-GR 430E
National Research Council
2101 Constitution Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20418
Title of program: Resident, Cooperative, and Postdoctoral Research
Associateship Programs
Purpose of program: To provide significant research opportunities
to new or senior doctoral scholars who receive awards to become
guest researchers at various sponsor federal research laboratories
or centers. Each Research Associate is provided full programmatic
support to conduct the research program, which was proposed as part
of the application, with no additional distracting assignments. By
their presence, the sponsor research organization receives
important new scientific and technical concepts and staff
stimulation.
Citizenship: Unrestricted in many programs; USA
citizenship in some programs
Level: Postdoctoral; senior postdoctoral in many programs
Field(s) supported: All fields of science and engineering
Number of awards: About 400 per year
Duration of awards: One year renewable to two and up to three in
some programs.
Application deadline: January 15, April 15, August 15
Stipend for 1992-93: Regular base stipend-$27,750 to $44,000,
dependent upon sponsor and discipline; senior stipend-individually
determined, $84,500 maximum.
Allowances and amounts: Relocation travel; moving of household;
participating group health insurance program; professional travel
to 2 or 3 meetings; workman's compensation type insurance.
Following is a list of the laboratories/centers available for
research programs:
The Aerospace Corporation
Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute
Center for Devices and Radiological Health through the Food and
Drug Administration
Federal Highway Administration/Turner-Fairbank Highway Research
Center
Fish and Wildlife Services/National Fisheries Contaminant Research
Center
NASA Ames Research Center
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center
NASA Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center
NASA Langley Research Center
NASA Lewis Research Center
NASA George C. Marshall Space Flight Center
NASA Science and Technology Laboratory
National Center for Infectious Diseases/Center for Disease Control
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
National Institute of Standards and Technology
National Institutes of Health
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Naval Medical Research and Development Command
Naval Ocean Systems Center
Naval Postgraduate School
Naval Research Laboratory
USA Air Force Laboratories
USA Army Armament Research, Development, and Engineering Center
USA Army Ballistic Research Laboratory
USA Army Chemical Research, Development, and Engineering Center
USA Army Electronics Technology and Devices Laboratory
USA Army Harry Diamond Laboratories
USA Army Medical Research and Development Command
USA Army Missile Command
USA Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences
USA Army Research Laboratory/Battlefield Environment Directorate
USA Environmental Protection Agency
USA Geological Survey
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
1. NSF Graduate Research Fellowships - including Women in
Engineering Awards (NSF Graduate Fellowships and NSF Minority
Graduate Fellowships)
Address for application information
Oak Ridge Associated Universities
P.O. Box 3010
Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-3010
Purpose of program: To improve the human resource base of science,
mathematics, and engineering in the USA and to reinforce
the ethnic diversity of that human resource base by providing for
study and research leading to master's or doctoral degrees.
Minority Graduate Fellowships are available to increase the number
of practicing scientists and engineers who are members of ethnic
minority groups that traditionally have been underrepresented in
the advanced levels of the Nation's science and engineering talent
pool.
Citizenship: USA and permanent residents of the USA
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: Mathematical, physical, biological,
engineering, and behavioral and social sciences, and the history of
science and the philosophy of science. Awards are also made for
work toward a research-based PhD in science education that requires
a science competence comparable to that for PhD candidates in those
disciplines. Awards are not made in clinical, business or
management fields, in other education programs of any kind, or in
history or social work, for work leading to medical, dental, law or
public health degrees, or for study in joint science-professional
degree programs such as MD/PhD and JD/PhD.
Duration of awards: 3 years
Application deadline: Early November
Stipend for 1993-94: $14,000 for 12 month tenure.
Allowances and amounts: Cost-of-education allowance up to a maximum
of $7,500 in lieu of all tuition costs and assessed fees. An
International Research Travel allowance of $l,000 for Fellows who
have arranged to conduct full-time advanced study and research at
a foreign site for at least 3 continuous months.
a. NSF Graduate Fellowships
Requirements: NSF Graduate Fellowships are intended for students at
or near the beginning of their graduate study in science,
mathematics or engineering. Eligibility is limited to those
individuals who, by the beginning of the fall 1992 term, have
completed no more than 20 semester hours, 30 quarter hours, or
equivalent, of graduate study in the science and engineering fields
supported by this program since completion of the last
baccalaureate degree in science or engineering. "Graduate study"
includes course work, research, and seminars. These guidelines are
applied to graduate study completed after October l, 1982
regardless of purpose or whether credit for that study has been
applied toward an advanced degree. Students in a five-year, joint
baccalaureate-master's degree program are eligible to apply in the
fourth and fifth years of the program; for eligibility purposes,
the fifth year of such a program is considered to be graduate
study. Additionally, no individual will be eligible who, at the
time of application, has earned after October l, 1982 an advanced
degree in science or engineering. Applicants who have earned any
medical degree, such as the MD, DDS or DVM, are ineligible.
Eligibility for Women in Engineering awards is limited to women who
intend to pursue graduate degrees in engineering fields and who, by
the beginning of the fall 1992 term, have completed no more than 30
semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or equivalent, of graduate study
in the science and engineering fields supported by NSF since
completion of their last baccalaureate degree in science or
engineering. Women in Engineering applicants who are otherwise
eligible are not disqualified by reason of holding a master's
degree.
Number of awards: Approximately 750
b. NSF Minority Graduate Fellowships
Eligible ethnic minority groups: American Indian, Black/African
American, Hispanic, Native Alaskan (Eskimo or Aleut), or Native
Pacific Islander (Polynesian or Micronesian)
Other requirements: NSF Minority Graduate Fellowships are intended
for students in the early stages of their graduate study in
science, mathematics or engineering. Eligibility is limited to
those individuals who, by the beginning of the fall 1992 term, have
completed no more than 30 semester hours, 45 quarter hours, or
equivalent, of graduate study in the science and engineering fields
supported by this program since completion of their last
baccalaureate degree in science or engineering. Minority Graduate
applicants are not disqualified by reason of holding a master's
degree, but they must not exceed the semester/quarter hour
limitations specified. Other guidelines regarding graduate study
are identical to those in the Graduate Fellowship competition.
Eligibility for the Women in Engineering awards is limited to women
who are members of one of the designated ethnic minority groups and
who intend to pursue graduate degrees in one of the engineering
fields.
Number of awards: Approximately 150
Allowances and amounts: $l,000 Incentives for Excellence
Scholarship Prize is intended to be awarded by the department to a
student in one of the minority groups eligible in this competition,
or equally to two such students, other than current seniors, in
that department. This prize is in recognition of the students'
scholarship excellence and to encourage their continued study in
science or engineering. Also, Fellows matriculating into their
fellowship institutions for the first time as graduate students are
eligible for a Mentoring Assistantship consisting of one, two or
three months of additional stipend support primarily to participate
in research during the summer before they begin their fall
fellowship tenure.
2. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Postdoctoral
Fellowships In Science
Address for application information:
NATO Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
GERD
National Science Foundation
1800 G Street, N. W.
Washington, D.C. 20550
Purpose of program: To promote the progress of science and closer
collaboration among the scientists of NATO member nations
Citizenship: USA
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Mathematical, physical, biological,
engineering, and social sciences, and the history and philosophy of
science as well as interdisciplinary areas comprised of two or more
of these fields; awards will not be made in clinical, education or
business fields, or in history, social work or public health.
Other requirements: Recipients of awards are expected to study in
a NATO country (other than the USA), or at neighboring
multinational institutions. Recipients must have earned the PhD by
beginning of tenure, or have received the PhD in a field of science
supported by NSF, within the past five years.
Number of awards: 50
Duration of awards: 6-12 months
Application deadline: November 1
Stipend for 1993-94: $2,750 per month
Allowances and amounts: Dependency allowance of $200 per month for
a dependent spouse and for each of not more than two dependent
children; travel allowance to aid in defraying travel costs for
Fellow and dependents; Fellow and host institution will each
receive an allowance of $100 for each month of tenure.
3. NSF Mathematical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
Address for application information:
Program Director, Office of Special Projects
Division of Mathematical Sciences
National Science Foundation
Room 339
1800 G Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20550
Purpose of program: To contribute to the future vitality of the
scientific effort of the Nation
Citizenship: USA and USA permanent resident aliens
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Pure mathematics, applied mathematics, and
statistics
Other requirements: Recipient must have held a doctorate in one of
the mathematical sciences listed above for no more than 5 years as
of January 1 of fellowship year; will not previously have held any
other NSF postdoctoral fellowship.
Number of awards: 30 to 40
Duration of awards: 24 months
Application Deadline: October 15
Stipend for 24 months (1993): $66,000
Allowances and amounts (1993): $4,500 institutional allowance;
$4,500 cost-of-research allowance to Fellow
4. NSF Chemical Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
Address for application information
Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Chemistry
Division of Chemistry
National Science Foundation
1800 G Street, N. W.
Washington, D.C. 20550
Citizenship: USA and USA permanent resident aliens
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Fields consistent with the programmatic
responsibilities of the Chemistry Division. These areas are organic
and macromolecular chemistry; analytical and surface chemistry;
inorganic, bioinorganic and organometallic chemistry; and physical
chemistry.
Other requirements: Applicants must have filled the requirements of
the doctoral degree in chemistry or a closely related discipline
between June 1st of the current year and September 30th of the
following year. Applicants must make prior arrangements for
research and training with a scientific advisor at the institution
where the fellowship is to be held.
Number of awards: Up to 20
Duration of awards: 1-2 years
Application deadline: November 1
Stipend for 1991-92: $26,000 per year. A leveraged $32,000 starter
grant is available to fellows who elect tenure-track positions at
USA colleges and universities following the tenure of their
fellowships.
Allowances and amounts: $4,000 to defray research costs and $2,000
institutional allowance. There is no allowance for dependents.
5. NSF Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS)
Postdoctoral Awards for USA Researchers
Address for application information
JSPS Postdoctoral Awards
Room 501V
Division of International Programs
National Science Foundation
Washington, D.C. 20550
Purpose of program: To provide USA researchers the opportunity to
collaborate with Japanese colleagues at academic research
facilities in Japan.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Science and engineering
Other requirements: Doctorate in natural sciences, the social
sciences, or engineering is required. Applicants must demonstrate
with appropriate documentation the ability to pursue independent
research. Applicants must also identify a Japanese host scientist
willing to collaborate on the research project.
Number of awards: Approximately 25
Duration of awards: 1 year. Extensions of up to 12 months will be
considered if necessary for completion of research.
Application deadline: November 1
Stipend for 1993-94: 270,000 yen monthly
Allowances and amounts: Round-trip economy-class airfare for
Awardee only; settling-in allowance of 200,000 yen; monthly housing
allowance not to exceed 100,000 yen; monthly family allowance not
to exceed 500,000 yen total; and health insurance for the Awardee
only.
6. NSF Science and Technology Agency of Japan Postdoctoral Awards
for USA Researchers
Address for application information
STA Postdoctoral Awards
Room 501V
Division of International Programs
National Science Foundation
Washington, D.C. 20550
Purpose of program: To provide USA researchers the opportunity to
collaborate with colleagues at Japanese national laboratories,
public corporations, and certain non profit research organizations.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Science and engineering
Other requirements: Doctorate in science or engineering or
equivalent professional experience. Applicants must demonstrate
with appropriate documentation the ability to pursue independent
research. Applicants must also identify a Japanese host scientist
willing to collaborate on the research project.
Number of awards: Approximately 35
Duration of awards: 6 months to 2 years
Application deadline: November 1
Stipend for 1993-94: 270,000 yen monthly
Allowances and amounts: Round-trip economy-class airfare for
Awardee only; settling-in allowance of 200,000 yen; monthly housing
allowance not to exceed 100,000 yen; monthly family allowance of
50,000 yen, if accompanied by dependents; domestic travel allowance
of 100,000 yen per year; and health insurance for the Awardee only.
7. NSF Awards for Japanese-Language Study by Researchers in Science
and Engineering
Address for application information
Japanese Language Awards
Room 501V
Division of International Programs
National Science Foundation
Washington, D.C. 20550
Purpose of program: To help remove language and cultural barriers
to USA-Japanese science and technology exchanges
Citizenship: USA
Level: The awards are aimed primarily at researchers at the
graduate and post-doctoral level. Senior researchers, including
researchers in industry, will also be considered.
Field(s) supported: Science and engineering
Other requirements: Applicants must be researchers or graduate
students in fields of science and engineering supported by NSF.
Number of awards: 20 to 30
Duration of awards: Variable
Nature of support and application deadlines: Academic Program
Fellowships: Will provide stipend base of tuition and fees ($1,025
for graduate students and $2,050 for individuals with the Ph.D.,
prorated by fraction of effort devoted to language study), for
Japanese language courses, and travel and subsistence allowances as
necessary. The application deadline is December 15.
8. Summer Institute in Japan for USA Graduate Students in Science
and Engineering
Address for application information:
Summer Institute in Japan
Division of International Programs
Room 501V
National Science Foundation
Washington, D.C. 20550
Purpose of program: To provide: first-hand experience in a Japanese
research environment; an introduction to the science and science-
policy infrastructure of Japan, and; intensive Japanese language
training.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: Science and Engineering
Other requirements: Applicant must be enrolled at a USA
institution in a Ph.D. program or enrolled in an engineering
graduate program of which one year or more has been completed.
Number of awards: 58
Duration of awards: 2 months
Application deadline: January 15
Allowances and amounts: Travel costs and an allowance of $2,000.
Japan will provide living accommodations and partial board.
9. Program for Long and Medium-Term Research at Foreign Centers of
Excellence
Address for application information:
Long and Medium-Term Research Visits
Division of International Programs
National Science Foundation
Washington, D.C. 20550
Purpose of Program: To support research excellence and to promote
the progress of science and engineering by: 1) facilitating access
to foreign centers of excellence affording unique research
opportunities not available in the USA; 2) introducing young
scientists and engineers to research developments abroad; and 3)
supporting the establishment of stronger relationships between USA
and foreign science and engineering communities.
Citizenship: USA citizens or native residents of USA possessions
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) Supported: Current research in any field of science or
engineering supported by NSF. These include mathematical and
physical sciences, geosciences, computer and information sciences,
biological and behavioral sciences, social sciences and science
education, and all fields of engineering. Awards will not be made
for biomedical research with disease-related goals, including
research on the etiology, diagnosis, or treatment of physical or
mental diseases, abnormality, or malfunction in human beings or
animals; nor for animal models of such conditions, or the
development or testing of drugs or other procedures for their
treatment.
Other Requirements: Applicants must have earned the doctoral degree
within six years prior to the date of application or expect to
receive the degree by the award date.
Number of awards: 15 to 20
Duration of awards: Visits abroad of 3 to 12 months duration
(non-renewable)
Application deadline: November 1 (applications will be accepted
beginning September 1)
Stipend for 1993-94: Up to $3,000 per month for 12 months. NSF
will determine the exact amount at the time of the award, based on
the cost of living at the destination. NSF will adjust the stipend
for awardees with partial support from other sources on a
case-by-case basis.
Allowances and amounts: NSF will grant special allowances for
language training if justified. A spouse and up to two dependent
children will receive a dependents' allowance of $150 each per
month provided they reside with the awardee abroad for 6 months or
more. Award does not pay fringe benefits, salaries for support
staff or research assistant, or for materials, supplies, equipment,
or publication costs.
10. Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Environmental Biology
Address for application information
Postdoctoral (EB) Fellowships
Environmental Biology, Room 215
National Science Foundation
Washington, D.C. 20550
Purpose of program: To enable well-trained, highly talented young
scientists to pursue innovative research in terrestrial and
freshwater ecology, and allied sub-disciplines. Designed to
encourage research in a new environment, on a fresh problem,
requiring prolonged visits at foreign institutions or field sites.
Preference may be given to applicants taking advantage of the "full
portability" feature of the fellowship.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Systematic biology, population biology,
population genetics, physiological ecology, community ecology, and
ecosystem studies. Public health, clinically oriented, or applied
projects are ineligible.
Other requirements: Doctoral degree must have been received no
earlier than four years prior to the application deadline and no
later than one year after the application deadline.
Number of awards: Up to 20 annually
Duration of awards: 1 or 2 years, depending on request
Application deadline: November 1
Stipend for 1993-94: $2,200 per month
Allowances and amounts: $500 per month special research allowance
for Fellow; $200 per month allowance for host institution
11. Mid-Career Fellowship Opportunities in Environmental Biology
Address for application information
Environmental Biology, Room 215
National Science Foundation
Washington, D.C. 20550
Purpose of program: To provide opportunities for experienced
doctoral-level scientists to improve and expand their skills by
pursuing independent research in terrestrial and fresh-water
ecology and related sub-disciplines in a new environment, learn new
techniques or address a fresh problem. Research problems or
approaches that depart significantly from the investigator's
traditional field are particularly encouraged.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Systematic biology, population biology,
population genetics, physiological ecology, community ecology, and
ecosystem studies. Public health, clinically oriented, or applied
projects are ineligible.
Other requirements: Doctoral degree must have been received at
least ten years prior to the application deadline date.
Number of awards: Up to 10 annually
Duration of awards: 6 to 15 months, depending on request
Application deadline: November 1
Stipend for 1993-94: An amount equivalent to the six-month
full-time salary as set by the home institution up to a maximum of
$47,500, plus a sum equivalent to the normal home institution
fringe benefit rate corresponding to the stipend.
Allowances and amounts: $1,000 per month research allowance; $300
per month allowance for host institution; $3,000 travel allowance
to relocate to fellowship institution.
12. NSF Postdoctoral Research Fellowships in Plant Biology
Address for application information
Division of Biological Instrumentation and Resources
National Science Foundation
Washington, D.C. 20550
Purpose of program: To provide opportunities for plant biologists
from all sub-divisions to learn concepts and methodological
techniques of related scientific fields in order to approach
problems of plant biology with the most appropriate, sophisticated
tools. They also provide opportunities for a wide range of
biological and physical scientists not trained in traditional plant
sciences to learn concepts and techniques of research on plants.
Citizenship: USA or permanent residents of the USA
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Areas of Plant Biology included in the
following NSF programs: biochemistry, biophysics, genetics, cell
biology, developmental biology, and integrative biology.
Other requirements: Doctoral degree in a biological science,
physical science, or engineering earned not more than 5 years prior
to January 1 of the fellowship year.
Number of awards: Approximately 20
Duration of awards: 2 years
Application deadline: November 1
Stipend for 1993-94: $2,200 per month
Allowances and amounts: Special allowance to Fellow of $300 per
month; institutional allowance of $200 per month; no dependency
allowance
13. NSF Minority Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program in
Biological/Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences
Address for application information
BIO/SBE Minority Research Fellowship Program
National Science Foundation
Washington, D. C. 20550
Purpose of program: To increase the number of research scientists
from underrepresented minority groups.
Citizenship: USA or permanent residents of the USA
Eligible ethnic minorities: Blacks, American Indians, Hispanics,
Alaskan natives and native USA Pacific Islanders
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Biological Sciences and Social, Behavioral and
Economic Sciences
Other requirements: Applicant must have received their doctoral
degree within the last five years and not have completed two or
more years of postdoctoral support at the time the fellowship is
initiated.
Number of awards: 10
Duration of awards: Maximum of three years
Application deadline: December 1
Stipend for 1993-94: $28,000
Allowances and amounts: $2,400 institutional allowance for
reimbursement of expenses (space, equipment, secretarial, general
purpose supplies); $4,600 for scientific supplies, travel,
publication expenses, health insurance.
14. NSF Minority Graduate Travel Awards in Biological/Social,
Behavioral and Economic Sciences
Address for application information
NSF Minority Graduate Travel Awards-BIO/SBE
National Science Foundation
Washington, D. C. 20550
Purpose of program: To assist graduate students within 18 months of
the Ph.D. in selecting a postdoctoral mentor and in developing a
postdoctoral training plan.
Citizenship: USA or permanent residents of the USA
Eligible ethnic minorities: Blacks, American Indians, Hispanics,
Alaskan natives, and native USA Pacific Islanders
Level: Graduate
Fields supported: Biological Sciences and Social, Behavioral and
Economic Sciences
Number of awards: Varies
Duration of awards: Varies
Application deadline: July 1; October 1; and January 1 or April 1
Allowances and amounts: $3,000 total travel allowance. Students may
compete and be awarded travel awards up to three times.
15. NSF Earth Sciences Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
Address for application information:
EAR Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
Room 602
National Science Foundation
Washington, D.C. 20550
Purpose of program: To contribute to future vitality of the USA
scientific effort in the Earth Sciences.
Citizenship: USA and permanent residents of the USA
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Earth Sciences
Other eligibility requirements: Applicant must have: 1) earned a
Ph.D. in some area of the earth sciences prior to the beginning of
the fellowship award period; 2) held a Ph.D. degree for no more
than three years prior to the closing date of this program; 3) not
have previously held any other NSF postdoctoral fellowship.
Number of awards: 10 per year
Duration of awards: 24 months
Application deadline: November 1
Stipend for 1992-93 and 1993-94: $2,500 per month
Allowances and amounts: $5,000 to host institution as partial
reimbursement for expenses incurred in support of the research
(such as supplies, space, equipment, secretarial assistance, etc.).
$2,500 per year to fellow to help defray costs of research.
16. NSF Research Fellowships in Marine Biotechnology and the Ocean
Sciences
Address for application information:
Research Fellowships in Marine Biotechnology and the Ocean Sciences
Division of Ocean Sciences
National Science Foundation
Washington, D.C. 20550
Purpose of program: To foster the use of modern methodologies of
molecular biology, biochemistry, and analytical chemistry in basic
research in ocean ecology and related areas.
Citizenship: USA and permanent residents of the USA
Level: Postdoctoral and Faculty Researcher
Field(s) supported: Ocean Sciences
Other requirements: Applicants must have earned the doctoral degree
in a relevant scientific discipline prior to the award. Applicants
for the Postdoctoral Fellowship must have received the doctoral
degree after January 1, 1989. Additional requirement for
consideration is that applicants have made prior arrangements for
research and training with a scientific adviser/collaborator at the
institution where the Fellowship will be held.
Number of awards: up to 10 per year
Duration of awards: Postdoctoral - 2 years; Faculty Researcher -1
year
Application deadline: variable
Stipend for 1992-93: Postdoctoral - $2,200 per month ($26,400 per
year); Faculty Researcher - up to 6 months of annual faculty salary
Allowances and amounts: Institutional allowance of $300 per month
of tenure for partial reimbursement for expenses incurred in
support of the research. Special allowance up to $1,000 per month,
expendable at the Fellow's discretion, for scientific supplies,
special travel, publication expenses, other research- or training-
related costs, and may be used for medical insurance. No
dependency allowance.
17. Postdoctoral Program in Ocean Modeling
Sponsoring organizations: National Science Foundation and Office of
Naval Research
Address for application information:
UCAR Projects Office
P.O. Box 3000
Boulder, Colorado 80307
Purpose of program: To increase modeling capabilities in ocean
sciences.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Ocean Sciences
Duration of awards: one year, renewable for a second year
Application deadline: January 15
Stipend for 1993-94: $30,000 per year
Allowances and amounts: Benefits in accordance with UCAR policies.
Travel expenses to host institution for Fellow and family.
NATIVE AMERICAN SCHOLARSHIP FUND, INC.
Address for application information:
Native American Scholarship Fund, Inc.
3620 Wyoming Boulevard, N.E., Suite 206
Albuquerque, New Mexico 87111
Title of program: MESBEC Program and NALE Program
Purpose of program: The MESBEC (Math, Engineering, Science,
Business, Education, Computers) and NALE (Native American
Leadership in Education) programs award scholarships to Native
American Indian students based on academic merit and to Native
American Indian students most likely to improve the lives of Indian
people.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Priority areas are Math, Engineering, Science,
Business, Education and Computers.
Other requirements: Applicant must be a member of a federally
recognized Native American Indian Tribe. In addition, applicants
must apply to all other sources available to them. This includes
the Financial Aid programs, Tribal scholarships and private
scholarship organizations. A GPA of 3.0 or higher and high scores
on the ACT or SAT are also required.
Duration of awards: Awards are renewable.
Application deadline: Fall semester deadline is April 15 of that
year. Spring deadline is September 15 of the year before and March
15 for summer.
Stipend for 1993-94: Awards range from $500 to $3,000 per year.
NATURAL SCIENCES AND ENGINEERING RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA
Address for application information
200 Kent Street
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1H5
Canada
Title of program: Visiting Fellowships in Canadian Government
Laboratories
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) Supported: Natural sciences and engineering
Number of awards: Approximately 120
Duration of awards: 1 year with possible renewal for second year
Application deadline: November 15
Stipend for 1993-94: $35,184 (effective October 1, 1992)
Allowances and amounts: Travel allowance for Fellow and immediate
family.
NEW YORK STATE SCHOLARSHIPS AND FELLOWSHIPS
Address for application information
Bureau of Professional Career Opportunity Programs
State Education Department
Cultural Education Center, Room 5C64
Albany, New York 12230
Application deadline: Prospective applicants should request
information early in the academic year preceding the year for which
the award will be effective.
1. Regents Scholarships
Citizenship: Must have been a legal resident of New York State for
at least 1 year immediately preceding the effective date of the
award.
Eligible ethnic minority groups: Black, Hispanic, Native American
Indian or Alaskan Native
Other requirements: The law requires that awards be made to
eligible candidates in the following order: First priority will be
given to any candidate who is economically disadvantaged, as
defined under bulletin of information for candidates (may be
obtained by writing to above address), and a minority group member
historically underrepresented in the profession; second priority
will be given to any candidate who is a minority group member;
third priority will be given to any candidate who is enrolled in,
or a graduate of, one of these State sponsored opportunity
programs: SEEK or College Discovery at City University, EOP in the
State University system or HEOP at an independent college.
a. Regents Health Care Scholarships for Medicine or Dentistry
Purpose of program: To provide opportunities for the professional
study of medicine or dentistry in an approved program in New York
State.
Level: Must be enrolled in, or a candidate for admission to,
medical or dental school.
Field(s) supported: Medicine, dentistry
Other requirements: Applicant must agree to practice, for a period
of at least 24 months, in an area or facility within New York State
designated as having a shortage of physicians or dentists.
Number of awards: 80 medical and 20 dental scholarships (for
1987-88)
Duration of awards: 4 years
Stipend for 1992-93: $1,000 to $10,000 per year based on income
b. Regents Professional Opportunity Scholarships
Purpose of program: To provide opportunities for study in a New
York State school in a program which is licensure-qualifying in the
particular profession.
Level: Must be enrolled in a program approved for the award or be
a candidate for admission to such program.
Field(s) supported by degree level: Associate-Dental Hygiene,
Occupational Therapy Assistant, Ophthalmic Dispensing, Physical
Therapist Assistant, Physicians Assistant; Baccalaureate-
Accountancy, Architecture, Engineering, Landscape Architecture,
Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Pharmacy, Physical Therapy,
Physicians Assistant; Masters-Architecture, Landscape Architecture,
Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Social Work,
Speech-Language Pathology/Audiology; Doctorate-Chiropractic, Op-
tometry, Podiatry, Psychology, Veterinary Medicine; Juris
Doctorate-Law.
Other requirements: Applicant must agree to practice, for a period
of at least 12 months, in New York State.
Number of awards: 220 annually
Duration of awards: Up to 4 years of full-time study
Stipend for 1992-93: $1,000 to $5,000 per year based on income
2. Regents Physician Loan Forgiveness Program
Purpose of program: To provide support for physicians who agree to
practice medicine in an area of New York State designated as having
a shortage of physicians.
Citizenship: Must be a legal resident of New York State.
Level: Applicant must have completed residency training in medicine
within the 5 years immediately preceding the period for which the
first award is granted.
Other requirements: Applicant must be licensed to practice medicine
in New York State prior to beginning the service commitment.
Number of awards: 80
Duration of awards: 2 years; recipient may apply for one additional
award.
Stipend for 1992-93: Maximum of $40,000; 2 awards, each comprising
two $10,000 payments
3. Paul Douglas Teacher Scholarships
Purpose of program: To provide support for undergraduate education.
Citizenship: USA citizen and legal resident of New York
State.
Level: Undergraduate-for students who have graduated in the top 10%
of their high school graduating class or have comparatively high
GED scores.
Field(s) supported: Unrestricted
Number of awards: Approximately 100
Duration of awards: Up to 4 years of full-time study
Application deadline: Early February
Stipend for 1992-93: Up to $5,000 for payment of tuition and fees.
NORTH ATLANTIC TREATY ORGANIZATION (NATO)
1. North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Science Fellowships
Address for application information
Write to appropriate agency in candidate's own country, or to:
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Science Fellowships
Scientific Affairs Division
B-1110 Brussels
Belgium
Purpose of program: To provide opportunities for scientists of NATO
countries to pursue their work or to continue their training at the
most prestigious institutions in other countries.
Citizenship: Citizens of NATO countries
Level: Graduate, postdoctoral, senior postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Decision by individual countries.
Other requirements: Decision by individual countries.
Number of awards: Decision by individual countries; grand total of
more than 1,100.
Duration of awards: Decision by individual countries; however, the
customary length of basic fellowships is one year, with renewal
possible in certain cases; the minimum duration for advanced
fellowships is usually six months, for senior fellowships three
months, and for senior guest fellowships, three weeks.
Application deadline: Decision by individual countries.
Stipend for 1993-94: Decision by individual countries; due to
rising costs and limitation of fellowship funds, some countries use
the NATO funds as a supplement to other national sources, and in
such cases the NATO fellowships cover only a part of the total
expenses of the Fellows.
2. Fellowships Programme of the Committee on the Challenges of
Modern Society of NATO
Address for application information
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
Scientific Affairs Division/CCMS
B-1110 Brussels
Belgium
Purpose of program: To allow Fellows to contribute to work of CCMS
pilot studies; purpose of studies is to suggest, on basis of
existing knowledge, solutions to problems relating to natural and
social environment.
Citizenship: Citizens of NATO countries
Level: Graduate, postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Study projects change each year; must be within
purpose of program.
Other requirements: Applicant must: 1) demonstrate research
interest and/or experience in subject area related to on-going CCMS
pilot studies, and willingness to work under guidance of study
director; 2) have suitable background acceptable to pilot study
director; 3) have connection with research unit or government
agency having active interest in pilot study subject to ensure
useful application to needs of applicant's home country; 4) have
good working knowledge of language of CCMS pilot study director, or
English or French, if either is sufficient and mutually convenient.
Number of awards: 15 to 20 per year.
Duration of awards: Variable
Application deadline: 28 February of each year
Allowances and amounts: Award covers travel and living expenses;
rarely exceeds $6,000.
ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES (OAS)
Address for application information
Trainee Selection Division
Department of Fellowships and Training
Organization of American States (OAS)
Washington, D.C. 20006
Title of program: PRA Fellowships (Regular Training Program)
Purpose of program: To further economic, social, technical and
cultural development of the American peoples.
Citizenship: Citizens of member countries of the Organization of
American States with the exception of the country of which the
candidate is a citizen or in which a permanent residence is
maintained.
Level: Graduate and postdoctoral research
Field(s) supported: Any field but the medical sciences
Other requirements: Applicant must have had advanced training in
field for which fellowship is requested. Study or research to be
carried out in member countries of OAS with exception of country of
which candidate is a citizen, or in which a permanent residence is
maintained.
Number of awards: Varies according to funds available.
Duration of awards: From 3 months to 2 years
Application deadline: March 1
Stipend for 1992-93: Monthly living stipend varies from country to
country.
Allowances and amounts: Travel expenses; tuition fees; book
allowance; no family allowance.
PAN AMERICAN HEALTH ORGANIZATION (PAN AMERICAN SANITARY BUREAU)
Address for application information
Health Department of candidate's own country
Title of program: Fellowships
Purpose of program: To provide training or study not available in
candidate's own country.
Citizenship: Citizens of member countries of the Pan American
Health Organization.
Level: Graduate, postdoctoral, non-academic
Field(s) supported: Public health; public health
administration and planning; environmental health; nursing;
maternal and child health; epidemiology and disease control;
laboratory services; medicine and health sciences; educational
technology and administration of all health related fields; and
supporting managerial and technical areas.
Other requirements: Candidate must agree in writing to return to
home country for at least 3 years of service with national health
administration or institution designated by it.
Number of awards: Variable
Duration of awards: As required
Application deadline: Variable
Stipend for 1993-94: Variable
P.E.O.
Address for application materials:
P.E.O. International Peace Scholarships
P.E.O.
3700 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50312
Title of Program: International Peace Scholarships
Purpose of Program: To promote world peace
Citizenship: Women students who are citizens of countries other
than the USA and Canada for graduate work in the USA or Canada
Level: Graduate
Other requirements: An applicant must be qualified for admission to
full-time graduate study, working toward a graduate degree in the
college or university of her choice in the USA or Canada.
Doctoral students who have completed course work and are working on
dissertations only are not eligible as first-time applicants.
First-time applicants seeking assistance for less than one academic
year will not be considered. Applicants must sign agreement to
return to their home country upon completion or must repay funds.
Number of awards: approximately 200
Duration of awards: 1 year, renewable up to 4 years
Deadline for establishing eligibility: December 15
Stipend for 1993-94: $3500 based on need
Title : NSF 93-147 -- A Selected List of Fellowship and Other Support
Opportunities for Advanced Education
Type : Report
NSF Org: EHR
Date : March 7, 1995
File : ns93147f
THE POPULATION COUNCIL
1. Population Fellowships in the Social Sciences
Address for application information:
Manager, Fellowship Program
The Population Council
One Dag Hammarskjold Plaza
New York, New York 10017
Purpose of program: To make a contribution to meeting the needs of
the population field for persons possessing high-level scientific
and technical skills.
Citizenship: Unrestricted; strong preference given to applicants
from developing countries who have a firm commitment to return to
their home countries upon completion of their training programs.
Applications from women are particularly encouraged.
Level: Graduate, postdoctoral, mid-career in the population field
Field(s) supported: Population studies (including demography and
biostatistics); population studies in combination with a social
science discipline such as economics, sociology, anthropology,
geography, and public health.
Other requirements: Graduate Study-Awards open to persons who have
completed all course work requirements toward the Ph.D. or an
equivalent degree in one of the social sciences.
Postdoctoral Study-Awards open to persons having a Ph.D. or
equivalent degree who wish to undertake postdoctoral training and
research at an institution other than the one at which they
received their Ph.D.
Number of awards: 20 to 25
Duration of awards: Up to 1 year
Application deadline: 15 November
Stipend for 1993-94: Varies according to type of award.
Allowances and amounts: Tuition payments and related fees;
transportation expenses; health insurance. Some research-related
costs and a modest dependency allowance may also be part of the
award.
2. Population Council Biomedical Fellowships
Address for application information:
The Population Council
1230 York Avenue
New York, New York 10021
Purpose of program: To provide advanced study in the physiology and
biochemistry of reproduction.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Reproductive biology
Other requirements: Candidate must have successfully completed an
advanced degree-MD, PhD, or equivalent.
Number of awards: 6 to 8 per year
Duration of awards: 1 to 2 years
Stipend for 1992-93: $27,000
Allowances and amounts: $500 per year for travel
THE RHODES SCHOLARSHIP
Address for application information:
Office of the American Secretary
The Rhodes Scholarship Office
Pomona College
Claremont, California 91711-6305
OR
applicant's college or university
Title of program: The Rhodes Scholarships
Purpose of program: To select talented students for study at the
University of Oxford.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Undergraduate, graduate
Field(s) supported: Generally unrestricted
Other requirements: Candidate must: 1) be unmarried (marriage
permitted after the first year in residence); 2) be between the
ages of 18 and 23 inclusive on October 1 of the year of
application; 3) have sufficient standing to assure completion of a
bachelor's degree before October of the year following application.
Selection is made on four criteria: scholarship, character,
leadership, and physical vigor. A candidate applies in one of 50
states--either state of legal residence or state where minimum of
2 years college training was received.
Number of awards: 32
Application deadline: October
Stipend for 1991-92: ?5640
Allowances and amounts: All approved college fees
ROCHE INSTITUTE OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
Address for application information:
Roche Institute of Molecular Biology
Nutley, New Jersey 07110
Title of program: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Purpose of program: To provide basic research training
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Biochemistry, genetics, developmental biology,
virology, oncology, neurobiology, pharmacology and other areas of
molecular biology.
Other requirements: Applicant must be recent recipient of MD, PhD
or equivalent degree in biological or biochemical sciences.
Fellowships are tenable only at Roche Institute.
Number of awards: Approximately 30 new awards annually
Duration of awards: 1 year, with renewal for additional years
Application deadline: None
Stipend for 1992-93: $30,500
Allowances and amounts: Cost of the Fellow's travel to the
Institute; initial allowance to help defray housing costs.
THE ROCKEFELLER FOUNDATION
1. Rockefeller Foundation Biotechnology Career Fellowships
Address for application information:
Biotechnology Career Fellowships
Fellowship Office
The Rockefeller Foundation
1133 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
Purpose of Program: To assist scientists based in the Third World
to maintain leadership in the development and application of the
new biotechnologies that offer great promise for improving the
agricultural, health, population, and environmental prospects of
poorer countries. The fellowships seek to accomplish this by
establishing ongoing working relationships between outstanding
younger biotechnology scientists working at Third World
institutions, and research teams at advanced laboratories.
Citizenship: Citizens of developing countries.
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: The following area of Biotechnology:
Agricultural Sciences, Environmental Sciences, Health Sciences, and
Population Sciences.
Other requirements: Applicants should: 1) have at least Ph.D.- or
M.D.-level training in a relevant field, excellent scientific
qualifications, and a proven record of productivity; 2) hold a
permanent position at a nonprofit research or teaching institution
in their country of citizenship. Applicant's participation must be
endorsed by the home institution; host laboratory must be in the
forefront of high-technology research in its field. It is
preferable that the applicant has previous relationship with host
laboratory. In selecting fellows and their host laboratories, the
Foundation will consider the relevance of the research proposed to
the needs of the applicant's country, as well as that country's
commitment to biotechnology as a development tool. Fellows should
be no more than 45 years of age.
Duration of awards: 3 years.
Application deadline: At least 6 months in advance of proposed
start date.
Financial arrangements: Funding will be shared between the
Foundation and the host institution. The Foundation will provide
a per diem (for a maximum of 280 days over the three-year
fellowship period) for the fellow, and will cover the cost of
round-trip travel. It will also make a modest contribution to
research expenses. The host institution will be expected to cover
most of the research costs. No provision for family support or
travel.
2. Rockefeller Foundation Fellowships in the Humanities
Address for application information:
Humanities Fellowships
The Rockefeller Foundation
Arts and Humanities Division
1133 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10036
Purpose of program: The Rockefeller Foundation Humanities
Fellowships are for humanities scholars whose research furthers
understanding of contemporary social and cultural issues and
extends international or intercultural scholarship. In 1993-94,
the fellowships will be offered as residencies at host institutions
selected for their potential to promote scholarship in the
humanities focused on transnational issues, the cultures of non-
Western nations, and the diverse cultural heritage of the United
States. Host institutions include academic departments, area
studies and other interdisciplinary programs, museums, and research
libraries.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral or equivalent training/experience.
Field(s) supported: To promote humanities disciplines and the
interdisciplinary dialogue that is the hallmark of new scholarship
in these areas, provide outstanding resources to individual
scholars, and fortify the institutions that are advancing this
work.
Other requirements: Fellowships are tenable at one of 23 host
institutions.
Number of awards: 60
Duration of awards: Customarily 8 to 10 months
Application deadline: Each institution differs; the range is
October 31 to March 15.
Stipend for 1993-94: $35,000
Allowances and amounts: $2,000 toward travel, benefit, and
relocation costs; any other allowances are set by institutions
hosting fellows.
ROTARY FOUNDATION OF ROTARY INTERNATIONAL
Address for application information:
Local Rotary Clubs
or
The Rotary Foundation
1560 Sherman Avenue
Evanston, Illinois 60201
1. Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarship
Purpose of program: To further international understanding and
friendly relations among people of different countries through
study abroad. During the study year, scholars are expected to be
outstanding ambassadors of goodwill through appearances before
Rotary clubs, schools, civic organizations and other forums.
Citizenship: Citizens of countries in which there are Rotary clubs,
including the USA.
Level: Undergraduate, graduate, or vocational study.
Field(s) supported: All fields; but not unsupervised research, or
medical internship or residency.
Other requirements: Applicants must have completed two years of
university work or appropriate professional experience before
starting scholarship studies. Scholarships are available to
individuals of all ages. Spouses or descendants of Rotarians may
not apply. Upon completion of the scholarship, scholars are
expected to share the experiences of understanding acquired during
the study year with the people of their home countries.
Number of awards: Varies
Duration of awards: 1 academic year
Application deadline: July 15; but local Rotary Clubs may set
earlier deadlines. Applicants are encouraged to contact local
Rotary Clubs; some deadlines may be as early as March.
Allowances and amounts for 1994-95: Up to $20,000 or its equivalent
to help cover tuition, fees, room and board, and miscellaneous
expenses. Round-trip transportation is also included in the award.
2. Multi-Year Ambassadorial Scholarship
Purpose of program: To further international understanding and
friendly relations among people of different countries through
study abroad.
Citizenship: Citizens of countries in which there are Rotary Clubs,
including the USA.
Level: Undergraduate, graduate, or vocational study.
Field(s) supported: All fields; but not unsupervised research, or
medical internship or residency.
Other requirements: Applicants must have completed two years of
university work or appropriate professional experience before
starting scholarship studies. Scholarships are available to
individuals of all ages. Spouses or descendants of Rotarians may
not apply.
Number of awards: Varies
Duration of awards: One year to two or three years.
Application deadline: July 15; but local Rotary Clubs may set
earlier deadlines. Applicants are encouraged to contact local
Rotary Clubs; some deadlines may be as early as March.
Stipend for 1994-95: A flat award of $10,000 or its equivalent per
year. All additional costs must be absorbed by scholars.
3. Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarship
Purpose of Program: To encourage cultural immersion and intensive
language study.
Citizenship: Citizens of countries in which there are Rotary Clubs,
including the USA.
Level: Undergraduate, graduate, or vocational study.
Field(s) supported: Language and cultural study. In 1994-95,
applications will be considered for candidates interested in
studying the following languages: English, French, German,
Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and
Swahili.
Other requirements: Applicants must have completed two years of
university work or appropriate professional experience before
starting scholarship studies. Scholarships are available to
individuals of all ages. Spouses or descendants of Rotarians may
not apply.
Number of awards: Varies
Duration of awards: Scholars will be placed in a foreign country
for either 3 or 6 months.
Application deadline: July 15; but local Rotary Clubs may set
earlier deadlines. Applicants are encouraged to contact local
Rotary Clubs; some deadlines may be as early as March.
Allowances and amounts for 1994-95: This award provides funding as
determined appropriate by The Rotary Foundation for tuition, room
and board, miscellaneous expenses and round-trip transportation.
Whenever possible, scholars will reside with host families. All
other expenses are the responsibility of the scholars.
4. Freedom from Hunger Scholarships
Purpose of program: To train individuals from developing countries
in the area of agriculture/food production.
Citizenship: Citizens of developing countries in which there are
Rotary Clubs.
Level: Graduate, masters (Ph.D. candidates will not be considered)
Field(s) supported: Agriculture, food production
Other requirements: Award recipient must return to home country at
end of award to apply skills acquired.
Number of awards: 25 per year
Duration of awards: Up to 2 calendar years for completion of
advanced degree.
Application deadline: July 15; but local Rotary Clubs may set
earlier deadlines. Applicants are encouraged to contact local
Rotary Clubs; some deadlines may be as early as March.
Stipend: Varies with each country.
Allowances and amounts: Round-trip transportation, room, board,
tuition, necessary books and educational supplies, contingency
allocation, limited educational travel allowance, language training
to improve fluency if warranted.
5. Japan Program Scholarships
Purpose of program: To offer intensive language training for
candidates wishing to develop fluency in the Japanese language and
then undertake regular studies at a Japanese university.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Field(s) supported: Unrestricted
Other requirements: 1) At least two years of university level
Japanese language training or equivalent in experience; 2) at least
minimal exposure to Asian/Japanese culture through course work or
equivalent experience; 3) substantive reason for study in Japan,
i.e., academic or professional; 4) demonstrated intent to utilize
acquired knowledge of Asian culture positively and productively
after scholarship period.
Number of awards: 15
Duration of awards: 21 months including 9-14 months of language
training.
Application deadline: July 15; but local Rotary Clubs may set
earlier deadlines. Applicants are encouraged to contact local
Rotary Clubs; some deadlines may be as early as March.
Allowances and amounts: Scholarship provides round-trip
transportation and funding for tuition, books and supplies, housing
and other miscellaneous expenses.
ROYAL NORWEGIAN COUNCIL FOR SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH
Address for application information:
NTNF
P.O. Box 70, TAASEN
0801 Oslo
Norway
Title of program: Research Fellowships
Purpose of program: To provide postdoctoral research opportunities.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Applied science and engineering (medicine and
agriculture excluded)
Other requirements: Candidate should normally be no more than 40
years of age and have qualifications corresponding at least to a
British or American PhD in applied science or engineering. Research
work/studies can be carried out at the Universities of Oslo,
Bergen, Tromso; The Norwegian Institute of Technology, Trondheim;
and at different institutes for applied research in Oslo, Bergen,
and Trondheim. English may be used at all institutes, German and
French at some institutes.
Number of awards: Approximately 10
Duration of awards: 1 year (with possible renewal for second year)
Application deadline: March 1 and September 1
Allowances and amounts: 132,000 Norwegian krone for single Fellow;
156,000 Norwegian krone for married Fellow accompanied by
wife/husband; 12,000 Norwegian krone for each accompanying
dependent child; 10,000 Norwegian krone upon arrival; ticket fare
reimbursement up to NOK 10,000 each way per person for Fellow and
accompanying family members.
ALFRED P. SLOAN FOUNDATION
Address for application information:
Alfred P. Sloan Foundation
630 Fifth Avenue, Suite 2550
New York, New York 10111
Title of program: Sloan Research Fellowships
Purpose of program: To provide support and recognition for
promising young scientists who are faculty members at colleges and
universities in the USA and Canada.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Regular faculty
Field(s) supported: Chemistry, physics, mathematics, economics, and
neuroscience, or related interdisciplinary fields.
Other requirements: Candidates may be no more than 32 years of age
as of September 15 of year of nomination. Candidates must be
nominated by department head or other senior scholar. Direct
applications are not accepted.
Number of awards: 90
Duration of awards: 2 years
Application deadline: September 15
Stipend for 1993-94: $30,000 for the 2-year period
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
Address for application information:
Smithsonian Institution
Office of Fellowships and Grants
Desk F
L'Enfant Plaza, Suite 7000
Washington, D.C. 20560
1. Senior Postdoctoral Fellowships, Postdoctoral Fellowships,
Predoctoral Fellowship, Graduate Student Fellowships
Purpose of programs: For Senior Postdoctoral, Postdoctoral and
Graduate Student Fellowships--To support research by scholars and
students in residence at the Smithsonian in association with its
research staff. For Predoctoral Fellowships--To provide
opportunities for doctoral candidates to conduct dissertation
research in residence at the Smithsonian in association with its
research staff.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Field(s) supported: Anthropology, biological sciences, earth
sciences, history of art, history of science and technology, social
and cultural history, materials analysis.
Other requirements: All applicants must be fluent in English.
Senior Postdoctoral applicants must be 7 years beyond the PhD or
its equivalent. Postdoctoral applicants must have received the PhD
or equivalent within 7 years of application date. Predoctoral
applicants must be enrolled in a university as candidates for the
PhD or equivalent, and must have completed course work and
examinations. Graduate Student applicants must be formally enrolled
in a graduate program of study at a degree-granting institution and
must have completed at least one semester before appointment
period.
Number of awards: Variable
Duration of awards: Senior Postdoctoral--3 to 12 months;
Postdoctoral and Predoctoral--6 to 12 months; Graduate Student--10
weeks.
Application deadline: January 15
Stipend for 1992-93: Senior Postdoctoral--$26,000 per year;
Postdoctoral--$21,000 per year; Predoctoral--$13,000 per year;
Graduate Student--$3,000 for 10 weeks
2. Faculty Research Fellowships
Purpose of program: To support research by minority faculty members
in residence at the Smithsonian in association with its research
staff.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Graduate, postdoctoral, or equivalent through teaching
experience.
Field(s) supported: Anthropology, biological sciences, earth
sciences, history of art, history of science and technology, social
and cultural history, materials analysis.
Other requirements: Applicants may be enrolled in a PhD program,
have completed the PhD, or have equivalent experience through
teaching activities.
Number of awards: Variable
Duration of awards: 2 to 4 months
Application deadline: February 15
Stipend: Determined individually based on academic status.
Allowances and amounts: Travel allowance
3. Smithsonian Minority Internship Program
Purpose of program: To provide opportunities for students to pursue
internship projects or independent research in history, art or
science in residence at the Smithsonian's facilities under the
supervision of Smithsonian research and professional staff members.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Undergraduate, graduate
Field(s) supported: Anthropology, biological sciences, earth
sciences, history of art, history of science and technology, social
and cultural history, materials analysis.
Other requirements: Students are eligible to apply if they are
actively engaged in graduate study at any level or in undergraduate
study. Generally an overall grade point average of 3.0 is required.
Number of awards: Variable
Duration of awards: 9 to 12 weeks
Application deadline: October 15, February 15, June 15
Stipend for 1992-93: $250 per week for undergraduates; $300 per
week for graduates.
SOCIAL SCIENCE RESEARCH COUNCIL
Address for application information:
Social Science Research Council
605 Third Avenue
New York, New York 10158
1. SSRC-MacArthur Foundation Fellowships on Peace and Security in
a Changing World
Purpose of program: The fellowships are intended to support
research on the implications for security issues of worldwide
cultural, social, economic, and political changes. In addition to
previous concerns, a new range of issues has come to the fore: for
example, the effect of demographic trends; increased pressure on
the natural environment; massive new flows of migration; the
altered nature of economic ties; ethnic, racial, and national
conflicts; the economic and social effects of decreased levels of
military spending; and the impact of large arsenals of nuclear
weapons on political change and stability.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Dissertation, postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Social and behavioral sciences (including
history and area studies), the humanities, or the physical and
biological sciences
Other requirements: Dissertation level--In the 1993/94 program,
applicants must complete all requirements for the doctoral degree
except dissertation by the spring of 1994. Postdoctoral level--
Applicant will usually hold the Ph.D. or its equivalent. This
competition is designed for researchers in the first ten years of
their postdoctoral careers.
Number of awards: 8 dissertation, 8 postdoctoral
Duration of awards: 2 years
Application deadline: December 1
Stipend for 1993-94: Dissertation level--varies, will rarely exceed
$17,500 per year; Postdoctoral level--varies, will rarely exceed
$36,000 per year.
Allowances and amounts: Up to $5,000 per year additional funds
available to pay tuition and institutional fees.
2. International Predissertation Fellowship Program
Purpose of program: With funding from the Ford Foundation, this
joint SSRC/ACLS program is designed to increase the flow of
talented graduate students in the social sciences into research and
teaching careers oriented to the developing world.
Level: Students must be pursuing a PhD in a social science
discipline and should demonstrate an interest in supplementing
skills in their discipline with area and language studies.
Field(s) supported: Primarily economics, political science,
psychology, and sociology, but other social science disciplines
included as well; the intent is to encourage students to undertake
dissertation research in Africa, China, Latin America and the
Caribbean, the Near and Middle East, the Middle East, South Asia,
and Southeast Asia.
Other requirements: Applicant must be enrolled at one of 23
institutions: University of California, Berkeley; University of
California, Los Angeles; University of California, San Diego;
University of Chicago; Columbia University; Cornell University;
Duke University; Harvard University; University of Illinois,
Urbana-Champaign; Indiana University, Bloomington; Massachusetts
Institute of Technology; Michigan State University; University of
Michigan, Ann Arbor; University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus;
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Northwestern University;
University of Pennsylvania; Princeton University; Stanford
University; University of Texas at Austin; University of
Washington; University of Wisconsin, Madison; and Yale University
Number of awards: up to 55
Duration of awards: 12 months of support over a period up to 2
years
Application deadline: varies by institution, 2 December to 6
January
Allowances and amounts: 12 months support for a full-time program
of study which may include language training, overseas study, and
course work in area studies, in addition to living stipends and
international travel expenses
3. Abe Fellowship Program
Purpose of Program: To conduct research in the social sciences and
humanities relevant to any one or combination of the following
themes: global issues, problems common to advanced industrial
societies, and issued that relate to improving USA-Japanese
relations.
Citizenship: American, Japanese, or third country nationals
affiliated with an American or Japanese institution
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Social sciences and humanities
Other eligibility: Applicants must hold the Ph.D. or have attained
an equivalent level of professional experience, as evaluated in
their country of residence.
Duration of awards: Up to 12 months of full-time support, although
fellowship tenure need not be continuous
Application deadline: September 1993 for the 1994-95 year
Allowances and amounts: Base award and supplementary research and
travel expenses as necessary for the completion of the research
project.
SOCIAL SCIENCES AND HUMANITIES RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA
Address for application information:
255 Albert Street
Box 1610, Ottawa
K1P 6G4 Canada
1. Postdoctoral Fellowships
Purpose of program: To encourage the development and broadening of
research skills of recent doctoral graduates in the humanities and
the social sciences.
Citizenship: Canadians or permanent residents of Canada living in
Canada at the time of application.
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Social sciences and humanities
Other requirements: Must have completed all requirements for a
doctorate before the fellowship period or have earned a doctoral
degree within the three years prior to the competition deadline.
Number of awards: Approximately 140
Duration of awards: 24 months
Application deadline: October 1
Stipend for 1993-94: $27,984
2. Doctoral Fellowships
Purpose of program: Doctoral fellowships are intended to develop
research skills and to assist in the training of highly qualified
personnel.
Citizenship: Canadian or permanent residents living in Canada at
time of application.
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: Social sciences and humanities
Other requirements: Must have completed at least one year of
doctoral study or a master's degree.
Number of awards: Approximately 650
Duration of awards: 24 months renewable for another 24 months.
(Council will only support the first four years of doctoral
studies.)
Application deadline: November 15
Stipend for 1993-94: $14,436
3. NSERC/SSHRC Master's Scholarships in Science Policy
Purpose of program: To encourage students to undertake science
policy studies at the master's level.
Citizenship: Canadian or permanent residents living in Canada at
time of application.
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: Science policy
Other requirements: Applicants must hold a bachelor's degree in any
discipline.
Number of awards: 6
Duration of awards: 12 months; renewable for another 12 months.
Application deadline: December 1
Stipend for 1993-94: $14,436
Allowances and amounts: Travel allowance to the place of tenure, if
it is different from the location at the time of application. A
further allowance may be paid to an award holder when accompanied
by a spouse and/or children.
SOCIETY OF EXPLORATION GEOPHYSICISTS (SEG) FOUNDATION
Address for application information:
SEG Foundation
P.O. Box 702740
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74170
Title of program: Scholarships and Grants-in-Aid
Purpose of program: To encourage the pursuit of a college course
directed toward a career in exploration geophysics in operations,
teaching or research. Funds are from companies and individuals
engaged or interested in the field of geophysics.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Exploration geophysics (applicants must have an
interest in and aptitude for physics, mathematics, and geology).
Other requirements: Certain awards hold restrictions placed on them
by the donor.
Number of awards: 75-100 per year
Duration of awards: 1 academic year; renewable subject to
maintenance of recipient's scholastic standing, availability of
funds, and continuance by recipient of course of study acceptable
to Foundation and one which will lead toward career in exploration
geophysics.
Application deadline: March 1 of award year
Stipend for 1992-93: $1,000 to $2,500
HATTIE M. STRONG FOUNDATION
Address for application information:
Hattie M. Strong Foundation
1735 Eye Street, N.W., Suite 705
Washington, D. C. 20006
Title of program: Student Loan Fund
Purpose of program: To provide interest-free loans to assist in
completion of final year of study in college or graduate school.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Undergraduate, graduate
Field(s) supported: Unrestricted
Number of awards: Variable
Duration of awards: The final year of study in a baccalaureate or
graduate degree program.
Application deadline: January 1 to March 31 for the following
academic year.
Allowances and amounts for 1992-1993: Maximum loan is $2,500 in one
academic year.
TAU BETA PI
Address for application information:
Tau Beta Pi Association
P.O. Box 8840, University Station
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-0002
Title of program: Graduate Fellowships
Purpose of program: To advance the interest of the engineering
profession.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: Engineering, medicine, law, business, etc., as
related to engineering.
Other requirements: Applicants must be members of Tau Beta Pi, the
national engineering honor society.
Number of awards: Approximately 20
Duration of awards: 1 year
Application deadline: January 20
Stipend for 1992-93: $7,500
Allowances and amounts: Fellows may receive additional aid to
include tuition and up to $10,000 in excess of tuition, from other
sources.
HARRY S. TRUMAN SCHOLARSHIP
FOUNDATION
Address for application information:
Harry S. Truman Scholarship Foundation
712 Jackson Place, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006
Title of program: Undergraduate and Graduate Scholarships
Purpose of program: To award scholarships to college students who
have outstanding leadership potential, plan to pursue careers in
government or elsewhere in public service, and wish to attend
graduate school to prepare for their careers.
Citizenship: USA citizens or nationals
Level: Undergraduate and graduate
Field(s) supported: Disciplines that can lead to public service
careers, such as agriculture, biology, engineering, environmental
management, physical and social sciences, economics, education,
government, history, international relations, law, political
science, public administration, public health, and public policy.
Other requirements: Candidates must: 1) be nominated by their
institutions; 2) be in the upper quarter of their class; 3) be
juniors at four year institutions or sophomores at two year
institutions.
Number of awards: Up to 85 in 1993
Duration of awards: Up to 4 years - 1 or 2 years undergraduate
study (junior and senior years), plus 2 or 3 years graduate study
Application deadline: December 2 for candidates from four year
institutions; February 25 for candidates from two year institutions
Allowances and amounts: Up to $30,000 for 4 years
USA AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT (A.I.D.), OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL TRAINING
Address for application information:
Write to appropriate government department in applicant's own
country or contact an A.I.D. Mission (for private sector
applicants)
Title of program: Thomas Jefferson Fellowship Program
Purpose of program: To prepare participants for pre-determined
roles in their countries' development program; to train them for
high level professional and technical occupations in both private
and public areas including those in agriculture, industry,
population, transportation, labor, housing, education, community
development, business administration, public administration, and
health
Citizenship: Nationals of participating countries
Level: A.A., B.S., M.S., Ph.D., and short technical courses
Other requirements: Candidate must: 1) Require training not
available in own country; 2) be nominated by own government; 3)
agree to specified employment after return to own country.
Fellowships, scholarships, or grants are not available directly
from A.I.D.; application should be made through the home government
of the developing country under its bilateral agreement with the
USA; 4) Agree to return to their home country upon
completion of training for a minimum of 2 years (requirement of the
J-1 visa).
Number of awards: 14,000 in training during FY 1991-92
Duration of awards: Variable
Application deadline: Rolling
Stipend: Variable
Allowances and amounts: Varies on location of training institution;
includes maintenance allowance, travel, health and accident
coverage program.
USA AIR FORCE, OFFICE OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH
Address for application information:
Southeastern Center for Electrical Engineering Education
SCEEE-Fellowship Program
1101 Massachusetts Avenue
St. Cloud, Florida 34769
Title of program: USAF Laboratory Graduate Fellowship Program
Purpose of program: To increase the number of USA citizens
educated in disciplines of science and engineering critical to the
USA Air Force by awarding fellowships to support study and
research leading to doctoral degrees.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: Aeronautical and astronautical engineering;
behavioral sciences; biomedical engineering; chemistry and chemical
engineering; computer science and computer modeling; electrical
engineering; geophysics and meteorology; industrial and civil
engineering; life sciences, biology and biophysics; materials
science, ceramic engineering and metallurgy; mathematics;
mechanical engineering; physics.
Other requirements: Awards are limited to those who have received
their baccalaureate degree before or during the year of
application; preference will be given to undergraduates and first
year graduate students. Fellows must enroll in full-time programs
leading to doctoral degrees in the selected fields at any United
States institution offering doctoral degrees in the designated
disciplines. Each fellow will be sponsored by an Air Force
laboratory and may spend up to three months during the summer
pursuing research at the sponsoring laboratory.
Number of awards: 25
Duration of awards: 3 years
Application deadline: January
Stipend for 1993: $15,000 1st year; $16,000 2nd year; $17,000 3rd
year.
Allowances and amounts: All required tuition and fees and $2,000
per year to Fellow's academic department.
USA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Address for application information:
Office of the President of one of the seventeen 1890 historically
black land-grant institutions
Title of program: USDA/1890 National Scholars Program
Purpose of program: 1) to strengthen the long-term partnership
between USDA and the seventeen 1890 historically black land-grant
institutions; 2) to increase the number of students studying
agriculture, food, and natural resources; 3) to open career
opportunities to USDA/1890 National Scholars at the USA Department
of Agriculture.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Undergraduate
Fields supported: Agriculture, food, and natural resources
Other eligibility requirements: Must have a 3.00 GPA; entering
freshmen must have a 21 or better on the ACT or a 1000 or better on
the SAT; high school graduate or GED recipient; attend an 1890
institution; demonstrate leadership, service, and the potential for
success
Number of awards: 34 awards a year (total of 136 awards)
Duration of awards: 4 years
Application deadline: February
Stipend for 1992-93: $14,860 - $21,860
Allowances and amounts: Annual tuition for four years, books; fees;
room and board; personal computer and software; employment;
employee benefits.
USA DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Address for application information:
NDSEG Fellowship Program
P.O. Box 13444
200 Park Drive, Suite 211
Research Triangle Park, NC 27709-3444
ATTN: Dr. George Outterson
Title of program: National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate
Fellowship Program
Purpose of Program: To increase the number of USA citizens trained
in disciplines of science and engineering of military importance.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: Aeronautical and astronautical engineering;
biosciences; chemical engineering; chemistry; cognitive, neural,
and behavioral sciences; computer science; electrical engineering;
geosciences; manufacturing sciences and engineering; materials
science and engineering; mathematics; mechanical engineering; naval
architecture and ocean engineering; oceanography; physics.
Other requirements: Applicants must: 1) receive their baccalaureate
degrees by Fall of the year of application, 2) be at or near the
beginning of their graduate study in science or engineering, 3)
plan to enroll full-time at USA institutions of higher
education in programs leading to graduate degrees in fields
specified above.
Number of awards: Approximately 90
Duration of awards: 3 years
Application deadline: 3rd Wednesday in January
Stipend for new 1992 Fellows: 1st year: $15,000; 2nd year: $16,000,
3rd year: $17,000
Allowances and amounts: Full tuition and required fees plus $2,000
to Fellow's department.
USA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
1. Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program
Address for application information:
Jacob K. Javits Fellows Program
P.O. Box 84
Washington, D.C. 20044
Purpose of program: To provide financial assistance to entering or
first-semester graduate students in various fields in the arts,
humanities, and social sciences.
Citizenship: USA and Permanent Residents of the USA
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: The Arts: architecture (general architecture,
architecture, architectural history); Dramatic and Creative Arts:
creative writing, dance, playwriting and screenwriting, television,
film, cinematography, theatre arts; Fine Arts: photography, studio
arts; Music: general music, ethnomusicology (non-Western), history,
literature, musicology, performance, theory and composition; The
Humanities: archaeology, art history, classics (Latin and Greek),
comparative literature, English language literature, foreign
languages and literatures, history, linguistics, philosophy,
religion and theology (excluding theological professions), speech,
rhetoric and debate; The Social Sciences: anthropology, economics,
geography, political science, psychology (except clinical),
sociology.
Number of awards: Approximately 125
Duration of awards: Up to 48 months
Application deadline: January 15
Allowances and amounts: $6,000 annual payment to institution for
tuition and fees.
2. Need-Based Awards
Address for application information: Information may be obtained
from the institution student plans to attend.
Purpose of program: Pell Grants - to help first-time undergraduates
pay for their education after high school. Supplemental
Educational Opportunity Grants -- to help first-time undergraduates
with exceptional financial need. College Work-Study Program --
provides jobs for first-time undergraduates and to graduate
students who need financial aid. Federal Perkins Loan Program
(formerly National Direct Student Loans or NDSL) -- low interest (5
percent) loan for first-time undergraduate ad graduate students
with exceptional financial need, as determined by the school.
Stafford Loans (formerly Guaranteed Student Loans or GSL) - low-
interest loans made to students attending school at least half-
time; loans are insured by the guarantee agency in each State and
reinsured by the Federal Government.
Citizenship: USA citizen, national, or permanent resident
alien
Level: Undergraduate, graduate
Field(s) supported: Unrestricted
Other requirements: Applicant must: 1) demonstrate financial need;
2) have a high school diploma or a GED; 3) be enrolled as a regular
student in an eligible program at least half-time; 4) make
satisfactory academic progress; 5) sign a statement of educational
purpose/certification statement on refunds and default; 6) sign an
anti-drug abuse act certification; 7) sign a statement of updated
information; and 8) sign a statement of registration status.
Number of awards: Depends on institution
Duration of awards: Pell Grants - 5 to 6 years of undergraduate
study. Student is eligible for the period of time needed to
complete the first undergraduate baccalaureate course.
Application deadline: Students aid application must be received by
May 3; student aid report must be receive by school's financial aid
office by June 30.
Allowances and amounts: Pell Grants - maximum for 1991-92 was
$2,400; Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants - no more than
$4,000 for an academic year. College Work-Study Program - No set
award amount; cannot be awarded beyond students' needs. Federal
Perkins Loan Program - $4,500 for a student who has not completed
two academic years of study toward a bachelor's degree; $9,000 for
a student who has completed two academic years of study leading to
a bachelor's degree. This includes any amount borrowed during the
first two years of study. $18,000 for study toward a graduate or
professional degree; this includes any amount borrowed under
Perkins/NDSL for undergraduate study. Stafford Loans - $2,625 a
year if first- or second-year undergraduates student; $4,000 a year
at third- or fourth-year; $7,500 if graduate/professional student.
3. Indian Fellowship Program
Address for application information:
USA Department of Education
Room 2177, FOB-6
400 Maryland Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20202-6335
Purpose of Program: To enable Indian students to pursue
undergraduate or postbaccalaureate degrees in specified fields.
Citizenship: USA
Eligible ethnic minority groups: American Indian, Alaska Native
Level: Undergraduate or postbaccalaureate
Field(s) supported: Undergraduate degree: business administration,
engineering, natural resources and related fields.
Postbaccalaureate degree: business administration, engineering,
natural resources, education, law, medicine, psychology, clinical
psychology and related fields.
Other requirements: An applicant must: a) be recognized as a full-
time degree candidate at an accredited institution of higher
education; b) not have obtained a terminal graduate or
postbaccalaureate degree in one of the fields listed above.
Number of awards: Approximately 60 new awards
Duration of awards: 1 to 4 years
Application deadline: January 25
Allowances and amounts: Awards vary according to need. Funds may
be provided for tuition and required fees, stipend, dependent
allowance, books and supplies, and required research expenses.
4. Patricia Roberts Harris Fellowships Program
Address for application information:
Application materials and information must be obtained from the
institution student plans to attend.
Purpose of program: a) Patricia Roberts Harris' Graduate and
Professional Study Fellowships Program: To provide federal
financial assistance to enable institutions of higher education to
make available fellowship awards in postbaccalaureate education to
graduate and professional students who demonstrate financial need
and to assure that awards are made to individuals from
traditionally underrepresented groups undertaking graduate and
professional study. b) Patricia Roberts Harris' Public Service
Fellowship Program: To provide grants to institutions of higher
education to support fellowships for students who demonstrate
financial need and who plan to pursue a career in public service.
Citizenship: USA and permanent residents of the USA
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: All academic areas except Divinity
Other requirements: Applicants must be qualified for full-time
study in an approved graduate program at a participating
institution of higher education and must meet the admission
requirements of that institution.
Award basis: Fellowships funds are awarded on a competitive basis
to colleges and universities that have graduate and professional
programs leading to a master's or more advanced degree. Applicants
compete on a national basis.
Duration of awards: 36 months maximum
Stipend for 1992-93: Up to $10,000 for a 12-month year prorated per
month for any period less than 12 months that fellows are enrolled.
Allowances and amounts: Fellows are granted remission of
institutional tuition and mandatory fees. A $6,000 per year
educational allowance is provided to the institution for each
fellow actively enrolled prorated at $500 per month for any period
less than 12 months.
USA DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY (DOE)
1. Integrated Manufacturing Predoctoral Fellowships
Address for application information:
The Fellowship Office
National Research Council
2101 Constitution Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20418
Purpose of program: To create a pool of PhDs trained in the
integrated approach to manufacturing, to promote academic interest
in the field, and to attract talented professionals to this
challenging area of engineering.
Citizenship: USA citizen or permanent resident
Level: Graduate
Fields supported: Integrated systems of manufacturing, including
but not limited to, large scale systems, and integration of product
design with manufacturing processes
Other eligibility: Applicants must intend to work toward a PhD
degree; applicants must have received a master's degree prior to
start of fellowship tenure; however, this requirement may be waived
for those already admitted to a PhD program or for applicants with
postbaccalaureate professional industrial experience.
Number of awards: 12 in 1992-93
Duration of awards: 3 years
Application deadline: postmark deadline in early November of each
year
Stipend for 1992-93: $20,000 per year
Allowances and amounts: cost-of-education allowance up to $15,000
per year
2. University/DOE Laboratory Cooperative Program: Student Research
Participation, Laboratory Graduate Research Participation, Thesis
Parts Research Participation, Faculty Research Participation,
Supplemental Education and Training Activities
Address for application information:
Office of Energy Research
University and Science Education Programs
USA Department of Energy
Washington, D.C. 20585
or contact the following laboratories or consortia:
Ames Laboratory, Planning and Technology Application,
119 Office and Laboratory Building, Ames, Iowa 50011
Argonne National Laboratory, Division of Education Programs,
9700 South Cass Avenue, Building 223, Argonne, Illinois 60439
Associated Western Universities, Inc., 4190 S. Highland Drive,
Suite 211, Salt Lake City, Utah 84124
Brookhaven National Laboratory, Office of Educational Programs,
Upton, Long Island, New York 11973
EG&G Mound Applied Technologies, One Mound Avenue,
P.O. Box 3000, Miamisburg, Ohio 45343
Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory, Center for Science and Engineering
Education, Building 90, Room 1070, Berkeley, California 94720
Morgantown Energy Technology Center, Office of Applied Science and
Technology, P.O. Box 880, 3610 Collins Ferry Road,
Morgantown, West Virginia 26505
Northwest College and University Association for Science
390 Hanford Street, Richland, Washington 99352-1620
Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Science Engineering Education
Division, P.O. Box 117, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831
Oak Ridge National Laboratory, University Education Program,
P.O. Box 2008, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6276
Pittsburgh Energy Technology Center, P.O. Box 10940
Mail Stop 921232, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15236
Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, P.O. Drawer E,
Aiken, South Carolina 29801
Savannah River Laboratory, Westinghouse Savannah River Company,
Education Programs, Aiken, South Carolina 29808
Solar Energy Research Institute, Office of the Director,
1617 Cole Boulevard, Golden, Colorado 80401-3393
Purpose of program: To increase interaction and flow of information
between universities and DOE laboratories, to familiarize engineers
and scientists with energy sciences and techniques, and to
stimulate transfer of knowledge from DOE laboratories to academic
institutions for incorporation into their education and training
curricula.
Citizenship: USA, USA permanent resident status
Level: Undergraduate, graduate, faculty
Field(s) supported: Science and engineering
Number of awards: Undergraduate-approximately 670; Graduate-
approximately 350; Faculty-approximately 250.
Duration of awards: 10 weeks to 1 year
Application deadline: December-January
Stipend for 1993-94: Varies with level of appointment.
Allowances and amounts: Varies with level of appointment.
Address for application information on the following DOE-sponsored
programs:
Science/Engineering Education Division
Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
120 Badger Avenue
P. O. Box 117
Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-0117
3. Applied Health Physics Fellowship Program
Citizenship: USA or permanent resident alien
Level: Graduate
Other eligibility: Applicants must not have completed more than one
academic term (semester or quarter) of full-time graduate education
at the time of application; program not intended to support studies
in medical physics; fellows must participate in a practicum for at
least three months at a DOE facility to gain hands-on experience;
fellows are encouraged to consider employment with DOE or one of
its contractors on completion of their academic program should a
reasonable offer be extended.
Number of awards: 20 annually
Duration of awards: 24 months
Application deadline: January
Stipend for 1993-94: $14,000
Allowances and amounts: Tuition and fees, $1000 academic allowance
paid to the university, $300 supplementary practicum allowance
4. Graduate Fellowships for Global Change
Purpose of program: To support graduate study and research in the
seven interdisciplinary science elements of global change
identified by the Committee on Earth and Environmental Sciences.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Graduate
Fields supported: Climate and hydrologic systems, biogeochemical
dynamics, ecological systems and dynamics, earth systems history,
human interactions, solid earth processes, and solar influences
Other eligibility: Fellows required to enroll full-time at
designated participating universities and do research assignments
at designated participating research centers, usually during the
summer following their first academic year; fellows are encouraged
to consider career employment with agencies participating in the
USA Global Change Research Program if a reasonable offer is
extended.
Duration of awards: Up to 24 months for master's degree; up to 48
months for doctoral degree
Application deadline: January
Stipend for 1993-94: $14,400
Allowances and amounts: Tuition and fees; $2,000 per year academic
allowance; $300 for required collaborative research experience
allowance; travel reimbursement
5. Environmental Restoration and Waste Management Fellowship
Citizenship: USA citizen or permanent resident
Level: Graduate
Fields supported: Regulatory process, chemical wastes, mixed
wastes, low/high-level radioactive wastes, environmental systems
(groundwater modeling, airborne emissions and deposition,
terrestrial and aquatic transport), risk assessment (breach of
storage containment, accidents, etc.), communications of technical
issues, robotics, analog studies
Other eligibility: Fellows must be enrolled full-time in work
toward a master's or doctoral degree at participating universities;
fellows must do a practicum at a DOE-designated participating
center; fellows are encouraged to consider employment with either
DOE or one of its contractors on completion of their academic
program, should a reasonable offer be extended.
Number of awards: Variable
Duration of awards: 1 year; may be renewed annually
Application deadline: January
Stipend for 1993: $14,400
Allowances and amounts: Tuition and fees; $1000 academic allowance;
300 supplementary practicum allowance; travel allowance varies
6. Industrial Hygiene Fellowship Program
Citizenship: USA
Level: Graduate
Fields supported: Industrial hygiene encompasses recognition,
evaluation, and control of chemical, physical, and microbiological
hazards arising from work activities
Other eligibility: Applicant must (a) have received a bachelor's
degree from an accredited institution in the disciplines of
physical sciences, life or health sciences, environmental sciences,
or engineering (b) be prepared to matriculate full-time in an
industrial hygiene academic master's program; (c) not have
completed more than one academic term of graduate education;
fellows are encouraged to accept employment with either DOE or DOE
contractors on completion of their academic program, should a
suitable offer be extended.
Duration of awards: 24 months
Application deadline: January
Stipend for 1993: $15,600
Allowances and amounts: Tuition and fees; $1,500 academic
allowance; $400 supplementary practicum allowance; travel allowance
varies
7. Magnetic Fusion Energy Technology Fellowship Program
Citizenship: USA citizen or permanent resident
Level: Graduate
Other eligibility: Must have completed an undergraduate degree in
engineering, physical sciences, mathematics or a related
discipline; must be planning full-time, uninterrupted study toward
a Ph.D.; no other graduate degrees in physical sciences,
engineering, or mathematics may have been completed; fellows are
required to participate in a practicum for at least three months at
a Department of Energy facility to gain hands-on experience; a
fellow agrees to entertain employment with DOE or one of its
contractors at the end of a fellow's academic program should a
reasonable offer be extended.
Duration of awards: maximum of 48 months
Application deadline: Last Monday in January for complete
application
Stipend for 1993: $15,600 per year
Allowances and amounts: Tuition and fees; $200 practicum allowance;
travel allowance as appropriate
8. Magnetic Fusion Science Fellowship Program
Citizenship: USA citizen or permanent resident
Level: Graduate
Other eligibility: Must have completed an undergraduate degree in
engineering, the physical sciences, mathematics, or a related
discipline; graduate students may not have completed more than one
semester/quarter at the time of application and no more than one
year of full-time study before beginning a fellowship appointment;
students must plan to pursue full-time uninterrupted study toward
a Ph.D; no other graduate degrees in the physical sciences,
engineering, or mathematics may have been completed before
application to this program; fellows required to participate in a
practicum for at least three months at a DOE facility to gain
hands-on experience; fellows also agree to entertain employment
with the DOE or one of its contractors at the end of a fellow's
academic program should a reasonable offer be extended.
Duration of awards: 36 months
Application deadline: last Monday in January
Stipend for 1993: $15,600 per year
Allowances and amounts: Tuition and fees, $200 practicum allowance
9. Nuclear Engineering & Health Physics Fellowships
Citizenship: USA citizen or permanent resident aliens
Level: Graduate
Other eligibility: Applicants cannot be enrolled or have been
previously enrolled in a full-time graduate program at the time of
application; fellows must participate in a practicum for at least
three months at a DOE facility to gain hands-on experience; fellows
are encouraged to consider employment with DOE or one of its
contractors on completion of their academic program should a
reasonable offer be extended.
Number of awards: Varies
Duration of awards: 24 months for a master's degree; 48 months for
a doctoral degree
Application deadline: Fourth Monday in January
Stipend for 1993: $14,400
Allowances and amounts: Tuition and fees; $300 supplementary
practicum allowance; travel allowance as appropriate
Address for application information on the following DOE-sponsored
programs:
Oak Ridge Associated Universities
P. O. Box 117
Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-0117
10. Alexander Hollaender Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellowship
Program
Purpose of program: To provide research opportunities in
energy-related life, biomedical, and environmental sciences.
Fellowships are tenable at U. S. Department of Energy (DOE)
laboratories and universities having research programs supportive
of the mission of DOE's Office of Health and Environmental Research
Citizenship: USA, USA permanent resident status
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Disciplines in the life, biomedical, and
environmental sciences and other supporting scientific disciplines
Other requirements: Applicants must have received a doctoral degree
in an appropriate discipline (or completed all internship or
residency requirements) within 2 years of desired starting date or
expect to complete all such requirements prior to desired starting
date.
Number of awards: Up to 15 each year
Duration of awards: Up to 2 years
Application deadline: January 15
Stipend for 1993: $37,500 for first year and $40,500 for second
year
Allowances and amounts: Inbound travel and moving expenses (limit
$2,000) reimbursed according to established policies
11. Education for Global Change Distinguished Postdoctoral
Fellowships
Purpose of program: To conduct research in technical areas related
to the interdisciplinary science elements of global change: climate
and hydrologic systems, biogeochemical dynamics, ecological systems
and dynamics, Earth system history, human interactions, solid Earth
processes, solar influences, and data management
Citizenship: USA citizen or permanent resident alien
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: chemistry, physics, biology and biotechnology,
mathematics and statistics, environmental sciences or engineering,
atmospheric sciences and meteorology, ecology, agricultural
sciences, geology, geochemistry and geophysics, hydrology,
instrumentation, oceanography and ocean sciences, computer
sciences, economics, and related scientific and engineering fields
Other requirements: Applicants must have received a doctoral degree
in an appropriate discipline within three years of the desired
starting date, or expect to complete all such requirements prior to
the desired starting date; starting date must be between June 1 and
December 31; participants must show proof of health and medical
insurance; appointments involve a full-time commitment to the
research program at the host laboratory; fellowships tenable at
participating Department of Energy laboratories; also tenable at
other approved federal and university laboratories with research
programs supported by DOE or other Committee on Earth and
Environmental Sciences members.
Number of awards: 24 (12 new per year)
Duration of awards: One year; renewable for a second year upon
recommendation of the host laboratory, and are subject to the
availability of funds.
Application deadlines: February 15
Stipend: for 1993: $35,000 the first year and $37,000 the second
Allowances and other amounts: Inbound travel or moving expenses
reimbursed according to the ORISE Travel and Moving Reimbursement
Policies
12. Fusion Energy Postdoctoral Research Program
Purpose of program: To offer to recent PhD recipients the
opportunity to conduct collaborative research in USA Department of
Energy (DOE) magnetic fusion energy research and development
programs; appointments are made to designated DOE laboratories and
contractor fusion energy centers, including universities and
industrial contractors.
Citizenship: USA, USA permanent resident status
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Fusion energy-related research with degree in
an appropriate science or engineering discipline such as physics or
nuclear engineering
Other requirements: Applicant should have received a doctoral
degree within 3 years of desired starting date, or expect to
complete all requirements for such a degree prior to desired
starting date.
Number of awards: Up to 6 each year
Duration of awards: Up to 2 years
Application deadline: February 1
Stipend for 1992-93: $37,000
Allowances and amounts: Inbound travel and moving expenses, and
travel expenses to one scientific meeting are reimbursed according
to standard Oak Ridge Associated Universities policies.
13. Postgraduate Research Programs
Purpose of program: To offer opportunity to conduct collaborative
research in a wide range of science and engineering disciplines at
federal laboratories and other research centers. Such programs
appeal to a diversity of research interests; others are more
specialized in such areas as toxicology, fossil energy, fusion
energy, artificial intelligence, or hazardous waste management.
Citizenship: USA, USA permanent resident status
Level: Post-masters or postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: All areas of biological, physical,
environmental, health, computer, and mathematical sciences;
engineering; psychology; economics; energy policy
Other requirements: For most programs, applicants must have
received a graduate degree within three years of desired starting
date or expect to complete all requirements for such a degree prior
to the desired starting date. For some programs, other applicants
are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Number of awards: Over 200 in 1992
Duration of awards: Up to 2 years
Application deadline: Continuing in some programs; others have
deadlines in January
Stipend for 1992-93: Post-masters-$22,200 to $35,200; postdoctoral-
$28,860 to $48,000 (varies depending on degree, research area,
experience)
Allowances and amounts: Reimbursement for inbound travel and moving
expenses
14. Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Faculty
Research Program at the National Center for Toxicology Research and
ORISE Postgraduate Research Program at the National Center for
Toxicological Research
Purpose of programs: To support recent postgraduates and college
and university faculty to initiate and conduct collaborative
research that complements U. S. Food and Drug Administration
projects at the National Center for Toxicological Research (NCTR).
Research efforts at NCTR focus on testing the assumptions used in
assessing risks posed by toxic chemicals. The overall effort can be
subdivided into biomarkers, modulators of toxicity, and
extrapolation/risk assessment.
Citizenship: USA, USA permanent resident status
Level: Faculty, post-masters or postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: All areas of biological, medical, physical, and
mathematical sciences and other supporting scientific areas. Some
specific disciplines include toxicology, biochemistry,
pharmacology, molecular biology, biostatistics, chemistry, and
computer science.
Other requirements: a) Applicants in Faculty Research Program must
be full-time faculty members at accredited USA colleges or
universities; b) Applicants in Postgraduate Research Program should
have received a graduate degree in an appropriate discipline within
3 years of the desired starting date or expect to complete all
requirements for such a degree prior to desired starting date.
Other applicants will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Number of awards: Faculty-Varies; Postgraduate-up to 15
appointments supported each year
Duration of awards: a) Faculty Research Program-Summer appointments
normally 10 to 12 weeks, sabbatical appointments can be up to 1
year in length; b) Postgraduate Research Program-Up to 3 years
Application deadline: Continuing
Allowances and amounts: Faculty Research Program participants
receive a monthly allowance based on their college or university
salary; participants living more than 50 miles from NCTR are
eligible for monthly living allowance. Travel expenses for one
round trip between home or academic institution and NCTR are
reimbursed according to standard ORISE policies. Postgraduate
Research Program appointments begin at $20,900 for post-master's
appointments, and at $34,200 for postdoctoral appointments; stipend
depends on degree, research area, and experience. Inbound travel
and moving expenses are reimbursed according to standard policies.
USA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Address for application information:
Division of Health Services Scholarships
Room 7-16, Parklawn Building
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, Maryland 20857
Title of program: National Health Services Corps (NHSC) Scholarship
Program
Purpose of Program: To supply the NHSC with appropriate health
professionals by encouraging students to participate in the
Scholarship Program who seriously want to practice primary medicine
at sites in the most needy health manpower shortage areas in the
USA as identified by the NHSC.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Medical, dental, osteopathic school students; also students
training for physician assistant, nurse practitioner and nurse
midwifery careers.
Other Requirements: Full-time enrollment in eligible schools,
enrollment requirements and definition of school year; employment
eligibility; no conflicting service obligations; submitting
required application materials.
Number of awards: 450 multiyear awards; varies from year to year.
Duration of awards: 1 or more years
Application deadline: March
Stipend for 1993-94: $796.00
Allowances and amounts: Tuition and required fees.
USA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF JUSTICE
Address for application information:
Graduate Research Fellowship Program
National Institute of Justice
633 Indiana Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20531
Title of program: Graduate Research Fellowship Program
Purpose of program: To support dissertations in criminal justice.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Dissertation
Field(s) supported: Criminal justice
Other requirements: All requirements for doctoral level except
dissertation must have been met. Some master's degree students may
also be eligible.
Number of awards: Approximately 10
Duration of awards: 1 year
Application deadline: September, December, March and June
Stipend for 1993-94: Up to $20,000
Allowances and amounts: $10,000--personal; $5,000--internship in
D.C.; and $5,000--research costs.
USA FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE
USA DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Address for application information:
USA Fish and Wildlife Service
Cooperative Research Units Center
1849 C Street, N.W., MS-725 ARLSQ
Washington, D.C. 20240
Title of program: Cooperative Research Units Center
Purpose of program: To provide graduate education opportunities in
fish and wildlife resources management at various universities
across the country. The Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research
Unit program has three objectives: l) Research--finding answers
to a broad spectrum of fish and wildlife management questions, from
habitat requirements of individual species to the effects of
development projects on populations of fish and wildlife; 2)
Graduate Education--producing professional resource managers at the
M.S. and PhD levels and providing in-service training and
continuing education to employees of conservation agencies; and 3)
Technical Assistance and Information Transfer--making technical
fish and wildlife resource information available to natural
resource managers and to the public.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: Fish management; wildlife management;
conservation biology.
Other requirements: Students must maintain a 3.0 GPA for graduate
programs.
Number of awards: Approximately 50 per year
Duration of awards: Graduate--36 months
Application deadline: Varies by unit
Stipend for 1993-94: Varies by unit
Allowances and amounts: Varies by unit
USA INFORMATION AGENCY (USAI.A.)
1. Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program
Address for application information:
Fulbright Teacher Exchange Branch (E/ASX)
USA Information Agency
301 Fourth Street, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20547
Purpose of program: To provide opportunities for elementary and
secondary school teachers and administrators, and college faculty
to attend seminars or teach in schools abroad under the mutual
Educational and Cultural Exchange (Fulbright) Act of 1961. Ex-
changes in this program operate between the USA and Argentina,
Belgium/Luxembourg, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, The
Netherlands, Norway, South Africa, Switzerland, and The United
Kingdom.
Citizenship: USA; citizens of above participating
countries
Level: Professional exchange
Field(s) supported: Variable
Other requirements: 1) Bachelor's degree; 2) three years of
full-time teaching experience for teaching positions, two years of
full-time teaching experience for seminar positions; 3) current
full-time employment in appropriate subject area and at appropriate
teaching level for which application is made; and 4) fluency in
foreign languages for teaching positions in most non-English
speaking countries.
Number of awards: Variable
Duration of awards: 1 academic year
Application deadline: October 15
Stipend for 1993-94: Variable
2. Fulbright Awards for University Teaching and Advanced Research -
USA and Foreign Scholars (Administered on behalf of USAI.A. by
the Council for International Exchange of Scholars - see page 12)
3. Fulbright Grants for Graduate Study and Research (Administered
on behalf of USAI.A. by the Institute of International Education -
see page 27.)
4. Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program (Administered on behalf of
USAI.A. by the Institute of International Education - see page
46.)
UNITED STATES INSTITUTE OF PEACE
Address for application information:
Jennings Randolph Program for International Peace
USA Institute of Peace
1550 M Street, N.W., Suite 700
Washington, D.C. 20005
Title of Program: Jennings Randolph Program for International Peace
Purpose of Program: To support research and education projects that
will increase knowledge and spread awareness among the public and
policymakers on a broad range of topics that concern the sources
and nature of violent international conflict and the full range of
ways to end or prevent conflict and to sustain peace.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Field(s) Supported: Broad spectrum of disciplines including
humanities, natural and social sciences, law, conflict resolution,
and peace studies.
Duration of awards: Typically one year.
1. Distinguished Fellow and Peace Fellow Awards
Level: Distinguished Fellows are eminent statesmen, scholars, or
other professionals who have achieved national or international
stature by virtue of extraordinary accomplishments in international
peace and conflict management or other relevant endeavors. Peace
Fellows are professionals or scholars who have demonstrated
substantial accomplishment or promise of exceptional leadership in
their careers. A small number of Peace Fellow awards may be made
to outstanding candidates who are in the early stages of their
professional or scholarly careers. Visiting Fellows are either
Distinguished Fellows or Peace Fellows but have shorter tenures,
generally two to six months.
Other requirements: Distinguished Fellow Awards and Peace Fellow
Awards are tenable in residence at the USA Institute of
Peace in Washington, D.C. At the doctoral level, an applicant must
be enrolled in an American university or one of its branches
abroad, and have completed all course work and examinations.
Number of awards: Typically 2 or 3 Distinguished Fellows Awards; 10
Peace Fellow Awards; and 1-2 Visiting Fellow or Visiting
Distinguished Fellow Awards.
Application deadline: October 15
Stipend for 1992-93: Stipends are keyed to the recipient's earned
income in the year preceding the fellowship but will not exceed
$83,502 for Distinguished Fellows or $59,216 for Peace Fellows.
Stipends for foreign fellows are comparable to USA Fellows of same
experience and position.
2. Peace Scholars
Level: Peace Scholars are outstanding students in recognized
American university doctoral programs who have completed all
required work toward their doctoral degrees except their
dissertations.
Number of awards: 10
Application deadline: November 15
Stipend for 1991-92: $13,000
U. S. NAVY, OFFICE OF NAVAL RESEARCH
Address for application information:
American Society for Engineering Education
11 Dupont Circle, Suite 200
Washington, D.C. 20036-1207
Title of program: Office of Naval Research Graduate Fellowships
Purpose of program: To increase supply of USA citizens trained in
disciplines of science, engineering and math critical to the USA
Navy by awarding fellowships to support study and research leading
to doctoral degrees in specified disciplines.
Citizenship: USA
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: Electrical engineering, mathematics, physics,
chemistry, computer science, materials science, aerospace/
mechanical engineering, biological/biomedical sciences, cognitive
and neural sciences, naval architecture and ocean engineering, and
oceanography.
Other requirements: Applicants must: 1) intend to earn doctorate;
2) be willing to attend school full-time; 3) not have attended
graduate school in science or engineering.
Number of awards: 50
Duration of awards: 36 months over 5 consecutive calendar years.
Application deadline: mid January
Stipend: $15,000 for first year, $16,000 for second year, $17,000
for third year
Allowances and amounts: Tuition and required fees and $2,000 per
year to the Fellow's department.
USA NAVY, OFFICE OF NAVAL TECHNOLOGY
Address for application information:
ONT Postdoctoral Program
Contracts/Grants Office
American Society for Engineering Education
11 Dupont Circle, Suite 200
Washington, D.C. 20036
Title of program: Postdoctoral Fellowships
Purpose of program: To increase the involvement of creative and
highly trained scientists and engineers in disciplines from
academia and industry in scientific and technical areas of interest
and relevance to the Navy
Citizenship: USA
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Acoustics; hydrodynamics; aerodynamics;
astrophysics; electronic devices; biotechnology; oceanography;
communications; command control and intelligence; computer hardware
and software; materials; target detection; weaponry; signal
processing; simulation; biomedicine; training; manufacturing;
construction; and logistics
Other requirements: Applicants must: 1) be eligible for Department
of Defense security clearance; 2) have received PhD, ScD or other
earned research doctoral degree (recognized in USA academic
circles as equivalent to the PhD) within 7 years of date of ap-
plication. Fellowships are tenable only at participating Navy
laboratories.
Number of awards: 40 new awards per year
Duration of awards: 1 year, renewable for 2 years; third year
appointments may be arranged if warranted.
Application deadline: January 1, April 1, July 1, October 1
Stipend for 1993-94: May increase base to $37,000 to $39,000
Allowances and amounts: Relocation allowance and travel allowance
while on tenure; comprehensive insurance plan (health, disability
and life).
USA NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Address for application information:
USA Nuclear Regulatory Commission
Office of Personnel
W-468 (GF)
Washington, D.C. 20555
Title of Program: Graduate Fellowship Program
Citizenship: USA
Level: Graduate
Fields supported: Health physics, nuclear engineering, and
specialty engineering disciplines
Other requirements: Participants must work at the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission (NRC); they must also agree to work for the
NRC for four years following satisfactory completion of a two-year
master's program; each awardee must (1) hold a bachelor's degree in
the physical sciences, life sciences, mathematics, or engineering,
from an accredited institution; (2) be accepted into an appropriate
graduate program as a full-time, regular graduate student; (3) be
a USA citizen; and (4) be eligible for NRC employment, access
authorization and/or employment clearance; at time of application,
applicants may not have completed more than one year of graduate
education in a discipline that the NRC Fellowship Program supports.
Number of awards: Changes each year
Duration of awards: 2 years
Application deadline: Fourth Monday in January
Stipend for 1993: $1,700 per month (9-10 months)
Allowances and amounts: Tuition and fees; $5,000 cost-of-education
allowance per year paid to the institution; initial work and
training paid at GG-7 level ($32,000-$35,000); employment at GG-9
($37,000-$40,000) upon completion of degree.
ALEXANDER VON HUMBOLDT FOUNDATION
Address for application information:
Alexander von Humboldt Foundation
Jean-Paul-Strasse 12
D-5300 Bonn 2
Germany
Title of program: Humboldt Research Fellowships for Foreign
Scholars
Purpose of program: To offer opportunity to pursue research at
universities or research institutes in Germany.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Academic degree comparable to a doctorate (PhD or
equivalent)
Field(s) supported: All fields of research with the exception of
the Fine Arts.
Other requirements: Candidate must: 1) have good command of German
language (humanities and social sciences scholars) or at least a
good command of English (natural scientists); 2) have not yet
reached the age of 40; 3) present evidence of employment in
independent research work at the university level; 4) have academic
publications to his/her credit.
Number of awards: 600
Duration of awards: 6 to 12 months, with extension to 24 months
possible.
Deadline: Applications may be submitted at any time; selection
meetings are held 3 times a year.
Stipend for 1993-94: 3.000 to 3.800 M monthly
Allowances and amounts: Travel expenses, grants for married
accompanying partners and children, grants for language courses.
Special Program: Senior USA Scientist Awards are granted to
outstanding USA scientists in recognition of past accomplishments
in research, thereby promoting scientific cooperation between
institutions in Germany and in the USA. The Award
consists of a cash amount ranging from 20.000 to 120.000 M and the
right to stay for an extended period at research institutes in
Germany. Nominations only by German scientists.
Awards are also made to outstanding scholars in the humanities and
social sciences under the same conditions as mentioned above.
WESTINGHOUSE SCIENCE TALENT SEARCH
Address for application information:
Westinghouse Science Talent Search
Science Service
1719 N Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20036
Title of program: Westinghouse Science Talent Search
Purpose of program: To discover youth whose scientific and
engineering skill, talent, and ability indicate potential creative
originality.
Citizenship: The STS is open only to secondary school seniors in
the USA and its possessions, and American students
attending a foreign school as an exchange student, or because their
parents work and live abroad.
Level: High school seniors
Field(s) supported: Science, mathematics, and engineering
Other requirements: Awards based on students' submission of a
report on an independent research project in science, mathematics,
or engineering; application; transcript; teacher recommendations;
and standardized test scores. Students entering the competition
must be expected by the certifying school official to complete
college entrance qualifications before October 1, and must not have
competed in any previous Science Talent Search. There are no age
limits. Open only to students in their last year of secondary
school.
Number of awards: 40
Duration of awards: For the top 10 scholarships: 4 years; for the
remaining 30: $1,000 scholarships (onetime payment)
Application deadline: Early December
Allowances and amounts: One $40,000 scholarship ($10,000 per year
for 4 years); one $30,000 scholarship ($7,500 per year for 4
years); one $20,000 scholarship ($5,000 per year for 4 years);
three $15,000 scholarships ($3,750 per year for 4 years); four
$10,000 scholarships ($2,500 per year for 4 years); and 30 $1,000
scholarships (payable upon matriculation).
THE WHITAKER FOUNDATION
Address for application information:
The Whitaker Foundation
Suite 1010
1133 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20036
Title of program: Graduate Fellowships in Biomedical Engineering
Purpose of program: To award fellowships to those individuals who
have demonstrated outstanding scholarship and the ability and
aptitude for future achievements in biomedical engineering
research.
Citizenship: USA citizens or permanent residents
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: Biomedical Engineering
Other requirements: Seniors or first-year graduate students may
apply. Students must plan to study for a doctoral degree in
engineering with research concentrated in biomedical engineering.
Number of awards: Up to 30
Duration of awards: 3 years, renewable for an additional 2 years.
Application Deadline: December
Stipend for 1992-93: $14,500 for 12 month period
Allowances and amounts: Up to $11,000 for tuition and fees; $l,500
for professional development of the fellow (travel, books, etc.).
WHITE HOUSE FELLOWSHIPS
Address for application information:
President's Commission on White House Fellowships
712 Jackson Place, N.W.
Washington, D.C.20503
Title of program: White House Fellowships
Purpose of program: To give outstanding young Americans the
opportunity to work at the highest levels of government and to
participate in an educational program that will train them to be
the "leaders of tomorrow".
Citizenship: USA
Level: The program is targeted to individuals who are early in
their careers, in any occupation, and who show promise of future
leadership ability, demonstrated through professional and academic
accomplishment and service to others.
Field(s) supported: Unrestricted
Other requirements: Civilian employees of the Federal government
are not eligible.
Number of awards: 11 to 19
Duration of awards: 1 year (September-August).
Application deadline: December 15
Stipend for 1993-94: Approximately $65,000 (Fellows are paid as
full-time Federal employees at the agencies to which they are
assigned.)
WOODROW WILSON INTERNATIONAL CENTER FOR SCHOLARS
Address for application information:
Fellowships Office
The Wilson Center
Washington, D.C. 20560
Title of program: Fellowships in the Humanities and Social Sciences
Purpose of program: To commemorate through the Center's residential
fellowship program of advanced research both the scholarly depth
and the public concerns of Woodrow Wilson.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral, or equivalent degree of professional
achievement is expected.
Field(s) supported: Humanities and social sciences
Other requirements: Must be able to spend fellowship period in
residence at Wilson Center in Washington, D.C. For academics,
publication of some major work beyond PhD dissertation is expected.
Number of awards: Approximately 35
Duration of awards: Academic year
Application deadline: October 1
Stipend for 1993-94: Ceiling of $52,000; average of $38,000.
Allowances and amounts: Travel expenses for Fellows, their spouses,
and dependent children.
WOODROW WILSON NATIONAL FELLOWSHIP FOUNDATION
1. Andrew W. Mellon Fellowships in Humanistic Studies
Address for application information:
Mellon Fellowships in Humanistic Studies
Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation
Box 288
Princeton, New Jersey 08542
Purpose of program: To attract exceptionally promising students to
prepare for careers of teaching and scholarship in humanistic
studies by providing top-level, competitive, portable awards.
Citizenship: USA or permanent residents of the USA
Level: Students beginning graduate study.
Field(s) supported: Traditional humanistic disciplines, including
history, but not the creative and performing arts. American
studies, other area studies, and certain social sciences programs
are also eligible if the emphasis in subject and method is
substantially humanistic.
Other requirements: Candidates must be nominated; any member of the
academic profession may nominate no more than two candidates.
Persons who are, or have been, engaged in graduate study following
the BA or who hold the MA degree are normally not eligible.
Previously unsuccessful candidates will not be considered a second
time.
Number of awards: 80
Duration of awards: One year
Nomination deadline: Must reach Regional Chairman by November 1
Application deadline: Must reach Regional Chairman by November 30
Stipend for 1993: $12,500
Allowances and amounts: Tuition and standard fees
2. Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowships
Address for application information:
Newcombe Fellowships
Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation
Box 642
Princeton, New Jersey 08542
Purpose of program: To encourage original and significant study of
ethical or religious values in all fields
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Graduate-dissertation year only
Field(s) supported: Humanities and social sciences; topics must
concern ethical or religious values.
Other requirements: Applicants must be enrolled in graduate schools
in the USA, and have completed all requirements except
the dissertation for PhD, EdD, or ThD.
Number of awards: 38
Duration of awards: 12 months
Application deadline: Applications must be requested by November
20, and postmarked by December 11 (for 1993 fellowship year).
Stipend for 1993-94: $11,500
3. Doctoral Dissertation Research Grants in Women's Studies
Address for application information:
Dissertation Grants in Women's Studies
Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation
P.O. Box 642
Princeton, New Jersey 08542
Purpose of program: To encourage original and significant research
about women on such topics as the evolution of women's role in
society; women in history; the psychology of women; women in law;
and women in literature; also, women's mental health.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Graduate-dissertation year only
Field(s) supported: Unrestricted
Other requirements: Applicants must: 1) Have fulfilled all
pre-dissertation requirements; 2) be enrolled in doctoral programs
in the USA.
Number of awards: 10-12
Duration of awards: 1 year
Application deadline: November 6
Allowances and amounts: $1,000
WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION
Address for application information:
The Fellowship Committee
Education Office, Clark Laboratory
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543
1. Summer Student Fellowship
Purpose of program: To give a promising group of science and
engineering students experience which will assist them in
determining whether they wish to devote lifetime careers to the
study of the oceans.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Undergraduate, beginning graduate students
Field(s) supported: Biology, chemistry, engineering, geology,
geophysics, mathematics, physics, oceanography, meteorology, and
marine policy
Other requirements: applicants must be pursuing majors in science
or engineering fields
Number of awards: approximately 30
Duration of awards: 12 weeks
Application deadline: March 1
Stipend for 1993: $3,660 for the 12 week program
Allowances and amounts: Travel allowance may be provided
2. Postdoctoral Awards in Ocean Science and Engineering
Purpose of program: To further the education and training of the
applicant with primary emphasis placed on the individual's research
promise.
Citizenship: unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral
Field(s) supported: Biology, chemistry engineering, geology,
geophysics, mathematics, meteorology, physics, and oceanography
Other requirements: New or recent recipients of the doctoral degree
with interests in the oceanographic sciences or engineering.
Scientists with more than 3 or 4 years of postdoctoral experience
are not considered eligible.
Number of awards: approximately 10
Duration of awards: 1 year
Application deadline: January 15
Stipend for 1993-94: $34,500 per year
Allowances and amounts: relocation allowance; group health
insurance; limited support available for such items as travel,
equipment, supplies, and special services
3. Research Fellows in Marine Policy and Ocean Management
Address for application information:
Dean of Graduate Studies
Education Office, Clark Laboratory
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543
Purpose of program: 1) to provide support and experience to
Research Fellows interested in Marine Policy issues; 2) to provide
opportunities for interdisciplinary application of social sciences
and natural sciences to marine policy problems; 3) to conduct
research and convey information necessary for the development of
effective local, national, and international ocean policy
Citizenship: unrestricted
Level: Postdoctoral or equivalent professional qualifications
through career experience
Field(s) supported: Marine and Public Policy; Ocean Jurisdictions,
Law of the Sea and International Relations; Development and
Management of Ocean Resources; Areawide Planning and Management.
Previous Fellows have been trained in fields such as economics,
law, political science, international relations, statistics,
anthropology, sociology, engineering, marine science, and geography
Number of awards: 2
Duration of awards: 1 year
Application deadline: January 15
Stipend for 1993-94: $34,500
Allowances and amounts: eligible for group health insurance; modest
research and travel funds
4. Traineeships in Oceanography for Minority Undergraduates
Address for application information: send to the above address to
attn: Traineeship Program
Purpose of program: Special opportunities in oceanography for
minority undergraduates
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Eligible ethnic minority groups:
Level: Undergraduate
Field(s) supported: Physical or natural science, mathematics, and
engineering
Other requirements: open to minority undergraduates who are
enrolled in USA colleges or universities
Number of awards: 2
Duration of awards: 10-12 weeks in the summer or for a semester
(may be renewed the following year)
Stipend for 1993-94: Paid same salary as other employees with
similar experience
Allowances and amounts: Round-trip travel to Woods Hole
WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO)
Address for application information:
Health Department of candidate's own country
Title of program: WHO Fellowships
Purpose of program: To provide training or study not available in
candidate's own country.
Citizenship: Citizens of member countries of the World Health
Organization.
Level: Graduate, postdoctoral, non-academic
Field(s) supported: Public health; public health administration and
planning, environmental health, nursing, maternal and child health,
epidemiology and disease control, laboratory services, medicine and
health sciences, educational technology and administration of all
health related fields, and supporting managerial and technical
skills.
Other requirements: Candidate must agree in writing to return to
home country for at least three years of service with national
health administration or institution designated by it.
Number of awards: Variable
Duration of awards: As required
Application deadline: Variable
Stipend for 1993-94: Variable
Allowances and amounts: Are determined by United Nations; variable;
dependent upon country of study.
ZONTA INTERNATIONAL
Address for application information:
Zonta International Foundation
557 West Randolph Street
Chicago, Illinois 60661-2206
Title of program: Amelia Earhart Fellowship Awards
Purpose of program: To recognize excellence, to encourage and
support women in science and engineering, and to improve the status
of women.
Citizenship: Unrestricted
Level: Graduate
Field(s) supported: Aerospace-related sciences or aerospace-related
engineering.
Other requirements: Open only to women
Number of awards: 35 to 40
Duration of awards: 1 year
Application deadline: Postmarked by December 1 and received by
December 7.
Stipend for 1993-94: $6,000
Resources for International Students in the USA and Canada
Publications for International Students in the USA and Canada
International Admissions: How to Get Accepted to U.S. Colleges by Mandee Heller Adler, Aimee Heller, Cheree Heller Liebowitz
Gain the tools and resources needed to find and get into U.S. colleges and universities, including the worlds top private and public schools. Learn what you need to do in high school and on your own time to make a college desire you as a student at their institution. Recognize how to choose a school that meets your needs and goals. Make your skills, achievements, and potential shine through on your college applications, in interviews, and during school visits. Learn how to make your background and experiences work for you. Are you ready? Expert college counsellor Mandee Heller Adler and award-winning writer Aimee Heller will help you find success in an easy-to-follow way. All you need is the desire to study in the U.S., advanced planning, and this book!
A revised and updated edition of the hottest college guidebook, a perennial favourite of the national media. NO ONE KNOWS COLLEGES LIKE THE PRINCETON REVIEW! The Princeton Review’s college rankings started in 1992 with surveys from 30,000 students. Over 25 years and more than a million student surveys later, they stand by their claim that there is no single best college, only the best college for you and that this is the book that will help you find it.
Succeeding is designed to help students navigate the myriad issues they will encounterfrom picking a program to landing a campus job. Based on Lipsons work with international students as well as extensive interviews with faculty and advisers, Succeeding includes practical suggestions for learning English, participating in class, and meeting with instructors. In addition, it explains the rules of academic honesty as they are understood in U.S. and Canadian universities. Life beyond the classroom is also covered, with handy sections on living on or off-campus, obtaining a drivers license, setting up a bank account, and more. The comprehensive glossary addresses both academic terms and phrases heard while shopping or visiting a doctor. There is even a chapter on the academic calendar and holidays in the United States and Canada.
Every college and university has a story, and no one tells those stories like former New York Times education editor Edward B. Fiske. That’s why, for more than 35 years, the Fiske Guide to Colleges has been the leading guide to 320+ four-year schools, including quotes from real students and information you won’t find on college websites. Fully updated and expanded every year, Fiske is the most authoritative source of information for college-bound students and their parents. Helpful, honest, and straightforward, the Fiske Guide to Colleges delivers an insider’s look at what it’s really like to be a student at the “best and most interesting” schools in the United States, plus Canada, Great Britain, and Ireland?so you can find the best fits for you.
Information on 1.5 million scholarships, grants, and prizes is easily accessible in this revised directory with more than 300 new listings that feature awards indexed by career goal, major, academics, public service, talent, athletics, religion, ethnicity, and more. Each entry contains all the necessary information for students and parents to complete the application process, including eligibility requirements, how to obtain an application, how to get more information about each award, sponsor website listings, award amounts, and key deadlines. With scholarships for high school, college, graduate, and adult students, this guide also includes tips on how to conduct the most effective search, how to write a winning application, and how to avoid scams.
Inside The Complete Book of Colleges, 2020 Edition, youll find meticulously researched information that will help you narrow the search for the best college for you. Each of the 1,359 user-friendly profiles answers your questions, including:
– How much are tuition and other student fees and costs? – What types of financial aid are available, and when are the applications due? – What do admissions officers look for most in test scores and recommendations? – Which majors are the most popular and have the highest enrollment? – What is housing like, and how accessible is technology on campus? – What are the key campus organizations, athletics, and student activities? – How selective is the school? – Plus! Indexes based on cost, selectivity, and size that will help you narrow your search
Get a leg up on your college search with this easy-to-use, comprehensive, and savvy guidebook from the experts at The Princeton Review.
Written by an experienced international educator and counsellor, The International Family Guide to U.S. University Admissions is an indispensable resource for the vast and increasing number of students applying for places at U.S. Universities each year. Beginning with an introduction that explains to both students and parents how the book works and why, it offers milestones that must be completed during the said application time period, a tried-and-true handbook that corresponds with each chapter, pop-outs that provide expert insight and resources that you should utilize throughout the process.
Online resources for international students in the USA and Canada:
The U.S. government provides plenty of resources for international students who wish to come to the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security has an entire site devoted to helping you.
QS Top Universities wants to help students make good choices about where to study, their site has many resources for international students going to the U.S. or Canada
For Indian students who want to study in the U.S. or Canada, shiksha.com has lots of good information about schools, program costs, visa details and scholarship information.
AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc.AFS is an international non-profit organization that provides intercultural learning opportunities to help promote international understanding and a peaceful world. Among other programs, they offer the AFS Global Classroom.
American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS)Founded in 1964, the American Institute for Foreign Study (AIFS) organizes study abroad and cultural exchange programs for more than 40,000 USA and international students each year. Each year AIFS offers 100 semester scholarships of $1,000 each (50 during the fall semester and 50 during the spring semester) and 10 summer scholarships of $500 each. AIFS also offers one full minority scholarship and five $1,000 grants to minority students each semester. For more information, please write to AIFS, 102 Greenwich Avenue, Greenwich, CT 06830, call 1-800-727-2437 or 1-203-869-9090, or send email to info@aifs.org.
Institute of International Education (IIE)The IIE is a nonprofit organization that promotes international education. They publish several useful guides, including Funding for USA Study: A Guide for Foreign Nationals, English Language and Orientation Programs (a guide to ESL programs in the US), Academic Year Abroad, and Vacation Study Abroad. Books can be ordered by calling 1-800-445-0443, faxing 301-953-2838, or sending email to iie-books@iie.org. They also provide information about the USA Fulbright Program through their affiliate, the Council for the International Exchange of Scholars (CIES). For more information about the IIE, call 1-212-984-5413 (recorded message), fax 1-212-984-5358, write to Institute of International Education (IIE), 809 United Nations Plaza, NY, NY 10017-3580, or send email to info@iie.org.
International Education Fair IEF is non-profit organization that helps schools recruit international students, especially in Taiwan.
This section provides links to professional membership organizations and associations for educators involved with international student exchange and study abroad.
AILA is a national bar association of more than 5,200 attorneys who practice immigration law. For more information, call 1-202-216-2400, fax 1-202-371-9449, or write to American Immigration Lawyers Association, 1400 Eye Street, NW, Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20005 USA.
AMIDEAST focuses on intercultural exchanges with the Middle East. Among other services, they publish The Advising Quarterlyfor international educational advisors for $40 per year plus $10 shipping. For more information, call 1-202-776-9600, fax 1-202-776-7000, write to America-Mideast Educational and Training Services, Inc. (AMIDEAST), 1730 M Street NW, Suite 1100, Washington, DC 20036-4505 USA, or send email to inquiries@amideast.org.
Association Internationale des Etudiants en Sciences Economiques et Commerciales (AIESEC)
AIESEC (pronounced “eye-sec”) is a student-run nonprofit organization that promotes international student exchanges. For information about the USA programs, see the US AIESEC web site. For more information, call 1-212-757-3774, fax 1-212-757-4062, write to AIESEC USA, 135 W 50th Street, 17th Floor, New York, NY 10020 USA, or send email to aiesec@us.aiesec.org.
Association of International Education Japan (AIEJ)
AIPT is a nonprofit organization that promotes practical training opportunities (internships) for international students. It is affiliated with the International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience (IAESTE). For more information, call 1-410-997-2200, fax 1-410-992-3924, write to Association for International Practical Training, 10400 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 250, Columbia, MD 21044-3510 USA, or send email to aipt@aipt.org.
BCIU is a business association that is dedicated to furthering American business interests in the global marketplace. Located at the American University in Washington, DC, BCIU offers customized training to foreign nationals to operate in the US.
For more information, write to Council for International Exchange of Scholars, 3007 Tilden Street, NW, Suite 5L, Washington, DC 20008-3009 USA, or send email to scholars@cies.iie.org .
ECIS is an international association of nonprofit international schools, with offices in the UK, Australia, Spain, and the US. For more information, write to ECIS Office of The Americas, 105 Tuxford Terrace, Basking Ridge, NJ 07920.
NAFSA is the national professional organization for advisors of international students. They have more than 7,000 members. They publish many useful books for advisors and students. They have sections devoted to such topics as international student admissions, teaching English as a second language, foreign student advisors, and overseas educational advisors. Their site includes information for newly admitted international students, including their US Culture Series brochures. For more information, call 1-202-462-4811, fax 1-202-667-3419, write to NAFSA: Association of International Educators, 1875 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 1000, Washington, DC 20009, or send email to inbox@nafsa.org.
NSEE is a national membership organization that promotes experienced-based approaches to teaching and learning. NSEE focuses include internships and cross-cultural education. For more information, call 1-919-787-3263, fax 1-919-787-3381, write to National Society for Experiential Education, 3509 Haworth Drive, Suite 207, Raleigh, NC 27609-7229, or send email to info@nsee.org.
OSEAS-Europe
OSEAS (Overseas Educational Advisors) is a professional educators group within NAFSA: Association of International Educators. OSEAS members advise students outside the USA about opportunities for study in the US.
SIETAR International (International Society for Intercultural Education, Training, and Research) is an international professional service organization for people who work in the intercultural field. Related societies include SIETAR Europa. For more information, call 1-802-387-4785, fax 1-802-387-5783, write to SIETAR International, Putney, VT 05346 USA, or send email to SIETAR@sover.net.
If your visa allows it, you may be able to bring your spouse and children to live with you in the USA while youre working hard on your degree. Its a great opportunity, but what will your kids do all day while youre attending classes?
If theyre old enough, theyll be in school. Though the exact ages differ depending on the state, children in the USA are required by law to attend school from approximately the age of 6. There are three main types of schools: public, private, and charter. Public schools are run by the government and are free to attend, and the school itself is usually determined by your neighborhood. Private schools are private institutions and are known for high academic levels and more amenities, but also for extremely high tuition costs. Charter schools are a somewhat recent addition to school categories, and are a sort of combination of public and private schools they often have specialized approaches and theyre free to attend, but are independently run and therefore have less accountability in terms of their academics, financial accounts, and facilities. Students in the USA can also be homeschooled, but that gives you less quiet time to study.
The school system is generally divided into three levels: elementary school (Kindergarten through 5th grade), middle school (6th through 8th grades), and high school (9th through 12th grades). The definitions shift a bit throughout the country, but this overall breakdown should be clear enough to understand that the grade number has nothing to do with a childs age.
If your children are not old enough to be enrolled in Kindergarten or higher grades, they can attend nursery schools (also called pre-schools) starting from around age 2 or 3, where they will play but also have a bit of an educational curriculum. Babies or very young children can attend daycare in private homes or through various organizations or institutions. Keep in mind, however, that all the care options for young children charge tuition or fees, so make sure to include those costs when doing your budgeting.
How do you get your kids to school? That depends on the type of transportation available where youre living. However, its really important to know that there are child safety laws regarding seatbelts and car seats while driving. The laws differ based on the age, height, and weight of each child, but not following them could result in fines and other consequences (not to mention putting your child at risk).
For better or for worse, unlike other countries, the USA does not provide socialized healthcare. And because medical care can be very expensive, its vital to have health insurance in order to reduce overall medical- and health-related costs.
Health insurance for international students in the USA Health insurance is not mandatory for U.S. citizens, and your visa may not require it either. In fact, only J-1 visa holders and their dependents must have insurance. However, many schools require students to have it including international students ad even have their own health insurance program that automatically enrolls new students. As always, be sure to check your schools guidelines.
Generally, health insurance covers doctors visits, medical procedures, visits to the emergency room, prescriptions, medical devices, counseling, emergency services, rehabilitation services, lab work, and surgeries with many varying degrees of costs, allowances, and flexibilities.
Remember, though, that the USAs healthcare system is not free. Even required insurance from your school will still have annual or semester rates as well as possible additional fees, and some types of medical care may be limited or not covered at all. And theres an important caveat: For many Americans, dental insurance and/or vision coverage (such as glasses or contacts) are not provided in their main insurance plan. So make sure to check the exact details about coverage from your schools plan, since dental work is extremely expensive out of pocket and you dont want to spend all your scholarship money on fixing cavities.
Like all industries, healthcare has a lot of jargon, and if you didnt understand what out of pocket means then youre not alone. Take an evening and go through a glossary of healthcare terms before you start making any doctors appointments so every part of your insurance benefits are clear.
Other healthcare tips You already know that moving to the USA will be full of culture shocks. But its not just about which side of the road we drive on or our slang words even medications are different. Though the internet can help you find what youre looking for, some ingredients in medications may be different or illegal, or the medication may not meet general safety standards. So its much more reliable to ask a pharmacist to help you figure out the American version and if it will be safe and effective for you.
Some countries may sell certain medications or other health-related items over the counter that youre used to needing a prescription for, or vice versa.
If you have a chronic or pre-existing condition, its a good idea to bring with your relevant medical records, prescriptions, and images such as MRIs (or at least find out how to access them easily) so you can make sure your new doctor in the USA is up to date on your health.
Being in a foreign country can feel, well, foreign. How do you feel safe in a new place? Or in any place? We have advice for you.
First, and most importantly, in case of emergency or an unsafe situation, dial 911 on your phone and get help from emergency services.
Its also important to note that though women feel more at risk of their safety, everyone should follow these suggestions to say as safe as possible.
At home If you go out at night, leave a porch light (or other light at the entrance) on so you can find and use your keys quickly and get inside safely.
Its also a good idea to leave a light on inside while youre out to act as a deterrent since it looks like someone is home.
Whether or not youre home, close your curtains or blinds when its dark outside so no one can see through your windows.
If you have a car that has a key FOB, keep it or an extra next to your bed. If theres someone or something possibly lurking outside, set off the car alarm to scare them away.
Always have batteries for flashlights available, and keep them in a place youll remember and thats easily accessible so you can reduce the number of bruises youll get by bumping into things.
In public Always lock your car doors both when you get in the car and when you leave it. Dont make it easier for someone to steal it!
Park in areas that are well lit and public.
If you ordered a car to pick you up, whether with a local cab or a ride share company, ask the driver to tell you who he or she is supposed to drive as confirmation. Dont give your name first, since that gives the driver the opportunity to agree even if he or she is not from the company you contacted.
Find your house and/or car keys before you start your trip home so youre not vulnerable and distracted while searching for them. Then, carry them between your knuckles on the way to the car or from your car into your house so you can use them as a weapon if you are attacked.
Never wear headphones (or anything else) that could obstruct your hearing when in the dark. Youve already lost most of your sight and it would be extra dangerous to also lose your hearing.
If youre in a bar or restaurant, dont leave your drink alone, as someone could easily put drugs or other substances in it. And watch the bartender make your drink for the same reason!
If youre drunk, dont try to go home on your own. If you drove to the venue, dont drive yourself home and instead get a ride from a friend or order a cab. If you walked or took public transportation, make sure a friend goes home with you. And if you got a ride there with a trusted friend, get a ride back with the same trusted friend.
Many school campuses, even in cities, have emergency blue lights, which are essentially blue phone boxes located throughout campus that allow you to make emergency phone calls. However, even though these have been around for about 30 years; because students today often use their cell phones in case of emergency, some schools have gotten rid of the blue lights. Definitely ask campus security or other staff about them as soon as you arrive, since you can never have enough ways to get help.
Extra safety tips When you leave your home, dont carry a large amount of cash on you. Most places take credit or debit cards and you want to avoid giving potential criminals all the money you own.
If your credit and/or debit cards are stolen, call the company or bank immediately and cancel them. You shouldnt have to pay for charges that werent yours, and you will be sent new cards with new numbers to use in the future.
Check your social media settings. If theyre sharing your location, even in backend information that you didnt realize was there, you run the risk of both telling potential criminals where you are and also that youre not home.
If youre in the USA with your family, have a password for emergency situations. This should be known only to your significant other, kids, and any other trusted family member, but no one else. In the case of an emergency, it can be shared with anyone who will take care of the kids so they know the person is safe to be with.
Be wary of potential scams by strangers who ask for directions or money. Though were not suggesting you dont help others, make sure to assess the situation first are there other people around, is it dark outside, is it safe to take out your wallet or phone, etc.? If you feel uncomfortable, dont stick around or continue the conversation, dont get physically close to the person, and try to get to a more public and safe place as quickly as possible.
If your safety is compromised If you are attacked, yell and scream to draw attention and try to hit the attacker in sensitive body parts such as the groin, face, and knees. And this is crucial: Do everything possible to prevent the attacker from taking you to a second location.
But if someone just wants your money or other possessions, its often safer to give them what they want and then immediately go to the police.
We know, everyone shops online these days. But just in case you decide to go shopping to a real, physical store, you should have insider knowledge about what to look for and how to get the best deals.
Things to know The hours of operation for every store is different, depending on the type of store, the day of the week, the location, and several other factors. On average which is tough to really say in this case many stores open at 9 am and close at 8 pm on Monday to Friday. Saturday hours may be the same or shortened, and on Sundays stores often have fairly shortened hours or are closed. This generally applies to stores that sell clothing, electronics, household goods, and so on, as well as often to shops that offer services such as dry cleaning or haircuts. Usually, grocery stores have the longest hours, with some open 24 hours. But always, always check before you make your way to the post office in the rain and then find out its closed.
Several states and cities or counties have recently enacted a bag tax, which charges the customer a small fee to use bags provided by the store. The amount charged varies, as does the type of bag youre charged for, but the idea behind these laws are the same to greatly reduce the number of bags that eventually sit in landfills. These taxes includes pretty much every kind of store, including grocery stores, clothing stores, toy stores, etc., so its a good idea to keep reusable bags or old shopping bags on you if you think youll be doing some shopping.
Americans love a sale. Though some stores will offer sales on a somewhat regular basis or for certain items, others offer bigger deals for holidays, back to school, or at the end of seasons. And if youve heard of Black Friday, you wont be disappointed because stores offer sometimes extremely reduced prices that day.
Sales tax Unlike in most countries, where sales tax is automatically included into the price of an item so that a shirt marked 20 will have the final price of 20, there is no national sales tax in the USA. Most states have their own sales tax percentage which is added on to the bill when you are at the register to pay so a shirt marked $20 will have a higher final price. To make things even more complicated, the sales tax percentage is different in every state (and sometimes even in various cities), so that $20 shirt will cost you a different final price throughout the country. And, extra extra complicated, some states dont have any sales tax.
To add even more complications: Many states dont tax on groceries, some differentiate between groceries and candy, and some make those distinctions in grocery stores but not in other types of stores that sell the same items. Prepared foods (such as food youre served in a restaurant or food court) may be taxed, medicine might not be, and so on. Online purchases may be taxed even if the store you order from doesnt have a physical presence in your state. Essentially, dont make any assumptions about prices and be prepared to pay additional money for many items you purchase.
Discount cards One of the best ways to save money on a daily or weekly basis is to get a rewards card from grocery stores, drugstores, clothing and shoe stores, etc. These cards are free to sign up for and are not linked to any bank or credit card account but instead give you access to sale prices and sometimes additional discounts or rewards. The more you save on cereal every week, the more money youll have to put towards paying back your student loans, right?
Some department stores and other larger chains do have their own credit cards, however, and will try to entice you to open one by offering discounts and additional discounts. Some of these cards only are able to be used at that store while others let you use them anywhere, but all of them are actual credit cards and can affect your credit score.
Return policies Like most things, store return policies vary greatly in the USA. Some stores dont accept returns at all but will offer exchanges, some allow you to return within 90 days and some only two weeks, and so on. Most stores will accept returns of unopened merchandise as long as you have the original receipt, and some stores even accept returns of opened merchandise as long as its not damaged but thats up to the store. If the item was a gift, you may need to use a gift receipt (provided to you by the original purchaser), which proves that the item is from that store but does not list the price. But every store should have their return and exchange policy available and in a public place, so make sure you know the stores guidelines if youre unsure about the product youre buying.
Clothing We know youve been clothes shopping numerous times before, but there are a few different details to think about when youre trying on clothes in the USA.
Mens clothing sizes are measured in inches as in, a 17-inch neck and are 10 lower in the USA than in Europe. So if youre a 56 in France, youll be a 46 in the USA. Some clothing is instead labeled with general size breakdowns such as XS to XL (extra small to extra large).
Clothing for women is split into several categories, and all of them use either numbers or general size breakdowns. Juniors is for adolescents and teenagers, and sizes are designated by odd numbers (e.g. size 7). Misses is for most average-sized women and sizes are designated by even numbers (e.g. size 6). For women who are shorter than average generally under 54 the petite section offers the same even-numbered sizes but with smaller proportions and are labeled with a P (e.g. size 6P). Women who are taller than the average 59 can find tall sizes, again with even-numbered sizes but labeled with a T (e.g. size 6T). Plus sizes (also known as the womens section) are for women who are heavier than the average woman, with sizes running to higher numbers and labeled with a W (e.g. size 20W).
For both men and women, shoe sizes in the USA are not the same as they are in other countries, and of course sizes vary per country anyway. Though you can find charts online, its probably easier to shop for your first pair in a store so you can ask the salesperson for suggestions and try on a bunch of American sizes to confirm the right one. Even better, go to a shopping center or, say, the Mall of America (really anywhere with multiple shoe stores), and compare and contrast how different brands and sizes fit.
Lets talk about money. Whether we pay with cash, credit card, or online payment, we still have to pay for stuff and that money has to come from somewhere, too. So read on to learn more about all the details about money in the USA you know you should know but are too embarrassed to ask about.
U.S. monetary system First things first the money itself. The U.S. monetary system is a decimal system, with one dollar equal to one hundred cents. One dollar is written as $1 or $1.00, and one cent is written as 1¢. One dollar and twenty-five cents would be written as $1.25, and thats important to remember because many currencies use commas to separate cents from the main amount, but in the USA we use a period.
Also important to remember: Dollar amounts are written with a comma every three digits (as are numbers used in any context), so one thousand dollars would be written as $1,000.00.
Paper currency is used for amounts of $1 or more, and coins are used for amounts under $1. The most common coins and their dollar equivalencies are as follows:
Coin
Person on Front
Value (Cents)
Value (Dollars)
Color
Penny
Abraham Lincoln
1 cent
0.01 dollars
Copper
Nickel
Thomas Jefferson
5 cents
0.05 dollars
Silver
Dime
Franklin D. Roosevelt
10 cents
0.10 dollars
Silver
Quarter
George Washington
25 cents
0.25 dollars
Silver
Paper currency is most often circulated in the following denominations: $1, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. Each denomination includes a picture of a famous American statesman on the front. The following table describes the images on the various denominations.
Denomination
Person on Front
Illustration on Back
$1.00
George Washington
Great Seal of the USA
$5.00
Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln Memorial
$10.00
Alexander Hamilton
U.S. Treasury Building
$20.00
Andrew Jackson
White House
$50.00
Ulysses S. Grant
U.S. Capitol Building
$100.00
Benjamin Franklin
Independence Hall
Bank accounts Where will you keep your money? Hopefully not in large amounts under your mattress but in a bank, and specifically in a checking account. Checking accounts serve as a place to keep your money for daily usage, while savings accounts are designed to earn you more money. Every bank has its own set of terms for setting up and using their accounts, so make sure to compare fees and requirements before opening an account. If you choose to keep a bank account in your home country, you may face fees or currency conversion rates from your local currency if you use it in the USA.
Most checking accounts will include a debit card you can use to withdraw cash from your account at any ATM, 24-hours a day. This lets you make deposits, withdrawals, and complete other basic transactions at any time, even when the bank is closed. But beware some ATMs in stores or other banks (as opposed to those located in your own bank building) charge usage or withdrawal fees and may have much more limited transaction options.
Banks are typically open with staff from approximately 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, though these hours are sometimes extended depending on the bank or location. Many banks are open on Saturdays, sometimes with more limited hours, and very few banks are open on Sundays. However, you can use ATMs anytime because machines never take a day off.
Credit cards Credit cards are such an ingrained part of the American way of life that theyre basically accepted everywhere; some people, in fact, rarely carry cash because they use credit cards so much that dollar bills seem unnecessary.
Many credit cards offer rewards, such as airline miles per dollar spent or money back, but those same cards may also require a big annual fee. Most of these offers are worth looking into, but there are often numerous caveats, restrictions, or drawbacks for each one, so it pays literally to do your research.
Unfortunately, international students find it difficult to get a credit card in the USA because they do not have an established credit history, which credit cards use to ascertain the likelihood youll pay off your balance and if youre therefore worth taking on as a customer. In a frustrating cycle, however, you often need to have a credit card in order to establish a credit history. The solutions to breaking this cycle are few and far between, but generally include finding a credit card that will allow you to open an account with a co-signer, opening a credit card with an international bank that has a branch in your home country, or convincing your landlord to report your timely rent payments to the credit bureaus so you can start building a credit history.
Digital payments With modern technology, there are lots of ways to spend money using an internet-based program. Though you can definitely write physical checks to pay your bills, you can also make online payments to utility services, credit card companies, schools, and many other institutions. These allow you to pay directly through the website or app by linking directly to your bank account (or credit card account in some instances) so you have real-time information about your payments.
What if you borrowed money from a friend? You can pay them back using an app on your phone. These days, many Americans have switched over to using Venmo, PayPal, Chase QuickPay, Zelle, or other payment apps as a way to reimburse a friend for that cup of coffee in under a minute. Each app is free and links directly to your bank account, so you can keep track of everything without writing numbers down on the back of your hand.
Paying with Google Pay and Apple Pay is also slowly gaining momentum in the USA. These apps act as a sort of virtual wallet, and users simply place their phone over the credit card machine at a store register and, voila, the money is deducted from the credit or debit card youve linked to the app.
Exchange rates Some banks will exchange foreign currency for a fee, as will major hotels or various booths at the airport. This could be useful for when you first arrive in the USA, but once youve settled in you should use dollars exclusively and save the currency from your home country for when you go back for vacations.
Card safety There are two extremely important tips you should always keep in mind for credit and debit cards. First, if either of them is ever stolen, notify the bank or credit card company immediately. And second, keep track of your spending youll face fees or penalties if you withdraw more money than you have available in your account.
Youve traveled far and wide to get to the USA and to start your education. But once youve found your way to your schools campus and unpacked, you have to figure out how to get to the bank, grocery store, and campus bookstore. After all, even if you live on campus you might want to leave sometimes! And the way to do that is based on your transportation options.
Cars If you move to an area for school thats urban, odds are you probably wont need a car to get around because you can walk everywhere (though in some areas it might be helpful every once in a while). But in most other types of areas, a car will be vital to your ability to go anywhere. Whether you lease or buy a car, there are literally hundreds of choices in terms of brand, type, safety features, color, fancy extras, and so on and there are therefore lots of prices to choose from, too. So before you do any price research, first consider the most important components of a car youll need in your daily life. Once you have an idea of what you want and know your budget, check out prices but dont forget to calculate additional costs such as gas (petrol if youre from England and lots of other places), insurance, and on and on.
Every state has its own laws about driving age, testing, licenses, and even certain traffic violations. Its possible that youll be allowed to use your license from your home country or an international license once youre living in the USA but getting car insurance for international students or short-term visitors may be much harder. So we suggest that you check the laws of the schools state as part of the prep for your move so that you can pack any documents required for changing your license. And if you do plan on changing it, be prepared to take an exam or two to prove your driving expertise.
Again, safety and administrative laws differ per state and its important that you know what youre legally required to do before you get anywhere near a car. But here are some general things to know:
Every state requires car insurance on each car owned or leased by a driver.
Every state requires that a car must be registered, though cars that are leased are often registered through the company that owns them.
Most states require that every car pass a safety inspection. The frequency depends on state law and some states may additionally require an emissions test to check how much pollution the car is sending into the air.
Most states require drivers and passengers to wear a seat belt.
Keep in mind that in the USA cars drive on the right. If youre an international student from a country where you drive on the left, its not just the side of the road that will change the driver sits on the opposite side, a car thats manually operated will have gears on the right side instead of the left, and oncoming traffic moves in the opposite direction when you cross the street.
The majority of cars in the USA are automatic, and its actually pretty tough to find manual cars to buy or lease. Most Americans dont even know how to drive one, so if you do manage to find a manual make sure to show off your driving skills to your new friends.
Pro tip: Join the American Automobile Association (AAA), a non-profit organization that provides roadside assistance, to get help when your car wont start or the battery dies. Members of AAA also get access to travel information and maps, driving courses, and numerous other car-related topics.
Get a ride If you think a car would be great on an occasional basis, you can still get the perks of using a car without buying or leasing one.
Taxis (also known as cabs) are available 24 hours a day to help you get from point A to point B. In big cities, you may be able to hail one as it drives past, but in other locations you may have to call and order one ahead of time. Taxis often charge a fixed amount per mile or per minute plus various fees, or a flat rate for common trips such as to the airport (possibly plus fees and/or tolls if relevant). In both situations, drivers usually expect to be tipped as well.
In the last few years, ride-hailing services like Uber, Lyft, and Via have multiplied, allowing customers to request a ride via an app on their phones. These services are popular all over the USA, but availability differs depending on the area.
If you want to be the actual driver, consider signing up for a car sharing service such as Zipcar or Maven. These differ from regular car rental companies, which are primarily used for longer-term rentals but either dont rent to drivers under the age of 25 or charge extra to do so. These companies allow you to rent a car for the very short term even just for an hour from tons of locations such as local parking garages or office buildings, though they are sometimes only available in major cities.
Bicycles Its an American rite of passage to learn how to ride a bike as a child. But as adults, bikes dont play a big role in our lives. Though there are always exceptions, rural and suburban residents reserve bike riding for weekend activities, and city dwellers sometimes use them to cover medium-length distances that are too far to walk but too close to want to deal with public transportation. There are bike lovers out there, though, and you could be one of them: If you live nearby your schools campus or you live on campus but want to regularly go somewhere not that far away, youll probably want a bike. And if you get one, wear a helmet though its only a law in some states, its a good idea in all of them.
Public transportation Most major cities in the USA have two forms of public transportation: buses and subways. Some suburban areas also have buses, but they tend to be used less often due to the prevalence of cars. In rural areas, public transportation is poor to nonexistent. Some of the largest cities such as New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, Chicago, and several others also have a commuter rail, but, again, these are much more rare outside of the biggest metropolitan areas.
Every system is different in terms of overall type, fare breakdown, distance covered, lines offered, and so on. But no matter the variation, if you live in one of these cities, public transit will be the easiest, fastest, and cheapest way to get around, even if reliability is sometimes not so great.
Long-distance travel Once youve finally settled into student life and acclimated to your neighborhood, you might want to visit another part of the USA. To do so, there are four main modes of transportation: air travel, driving, intercity bus, or train. Your best option will always be based on the distance youre traveling, but each one has its own pros and cons.
Amtrak is the national rail service and has multiple amenities, but might have limited routes and can be expensive for the same trip you could do on a bus. National bus companies such as Greyhound, megabus, and BoltBus (and many, many more) travel long distances for cheap prices, but theyre subject to traffic and some argue that theyre more cramped than trains. Driving gives you the most flexibility but requires that you always pay attention, and flying is best for long distances but you have to deal with security lines and baggage limits. Essentially, the only advice we can give you is that youll have to figure out how to travel around the USA on your own.
In order to do your best in school, youll need a place to live so you can watch TV with the goal of being extremely productive. Some schools generously provide housing to international undergraduate students, or to any graduate students, but its not a guarantee and you may have to look for accommodation on your own. Heres what youll need to know.
Where to live If your school does provide on-campus housing, you should take it at least for your first year. Living with lots of fellow students will help ease your transition to life in the USA as you navigate student life together. Youll also be able to meet more people than you would if you lived off campus, and this can help you both socially and professionally as you network with your neighbors.
If you live off campus, however, find a place to live that has easy access to your school and is preferably with other students so you can enjoy shared experiences. But its important to realize that the cost of renting an apartment or house varies immensely depending on the part of the country where your school is and on the local supply and demand, so youll need to pay close attention to your budget while making plans. A one-bedroom apartment in Pittsburgh, for example, might cost $900 a month while the same apartment in Boston could cost $2,000 or more. The schools housing office or financial aid office may be able to provide you with an estimate of the annual cost of renting an off-campus apartment.
Want to skip the research and quickly look for the best off-campus housing options? Try eduPASS Housing.
One extremely useful and exciting piece of information for any housing situation: in the USA, you enter an apartment building on the first floor, and the level above it is the second floor (and so on). That means that unlike in most other countries, where you enter on the ground floor and the level above is called the first floor if you live on the third floor in the USA you will have less stairs to climb than if you lived on the third floor somewhere else.
Your apartment guide If youre lucky enough to get on-campus accommodation, you wont have to worry about any of the following information because you most likely will be assigned to your housing and will be provided with almost everything youll need.
But for the rest of you, before you actively start looking for housing, you should do your research. Contact your schools housing office for suggestions, talk to alumni and current students via social media, check availability on housing websites such as Streeteasy or Zillow, and use housing and other groups on Facebook. Once you have a general idea of whats out there, think about what you actually need:
Ask the housing office and current students which neighborhoods are safe and which should be avoided.
Estimate the maximum distance youre willing to be from campus and/or the maximum amount of time it will take you to commute.
Decide whether you want to cut costs by sharing an apartment with a roommate (or multiple).
Consider which housing amenities are the most important to you laundry facilities, dishwasher, floor plans, garage, etc.
Determine which neighborhood conveniences youll need, such as public transportation, grocery stores, restaurants, etc.
The next important consideration is what is included in the rent and what isnt. Often, the more thats provided the more youll be paying plus you can expect the rent to increase by about 5 percent each year.
Utilities: If the advertisement says that utilities are included, that usually means electricity, heat/gas, and water/sewage, but not cable TV or internet. If the advertisement doesnt specify any utilities, assume that you will be responsible for paying for them. But always confirm! Air conditioning usually is included in the general electricity costs, but heat may be separate depending on the heating system used. Other than cable and internet, which are set monthly costs, utilities tend to be billed based on usage, so the longer the shower the higher your water bill will be.
Furnished or Unfurnished: Landlords decide if they will rent an apartment or house furnished or not, and also decide what exactly theyll be providing if its furnished. And keep in mind that, generally speaking, youll probably pay a higher rent to live somewhere furnished. On average, a furnished apartment may include a bed, dresser, and desk in every bedroom, and seating in the living room and dining room but again, its up to the discretion of the landlord. The good news is that all accommodations in the USA provide main kitchen appliances like a stove and refrigerator.
Laundry facilities: Again, depending where your school is located and what general housing in the area offers, having a washing machine and dryer in your home isnt always a given. In some cases, there may be laundry facilities elsewhere on the property thats available to residents at a cost per use, or there may be nothing and youll have to find a nearby laundromat and pay for the use of those machines.
Parking: If you intend to own a car, an apartment that includes a garage or off-street parking is vital. Its often difficult to find a parking space on the street, especially if many students with cars live nearby.
Leases Once youve finally found the ideal place to live, youll have to sign a lease with the landlord. The lease outlines restrictions on the use of the rented property as well as the responsibilities of both the tenant and landlord. A lease is a legal document, so if theres anything you dont understand, ask questions before you sign it so you can make sure that you actually agree to everything the landlord is demanding.
The lease should specify the following, at the very least:
The time period covered by the lease, usually (but not always) one year.
The total amount of the monthly rent and when its due. The lease may mention how the rent will increase in subsequent years.
Whether utilities are included in the rent, and if so, which ones.
Restrictions on the number of unrelated people (in other words, non-family members) who may occupy the property.
The amount of the security deposit, which often must be paid in addition tothe first months rent when the lease is signed. The deposit will be refunded at the end of the lease if the property is left in good and clean condition or will be used to cover costs of cleaning and repairing if there are damages. This means that its super important to take note of anything broken, leaking, stained, etc. before moving in and to document it (both in writing and with photos) so youre not held responsible for those problems when you move out.
Pet restrictions, since many landlords are not pet friendly because of the potential for damage and noise. The lease may also contain a provision prohibiting noise from musical instruments, stereo systems, loud parties, and other sources.
Landlord responsibilities, such as repairs to heating and plumbing facilities and fire or water damage that wasnt caused by the tenant.
A clause about terminating the lease. This clause will describe the penalties to the tenant for breaking the lease. Such penalties can range from forfeiting the security deposit to being responsible for the remaining rent.
A clause about subletting. This clause will either allow or prohibit the tenant from subletting the property to another person during the term of the lease.
A clause about eviction proceedings. This clause describes the rights of the tenant and the landlord if the landlords want to force the tenant out of the property during the term of the lease. The most common reasons for an eviction include failure to pay the rent when due or causing significant damage to the property.
Moving in If your rent does not include utilities such as electricity or internet, you may have to get them turned on when you move in so youll be able to see while you unpack. The landlord can provide you with the name and telephone numbers of the gas, electric, and cable companies that handle your apartment. Most companies offer multiple promotions based on combinations of services, special discounts, etc., so make sure to ask about all your options before signing up. Also make sure to read the fine print some companies require a contract, some charge high interest or fees if you miss a payment, and some may not even provide service if you dont have a good credit score. The more you know about potential problems, the more you can prepare to avoid them.
Renters insurance Many students obtain renters insurance to insure their possessions against fire or theft. Even if your apartment is furnished as part of your lease, the landlord is not responsible for your personal belongings if they are destroyed in a fire or stolen. Most renters insurance policies also protect you if someone is injured while on the property or if you cause significant damage to it. Every policy offer provides different coverage, payouts, etc for a different annual cost, so make sure to research comprehensively before choosing a policy.
Home safety and security Your landlord should have installed a smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector before you moved in in fact, in some states theyre required to have them by law. If theyre not provided, ask your landlord to do so. The most important thing, though, is to have them working immediately, so talk to your landlord about potentially speeding up the process by buying and installing them yourself and then being reimbursed.
No matter how friendly your neighbors are, always lock your doors when youre not home and when youre sleeping. And if youre on a lower floor or next to a balcony or fire escape, make sure your windows can lock as well. Safety first!
Your literal journey to becoming an international student in the USA is almost over and your metaphorical one can almost begin. But before you get excited, you have to stand in long lines and prove that youre allowed to be here by going through passport control and customs.
When you land in the USA, after you deplane you will go through passport control, then pick up your luggage, and then go through customs. If you have a layover with a domestic flight within the USA afterwards, you will first go through these steps, check in your luggage again with your airline, and then proceed to the gate for your next flight.
Agents both at passport control and at customs may ask you questions about why you are entering the USA, how long youll be here, and what youve brought with you. If your responses are unclear, theres a problem with your visa or passport, youve packed something illegal, or for any additional reasons the agents deem valid, you may be pulled aside to have your luggage searched or for further questioning. But we hope not!
There are numerous foods and other items that are prohibited from being brought to the USA, whether in your carry on or in your luggage. Check the list before you pack so there arent any problems when you arrive.
And if youre traveling with medical devices that contain parts that could be considered dangerous, make sure you have your prescription available to allay concerns from the Transportation Security Administration or any other security agency.
Finally, lets talk about money. You are able to bring under $10,000 in U.S. dollars or the equivalent in foreign currency. If you bring more than that, however, you must declare it to customs. But you shouldnt have even close to that amount of money with you, as its much easier (and weighs less) to only pack money to use for your first month or so and to open a U.S. bank account once you arrive.
The USA is a big place and youll probably want to explore it as much as possible. But youll also need to be able to afford those trips, as well as trips back to your home country. How can you pay for everything?
Traveling The USA has tons of obvious places to visit like San Francisco and New York City, but there are many out-of-the-way places that are worth seeing but arent necessarily near an airport. So have a quintessential American experience and take a roadtrip! Rent a car and visit the USA on your own time and for less money.
Visit the STA Travel website. STA Travel has been around since the 1970s and they are experts at finding travel deals for students. Check them out to find cheap flights, hotels, and tours, and read their blog for great travel advice.
Sign up to for a free membership at Student Universe, where youre eligible for discounts and deals with more than 220 airlines. The site also has deals for hotels and tours, plus it has a 24-hour cancellation policy for many of its flights.
There are seemingly millions of websites that provide aggregate flight information for destinations all over the world. Some of the most popular in the USA are Travelocity, Orbitz, Expedia, Kayak, but there are many more. Just note that though those sites are incredibly useful in showing you all your options, there are some drawbacks: They dont necessarily list the best prices (sometimes the airlines website is a better deal) and arent responsible for helping with missed connections, lost luggage, special meals, or other traveling issues since theyre third-party sites and not the actual airline.
Accommodation Keep in mind that there are fewer hostels in the USA than in other countries, but they do exist. Use websites like Hostelworld and Hostelling International to help you look in each city.
Or check out Airbnb, which may not have cheaper rates but often is overall a better deal because many accommodations include a kitchen or other amenities.
Many of the same aggregate websites that help find cheap flights also help you book accommodation. Take advantage of all their information but dont forget to price compare and read reviews.
Whether this is your first time or your 50thtime flying to the USA, advice about traveling is always helpful. After all, if youre moving across the world to learn stuff, you might as well as start now.
Before flying Arrive at the airport at least two hours before your flight is scheduled to depart. Even if the check-in goes quickly, security lines can be long, gates can be far away, and goodbyes can be hard.
Most airlines will allow you to check in to your flight online 24 hours in advance. This is a great way to cross something off your list, but if you arranged for any special requests such as special meals then it may be easier to check in at the check-in counter at the airport so you can confirm everything.
Charge all your electronic devices before you leave, and keep recharging them whenever possible. Youll be happy you did when youre sitting on an old plane that doesnt have charging outlets and your phone has to last for the next 18 hours.
Make sure to keep an extra set of clothes and an umbrella in your carry-on bags, and pack layers. We all know that if you dont pack them then your second flight will be cancelled and youll be forced to wear the same clothes for 48 hours and then exit the airport in a thunderstorm.
Pack many snacks and a refillable water bottle. International flights tend to serve passengers meals, but most domestic flights within the USA dont provide food, or do so at a cost. Plus, you never know how long your flight will be delayed or if youll be hungry or thirsty between meals youre served. However, you cant bring produce or certain other foods into the USA, so either pack snacks accordingly or finish them all before you land.
Similarly, the USA has restrictions for liquids. Though you may be flexible with what you can fly with when leaving your home country, if you have a domestic connection in the USA then you must follow the liquid rules. Dont forget that this not only applies to obvious things like drinks but also to toiletries such as contact solution, lotion, etc., so plan ahead!
Books and other fun but not electronic activities are always smart to travel with. Dont rely on the screens on the plane working, on your phone or tablet having enough battery power, or on your layover airport having books in your native language.
After landing By definition, youll be traveling on an international flight to get to the USA. When you land in the USA, you will have to go through customs and passport control, including picking up your luggage. If youre transferring to a domestic flight afterwards, youll need to check your luggage in again with the airline to ensure it gets to your final destination.
Once you finally arrive at your school, youll have to contend with jetlag. This is extremely common and it tends to take an hour or so per day to acclimate to your new time zone. In other words, if your home country is seven hours ahead of your new time zone, it may take seven days to match your body to the clock.
Youre not stressed at all about whats left to do before you leave your home country and become an international student in the USA, right? Good, then you wont mind if we give you these last few tasks to make sure your transition to the USA is as smooth as possible.
Walking tasks Take your cell phone to your carrier and make sure to get your phone unlocked. This is not the same as changing a code to access the phone but rather doing fancy technological things to the phone so it will be compatible with the cell phone providers in the USA. Keep in mind that youll be in the USA for months or years, so even if your wifi works when you arrive youll need the phone to be working fully, including texts and calls, for the long term.
Similarly, if you dont plan on returning to your home country very often during the course of your education, it may be worth cancelling your cell phone plan there completely and getting a new one in the USA (which youd probably have to do anyway).
Attend a pre-departure orientation at an EducationUSA center. These centers are run by the U.S. State Department and can offer lots of helpful advice about life in the USA.
Visit your doctor and dentist to make sure your prescriptions are up to date (including glasses or contacts) and you have enough medication to last until you can make an appointment with a doctor in the USA. This seems like its not a big deal, but health care in the USA is a totally different beast than it is in most other countries, so it will make your medical life much easier if you prep as much as possible before you leave.
Sitting tasks Alert your banks and credit cards that you may use your accounts while in the USA. Check with them about foreign transaction fees, fees for minimum balances, fees for transferring funds to a foreign account, and so on. Basically, tell them that when your card is used at a Walmart in the USA its a legitimate purchase, the card hasnt been stolen, and you dont want to pay extra for doing it.
Send your itinerary, address in the USA, and any other relevant contact information to your parents, siblings, and other close family members. Make sure you have it accessible for yourself on both your email and on a piece of paper, because if your phone battery dies while youre in the taxi from the airport youll probably have a hard time remembering the address of your dorm.
Find out about any income tax filing requirements for your home country before you leave. If your parents or guardian wont be handling your financial affairs in your absence, arrange for an appropriate power of attorney or (similar official documentation) for the person wholl be doing those things.
Just because youre excited about being an international student in the USA doesnt mean youre ready to leave your home country. First things first you have to pack.
What you should do to prep Check the luggage allowance on your flight and the cost of paying extra for additional suitcases if necessary. It might be worth it, but it also might be worth leaving some shirts behind so you can instead stock up on new ones with the name of your school.
Though you may plan to open an American bank account or credit card or link to your foreign accounts fairly soon after arriving, doing so may be time consuming or complicated. Make sure to bring enough cash with you to cover your first months expenses as a backup.
Take photos of important documents such as your passport, marriage certificates, medical records, and academic transcripts and their English translations and save them in your email so you can access them anytime. But also make photocopies (yes, with paper!) in case your phone battery dies, you dont have internet access, or theres some other technology failure.
Critical documents, medicines, jewelry, and other important or expensive items should be carried in your carry-on luggage. Your carry-on bag should also include one change of clothing in case your flight is delayed or cancelled.
Label your luggage inside and out with your name and your schools name and address. If your luggage is lost in transit, this will help the airline return it to you.
When you arrive at your school, youll still be missing numerous items that we use in our daily lives, like towels, pens, and lightbulbs. Theyre not worth bringing from your home country, but they will definitely be needed.
What you should actually pack
Passport, plane tickets, and Form I-20.
Money, credit cards, and checkbook. Make sure you also know all your passwords to banking or other online financial accounts so you can access them in the USA.
National and international drivers licenses.
A list of the names, addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses of key contacts, both in the USA and in your home country.
Clothing, including shoes, pajamas, coats and other cold-weather gear, bathing suits, and jewelry and other accessories.
Chargers for all electronic devices.
Adapters for all electronic devices bring more than you think youll need because the USA primarily sells adapters from American plugs and not to American outlets. Also keep in mind that the 110-voltage level in the USA may be different to the one in your home country.
Books, including a dictionary and phrase book.
Wall hangings or other personal items to use as decoration.
American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA)AILA is a national bar association of more than 5,200 attorneys who practice immigration law. For more information, call 1-202-216-2400, fax 1-202-371-9449, or write to American Immigration Lawyers Association, 1400 Eye Street, NW, Suite 1200, Washington, DC 20005 USA.
Visa regulations are never ending. We let you know the most important ones.
There are many, many, many moving parts of the visa process regardless of the type youre applying for. But before you start, you should know that multiple U.S. government agencies are in charge of different parts of your student life. Youll work with the State department during your application process, and receive your visa from them. But as soon as you land at the airport in the USA, and throughout your stay, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) takes over.
Visa rules
As part of DHSs regulations, every F-1 and M-1 visa holder must share their information as part of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), and they do so through an internet-based system called the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS). Get comfortable with technology, because youll need SEVIS throughout your time in the USA.
If youre awarded an F-1, M-1, or J-1 visa, your spouses and children are also eligible to join you in the USA under an F-2, M-2, or J-2 visa. Plus, your children can attend school as well, so you can be study buddies.
When you get your visa, it will have an expiration date listed on it. However, that date is not necessarily the same as the length of time you can legally be in the USA. When you arrive in the USA, a Customs and Border Patrol officer (part of DHS) will check your visa information and then complete the arrival Form I-94 with the admitted-until date that he or she thinks is appropriate. This is the part that matters: The admitted-until date is your official deadline for leaving the USA, whether its before your visa expiration date or not. If you stay in the USA past that date, you could have your visa voided or cancelled or be ineligible for future visas.
There are dozens of visas available for non-U.S. citizens and residents, and you might end up loving the USA so much that you want to apply for one of them. Youll most likely need to apply to your visa from your home country, so start researching now so you can get back to our sugary cereals as soon as possible.
Work hard for your money, but only when youre legally allowed.
Attending school in the USA is super expensive, and even if youre receiving loans or scholarships you might still want some extra cash to do fun things. Though there are numerous work visas available in general, international students are somewhat limited in options. Unfortunately, M-1 visa holders can only work if the job is part of the official training program, and cant work for more than 6 months. For F-1 visa holders, however, there are a few ways you can legally earn money.
On-campus employment
International students can work on campus without special permission from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). But the types of jobs allowed are pretty specific though the job doesnt technically have to be on campus grounds, it must be related to the school or provide direct services to students. So that means that you can work at the cafeteria on campus or for an off-campus bookstore that sells textbooks and supplies to students, but you cant work as an intern for the company that does landscaping on campus. Students can work up to 20 hours a week during academic terms and can work full time while school is out of session.
Curricular Practical Training (CPT)
CPT allows F-1 visa holders to work off campus in positions that are related to their curriculum or academic program, but youre only eligible for CPT after youve completed your first academic year. Though you can work part time or full time, you still need to be enrolled in and attending classes.
The amount of time you can work under CPT is theoretically unrestricted, but with the caveat that working full time under CPT for a cumulative period of 12 months or more will disqualify you from receiving Optional Practical Training (aka OPT see below and it will make more sense). However, if you work part time or full time for less than those 12 months, youre still eligible for OPT.
Optional Practical Training (OPT)
Like CPT, international students must also complete an academic year before being eligible for OPT. OPT provides a total of 12 months of employment in the USA and must be explicitly related to the course of study listed on your visa. For example, if the focus of your studies is finance, the odds are low that youd be granted OPT authorization for work as a clown.
There are two types of OPT, and they can be used in combination as long as you have permission from your Designated School Official (DSO) to do so. You dont need an official job offer to apply for OPT, and theres even a 60-day grace period after it expires where you can stay in the USA to try to extend or change your visa. But talk to your DSO or your schools international student office when you work on the application (which can take many weeks to be processed) so you can double check that everything is legal.
Pre-completion OPT is essentially hours worked while youre still enrolled in classes. Those hours are then deducted from the total of 12 months of OPT available to international students.
Post-completion OPT allows you to work after completing your program, and is really popular since it extends the amount of time you can legally be in the USA and stock up on your new favorite things. But
be aware that if you worked under pre-completion OPT, that time will be deducted from your available post-completion time, so the math for your total OPT time doesnt exceed 12 months.
And heres a bonus: If youve earned a degree in an approved STEM field, you might be eligible to extend your OPT by an additional 24 months with the STEM OPT extension, giving you a total of 36 months of legal work in the USA without needing to change your visa.
Severe Economic Hardship
F-1 students who suffer an unexpected and severe economic hardship are eligible to work for up to 20 hours a week off campus while school is in session and full time during breaks. This exception is only for students whove had their visa for a year or more, and conveniently doesnt affect OPT hours. But you cant lose money at a poker game and expect to be eligible for this special situation USCIS determines each case based on their strict standards. Their guidelines are explicit: students must have lost financial support or previous on-campus employment, faced large increases in tuition and living costs or extreme changes in the exchange rate of their home countrys currency, or received extensive medical bills not covered by insurance.
Keep your student visa status legal throughout your time at school.
Classes have started and youre deep into a new routine. Now all you have to do is maintain your student visa status so you can focus on studying your schools weird traditions.
There are, of course, certain processes that both F-1 and M-1 students must follow to keep their visa status legal and valid. First, you can only enter the USA within 30 days of the first day of your program, so make sure you book your flight accordingly. Once you arrive in the USA, you must contact your Designated School Official (DSO) to let them know youre in the country, and then contact them again after youve arrived at your actual program.
As soon as classes kick in, you have to be a good student no pressure, but your course schedule must be full, and you need to attend and pass all those classes. Dont even think about dropping a class without first speaking to your DSO. In fact, youll need to talk to your DSO about pretty much every step you take related to being in the USA and at your program, so put their contact information in your speed dial as part of your prep before leaving your home country.
When your program ends, to maintain legal visa status you essentially have two choices: change your visa type or education level, or leave the USA. F-1 students must leave within 60 days of completing their program and M-1 students must leave within 30 days, and in both cases the countdown starts from the end date listed on your Form I-20.
Of course, one of the most important ways to maintain a legal visa status is to do everything legally. In other words, dont break any laws, both on campus and off, and if your school has a code of conduct then follow that too.
If youre not totally satisfied with your program, you may be able to transfer to a new one.
Youve been waiting to move to the USA for what seems like forever, but what if you get here and realize you signed up for a program or school that doesnt work for you?
If youre in the USA on any kind of student visa, you can only enter the USA within 30 days of the first day of your program. If you want to arrive earlier so you can do all kinds of fun stuff before you have to focus on studying, youll need a tourist visa (if relevant from your home country). Once youre in the USA with your tourist visa, youll have to then request a change of status from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and wont be allowed to start your program until the change is approved. Youll also have to make sure that your Form I-20 is updated correctly. But if you have lots of frequent flyer miles, the good news is that instead of dealing with paperwork you can just leave the USA and then re-enter with your valid student visa within 30 days of your start date.
F-1 visa holders can transfer schools or programs with their visa, but its of course a whole process in itself. Youll need to be in direct touch with your Designated School Official, and that person will need to see lots of official information from the new school or program such as the written confirmation of your acceptance there and the new places school code and contact information, and will then help you figure out when you can officially transfer. Youll also need a new Form I-20 that reflects the new school or program information, and youll need to start the new school or program pretty much immediately.
M-1 visa holders cannot change their visa status in the USA to an F-1 or H-1 visa, and would need to apply for an F-1 visa from their home country. However, an M-1 visa holder can change programs though only in the first six months and only within certain parameters.
But its not all about you: If you change your own visa status, youll most likely also need to change the status of your spouse and dependents if they have joined you in the USA, including new Form I-20s for them as well. Make sure you know everything required for all of you before starting the visa transfer process.
Make sure the U.S. government knows youre just here temporarily by proving your intent to return to your home country.
Going through the visa application process can be long and complicated, and youll need to provide a bunch of documents and also complete a bunch of forms for it. Youll also be interviewed. The person conducting the interview will be a consular officer, which is someone who works in U.S. embassies and consulates all over the world and who determines if your visa will be granted. Essentially, the consular officer will affect your future.
F-1 and J-1 visas are considered non-immigrant visas, meaning that applicants will not attempt to stay in the USA permanently. But how do you prove intent to leave? You show the consular officer that you have ties to your home country.
One of the components of your interview will be to discuss what you want to do after your finish your education. Theres no official list of documents or required items to demonstrate to the consular officer that you will leave the USA after completing your program, and theres also no official definition of terms. But generally speaking, you want to show the officer that even though you went through the whole application process to be able to attend your school in the USA, you are still connected to your home country that your family is still there, that you have a job waiting for you there, that you own property there, that you miss the food there, and so on. Take any documents to the interview that can prove these connections and be prepared to answer questions about them and about your long-term plans.
Its better to be overprepared than underprepared, since a consular officer can refuse to grant you a visa. We know that having your visa denied is super disappointing, but if it happens because you didnt provide enough documentation proving your intent to return to your home country (or if your documentation wasnt satisfactory), you are still eligible to reapply for a new visa. And if you have to go through the process a second time, at least youll already be an expert.
Show off your (financial) assets at your visa interview.
One of the many elements of your visa application is to prove that you have enough money to live and study in the USA during your time as a student. If youre applying for an F-1 visa, youll need to prove that you have sufficient financial resources to cover your first year of school and that you have the ability to find ways to cover costs for subsequent years. If youre applying for a J-1 or M-1 visa, youll have to show that you can pay for every year. And you cant just show a copy of a check you wrote towards tuition your funds must cover tuition, text books and other supplies, room and board or other living expenses, and travel to and from your home country.
So how do you prove that you wont be a drain on American resources? There arent official requirements, but generally you should provide documents such as bank statements; proof of financial aid and/or scholarships; letters from a sponsor and the I-134 form, completed by your sponsors to agree to support you; or salary information from an employer. Take as many documents as possible to your visa interview, because your math will need to add up correctly the consular officer interviewing you will know the costs associated with your application based on your completed I-20 form. And youll need to start collecting everything a long time before your visa interview, since youll need to show original documents. So make sure you contact your bank in advance and check that their printer is working so you have everything ready for your interview.
Also, some schools may have specific requirements for which financial documents are acceptable, and youll probably have questions anyway. Contact your schools international student center to get details about the whole process and to see if they can help.
Congrats! Youve been accepted into the school of your dreams. Let us help get you there with a student visa.
As an international student, once youve been admitted to a degree program in the USA youll need a visa in order to legally enter, and to stay in, the country. There are numerous types of visas, but the most relevant to students are the F-1, M-1, and J-1 visas.
For all three of these visas, your spouse and dependents might also be eligible to join you in the USA with the F-2, M-2, and J-2 visas. But before you take them on fun adventures, talk to the experts.
Types of Student Visas in the USA
F-1 (Student Visa) The F-1 student visa grants international students entry into the USA for those studying at accredited colleges, universities, seminaries, conservatories, academic high schools, ?lementary schools, and language training programs that lead to a degree, diploma, or certificate authorized by the U.S. government.
J-1 visa (Exchange Visitor Visa) The J-1 visa is an exchange visitor visa and is issued to individuals who need practical training unavailable in their home country in order to complete their academic program.
M-1 visa (Vocational Student Visa) M-1 visas are granted to students who come to the USA for vocational studies. Individuals with this visa arent allowed to work except during practical training (so at least they dont have to pay taxes in the USA!).
How to get a student visa for the USA?
Specifically for the J-1 visa, youll first need to find a designated sponsor. That sponsor will then be in charge of the application process and will let you know what steps to take.
For F-1 and M-1 visas, the first thing you should do is to make sure youve received an I-20 form from your school. Once you have it, contact your local U.S. embassy or consulate. Theyll give you more detailed instructions, but in general the application process will include completing paperwork such as Form DS-160, providing a photo, and being interviewed. Plus, there will be visa fees (just like everything in life has a fee).
For the interview, the embassy or consular officer youll be speaking with will decide what to bring. But the list will most likely include documents such as your passport, transcripts and standardized test scores, proof that you intend to return to your home country after your program is completed, and financial proof that you can cover all your costs.
Its really important to remember that your visa only allows you to travel to the USA legally but it does not guarantee that youll be admitted. The odds are low that there will be a problem, but learn about the rules for customs before you head to the airport, just in case.
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If youre an F-1 student, you may be able to work in the USA during your education. Though there are lots of rules and regulations, in general, students with this visa cant work off campus during their first academic year (but can work on campus).
For the most part, students with other visas cant work. But they can volunteer, both on campus and in the local community. Which we highly suggest!
Your passport is the gateway to the world. Heres how to keep it safe.
To paraphrase the Neil Diamond song , everyone is coming to the USA. And theyre entering with their passport and visas.
Passports are precious documents that allow us to move freely and legally around the world (visa rules aside). Your passport should be the first thing you put aside when you start packing to come to the USA, but when you actually leave for the airport make sure its easily accessible in your backpack, purse, or other carry-on luggage, and stays that way for your entire flight.
But you cant just land at an airport and hope for the best: In most cases, the U.S. government requires that your passport be valid for at least six months after the day you enter the country. This applies to everyone, regardless of age, so if your visa allows you to bring your children to the USA, their passports must also be valid for that six-month-minimum. However, there are several countries that have an agreement with the USA to allow entry until the actual expiration passport date.
Generally, even after youve settled in to student life, its a good idea to keep a copy of your passport, both in paper and electronic form (e.g. scan it and email it to yourself). That way, if problems arise, you have proof of your legal status in the USA. If your passport is lost or stolen, notify your consulate or embassy and the police immediately.
If you need to renew your passport, you can often do so at your home countrys local consulate or embassy. But once you receive your new passport, keep your old one with you, since you can still use a valid visa if its attached to an expired passport. And definitely check how long the renewal process takes before planning any trips, as you wont even be able to board an international flight without a valid passport, and it would be pretty depressing to miss out on your spring break trip.
There are lots of stereotypes about how people from different cultures or who speak different languages communicate. Sometimes these are fairly accurate and can cause misunderstandings, and sometimes theyre just funny to read about. In an effort to offend as few people as possible, here are some common cultural features about how Americans have a conversation. But dont forget that these wont always be true, and that most Americans intend to be inclusive and welcoming.
Americans tend to make eye contact during conversations, and consider it impolite if someone does not look them in the eye as well. However, holding that eye contact for a long period of time may come off as staring, which is considered rude.
Americans nod their heads or respond with quick words of approval when listening to someone else speak in order to show they are engaged in the conversation.
When meeting someone, often in business settings, Americans shake hands firmly and do not touch in other ways (such as kissing on the cheek). In social settings, Americans may hug their close friends or family members but are not tactile with strangers or acquaintances and instead may smile, wave, or simply begin a conversation (or give a rogue handshake).
Nobody likes a close talker in America people having a conversation tend to stand somewhere between 2 and 3 feet (just under a meter) away from the other person, unless its a crowded, loud, or intimate situation.
This is probably true for most languages and cultures, but Americans use a lot of slang and abbreviations in social settings and jargon in business settings (basically specialized slang for their field). Keep in mind that often American English slang is different to British English slang (or any other English-speaking country slang). No matter how much you study ahead of time or how good your English is (even if youre a native speaker), youll probably have to learn those terms in the moment.
Even if you passed the TOEFL with high marks, you might still make mistakes in English sometimes. And thats ok! Just remember that most native English speakers probably speak your native language much worse than you speak English.
If you want to arrive in the USA super confident about your English, you can start to look out now for some common usage error problems from non-native speakers. There are many more differences between English and other languages than we list here, but you may have to do an international student exchange program to figure them out.
False friends You know those people in life whom you think youve figured out but it turns out theyre actually completely different? There are words like that when comparing English to other languages, and theyre called false friends. This happens a lot to people whose native language has a Romance or Germanic background, such as French, Spanish, or German (and several others), since they share similar roots as English. The English word chase, for example, means to run after someone and looks like the French word la chaise. But la chaise actually means chair, so the lesson here is that its safest to learn proper translations so no one follows the wrong person.
Subject-verb agreement The rules of English, no matter if its British or American, require that the number of subjects in the sentence must match the verb. The example She loves ice cream describes one person (singular), so the verb used is also singular. But in some other languages, the numbers dont have to match: In Chinese, theres only one version of the verb.
Gender Conversely, English doesnt have gendered nouns, so English speakers dont have to worry about matching the right grammar for, say, a book. But numerous other languages do use gendered nouns, including Spanish, Hebrew, Hindi, and many, many more. Speakers of those languages have to pay attention to how verbs or adjectives are adjusted based on the nouns being used and though it might sound as if not using specific forms in English is easier, native speakers of those languages sometimes have a hard time letting go.
Plus, in English our adjectives never change, so we always have blue eyes. But in some other languages, such as Spanish, German, and Japanese, adjectives are conjugated based on the gender of the word, the number of subjects in the sentence, or even the tense. If your native language makes those changes, youll have to try to remove them when speaking English.
Articles When discussing languages, an article is not something you read in the newspaper but actually a word used to modify a noun, and basically alerts the reader or listener to more details about that noun. In English, for example, the word the is the article in the sentence Im going to the store so you know theres only one store. But not every language uses articles, so native speakers of those languages should try to remember to include them when speaking English.
Tenses Tenses can also cause problems when learning English. Some languages, like English and Russian, change verbs (and some other things) to imply time if it happened in the past, if its happening now, or if it will happen in the future. But it will not be a surprise to learn that in other languages the conjugations are based on a less complicated version than English uses, like in French, or dont use tense at all, like in Chinese. If your native language isnt as picky about tenses as English is, this might be a very tough concept to learn. Chinese international students, in fact, may want to sign up for a course in English so theyll know exactly when an assignment is due.
As an international student in the USA, youll probably come across a lot of education-related terms that you dont understand. But after reading the glossary below, youll be an expert on all-things education.
Academic Year The period during which school is in session. The school year typically runs from August through May at most colleges and universities.
Accreditation A certification by an agency approved by the U.S. Department of Education that shows approval for a schools educational program and confirms that the school meets a minimal set of standards.
ACT A standardized test to assess a students qualifications for college as part of his or her application. This test is sometimes used instead of the SAT, depending on a schools requirements.
Alumnus, Alumna, Alumni, Alumnae Latin terms for graduates of a college or university. Alumnus is singular male, alumna is singular female, alumni is plural male, and alumnae is plural female. Alumnus and alumni are often used in a gender-neutral fashion.
Asset Item of value, such as a familys home or business, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, cash, certificates of deposit, bank accounts, trust funds, and other property and investments.
Associates Degree The degree awarded for completion of a two-year program at a community college, trade, or vocational school.
B-2 Visa A tourist visa. This visa may not be used for studying in the USA.
Bachelors Degree The degree awarded for completion of a four-year undergraduate program at a college or university.
Bursar The office where students pay their tuition bill.
Campus A schools buildings, grounds, and other facilities, all of which collectively comprise its campus.
Class Rank A students standing in secondary school relative to his or her classmates. The rank is reported on either an absolute (2nd in a class of 105) or percentage basis (top 5 percent).
College An institution of higher education that awards degrees. Often used interchangeably with university.
College Board A nonprofit educational association of colleges, universities, educational systems, and other educational institutions. It also administers the SAT and other tests.
Conditional Admission Admission to a school under the condition that you meet its requirements for English proficiency after arrival. The school may require you to enroll in English as a Second Language classes.
Cooperative Education A program where students spend time engaged in employment related to their major in addition to regular classroom study.
Co-signer The person who assumes responsibility for a loan if the borrower fails to repay it.
Curriculum Vitae (c.v.) A document similar to an American resume that lists a students education, employment, publications, and other activities. This term is usually used in connection with graduate students and faculty, not undergraduate students.
Dependent A person who receives more than half their financial support from another person, usually a parent or legal guardian. A dependent is generally a child or spouse, but occasionally can be other relatives.
Doctorate One of several degrees granted by graduate schools, often a PhD.
Early Admission An application to U.S. colleges or schools prior to the schools official deadline. Applicants get a response early in the admissions cycle and are required to attend the school if admitted. International students are generally not permitted to apply to early admission programs.
Early Action An application to U.S. colleges or universities prior to the schools official deadline. Applicants get a response early in the admissions cycle but are not required to attend a school that admits them.
Elementary School Kindergarten through 6th grade.
Eligible Non-Citizen A non-U.S. citizen who is eligible for federal student aid, such as U.S. permanent residents who are holders of valid green cards, U.S. nationals, holders of form I-94 who have been granted refugee or asylum status, and certain other non-citizens. Non-citizens who hold an F-1 or J-1 visa are not eligible for federal student aid.
F-1 Visa A visa for students pursuing full-time education in the USA.
Faculty A schools professors, lecturers, and instructors.
Fellowship A form of financial aid to support a students education that does not need to be repaid and is generally provided to graduate students.
Federal Insurance Contribution Act (FICA) A payroll tax on paychecks to fund Social Security and Medicare. Most international students are exempt from this tax.
Financial Aid Money provided to students to help pay for their education. Major forms of financial aid include scholarships, grants, and loans.
Freshman A first-year undergraduate student.
Grade Point Average (GPA) A weighted sum of a students grades. Each grade is converted to a number on a scale from 1.0 to 4.0, and weighted according to the number of credits received from the class. Typically, a 4.0 corresponds to an A, 3.0 to a B, 2.0 to a C, 1.0 to a D, and 0.0 to an F.
Graduate Student A student pursuing a masters degree or doctoral degree.
Interest An amount charged to the borrower for the privilege of using the lenders money, usually calculated as a percentage of the principal balance of the loan.
Internal Revenue Service (IRS) The federal agency responsible for collecting taxes and enforcing U.S. tax laws.
J-1 Visa A non-immigrant visa for students, teachers, and other exchange visitors.
Junior A third-year undergraduate student.
Letter of Recommendation A letter written by a teacher to evaluate a students qualifications and abilities, often included as part of an application for admission to college or university or in support of an application for a scholarship or fellowship.
Loan A type of financial aid that must be repaid, usually with interest.
M-1 Visa The visa for international students attending non-academic trade and vocational schools.
Major The academic area or field of study in which a students studies are concentrated.
Masters Degree One of several degrees granted by graduate schools.
Need-Blind A part of the college admissions process where the applicants financial situation is disregarded when assessing his or her application. Most schools use this process.
Need-Sensitive A part of the college admissions process where the applicants financial situation is taken into consideration when assessing his or her application.
Non-renewable Award A scholarship or other financial award that is offered only once.
Postsecondary Any education past 12th grade.
Principal The amount of money borrowed or remaining unpaid on a loan. Interest is charged as a percentage of the principal. This is the same word used to define the head of a primary or secondary school, also called a principal.
Quarter A division of the academic year into fourths.
Renewable Award A scholarship that is awarded for more than one year. Usually the student must maintain certain academic standards to be eligible for subsequent years of the award. Some scholarships may require the student to reapply each year.
Resume A one-page summary of an individuals education, employment history, awards, and other accomplishments.
SAT A standardized test to assess a students qualifications for college as part of their application. This test is required by most schools.
Secondary School Also known as high school, usually 9th through 12th grades.
Semester A division of the academic year into spring and fall terms.
Senior A fourth-year undergraduate student.
Sophomore A second-year undergraduate student.
Term Any division of the academic year.
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) A test evaluating a students ability to communicate in and understand English. Most colleges and universities require international students to take the TOEFL as part of their application for admission.
Transcript An official record of a students academic work, including a list of courses taken, grades received, and credits awarded.
Trimester A division of the academic year into thirds, adding a summer term to the fall and spring terms.
Tuition The fees charged by a school to allow a student to register to take courses at the school.
Undergraduate Student A student pursuing a bachelors degree.
University An institution of higher education that awards undergraduate and graduate degrees. Often used interchangeably with college.
If youve watched both British and American tv shows, youll know that citizens of those countries speak the same language but use many different words. Many English-speaking countries outside of the USA often use British terminology but include their own slang, while some countries with other native languages use American terms. It can be confusing, but instead of being nervous consider it part of your global education.
Below is a short dictionary of some differences in word usage between British English and American English that should be useful in your first few months in the USA. And if theres something we missed, well, it will be a good story.
We dont like to generalize, but, generally speaking, there are differences between British English and American English. And if youre an international student in the USA from an English-speaking country most likely a Commonwealth nation youre probably already very aware of some of them. But American English tends to be taught in many non-English speaking countries, so learning how English can vary will help you no matter where you travel. Its important to note, though, that the vast majority of grammar and word usage is the same in both countries, so we can complain about international student loans without any language barriers.
How to word things Theres a tendency to talk about a British accent or an American accent as if theres only one of each. But just like in every country, people in one geographic region may not sound exactly like those in other regions. This means their overall accent, specific word pronunciation, and even slang words arent the same. Though it sounds like a lot to learn, youll pick up the local dialect at your school (as well as all kinds of other important terms) pretty quickly.
Most American English has rhotic accents, meaning the letter Rispronounced. In most British English, however, the Ris often not pronounced and is sort of skipped over. But heres a fun fact: In the Boston accent which, notably, is in the USA the Ris often not pronounced either. So we really are alike!
Its not just the different words in the USA and England, though its also the spelling of words that both countries use. There are multiple examples, but here are the most common ones:
Some words that use a Z in the USA instead use an S in England, such as organize/organise and specialize/specialise.
Some words that end in ter in the USA instead end in tre in England, such as theater/theatre and center/centre.
Some words that have or in the USA instead have our in England, such as color/colour and favor/favour.
Some grammar is also used slightly differently between the USA and England, but both are correct and are understood by the other speaker. The biggest example you might notice is that Americans use -ed to end a word in past tense, while the British may use -t instead. This means that I learned about my visa requirements yesterday in the USA becomes I learnt about my visa requirements yesterday in England.
Other differences to note Youve probably heard the stereotype that Americans love to talk. While this often isnt the case, what is common is greeting someone without expecting a detailed reply. Youll hear a lot of How are you? and Hows your day? from people passing through your life, such as a cashier, waiter, or even colleague. But the expected response is not a story but rather a generic and short Good, thanks.
Though most of your American-English learning skills will focus on vocabulary and grammar, theres another important difference that will affect you on a daily basis: time. In England, and in most other countries around the world, the clock is 24 hours. But in the USA, a 12-hour clock is used with the addition of a.m. (for midnight through noon) and p.m. (for noon through midnight). So, for example, if you meet up with a friend for dinner at 19:00 in England, youll meet up with the same friend at 7 p.m. in the USA.
Dont forget that somewhere in between all your new experiences as an international student in the USA youll have to actually go to classes. But when you get there, you may be a bit surprised at how theyre taught.
Teaching styles in the USA may be different to those youre used to in your home country. Here, courses tend to be somewhat interactive and are less dependent on rote memorization, with students encouraged to ask questions and discuss topics.
If youre used to going to class every day in a uniform or suit, youve come to the wrong place. Most faculty wear somewhat professional clothing, but students lets just say that jeans are probably too formal for most classes. The good news is that being a student lets you embrace your inner laziness about getting dressed (if you want it to).
In general, class sizes tend to be relatively small, though this depends on the course and the number of students enrolled at the school. Often, however, some first-year courses that cater to numerous majors or specialties can have dozens or hundreds of students. But if that sounds overwhelming, youll be glad to know that these large lectures may also have smaller sections run by teaching assistants or other faculty who review information and provide supplemental materials. Plus, professors often have office hours, where students can answer questions or receive additional help in a more individualized setting.
Your grade in most classes will be based on your scores on tests, quizzes, and writing assignments. If courses require projects or presentations, your grades will be based on those, too. And finally, some professors might consider your participation in class as part of your grade. In fact, if your large lecture has a smaller discussion section, active participation may even improve your grade. The better the professor and teaching assistants know you and your work, the better they will be able to assess your progress. But dont worry about any of this ahead of time most professors will provide a rubric, which is essentially a breakdown of requirements and how everything will be weighted.
Last, but possibly most important: You must do all your work on your own unless otherwise specified in the instructions for an assignment. Though studying with fellow students is fine, collaborating with others on individual essays, exams, presentations, etc. when not authorized by your teacher is considered cheating. Likewise, quoting a text word for word without properly attributing the source is plagiarism. Cheating and plagiarism are grounds for failing a class or even expulsion from school.
Start studying now so youll be ready to prove you can handle anything in English.
If youre applying to schools, then you probably already know how to study. But learning a language is a bit different than remembering historical dates or applying math formulas, and youll need to study in a more relevant way in order to pass the TOEFL or other language tests so you can get into the school of your dreams in the USA. Your goal should be to feel comfortable enough with English that if youre stuck about how to say something then you can come up with another way to get the message across, and to be able to understand and then respond automatically without stopping to mentally translate in the middle.
Ways to study
Learn: If your English is still at a basic level, take a class or use an app to learn additional vocabulary and general usage rules.
Study: Learning a language isnt always glamorous sometimes youll have to actually study. Get the test-prep book for your specific exam, make flashcards, and memorize some things to make sure you know grammar and spelling rules, basic colors and foods and other daily words, and tenses.
Immerse: Immersion is the best way to learn how native speakers actually use their language slang, appropriate terms and usage, word combinations, and pronunciations are never included in textbooks. Since you cant yet legally move to the USA, take a vacation to an English-speaking country and talk to the locals. Or for a cheaper method, find some English-speaking tourists in your home city and have a conversation with them. Either way, youll both learn how native English speakers sound and also get feedback on your own English-speaking abilities.
Watch: The key to watching English-speaking tv shows, movies, and videos is to make sure theyre not dubbed so you actually hear English! Whether your version has subtitles in your native language so you can compare or you watch with no native-language safety net, youll pick up lots of vocabulary, word combinations, and slang.
Read: Reading in another language is almost like learning yet another new language. Written texts can be more complicated, with more difficult words, more complicated syntax, and more poetic language generally not used in speech. Start slow with childrens books in English, and then read magazines, newspapers, blog posts, books, etc. to fully understand how language is used in multiple contexts.
Write: Language tests usually have a writing section, and you obviously need to pass them. Plus, once you start school youll have to write anyway, since youll have to deal with assignments, emails to professors, and tests. If youre not creative enough to write a short story, you can practice by writing about your day, writing a letter or email to your friend, writing birthday cards, or writing your shopping list.
Listen: If you want to challenge yourself, listen to the radio, podcasts, or even songs in English. Even if youre comfortable talking to someone in English or watching your favorite sitcom without subtitles, its much harder to follow if you cant see the speakers lips moving.
Translate: If you feel pretty confident about your English-speaking skills, translate something in your native language into English. Pick your favorite song, a short article, or love letters from an old partner written in your native language and do your best to translate it into English.
Once you feel comfortable with English and can easily handle daily conversation, youll have to start thinking about fancier English. Youll be able to use your advanced skills when writing an essay as part of your school applications, when writing papers and presentations for class, and for writing detailed emails once you eventually start your professional career.
Youll of course learn English in many different ways and in many different contexts, but for official language rules there are a few reliable, classic sources. We suggest you read them in bed while preparing to move to the USA and then again as a reference anytime youre unsure about who vs. whom or the difference between their, theyre, and there.
Reliable, Classic Sources
The Elements of Style: Even though the first edition of this book was written decades ago, its still a great resource for important grammar rules, common mistakes, and general writing advice. And, fun fact, one of the authors was also the author of Charlottes Web!
Eats, Shoots & Leaves: This lighthearted book essentially complains that Americans and British people have lost control of proper English, and reminds us what proper English actually is.
Merriam-Websters Guide to Punctuation and Style: Merriam-Webster has been around in various forms as a dictionary since the early 1800s, and later published a thesaurus as well as other word-related resources. This specific guide tells you all about grammar but also gives advice about how to edit writing and format bibliographies.
Grammar Girl: If you like quick and readable articles about English, this is where youll want to spend your time. The website is constantly updated with blog posts and podcasts about good writing habits, grammar, and explanations of language, and is also active on social media.
Purdue University Online Writing Lab: This online resource provides all kinds of information about grammar and punctuation, types of writing, and even fonts. Though the website is officially part of Purdue University, its materials are highly regarded and are available to everyone (students get access to more personal help).
The whole point of moving to the USA to get a higher education is to actually learn something. But how can you learn anything if you dont speak English? Thats why most schools require that international students from non-native English-speaking countries (theres usually a list) must take a test to prove their proficiency in English. Doing so ensures that students make the most out of their experience and that schools make the most out of their resources. But be aware that depending on the results of the test, some schools may request that students sign up for additional English language courses as part of their academic requirements.
There are several accredited English-language tests, though not all may be approved by your school. Theyre also all thorough both your speaking ability and your reading and writing comprehension will be assessed. As always, each test has a fee that should be considered when determining your budget.
Which test is best?
The most well-known English-language test is the TOEFL iBT (Test of English as a Foreign Language), which is accepted by more than 10,000 universities and other institutions in more than 150 countries throughout the world. The TOEFL takes three hours, and must be completed at a test center. The test has four skill areas that are all scored in a range of 0-30 reading, listening, speaking, and writing for a total maximum score of 120.
There is no limit for the number of times you can take the TOEFL as long as you wait 12 days in between, so dont be upset if you dont like your score on the first try. But with fees ranging from approximately $150-$300 per test, you may want additional resources to help you study so youll only have to take it once.
There are two types of the IELTS (International English Language Testing System), the academic version and the general training version, though they both assess listening, reading, writing, and speaking. Its safest to check which version is required by your school so that you dont need to take the other version, as it costs at least $250 per test (fees vary). IELTS results are scaled from 1 (lowest score) to 9 (highest score) and most sections can be completed either on paper or on a computer. However, the speaking test must be done face to face.
Duolingo yes, the language-learning app has an English test that is computer based and adjusts its questions based on the test takers abilities. Even though it can be completed at home at any time, a real person will watch a recording of you taking the test after its completed to verify that you didnt cheat (you turn on your webcam when you begin). Like other English-language tests, the Duolingo English test has sections on speaking, listening, reading, and writing, as well as an additional video interview and writing sample. Its scored on a scale of 0-100, to align with the international CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference).
Compared to other tests, Duolingo is a bargain, less than hour to complete and costing only $49. But not every school accepts it, and for some that do its only considered supplementary to another English-language test.
The PTE Academic test (Pearson Test of English) can be completed at any Pearson test center in 50 countries around the world. Like many other English-proficiency tests, the PTE Academic test takes three hours and costs $150-300. To ensure that you can actually handle English in the real world (or at school, which is not at all like the real world), some of the test includes looking at graphs and listening to short lectures. Plus, as a reminder that American English is not the only English out there, some of the listening parts include various English-speaking accents from both native and non-native speakers. PTE Academic scores results on a scale of 1-90, but if you leave the test center unhappy you cant register to retake the test until you have received your score.
Linguaskill, the English-language test offered by Cambridge English, is available anytime on any computer with an internet connection, microphone, and headphones. There are two versions of the test, though youre most likely to take Linguaskill General, as it focuses on the English we use every day rather than specialized business terms. Linguaskill is scored on a scale of 82-180+, which aligns with CEFRs international standards. But dont make plans for later that night, as there are no set amounts of time or number of questions the test keeps going until the program determines if it has enough information to assess your English skills.
Half the reason you want to go to school outside your home country is to gain a global perspective, right? (We know, the other half is to try new foods.) Theres no better place to meet diverse people and learn about new cultures than Europe, with its easy access to other countries and languages.
Europes dozens of countries all have their own immigration policies, education levels, standards of living, and education costs, so giving advice about going to school there is pretty much impossible. That being said, most schools throughout the European Union cost much less than schools in the USA (some might even be free!!), and many programs are taught in English.
Heres a quick list of scholarships and other means of financial aid that apply to European schools in general. This is by no means comprehensive, so we recommend using this list as a starting off point and then researching more specific financial options once you know which European country will become your new educational home.
The European Funding Guide provides more than 12,000 funding opportunities for students who want to study in the EU. The website is co-financed by the European Commission and primarily lists scholarships, though it also includes information about loans and grants, prizes and awards, and governmental support for students.
If youre interested in studying in the UK, you should check out this website, which shares not only specific scholarships but also breaks down all the many types of scholarships available to international students (there are many). The site also publishes news relevant to international students in the UK.
For students from developing countries, scholars4dev is a great resource for scholarships specific to people from less Western backgrounds or countries. The site also includes some general scholarships.
No matter where youre coming from or where you want to study, as long as you want to be an international student the International Education Financial Aid website can probably find you a scholarship, grant, or loan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can international students get financial aid in UK?
As an international student, you won't be eligible for a loan from the UK government. However, there are other private lenders who offer loans to international students in the UK.
We talk a lot about attending school in the USA, and we think theres good reason to do so. But Canada, our neighbors to the north, also have a lot to be proud of with their education system.
On top of its excellent education, Canadas high-quality of life and openness to foreigners make it a great place to be an international student. But international students in Canada still have to pay for their degree, and there are lots of ways to do it.
If youve already been accepted into a school, contact the financial aid office directly to get specific advice about how to pay for your program. They may even be able to steer you towards specific scholarships or other opportunities, so definitely dont skip this step.
Canadian banks do provide education loans, but they require international students to have a Canadian citizen as a co-signer. If you have a favorite uncle whos willing to help, then this might work, but otherwise it might be a bit restricting.
Scholarships are, as always, a favorite way to help cover tuition and other education-related costs. Read on to learn more about scholarships available for international students in Canada.
As a company that primarily gives loans to international students based on their future potential and not on their past credit, MPOWER Financing ensures that students financial situations dont hold them back. Though its scholarship section is still growing, focusing mainly on STEM students and students from Latin American countries, the company boasts a mission statement that encourages accessibility to education at any level.
The Canadian government is here to help international students who are interested in studying in Canada but need help affording it. Their database offers access to scholarships and other awards sponsored by various local Canadian governments, NGOs, international organizations, and even non-Canadian governments, so students can gain a global perspective in order to help them evolve into caring leaders.
Scholartree uniquely both shares available scholarship opportunities and also helps individuals to create new scholarships for students. The website only shows you scholarships youre eligible or qualify for and even sends you deadline reminders so you can make sure to send in your applications on time. Then, once you have a successful career, you can use the site to give back to others.
The website lists scholarships for students who want to study outside of their home country, but also focuses on scholarships for international students from developing countries. You can search by deadline, place of study, field, level of study, and even by target group, so its easy to find scholarships that fit your needs.
The International Education Financial Aid website has an extensive list of grants, scholarships, and loans available to anyone who wants to study in a foreign country. In fact, the site provides information about financial aid for students from anywhere who are studying anywhere else, so even U.S. students studying in Canada may find it a useful source.
Published by Universities Canada, an organization representing almost 100 universities and colleges, this website has a comprehensive list of scholarships for students who want to study in Canada. And if youre just checking out your future financial aid options but still unsure which program is best for you, Universities Canada also includes general resources about Canadian schools so you can explore your opportunities to the fullest.
Can international students get financial aid in Canada?
Yes. International students in Canada have access to student loans on the same terms and Canadian citizens or permanent residents. However, international students are not eligible for federal loans.
What are the types of financial aid?
Financial aid helps students to cover their education expenses. Types of financial aid include:
Weve given you lots of options about how to get financial aid for international students, but all you care about is how to get money from the U.S. government since theyre making you pay taxes, its the least they can do, right?
Theres good news and bad news. Heres the bad news: the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is used by U.S. citizens and permanent residents to apply for financial aid from federal and state governments. With a few exceptions, however, international students are not eligible for U.S. government aid programs.
But the good news is that even though there is no official FAFSA for international students, there are still opportunities out there for foreign students in the USA to get financial aid! The form asks for personal and financial information about both you and your parents, and in the case of divorced parents some schools may request separate forms for each.
The application opens October 1 for the year before you need financial aid; for the 2019-2020 school year, for example, the application opened on October 1, 2018. The deadline varies, however, so make sure to stay on top of it.
To submit the CSS Profile for one school, youll have to pay $25, and its an additional $16 per school after that. And much like when you submitted your applications to schools and needed a credential evaluation, if youre from a country that speaks a language other than English your financial documents will most likely need to be translated. Yes, this will probably add to your timeline and subtract from your bank account, but the amount of money potentially awarded to you will more than make up for it.
Every year, Americans complain about paying taxes. But if you thought you were in the clear because youre an international student, think again.
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the U.S. government agency that collects taxes, and they have a strict deadline of April 15 (or the following Monday if that falls over the weekend) to file tax returns covering the previous calendar year of January 1 to December 31.
Just like Americans, international students in the USA are required to file a tax return. Its important to understand that filing tax returns is mandatory for international students, and not doing so by the deadline could result in problems with or a revocation of your visa as well as possible ineligibility for a green card.
If this all sounds extremely complicated, thats because it is. Before you start collecting your documents or filing anything, be in touch with your schools international student center for help navigating the process or consider consulting a professional tax advisor.
Important terms Before we even get to forms, you need to know basic definitions according to the IRS.
Non-resident alien for tax purposes: International students with an F, J, or M visa who have been in the USA for less than five calendar years
Resident alien for tax purposes: International students with an F, J, or M visa who have been in the USA for more than five calendar years
Income: All earned income, scholarships, grants, stipends, etc. not related to a student loan. Some earnings dont apply towards taxes, however, and you can check the Department of Homeland Securitys website to see which list youre on.
Who should file taxes? All international students and their spouses and dependents, regardless of income, must complete Form 8843, which is informational and lets the IRS know how long youve been in the USA.
Students in the USA on F-1 visas are NOT required to pay employment taxes (i.e. Social Security and Medicare, also known as FICA), but ARE REQUIRED to pay both federal and state income taxes. These taxes are withheld from your pay and you must file a tax return as part of the process.
Because M-1 visa holders are not allowed to accept employment (except during practical training), they are NOT required to file income tax unless in rare situations where theyre paid for the practical training.
If youre in the USA on a J-1 visa, you DO need to pay income taxes on the income you earn.
On top of paying federal taxes, some international students must also pay state and/or local taxes. Dont get stressed about the math yet, though some countries have a tax treaty with the USA, and international students from those countries may be exempt or have a reduced rate.
Heres an easy way to think about it: By definition, M-1 visa holders dont pay taxes because theyre in the USA only to learn and therefore dont earn any income, F-1 visa holders pay federal and state income taxes, and J-1 visa holders pay taxes just like U.S. citizens.
If you did earn income and are required to pay some of the many taxes listed above, youll have to complete Form 1040NR or 1040NR-EZ (the easy version of 1040NR). Again, talk to a professional first!
In certain situations, you may get money back if the employer withheld more taxes than you owed; in other words, you must have taxable income greater than a certain amount to owe tax. And the money doesnt just show up in your mailbox you have to file for it, too.
How to file taxes When Americans file their tax returns, they use their social security number (SSN) on various forms. As an international student, you may need to use an SSN as well. You must apply for it with the Social Security Administration if you worked in the USA and received taxable employment compensation. If you are not eligible for an SSN, however, you must apply for an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) from the IRS to use on forms.
If youre starting to worry about tax identification numbers, dont. If you didnt receive any income and only need to file Form 8843, then you dont need either an SSN or ITIN.
In terms of the actual filing, Form 8843 must be mailed in an envelope directly to the IRS. However, you, your spouse, and each dependent must send the form in separate envelopes. You can electronically file (e-file) Form 1040NR on the IRS website, but you cant e-file Form 1040NR-EZ. Other e-filing services are available, but remember that some of those services may charge you.
We know, youre a really busy person and you dont want to waste time searching for individual ways to help pay for college. So weve provided you with a list below of some organizations, government offices, and companies that offer resources about scholarships, student loans with no cosigner, and more money-related topics specifically for international students in the USA.
Dont forget that you can always contact your schools international student center as well as its financial aid office to get specialized information.
The AAUW Education Foundation provides fellowships to women pursuing graduate or post-graduate studies who are not citizens or permanent residents of the USA.
EducationUSA centers are sponsored by the U.S. government and are located all around the world. They provide resources and events about the college application process and how to adjust to life as an international student in the USA.
Federal Student Aid
The Office of Federal Student Aid is part of the U.S. Department of Education and is responsible for providing financial aid for students. Though it primarily provides funding to U.S. citizens and permanent residents (including through the FAFSA form), some options are available for international students.
GoodCall
This company focuses on data to provide advice and tips about key components in life, including education. Its comprehensive overview of all financial-related matters for international students breaks down which steps to take to help cover college costs.
Founded in 1919, IIE is the largest non-profit organization in the USA devoted to international exchange. IIE manages more than 200 programs and develops scholarship and training programs. Their website also includes a searchable database of scholarships.
MPOWER Financing is a mission-driven fintech company and provider of global educational loans. It is the only student lender in the world that doesnt require a co-signer and that leverages both overseas and USA credit data, as well as future earning potential, to serve high-promise international and DACA students from more than 200 countries.
This personal finance company provides information about everything related to money, including comparisons and recommendations. The website also offers guides, articles, and how-tos.
No matter how many student loans or scholarships youve managed to receive (and congratulations!), its normal to still be concerned about money. After all, there are all kinds of additional and unexpected costs that might come up, from flights to your home country to concert tickets to snack foods.
We highly recommend that you budget your money, but we also know that sometimes it feels great to actively save money too. ( Earning money is a whole other thing that depends on your visa, and if you dont follow those rules correctly you could face visa or legal issues.) Here are some ideas about getting tips on saving money and how to deal with not having money.
Blog posts: Yeah, we know, its obvious. But consider this a reminder that all kinds of financial advisors, economists, professional couponers, and others all want to share their expertise with others.
Youtube: If you learn best by listening and/or you love graphics, check out videos about how to manage your money, life hacks that can save you money, and how to spend money wisely.
School: Sign up for newsletters, follow social media, and make sure to stay in touch with your school (or schools youre interested in if you havent yet accepted) to see if they have any tips, job openings, discounts, or any other money-related information.
Bonus ideas:
Personal finance companies like Nerdwallet and Mint offer all kinds of price comparisons, credit information, money-related advice, and other perks that will benefit you more in the long term.
Get major discounts on expensive items, activities, and services by finding deals on Groupon, Slickdeals, and similar websites.
If you and your roommate(s) are on good terms, or you brought your family with you and youre constantly buying paper towels, consider buying in bulk at Costco or Boxed.
Always check sales at local supermarkets, clothing stores, and drugstores. And join as many store rewards programs as possible so you can get additional discounts, free stuff, or money back just for buying whats already on your shopping list.
Schools with Financial Aid for International Undergraduate Students
Some USA schools are more likely than others to offer financial aid for international undergraduate students. The lists below indicate which schools offer aid (including grants, loans, and jobs) to the largest numbers of international students. The lists are based on a list originally compiled by Douglas C. Thompson.
To be included in the following lists, the schools must have an average award that is greater than 1/5 of the cost of attendance. The financial aid may include grants, loans, and jobs, and often includes both merit and need-based awards. Within each group, schools are listed in alphabetical order.
(Remember that a much greater number of schools provide financial aid for international graduate students in the form of teaching and research assistantships. For information about financial aid for graduate study in the US, you should contact the schools that interest you even if they aren’t included in the lists below.)
If a school is not listed here, it probably does not have much financial aid for international students. However, it is worth noting that some schools may have athletic scholarships that are open to both international students and USA students. The lists below do not count the number of athletic scholarships awarded to international students.
Arizona State University (AZ) Barry University (FL) Clark Univ. (MA) Eastern Michigan Univ. (MI) Grinnell College (IA) Harding Univ. (AR) Harvard (MA)
Illinois Inst. of Tech. (IL) Liberty Univ. (VA) Louisiana State Univ. (LA) Macalester College (MN) Marquette Univ. (WI) MIT (MA) Mount Holyoke College (MA)
Ohio Wesleyan Univ. (OH) Princeton (NJ) SUNY Plattsburgh (NY) Univ. of Bridgeport (CT) Univ. of Houston (TX) Univ. of Pennsylvania (PA) Univ. of South Florida (FL)
Schools with Awards to 100-149 Students
Brown Univ. (RI) Calvin College (MI) College of Wooster (OH) Dartmouth (NH) Dordt College (IA) Eckerd College (FL) Florida Inst. of Tech. (FL) Georgia Southern Univ. (GA)
Graceland College (IA) Luther College (IA) Middlebury College (VT) Northeast Louisiana (LA) Oberlin (OH) Savannah Coll. of Art (GA) Slippery Rock Univ. (PA) Smith College (MA)
Stanford (CA) Texas Christian Univ. (TX) Tri-State Univ. (IN) Univ. of Miami (FL) Univ. of Rochester (NY) Yale (CT)
Schools with Awards to 50-99 Students
Abilene Christian Univ. (TX) Allegheny College (PA) Augsburg College (MN) Beloit College (WI) Bethany College (WV) Brandeis Univ. (MA) Bryn Mawr College (PA) California Lutheran (CA) Cleveland Inst. of Music (OH) Colby College (ME) Columbia Univ. (NY) Concordia Coll. (MN) Cornell Univ. (NY) Denison Univ. (OH) Franklin & Marshall (PA)
George Wash. Univ. (DC) Goshen College (IN) Houghton College (NY) Ithaca College (NY) Julliard School (NY) Knox College (IL) Lake Forest College (IL) Lawrence Univ. (WI) Lewis & Clark (OR) Lynn Univ. (FL) Maharishi Intl. Univ. (IA) Monmouth College (IL) North Park Univ. (IL) Principia College (IL) Rochester Inst. of Tech. (NY)
Salem College (NC) St. Augustine’s College (NC) St. Johns College (MD) St. Lawrence Univ. (NY) St. Olaf College (MN) Trinity College (CT) Tulane Univ. (LA) Univ. of Maine (ME) Univ. of Wisc./Eau Clair (WI) US International Univ. (CA) Washington College (MD) Washington Univ. (MO) Wesleyan Univ. (CT) Western Maryland Coll. (MD) Wittenberg Univ. (OH)
Schools with Awards to 15-49 Students
Albright College (PA) Amherst College (MA) Augustana College (IL) Bard College (NY) Bates College (ME) Bennington College (VT) Bowdoin College (ME) CalTech (CA) Central College (IA) Coe College (IA) Colgate Univ. (NY) Davidson College (NC) Dickinson College (PA) Earlham College (IN) Eastern Nazarene (MA) Elizabethtown College (PA)
Elmira College (NY) Gettysburg College (PA) Gustavas Adolphus Coll. (MN) Hamilton College (NY) Hampshire College (MA) Hood College (MD) Johns Hopkins (MD) Kalamazoo College (MI) Kenyon College (OH) Lafayette College (PA) Messiah College (PA) Michigan State Univ. (MI) Mount Union College (OH) Occidental College (CA) Southwestern College (KS) Spalding Univ. (KY)
Swarthmore College (PA) Taylor Univ. (IN) Thomas Aquinas Coll. (CA) Troy State Univ. (AL) Univ. of Chicago (IL) Univ. of Colorado/Bldr (CO) Univ. of Oregon (OR) Univ. of St. Thomas (MN) Univ. of the South (TN) Vassar College (NY) Wabash College (IN) Wellesley College (MA) West Virginia Wesleyan (WV) William Smith College (NY) Williams College (MA)
Figuring out if and how you can pay for school is daunting for everyone. And, we admit it, doing so as an international student in the USA is even more frustrating because your options are limited. But there are still lots of ways that will give you the financial stability you need to get your learning on.
Home country sources
Even though youll be attending school in the USA, your home country may be able to help you financially. Local banks may offer loans, so pay a visit to the nearest branch to find out whats available. However, you should be aware that these banks typically require a co-signer or significant collateral. Their loan may also have a high interest rate because university costs are much lower outside the USA and student lending therefore requires high-cost infrastructure to maintain.
You should also check if your home country government or local organizations, businesses, foundations, and religious groups offer loans, scholarships, grants, etc. Your compatriots want you to succeed!
U.S. sources
Since youll be in the USA for a long-period of time, it might make more sense to you to get financial aid from an institution here. However, its important to note that international students coming to the USA do not qualify for U.S. federal financial aid or government sponsorships such as the Pell Grant or work-study programs, so your options may be more limited.
Banks like Discover, Citizens, and Wells Fargo do offer student loans to international students but also require a US-based co-signer, whose credit history is used to make a credit decision (and to determine the loan amount and interest rate).
Make sure to check with your schools international student center and financial aid office both can offer advice specific to your situation. And visit an EducationUSA center near you to get information directly from the U.S. State Department-sponsored network.
Private student lenders
Large private student loan lenders also provide loans to international students, but tend to require a U.S.-based co-signer to make a credit decision and to determine the interest rate charged.
Luckily, two private student lenders offer student loans to international students without requiring a co-signer: MPOWER Financing and Prodigy Finance. Instead of considering co-signers, both use proprietary credit algorithms to evaluate a students future earnings potential and debt capacity.
Scholarships
Quite a few organizations and websites offer scholarships for international students. Be aware that most of them are also open to domestic students, so the competition is strong, but theyre definitely worth researching. Because there are several types of scholarships, you might just be eligible for one.
Jobs
Most colleges and universities offer part-time on-campus employment opportunities that allow students to make extra money while studying. But because of visa rules, jobs for international students are limited for both on- and off-campus positions and the number of hours worked is also regulated, so consider this income as a bonus but not as a reliable part of your financial planning.
Family
This is so awkward, but if you run out of options from institutions you may have to turn to your family for financial help. But dont worry, you wont be the only one.
If youve started to consider your costs for school as an international student in the USA, youll realize that in order to keep on top of everything youll need to stay organized. Thats where this worksheet comes in. Estimate all your expenses by filling out this form, and keep updating it as necessary. We cant promise that youll be happy with the results, but at least you wont have any financial surprises!
Expense
Estimated Cost
Application and test fees
$____________
Tuition and fees
$____________
Books
$____________
Travel to USA
$____________
Room and board
$____________
Expenses when school is closed
$____________
Clothing
$____________
Personal expenses
$____________
Health insurance
$____________
Summer study or travel
$____________
Additional family members
$____________
Other
$____________
TOTAL FOR ONE YEAR
$____________
Multiply the total by the number of years in your program (___)
Before you even decide which college to attend, youve had to spend hundreds of dollars to take standardized tests and other entrance exams. Youve paid for credential evaluations and for application fees, and youve even paid postage for sending some of those documents to each school you considered. And now that those costs are behind you and youve had time for your bank account to relax, youre starting to research all the possible scholarships for international students in the USA. But, unfortunately, tuition is only a part of the costs youll incur during your time in school.
All the other costs
Students who live on campus are required to pay room and board as well as for meal plans, and every student is charged miscellaneous fees. And if youre living off campus, you also have to pay to live and eat somewhere. These costs can add up to several thousand dollars per semester, and you havent even bought bedding yet.
Speaking of bedding, youll need to furnish the place where youll be living. If youre living on campus, basic furniture will be provided, but youll need sheets, towels, decorations, lamps, electronics, basic office supplies, cleaning supplies, and so on. If you live off campus, you may have to buy furniture and if you dont have a meal plan, youll need to purchase kitchenware on top of everything else.
Bankrate.com has an excellent, thorough breakdown of costs so you can create an accurate budget for your time as a student. You should then apply those costs to a financial planning worksheet so you can see your spending clearly. Its a daunting but super helpful way to stay on top of your finances.
But as an international student, youll also have several additional costs that American students wont have to worry about (yes, we agree that the list of costs is never ending):
Visa: In order to legally be in the USA, international students are required to get a student visa and must pay all associated costs with the application, possibly including a lawyer as well.
Flights: Since your home country is most likely across an ocean, youll probably need to fly to the USA in order to get to your school. Youll also have to pay for return plane tickets as well as possible round-trip tickets for visits home in the middle of stay
School breaks: Many local students go back to their parents houses for various school breaks throughout the year and in the summer. If youre not able to go back to your home country, you may have to pay for housing and other costs during that time.
Transportation: Though the rules differ per school, some students have cars while in school. If youd like to be one of those students, youll need to buy the car itself and also cover additional costs such as car insurance, gas, repairs, etc.
Family: Some visas allow students to bring their spouses and/or dependents to the USA while in school. Doing so requires numerous additional costs in pretty much every category.
Exchange rates: Even if you pay your tuition in dollars, you most likely have to exchange your original currency first. Be aware that exchange rates and inflation can greatly affect how far your money can stretch.
Youre happy in school, but you miss your family and your moms birthday is coming up. Send her a card and gift! There are several types of mail delivery and shipping options, and weve laid them all out below.
U.S. Postal Service The U.S. Postal Service (USPS), by definition, does everything related to mail. Not surprisingly, it primarily delivers letters and packages and sells stamps and postal money orders.
Most post offices are open six days a week and closed on Sundays and holidays. But if youre just mailing out a letter, there are blue collection boxes located in public areas that are open 24 hours a day and emptied on days the post office is open. And depending on your accommodation, you may be able to simply leave outgoing letters in your personal mailbox for your letter carrier to pick up.
Addressing mail Every town and city in the USA has a zip code, and many bigger areas often have several. Zip codes help post office staff know where exactly the delivery address is located, and its vital to include when sending both regular mail and packages. Zip codes are technically nine digits, though the first five are the most important; the last four digits of a zip code are used less often but are helpful in narrowing down the delivery area
Theres a special template used to write the delivery address for anything mailed or shipped to the USA: The recipients name is written on the first line, and, if relevant, his or her company or other institution is written on the second line. The next line includes the street address and, if necessary, the specific unit, such as 127 State Street, Apartment 4B. The final line contains the city or town, the state its located in, and the zip code.
Types of mail delivery U.S. postal rates vary per item type and weight, delivery speed, delivery location, and additional services such as proof of delivery or insurance. If you want to know details without getting out of bed, check out the USPSs postal calculator.
There are also numerous ways to mail letters and packages, though most mail items are likely to be sent First-Class Mail. This option is for single-piece envelopes that weigh a maximum of 3.5 ounces essentially most letters and for large envelopes and small packages that weigh a maximum of 13 ounces. In general, First-Class mail is delivered within three business days.
If you plan on being out of town, you can ask USPS to hold your mail until you get back. If youll be away for more than 30 days, however, you can forward your mail to a different address.
Other shipping services Because modern living is about having choices, you can also ship packages using one of the main shipping companies such as FedEx, UPS, and DHL. Only the USPS can deliver packages to a PO Box, but otherwise all four services are relatively comparable in terms of pricing and delivery time, and all enable you to track your package online.
In general, you can request free package pickups, though USPS requires you to take your package to a post office to ship if it weighs more than 13 ounces and youre using stamps. Keep in mind, though, that all international packages must include customs forms, and those are available both in post offices or shipping company stores as well as online.
If youre reusing a box to send a package, make sure to remove or cover any old shipping labels. You dont want anyone to be confused! If you need boxes for the item thats being shipped, you may be able to get free ones from local stores that get rid of the boxes sent to them with items to sell. But if no one is feeling generous, you can buy boxes as well as all other packing materials such as tape and bubble wrap from office supplies stores such as Office Depot and Staples.
But before you get too excited about sending your best friend some fireworks, be forewarned that all four services have the same restrictions about what cant be shipped.
We know you came to the USA to study, but you also need some down time. Your options for how to have fun and relax will vary very much depending on where your school is located, who your friends are, and of course what you consider as fun. If you run out of your own ideas about how to spend your free time, you can read our suggestions below. Plus, the busier you are the more youll be able to learn English without worrying about your TOEFL score.
The logistical stuff
Most of us feel like wed like to meet new people but dont know how to do it. If youre also like us, try using Meetup, a website and app that features thousands of groups and events specified to your area and filtered to your interests.
If youre looking for fun stuff to do without hours of research, you can use TimeOut, which lists events and activities for dozens of cities worldwide. There are even versions with activities for kids if you brought your family with you during your studies.
We know that youre careful about how you spend money because you have to eventually pay back your student loans. Try using Groupon, LivingSocial, or other websites that offer special deals on thousands of events, things to do, restaurants, etc. But make sure to read the fine print of every deal before purchasing!
The fun stuff
If your school is in a medium-sized or big city, go see a play. Everyone knows that New York City has Broadway shows, but many other cities put on plays and musicals as well. Theaters do exist outside New York! But if youre desperate to see one of the fancy Broadway shows in your college town, you might be in luck many of them tour around the USA.
Feel like laughing your socks off? Go see a comedy show or a stand-up comedian. That way you can fulfill your lifelong dream of being made fun of by a stranger in public.
You can fulfill a different dream by seeing your favorite band perform. Find a nearby concert and rock out!
Although Americans love different sports than you may be used to, we definitely love sports. Many cities across the USA have professional baseball, hockey, (American) football, soccer (everyone elses football), and basketball leagues for both men and womens teams, and there are tournaments for tennis and golf. You might have to work hard to find cricket, though, as it barely exists in the USA. And dont forget that should always cheer on your schools teams!
If watching sports isnt active enough for you, you can join a sports team. Check if your school has clubs (for non-official athletes) or if there are other local teams. And these arent just your basic sports you might be able to find frisbee, quidditch, dance, karate, and tons of other teams, groups, or classes where you can make friends while getting a good workout.
Actually, your school is probably full of groups you can join that arent at all athletic. Most schools offer all kinds of groups to keep you busy study groups, sponsored events, parties, language or culture groups, volunteer groups, religious groups, and so on.
Youve received your college acceptance letter and are excited for new experiences. And youll have an amazing time! Despite American stereotypes, youll learn more than just how to get into college parties. But you cant start your education until you arrive in the USA, and theres a long list of tasks to do before that can happen. Be legally and fiscally on top of things
As soon as you receive your letter of acceptance, your immediate first step should be to get a visa for the USA. You will most likely need a student visa, but other options may be available so make sure to check with your schools international student center or an EducationUSA center, which provide resources about every part of being an international student in the USA.
Youll also need to pay for school, so start researching scholarships for international students as well as student loans without a cosigner (so your family at home is not under financial obligation). Its always a great idea to work, but keep in mind that jobs for international students are often limited by visa requirements.
As part of your financial research, find out how youll be able to use your money while in America. Will you be able to access the bank account from your home country? Can you open an American bank account and transfer money into it? Will your credit card work? Will there be fees to use it? Whats the exchange rate between your countrys currency and the U.S. dollar?
Logistics and Living
Once youre able to legally and financially get to your school, you have to physically get there! So buy yourself a plane ticket and start looking into what youll need to pack versus whats provided for you.
You’ll also need to live somewhere. Check your colleges specific policies freshmen may be required to live on campus, for example and be sure to apply for housing if applicable. This may also include signing up for a meal plan, so look into all the details. If youd prefer to live off campus and are allowed to do so, start searching for apartments or other housing nearby campus. And make sure to find roommates so you can share expenses as well as have a built-in social network. Again, your schools international student center may be able to help.
Though your goal is of course to stay healthy, its always safer to be prepared for the worst. Health insurance for international students in the USA most likely works differently than how insurance works in your home country, but your schools international student center should be able to help you find coverage (and may even have specific requirements about it).
Your school wants you to acclimate and to do well both academically and socially, so keep an eye out for information about an orientation for new and/or international students. At orientation youll get questions answered, meet new friends, and start learning about the schools basketball team. Though it differs at each school, you may get a chance to register for classes as well though you will certainly hear about the best and worst classes regardless.
The requirements to get into college in the USA are varied but often share a few key elements. Among the many boxes you have to check before you even send in an application is proof of graduation or an equivalent certification from prior schooling. But like slang and curse words, certifications are often designated differently throughout the world, and American schools need consistency in order to properly assess applicants.
Breaking it down
Most undergraduate and graduate programs request that international applicants provide an official evaluation of their education credentials. They do this for two main reasons: to ensure that youre not making up the name of a diploma and to confirm that you have the relevant and equivalent educational background necessary to attend their program. There are, as always, different requirements for each school, but its likely that youd use one of the accredited credential evaluation services to determine the validity of your certification. These organizations might also reference your transcript and/or grade reports.
If your certification is from a non-English speaking country, its also likely that youd be required to get an official English translation of certain documents as part of your application. Credential evaluation organizations often can provide these services.
As youre probably starting to realize, getting an education in America isnt cheap. Fees for the evaluation of education credentials which applicants are responsible for tend to range from $50 to $250 per document, depending on the amount of detail required and the speed of response. Translations are most likely an additional cost, and youd also have to pay for mail or courier services to submit the documents to the schools youre applying to.
Before you start researching the cheapest credential evaluation company, however, make sure you check each schools website. Some might require evaluations from specific organizations, while others may be fine with you sending a copy of your transcript to someone on staff. Just dont forget that this process is time consuming and must be completed in time to submit the entire application, so its best to start the process far in advance of the application deadline.
Youve researched and written pro and con lists and read advice columns and now youve finally decided that you want to be an international student in the USA. Yet youre still wondering, How do I get into college? The answer, of course, is that you have to apply.
If youre applying as an undergraduate, every school will have different but overlapping requirements. The list below includes the most likely pieces youll have to include in your undergraduate application, but make sure to check each schools website for specifics. And dont forget that a schools international student center can be a great resource to help you understand all the steps to get into college.
For graduate programs, though several requirements (such as undergraduate transcripts) will be the same, most programs require specific materials relevant to their focus, such as a statement of purpose, research papers youve published, writing samples, a portfolio, or something else. Again, check the schools websites.
As an international student, you will most likely also be required to complete the TOEFL, a standardized test that measures the English-speaking abilities of non-native speakers.
Undergraduate requirements for international students
Most schools require and/or accept applications through an online platform. The most popular for undergraduate programs are the Coalition for College, the Common App, and the Universal College Application, though some schools may use their own application instead. The application form will ask for information such as your name and the name of your secondary or high school, your GPA, extracurricular activities you participate in, and several other items.
Each application requires a fee generally in the range of $30-90. If the cost is prohibitive, though, you may be able to get the fee waived.
Every application requires your secondary school transcript. As an international applicant, youll need both the transcript in its original language and, if relevant, a certified English translation. Your school must provide the transcript, as well as any official results or certificates of completion from national secondary school exams, directly to the colleges youre apply to.
Your SAT, ACT, and/or SAT Subject Test scores should be sent directly to the schools youre applying to by the test administrator either during or immediately following the exams.
Essays are often required, and serve to illustrate why youre you and what you can offer to the school and its community. Schools that require an essay or statement of purpose usually offer a prompt or a topic to help guide you in your writing.
You will mostly likely need to submit at least one letter of recommendation. These letters should be written by a teacher, coach, or school counselor who can share with the school a more personal side of you, and must be sent directly by the writer to the school. Make sure to check each schools requirements about who should write the recommendations.
Most schools will ask for a list of extracurricular activities you are involved with, both in and out of school. This can include the school newspaper, sports teams, band, volunteer work, scouts, hobbies, etc. These activities, jobs, and awards give the schools a look at your range of interests and your involvement in the community, the arts, and leadership.
Some schools request an interview with applicants. The interviews are usually held with an alumnus of the school or with an admissions representative, and are a great chance for you to show off your personality.
Things to keep in mind
While youre getting your official documents translated and studying for standardized tests, dont forget that everything must be completed in time to send in the entire applicationto the schools of your choice. Work backwards to figure out the deadlines you need to hit and then make sure to hit them.
When you send off your application materials, whether by mail, through an electronic system, or via a third party, dont expect to get anything back. Its therefore super important to keep copies of everything for reference or in case something gets lost.
If youre sending documents through the mail, allow enough time for the package to reach relevant schools before the application deadline, and assume there will be delays (especially for international mail). If your postal or delivery service offers it, send everything using a method that requires tracking and/or signature or other confirmation upon delivery so you can stay updated about the packages location.
Attending college in the USA is expensive. Start looking into scholarships, financial aid, loans, and grants available to international studentsbefore completing your college applications in case there are relevant opportunities with early deadlines. However, note that U.S. government aid for international students is extremely limited and you may not be eligible for it.
As you start gathering the many materials youll need as part of the application process, youll notice that there are several ways you can physically send everything to schools. (And no, its probably not through the post office). There are three main applications used by most schools in the USA, and each one has both benefits and disadvantages and some schools might use their own application system instead. Assuming the schools youre interested in accept multiple applications, which one do you choose? We obviously cant answer that for you, but you can learn about each of them below so you can make your own informed decision.
The Common App has been around for decades, and its made its mark on the admissions process. Almost 900 schools accept it, and its website provides general information about each one as well as their admission requirements. All you pretty much have to do is complete one form, include relevant documents such as standardized test scores and transcripts, and write one essay, and the same information will be sent to all the schools youre interested in. This easy method is why the Common App has been so popular for so long.
However, because its the same information for every school, that means theres no way you can adjust your essay or highlight your awards or edit anything based on what you want to show off to each school. This also means that teachers or coaches can only write one version of their recommendations for you. And as much as it sounds like you only have to do everything once, every school has its own requirements for recommendations and fees, so may still have to run around requesting things and earning cash.
The Coalition for College Application
First, the positives. The Coalitions website is a sort of one-stop shop, providing the application itself but also a profile that autocompletes relevant forms, resources about financial aid, application essay topics, and access to professionals who can advise you on the different elements of your application. Plus and its a pretty big plus the Coalitions Locker feature is a planning tool that lets you save and store anything that might be useful in an application, like previously written essays, class projects, extracurricular activities, artwork, etc. And, teachers or other advisors upload their letters of recommendations or transcripts directly to your profile (but you cant open them, so youll have to continue to hope they say nice things about you).
So what are the downsides? The application only is accepted by approximately 150 schools, which sounds like a lot until you find out that there are thousands of colleges and universities in the USA. That means that even if you love the idea of using the Coalition Application, the schools youre interested in may not use it (or, worse, some will and some wont and youll have to complete multiple applications). Another possible negative is that the Coalition Application is fairly new, and therefore the amount of people who can give you advice about it is somewhat small. You might also face technical problems theyre still trying to fix.
With the Universal College Application, you create a profile about yourself that later automatically fills in that information in the application itself, so you dont have to waste time repeating everything. The application also offers additional opportunities to showcase your interest in art (you can even add portfolio samples) and/or athletics (show off your school record in track!).
Unfortunately, though the Universal College Application is accepted by several prestigious schools, generally speaking very, very few schools currently accept the application. Its also basically brand new and admissions offices may know as little as you do about it.
Most undergraduate and graduate programs require standardized testing as part of their application process.
The American stereotype is true: the SAT is a big deal in high school. Many four-year universities require applicants to submit scores from standardized tests such as the SAT as part of the application process and to assess a students abilities, and students understandably get stressed about them. These tests primarily have multiple-choice questions, and some tests include an essay as well. They take several hours to complete and some are completed by hand, so start your finger exercises now! Scores are sent
both to test takers as well as to institutions of the students choosing.
Graduate school programs also require testing as part of the application process, and these differ based on the program or degree. In addition, international students for both undergraduate and grad programs are often required to submit their scores from the TOEFL to measure their English language skills.
Dont be nervous if you feel completely unprepared for these tests. Theyre terrifying for everyone, which is why prep courses, practice tests, and private tutoring are widely available. And theyre worth it: scholarships are sometimes offered based on high scores, even for international students. Keep in mind that each of these test have fees, so doing well the first time is better for your confidence as well as your budget.
Tests for undergraduate programs
– SAT: This is the most famous standardized test for college applications, and is known essentially as the test to get into college. The SAT assesses literacy and math skills using multiple-choice questions, and offers an optional essay as well. The test is taken by hand and is calculated with a
maximum score of 1600, while the essay is scored with three numbers between 2 and 8 that judge reading, analysis, and writing. Starting in 2020, test-takers will also provide information about their background.
– ACT: The ACT is considered an alternative to the SAT. Colleges often require scores from at least one without stating a preference for either, but this information should be checked for each school youre interested in applying to. The ACT is offered in both an online and handwritten version and includes multiple-choice questions that evaluate literacy, math, and science. The test is calculated on a scale of 1 to 36. If you’re not satisfied with the score of one or more sections, you can retake those particular sections and average your best section scores for a superscore that’s sent to schools as part of your application.
– SAT Subject Tests: Some selective universities suggest that applicants also submit scores to SAT Subject Tests, which assess your knowledge in specialized areas such as literature, history, various languages, math, and several sciences. These tests are each scored with a maximum of
800.
Tests for graduate programs
– GRE: The GRE is the most common test for applicants to graduate school programs. The test is completed on a computer and evaluates verbal reasoning (literacy), quantitative reasoning (math), and analytical writing (two essays). The reasoning sections are scored on a scale of 130-
170, and the essay is scored on a scale of 1 to 6.
– GMAT: Most business schools such as an MBA or Master of Finance program require the completion of the GMAT as part of the application. This computer test is comprised of the quantitative (math) section, verbal section, and integrated reasoning section, and an analytical writing assessment (essay). The quantitative and verbal sections are each scored with a maximum of 800. The integrated reasoning section measures how the test taker evaluates data and is scored on a scale of 1 to 8. The writing assessment is scored on a scale of 1 to 6.
– MCAT: The MCAT is required for applicants to medical school. The test is completed on a computer and consists of four sections covering chemical, physical, and biological sciences; psychological, social, and biological foundations of behavior; and critical analysis and reasoning skills. Each section is scored from 118 to 132, for a total possible score of 472 to 528.
– LSAT: Applicants to law school must take the LSAT. The test is completed by hand for all of its six sections, including four multiple-choice sections, an experimental section, and the writing section. The LSAT is scored on a scale of 120 to 180 points for the multiple-choice sections, but neither the experimental nor writing sections are scored.
– DAT: Dental school applicants are required to take the DAT. This is a multiple-choice, computer-based test with sections on natural sciences (biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry), perceptual ability, reading comprehension, and quantitative reasoning. The DAT is scored on a
scale of 1 to 30.
– OAT: The OAT is the admission test for applicants to optometry school. Its four sections include natural sciences (biology, general chemistry, and organic chemistry), reading comprehension, physics, and quantitative reasoning, and the test is completed on a computer. The OAT is scored on a scale of 200 to 400.
Like any important decision, you need as much information as possible in order to choose which schools to apply to. Though you may have a dream school, theres no guarantee that youll be accepted there. So to combat the risk of being rejected, most experts agree that you should apply to four to eight schools: dream or reach schools, which are the hardest colleges for you to get into based on your test scores and other metrics; target schools, where your credentials match the average of other applicants; and safety schools, where you have a high probability of being accepted since your scores are higher than other applicants.
What to research
In order to apply to schools, you first have to research to figure out which ones appeal to you. Every school has parameters about the test scores and grade point average they require in order to accept applicants, and those should be taken into account to determine how likely you are to be accepted. Consider it a sort of chances-of-getting-into-college calculator.
There are also tons of lists ranking schools according to overall academic achievement, success in various subjects, specific scores to college entry tests, and so on. But the methodology used to assemble these rankings is subjective, inconsistent, and not based on any universal standard, so dont give the lists too much weight in your decisions.
However, if you already know your possible major or what type of career you want, you should look at which tools, contacts, resources, and so on are offered by that department. If a school ranks high on your personal list but doesnt have a strong program for your future job, then its probably not the right place for you.
Because most schools in the USA are expensive, its important to find out which schools offer financial aid for international students, and, preferably, if you can get a student loan without a cosigner. And make sure to look into the availability of scholarships for international students, so you can get a comprehensive idea of how much tuition and other costs you might have to cover on your own.
Last, but definitely not least, youll want to know if a school has an international student center. This office will be able to help you navigate possible culture shock, English-language classes, visa issues, and more. Youll also want to know how many international students attend the school and can act as a possible social support system for you. If a school youre interested in doesnt have these resources, you may want to think about what you can handle on your own to help you determine the importance of support services.
How to research
There are thousands of schools in the USA, so how do you even begin to figure out which school is best for you? Your first plan of action should be to visit an EducationUSA center, which are located all over the world and provide resources about schools and the general college application process in the USA. You can then check out the websites of possible schools to get more details on what they each offer.
As a potential international student in America, however emphasis on international you probably wont be able to visit the schools youre interested in. However, technology is pretty cool these days, and many schools now offer virtual tours on their websites. You can take these tours to get a sense of what the campus looks like and how big a dorm room really is; this will help you discern which facilities, locations, and student population size are the most important to you.
Another great way to get to know more about schools is to speak to the students who are actually there. Contact the schools visitor department to ask if they can put you in touch with current students or alumni so you can ask about the schools culture, and also contact the international student center to get their perspective on what the school has to offer.
You should listen carefully to others input and suggestions about choosing which schools to apply to. But heres the most important advice: The best school for you is the one that best meets your needs and interests, not somebody elses assessment of an institutions prestige.
American colleges are hard to get into for a reason: they have high standards. Though every university has different admission requirements, most of the more than 4,000 public, private, and for-profit schools in the USA look for similar things. These are some of the most likely requirements theyll want:
Undergraduate programs
Scores for standardized tests such as the SAT or ACT
A personalized essay
Recommendations by your teachers, supervisors, coaches, etc.
Possible interview with alumni or staff
Grades or transcripts from your secondary school
Graduate programs
Scores for relevant entrance tests such as the GRE, a general standardized test; the MCAT, a test for medical school; the LSAT, a test for law school; or other specific tests
A personalized essay
Recommendations by your undergraduate professors, supervisors, coaches, etc.
Possible interview with alumni or staff
Grades or transcripts from your undergraduate program
Law schools and other specialized graduate programs may require that applicants are licensed in their home countries.
For both undergraduate and graduate programs, your level of fluency in English may also be taken into account; this is usually determined by the TOEFL,a standardized test that measures the English-speaking abilities of non-native speakers.
Keep in mind that though its not officially part of the admissions process, a student visa is required for all international studentsto legally enter the USA for an academic program.
Evaluating your application Your chances of getting into college partially depend on the requirements above. Generally, the hardest colleges to get into have the most stringent criteria. In theory, then, your score of 1450 out of 1600 on the SAT could get you into an elite school. But each university also has its own algorithm to determine eligibility, often based on the non-quantitative aspects of your application such as volunteer and extracurricular activities; your essay, your general cultural, racial, and/or religious background; and a dozen other secret things well never know about. So dont stress too much about what your most-wanted school requires a lower grade point average of 2.4 out of 4, for example, might balance out with being a professional tuba player or an Olympic swimmer.
Even though there are no official guidelines to tell you if youll meet admission requirements, you can learn more about which specific requirements are compulsory at each school, and how much each part is weighted, by researching your ideal universities. You can also get additional questions answered about the application process and other topics helpful to potential international students in the USA by contacting EducationUSA, a government advising center.
The application process is arduous and has numerous requirements, some of which will force you to study before you even attend university. But it will all be worth it once you get accepted into the school of your dreams and you start your path towards a successful future.
The following calendar and checklist will help you with your college admissions planning. Youll be glad you planned ahead, because the whole process can take approximately two years, or 24 months, before you step onto campus as a student. Most undergraduate college students in the USA start their first year (known as freshman year) in the Fall semester, usually starting in August or September. The schedule below corresponds to that timing.
When
What
24 months
(September)
Begin your search for colleges. Visit the nearest educational advising center such as EducationUSAand the library. Explore college sites on the web. Talk with family, friends, and acquaintances who may have studied in the USA.
22-23 months
(October-November)
Start preparing for the SAT or ACT exams, the TOEFL exam, and any other admissions tests.
16-21 months
(December- May)
Register for the admissions tests.
20 months
(January)
Select the schools to which you will apply and request application materials from them.
15-18 months
(March-June)
Take the admissions tests. Many schools have early decision deadlines in November; taking the test now gives you a chance to improve your scores if necessary before that deadline.
13 months
(August)
Write a draft of your application essay(s) and/or statement of purpose. Get feedback on it from friends, family, teachers or coaches, guidance counselors, etc.
12 months
(September)
Ask your references to write letters of recommendation for you. Make sure to give them at least several weeks to write and submit them before the application deadline.
If you want to try improving your scores on the admissions tests, register for a second round.
11 months (October)
Complete your essays and application forms. Ask your secondary school to send certified copies and English translations of your academic transcripts and other requested documents.
10 months
(November)
Check with your references and schools to make sure your recommendations and transcripts have been mailed.
9 months
(December)
Research scholarships for international students and financial aid opportunities. Apply for them as soon as you are eligible.
4-5 months
(April-May)
You should start to hear from colleges. Accept one schools offer, and notify them and the others of your choice. Apply for a student visa and complete related forms, renew your passport if necessary, and fill out health forms. Contact the schools international student center for guidance.
3 months
(June)
Register for orientation at your school, and attend pre-departure orientation programs in your home country, if available. Make travel arrangements and confirm housing. Start packing.
Times up!
(August-September)
Start your new life as an international student in the USA!
Its overwhelming to think about all the pieces of the puzzle that have to fit together in order to become an international student in the USA. You have to complete all the requirements to apply to a school, calculate if you can pay for tuition on your own or if youll need loans, organize your visa and plane tickets, pack the right things, and, eventually, actually go to classes and thats only after youve figured out where you want to apply!
But weve got your back. Your first step in the process should be to visit an EducationUSA center, which are run by the U.S. government and are located in more than 400 places around the world. These centers are excellent resources for anyone interested in studying in the USA, and offer information ranging from the application process to details about living on campus to information about financial aid to how to deal with emergencies. They also hold events featuring advice about admission requirements, job fairs, and meetings with alumni of universities in the USA. Keep in mind that they may ask you for personal information in order to provide you with the most relevant suggestions.
Other ways to learn more
If youre looking for advice from a professional yet personal perspective, consider talking to college advisors at your own secondary school. These advisors know you and how you might fit into the American university culture, and can steer you in the right direction about the easiest colleges to get into or which area of the country might be best for your lifestyle.
And theres always the internet. Spend some time checking out social media of your friends and family who attended university in the USA, and then contact those people directly to ask questions and to hear the truth about their experiences (not just the shiny stuff theyve already shared). There are also numerous blogs both of students studying in the USA as well as of those studying in other countries that have specialized tips and can answer questions you didnt even know you had.
Pros for getting into college in the USA
According to the Institute of International Education, almost 1.1 million international students from more than 200 countries studied in the USA in the 2017-2018 school year. Why is the USA so popular? Because people around the world know that an education in the USA can add considerable value to your professional development, enhance your career, and prepare you for leadership. Plus, universities and technical training schools offer the latest technology and state-of-the-art research and training so youll be prepared no matter where your career takes you.
But getting an American education isnt just about technical skills and facts to learn. Youll also be able to fill your social calendar with diverse people and will learn more about the world around you, and about yourself, by being exposed to a variety of perspectives.
Another benefit to being an international student in the USA? Youll be making new contacts left and right, from local American students and professors to other international students, and of course professional colleagues if your visa allows you to work. These contacts can serve as an additional support system while youre still in school and may even lead to collaborations or job opportunities in the future. But also a major con
Being an international student in the USA comes at a price, though. Literally. Higher education is extremely expensive for both American and international students in fact, according to the College Board, the average cost for tuition alone in the 2018-2019 school year was $35,830 at a private four-year university and $10,230 at a public four-year university. And those costs dont include room and board, which can be an additional several thousand dollars per year.
Though its possible to cover those costs with the help of a universitys international student center and select companies, getting scholarships, financial aid, or student loans with no cosigner can be really tough if youre an international student. So before you make any decisions, compare your costs with the quality of education youd receive and the potential opportunities available to you after graduation. And if you do decide to study in the USA, we hope youll make the most of it!
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the advantages of American education system?
American Education System is loaded with advantages, to name a few:
Diversity and Inclusion
Flexibility in academics
Global exposure and recognition
What are the problems with the American education system?
The only major problem with the American Education System is the cost of education, but all the expenses can be covered with the help of scholarships and student loans.
What are the advantages US education system offers to international students?
Apart from global exposure and recognition, the US Education System also offers a lot of research and training opportunities for international students at the graduate level. You can also assist your professors and fund your studies by being a teaching assistant.
Anytime you move, youll face changes. But when you move abroad, even temporarily, the culture will be different too. But dont base your expectations about the USA on tv shows and movies, since they tend to exaggerate characters or lifestyles, and arent exactly known to be accurate. So everything you think you know about life in the USA, take lightly, because the North American continent is a melting pot of different people. Heres our guide and it should be used to guide you, not as the final word to cultural and societal norms you should know as an international student in the USA along with some examples of American culture.
Stereotypes Dont believe all the American stereotypes you may have heard only some of them are true! American culture tends to be more informal than other countries. Its common for Americans to wear casual clothing to school and isnt uncommon to call supervisors by their first name. But good manners and politeness are always appropriate, and if youre more formal than your American friends then at least youll be memorable.
Some of the more common stereotypes of Americans include:
Boastful and arrogant
Disrespectful of authority
Extravagant and wasteful
Ignorant of other countries and cultures
Informal
Loud and obnoxious
Racist
Wealthy
Rude and immature
Snobbish
Think they know everything
Think every country should imitate the USA
Personal Space Americans tend to require more personal space than in some other cultures. So if you try to get too close during a conversation, the person youre talking to may feel that youre in their personal space and will try to back away. If that happens, dont try to close the gap and continue to discuss the weather from slightly further away.
Touching is a bit too intimate for casual acquaintances in the USA. Unless and until you have a close friendship with someone, try to avoid physical contact such as holding their hand or touching their face. If you think youre close enough friends to touch them, check first if theyre ok with it some may not feel the same as you, some may be afraid of germs, and some may want to do a secret handshake. Pretty much the only exception is shaking hands, which is usually done when meeting and leaving others in a business or otherwise formal setting.
Forms of Address American full names are written and spoken in the order of first name and then last name. So, using the most generic English name as an example, John Smiths first name is John and his last name is Smith. In a formal setting, men are usually referred to as Mr. (pronounced mister) followed by their last name; married women usually go by Mrs. (pronounced misses) and single women by Miss, both followed by their last name. If the person has an M.D. or Ph.D., they will usually be addressed as Dr. (pronounced doctor), especially if youre meeting with them for medical or professional advice. Many, but not all, of your instructors in school should be referred to as Professor.
In a casual setting in fact, probably in most settings most people introduce themselves with, and are addressed as, just their first name.
These forms of address are by no means official or mandatory, and can change depending on the persons preference or the local culture. In many Southern states, for example, people use Mr. or Miss followed by first names to show respect.
Many people are also becoming more flexible in their gender definitions, and may ask you to refer to them with names or titles that are different to the ones listed above or to what youd expect. Be respectful of their requests.
Behavior Americans can be much more assertive than most international visitors. Dont be offended if someone says something that you find direct, and feel free to be direct back to them.
Making eye contact while talking to someone is often a big deal, and it can be considered disrespectful to avoid doing so.
Its not polite to burp in public, to loudly slurp your soup, or to generally make loud and avoidable noises.
It is not polite to pick your nose or your teeth (with or without a toothpick) in public. In general, follow the golden rule: Treat others as you would want to be treated. Especially in a business, professional, or educational setting but also for anyone whos not a close friend, dont make sexual or suggestive comments, dont touch anyone other than a handshake, and try to have neutral (rather than personal) conversations.
Toilets The most important phrase you should learn is, Wheres the bathroom? Bathroom is the word used most often in the USA, but ironically we dont use the word toilet to refer to the general room (though if you use it everyone will know what you mean). Sometimes the word restroom is used for more formal situations or in public venues such as a restaurant or store, but theres no official rule.
If youre out having fun and need the bathroom, you might not find one easily on your commute as there arent so many public bathrooms available. Restaurants, bars, gas stations, and stores may have bathrooms, but they also sometimes decide that only customers can use them. So plan ahead!
Tipping
One of the biggest cultural norms in America is tipping. In almost every situation where someone helps you with a service a waiter, a hairdresser, a taxi driver, a bartender, a masseuse, etc. Americans provide a small tip on top of the total cost of their bill. Though theres no mandatory amount, most people pay a tip thats approximately 15 to 20 percent of their bill, or in some cases a dollar or two per service.
Knowing when and how much to tip is tricky even for lifelong American citizens , so dont be shy about asking your friends or the person doing the work whats appropriate. Here are two important facts about tipping that might help you be less confused: Tips are usually automatically calculated and included on your bill if youre somewhere with 6 or more people, and gratuity (sometimes printed on a receipt) is a fancy word for tip.
A final piece of advice: Bribery is not tipping, and is instead often illegal.
Timeliness If youre one of those people whos always running late, youll need to find a way to change that for meetings, doctors appointments, and formal events. In the USA, its preferred that youre either on time or a few minutes early for the stated meeting time. Arriving very early can be disruptive to someone elses schedule, and arriving more than a couple minutes late is both disruptive and considered rude. If youre running late, though, make sure to contact the person youre meeting to let them know so they can make adjustments to their schedule.
In a more casual situation with a small number of people, its still best to arrive within a timeframe of approximately 5 minutes early to 5 minutes late. But for a big party at someones house, for example, your timing can be much more flexible. Essentially, your timing should take into consideration if there enough people in the group or at the meeting that your late arrival wont be noticed.
Business Clothing Sometimes Americans are considered to be casual dressers, though styles can differ depending on the city or town. But thats usually for casual situations, such as running errands or meeting friends, or general times like weekends and vacations. In a business or professional setting, or for special occasions such as a wedding, you should dress more formally. In fact, if you dress too casually for a job interview, for example, your chances of getting the position are significantly reduced.
There are numerous definitions of how to dress formally, but here are a couple guidelines: In general, for a business setting, men should wear suits or nice pants (trousers to some UK-derived English speakers) with a button-down shirt. Women can wear a suit (with either pants or a skirt on the bottom), a dress, or nice pants or a skirt with a blouse. Unless a company explicitly says so, jeans should not be worn in professional settings. In general, for a special event, men have pretty much the same options as professional wear or can get even fancier by wearing a tuxedo, while women tend to wear dresses. But, within reason, dress in your own style!
Dining Most Americans eat three meals during the day: breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Specific timing for these meals vary by schedule and family, but generally breakfast is eaten sometime between 7 and 8 am and lunch is eaten sometime between 12 and 2 pm. What time do Americans eat dinner? Usually sometime between 6 and 8 pm, and its considered the main meal even if weve eaten snacks throughout the day.
One of Americans favorite pastimes is brunch, which combines breakfast and lunch and typically includes breakfast-ish foods, and is usually eaten on a weekend or other days with a flexible schedule.
Gift Giving If youre invited to a wedding, baby shower, religious event, or other celebration, its expected that you bring a gift (or send one ahead of time). Often, hosts of big events will supply guests with a registry of gifts theyd like to receive so that you dont have to guess if theyll like something. If theres no registry, you can give money or a gift, but the amount of money spent and appropriateness of the gift varies greatly.
An important point to keep telling yourself: In the USA, theres not really a gift-giving culture. Gifts are certainly appreciated but are not always required, and are definitely not done as part of an elaborate ritual. If youre unsure about what to give or how much to give, or even if you should give, ask a friend.
Smoking In the USA, you must be at least 18 years old to buy cigarettes, and buying them for someone under 18 is illegal. Plus, each pack you buy will be taxed at a high rate, so youll have to add the cost to your budget. Though specific laws about where you are prohibited from smoking vary by state and city, its common that smoking is banned in restaurants and bars, parks and beaches, hospitals and other medical facilities, schools, and office buildings. There are also laws against smoking on public transportation such as buses and subways as well as on all airplanes.
Gestures Gestures vary all over the world, and we dont you to be offended or to offend someone else simply because youre using a gesture from your home country. Some of the main gestures used in the USA are in the image below, but here are additional pointers (pun intended!):
Its fine to point at an object or location, but its not polite to point at people.
Shaking your head from side to side means no, while shaking your head up and down means yes.
If you want the waiter to bring the check, make a gesture with your hand as if youre writing something. If you just want the waiter to come over, make eye contact and raise your hand.
Never show your fist with the middle finger extended, since its a big an insult. Shaking a closed fist at someone is also rude, especially if its in their face, and is understood to be an expression of anger.
The peace sign has positive connotations, and is signaled by making your index and middle finger into a V and closing your other fingers. However, your palm must face the other person this is very important, as in the UK and other countries the same V, using the same fingers, is considered is extremely rude when your palm faces you.
Numbers A period is used to indicate a decimal point, instead of the comma used in some countries. This also applies to amounts of money. So youd see $1,243.68 when checking your bank balance.
In the USA, dates are written as month/day/year. This is the opposite of the UK method (used in most countries around the world), in which dates are written day/month/year. So while 4/3/67 would be March 4, 1967 in Europe, it is April 3, 1967 in the USA. To avoid confusing everyone, we recommend writing out the months whenever possible.
Temperature Even though its the opposite of pretty much everyone else in the rest of the world, temperatures in the USA are written in Fahrenheit. The tricky math equation used to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius is to subtract 32 from the temperature and then multiply the result by 5/9, but we acknowledge that youre very unlikely to do math when the internet can convert for you.
For simplicitys sake, here some simple conversions that will at least help you estimate Celsius if your phone battery dies:
°F
°C
Description
212
100
Boiling point of water
98.6
37
Normal body temperature
86
30
Very hot summer day
72
22
Room temperature
68
20
Mild spring day
50
10
Warm winter day
32
0
Freezing point of water
20
-7
Extremely cold winter day
Holidays
The American calendar is filled with numerous holidays, some of which are almost always days off for most office workers, banks, post offices, and government offices. If those holidays, listed below, fall on a Tuesday or Thursday, its up to each company to decide if the Monday or Friday should be days off as well (to make a long weekend). There are several other holidays that are either considered not important enough for every office to close (e.g., Veterans Day, on November 11), are simply noted and ignored (e.g., Flag Day, on June 14), or are celebrated on a Sunday and do not affect office schedules (e.g., Mothers Day).
Even though the USA technically follows a separation of Church and State, and is therefore not supposed to connect religious holidays with anything official, youll see that Christian holidays make up an important part of American cultural values, and are the only religious holidays where everything is closed. Though some offices are closed on the day of Christmas Eve (December 24), there is no Boxing Day in the USA and offices will be open on December 26.
Depending on the local population, some school systems may be closed for important holidays of other religions. This is great if youve brought your kids with you to the USA , but make sure to check the school calendar before making plans.
Holiday
Date
New Year’s Day
January 1
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
Third Monday in January
President’s Day
Third Monday in February
Memorial Day
Last Monday in May
Independence Day
July 4
Labor Day
First Monday in September
Thanksgiving
Fourth Thursday in November
Christmas Day
December 25
It is also important to be aware of the holidays of people of other religious faiths. For example, important Jewish holidays include Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, Sukkoth, Chanukah, and Passover. Yom Kippur, Rosh Hashanah, and Sukkoth occur in the fall. Chanukah occurs in December, near Christmas. Passover occursin March or April, near Easter.
Weights and Measures Just like with temperature, Americans follow their own rules and dont use the same measuring system as the rest of the world. Use the following guidelines to help you figure out some basic conversions.
Length
1 inch = 2.54 centimeters (cm)
1 centimeter = 0.39 inches (in)
1 foot = 12 inches
1 foot = 0.305 meters (m)
1 yard = 3 feet (ft)
1 meter = 3.28 feet
1 mile = 1.61 kilometers (km)
1 gallon = 3.7854 liters (L)
Weight
1 ounce = 28.35 grams (g)
1 gram = 0.035 ounces (oz)
1 pound = 16 ounces
1 pound = 0.4536 kilograms (kg)
1 kilogram = 2.2046 pounds (lb)
Volume
1 liter = 0.2642 gallons (gal)
1 liter = 0.2642 gallons (gal)
1 teaspoon = 5 ml
Electronic Equipment Most electrical outlets in the USA operate with a voltage of 110-120 volts. If your equipment requires 220 volts, bring a transformer and plug adapter.
Religion The U.S. Constitution guarantees religious freedom for all faiths. Even though the calendar is based on, and works with, Christian holidays, you are able to follow any religion you want without repercussions. In fact, there is a law saying just that: You cannot be discriminated against based on religion, and adjustments should be made in situations that prevent your religious practice.
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