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## International Affairs Office, U.S. Department of Education Feb 2008

[[http://www.ed.gov/international/usnei/edlite-index.html]{.underline}](http://www.ed.gov/international/usnei/edlite-index.html)

Visiting the United States:

Financial Assistance for U.S. Study

The United States has an advanced post-industrial economy and the cost
of living is correspondingly high. So is the cost of postsecondary
education and private education at the primary and secondary levels.
U.S. Consulates will require you to show that you have the means to
finance at least a year's study in the United States as part of the
process of qualifying for a student visa.

Despite the high costs, you should know that these same financial issues
face all U.S. students and their families. There are resources available
in the United States and elsewhere that may be helpful to you. The
United States welcomes over half a million international students each
year -- more than any other country -- so financial issues should not
prevent you from being one of them!

###### GENERAL RESOURCES

[EduPass](http://www.edupass.org/f) provides information on financing a
U.S. education and living in the United States, tools for calculating
costs, and links to sources of assistance.

[International Education Financial Aid (IEFA)](http://www.iefa.org/)
provides a database of many available scholarships from higher education
institutions and other sources as well as links to various resources.
Choose "United States" in the country menu of the Scholarship Database
to obtain information on funding for U.S. study.

[Institute of International Education (IIE)](http://www.iie.org/)
provides extensive information and resources on financial assistance for
U.S. study, and also administers several scholarship and fellowship
programs.

[NAFSA International Students
Information](http://www.nafsa.org/students.sec/international_students_2)
provides useful information and resources for students planning to study
in the United States, especially at the undergraduate level.

[College Board Scholarship
Search](http://apps.collegeboard.com/cbsearch_ss/welcome.jsp) is a
database of funding sources for undergraduate study that can be accessed
by international as well as U.S. students.

###### Funding for U.S. Study from Your Country

Many countries offer foreign study funding in the form of grants or
scholarships for their own nationals who are admitted to an approved
program or institution abroad and who qualify for the assistance
program. You should check with your national higher education
authorities.

Go to **[National Systems of Education]{.underline}** to locate links to
national authorities for many different countries as well as links to
the U.S. Embassy, which often has information on any available local
funding for U.S. study as well as U.S. government programs.

###### FUNDING FROM PRIVATE SOURCES

Grants for study and research are available from private foundations and
non-profit organizations. They may also be available from private
businesses; many employers will assist with the education of employees
or employees' children. Funding may also be available from charitable
and religious organizations. Check with you local mosque, church,
temple, or synagogue; your or your parents' employer; charities or
foundations in your country; as well as the resources below.

[Foundation Center International Students
Page](http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/faqs/html/internationalstudents.html)
provides guidance, training resources, and links to important
directories for students seeking funding to study in the United States.

[Foundation Center Reference Guide for International
Students](http://foundationcenter.org/getstarted/guides/foreign.html) is
a directory of links to organizations that fund international students
or provide information resources.

[NAFA Scholarships
Directory](http://www.nafadvisors.org/scholarships.htm) is a linked list
of various competitive scholarship programs, some of which are available
to international students, maintained by the National Association of
Fellowship Advisors.

Various specific scholarship, fellowship, and exchange programs exist in
the U.S. higher education system. Among the well-known types of
privately administered assistance programs are the following, with any
restrictions indicated:

> [AAUW International
> Fellowships](http://www.aauw.org/fga/fellowships_grants/international.cfm)
> (female graduate students)
>
> [ACLS Fellowship Competitions](http://www.acls.org/fel-comp.htm)
> (specific disciplines only)
>
> [American Councils Program
> List](http://www.americancouncils.org/programList.php) (specific
> countries and regions)
>
> [AMIDEAST Exchange and Scholarship
> Programs](http://www.amideast.org/programs_services/exchange_programs/default.htm)
> (Middle East and nearby countries)
>
> [Ford Foundation International Fellowships
> Program](http://www.fordfound.org/news/more/11272000ifp/index.cfm)
>
> [IREX Educational Programs](http://www.irex.org/education/index.asp)
> (Eastern Europe and CIS countries)
>
> [Margaret McNamara Memorial
> Found](http://www.gwu.edu/~fellows/mmmf.html) (developing countries)
>
> [Open Society Scholarship
> Programs](http://www.soros.org/initiatives/scholarship) (varies by
> program)
>
> [Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial
> Scholarships](http://www.rotary.org/foundation/educational/amb_scho/index.html)
> \>

###### INSTITUTIONAL AND LOCAL ASSISTANCE

Many U.S. academic institutions have their own resources for assisting
international students. It is important for you to check with the
international admissions office to discover if you may be eligible for
any institutional, community, or state assistance that may be available.

###### U.S. GOVERNMENT EXCHANGE PROGRAMS

The U.S. government does not provide general scholarship assistance for
international students, nor are international students eligible for
loans or grants provided to U.S. citizens and permanent residents by the
U.S. Department of Education or other federal agencies.

There are several exchange programs administered by the U.S. government
that do provide assistance to qualified international students.

[Exchange Programs to the United
States](http://exchanges.state.gov/programs/to_the_us.htm#youth)
provides information on all the educational and cultural exchange
programs administered by the U.S. Department of State, including the
Fulbright Program and others at all education levels.

[Fulbright Program](http://exchanges.state.gov/education/fulbright/) is
the flagship U.S. exchange program for international students at the
graduate level.

[Search Designated Sponsors](http://exchanges.state.gov/jexchanges/) is
a searchable database of approved sponsors for student and professional
exchange visitors participating in U.S. Department of State exchange
programs.

[Interagency Working Group (IAWG)](http://www.iawg.gov/) provides
information and resources on federal exchange programs in all agencies
and links to agency websites.

###### NON-GOVERNMENTAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMS

Several exchange programs and agencies exist that are either partially
sponsored by federal agencies or cooperate with the U.S. Department of
State in broadening the opportunities for exchanges. Some, but not all,
of these programs provide financial assistance for participants. You
should consult individual programs for further information.

[Council for Standards in International Education and Travel
(CSIET)](http://www.csiet.org/mc/page.do) provides information about
private exchanges for school-age students and school teachers as well as
a directory of exchange programs approved by CSIET.

[Alliance for International Educational and Cultural
Exchange](http://www.alliance-exchange.org/) is an organization of
private exchange providers for students and educators at all levels that
provides information resources and directories of exchange programs.

[Mobility International USA (MIUSA)](http://www.miusa.org/) provides
information for students with disabilities who may be interested in
exchange programs, important resources, and links to exchange programs
with accommodations. The MIUSA National Clearinghouse is sponsored by
the U.S. Department of State.

See also: [Working in the United
States](http://www.ed.gov/international/usnei/us/work.doc)

> [Studying in the United
> States](http://www.ed.gov/international/usnei/us/study.doc)

[**Recognition of Foreign
Qualifications**](http://www.ed.gov/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html)

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