External Scholarships & Fellowships

Remember to check with your national government for scholarships. Many governments have programs or scholarships for students wanting to study abroad.

For Graduate Students

• American Association of University Women - International Fellowships are awarded for full-time study or research to women who are not US citizens or permanent residents. Both graduate and postgraduate study at accredited institutions are supported. Applicants must have earned the equivalent of a US bachelor's degree, and must have applied to their proposed institution of study by the time of application. Selection criteria include an outstanding academic record, professional potential, and the potential of the field of study to improve lives of women and girls in the country of origin. Preference is given to women residing in their home countries at the time of application.
• International Peace Scholarship Fund - Provides grants for selected women from other countries for graduate study in the United States and Canada. An applicant must be qualified for admission to full-time graduate study and working toward a graduate degree in the college or university of her choice in the United States or Canada. In order to qualify for her first scholarship, an applicant must have a full year of classwork remaining and be enrolled on campus the entire year. Open to all nationalities.
• Andrew W. Mellon Fellowships - The Andrew W Mellon Fellowships in Humanistic Studies [Art History, Classics, Comparative Literature, Critical Theory, Cultural Anthropology, Cultural Studies, including all Area Studies, English Literature, Ethnic Studies, Ethnomusicology, Foreign Language and Literature, History, History and Philosophy of Mathematics, History and Philosophy of Science, Humanities, Interdisciplinary Studies, Cultural Linguistics, Music History and Theory, Philosophy, Political Philosophy, Political Theory, Religion, Religious Studies, Rhetoric, and Women's Studies] are designed to help exceptionally promising students prepare for careers of teaching and scholarship in humanistic disciplines. The Mellon Foundation is a competitive award for first-year doctoral students. Fellows may take their awards to any accredited graduate program in the United States or Canada. The Fellowship covers graduate tuition and required fees for the first year of graduate study and includes a stipend of $17,500. Scores from the general test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) are required. Open to all nationalities
• World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program - The World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (WBGSP) for graduate studies in subjects related to economic development. The program awards scholarships to individuals from World Bank member countries to undertake graduate studies at universities renowned for their development research and teaching. The objective of these programs is to prepare the participants for effective policy making roles in their home countries and regions. Recipients are expected to return to their home country at the conclusion of their studies to apply their enhanced knowledge and skills to help accelerate the pace of economic and social development. Scholarships are available to applicants who intend to pursue a career in development. To apply for any JJ/WBGSP scholarship, applicants must meet the following specific criteria: be a national of a World Bank member-country; be under 45 years of age, and preferably under the age of 40; be in good health; be of good character; hold, at minimum, a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in a development-related field, and have attained the degree with superior grades; have at least two (yet preferably four to five) years of full-time professional experience in a field related to economic development, in the applicant's home country or in another developing country, and usually in public service. Open to all nationalities
• King Faisal Foundation Scholarships - King Faisal Foundation is a global philanthropic organization inspired by Islamic values. In addition to its other philanthropic activities, the King Faisal Foundation provides grants for individuals and communities and aids Muslim students in their studies in engineering, science, and medicine. Another important aspect of the Foundation's work is the funding of a scholarship program allowing outstanding Muslim students the opportunity to undertake post-graduate studies at the universities of their choice. Open to students from Saudi Arabia
• Organization of American States - The fundamental objective of the Regular Training Program is to promote the economic, social, and cultural development of the member States in order to achieve a stronger bond and better understanding among the peoples of the Americas through the advanced training of its citizens in the priority areas requested by the countries. The fellowships are awarded, with the exception of the medical sciences and related areas, and introductory language studies, for advanced study at the graduate level and graduate research. Citizens or permanent residents of OAS member States who hold a university degree and who meet the requirements to pursue advanced studies or research in the field chosen are eligible to request a fellowship under this program. Fellowships normally begin with the commencement of the academic year. Fellowships are granted initially for periods of up to twelve months. Fellowships may be extended upon request for a second period not greater than the initial period. In no case will a fellowship be extended for a total fellowship of more than two years. This is especially important for PhD candidates whose programs of study are of more than two years. Open to students from OAS member States: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Paraguay, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent & the Granadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela.

For Undergraduate Students

• Organization of American States - The Special Caribbean Fellowships Program (SPECAF) is an instrument at the regional level for the financing of studies leading to a Bachelor's degree at universities and other educational institutions in OAS member States. Studies may be undertaken in any of the member States of the Organization of American States, with the exception of the country of which the candidate is a citizen or permanent resident. . Fellowships normally begin with the commencement of the academic year. Fellowships are granted initially for periods of up to twelve months. Fellowships may be extended upon request for a second period not greater than the initial period. In no case will a fellowship be extended for a total fellowship of more than two years. Fellowship, scholarship, and training award programs are managed by the Division of Human Development of the Department of Information Technology for Human Development, Inter-American Agency for Cooperation and Development. Open to students from OAS member States: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Chile, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Peru, Paraguay, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent & the Granadines, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, United States, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
• Armenian Students Association of America, Inc. - Applicants must be of Armenian ancestry, be a full time student, attending a four-year accredited college or university in the U.S., and have completed at least the first year of college. Based on financial need, academic performance, ability for self-help, and participation in extracurricular activities. Open to students from Armenia
• Nepal Scholarships Organization - Nepal Scholarships awards undergraduate college scholarships to Nepalese citizens in all fields of study at the undergraduate level. Nepal Scholarships is given to individuals who are committed to work to strengthen Nepal's sustainable development efforts. To apply, email or fax Nepal Scholarships of your interest. Ask one of your parents and two of your teachers to write us a short (one or two page) letter about you. It should cover these points: why they believe you will succeed in a US undergraduate college or university program, including evidence of academic readiness and motivation, your level of maturity and responsibility, and your career and work goals. How will your intended work benefit Kathmandu? Ask the appropriate school official to send us your grades and any other evidence of academic performance. Write us at least two pages describing a) how you would put the Nepal Scholarships scholarship to good use and b) how you are unique. List the accredited U.S. colleges and/or universities to which you will apply or have already applied. If you have been accepted, send us a copy of the documents saying so. If you are already an undergraduate, send us a transcript and all grades to date. Open to students from Nepal.

For Everyone

• Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund - The purpose of the grant is to support the education of women from developing countries who are committed to improving the lives of women and children in a developing country. Previous grant recipients studied agriculture, architecture and urban planning, civil engineering, education, forestry, journalism, nursing, nutrition, pediatrics, public administration, public health, social sciences, and social work. Open to students from Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Georgia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, The Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tajikistan, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Yemen, Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djbouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Soloman Islands, Tonga, Vanuatu, Western Samoa, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and The Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela, Albania, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Moldova, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, Turkey, Ukraine
• Dr. Gombojab Hangin Memorial Scholarship - The scholarship is to be given to a student of Mongolian heritage, defined as an individual of Mongolian ethnic origin, who has permanent residency in Mongolia, the People's Republic of China, or the Former Soviet Union to pursue studies in the United States of America. The award will be made through competitive application. The amount of the award may be up to US$ 2,400. The award does not include transportation from the recipient's country to the US nor does it include board and lodging at the university where the recipient will study. The recipient will receive the Scholarship monies in one lump sum after enrollment in the scholarship holder's institution in the United States. Open to students from Mongolia, the People's Republic of China, and the former Soviet Union.
• Instituto Brasil-Estados Unidos (IBEU) - IBEU's chief aim is to strengthen and intensify cultural relations between Brasil and the United States of America. IBEU has a scholarship program and provides educational advising on courses of study in the United States. The IBEU Scholarships Department offers advice to the community of the State of Rio de Janeiro interested in studying only in the United States in different levels and areas of study. Open to students from Brasil
• Rotary International - Ambassadorial Scholarship Program - The Ambassadorial Scholarship Program is to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries. The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International annually grants scholarships to more than 1,000 international scholars for study worldwide as part of their ongoing efforts to promote world understanding. The program currently sponsors three types of scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students, as well as qualified professionals pursuing vocational studies: Academic-Year, Multi-Year, and Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarships. Some Rotary Districts may not offer all types of scholarships. To learn more about the scholarships, the eligibility requirements, and the application procedure, access the Rotary International website.