Best scholarships in USA 2026–2027 for international students

By Zekeria Madadi | September 23, 2026 | 0 Comments

Best Scholarships in the USA for International Students

tudying in the United States can be expensive, but international students have several ways to receive scholarships and financial aid. Some awards are merit-based, while others are based on financial need. Some cover a large part of the cost, while others may provide only partial support.

For the 2026–2027 application cycle, strong options include the Fulbright Foreign Student Program, Knight-Hennessy Scholars, AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship, UConn Stamps Scholarship, Emory University Scholar Programs, and generous need-based financial aid at universities such as Harvard, Princeton, Yale, MIT, Brown, and Bowdoin.

There is no single scholarship that is best for every student. The important step is to match your academic level, field, financial situation, nationality, and application timeline with the scholarship’s actual requirements.

Quick Details

Scholarship / Funding Option	Study Level	Main Funding Type	International Students	2026–2027 Status
Fulbright Foreign Student Program	Master’s/Doctoral	Funding support, health benefits, J-1 sponsorship	Country-specific	Check country programme
Knight-Hennessy Scholars	Graduate	Up to 3 years of graduate funding	Yes	2027 application open
AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship	Bachelor’s	Major undergraduate scholarship	Yes	Deadline: Jan. 15, 2027
UConn Stamps Scholarship	Bachelor’s	Full cost of attendance + enrichment award	Applicants can apply	Nov. 8, 2026 scholarship deadline
Emory University Scholar Programs	Bachelor’s	Partial to full merit scholarships	Yes	Nov. 15, 2026
Harvard Financial Aid	Bachelor’s	Need-based aid	Yes	Based on demonstrated need
Princeton Financial Aid	Bachelor’s	Need-based grant aid	Yes	Need-blind admission
Yale Financial Aid	Bachelor’s	Need-based aid	Yes	Need-blind admission
MIT Financial Aid	Bachelor’s	Need-based aid	Yes	Meets full demonstrated need
Brown Financial Aid	Bachelor’s	Need-based aid	Yes	Need-blind for first-year international applicants
Bowdoin Financial Aid	Bachelor’s	Need-based scholarships	Yes	Need-blind for international students
JJ/WBGSP	Master’s	Tuition, stipend, travel, insurance	Eligible developing-country nationals	2027 windows announced

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1. Fulbright Foreign Student Program

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is one of the major international scholarship programmes for graduate study in the United States. It supports foreign students who want to study and conduct research at U.S. institutions.

The programme operates in more than 160 countries, and approximately 4,000 foreign students receive Fulbright grants each year. Applications are administered through Fulbright Commissions, Foundations, or U.S. Embassies, so the rules and deadlines depend on the applicant’s country.

Main benefits

The official Fulbright programme lists benefits that include:

J-1 visa sponsorship
Funding support
Health benefit plan
Enrichment activities

The exact funding package and placement process can vary by country and award.

Who can apply?

The general Foreign Student Program requirements include:

Being a non-U.S. citizen
Residing in the country of nomination when applying
Holding the equivalent of a U.S. bachelor’s degree by the programme start
Having a good academic record
Meeting the English-language requirements
Meeting additional requirements established by the applicant’s country programme

The official Fulbright page gives a recommended minimum of 550 on paper-based TOEFL, 79–80 on internet-based TOEFL, or 6.5 IELTS for the general programme, but country-specific rules can differ.

For Afghan applicants, the official Fulbright page currently lists Afghanistan under the U.S. Embassy country programme. However, applicants should check the Afghanistan-specific instructions and current application status before preparing an application.

Official Fulbright Foreign Student Program

2. Knight-Hennessy Scholars at Stanford University

The Knight-Hennessy Scholars programme provides graduate scholarship support at Stanford University.

It is open to students from all countries, and there are no restrictions based on citizenship, age, university, field of study, or career aspiration. Applicants must also apply separately to an eligible full-time Stanford graduate programme.

For the 2027 cohort, the Knight-Hennessy application is currently open. The deadline is October 6, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Applicants generally need to have earned or expect to earn their bachelor’s degree in 2020 or later, with special rules for U.S. military applicants and current first-year Stanford PhD students.

Funding

Knight-Hennessy Scholars receive up to three years of financial support for graduate study at Stanford, together with leadership and community-development experiences.

This programme is particularly relevant to students applying for:

Master’s degrees
PhD programmes
Other eligible Stanford graduate programmes

Knight-Hennessy Scholars – Stanford University

3. AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship

American University’s Emerging Global Leader Scholarship (AU EGLS) is designed for international students applying for undergraduate study.

For students seeking entry in Fall 2027, applicants must submit their Common Application and supporting documents and complete the AU EGLS application and essays by January 15, 2027.

What does AU look for?

The programme gives preference to international students who demonstrate:

Leadership
Volunteerism
Community service
Commitment to addressing challenges in their home countries
Strong academic preparation
English proficiency
A background showing that they have overcome significant obstacles or come from underserved or underrepresented communities

Applicants also need to provide a bank letter and AU Declaration of Finances Form confirming at least US$4,000, according to the current instructions. English-test results are also required under the current scholarship instructions.

It is important not to describe AU EGLS as automatically covering every expense without checking the current award terms.

AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship

4. UConn Stamps Scholarship

The Stamps Scholarship at the University of Connecticut is a major undergraduate merit scholarship for high-achieving students.

For students entering UConn in Fall 2027, the current scholarship deadline is November 8, 2026. Applicants must first complete their undergraduate admission application by November 1, 2026.

Funding

UConn describes the Stamps Scholarship as a full cost-of-attendance scholarship, renewable for four years or eight academic semesters. Selected scholars also receive a one-time $12,000 enrichment award for research and experiential learning opportunities.

Selection

Applicants should demonstrate:

Excellent academic ability
Leadership
Community service
Strong personal qualities
Meaningful extracurricular or community involvement

A supplemental application and two recommendation letters are required for Stamps consideration.

UConn Stamps Scholarship

5. Emory University Scholar Programs

Emory University offers partial to full merit-based scholarships through its Scholar Programs. International applicants are eligible to be considered regardless of citizenship.

The programmes include opportunities such as:

Emory College Woodruff Scholars
Oxford College Woodruff Scholars
Other Emory Scholar Programs

Applicants must indicate that they want to be considered for the Scholar Programs in their application.

For the current admission cycle, the scholarship consideration deadline is November 15. Early Decision I applicants must submit their application by November 1.

Emory states that its Scholar Programs can provide partial to full merit-based scholarships. Awards are renewable for up to eight regular academic semesters when students meet the applicable academic and programme requirements.

Emory University Scholar Programs

6. Harvard University Financial Aid for International Students

Harvard is an important option for international undergraduate applicants who have significant financial need.

Harvard states that international students are eligible for the same financial aid as U.S. students. Its undergraduate financial-aid system is need-blind, meaning financial need does not affect the admission decision, and Harvard states that it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need.

This is not a single competitive scholarship with one fixed award amount. Instead, it is institutional need-based financial aid.

Therefore, a student should not assume that every international applicant receives the same amount.

Harvard Financial Aid

7. Princeton University Financial Aid

Princeton provides need-based financial aid to international undergraduate students.

The university states that admission is need-blind, including for international students, and that it meets the full demonstrated financial need of admitted international students. Princeton’s aid is provided through grant aid rather than requiring students to borrow as part of the basic aid package.

For the 2026–27 academic year, Princeton lists undergraduate tuition of $68,140, while financial aid is determined separately according to the student’s demonstrated need.

Princeton Financial Aid

8. Yale University Financial Aid

Yale also provides need-based financial aid to international undergraduate applicants.

Yale states that applicants are evaluated without regard to their ability to pay and that admitted students are eligible for need-based financial aid. The university says it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need.

Yale therefore represents a different type of funding opportunity from a named merit scholarship: the amount depends on the student’s demonstrated financial need rather than being a single fixed scholarship amount.

Yale International Undergraduate Admissions and Financial Aid

9. MIT Financial Aid

MIT provides need-based financial aid to international undergraduate students.

MIT states that it is need-blind and that it meets the full demonstrated financial need of international students. International applicants seeking aid use the International Student CSS Profile and provide documentation concerning parental income.

This makes MIT particularly important for international students who may not have the financial resources to pay the full cost of attendance but have a strong academic application.

MIT Undergraduate Financial Aid

10. Brown University Financial Aid

Brown University has adopted need-blind admission for first-year international undergraduate applicants beginning with the Class of 2029.

Brown states that it meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for eligible undergraduates.

For the current application cycle, Brown lists these financial-aid deadlines:

Early Decision: November 2, 2026
Regular Decision: February 1, 2027

The required financial-aid forms should be checked carefully because requirements can differ according to the applicant’s circumstances.

Brown also explains that international students admitted before the Class of 2029 remain under the financial-aid policy that applied when they originally applied.

Brown University Financial Aid

11. Bowdoin College Financial Aid

Bowdoin College is another U.S. institution with a need-based financial-aid model that includes international students.

Bowdoin states that it is need-blind for international students and that, if admitted, it will meet the student’s full calculated financial need. Its aid packages are loan-free and use scholarships and other resources rather than student loans.

Bowdoin also states that students applying for financial aid automatically receive an application-fee waiver.

This is particularly useful for applicants who cannot afford a large U.S. college cost but have a competitive undergraduate profile.

Bowdoin Student Aid

12. Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program

The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) is another important option for international students planning graduate study at participating universities, including universities in the United States.

For 2027, the World Bank lists participating U.S. institutions and programmes including:

Brandeis University
Columbia University
Johns Hopkins University
Stanford University
University of California, Berkeley
Williams College
Yale University

The exact participating programmes depend on the current list.

Funding

The JJ/WBGSP scholarship provides:

Tuition
Monthly living allowance
Round-trip airfare
Health insurance
Travel allowance

However, the programme specifically excludes some expenses, including visa costs, family expenses, additional travel, computers, and certain research or educational expenses. Therefore, it should not simply be described as covering every possible expense.

2027 application windows

The World Bank currently lists:

Window 1: January 18–February 26, 2027
Window 2: March 29–May 21, 2027

Applicants must first be admitted to an eligible participating master’s programme and meet the scholarship’s eligibility requirements.

Afghanistan is currently included in the World Bank’s list of JJ/WBGSP eligible countries.

JJ/WBGSP – World Bank Scholarships Program

Which Type of U.S. Scholarship Should You Look For?

The most important distinction is not the scholarship name. It is how the funding works.

Merit scholarships

These are normally based on factors such as:

Academic achievement
Leadership
Community service
Talent
Extracurricular activities
Personal achievements

Examples include the AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship, UConn Stamps Scholarship, and Emory Scholar Programs.

Need-based financial aid

Need-based aid is calculated according to financial circumstances rather than simply academic merit.

Harvard, Princeton, Yale, MIT, Brown, and Bowdoin have important institutional financial-aid policies for international undergraduate students.

Graduate scholarships and fellowships

Graduate applicants should look beyond undergraduate scholarships. Major options include:

Fulbright Foreign Student Program
Knight-Hennessy Scholars
JJ/WBGSP

These programmes have different eligibility rules and application processes.

Are U.S. Scholarships Fully Funded?

Not every scholarship in the United States is fully funded.

This is one of the most important points for international applicants.

A scholarship may cover:

Tuition only
Part of tuition
Tuition plus living costs
Tuition plus accommodation
A monthly stipend
Health insurance
Travel
Several of these benefits together

For example, UConn describes its Stamps Scholarship as covering the full cost of attendance, while the JJ/WBGSP programme lists tuition, living support, airfare, health insurance, and travel allowance but also lists expenses it does not cover.

For need-based universities such as Harvard, Princeton, Yale, MIT, Brown, and Bowdoin, the amount of aid depends on the student’s demonstrated financial need and the institution’s financial-aid rules.

Therefore, applicants should always read the official funding conditions instead of relying only on the phrase “fully funded scholarship.”

Do These Scholarships Require IELTS or TOEFL?

There is no single English-language rule for all U.S. scholarships.

Requirements can depend on both the scholarship and the university.

For example, the current Fulbright Foreign Student Program provides recommended English-test thresholds for the general programme, while AU EGLS currently requires an approved English-proficiency score for scholarship consideration.

Other universities may accept different tests or provide exemptions under certain circumstances.

The safest approach is to check:

The scholarship requirements
The university admission requirements
The programme-specific requirements
Any country-specific instructions

Do not assume that “No IELTS” applies to all U.S. scholarships.

How to Apply for Scholarships in the USA

A strong U.S. scholarship application normally requires planning before the deadline.

Step 1: Choose the correct degree level

First decide whether you are applying for:

Bachelor’s
Master’s
PhD
Non-degree study
Research or another programme

A scholarship available for graduate students cannot normally be used for an undergraduate application.

Step 2: Check international eligibility

Look for specific rules concerning:

Citizenship
Country of residence
Previous degree
Academic background
Work experience
Field of study
Age, where applicable
English proficiency
Financial need

Country-specific programmes such as Fulbright can have substantially different rules from university scholarships.

Step 3: Check how funding is awarded

Ask:

Does the award cover tuition?
Is there a living stipend?
Is accommodation included?
Is health insurance included?
Is airfare included?
Are visa expenses covered?
Is the award renewable?
Is it based on financial need or merit?
Does it cover the full programme or only part of it?

This prevents applicants from confusing a tuition scholarship with a fully funded package.

Step 4: Prepare your documents

Depending on the university and scholarship, documents may include:

Academic transcripts
Diploma or degree certificate
Passport
CV or résumé
Personal statement
Scholarship essays
Recommendation letters
English-language test results
Financial documents
Research proposal for some graduate programmes

The exact document list must be taken from the official application instructions.

Step 5: Apply for admission and financial aid correctly

Some scholarships require a separate application.

Others automatically consider applicants after they apply for admission.

For example, Emory requires applicants to indicate that they want to be considered for its Scholar Programs, while UConn Stamps requires a separate supplemental application.

Do not assume that admission automatically means scholarship consideration.

Step 6: Apply before the deadline

Do not wait until the final day.

For the current cycle, several important deadlines are already approaching:

Knight-Hennessy Scholars: October 6, 2026
UConn Stamps: November 8, 2026
Emory Scholars: November 15, 2026
AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship: January 15, 2027
JJ/WBGSP Window 1: January 18–February 26, 2027

Always verify the deadline on the official programme page before submitting.

Important Advice for International Students

Do not apply only to famous universities

A common mistake is to search only for the most famous U.S. universities.

EducationUSA explains that U.S. institutions offer a wide range of financial-aid opportunities, and that international students should compare institutions, locations, costs, scholarships, and other financial-support options.

A less famous university may sometimes offer a scholarship that fits your academic profile and financial situation better.

Check the total cost, not only tuition

When comparing offers, calculate:

Total expected cost = tuition + fees + housing + food + insurance + transportation + other required expenses − confirmed financial aid

This is more useful than comparing scholarship percentages alone.

Do not assume every scholarship covers living costs

A 50% tuition scholarship can still leave a large amount to pay.

Likewise, a scholarship described as “full tuition” is not necessarily the same as a scholarship covering tuition, housing, food, insurance, and travel.