Types of Scholarships for International Students and Where to Find Them

Scholarships can meaningfully reduce the cost of studying abroad, but many students only look at one or two obvious sources and miss others they'd actually qualify for. Here's a broader view of where scholarship funding typically comes from.

University-specific scholarships

Most universities offer their own scholarships for international students, ranging from partial tuition waivers to full-ride packages. These are usually merit-based, need-based, or a combination, and are often applied for as part of — or shortly after — your admission application. Always check your specific university's international student scholarship page directly, since these are usually not automatically applied.

Government and country-specific scholarships

Many study destinations offer government-funded scholarships specifically for international students, sometimes tied to bilateral agreements between your home country and the destination country. These are often highly competitive but can cover a significant portion of costs, including living expenses in some cases.

Subject-specific and merit-based scholarships

Some scholarships are tied to a specific field of study — engineering, business, public health, and other fields sometimes have dedicated funding pools from professional bodies, foundations, or industry sponsors. These are worth researching specifically for your intended major.

Need-based financial aid

Separate from merit scholarships, many universities offer need-based aid determined by your family's financial situation. This typically requires more detailed financial documentation but can be combined with merit scholarships in some cases.

External and private scholarships

Beyond university and government sources, many private foundations, companies, and non-profits offer scholarships for international students — sometimes general, sometimes tied to specific nationalities, fields of study, or personal circumstances. These require separate research and applications outside your university's own process.

How to actually find scholarships you qualify for

• Start with your shortlisted universities' financial aid or international student pages directly.
• Search your destination country's official education or immigration portal for government scholarship programs.
• Check whether your home country's government offers outbound study scholarships for your destination.
• Look for field-specific scholarship databases relevant to your intended major.

Application tips

• Start scholarship research at the same time as your university applications, not after — many scholarship deadlines are earlier than admission deadlines.
• Tailor each scholarship application specifically, the same way you would an SOP — generic applications are easy for reviewers to spot.
• Keep a simple tracker of deadlines, since scholarship applications often have separate deadlines from your university application itself.

Want help identifying scholarships you're likely to qualify for? Book a free consultation and a counselor can help you build a shortlist based on your profile and destination.