Financial Resources for Non-U.S. Residents
A list of information for people with disabilities from outside the United States to find scholarships, grants, loans and other funding sources to participate in an international exchange program to the United States.
It is often difficult for students to find funding for education abroad. This information sheet has been created to give basic suggestions to begin the search. It will also provide information on scholarship opportunities. Since most scholarships target individual backgrounds, interests, institutions, or experiences, it would also be beneficial to search for scholarship information in your local libraries. When researching scholarships, be careful of organizations or scholarship search sites that ask for a fee.
Educational Advising Centers & U.S. State Department Funding
For international students wishing to study in the United States, Educational Advising Centers located at the nearest U.S. Embassy in your country can provide a wealth of information including: admission requirements, scholarships, fellowships, grants, loans, university application procedures, and admission and test requirements. Educational Advising Centers can be located through the Education USA website, supported by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.
See a listing of Department of State sponsored programs for professionals, college and university students, and high school students.
U.S. College and University Scholarships
Once you have determined your list of potential colleges/universities in the United States, contact the financial aid offices of the specific schools you have in mind. They will be able to provide you with information about monetary sources for foreign students. Ask about university wide scholarships and loan programs for international students. You should also contact the International Student Services Department and the Academic Department of your major and ask about available scholarships and grants.
International Organizations that Offer Scholarships
Students may also check with international and local organizations for scholarship opportunities. Contacting organizations that share your interests or experiences (i.e., religious organizations that you have been a member of, ethnic or cultural organizations, community or international service groups) is recommended. Use scholarship and grant search engines to find other sources of financial aid.
- Kiwanis International
3636 Woodview Trace
Indianapolis, IN 46268-3196, USA
Tel: (317) 875-8755
Fax: (317) 879-0204
Email: kiwanismail@kiwanis.org
Kiwanis International Club individual clubs may offer scholarships. - Lions Club International
300 West 22nd Street
Oak Brook, IL 60523-8842, USA
Tel: (630) 571 5466
Fax: (630) 571 5735
Email: lcif@lionsclubs.org
Lions Club International awards financial assistance such as scholarships. They also provide funds for purchasing equipment. - The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International
One Rotary Center
1560 Sherman Avenue
Evanston, IL 60201 USA
Tel: (847) 866-3000
Fax: (847) 328-8554 or (847) 328-8281
Rotary International offers Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships. Scholarships aim to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries. Recipients are expected to be outstanding ambassadors of goodwill through appearances before Rotary clubs, schools, civic organizations and other forums in the host country, and are expected to share the experiences of understanding acquired during their period abroad with the people of their home countries.
Scholarships Related to Education and Disability
- Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf
3417 Volta Place NW
Washington, DC 20007-2778
Tel: (202) 337-5220
Fax: (202) 337-8314
TTY: (202) 337-5221
Email: info@agbell.org
Scholarships are specifically for individuals who use speech and residual hearing and/or speech reading as their mode of communication. They offer various scholarships for study by primary, secondary and post-secondary students. - American Council of the Blind
1155 15th Street NW, Suite 1004
Washington, DC 20005
Tel: (800) 424-8666 or (202) 467-5081
Contact: Terry Pacheco
Deadline: March 1
The American Council of the Blind (ACB) awards scholarships annually to legally blind students in undergraduate, graduate, technical and vocational studies. Awards are for study in the United States. International students may apply if they have a letter of acceptance from a college or university in the United States. - Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired (AER)
1703 N. Neauregard Street, Suite 440
Alexandria, VA 22311
Tel: (877) 492 2708
Fax: (703) 671 6391
Email: bsherr@aerbvi.org
Deadline: April 15
AER offers a financial aid program for people who are legally blind: the William and Dorothy Ferrell Scholarship. Applicants must be studying at the post secondary level for a career in the field services to people who are blind or visually impaired. Scholarships are available in even-numbered years. Non-U.S. citizens are eligible to apply. - Christian Record Services, Inc.
4444 South 52nd Street
Lincoln, NE 68516-1302,
Tel: (402) 488-0981
Fax: (402) 488 7582
Email: info@christianrecord.org
Deadline: April 1
Christian Record Services provides scholarships to students who are legally blind. Applicants must be planning an undergraduate program in the United States that will enable independence and self-support. Non-U.S. citizens can apply if already in the United States receiving an education. - Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI)
1155 15th NW, Suite 1004 (affiliated with American Council of the Blind)
Washington, DC 20005
Tel: (800) 733-2258
Deadline: April 15
The Council of Citizens with Low Vision (CCLVI) offers two scholarship programs. The Carl Foley Graduate Scholarship Program is for graduate students attending one of several colleges that offer a degree in the field of low vision. Applicants need not be visually impaired. Application needs to be made through the school directly. The Fred Scheigert Scholarship Program is available to full-time college students with low vision and who meet academic guidelines. and the CCLVI scholarships are for students with low vision who are attending college. Guidelines, application forms, and certification of low vision forms are available from January through April for downloading from the website. - Gallaudet University Scholarships
Office of International Programs & Services
HMB E-254
800 Florida Avenue NE
Washington, DC 20002-3695
Tel: (202) 448-6950
Fax: (202) 448-6954
E-mail: global.education@gallaudet.edu
A variety of scholarships are available to Deaf and those with hearing disabilities who wish to pursue graduate or research opportunities. Open to U.S. and international students for study in the United States or abroad. Fellowships and merit awards are also available. Gallaudet also publishes "National Information Center on Deafness: Sources of Financial Assistance for Students who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing." - Jewish Braille Institute International
110 East 30th Street
New York, NY 10016
Tel: (800) 433-1531 / (212) 889 2525
Fax (212) 689 3692
Scholarships for blind and visually impaired students preparing for professional careers in Jewish service. Citizens from countries other than the United States welcome to apply. - National Federation of the Blind
1800 Johnson Street
Baltimore, MD 21230
Tel: (410) 659-9314
Fax: (410) 685-5653
Email: nfb@nfb.org
Each year the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) gives a broad array of scholarships to recognize achievement by blind scholars. All applicants for these scholarships must be legally blind and pursuing or planning to pursue a full-time postsecondary course of study. - National Hemophilia Foundation
116 West 32nd Street, 11th Floor
New York, NY 100001
Tel: (800) 424-2634
Fax: (212) 328-3700
E-mail: handi@hemophilia.org
Individuals from countries other then the United States are encouraged to contact the Hemophilia Foundation in their country for more information. - P. Buckley Moss Society
601 Shenandoah Village Drive, Box 1C
Waynesboro, VA 22980
Tel: (540) 943-5678
Fax: (540) 949-8408
Email: society@mosssociety.org
The P. Buckley Moss Society offers the Judith Cary Memorial Scholarship for students who are pursuing either an undergraduate or graduate degree in teaching special needs students, and the Anne and Matt Harbison Award Scholarship for graduating high school seniors with a learning disability who have made arrangements to further their education. Citizens from countries outside the United States are eligible to apply. - Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic
20 Rozelle Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
Tel: (866) 732 3585
Deadline: February 21
Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic (RFB&D) is a national nonprofit organization that serves people who cannot read standard print because of visual, perceptual (including learning disabilities) or other physical disabilities. RFB&D offers the Marion Huber Learning Through Listening Awards and Mary P. Oenslager Scholastic Achievement Awards. The awards are for high school seniors who will be attending a 2 or 4-year vocational school. International applications will be accepted if the applicant is attending school in the United States and meets the same criteria as above. - SBAA Educational Scholarship
Spina Bifida Association of America
4590 MacArthur Boulevard NW, Suite 250
Washington, DC 20007-4226
Tel: (800) 621-3141 or (202) 944-3285
Fax: (202) 944-3295
Email: sbaa@sbaa.org
Deadline: April 1 (annual award); September 1 (four year award)
The Spina Bifida Association of America provides scholarships to individuals with Spina Bifida. Applications are available on the website. - Schwab Learning
1650 South Amphlett Boulevard, Suite 300
San Mateo, CA 94402
Tel: (800) 230-0988 or (650) 655-2410
Fax: (650) 655-2411
Email: outreach@schwablearning.org
Schwab Learning offers contact information for organizations that give scholarships and other kinds of financial assistance for students with learning disabilities. - Tourism Cares for Tomorrow
585 Washington St.
Canton, MA 02021
Tel: (781) 821-5990
Fax: (781) 821-8949
E-mail: info@tourismcares.org
The Yellow Ribbon Scholarship will be awarded to an undergraduate or graduate travel and tourism student with a physical or sensory disability. The student must be enrolled at an accredited 2 or 4-year college or university in the United States or Canada. - Venture Student Aid Award / Soropimist International of the Americas
Students with Disabilities Scholarship
1709 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-6103
Tel: (215) 893 9000
Fax: (215) 893 5200
Email: siahq@soroptimist.org
Contact Nancy Nardone, Venture Coordinator at nancyn@soroptimist.org
Deadline: December 31
Scholarships are offered to students with physical disabilities who wish to pursue further education at any accredited institution worldwide. Citizens of any country are eligible to apply. Venture Clubs are administered by Soroptimists International. - Very Special Arts
Young Soloists Award
1300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (800) 933-8721 or (202) 628-2800
Fax: (202) 737-0725
TTY: (202) 737-0645
Email: info@vsarts.org
Contact: Dani Fox danif@vsarts.org
The Young Soloists Award is an annual competition for outstanding music students, soloists or group performers with disabilities under the ages of 25. The winners perform at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC and receive a cash award to further their musical education. Awards are given to U.S. performers and individuals from other countries.
Scholarships for Specific Countries, Religions, and Topics
- Association for the Advancement of International Education (AAIE)
Ernest Mannino Scholarship
Dr. Richard Krajczar, Excecute Director
c/o San Diego State University
5250 Campanile Drive, Rm. 2525
San Diego, CA 92182-1923
Tel: (619) 594-2877
Fax: (619) 594-3648
E-mail: aaie@sheridan.edu
The Ernest Mannino Scholarship was created to provide incentive, honor, and financial assistance to an outstanding graduate student whose research has implications for American schools overseas. - The Davis United World College Scholars Program
Jane Schoenfeld
Assistant to the Executive Director
Davis UWC Scholars Program
Adirondack House, Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT 05753 USA
Tel: (802) 443-3180 Fax: (802) 443-3230
Email: info@davisUWCscholars.org
The Davis Program provides scholarships to students, from both the United States and other countries, who have proven themselves by completing their last two years of high school at a group of international schools called United World Colleges. These UWC schools are now in the United States, Bosnia, Canada, Costa Rica, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Norway, Singapore, Swaziland, the United Kingdom, and Venezuela. Since the founding of the first UWC in 1962 at the height of the Cold War, these schools have provided opportunities to students from some 175 countries, representing all regions of the world. Students are selected in their home countries by indigenous, voluntary committees, and receive scholarships to attend the United World College schools. - Geological Society of America Research Grants
Program Officer - Grants, Awards & Medals
PO Box 9140
Boulder, CO 80301-1940
Tel: (303) 357-1028
Fax: (303) 357-1070
Email: awards@geosociety.org
Grants are available to support masters and doctoral research work in the geological sciences. Please contact the Geological Society or the Geology Department of the university you are applying to for more information. People with disabilities and underrepresented groups are encouraged to apply. - Japan Foundation New York
152 West 57th Street, 39th Floor
New York, NY 10019
Tel: (212) 489 0299
Fax: (212) 489 0409
E-mail: info@jfny.orgThe Japan Foundation sponsors a variety of grant programs relating to the exchange of persons, support for Japanese Studies and Japanese-language instruction, exchanges in the arts, and assistance for media-related projects such as publications, translation, and film or video production. Grant programs are reviewed either in the United States or Japan, depending on the grant category.
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King Faisal Foundation Scholarship Programs
King Fahed Road Olaya, Riyadh
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
PO Box 352
Riyadh 11411, Saudi Arabia
Tel: (966 1) 465 2255
Fax: (966 1) 465 6524
Email: info@kff.com or kfcrisinfo@kff.comQualified Muslim students of any nationality who would like to do graduate or post-graduate work in the fields of science, medicine and engineering at any university in North America or Europe may apply for financial assistance.
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King Olav V Norwegian American Heritage Fund
Sons of Norway Foundation
1455 W. Lake Street
Minneapolis, MN 55408-2666
Tel: (800) 945-8851 / (612) 827 3611
Fax: (612) 827 0658
Email: foundation@sofn.com
Deadline: March 1Scholarship is designated for Norwegian students and/or American students who are interested in or studying Norwegian Heritage, Norwegian Studies, American Heritage or American Studies. Please contact organization for further details on restrictions and requirements. Organization requests that you include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.
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La Caixa Graduate Fellowship Program
Carol Mint, Program Coordinator
Indiana University
201 N. Indiana Ave.
Bloomington, Indiana 47408 USA
Tel: (812) 855-3948
Fax: (812) 855-8719
Email: cmyint@indiana.edu
Administered by Indiana University's Office of International Programs since 1985, this program provides full funding for fifty Spanish graduate students each year to study in the U.S. for a two-year period. Each year, "la Caixa" undertakes a highly competitive selection process to identify the fifty graduate-level students and professionals who will apply for study at U.S. universities. Indiana University participates in this selection process. Each year, the Dean for International Programs and other faculty and administrators participate in several days of interviews, after which the final list of candidates is drawn up. The selected fellows then begin the application process with assistance from Indiana University's Program Coordinator. -
Open Society Institute Undergraduate Exchange Program
400 West 59th Street
New York, NY 10019 USA
Tel: (212) 548-0600
Web: http://www.soros.org/
Deadline: December 1
The Open Society Institute's Under-graduate Exchange Program supports students from Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Moldova, Mongolia, Romania, and Serbia in the United States for one year of non-degree academic study. Applicants must currently be enrolled as a second-year student at a university in their home country to be eligible. Participants attend a university or college in the U.S. for one year. While in the U.S., grantees agree to complete twenty-five hours a semester of community service work in an area of interest to them. At the end of the year, they are expected to return home to complete their degrees. Once back in their home country, grantees complete a community-service internship or project. Participant selection and university placement is determined by a panel of experts in the United States. Candidates do not apply to a specific university. Program participants receive a full scholarship that covers tuition, room and board, a living stipend, textbooks, transportation, and health insurance. -
P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship
P.E.O. International Headquarters
3700 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50312 USA
Tel: (515) 255-3153
Fax: (515) 255-3820
Deadlines: Between August 15 and December 15
P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship (IPS) Fund was established in 1949 to provide scholarships for international women students to pursue graduate study in the United States and Canada. See the website for more details. -
Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.
National Educational Foundation
1734 New Hampshire Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20009 USA
Tel: (202) 387 3103
E-mail: ihq@zphib1920.orgThe principle activities and purpose of the trust are to award scholarship grants to worthy students for the pursuit of higher education; to conduct community educational programs, which will aid in the educational and vocational improvement in individual and community living standards; to engage in activities which will aid in the educational development of all women; and to engage in any appropriate research related to the purposes of the scholarship.
Scholarships for Women
- American Association of University Women (AAUW) Educational Foundation
1111 Sixteenth Street NW
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: (800) 326 2289
Email: foundation@aauw.org
The AAUW Educational Foundation the largest source of funding exclusively for graduate women in the world, supports aspiring scholars around the globe, teachers and activists in local communities, women at critical stages of their careers and those pursuing professions where women are underrepresented. - Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund
1818 H Street, NW, MSN H2-204
Washington DC 20433
Phone: (202) 473-8751
Fax: (202) 522-3142
E-mail: MMMF@worldbank.org
Every year, the Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund gives grants to five or six young women from developing countries engaged in studies for a degree in the United States. They demonstrate a commitment to working for the benefit of women and children in the developing world, and plan to return to their countries within approximately two years of receiving the grant. -
P. E. O. International Peace Scholarships
P.E.O. International Headquarters
3700 Grand Avenue
Des Moines, Iowa 50312
Tel: (515) 255-3153
Fax: (515) 255-3820P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship (IPS) Fund provides scholarships of up to $6,000 based upon need for international women students to pursue graduate study in the United States and Canada.
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Soroptimist International of the Americas
1709 Spruce Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-6103
Tel: (215) 893 9000
Fax: (215) 893 5200
Email: siahq@soroptimist.org
Soroptimist International is a worldwide service organization dedicated to making a difference for women. They are involved in community service projects in the areas of economic and social development, education, the environment, human rights and the status of women, health, and international goodwill. Information may be obtained through your local chapter, or by contacting the address above.
Loan & Award Programs
- International Education Finance Corporation
222 Forbes Road, Suite 406
Braintree, MA 02184
Tel: (781) 843-5334 or (888) 296-4332
Fax: (781) 843-9034
E-mail: contact.@iefc.com
Students are able to apply for the Stafford and Plus loans through the International Student Loan Program (ISLP). Applications can be made on-line. - US Department of Education
Federal Student Aid Information Center
PO Box 84
Washington, DC 20044-0084
Tel: (800) 433-3243 or (319) 337-5665
TTY: (800) 730-8913
Students may be eligible to apply for federal financial aid. Contact the financial aid office of the university you plan to attend or refer to the above contact information. To request the Student Aid Guide in Audio version, contact the office.
- State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Employment Services
Related to working in the United States, VR for individuals with disabilities could be used by individuals from other countries, if the individual with a disability is currently in the United States, can legally work in the United States, and he/she can be determined eligible for VR services by meeting these eligibility criteria:
1. Has a disability which causes impediments to employment;
2. Requires VR services to address those impediments;
3. Can benefit from services.
Check with the U.S. state Vocational Rehabilitation Department for more information.
- Leo S. Rowe Pan American Fund
1889 F. St N.W.,
Washington, DC 20006 USA
Tel: (202) 458-6208
Fax: (202) 458-3897
Email: rowefund@oas.org
This student loan program of the Organization of American States awards interest-free loans to qualified persons from Latin American and Caribbean countries to help finance graduate, postgraduate, and the final two years of undergraduate studies at accredited universities within the United States.
Published Materials
The following books can also assist with your scholarship search. Check with your local library, U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Office or order the book from the publisher:
- The College Board Scholarship Handbook, 2006
Publisher: College Board - Financial Aid for the Disabled and Their Families, 2004-2006
Author: Gail Ann Schlachter, R. David Weber - Financial Aid for Research and Creative Activities Abroad, 2004-2006
Author: Gail Ann Schlachter - Financial Aid for Study and Training Abroad, 2004-2006
Author: Gail Ann Schlachter - Funding for Persons with Visual Impairment, Large Print Edition 2006
Author: Gail Ann Schlachter - Funding for United States Study: A Scholarship Guide for Europeans
Published by the Institute of International Education - Funding U.S. Studies: Graduate and Post-Graduate Opportunities for Latin Americans
Published by the Institute of International Education - The Grants Register 2005
Author: Palgrave MacMillan - The Scholarship Almanac 2005 8th Edition, 2004
Author: Petersons - The Scholarship Book 2004: The Complete Guide to Private-Sector Scholarships, Grants, and Loans for Undergraduates
Author: Daniel J. Cassidy
Scholarship and Grant Search Engines
A number of organizations are available to assist you in your search for scholarships. While some have free services others may be used for a fee. Some sites also provide information on application procedures, insurance, and test requirements for admittance to schools.
- Foreignborn.com - www.foreignborn.com
- International Student.com - http://www.internationalstudent.com/
- College Connection provides information on scholarships in the private sector for undergraduate, graduate and international students. They can be reached by calling (302) 765 3880 or through their website at: www.collegescholarships.com
- Scholarstuff.com provides a comprehensive directory of college and university homepages around the world. It also gives helpful suggestions with regards to financial aid and funding. Their website is located at: www.scholarstuff.com
- Fastweb.com provides a personalized search that will match your interests and abilities to their database of scholarships. The website for Fastweb is located at: www.fastweb.com
- FreSch contains a specific page dedicated to international students. FreSch also provides information on eligibility to apply for federal financial aid. Their general website is located at: www.freschinfo.com. The page for specific information for students who wish to study abroad may be found at: www.freschinfo.com/foreign.php
- FinAid The Financial Aid Information Page provides free, detailed information on student financial aid. Visit their website at: www.finaid.org
- NAFSA is an international exchange organization. Their website provides information on funding and tips for U.S. citizens studying abroad and foreign nationals studying in the United States, and links to other useful websites: www.nafsa.org.
- International Education Financial Aid has an on-line searchable database of scholarships for international education. This site contains useful information for students of all nationalities. Their web address is: www.iefa.org
- National Science Foundation has an on-line version of their publication "A Selected List of Fellowship and Other Support Opportunities for Advanced Education for U.S. Citizens and Foreign Nationals." This publication can be obtained via email by writing to them at info@nsf.gov or you may visit their web address: www.nsf.gov/funding/
- Michigan State University offers many travel scholarships for study abroad and international students studying at MSU (as well as a good list of other scholarships offered) at: www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3inttrav.htm
- Michigan State University also has an extensive listing of education and other scholarships for people with disabilities at: www.lib.msu.edu/harris23/grants/3disable.htm
- Many scholarships and Fellowships are listed on this extensive listing http://scholarships.fatomei.com/study.html
- Drexel University has a long list of scholarships and fellowships are listed for U.S and international students at: http://www.drexel.edu/fellowships/fellowships.html
- YouthActionNet the site contains listings of grants and scholarships, many which may be used for study abroad. Visit the website at: www.youthactionnet.org
- The International Student Organization in America is a membership organization of international students who are currently studying in the USA. Offers information to international students on scholarships, grants, medical insurance and other topics. The website is www.isoa.org and their email address is mailbox@isoa.org
- Wired Scholar this site offers general financial aid information as well as a searchable database of scholarships. The web address is: www.wiredscholar.com
- StudyAbroad.com this site offers links to several sources of financial aid for study abroad. Click on 'Site Menu' and follow the link to 'Financial Aid.' Visit the website at: www.studyabroad.com
- InternationalScholarships offers a free searchable database of scholarships, grants, and awards for students of all nationalities. The website is: www.internationalscholarships.com
- Women With Disabilities provides an online list of publications and organizations that offer financial assistance to women with disabilities. The website is: www.4women.gov/wwd
- Get-Recruited.com offers students a chance to be recruited by, and perhaps offered scholarships to attend U.S. university undergraduate and graduate programs. Link to the site and submit your information at: www.get-recruited.com
- College-Scholarships.com is an all-purpose college and scholarship information site that includes links to nine free internet scholarship search databases, links to college websites and online applications. The website is: www.college-scholarships.com
- Proyecto Visión lists several scholarships, many specifically for Hispanic students with disabilities at: www.proyectovision.net/english/resources/index.html
- United Cerebral Palsy has an extensive list of financial resources on their website at: www.ucpa.org/ucp_channelsub.cfm/1/14/91/national,Funding%20Sources
- The Learning Abroad Center at the University of Minnesota offers a searchable database of scholarships available for international exchange. The web address is: www.istc.umn.edu/financial/scholarships/uofmScholarships.html
- The Foundation Center offers a database of foundation grants available to individuals. A fee is required to access the information. The website is www.fdncenter.org
Although efforts have been made to ensure accuracy, MIUSA/NCDE cannot be held liable for inaccuracy, misinterpretation or complaints arising from these listings. Mention of an organization, company, service or resource should not be construed as an endorsement by MIUSA/NCDE.
