Many international students hope to secure merit scholarships to attend US Universities. The high cost of a US education should be taken into consideration when applying. If you do not qualify for need-based aid, then seeking out merit scholarships—awards based on academic excellence, athletic ability, artistic talent, and leadership qualities—may be in your best interest.

At Vela Education, we aim to provide ethical and transparent advice to students, families, and schools. In this post, we explain how to find merit scholarships, how to apply, and highlight some of the best opportunities available at selective US universities.

Depending on the university, applicants may be automatically considered for the academic scholarships, or an additional scholarship application form may be required. Scholarships do not need to be repaid as long as the conditions of the scholarship are maintained. These scholarships are competitive.  If you are curious about which schools provide the most financial aid, including merit scholarships, you can look through this spreadsheet. We also recommend this article by US News and World Report.

Organisations often sponsor merit scholarships! Searching for companies and non-profits can take work but can have a very significant financial pay off. Vela Education recommends this resource geared towards international students as well as this more general resource.

If you are an exceptional student in terms of academic results and leadership, Vela Education recommends you consider the following fellowships:

Jefferson Scholarship: This scholarship funds four full years at the University of Virginia, including incidentals. Total value of the scholarship over four years exceeds $280,000 for non-Virginian students and includes tuition, fees, books, supplies, room, board, and personal expenses. Students must be nominated from their school, but many international schools participate in this program. Schools are asked to nominate students who “best exemplifies excellence in the Jeffersonian ideals of leadership, scholarship, and citizenship.” After regional competitions, 120 finalists are sent to UVA in March for the final selection and approximately 40 scholars will be accepted. This fellowship allows students the chance to attend an international renown university for free.  

Robertson Scholarship: This prestigious scholarship is available at Duke and the University of North Carolina. In fact, this program also offers cross-campus programs between the two schools.  The scholarship offers eight semesters of full tuition, room and board, and most mandatory fees for Scholars at Duke and UNC-Chapel Hill. Scholars also have access to generous funding for up to three summer experiences, funding for conferences throughout the academic year, and for two semesters of study abroad. Students who are selected for this scholarship show purposeful leadership, intellectual curiosity, strength of character, and collaborative spirit.  The deadline for the scholarship is November 15th.  

Morehead-Cain Scholarship: This is the first fully funded scholarship at a public university in the US. Founded in 1945 at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, considered one of the best public schools in the United States, this scholarship covers the full cost of attendance for four years as well as provides funding for summer research and work experience as well as international travel. This application is separate from a student’s application to the University of North Carolina. The deadline is also different—October 15th. Because of the scholarship’s long history, the network of scholars is extensive and provides an excellent network for both scholarly and professional collaborations in the future.  

Boston University Trustee and Presidential Scholarships: Boston University has many merit scholarships and extends two of its most significant funding opportunities to international students. The Trustee Scholarship is BU’s most prestigious scholarship. These awards are given to students who become part of a unique campus community that offers intellectual, cultural and social opportunities. Competitive applicants are among the most accomplished in their class and demonstrate exceptional engagement in their schools and communities. The Trustee Scholarship covers tuition and fees for four years and 20 awards are given annually. The Presidential Scholarship provides students with 25,000 USD annually. This scholarship is only available to international students. Top academic qualifications are key but leadership within and outside of the school community is a significant factor in determining who receives this generous reward.  

These scholarships are just a selection of the many awards available to international students. Please feel free to do more research to find awards that align with your qualifications. If you have any questions about merit scholarships or any aspect of the US university application process, please reach out to us.