The financial challenge of pursuing a master’s degree abroad is one of the biggest challenges for international students. Tuition, lodgings, insurance, journey and basic living costs can rapidly add up.
The good news is that there are several forms of financial aid available to students pursuing Masters in USA, including scholarship to study in USA, fellowships, teaching assistantships and research assistantships.
University Scholarship to Study in USA
Universities in the U.S. offer many scholarship opportunities to international students. Scholarships can be awarded for academic achievement, leadership, discipline or area of study, financial need and others.
The amount and qualifications for aid differ vastly. While some of them can partly cover the cost of tuition, others can provide more help.
According to Education USA: “Some scholarship awards only cover partial tuition costs while some opportunities might not be open to first-year international students.”
So students should not take the view that if they get a scholarship they will no longer have to spend on studies. To concretely plan out your academic expenditure, get in touch with the university support staff to identify your chances of landing a scholarship.
Fellowships
Fellowships help students who wish to carry out advanced study or research by alleviating some of their financial burdens.
Graduate fellowships can be given by the university, department, foundation, government organization and independent institutions. This is particularly useful for students pursuing research intensive master’s degree program.
Other fellowships may provide some tuition support, a stipend or both. Academic performance, research interests, citizenship status and field of study eligibility are some factors for scholars to apply.
Teaching assistantships
Teaching assistants, or TA for short, help eligible graduate students with their department’s teaching activities.
Responsibilities can vary. The student typically performs one or more of these academic duties such as tutorial, laboratory session assistance, grading and office hours help.
In exchange, the student receives a stipend and potential tuition assistance or waiver (depending on the university and position).
If you are looking for a Masters in USA, then check if your desired department has teaching assistantships and whether international students are eligible.
Research assistantships
Research Assistantships are also an important source of funding options.
RAs usually work with professors or research groups on academic projects. This can be particularly advantageous for students that are interested in research, technology, engineering, science or other analytical fields.
In addition to financial help, research experience can enhance the academic and professional profile of a student.
Major categories of financial aid by the University:
Department-level funding
Note that, in some cases, the university does not centrally manage funding. Certain departments keep their own scholarship to study in USA, assistantships, grants or research. That means that students should look into both the university-wide financial aid page, and that of the department offering their intended program. Reaching out to faculty members is also useful for those applicants seeking research opportunities.
- External scholarships
- Also, students can check outside funding opportunities.
- Potential sources include:
- Government-sponsored scholarships
- Private foundations
- International organization
- Corporate scholarships
- Professional associations
- Home-country funding program
The Education USA Network runs a financial-aid database that lists scholarships from various U.S. institutions and organization.
Plan for scholarship deadlines
One of the errors students make is treating scholarships as an afterthought. Funding deadlines may even be weeks or months ahead of the start date of your academic programme. Scholarships and grants deadlines can be as far out from the programme start date as 18 months, according to Education in USA.
That is precisely why students who wish to study Masters in USA must consider researching the funding options while they research universities.
Create a spreadsheet containing:
- Scholarship name
- Eligibility
- Amount
- Application deadline
- Required documents
- Recommendation requirements
- Essay requirements
- Application status
This might help you to get through the process more easily.
Abroad Study Consultancy ⋅ The role of abroad study consultancy
An Abroad Study Consultancy may suggest universities to students and funding options, however, it is the student who is responsible for verifying scholarship requirements and deadlines. Programs and institutions can differ quite a lot when it comes to financial aid conditions.
Final thoughts
Funding a master’s degree in America is less about finding that one big scholarship. Create a funding plan consisting of university scholarships, fellowships/assistantships, personal funds and other eligible sources.
Start your funding research early if you want to go for a Masters in USA. Don’t just find university-wide scholarships and look for department-wise assistantships or research opportunities.
By strategically planning ahead, students are able to build a more accurate financial plan and ultimately lessen the cost of their international education.
Ready to conquer your dreams? Get in touch with Imperial’s expert study abroad counselors and kick-start your journey towards studying abroad today! You will have support during university admission, scholarship application, visa preparation and many more!
