I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.
See all posts Frank GogolHow to Find the Best Scholarships for Immigrant Students
Updated on April 10, 2024
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Finding a scholarship that fits your purposes is certainly not easy to do. It is particularly difficult to achieve if you are an immigrant student – one that does not have the same benefits as a resident or citizen has. There is research to be done and paperwork to be signed – only to find out that the scholarship will go to someone that was born and raised in the country.
Still, how does a scholarship actually work – and where can you find one as a refugee or an immigrant? Are there any possibilities for you to find a scholarship, even if you were not born and raised on the land as well? Well, we’re about to find out.
What Are Scholarships?
Most people already have a general idea over what a scholarship entails: it’s money that someone else gives you in order to pay for your studies. Actually, that’s not very far from the truth.
Simply put, a scholarship (or a fellowship or grant) is an amount of money that is given as an award to a student – an aid to help them further their education. Unlike a loan, which involves interest (or even need-based financial assistance), a scholarship does not have to be paid back.
Money for a scholarship can come from a variety of sources. You have government scholarships, university scholarships, corporate scholarships – and even goodwill scholarships. These scholarships are actually similar to an investment, as the student is seen as an asset for the future. The more they further their studies, the better it will be for the sponsor – and even the country that the student is studying in or comes from.
However, while the scholarships are not exactly
For instance, an athletic scholarship will require that you maintain a certain grade, or that you perform in a certain way on the field. Similarly, a scholarship in sciences may entail that you win competitions or do significant research that will keep you get up the top.
Depending on the type of scholarship that you get, you have to ensure that you do your work and that you keep your grades up. Just like with an investment, if the sponsors see that they are winning nothing with you, there’s nothing to stop them from “selling” so that they can invest in something else. Something that will bring them more results in the long run.
These scholarships can be given to a wide category of people – no matter where they are from. They can be given to citizens of the state – or they can be specifically molded for immigrants and refugees. Sometimes, depending on the sponsor, an undocumented student may have a better chance at snatching a scholarship compared to a born-and-raised one – with all the paperwork in order. They will just need to know where to look for them.
Where Can I Find Scholarships for Immigrants and Refugees?
As an immigrant or a refugee, you will usually find scholarships the same way as a born-and-raised resident does. You just have to ensure that the sponsor is willing to aid someone coming from abroad, in the country where you are planning to apply.
In some cases, you might find a sponsor even in your country of origin – one that wants you to make a name for yourself in a place of great importance. This way, they may take credit for the fact that they helped you get to the point that you are at now. However, these sponsors are less common than the first option.
Bear in mind that in order to find a good scholarship for immigrant students, you will need to start looking early. Everyone wants to study “at a better school” and “abroad” – so, the fight will certainly draw out. Most students start looking from their sophomore or even junior years – so, it would be even better if you already have a plan in mind.
Once you are decided, here is where you can look for scholarships.
Scholarship Websites
Nowadays, everything is on the Internet – including scholarships. Applying is as easy as scanning your paperwork and sending the extra necessary documents – so, even if you are not in the country at the time of applying, you’ll still be reviewed.
You may want to block off some time that was particularly made for scholarship searching, as it can drag on for a fair amount of time. This way, you will know for sure that you haven’t made any rash decisions – without researching properly.
You may want to look for websites that actually focus on immigrant students. Granted, you may look for scholarships on websites without a particular niche – but you will have more chances if you narrow your searches. Sponsoring your NBA degree, for instance, might need quite a large sum of money.
Bear in mind that you shouldn’t ignore a scholarship just because it brings smaller rewards. Since the competition for them is not that high, you will have a much better chance of succeeding.
Financial Aid Office
Every college will likely have a financial aid office – so, if you and your family are in a particularly bad situation, you may be eligible for financial aid. The extent of the problem may determine how much money you will get – but in some cases, if it doesn’t cover the cost of your tuition, it may still cover some of your living expenses.
Bear in mind that while some of these scholarships don’t require good grades, most of them do. Therefore, you have to be careful; if you fall behind, a kid that has higher grades than you might actually steal this scholarship from right under your nose.
Foundations, Civic Groups, and Community or Religious Organizations
When you are an international student, you may want to check with a foundation or a community of your kind in that particular country. They want future students to succeed – and hopefully, enrich the community. With a religious community, for example, the students will be seen as “missionaries.”
As a result, you may want to look for scholarships in these kinds of religious organizations. Not all of them provide them – but if they do, you will have to know the terms.
Ethnicity-Based Organizations
This is fairly much the motherlode of refugee scholarships. If you are looking for scholarships, then you might want to check with your own ethnic group. You may find them online – or you may find them in actual headquarters. You might want to do some research beforehand, to narrow down the places that offer scholarships.
Your Parents’ Workplace
If you are an immigrant child living abroad, the chances are high that your parents are also working there. In this case, you might want to seek aid from your parents – namely, their bosses.
In most cases, this happens if your parent has already been working there for quite some time – and particularly if the company is quite big. Plus, if you are planning to follow the same path as your parent does, the employer might see this sponsorship as an investment for a future talent – someone they could eventually hire at their company.
Pro Tip: Make sure to never miss a deadline. An application that is late has a 99.9% chance of going into the “NO” pile – and only be looked at if the recruiter has a good day. This is why you should always submit your application before it’s too late – and ideally, not way too close to the deadline (which will depend from scholarship to scholarship).
Scholarships for Immigrant Students
When you’re looking for scholarships, finding the right one can be quite difficult. Some may not offer the amount that you need, whereas others may not have a very convenient deadline. So, here are some scholarships that you might want to analyze and see if they fit you:
AAUW Educational Foundation International Fellowship
Offering the amount of $30,000 and having a deadline on November 15, 2019, this scholarship is provided for women who want to undergo full-time studying in the United States. It is ideal for those who are not permanent residents or have not gained their US citizenship.
AAUW International Project Grants
If you are a woman looking for a scholarship to help you through the difficult college years, then this ethnicity-based organization provides up to $7,000 grants. To win this grant, you will have to complete the AAUW international fellowship and meet all the requirements of the project until January 15, 2020.
AEF Scholarship
Aimed at undocumented students, this scholarship offers $20,000 to anyone that graduates from a high school in New York – regardless of their place of origin (as long as they are immigrants). They will just have to meet the requirements and apply until February 2, 2020.
CharterUP National Scholarship for Immigrants and Refugees
With its due date on July 25, 2019, and providing $10,000 to the student that wins, this group offers one scholarship every year. For an applicant to be eligible, they have to be born outside the United States and enrolled/accepted at a college or university in the United States.
HIAS Chicago Graduate Scholarship
Given by the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society of Chicago, this scholarship is offered to Jewish immigrant children that have been currently accepted or are undergoing studies at a university in the United States. The Scholarship is worth $2,000 and a student may sign up until February 21, 2020.
HIAS Chicago Ludmila Smolyansky Empowerment Scholarship for Women
Awarded to women from Russia, Ukraine, or the Former Soviet Union, this scholarship offers variable amounts of money to women who want to start or continue their studies in the United States. They will just have to ensure that they make the due date, which is February 21, 2020.
Red Thread Foundation Scholarship
This scholarship offers $1,000 to qualifying women that want to study at a college in the United States. There is only one grant available, which is why you may want to send in your application by March 15, 2020.
Achievement Scholarship for Refugees and Immigrants
Directed at immigrant students that achieved admirable results during high school, this scholarship may cover 2-4 years of college tuition. The scholarship is worth $4,000, and the deadline is March 21, 2020.
Ann Biggs/Thelma Salazar Scholarship for First-Generation Immigrants
Aimed at First-Generation immigrants, this scholarship is given every year to students that have at least one immigrant parent. The scholarship is worth $2,000, and the deadline is on June 21st, 2019.
Chin Shui Kuen and Allen Chin Scholarship
If you are a child of Chinese descent and are pursuing an economics degree, then you may be eligible for this scholarship. It’s worth $1,000, and if you apply until May 5, 2019, you may get the grant.
Running for the Bulls Scholarship for Immigrants
This foundation offers two scholarships every year to children born of immigrants who are planning to follow a 4-year college plan. They will have to already be accepted at the college, and their GPA must be at least 3.0 to get the $1,000. They will also have to apply by July 31, 2019.
Regeneration Center Scholarship
Offered on a motivational basis for graduate or undergraduate students, this scholarship is given to students of Southeast Asian descent who are planning to study medicine, science, or biology. The scholarship is worth $500 and the deadline is December 31, 2019.
Personal Loans
for International Students!
No credit history needed. No cosigner required. No prepayment penalty.
Final Thoughts
Scholarships can be very convenient when it comes to college – particularly if you want to avoid the burden of your student loan. The easiest way to find a scholarship would be on online organizations – but you may also find a scholarship for immigrant students locally, depending on your influences.
Frank Gogol
I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.