Admission

Types of Financial Aid – Assistantships, Fellowships, Scholarships vs Grants

Let start with a few simple questions.

What’s the difference between Financial Aid and Scholarship?

What’s the difference between Fellowships and Scholarship and a Grant?

You probably don’t know the exact answer.

You may tell Scholarship is a type of financial aid.

But, the experts will not agree to that.

In order to understand the differences, let’s look at where the money is coming from and if the money has to repay.

Domestic students have different options to pay for college.

An international student has a different set of options.

But, what are they?

Domestic Students 

  • Financial Aid
  • Scholarships

International Students 

  • Scholarships
  • Assistantships

Take a look at the following Financial Aid types from High School in NJ.

types of financial aid grants scholarships work study federal loans

 

Financial Aid is a Term that is used to represent all forms of Financial Instruments given to a student to pay for college expenses

  • Grants
  • Scholarships
  • Fellowships
  • Work-Study
  • Federal Loans

Heer’s a key difference – Assistantships are missing.

And some experts say that money that comes from Federal or State Government falls under Financial Aid.

Money given to students from Private companies are called scholarships.

Don’t go finding the exact definition. As long as you can get free money to pay for college, you are all set.

They can call it Grants, Scholarships or Fellowships!

Do you agree?

As you look at the above image, read the description for Grants.

  • Grants – Need-based money without repayment.

What is Need-Based?

Needbased financial aid is awarded based on the financial need of the student. (from Wiki)

When a High School student in the US is applying for College, the need-based college calculations come into the picture.

Students will submit the FAFSA Form to be eligible to receive Financial Aid.

International students are not eligible to apply for FAFSA.

There’s No Need-Based Financial Aid for International student.

Now, you know why Universities ask for the bank statement to issue the I-20.

If the cost of attending the first-year Bachelor’s Degree is $25,000 and the family’s expected contribution is $15,000, then there $10,000 gap.

Now, the college can choose to step in to fill the gap as follows:

  • $10,000 in Grants
  • $5,000 in Scholarship and $5,000 in Grants
  • $3,000 Grant and $7,000 via Work-Study
  • $5,000 on Grant and $5,000 in Federal Loan (with interest)

When it comes to an international student, there are no grants or work-study or federal loans.

Financial Aid is awarded to international students in two different forms.

  • Assistantships
  • Fellowships (or Scholarships)

Read this- Difference between Teaching, Research, and Graduate Assistantships learn about different ways to get Assistanshiprs and their differences.

Assistantships

Generally, Graduate degree students (Ph.D. and Master’s ) students are awarded assistantships, which fall into four general categories:

  • Teaching Assistant (TA)
  • Research Assistant (RA)
  • Graduate Assistant (GA)
  • Graduate Research Assistant (GRA)

The departments typically administer these awards.

To get assistantships, generally, students will work as a teaching assistant or take part in the research.

Students with assistantships typically receive the following benefits

  • Monthly Pay
  • Tuition Fee Waiver (or In-State Fees)
  • Health Insurance Coverage

Teaching Assistants (TA)

A teaching assistant is an academic appointment in support of the teaching of a course.  Teaching assistants may assist in the learning a section of a class, lead discussions, and lead laboratory sections.

For International Students High TOEFL Scores of TSE (or equivalent) scores is required to get apply for TA’s.

Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA)

A GRA is an academic appointment focused on the thesis or other degree-related research of a type that is required from all candidates for the degree.  The research project for a GRA directly supports the student’s thesis or dissertation.

Because a student devotes considerable time to thesis or dissertation research, the time dedicated to the graduate research assistantship is expected to be significant.

Research Assistantships (RAs):

An RA is an academic appointment for research that is not directly thesis-related, 15 to 20 hours per week, averaging no more than 15 hours per week.  For example, an RA appointment might include data analysis on a faculty research project not directly related to the student’s dissertation topic.  As with other assistantships, there is no separate application.  Students are appointed by departments, fields, or individual faculty.

Graduate Assistantships (GAs):

A GA also can be related to doing work in other departments not related to thesis or projects for your course work.

Example – Data analysis on a faculty research project not directly related to the student’s dissertation topic.

Working in Computer Labs of other departments.

Fellowships

Fellowships are generally merit-based awards intended to support a student in a full-time course of study.

This includes stipend and Tuition Waiver.

Students are not required to work as TA’s and GA’s in this case.

Students are not required to pay back the money.

Fellowships and Scholarships sometimes refer the same, but there could be subtle distinctions between them.

Comparing this to a student loan, where it has to pay back with interest, with fellowships, there is no obligation for students to pay back the money.

Fellowships vs. Scholarships

Scholarships – Financial Aid given for Bachelors Degree students

Fellowships – Financial Aid is given to Post Bachelors degree students.

But, you can use the term interchangeably.  Here’s the difference from UW Bothell.

Scholarship vs Fellowship

Summary: Types of Financial Aid

  • Domestic (Us) students applying for College wold have to know about FAFSA and Need-Based
  • International students can get Mert Based scholarships or assistantships
  • Scholarships and grants are free money.
  • Loan require repayments with low interest for US students.
  • Students would have to work under work-study or assistantships

Related Articles About Financial Aid

Similar Posts

94 Comments

  1. What strategy should I follow for coming 2 years to get admission in top US College for Master’s degree in Computer Science/ Engineering?
    (final semester Integrated M.tech student in Earth Science Department, IIT Roorkee [please note that I had non-cse and non-circuital branch]; GPA = 7.5/10; placed in a good company as software engineer)

  2. Good Day,

    I have crossed my prime (late 40’s) and I am looking for opportunities for doing my Phd in US universities. Is there a possibility that I can enroll myself with my biological clock not in my favour.

    Regards,

  3. I completed my B.Tech from NIT-Allahabad in 2013. Now, I’m doing job in USA MNC with 10 LPA pkg. I have total 4 years of IT experience with it. Now, I want to pursue MS and MBA from USA. Due to financial reason as I’m lower middle class guy, I don’t wanna quit my job.
    How to Move to USA?
    How to take admission in USA university for MS and MBA without quitting job their?

  4. Hi hsb,
    i have a question, please help me. i have finished master of mechanical(manufacturing) engineering in anna university Tamilnadu (india). my CGPA is 8.24 and in my UG 8.1 & 88% in my +2 & 92% in my 10th…but i dnt have a TOEFL scr..
    I wish to do my phd in US with full stipend. I dnt knw how to approach & other details … pls help me… im waiting fr ur valuable reply.
    Thank you?

  5. Hello,
    I am studying Btech final year and I am about to complete my degree in two months. I want to join MS for fall semester.My GRE and IELTS scores are 297 and band6. So,please let me knowthe best university
    For my scores in Pennsylvania state that provides the financial assistance.

  6. I’am an under graduate student now, I wrote my IELTS test and I got 5.5 band, I saw the list of universities accepting my score so can I get the scholarship or graduate assistant ship with such score. Actually my academic scores are pretty good, I have maintained GPA of 4.0 in engineering and my 10th percentage was 93% and intermediate was 92%.
    Can anyone help me with the selection of the universities please.
    Universities – IELTS Score 5.5
    University of Missouri (TOEFL 61)
    Ohio University2 (TOEFL 61) Conditional Admission
    North Dakota State University (TOEFL 71/525)
    The University of Texas-Pan American (TOEFL 61; Paper 500)
    Central Michigan University (Conditional admission – TOEFL iBT 61 to 78; PBT 500 to 549)
    The University of Louisiana at Monroe
    Southern New Hampshire University (TOEFL iBT 71; PBT 530)
    New Mexico State University1 (197 CBT; 71 iBT; 530 PBT)
    Kent State University (TOEFL score 525, 197, or 71; MELAB – 77 or IELTS score of 5.5)
    Murray State University
    Washington State University2
    Oklahoma City University

    1. Ayesha,

      I don’t know if you are still looking for help in this matter. I’d advise you to contact all universities you have listed above through email and they are usually very prompt in giving an answer right away. I hope this helps!

  7. my daughter get 83% in matric cbse,76% in +2 cbse ,in be teck IT 78% from lovely professional university Jalandhar in 2012, Post graduate in banking finance 2014 Manipal university Banglaur CGPA 8.16 & now on job in ICICI bank as vice Manager in Bombay.she wants MBA in abroad. is she eligible for scholarshil. when intake & what is the cost of package for USA.

  8. I am in 3rd year of BSc (Honours) in anthropology from Panjab University Chandigarh. And i want to do MSc in something like forensic sciences or some other like cyber crimes or criminology sciences from USA . Stanford and Harvard Uniz are my dreams. Can i get addmsn over there for my Ms? What eligibilities are there required to get admitted there?? Then placements afterwards? I really want to do something big and historical.. Can uh please just lemme know answers of all these..
    And yes, last questn, those streams mentioned above , are they really worth it studying there? And what are the best countries for those fields’ scope?
    Waiting for ur rply.. Thank You 🙂

  9. Well,I have completed my high school with 62% aggregate.I have done TOEFL and the new SAT.I have scored 83 in TOEFL and 1170 in the new sat.I want to apply for jan session.how can I get full scholarship because that is the only way i can complete my education.Can you give me some suggestions?

    1. hello i am and undergraduate who is looking for scholarships and i found one one already but the problem is the money i do not know if you can have one for me.I will write the A level next year.

  10. Your Comment *
    sir i have completed my high school from a military institution in the month of november,2015.because its a different board altogether it dont give good percentage of marks.my sat scores are waiting and i have appeared for ielts.my financial condition is not very supportive do i have to totally rely upon the scholarship.also the fall 2016 deadlines are over by now.so will it be better for me to take a drop and wait for fall 2017 or to apply for this summer 2016.
    please help….

  11. Hi,

    I am starting on my application process.
    Could you guide me on how to make my research effective as I have little time left.
    How to research for the most likely universities where I can get admissions and how to know if they provide scholarships.

    I am interested in mathematics field. I have fairly good profile in terms of academics, GRE and TOEFL score.

    1. Hye – Refer to the blog posts to learn about university selection. I can help shortlist Engineering schools at top o my head, but for Maths, I can consult for overall school strength. In general, you should get financial aid for most Masters Program in Math.

  12. hi I have offer admissions as seeking my second undergraduate degree and I will have soon interview I have already check the frequently asked questions but could you tell me what I need to full fill in order to pass my visa interview thank you sir!

  13. I am a about to gain admission to study Physician Assistant Studies in one of the schools in USA. How can apply for fellowship and also for a student loan?

    1. Hi!

      First I would like to answer how to apply for a fellowship to study in US universities:

      1. Start your research about scholarships as early as possible because you need spend time requesting application form, filling complete details before deadline etc.
      2. Find out most appropriate scholarship suited to your university needs and spend time working on your application.
      3. Be organized and keep your scholarship material in a separate folder. It also helps you to keep a track on different deadlines for each scholarship you are applying for.
      4. Make sure to include all required information that the selection panel has requested for you in your application form.
      5. A scholarship application is similar to job interview. Avoid spelling mistakes, illegal writing and make sure to proof read the application form before sending.
      6. Provide correct information as well as provide references too.
      7. Remember to apply for a scholarship before deadline.

      Note: In scholarship application form, don’t forget to include: academic record, proof of financial circumstances, and confirmation of your study plans.

      Your second question: How to apply for a student loan?

      1. Choose a student loan that meets your needs.
      2. Collect the following information to apply for a student loan:
      • School information including school name, major, grade, and school term.
      • Social security numbers
      • Telephone numbers.
      • Current addresses of your home as well as your school
      • Gross income information
      • Residence information
      • Requested loan amount
      3. Complete the application form online and electronically sign the documents as well as sign customer credit information
      4. Watch for final disclosure sent through U.S. mail and
      5. Finally funds will be distributed to your school.

  14. I got an admit recently from University of North Carolina, Charlotte. It was mentioned in the offer letter that if I am seeking Financial Aid, I should contact the Graduate Advisor assigned to me.
    I read the article about how to get financial aid but that describes
    the scenario once you reach and start your education at the university
    which is not the case with me. How should I contact the professor in
    this situation?

  15. Hi..
    I m a final year BE student under VTU university..I wish to pursue my M.S in computer Science..I can afford only upto 5 lakh!!I need scholarship for my tuitons and boarding over der..I m planning to take GRE at the end of my graduation..What earns me fellowship???i need a complete financial aid ..Pls tell me in detail..

    1. Remember, there are plethora of scholarships available online and everything has its own requirements. Try to meet specific requirements for a particular scholarship that you are going to apply for.

      Important factors to obtain a scholarship

      A proven academic record as well as a good academic percentage or bachelor’s degree percentages are required.
      A very good GRE and GMAT scores
      Leadership skills and volunteering in social events and organizations.
      Achievements, paper publications, recognitions like winning a certificate in Essay writing competitions etc.
      A scholarship essay is the most important part to earn a scholarship.
      Recommendation letters from professors or any one else
      Most importantly, presenting your strengths also play a vital role to win a scholarshipm reward.

  16. Sir, This is venkatesh. I’m a student from NIPER.(National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research) right now i’m pursuing MS in Pharmacology. I’m intrested in doing PhD in US. I would like to know what is the basic tuition fee universities charge for PhD scholar. I came to know that for Phd generally tuition fee is waivered, is it true? and also for getting Phd what is the appreciable GRE and TOEFL scores to get PhD in my fields of interest like Pharmacology cancer biology & molecular biology.

    1. The basic tuition fee universities charge for PhD scholar is $10,000 per year for a state university and $40,000 per year for an esteemed private university. Yes! Tuition fee is waived for the best students who are excellent in terms of academics. Besides different funding opportunities for teaching assistantships, fellowships etc are available for Phd students, Yes both GRE revised general test score as well as TOEFL or IELTS scores are required to enrol in the US university as a Phd student.

  17. In order to get a good financial aid , what are the different parameters ? Which is more important : a good GRE+TOEFL score or a good academic record ? Do , mention if something else required .
    Thank you !

    1. Hi Ritesh!

      Pls check out the answer for your query:

      These are the important factors to consider before applying for a financial aid:

      A proven academic record as well as a good academic percentage or bachelor’s degree percentages are required.
      A very good score in GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, IELTS etc.
      Leadership skills and volunteering in social events and organizations.
      Achievements, paper publications, recognitions like winning a certificate in Essay writing competitions etc.
      A scholarship essay is the most important part to earn a scholarship.
      Recommendation letters from professors or any one else
      Most importantly, presenting your strengths also play a vital role to win a scholarshipm reward.

    1. Hi!

      A student has to spend annually US 8000-15000 $(i.e., 4 L to 7.5L per year) to study undergraduate course in top universities like University of Texas, University of Florida, University of California etc. Whereas to study in a private university, a student has to spend annual US 10000 – 20000$(i.e., 5L – 10L Per year).

  18. I’m a final yr student of electrical and electronics engineering. I’ve had 4 backologs in 2nd yr but i cleared all of them.My cgpa till date is 6.95. I got placed in a company but i would like to pursue my masters in the US . Which colleges would likely accept me?

    1. Hi Ramesh!

      Before answering your question about undergraduate studies, I would like to ask few questions:

      Where do you want to pursue your undergraduate studies?(i.e., U.S. U.K. , Australia etc)
      What information do you want about undergraduate studies?(i.e., scholarships, tuition fees, subjects dealt in undergraduate studies etc.)

      Pls answer to these questions and I will let you know further information.

  19. Hi HSB
    i have a question, please help me. i have finished master of civil (structural) engineering in iran. my GPA is 3.03 and i have 1 international conference paper(2012) and submitted 1 isi paper(2012). i will take the GRE and TOEFL exams during next 2 month. if i can get min. 1200 in gre exam and 100+ in toefl exam, is there any possibility for me to receive scholarship or financial aid for PHD? if so, it is better for me to take the exams first and then email to professors to find a supervisor or now it is the time to start emailing?

    1. While applying for a scholarship, take a note of below details:

      Don’t miss the deadlines.
      Start your scholarship research as early as possible.
      Read eligibility requirements carefully
      Make a separate file for each scholarship and sort the files by application due dates
      Keep organized and gather all items that you need to apply:
      High school transcript
      Standardized test scores
      Financial aid forms
      Parents financial information
      One or more essays
      One or more recommendation letters and
      Proof of eligibility for the scholarship
      Follow instructions in the application form
      Fill complete details and check thoroughly before sending and
      Remember to keep the copies of scholarship application which makes it easier to resend it quickly in case if you application details in mail.

  20. i am in third year of btech biotechnology and i wish to do my masters from abroad (most preferably canada or new zealand) but i have a little idea about the fee structure and cost of living in these countries . can you please suggest me cost and living expenses (approx idea) and also is there any scope and good universities for doing masters in biotech from new zealand

    1. Hi Jaspreet!

      How are you doing? The living costs for international students to study in New Zealand is $NZ 15000-17000 per academic year

      Top universities to study Biotech in New Zealand are:

      University of Canterbury
      Victory University of Willington
      University of Waikato
      University of Otago
      AUT university
      University of Auckland

  21. hello,
    I am in b.tech final year now and am from electronics and communication department.I want to pursue my MS in US.My cgpa is 8.75.May i know the procedure to apply for scholarship and if not scholarship i would like to apply for loan.Can u please let me know how to apply for loan or scholarship and am yet to take GRE n TOEFL.Am plannning for next spring intake.
    waiting to hear from you!
    thank you!

  22. hello,
    I am in b.tech final year now and am from electronics and communication department.I want to pursue my MS in US.My cgpa is 8.75.May i know the procedure to apply for scholarship and if not scholarship i would like to apply for loan.Can u please let me know how to apply for loan or scholarship and am yet to take GRE n TOEFL.Am plannning for next spring intake.
    waiting to hear from you!

    1. Hi Sandhya!

      Nice to hear from you. Here are a few tips on how to apply for scholarship. Have a read:

      Don’t miss the deadlines.
      Start your scholarship research as early as possible.
      Read eligibility requirements carefully
      Make a separate file for each scholarship and sort the files by application due dates
      Keep organized and gather all items that you need to apply:
      High school transcript
      Standardized test scores
      Financial aid forms
      Parents financial information
      One or more essays
      One or more recommendation letters and
      Proof of eligibility for the scholarship
      Follow instructions in the application form
      Fill complete details and check thoroughly before sending and
      Remember to keep the copies of scholarship application which makes it easier to resend it quickly in case if you application details in mail.

      How to apply for a student loan:

      Choose a student loan that meets your needs.
      Collect the following information to apply for a student loan:
      · School information including school name, major, grade, and school term.
      · Social security numbers
      · Telephone numbers.
      · Current addresses of your home as well as your school
      · Gross income information
      · Residence information
      · Requested loan amount

      3. Complete the application form online and electronically sign the documents as well as sign customer credit information
      4. Watch for final disclosure sent through U.S. mail and
      5. Finally funds will be distributed to your school.

  23. hello hsb,
    my b.tech stream is aeronautical and im currently in final year. Im planning to do my ms in usa in the aerospace field.My b.tech aggregate is 65% till third yr 2nd sem.I want tho know the opportunities to get a fellowship in my field .Please kindly tell me the details.

    1. Hi Subhoj!

      Here is a list of scholarship opportunities in aeronautical Engineering stream:

      NASA Aeronautics Scholarship program
      American institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics provides higher education funding for student members
      AFCEA ROTC Scholarships
      AGCO Corporation FFA Scholarship
      Amelia Earhart Fellowships
      David alan Quick Scholarship

  24. hai hsb..

    I am studying b.tech 3rd year,mechanical.I am interested to study MS in germany. and i want to knw some information regarding it..
    1.I heard that the cost of living in germany is high…… is it true…..
    2.abt hw much % in b.tech wil be getting free education in germany

    I am looking forward to hear from you.
    Thanks,

    With regards,

    1. Hi Anand!

      The cost of living in Germany is generally high. In Germany, when compared to rural areas, the cost of living in urban cities is relatively high. The cost of accommodation and also private health care is quite high in Germany.

      To enrol for M.S program, a student has to complete four years bachelor’s degree program. Few institutions also consider three years bachelor degree programs as well. For management courses, a student must have good GMAT score, whereas for Engineering courses, good GRE scores are required.

  25. Hi HSB,
    I heard also about 1-time payment scholarships i.e. paid only at the beginning of an academic year and includes an in-state tuition for graduate students.Kindly expatiate on this please.

    Thank you.
    Abi

  26. hello friends,
    My cgpa is 7.45(till3rd year of B.Tech),now i’m in 4th year.My gre score is 327,aw 3,and toefl score is 104,i want to know whether i can get admission in any college with scholarship or finanacial aid?whether i should apply for top 1 to 50,or 50 to 100 colleges? please guide me if you know any information. thank you,

    1. It depends on type of university that you are applying for:

      In few universities, toefl and gre are considered as a major criteria to apply for scholarship. whereas, in few other universities apart from gre and toefl scores, the eligibility for scholarship also depends on your overall graduation GPA, your research work, your final year project work, as well as on your SOP and LOR.

  27. hello HSB..

    I got admission for M.S. IN KINESIOLOGY course from SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY,CARBONDALE,USA for FALL 2012. Can you please give me a review of this university…

    navya

    1. Southern Illinois University at Carbondale is great for adventurous and party animal kind of students. In a survey, it is rated that 50% of people supported idea of pursuing higher studies as excellent faculty available every time in need. Whereas 50% people opposed the idea of pursuing graduation as these people commented that obtaining a degree from SIU (i.e., Southern Illinois University) is a joke and in the business world people consider an SIU grad as someone who could not get into a better school.

      It is up to you to decide whether you need to join in that particular institute or not.

  28. I am just applying for Master of project management in George Washington university , I really like to join to this program since I have 8 years Project Manager experiences in Telecom and PMP certificate , I am on admission process but the tuition is high , is any body study in GWU while he / she can advise me to getting fellowship or scholarship there

    Thanks
    Fahimeh

  29. Hi…..HSB please guide me …. My major is Architecture…I want to continue my education in USA…I do not know what should i do. I need to find a university that help me for payment, and etc.
    Thanks

  30. Dear DONNA,
    I am coing 3rd year B.Tech BIOTECHNOLOGY in a govt institution in Tamil Nadu. I am yet to finish one more year in my UG. Till now i have’nt gone any training programs, internships etc etc. But i m so eager in doing my masters degree in US. I really need your advice. My queries are as follows:
    1.) I wish to do MS in Biomedical engineering. Can you suggest me some of the reputed institutions offering MS in Biomedical engineering?

    2.) I will be taking GRE test by 2013 during Jan-May period. Is that so mandatory to take TOEFL test also?

    3.) To improve my eligibility level / surely to get placed , do i really need to attend any industrial training programs? If so can you suggest some institutions offering training programs in India?

    4.) If i get my GRE scores with me by 2013, wen should i apply for the US university admissions?

    5.) Is MS and PhD programs one and the same in US? If not which will be the best option to choose?

    I am looking forward to hear from you.
    Thanks,

    With regards,
    Kowsalya.

    1. Dear Ravy,

      I would suggest you go for at least some training this summer. Ask your professors, industry contacts, senors, alumni, etc. Tamil Nadu is a research hub. You are bound to get good research opportunities if you try. If you can’t, den don’t worry as you are sure to do a research project in your final engineering year. Foreign colleges usually ask for some research experience.

      MS and PhD are both considered graduate degrees in USA, Canada, Singapore, etc and can be done after 4-year undergraduate degree. PhD obviously gives you much better opportunities in both industry and academia, but it requires 5-6 years and hence asks for serious commitment. MS is mainly a terminal degree requiring 2-3 yrs and taken by those interested in going for an industrial career and those who cannot give the full commitment to PhD. MS also has non-thesis track. Most colleges in bio field prefer PhD applicants over MS ones and also give them secure funding which is more difficult for MS students.

      Some good reputed institutes offering MS and/or PhD in biomedical engineering are Harvard, MIT, Univ of California, Univ of Texas(Austin/Dallas/MD Anderson research center), Univ of Wisconsin, Univ of Illinois, Purdue Univ, Texas A&M Univ, Univ of Virginia, Univ of Cincinnati, SUNY Buffalo,Stony Brook, etc.

      It would be better to give GRE before Nov-Dec’12 as most of the colleges have application deadlines before Dec’12-Feb’13 for Fall’13 session. You must apply before the deadlines with your scores if you wish for any funding. And, yeah, man..TOEFL is necessary.

      Hope you found my reply useful.Happy to help..:P

      1. yup:-) Thank you so much… The information was really helpful to me. Thanx a lot again..

  31. i want to pursue masters in us in computer science engineering how can i get fellowship (high gre score or high bachelor degree cgpa is required) ?

    1. Hi!

      An excellent GRE score along with high bachelor degree CPGA are required to apply for a scholarship. Besides there are few common qualifications lookout by scholarship organizations in international students which include:

      Previous university degree
      Proficiency in English
      High academic grades
      Unconditional/conditional acceptance to a programme offered at a participating/host country

    1. Hi Rohit!

      Yes! You would certainly get teaching assistantship as you are having teaching experience in Engineering field.But you need to plan in advance to get awarded with teaching assistantship.

    1. Scholarships are granted based on following factors:

      A candidate’s proven academic record with an excellent percentage in bachelor’s degree program.
      Extracurricular activities, leadership qualities, recommendation letters, achievements, a winning essay.
      Stating a purpose about the requirements of a scholarship program
      An excellent score in GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, IELTS etc.

  32. Hi…..HSB please guide me …. My major is Architecture…I want to continue my education in USA…I do not know what should i do. I need to find a university that help me for payment, and etc.

    1. There are different top universities in USA that provide Architecture course as well as scholarship opportunities:

      Southern California institute of Architecture
      Philadelphia University
      University of Houston
      Andrews university
      University of California – Berkeley university
      M.I.T etc.

    1. There are no specific eligibility criteria to get a scholarship. Most scholarship institutions look out:

      A candidate’s proven academic record with an excellent percentage in bachelor’s degree program.
      Extracurricular activities, leadership qualities, recommendation letters, achievements, a winning essay.
      Stating a purpose about the requirements of a scholarship program
      An excellent score in GRE, GMAT, TOEFL, IELTS etc.

  33. HSB please guide me on this one…I have recently received an admit for PhD Pharmaceutics program for Fall 2012 session with full scholarship .. do i need to show anything else apart from my scholarship letters as a source of support/ financial documentation during Visa Interview, will that convince the VI ?…your prompt help will be much appreciated!! thank you in advance.

    1. Keep your source of income as a backup and show it to VO only if he asks for it. Hope this helps and best of luck!

      P.S. : What universities have you applied to? and you received scholarship from what university?
      – Vignesh M

      1. Firstly, thanks a lot for your prompt reply Vignesh..really appreciate it… secondly, by ‘source of income’ you meant scholarship offer letters right cuz it’s very hard, if not impossible, to show $38k (estimated expenses for one year) x 5/6 years (estimated duration of PhD) in liquid or even as attainable funds as a matter of fact for someone from a middle class indian family like mine.
        I have received the admit from university of north dakota. 🙂

        1. no priyanka backup source of income means not the scholarship letters,its your own source of money.its better to keep that because you won’t face problem if vo asks for backup.its not a big deal to show the liquid cash,you just enquire at ur place there will be consultants who ‘ll show your backup source for some money……..

        2. Hi Priyanka,

          First of all, congratulation for getting into Phd and too with financial help. North Dakota is good univeristy and i wish you will have bright future. Priyanka, as you know that there are few students from pharma background here on HbS and i would be thankful if you can mention here what was your GRE n TOEFL score n academic background which will help me to get an idea of if I shall apply to north dakota ? I have applied to 8 universities for PhD in Pharmaceutics program and have received 4 rejection so far. I aplied at Texas austin, northeastern, southern california and rohde island (rejection ) and waiting for decision from st john , miss kansas, west virginia and mississippi. my GRe was 312 wid 148 in verbal n 3 in analytical writting. n TOEFL was 105. your reply will help a lot. Thank you.

          1. You seem to have good scores. Did the colleges giv any reason for rejection. What are your collg grades? Hope you get admit from all the remaining colleges..:)

    2. Hi Priyanka!
      During visa interview, you need to carry:

      The passport, I-20 form, semester confirmation, and visa appointment letter
      Bank statements of your parents, siblings and yours
      Financial documents of bonds, fixed deposits, shares, debentures and mutual funds
      Acceptance and rejection letters from the universities you are applied for
      GRe, GMAT, SAT score sheets and other mark sheets
      Statement of purpose, transcripts, recommendations, resume the document which has been sent for admission purpose in U.S.A.
      Affidavit support and bank letters as a proof to show that parents the education
      If your parents own a business, then you need to show the business documents of the last two year’s profit or loss
      If you have work experience, then appointment letter, salary slips ,relieving letters have to be shown as a proof to support your work experience and property documents.

  34. Hi
    I was wondering possible ways of meeting one’s expenses who doesn’t receive any kind of the financial aids mentioned in the post. In fact, I was admitted to ISU without financial aids. I don’t want to miss the chance but I don’t have the money!

  35. Dear HSB,
    I am a regular follower of your blog and I really appreciate the effort put in by you and other contributors to update us aspiring dreamers of US education about everything necessary. This is the first time I’m asking for some information and I hope you would be able to help me in this regard.
    I am presently studying 6th semester (my final semester exams are going on) B.E. Biotechnology in Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra. I’m going to apply to PhD programs in US universities for Fall, 2013 and have already decided upon some programs. I’ll be appearing for GRE and TOEFL in the following August or September(I’m hoping I’ll get good scores like 320+ and 100+ resp.). I have done several research projects starting from my 3rd sem and am still involved in department projects. I have also presented a paper in a national seminar. I was an I.A.S. (Indian Academy of Sciences) summer research trainee after 4th sem and published a 50-page thesis on my research. I’m likely to get several good recos. I’m going for an industrial internship this summer. I’m also actively involved and hold important posts in several clubs and societies(both technical and creative) in my college. However, I have a CGPA(absolute) of 7.51(75.1%) till 5th sem (it will improve) while 7 cgpa(70%) is considered 1st class distinction in our college. I have a high aptitude for laboratory and internet research. My queries are as follows:
    1) Is my CGPA low as per US standards when it is considered high in my college (obv I can’t convert it into 4.0 cgpa scale)?
    2) Most of the Indian students in the colleges I have researched are IITians. BIT, Mesra is also among one of the top engineering universities in India and some of our college alumni are in Stanford, etc. Do you think I have any chance at all of getting into a university in the top 50?
    3)I’m going to apply mainly to biology or biomedical engineering PhD programs, but I’m also considering applying to chemical engineering programs in some colleges(as I have had a major component of chem engg subjects in my UG course and the schools do accept bio majors). Its mainly the specific research areas and the professors that interest me. Do you think I should proceed with this plan?
    4)The colleges I’m planning to apply to are: Harvard(not sure if I’ll apply but its my dream univ); Univ of Wisconsin, Madison(another dream univ); Univ of Illinois,Urbana-Champaign; Univ of Virginia, Charlottesville; Univ of Texas, Austin; Texas A& M Univ, NUS(Singapore). Do you think I have a shot at any of these?
    5)Do you think the univs will consider me for PhD since I’ll be yet to graduate when applying?

    I know I should contact a professor instead of bothering you. But I needed some assurance before I proceed. I’ll be awaiting your reply.

    Thanking you in advance,
    Sincerely,
    Donna.

    1. I would like to give you a piece of advice. University of Wisconsin, Madison usually places a lot of importance on work experience while considering applications. If you haven’t worked for at least an year, it would be difficult to land a PhD offer there, btw, it is one of the best research schools in US for ChemE. So, it would be very difficult to break through anyway. Texas A&M U, NUS are very reputed research schools and suit your profile, they should be mod/ambi for you. Though, there is no such thing as a mod/safe option when we talk about PhD. UIUC and UT Austin are again right up there at the top engineering research schools in US.

      About me, I am a fellow apper for fall 2012 session. I have applied for PhD Chemical Engineering focusing on research related to Process Systems Engineering. I had applied to UWisc, UT Austin, TAMU from your list. I haven’t received TAMU’s result yet but have been rejected by the other two. I have a PhD admit from UMASS, Amherst, an MS admit from Rutgers University, NJ.

      It would be helpful if you expatiated on your research interest a little so that students with similar research interests could share their experiences and opinions.

  36. hello friends,
    my details are gre 1290 verbal 560 quant 740, 2.0
    prod engg from mu with aggregate of 62 per , want to pursue ms in scm, project mngt or industrial engg.
    Whether the score is good enough? Worried about quant and writing score, would be able to get financial aid or not

  37. Are Assistantships only awarded to students prior to the start of the term?
    I mean after a considerable amount of homework if I pursue professors to provide me assistantships after the term begins, will it be possible for him to award one?

  38. In places like USC, where there is very little chance of an assistantship, and international students are not eligible for financial aid, what other choices does an MS candidate have, besides an off campus job?

    1. None and you are not allowed to work off campus. On campus jobs are allowed and are very competitive. You need to have adequate amount of money to support your study.

      1. Thanks man, though I’ve heard of a lot of my acquaintances working in diners and as cashiers in restaurants. Would these jobs also be classified as on campus? Aren’t you allowed to work for 20 hours a week off campus?

        1. Hi!

          Diners or cashier jobs in restaurants come under the category of off-campus jobs. Generally, a student was paid 5-10 dollars for this kind of jobs. If you are under F-1 student visa, then it’s illegal to take part in off-campus jobs.

  39. Can any one tell me whether awarding fellowship is completely decided on college by grading GRE and TOEFEL score, or the professor under whom you are working is also involved in this. I heard of some cases where professors paying good amount to the students working under them on monthly basis from their project fund. Does anybody know what percentage of students in each semester will be funded by fellowships?

  40. hiiiiiii…………………m the student of betech final year n i want to do ms from U.S , so please tell me about scholarship n how to get them

      1. I would like to apply in PhD in the field of educational administration.I have done M.Sc(Biochem.) MEd (Education).
        Is this qualification sufficient to get in the field of Education. So far I didnt find anything on HSB regarding the field of Education..
        Please help .I would like to give MAT test instead of GRE because in social sciences ,US universities accept MAT test in lieu of GRE.
        Please do advice as soon as possible.
        Thanks

    1. There are three types of US scholarships to study in India:

      Government: Global Engineering Education Exchange Program
      Hubert H.Humphrey Fellowship programs
      DV Gokhale International Grants in Statistics Program
      Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching program

      International Organizations: Asian cultural council individual grants
      Asian Development Bank Government of Japan Scholarship Program
      Asia Pacific Leadership program
      East-west center graduate degree fellowship

      Institutions: University of Toledo Sister Cities Award
      Harvard Kennedy School International Student Fellowship
      Yale University Fox International Fellowships.

  41. Are these assistanships available for Spring season especially for Engg graduates in case of doing a MS program in US?

    1. Yes! Graduate assistantships are available even in spring season too and these assistantships are awarded to well qualified students who meet 12-18 credit hours, maintain a GPA, make a satisfactorily progress towards a degree program defined by academic departments and graduate schools, and meet requirements to be eligible for an employment in U.S.A.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *