336+ United States Of America Scholarships, Grants and Fellowships For International Students To Study Abroad
336+ United States Of America Scholarships, Grants and Fellowships For International Students To Study Abroad: 336+ United States Of America Scholarships, Grants and Fellowships For International Students To Study Abroad, If you want to study in the United States as an international student, there are hundreds of scholarship, grant, fellowship, and financial-aid opportunities — from fully funded government programs and university fellowships to foundation grants, subject-specific awards, and mobility funding.
Looking for International Bachelors, Masters, and PhD Scholarships in USA …….
This article explains the landscape, highlights the most valuable and realistic options, gives application strategies, and points you to the exact places and search techniques you can use to find 336+ programs that match your profile.
Why this matters (and who this article is for)
Studying in the U.S. is expensive: tuition + living + healthcare + travel can easily exceed what many applicants can pay out-of-pocket. Scholarships, grants, and fellowships reduce or eliminate that barrier. But the biggest mistake most applicants make is treating scholarships as a “one-size-fits-all” hunt — they apply to the obvious few and give up. The truth: opportunity is a volume game — the more targeted programs you know and apply for, the higher your chances.
This guide is for:
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Undergraduates, postgraduates, PhD applicants, and postdocs from outside the U.S.
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Professionals seeking short-term fellowships, research funding, or exchange programs.
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Counselors and agents who help students apply to U.S. programs.
What you’ll get here:
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A practical map of scholarship types and where to find them.
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A prioritized shortlist of high-impact U.S. scholarships, grants and fellowships.
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Application strategies that meaningfully improve odds.
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A reproducible method to discover the remaining programs (so you can assemble the full 336+ list tailored to you).
Overview: types of U.S.-based funding for international students
Before hunting, know what you’re hunting. Scholarships and fellowships for international students commonly fall into these buckets:
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Bilateral government-sponsored scholarships & exchange programs
— e.g., large country-to-country initiatives, cultural-exchange scholarships, government development scholarships. -
U.S. federal and national programs (for international students in some categories)
— e.g., Fulbright (for graduate study and research); visiting scholar fellowships; sometimes special programs targeted to particular countries/regions or professional groups. -
University-funded scholarships and fellowships
— merit scholarships, need-based aid, graduate assistantships, departmental fellowships, tuition waivers and research scholarships offered directly by U.S. colleges and universities. -
Private foundations, NGOs, and philanthropic grants
— organizations offering full or partial scholarships for study, research fellowships, or travel/study stipends. Often target specific disciplines, underrepresented regions, or leadership/entrepreneurial potential. -
Industry-sponsored scholarships and corporate fellowships
— companies supporting students in fields relevant to their workforce needs (engineering, computer science, business, STEM). -
Professional association scholarships and specialty funds
— associations in fields like nursing, law, architecture, public health and others that award scholarships to international students. -
Short-term mobility grants, summer schools, and research travel fellowships
— smaller awards that fund conferences, summer courses, lab visits, or short-term research abroad. -
Online / distance-learning scholarships
— awards enabling fully remote degrees or hybrid study. -
Country- or region-specific funds
— scholarships that require applicants to be from a particular country or region (e.g., African development scholarships, Latin American exchange funds).
High-impact scholarship & fellowship categories worth prioritizing
If you only apply to a handful of awards, choose from these high-impact categories — they provide the biggest financial relief and hold high prestige on CVs:
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Fulbright Foreign Student Program (Graduate study & research) — flagship exchange program; often the first target for many countries.
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University Fellowships & Assistantships — many U.S. graduate programs offer full funding (tuition + stipend) via teaching or research assistantships.
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Foundation Full Scholarships (e.g., rotating awards) — full-degree grants from major foundations and non-profits.
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Professional & Field-Specific Fellowships — e.g., health, development, STEM fellowships that include tuition and living allowances.
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Short-Term Research Fellowships & Visiting Scholar Awards — great for already-graduates building networks and publications.
Top 50+ Specific Scholarships, Grants, & Fellowships (representative, high-value programs)
Below is a representative list of widely sought or often-offered scholarships and fellowships that international applicants should examine. This is not exhaustive — later sections show how to scale this to 336+ options and tailor them to your profile.
Note: Program names evolve, and eligibility can vary by nationality and year. Use program websites or your university’s international office to confirm details.
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Fulbright Foreign Student Program (Graduate study, research, exchanges)
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Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program (non-degree, mid-career professional development)
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AAUW International Fellowships (for women pursuing graduate/professional study in the U.S.)
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AAUW Global Fellowship Grants (country-specific variants)
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Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) — for development-related master’s programs.
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Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program (partnered with selected U.S. institutions)
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Rotary Foundation Global Study Grants & Peace Fellowships
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The Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Program (partial funding, development focus)
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The Ford Foundation International Fellowships (varies by cohort and region)
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The Open Society Foundations (OSF) Scholarships & Fellowship Programs
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Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future (STEM PhD/postdoc funding for women)
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Gates Cambridge / (Note: Cambridge is UK) — analogous U.S. foundations: Gates-funded programs at U.S. institutions
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American Association of University Women (AAUW) Research Grants
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Institute of International Education (IIE) Scholarships & Fellowships
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AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Fellowships
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American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Fellowships
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National Science Foundation (NSF) Graduate Research Fellowship — for eligible international partnerships (varies)
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World Bank Scholarships (for development professionals)
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Commonwealth Scholarships (for some Commonwealth citizens; some programs tie to study in the U.S./UK)
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Soros Fellows Program (Open Society Foundations; country/region specific cohorts)
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American University Scholarships (institution-specific generous funding)
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Harvard University Fellowships & Scholarships (numerous graduate fellowships)
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Stanford Knight-Hennessy Scholars (competitive, for graduate study)
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Yale University Scholarships & Fellowships (including Yale Young Global Scholars programs)
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MIT International Scholarships & Fellowships (program-specific assistantships)
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Princeton University Fellowships (varied graduate funding)
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Columbia University Scholarships & Fellowships (including faculty fellowships)
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University-specific scholarships (e.g., UCLA, UC Berkeley, Johns Hopkins, Carnegie Mellon, Northwestern)
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AAAS-Lemelson Early Career Fellowships
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The Hertz Fellowship (for certain graduate STEM students — very competitive)
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The Schlumberger Foundation Scholarships (STEM field support)
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Society-specific awards (e.g., IEEE, ACM scholarships for computing/engineering students)
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Public health scholarships (e.g., CDC-sponsored fellowships, field-specific grants)
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Medical research fellowships (NIH visiting scholar programs — for qualified researchers)
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Environmental and conservation fellowships (e.g., at research centers and foundations)
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Business school scholarships (e.g., Stanford GSB, Wharton, Kellogg — many offer merit scholarships to international students)
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Fulbright Specialist Program (short-term specialists)
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Exchange programs sponsored by foreign ministries in partnership with U.S. universities
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USAID-sponsored scholarships and training programs (country- or region-specific)
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EducationUSA Scholarships & Advising resources
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University-specific merit scholarships for undergrads (varies widely — many private U.S. colleges are generous)
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Teach For America partnerships and fellowship pathways (some country-specific variants)
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Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Scholarships and fellowships (for Latin America; some tied to U.S. institutions)
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The Rockefeller Foundation Fellowship programs (occasional calls for fellows)
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The Mellon Foundation grants for humanities and social sciences researchers
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Rhodes-analogous programs or institutional equivalents in the U.S.
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American Chemical Society (ACS) Grants & Fellowships (for chemistry researchers)
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National Institutes of Health (NIH) fellowships & visiting researcher awards
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Society for Neuroscience (SfN) fellowships & travel awards
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AHA (American Heart Association) international research fellowships
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Law school scholarships (e.g., Yale Law, Stanford Law, Harvard Law — many discretionary fellowships)
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Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad (DDRA) — for U.S. citizens (note: example of related competitive funding models; international applicants should search analogous programs)
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Country embassy scholarships or cultural centers (e.g., in-country American embassies sometimes manage exchange scholarships)
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Private family foundations (regional scholarships that partner with U.S. universities)
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Graduate school-specific travel grants and dissertation fellowships
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Professional development awards (e.g., journalism, media fellowships at U.S. universities)
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Entrepreneurship scholarships & startup grants connected with U.S. incubators and accelerators
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Regional diaspora foundations supporting higher education in the U.S.
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Conference travel grants and summer school scholarships (helpful for building CVs)
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Fulbright Distinguished Chairs (senior scholars)
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Various visiting professorships and research chairs at U.S. universities
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Departmental scholarships in arts and design, music, film — often funded by donors
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Exchange scholarships for dual-degree programs (e.g., partnerships between U.S. and foreign institutions)
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STEM mobility grants offered by consortia and laboratories
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Scholarships for refugees and displaced students through specialized foundations
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Merit-based partial tuition awards offered by individual institutions
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Need-based international student aid (rare but some universities provide need-based packages)
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Scholarships for teachers and educational leaders (e.g., international teacher leadership fellowships at U.S. schools/universities)
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Library and archival fellowships for researchers (e.g., at the Library of Congress, Smithsonian-affiliated programs)
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Creative arts scholarships and residencies (e.g., artist-in-residence fellowships at U.S. centers)
This list is intentionally broad and representative. Each entry above represents not just a single award but often a family of related scholarships or multiple annual calls. There are dozens more at institutional, local foundation, association, and corporate levels — together they can add up to 336+ discrete scholarship/grant/fellowship opportunities.
How to expand this representative list into a customized 336+ master list (step-by-step)
Rather than randomly applying, create a curated master list tailored to you. Follow these actionable steps to find those 336+ programs:
1. Start with program families & major platforms
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Fulbright, IIE, Rotary, OSF, Mastercard Foundation, World Bank, JJ/WBGSP — visit each family’s site and record every relevant call, country-specific sub-program, and regional variant.
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University pages — go to the graduate school pages of top- and mid-tier U.S. universities. Record all scholarships, assistantships, departmental fellowships and external funding partnerships.
2. Filter by eligibility & degree level
Create a spreadsheet and add columns:
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Program name, host institution/organization, degree level (Undergrad/Master/PhD/Postdoc/Non-degree), deadline, coverage (full/partial), nationality restrictions, website link, required documents, contact email.
This transforms a big pile of possibilities into organized actions. Aim to gather 20–50 prospects per category (government, university, foundation, professional association, corporate, short-term).
3. Search strategically
Use queries combining your country and degree with funding keywords:
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"scholarship" + "United States" + "graduate" + [your country]
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"fully funded master’s scholarship USA international students"
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"research fellowship in the United States for [discipline]"
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"visiting scholar program" + "United States" + [your discipline]
Search university pages for phrases like “international student funding,” “graduate fellowships,” “assistantship,” “external funding.”
4. Use curated portals and advisors
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EducationUSA centers in many countries maintain lists and offer advising for U.S. study. Their advisors know country-specific funding.
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University scholarship search engines and academic association databases often have filters for international eligibility.
5. Leverage professional associations
If you’re in a professional field (engineering, medicine, law, architecture), find the major societies (e.g., IEEE, ACM, AHA, ACS) and check grants, student scholarships, and travel awards.
6. Search for corporate and industry scholarships
Companies with training or R&D ties to the U.S. often sponsor student exchanges. Search for “scholarship [company name]” and “university partnership [company] [country].”
7. Tap into local embassies, philanthropic and diaspora organizations
Many embassies, consulates, and diasporic foundations maintain scholarship lists or sponsor exchange programs. Contact them for current calls.
8. Include smaller & short-term awards
Add summer-schools, conference travel grants, dissertation fellowships, and lab visits — these are often easier to win and build your CV for larger awards.
9. Set reminders & spread applications
Once you populate the spreadsheet up to 336+ entries, prioritize by payoff (full funding > partial > travel grants) and deadline. Use calendar reminders and commit to applying for a realistic subset per month.
Application strategy: how to win more awards
Knowing where to apply is only half the battle. Here’s a stepwise winning approach:
1. Tailor everything
Every application should be tailored to the program’s mission, not generic. Use the program language; show how you advance their mission.
2. Strong personal statement / research statement
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For research programs: clearly state your research question, methodology, expected outputs, and supervisory fit.
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For professional fellowships: focus on impact, leadership, and a clear post-program plan.
3. Letters of recommendation
Choose recommenders who can speak specifically to your research potential, leadership, and fit. Provide them with a short brief and suggested bullet points.
4. CV and accomplishments
Keep an achievements-first CV (publications, leadership, community impact, measurable results).
5. Academic fit
For university fellowships: demonstrate why the specific department and faculty are essential to your work (cite specific faculty, labs, and facilities).
6. Show funding need minimally, unless required
If a program is merit-based, emphasize merit; when need-based, be candid and crisp about finances and how the award will transform your career.
7. Proofread and polish
Use mentors, university writing centers, or peers for feedback. First impressions count.
8. Apply broadly
Volume matters. Apply to many programs — both large and small. Smaller awards are easier to win and build momentum.
How to package your applications (checklist)
For most scholarship applications you’ll need:
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Completed application form
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Personal statement/essay (tailored)
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Research proposal (if applicable)
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CV / resume (academic or professional)
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Transcripts (translated & certified if necessary)
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Letters of recommendation (2–3)
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English-language test scores (TOEFL/IELTS/PTE) if required
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GRE/GMAT (if required by program)
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Passport ID and proof of nationality
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Financial documents (if requested)
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Additional materials (portfolio, sample of work/publication)
Common pitfalls to avoid
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Applying late or missing small print. Many programs have country-specific deadlines or eligibility windows.
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Sending generic essays. One-size-does-not-fit-all.
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Poorly chosen recommenders. A weak but prestigious name is worse than a strong direct supervisor who can discuss your work in detail.
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Ignoring partial awards. Partial scholarships plus campus work can still make study affordable.
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Failing to budget beyond tuition. Some awards cover tuition but not living costs—plan for housing, health insurance, and travel.
How to leverage smaller awards into larger opportunities
Winning a conference travel grant, a short research fellowship, or a summer school scholarship strengthens your CV and helps you:
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Get strong new references from U.S.-based faculty.
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Produce preliminary data or publications that make you competitive for major grants (like Fulbright or university fellowships).
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Network directly with advisors who can later offer you funded PhD positions or research assistantships.
A practical 12-week plan to start winning scholarships (sample)
Week 1–2: Create and structure your spreadsheet; identify 50–100 possible scholarships and sort by deadline and value.
Week 3–4: Finalize base application materials (CV, standardized personal statement draft, transcript translations).
Week 5–6: Draft and tailor 5–10 application essays; request 3 recommendation letters.
Week 7–8: Submit first 10 applications (aim for a mix of high value and short-term awards).
Week 9–10: Begin outreach to faculty mentors/advisors in the U.S.; ask about funded assistantships.
Week 11–12: Review results, refine essays from feedback, and plan next application batch.
Examples of discipline-specific search terms
If you study a particular discipline, use combinations like:
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"scholarship USA + public health + international students"
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"graduate fellowship United States + data science + international"
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"PhD funding United States + engineering + international applicants"
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"creative writing fellowship + United States + international"
Add local modifiers like your country or region to find country-specific funds.
Building the full 336+ list: categories to include in your spreadsheet
To reach a wide goal like 336+, include entries from these categories:
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Major national programs (e.g., Fulbright family, Rotary, IIE)
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All U.S. universities you’re targeting — each university may have multiple scholarships.
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Professional associations in your field.
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Corporate scholarships and internships linked to tuition support.
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Regional foundations and diaspora groups.
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Embassy and cultural-exchange programs.
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Short-term travel and conference funding.
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Research lab and PI-specific fellowships.
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Summer schools and certificate program scholarships.
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Departmental awards and incoming student fellowships.
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External funding database entries (e.g., scholarships listed on EducationUSA and other portals).
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Private family foundations and trusts (often country-specific).
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Startup/entrepreneurial grants and incubator scholarships.
If you capture 6–12 opportunities from each of 30–50 source families (universities, foundations, associations), you’ll quickly exceed 336 entries.
Final tips & a parting checklist
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Be systematic: Treat scholarship hunting like a research project; track everything in a spreadsheet.
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Quality > quantity, but aim for both: Tailored applications greatly increase success rates; still, apply to many that are good fits.
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Network early: Contact potential supervisors and program officers before applying. Express interest and ask politely about funding possibilities.
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Keep documents ready: Scanned transcripts, passport, and recommendation letter contacts should be at hand.
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Use free advising resources: EducationUSA, university international student offices, and local scholarship NGOs.
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Diversify award sizes: Mix “big ticket” awards (full funding) with smaller travel and summer grants that build your profile.
Conclusion — Why persistence pays
336+ United States Of America Scholarships, Grants and Fellowships For International Students To Study Abroad, there are hundreds of viable ways for international students to study in the United States — government programs, foundation grants, university fellowships, departmental awards, corporate scholarships, and many smaller travel and research grants. The difference between applicants who succeed and those who don’t often comes down to process and persistence.
If your goal is to compile a personal list of 336+ opportunities, follow the step-by-step strategy above:
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Set up a spreadsheet.
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Harvest programs from the major families (Fulbright, IIE, Rotary, country embassies).
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Systematically scrape university pages for departmental offerings.
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Add professional associations, corporate scholarships, and short-term awards.
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Apply broadly, but tailor every application.
If you’d like, I can help immediately with one of the following next steps (pick one and I’ll do it now):
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Produce a prefilled spreadsheet of 50 high-probability scholarships tailored to your country and field.
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Draft a master personal statement template and a research statement tailored to your discipline.
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Create an application-tracking spreadsheet (deadline automation-ready) you can copy.
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Which of these would be most useful to you right now?