International students planning to earn a master’s or PhD degree in the United States can access several forms of postgraduate funding.
The available support may include university scholarships, fellowships, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, tuition waivers, government grants and departmental awards. The strongest packages can cover full tuition, health insurance and living expenses, while smaller awards may reduce only part of the study cost.
Funding is usually more widely available for research based PhD programs than for professional master’s degrees. Many doctoral departments recruit students to conduct research or assist with teaching, so funding is often included with admission. Master’s students may need to compete separately for scholarships or assistantships.
EducationUSA identifies fellowships, teaching assistantships, research assistantships and administrative assistantships as the main types of university support available to graduate students in the United States. Applicants should examine the responsibilities, duration and value of each award before accepting it. (EducationUSA)
This guide explains the main scholarship opportunities, common eligibility requirements, application process and financial planning considerations for international postgraduate students.
Types of Postgraduate Funding in the USA
Postgraduate funding in the United States is not limited to traditional scholarships. Students should search across several categories.
University scholarships
Universities may offer awards based on academic performance, professional experience, leadership, financial need or the applicant’s intended subject.
Some scholarships are automatically considered during admission. Others require a separate application, additional essays or submission before an earlier priority deadline.
University scholarships may provide:
- A fixed annual amount
- Partial tuition support
- Full tuition
- A living allowance
- Health insurance
- Research or travel funding
Students should check whether the scholarship is renewable and whether it covers summer enrollment.
Graduate fellowships
A fellowship is financial support that usually allows the student to focus on study or research without completing regular teaching duties.
Fellowships may be provided by the university, a government, a foundation or a professional organization.
A full fellowship can include tuition, university fees, health insurance and a stipend for living expenses. Smaller fellowships may support only research, travel or a particular academic year.
External fellowships are usually highly competitive. Princeton explains that these awards may provide tuition support, a stipend or both, and can be coordinated with the university’s existing graduate funding. (Graduate School)
Teaching assistantships
A teaching assistant supports undergraduate instruction.
Responsibilities may include:
- Leading laboratory or discussion sessions
- Grading assignments
- Holding office hours
- Supporting course preparation
- Teaching an introductory class
In return, the student may receive a stipend, tuition waiver and health insurance contribution.
International students applying for teaching roles may need to demonstrate a higher level of spoken English than is required for general admission.
Research assistantships
A research assistant works with a professor, laboratory or research group.
Responsibilities depend on the subject and may include collecting data, developing software, conducting experiments, reviewing literature or preparing research reports.
Research assistantships are common in engineering, computer science, natural sciences and other research intensive fields.
Cornell states that students holding full assistantships receive a stipend, full tuition credit at the research degree rate and individual student health insurance. (Graduate School)
Graduate and administrative assistantships
Graduate assistants may support academic departments, student services, communications, laboratories or administrative projects.
The funding package varies by university. Some appointments offer full tuition, while others provide only a partial tuition waiver and hourly or monthly payment.
Applicants should confirm whether the position is guaranteed for the complete degree or renewed each year.
Master’s Scholarships for International Students
Funding for master’s programs varies significantly.
Research based degrees such as an MS may provide better assistantship opportunities than professional programs such as an MBA, Master of Public Policy or course based master’s degree.
Professional degrees often charge higher tuition and may expect students to rely on personal funds, scholarships or education loans. This does not mean funding is unavailable, but full awards may be limited.
Students seeking a funded master’s degree should prioritize programs that clearly mention:
- Teaching or research assistantships
- Tuition remission
- Graduate fellowships
- Departmental scholarships
- Paid research positions
- Funding guaranteed with admission
At Princeton, funding for master’s students depends on the program. Its Computer Science MSE program, for example, offers full financial support through teaching assistantships. Other master’s programs may provide limited or competitive funding. (Graduate School)
Applicants should contact the relevant department when the website does not clearly explain master’s funding.
PhD Scholarships and Full Funding
PhD students generally have better access to full funding because doctoral education is closely connected to university teaching and research.
A funded PhD package may contain:
- Full tuition
- Mandatory university fees
- Health insurance
- A monthly or annual stipend
- Teaching or research appointments
- Summer support
- Conference and research grants
Princeton guarantees full funding to degree seeking PhD candidates during their regular enrollment period. (Graduate School)
Cornell reports that 99 percent of its PhD students are fully funded through fellowships, teaching assistantships and research assistantships. Its packages generally include tuition, fees, health insurance and a living stipend. (Graduate School)
Funding policies differ by university and department. Applicants should never assume that every PhD admission offer is fully funded.
Read the admission letter carefully and confirm:
- The number of funded years
- The annual stipend
- Whether summer funding is included
- The teaching or research workload
- The health insurance contribution
- The tuition amount covered
- Conditions for renewal
Fulbright Foreign Student Program
The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is one of the best known postgraduate funding opportunities for international students.
It provides grants for graduate students, young professionals and artists from other countries to study or conduct research in the United States.
Approximately 4,000 grants are awarded annually for master’s study, doctoral study and research. Eligibility rules, application procedures and university placement arrangements vary by country. (foreign.fulbrightonline.org)
Applicants normally apply through the United States Embassy or Fulbright Commission in their home country.
Depending on the country program, funding may include:
- Tuition
- Living expenses
- Health coverage
- International travel
- Books
- Research support
- J 1 visa sponsorship
Candidates should use the official Fulbright country page to confirm the available degree levels, eligible fields and current deadline.
General Eligibility Requirements
Each university and scholarship provider sets its own requirements, but international postgraduate applicants commonly need:
- A bachelor’s degree or international equivalent
- Strong undergraduate grades
- Academic transcripts
- Degree certificate
- Statement of purpose
- Recommendation letters
- Curriculum vitae
- English proficiency results
- GRE or GMAT results where required
- Research proposal for certain programs
- Writing sample or portfolio where relevant
An international qualification must normally be equivalent to an American bachelor’s degree. Cornell, for example, requires applicants to hold or be completing a United States bachelor’s degree or an international equivalent before enrollment. (Graduate School)
Academic documents issued in another language generally need an English translation. Universities may also request a certified copy of the degree certificate. (Graduate School)
English Language Requirements
Universities may require TOEFL, IELTS or another approved English language examination.
Exemptions are sometimes available for students who completed a qualifying degree in English, but the rules differ by institution.
Students seeking teaching assistantships should pay particular attention to speaking requirements. A university may admit an applicant to a graduate program but require a higher speaking score before allowing that student to teach.
Cornell accepts TOEFL and IELTS for graduate English proficiency and applies additional expectations to research degree students who may serve as teaching assistants. (Graduate School)
Applicants should check both the graduate school requirement and any higher requirement set by their department.
How to Find Funded Programs
Begin researching at least 12 to 18 months before the intended enrollment date. EducationUSA recommends this timeline because the United States has more than 1,000 institutions offering graduate degrees and applicants need enough time to compare programs and funding. (EducationUSA)
Use the following process:
Search the department website
Graduate funding is often controlled by the department rather than the central scholarship office.
Look for pages titled:
- Financial support
- Graduate funding
- Assistantships
- Fellowships
- Tuition and fees
- Stipends
Review faculty research
Research master’s and PhD applicants should identify professors whose work matches their interests.
A strong research match can improve the application and may reveal laboratories with grant funded assistantship opportunities.
Contact the program correctly
Send a brief and specific message when the website does not answer your funding question.
Mention your intended degree, research area and the exact information you need. Avoid sending a generic message asking a professor to “give you a scholarship.”
Apply before the funding deadline
The final admission deadline may be later than the priority deadline for assistantships or fellowships.
A program accepting applications in March may require funding candidates to apply by December.
Writing a Strong Application
The statement of purpose should explain your preparation, academic interests, professional goals and reasons for choosing the program.
For research degrees, connect your previous work to the department’s current research.
A strong application should demonstrate:
- Academic readiness
- Research or professional experience
- Clear career goals
- Relevant technical skills
- Understanding of the program
- Potential contribution to the department
Recommendation letters should come from lecturers, supervisors or professionals who can provide detailed evidence of your ability.
EducationUSA advises graduate applicants to prepare academic records, recommendations, essays and other required materials well before the deadline. (EducationUSA)
Comparing Funding Offers
Do not compare offers using the scholarship amount alone.
Examine:
- Total tuition
- Tuition waived
- Annual stipend
- Local cost of living
- Health insurance
- Mandatory fees
- Summer funding
- Assistantship workload
- Duration of support
A stipend of $30,000 may be comfortable in one city and difficult in another.
Cornell’s published minimum 2026/2027 assistantship stipend is $36,684 for nine months, with a $48,912 rate for qualifying 12 month appointments. This is an example of one university’s funding level, not a national standard. (Graduate School)
Funding and the Student Visa
After accepting admission, international students must show how they will cover the cost not included in their funding package.
The university may use the financial documents to issue Form I 20 for an F 1 visa or Form DS 2019 for a J 1 visa.
Acceptable evidence may include:
- University funding letter
- Scholarship award
- Assistantship contract
- Personal bank funds
- Family sponsorship
- Government sponsorship
- Approved education financing
EducationUSA provides separate visa guidance for graduate students using F 1, J 1 and other eligible study categories. (EducationUSA)
An assistantship should not be treated as informal permission to work anywhere in the United States. Students must follow the employment conditions connected to their immigration status and consult the international student office before accepting additional work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can international students receive fully funded master’s scholarships?
Yes. Full funding is available through selected university fellowships, assistantships and external programs. However, it is less common for professional master’s degrees than for research programs.
Are PhD programs usually funded?
Many research PhD programs provide tuition and a stipend, but funding is not universal. Applicants must review each offer carefully.
Can I receive an assistantship before arriving in the USA?
Yes. Some departments award assistantships with admission. Others allow students to compete after enrollment.
Does an assistantship cover health insurance?
Some full assistantships include health insurance, while others provide only a partial contribution. Check the written offer.
Is the GRE required?
Some departments require or accept the GRE, while others do not use it. Business programs may request the GMAT. Requirements must be checked program by program.
Final Thoughts
International students can fund postgraduate study in the United States through university scholarships, fellowships, teaching assistantships, research assistantships and external government programs.
PhD applicants often have the strongest chance of receiving complete funding. Master’s applicants should focus on research based programs, departments with assistantships and universities that publish clear funding commitments.
Begin early, compare total costs, prepare strong academic documents and apply before priority funding deadlines.
The best offer is not always the one with the largest scholarship figure. It is the package that leaves you with the lowest realistic cost while providing stable funding for the full degree.
