Understanding Your Aid Options as an International Student
International students are not eligible for U.S. federal financial aid programs, including Federal Direct Loans, Federal Work-Study, and federal grants. However, there are meaningful funding options available to you:
- University scholarships — University of Western States offers several scholarships designed specifically for international students, many of which are assessed automatically at the time of admission with no separate application required.
- Private loans — Some private lenders offer educational loans to international students, typically requiring a creditworthy U.S. citizen or permanent resident cosigner. Visit our Private Loans page for full details.
- External scholarships — A range of scholarships are available through your home country’s government, multinational organizations, and U.S.-based agencies. We’ve compiled a starting point list below by country.
- University payment plans — If you need help spreading your costs across a term, contact our billing office to ask about payment plan availability.
We encourage you to explore all of these options and reach out to our financial aid office early in your planning process. The earlier we know your situation, the more we can do to help.
University Scholarships for International Students
University of Western States is proud to offer scholarship opportunities designed specifically to support international students pursuing their education here. The following scholarships are assessed automatically at the time of admission. No separate application is required unless otherwise noted.
How scholarships are disbursed:
- Scholarships exceeding $1,000 are disbursed evenly across your student account over the academic year, unless otherwise noted.
- Awards under $1,000 are applied in full during the applicable term.
- The Office of Financial Aid will notify selected applicants in writing via email.
- University scholarships cannot be combined with other university scholarships or tuition discounts.
University of Western States admits students of any race, color, nationality, ethnic origin, sex, or age to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the university. Learn more about our non-discrimination policy.
Addressing the exchange rate gaps between the Canadian and U.S. dollars, the Northern Advantage Scholarship provides an accessible and affordable education at University of Western States for Canadian students. Eligible full-time Canadian international students may receive a 25% discount applied to their tuition each term if they maintain good academic standing while enrolled at University of Western States.
Scholarship Award: 25% tuition discount
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicant must be a new student to UWS starting in summer 2025 or later.
- Applicant must be enrolled as a full-time student and be classified as a Canadian degree-seeking student with proof of Canadian citizenship or permanent residency.
- The applicant must be accepted into an eligible graduate program at University of Western States.
- Eligibility is automatically assessed at the time of admission. No separate scholarship application is required.
The Northern Advantage Scholarship cannot be combined with other institutional scholarships or tuition discounts.
The Local Advantage Scholarship simplifies the transfer process for international students already living in the U.S. who hope to transfer to University of Western States. Eligible full-time international graduate students currently studying at another U.S. institution or who have completed a degree at a U.S. institution may receive a 25% discount each term while enrolled, provided they maintain good academic standing after transferring to University of Western States.
Scholarship Award: 25% tuition discount
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicant must be enrolled as a full-time student and be classified as an international student, as per residency and visa requirements applicable to international students.
- The applicant must be local (in the U.S.) at the time of application.
- The applicant must provide proof of current U.S. status that permits study as an international student. No separate scholarship application is required.
The Local Advantage Scholarship cannot be combined with other institutional scholarships or tuition discounts.
The Global Well-Being Scholarship promotes wider access to a U.S. education for those currently living outside of North America. Eligible full-time, non-Canadian international students may receive a 20% discount applied to their tuition each term if they maintain good academic standing while enrolled at University of Western States.
Scholarship Award: 20% tuition discount
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicant must be a new student to UWS starting in summer 2025 or later.
- Applicant must be enrolled as a full-time student and be classified as an international student (non-Canadian) as per visa and residency requirements applicable to international students.
- The applicant must be accepted into an eligible graduate program at University of Western States.
- Eligibility is automatically assessed at the time of admission. No separate scholarship application is required.
The Global Well-Being Scholarship cannot be combined with other institutional scholarships or tuition discounts.
The Global Partners Scholarship provides a 20% tuition discount each term to eligible full-time international students who are enrolled with or employed by an institution that has an active memorandum of understanding (MOU) with UWS, provided they maintain good academic standing while enrolled at UWS.
Scholarship Award: 20% tuition discount
Eligibility Criteria:
- Applicant must be a current student or employee of an institution with which University of Western States has an active MOU.
- Applicant must be enrolled as a full-time student and be classified as an international student, as per residency and visa requirements applicable to international students.
- No separate scholarship application is required. Eligibility is automatically assessed based on the applicant’s status as a student or employee of a partner institution.
The Global Partners Scholarship cannot be combined with other institutional scholarships or tuition discounts.
Additional Scholarships Open to International Students
Many of University of Western States’ university scholarships, beyond the ones listed above, are also open to international students. Visit the full Scholarships page to see all available awards and their eligibility criteria.
Private Loans for International Students
If university scholarships and personal savings do not fully cover your costs, private educational loans may be an option to explore. Most private lenders require an eligible U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident cosigner, someone who meets the lender’s creditworthiness requirements and is willing to share responsibility for the loan.
A few things to know before applying:
- Some lenders may require a valid U.S. Social Security number.
- Interest rates, terms, and eligibility requirements vary significantly by lender. Research carefully and compare multiple options before applying.
- University of Western States certifies any eligible private lender of your choice and does not endorse specific lenders.
Visit our Private Loans page for a full overview of the process, a comparison of loan features, and ELM, which lists private lenders, as a starting point for your research.
External Scholarship Opportunities by Country
International students may also be eligible for scholarships offered by their home country’s government, multinational organizations, or U.S.-based funding agencies. The resources below are provided as a starting point for your research. We do not endorse the opportunities listed here. You are responsible for reviewing and verifying all details directly with each organization before applying.
If your country is not listed below, we encourage you to research your home government’s ministry of education, regional scholarship bodies, and international development organizations as potential sources of funding.
EduCanada
https://www.educanada.ca/scholarships-bourses/can/index.aspx
BC Scholarship Society
https://www.bcscholarshipsociety.ca/
Organization of American States (OAS)
https://www.oas.org/en/about/who_we_are.asp
Chinese Scholarship Council
https://www.chinesescholarshipcouncil.com/
National Scholarships (Gov. of India)
https://www.education.gov.in/scholarships-education-loan-0
Indian Government Scholarships – Summary Resource
https://www.idp.com/india/blog/indian-government-scholarships/
LPDP Scholarship (Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education)
https://lpdp.kemenkeu.go.id/en/
Fulbright Comexus
https://www.comexus.org.mx/
FIDERH (Fund for Human Resource Development)
https://www.fiderh.org.mx/financiamiento.html
FUNED (Fundación Mexicana para la Educación, la Tecnología y la Ciencia)
https://www.funedmx.org/
The Punjab Educational Endowment Fund (PEEF) – Ph.D. Foreign Scholarships
https://www.studyabroad.pk/scholarships/the-punjab-educational-endowment-fund-peef-phd-foreign-scholarships-25700
DHET International Scholarships
https://www.internationalscholarships.dhet.gov.za/
Important Visa Considerations
Your visa status has a direct impact on your financial aid eligibility and your ability to work while enrolled. A few things worth knowing:
- International students on F-1 or J-1 visas are generally not authorized to work off-campus without explicit authorization from their Designated School Official (DSO) or Responsible Officer (RO).
- On-campus employment may be permitted under certain visa conditions. Check with your international student advisor before accepting any position.
- Any changes to your enrollment status, such as dropping below full-time, taking a leave of absence, or withdrawing, can have serious implications for your visa status in addition to your financial aid. Always consult with your international student advisor and financial aid office before making enrollment changes.
Contact Your International Student Advisor
Still Have Questions?
Navigating financial aid as an international student involves more moving parts than it does for domestic students, and we want to make sure you don’t have to figure it all out alone. Whether you have questions about scholarship eligibility, private loan options, or how your visa status interacts with your funding, our financial aid team is here to help.