We do understand that funding can be a barrier for our international students. Below are some funding options that can be helpful. In addition to the information below, you can look into international student loans. Unfortunately, we are not able to subsidize all of our international students' degrees so you will need to secure funding through the available means.

• Scholarships
• Jobs on Campus
• Loans

Scholarships

• All F-1 undergraduate students are offered a scholarship equal to the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition for 4 years/8 semesters (Fall & Winter only). You can see the rates here: Tuition and Fees
• All graduate students are charged the same rate, regardless of residency. You can see the rates here: Tuition and Fees
• Once students have been attending GVSU full-time for at least one semester, they become eligible for the International Student Scholarship. Applications are accepted during the Winter semesters (this time of year) and chosen students are awarded between $250 and $3,000 on a 1 year basis. More details can be found under the on-campus scholarships section.

There are three scholarships at GVSU dedicated to International Students. Two are awarded prior to beginning a degree at GVSU. They are:

• The International Merit Scholarship is awarded prior to beginning a degree program and is reserved for undergraduate students. Undergraduate international students can apply to the International Merit scholarship. If selected, students are awarded the Merit scholarship on a 4 year basis ($2,500 for 8 semesters).
• The GVSU International Scholarship is also reserved for undergraduate students and is awarded prior to beginning a degree. This covers the difference of cost between resident and non-resident tuition so that all F-1 undergraduates only end up paying the resident rate. 

International Student Scholarship

The International Student Scholarship is the third scholarship for GVSU iStudents and can be applied for while completing a degree. Award amounts for the International Student Scholarship range from $250.00 to $3000.00. The committee considers each applicant's academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, personal essay, and financial situation in determining the awards. The deadline to apply is Feb 23, 2025 before 11:59pm. Decisions are typically announced in April. Students awarded this scholarship will have the award amount applied during the next academic year (Fall 2025- Winter 2026). Questions should be directed to [email protected]. 

THE APPLICATION IS OPEN!

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Feb 23, 2025 at 11:59pm

Please complete your application HERE. 

The application will require you to submit the following information:

1. Eligibility

   • You must have completed at least one full-time semester by the beginning of January 2025. This means if you are a new student this semester, you are not eligible to apply until the Winter 2026 cycle

   • You must be an F-1 visa-holder (degree-seeking)

   • You must plan to attend GVSU in the upcoming Fall 2025 semester

2. General Information
3. Personal Essay
4. Reference Contacts
5. Financial Situation
6. Electronic Signature and Submission

Tips for completing the application:

• You CAN exit an incomplete application and return to it later but you CANNOT go back through completed pages.
• We recommend you type up your essay in a word document before filling out the application and save frequently. 
  • Essay prompt: “How has being a GVSU student shaped you as an individual? What have you been able to contribute to the university and community through coursework, involvement in organizations, work, volunteering, etc? How do you see your experience at GVSU impacting your career after graduation?”
• Please keep your essay at or under 300 words/1800 characters in length.
• Make your essay personal and interesting. We weigh the applications mostly on the essay and consider financial need.

There are many opportunities pertaining to private scholarships and grants. You will find the following websites helpful when researching alternative sources of funding: 

Funding for U.S. Study is a great resource (database) that allows you to search for scholarships, fellowships, and grants, which includes all types of funding programs for all levels of post-secondary study across the full range of academic areas based on your country.

Scholarship Opportunities

Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund 

LewerMark 'Make You Mark" Scholarship 

The Princeton Review 

FastWeb 

International Peace Scholarship for Women 

International Student Scholar Award 

International Scholarships 

International Student Scholarship Opportunities 

International Student Loans

The Leo S. Rowe Pan America Fund

Asherah Foundation | Second Chance Scholarship for Women Aged 24+

• F-1 student are able to work on-campus for a maximum of 20 hours during the Fall & Winter semesters and a max of 40 hours during breaks.
• Workday is the platform we use at GVSU for general job postings. Once student are admitted they are given their GV login credentials and can then log into the site and create a profile to search for on-campus positions: Link to Workday
• Most openings for Fall jobs become available in July & August or November & January so there may not be many options on the site at other times of the year.
• Resident Assistants (RA) are maybe the most financially beneficial jobs for undergraduates. Graduate students are also eligible to hold these positions. Room & Board is provide along with a stipend (no hourly pay). More information here: http://96k2.rpybbk.com/ra/ 
• Graduate Assistantships (GA) are the most financially beneficial jobs for only graduate students as they cover either half or full tuition along with a stipend (no hourly pay). More information can be found on the graduate school's website (applications must be submitted on Workday which is linked above): http://96k2.rpybbk.com/gs/graduate-assistant-job-openings-25.htm  Keep in mind that many programs do not hire students who have not completed any GVSU courses and these are highly competitive positions.

Loans are another source of funding that international students can use to pay for their education. For information about loans, please refer to the Financial Aid office's Alternative Loans page: http://96k2.rpybbk.com/financialaid/alternative-loans-74.htm