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Helpful forms for students applying for financial aid who are not US citizens.

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There are many colleges and universities around the world that may provide institutional financial aid to international students. It is essential that applicants are in touch with colleges and universities directly regarding their financial aid and scholarship requirements.

Colleges and universities may ask applicants to complete a financial aid application and to submit documentation for colleges and universities to understand students and their families' financial situation in the context of their local economy.

International ACAC has created the International Student Application for Financial Assistance (ISAFA), an application form that colleges and universities may use to determine an applicant's eligibility for institutional financial assistance.

There is no cost associated with using this form; however, it is the applicants' responsibility to confirm whether or not the institution(s) to which they are applying will accept this form in lieu of their required financial aid application and to submit all necessary documentation by the appropriate deadlines. Please contact colleges and universities directly to inquire as to their eligibility requirements for international applicants seeking financial assistance.

Additionally, International ACAC has created International Student Financial Certification Document.

The purpose of this form is to help colleges and universities obtain complete and accurate information about the funds available to international applicants who want to study in the United States. Strict government regulations, rising education costs, and economic conditions have made verifying the financial resources of international applicants essential. Institutions do not have the option of deciding whether to verify the financial resources of their international applicants; financial verification must be made prior to institutional issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20 or DS-2019).

This form is designed to standardize financial information provided by applicants to colleges, universities and U.S. consuls. By completing this form and returning it to the college or university requiring it, an applicant, if admitted, may obtain that college's authorization and issuance of a Certificate of Eligibility (Form I-20 or DS-2019).

Please note that International ACAC does not provide financial assistance to international students. We hope that providing these free forms, though, helps to reduce barriers for international students seeking institutional financial assistance from colleges and universities.

We encourage students, families, and their counselors to contact the financial aid offices directly at the colleges and universities to which they are applying with questions about completing the ISAFA and applying for financial aid, as policies and procedures vary by institution.

Once completed and if a college or university has confirmed they are willing to accept these forms, applicants should send their forms to the colleges and universities directly.

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Financial Aid for International Students

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There are many colleges and universities around the world that may provide institutional financial aid to international students. It is essential that applicants are in touch with colleges and universities directly regarding their financial aid and scholarship requirements.

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College Financial Aid 101- from Rice University

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College Financial Aid 101- from Rice University

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Rice University in Houston has created a guide for families regarding financial aid and college affordability.

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Office of Financial Aid | Rice University

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Fostering diversity and an intellectual environment, Rice University is a comprehensive research university located on a 300-acre tree-lined campus in Houston, Texas. Rice produces the next generation of leaders and advances tomorrow’s thinking.

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How to make a letter of recommendation request in MaiaLearning

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How to make a letter of recommendation request in MaiaLearning

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How to make a recommendation request in MaiaLearning

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Tips for CV and Motivation Letter Writing

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Tips for CV and Motivation Letter Writing

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Helpful tips for applying to Europe.

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A guide to common terms used in the admissions process when using the Common App.

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Applying Through UCAS- everything you need to know.

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Applying Through UCAS- everything you need to know.

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This guide will take you step by step through the UCAS process, including all the changes.

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A quick video on things you can do in Maia over the summer.

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Fwd: Welcome to MaiaLearning! - cmcdade@lincoln.edu.gh - Lincoln Community School Mail - 2 February 2023

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US Financial Aid for International Students

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US Financial Aid for International Students

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US Financial Aid for International Students-May2023

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How to Communicate with Admissions Offices

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How to Communicate with Admissions Offices

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Tips on how to write an email, message, and talk with admissions people no matter the location.

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Education in Ireland promotes Ireland as a great destination to get a high quality education and study in Ireland

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Full presentation with results from the quizzes.

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Grade 11 University Kickoff Night- Results

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International Financial Aid Essentials in the US

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International Financial Aid Essentials in the US

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A really great video around essential terms and needs for understanding financial aid in the US for international students.

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Bishop+ Series: International Financial Aid Essentials

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Focus on Student FIT

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From the College Essay Guy, this is an easy to copy form to start keeping track of your schools of interests, admissions guidelines, etc.

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List of schools around the world that offer scholarships for students who complete the IB Diploma

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If you are entering university this year or next, keep your eyes open for scholarship opportunities that may be offered by your top university choice. Browse the opportunities below to help get you started. For students entering university in the United States, also consider our IB exam credit guide to save time and money as you complete your degree.

Are you an IB graduate? Join the IB Alumni Network by visiting ibo.org/alumni. Last updated October 2019.

SP Jain is a business school with campuses in Dubai, Mumbai, Singapore and Sydney, awarding scholarships based on a minimum score of 38 on the IB diploma. Eligibility is determined upon admission. Students must check the scholarship box on the online application and describe their need for financial assistance in the application essay.

Minerva Schools at KGI, in support of IB's and Minerva's shared commitment to world class education, offers a $10,000 scholarship to an IB student, admitted to Minerva, who demonstrates financial need.

SCAD - The University for Creative Careers offers renewable merit scholarships ranging from USD $3,000 to $15,000 based on IB diploma scores.

France

The American University of Paris says IB students are among the strongest and most active students on campus. It offers automatic IB Scholarships based on final IB diploma scores, plus consideration for additional need-based funding. Awards range from €5,000 to €20,000 per year. IB students also may earn advanced standing university credit and the university.

Hong Kong

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, considers all Diploma holders and candidates for the University entrance Scholarship. Based on exam scores, the award ranges from around HK $10,000 to HK $40,000 (approximately $1000 USD - $5000 USD). No application is required for consideration.

Singapore

Singapore Citizens, yes anyone with permanent residence in Singapore. Upcoming IB graduates in Singapore are encouraged to apply for this Ministry of Trade and Industry undergraduate scholarship focusing on Economics. It covers tuition fees and other approved charges, airfare and possible sponsorship of a Master's degree.

Spain

IE University, in Segovia, Spain is awarding four scholarships to IB diploma holders valued at 75% of the cost of tuition. Three of these scholarships are awarded to applicants based in one of three distinct geographic regions, while the fourth is reserved for a student demonstrating financial need.

Additional tips for the university application process:

Admissions teams offer insight to the questions they often get asked about International Baccalaureate programmes and why IB students add value to top tier universities.

A collection of more resources and essays intended to be an informal guide for Year 1 and 2 IB Diploma Programme (DP) and Career-related Programme (CP) students.

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If you are entering university this year or next, keep your eyes open for scholarship opportunities that may be offered by your top university choice. Browse the opportunities below to help get you started. For students entering university in the United States, also consider our IB exam credit guide to save time and money as you complete your degree.

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Government supported site for students interested in studying in Japan.

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Government-approved website with useful information on studying in Japan, such as the education system, exams, scholarships, and Japan's attractions.

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UCAS- One stop shop for all things UK Study

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UCAS- One stop shop for all things UK Study

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A place to find more majors, admission requirements, etc, focused on schools in the United Kingdom.

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UCAS connects people to University, post Uni studies including teacher training, apprenticeships & internships. Find all the information for your next step.

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A clean database to look up schools based on programs, and provide basic admissions data.

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Search our database of Canadian schools, programs, scholarships and careers to find the information that you need to make a smart decision. Sort by location, degree type, field of interest and more. Start your international education off right with StudyinCanada!

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Focus on research and fit

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This database lists various research links covering schools around the world giving you information to make informed choices.

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Copy of Online University Research Links - Updated January 2022.xlsx

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Breakdown of Admission Options in the US. 

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Breakdown of Admission Options in the US. 

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-Disclaimer: For the purposes of this article, an "international student" is a student who is a "nonresident alien"-not a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or eligible non-resident, who has not passed the green card test or the substantial presence test-, regardless of where the student completed his/her high school education. "College" and "university" are also used interchangeably.
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So you're thinking about college applications. You're scrolling through college websites, making lists of pros and cons about different schools, researching enrollment requirements and tuition costs. Perhaps you're starting to imagine yourself on a college campus - imagining what you'll be studying and what your roommate will be like.

It's an exciting time-but overwhelming as well. Let's face it: applying to college is hard! Too often, we see students make the same mistakes year after year.

So, we've compiled this list: the 10 most common mistakes international students make during the planning and application processes, and our advice to make sure you don't repeat them.

1. Applying to universities/countries you can't afford

Sandy had always dreamed of attending college in a big city. Growing up in a small town, they knew higher education was their chance to experience the excitement of urban life: restaurants, museums, public transit! So Sandy filled their college list accordingly: UCLA, King's College London, University of Amsterdam, National University of Singapore, University of Sydney...the bigger the city, the better. Sandy's family could afford to pay about USD 10,000 a year for their higher education, but Sandy was confident they would be able to find a way to pay.

When it came time to receive decisions, Sandy was receiving some acceptances from schools on their list (schools that don't factor in the family's ability to afford the total cost of the education). But...they weren't getting scholarship offers to reduce the total price, thereby matching their budget.

Sandy hadn't realized that many of the schools on their list didn't offer financial aid, and expected students to find their own means to afford their education. So Sandy began scrambling to research external scholarships and found that many deadlines had passed in the locations they had been considering.

Our advice: No matter how strong your applications are, it is not safe to plan on being "the one" student who is going to receive the full financial support you need to make your higher education financially possible. Research the actual costs of college before making your list: it is very important to have universities, both at home and abroad, that fit your total budget. You can also learn about what funding opportunities are available from the university, but also keep in mind how competitive it is to get those funds.

2. Only focusing on the most selective U.S. universities that offer full financial support

Edgardo had an idea that his chances of being accepted at a U.S. school with a "full ride," as much financial support as possible to cover all expenses of his higher education was a reach, but it was only when he went through the entire application season that he had learned the hard way. Cornell, Williams, Middlebury, and others, had all denied him an acceptance.

Our advice: This situation is such a common struggle that we wrote an entire guide dedicated to The Hard Truth About Getting a Full Scholarship in the USA for International Students (Tips + Guide).Take your time to read it carefully and work through the recommendations about how moving forward with your higher education can still be possible.

3. Thinking that working while studying will be able to pay for all your indirect costs

Karla is from Guatemala. As she began the process of applying to colleges, she knew that cost was a limiting factor for her family. When she received some financial aid from Grinnell College in Iowa, she was excited and quickly began making a budget that included both the remaining cost of tuition and indirect costs for her first year. She calculated that if she worked 25 hours outside of classes, she'd be able to cover the remaining tuition costs and her indirect costs. She knew this would be a heavy load, but she was up for the challenge.

What Karla didn't realize is that, as an international student, there would be limitations on how much and where she could work. Karla would be limited to work-study opportunities and to working a maximum of 12 hours/week. Her student visa wouldn't allow her to get a job at a local café or restaurant to cover her remaining expenses.

Our advice: If you're planning to work while in college, be sure to research the work restrictions that come along with your student visa. Many student visas allow students to either only work on-campus or to work up to 20 hours, but it will depend on the country's regulations. In addition, being a student is a huge time commitment. Even if you're legally able to work, be realistic about how much you can work while still prioritizing your academics.

4. Not assessing your fit with your chosen major before you apply

Giuseppe said he wanted to study medicine: his family suggested he would be good at it, and there was a university in his country that would support him. He passed the national exam and...he was in!

But time passed. The coursework was rigorous, and semester after semester started to drag on for Giuseppe. He wasn't resonating with what he was studying, and working through his coursework became a chore. Had he wasted some time and energy? What should he do?

Our advice: Research the coursework, number of years for the degree, and job and graduate school placements. Speak with students in the program/degree you are interested in before you apply or commit to a university. Ask about mentorship and support that the university can provide for you. Ask people who you know well about areas that they think you would be successful in: ask them where they see you in five years, and in 10 years. Research the flexibility you have to change programs or majors. Take career, personality, and/or interest inventory assessments before you apply to college and evaluate the results carefully.

5. Applying to too many universities

Ivan is from Ukraine and was on a gap year when he maxed out his Common Application with 20 schools. Although he's busy with his start up and has responsibilities at home with family and their small business, it took him three straight months to fill out his applications. In addition, he was applying to universities that were not on the Common Application, each with their own deadlines and applications. He was really stressed.

Although it wasn't intentional, it was truly hard for him to thoroughly research and interact with each school, resulting in varied quality across his applications.

He also didn't realize that the financial paperwork involved for each of his 20 schools would be so time-consuming, or that when he wanted to update his colleges with new information about his Duolingo score and then again regarding how his internship was cancelled after he had applied, each update would require more than 20 separate emails. His essays were recycled (which can be an awesome technique), but his ultimate message to each school varied in terms of quality, especially as deadlines approached.

Our advice: Be intentional with your school list. Ask yourself how much time you really have to dedicate not only to the research needed, but also to the applications themselves. Start with a balanced U.S./ non-U.S. list of your favorite safeties, fits, and reaches (including affordable options). Make a plan to perhaps later add more schools based on the time you have to invest in each.

6. Not prioritizing international student support in a university in conjunction with academic and financial fit

Sofia was dreaming of attending college far from home: the university she chose had a strong culinary arts program-her program of interest-and was in a location that was accessible for her to fly back home rather easily. Her parents said they could afford it and only wanted to see her happy. Sofia felt happy with her choice.

However, when Sofia arrived, there was not an Orientation Day or Week to get her settled in her new home, and no "Buddy System'' with student ambassadors to meet new students. In addition, she was placed in a residence that was far from her classes, so it made it difficult to share meal times with other freshmen. It seemed that her classmates were all friends already, since most came from the surrounding area, and she found it hard to integrate. She hadn't looked up where students were from, if anyone spoke one of her native languages, and didn't think to ask about campus services, such as a counseling center. She felt very homesick.

Our advice: Before you apply, ask to speak to current students on campus by connecting with the Admission Office to find someone who matches your background and interests. Look through student blogs and takeovers on social media to learn what students are like. Research what services the university of your dreams has to offer and evaluate what's important to you. Will it help you to be picked up from the airport? Will the housing offered (or not offered) help you meet other students easily? Where do students spend holidays: will they fly home or will there be other students on campus?

Ultimately, who can you speak to both before and after you arrive to help support you?

7. Not applying to universities in your home country/closest city

João wants to study outside of Brazil after high school. He has a tuition-free public university within a commutable distance, but he sets his focus on applying to only universities abroad. What opportunities might he be missing out on?

Our advice: Value the higher education possibilities that surround you. Ask yourself why you want to study in another country in the first place: what are your five year goals? Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Do you have to study outside of your home country? What if your Plan A falls apart? Consider alternative routes that could bring you to your ultimate goal.

Instead of relying on hearsay, inform yourself of your local higher education options, any applicable entrance exams, deadlines for application, and total cost.

8. Recalculating your high school grade point average (GPA)

Arturo is graduating with a high school diploma from Panama, which uses the 5.0 scale to report final grades to students. However, as he looks at U.S. university first year profiles and information about scholarships, he notices a term over and over again: " grade point average," a number listed out of 4.0. The good math student that he is, Arturo decides to use cross multiplication to convert his 4.4 out of 5.0 grade point average to the 4.0 scale, giving him a 3.52 out of 4.0.

Our advice: DO NOT RECALCULATE YOUR HIGH SCHOOL GRADES! A university representative will always read your entire application, including your transcript with whatever grading scale is provided, in context and with their own internal matrices. If you aren't certain if your grades in high school make you a great candidate for a university, specific program, or scholarship, reach out to the admission office directly and ask for clarification. They appreciate hearing from you and it's a good way to begin building a connection.

9. Making mistakes on your financial aid application

Zhang was feeling really good about his applications. They were excellent and finished way ahead of time. He'd already submitted his CSS profile or International Student Financial Aid Application (ISFAA) to every U.S. school on his list. Most of the financial terms were new to him, but he used Google translate when looking at finances with his parents. When April decisions came around, he was thrilled he had gotten into an institution that was going to meet 100% of his demonstrated need! When he looked at the financial aid package, though, he realized it was much lower than what he really needed. He thought he may have made a mistake on his financial aid forms and wrote a financial appeal letter to his university, using this guide. He also listened to Joan Liu's podcast and realized he should have listed the universities he was applying to on his financial aid application in alphabetical order, that way avoiding any possibility of indicating his preferences to his universities.

Our advice: Read this step-by-step financial aid guide and, if you can, try to get someone with expertise to carefully read your financial aid documents. If you don't have someone who can help, reach out to your local EducationUSA office.

10. Failing to complete additional requirements after submission

Cho was feeling positive about her applications! She had followed the guidance for the non-US timeline and submitted all of her materials by each respective deadline. Now that the hard work of applying was over, Cho turned her attention back to her homework, school activities, and getting a little break from all this college "stuff." Unfortunately, by putting college in the back of her mind during the waiting-to-hear-back period, Cho was missing emails from schools indicating that she was missing documents. She didn't check all of her portals after applying either.

The result? One U.S. school never received her Certificate of Finance form, while another in Canada reached out to her regarding an English language proficiency test. There was also a university in Singapore where Cho's counselor had already sent her academic transcript, yet they seemed to be missing some grade information. When it came time to receive her decisions, Cho was surprised to see that her applications had been withdrawn or marked as incomplete for three of her universities.

Our advice: Once you've submitted your applications you still have a job to do-check your email! Colleges and universities will alert you to missing documents via email or in your application portal on their website. Make sure you regularly check your "spam" or "junk" email too.

What's next? Keep reading, friends, so that you stay informed. We want you to have successful planning and application experiences.

Action Items:

1. Start identifying your priorities and developing a school list. Take a look at How to Develop a Great College List When Applying to Schools Outside the U.S. and How to Research Colleges Outside of the U.S. for lots of helpful guidance.

2. If cost is a determining factor for you, talk with your family and be realistic about what's feasible for you. Take a look at:

3. As you start applying to schools and for financial aid, carefully follow application instructions and make sure you have all documents you need (and any translations!). Check out Non-U.S. College Application & Admissions Timeline and, if you'll be applying for financial aid in the US, A Step-by-Step Financial Aid Guide for International Students.

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10 Common Mistakes International Students Make When Applying to College (+ Mini Case Studies)

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Disclaimer: For the purposes of this article, an "international student" is a student who is a " nonresident alien "-not a U.S. citizen, U.S. national or eligible non-resident , who has not passed the green card test or the substantial presence test-, regardless of where the student completed his/her high school education.

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Erasmus University Programs with IB Requirements

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Erasmus University Programs with IB Requirements

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Using Erasmus as a guide, this can give you insight about what is needed to get in to a program in the Netherlands.