Full Scholarships in New York For International Students 2023

If you are an international student in New York, there are many opportunities for you to receive full scholarships. These scholarships range from merit to need-based scholarships.

You may also be able to find aid from your home country. Check with your embassy or local education advising centers.

The Coronat Scholars program is generous financially, but it also offers mentoring for national scholarship competitions.

1. Tuition Assistance Program (TAP)

The Tuition Assistance Program (TAP) is a New York State grant entitlement program for undergraduate tuition that is not required to be paid back. Students may be awarded a maximum of four years (or 48 points) of TAP awards during their undergraduate education. This limit does not include the amount of TAP that can be received through a school match or Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) participation.

To maintain TAP eligibility, students must satisfy a series of requirements set by NYS HESC. These requirements include: maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress and Program Pursuit, earning a certain number of credits each semester, and not exceeding the maximum points of usage per year of TAP eligibility (12 points per year).

Students must submit a FAFSA and an application for New York State student aid (ETA) every year to determine their TAP award eligibility. The ETA uses the information from the FAFSA to pre-fill parts of the TAP application. Students must complete the ETA by June 30 of the year in which they wish to receive TAP payments, or have their TAp funds awarded for that year.

Exceptional circumstances that are beyond a student’s control can result in the suspension of TAP payments. If a student’s TAP eligibility is suspended due to such circumstances, they can request a one-time waiver by submitting the Exceptional Circumstances Waiver form and appropriate documentation to the Financial Aid Office.

2. Leopold Schepp Foundation Scholarships

Sponsored by some of the city’s largest banks, this unique scholarship program picks seven winners each year to receive an award of at least $2,000 toward their undergraduate degree. Applicants must be graduating seniors from public or private high schools in the five boroughs of New York, studying one of the following fields: business, computer science, social sciences, liberal arts, communications, or engineering, and be accepted to a college or university participating in this program.

Established in 1925, this foundation was created by Leopold Schepp to encourage young people to develop good character, and to give them the opportunity to complete a high school education, which he never had. Today, the Foundation continues that mission by providing scholarships for students enrolled in full time undergraduate and graduate programs. Applicants must demonstrate excellent academic achievement, financial need, good character and a commitment to volunteerism. In addition, a personal interview is required of all applicants.

This scholarship program is available for Jewish students who are pursuing a bachelor’s or master’s degree in a field related to the arts, health care, sciences, or business. Applicants must have outstanding academic achievement and leadership potential, and be able to show that they will make a difference in the world through their work. This scholarship does not renew, but previous recipients can reapply each year.

3. International Student Tuition Assistance Program (ISTAP)

International students are not eligible for most federal student aid programs including Pell Grants, Stafford and PLUS Loans. However, there may be scholarships available through your school’s office of financial aid or from your own government. In addition, you might be able to get funding through private organizations in your home country or in the countries where you plan to study. Some of these organizations are specific to your country or region; others are broader in scope. Some of these organizations will require that you return to your country upon completion of your degree.

Most schools have their own need-based and merit-based scholarship programs to help with tuition costs. You should talk to your Admissions and/or Financial Aid offices to find out about the options for your particular institution. Some schools even have a need-blind admissions policy where they will accept you based on your merits without considering your financial circumstances.

Many scholarship databases will list awards that are restricted to US citizens and permanent residents only. If you are interested in finding additional private sources of funding, it is recommended that you visit a free scholarship search service (such as FastWeb) and then contact the international student advisor for your particular institution to find out what private resources they might have available.

4. New York State Excelsior Scholarship

As part of our commitment to access, college completion and cost predictability, SUNY Oswego participates in the New York State Excelsior Scholarship program. This tuition award, provided through the Higher Education Services Corporation (HESC), allows qualified students to attend SUNY or CUNY schools tuition-free, subject to specific residency and income requirements.

Eligible students must be matriculated in a degree-seeking program at a SUNY or CUNY two-year or four-year college. In addition, their total family (student and parent combined) federal adjusted gross income cannot exceed $125,000 per year. A student must enroll in a minimum of 30 credits each academic year (Fall and Spring) to remain eligible for the award. Summer courses can be used to meet the 30 credit requirement, but are not funded by the Excelsior Scholarship.

To retain the award, students must live in the State of New York for a period equal to the length of time they received the award. If a student fails to fulfill this requirement, the Excelsior Scholarship will be converted to an unsubsidized, 10-year student loan with no interest. Students may receive deferments for the residency requirement if they interrupt their studies to care for an immediate family member or for medical reasons, or if they can demonstrate extreme hardship.

The Excelsior Scholarship application is available online and due by August 31 each year. Please visit the HESC website to stay informed of when the application will be available.