Each year, more than 9.84 lakh international students visit USA to build fruitful careers through PhD programs. America, being an educational hub to international students, offers them perks like diversified cultures, tourism, sports/leisure facilities, distinct food cuisine, university dormitories, private rentals, banking system, scholarships for PhD in USA, financial aid, etc.
But is it easy to get enrolled in a US university?
Reports state that the USA has the 20th highest cost of living globally. Therefore, tuition fees, travelling, rental, and other living expenses are quite high in the US. Consequently, due to financial barriers, not all international students can enrol a seat in PhD programs.
If you, too, are one of them, worry not! There are various amazing scholarships for Phd in USA. But to what extent do scholarships benefit the students? What are its types? And how can one apply them?
Let’s get answers to these and other intriguing questions by exploring the guide on fully funded Phd programs in USA for international students.
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Overview of Scholarships for PhD in USA
PhD scholarship is a type of funding option that provides a certain amount to international students in the USA. These scholarships are usually sanctioned on merit bases and need bases. The international PhD scholarships are designed to support only international students to overcome the challenges of currency change, travelling expenses, study material costs, etc. Following are its types:
- Government Funding Schemes: These are funded by the government to international students based on their academic performance and financial background.
- Exchange Schemes: In this, a pair or group of countries come together to fund each other's citizen students.
- University Awards: These are offered by the universities to their PhD students.
Most of the fully funded PhD in USA provide financial support to fund the student's PhD fees, living expenses, and travelling expenses. Next, let’s check the types of fully funded PhD programs in USA for international students and the scholarships for PhD students in USA.
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PhD Scholarships in USA for International Students 2023
As the doctoral/PhD studies are burdensome, it becomes impossible for the students to do part-time jobs along with the course. Therefore, getting aid from scholarships, grants, or fellowships is better. Let’s lay bare the list of USA PhD scholarships for international students.
- AAUW International Fellowship
This is one of the oldest fellowships that provide much-needed support to women pursuing graduate studies in the USA. It provides international fellowships for PhD programs that require an application by December 1st.
Key factors of this scholarship include:
- A $20,000 stipend
- Requirement of English language proficiency
- Cover for almost complete PhD tuition fees for most US universities
- Aga Khan International Scholarship
It provides scholarships to international students from the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Aga Khan Scholarship covers international fellowships for PhD programs with an application deadline of March 31st.
Key factors of this scholarship include:
- Flexible stipend amount
- Age requirement of below 30 years
- Financial need
- Excellent academic performance and admission in a reputed PhD program
- American-Scandinavian Scholarship
This scholarship is for international Scandinavian students living in Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Norway, and Iceland, undertaking a master's or PhD program in the USA. It provides international fellowships for PhD programs with an application deadline of February 15th.
Key factors of this scholarship include:
- A $23,000 stipend amount
- Basic English proficiency
- Submission of 3 LORs, undergraduate/graduate/academic transcripts, CV/resume, and a biographical essay
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- Asian Cultural Council Fellowship Program
This scholarship financially supports Asian international students. The included countries can be checked from the official website. It provides international fellowships for PhD programs with an application deadline of November 1st.
Key factors of this scholarship include:
- Flexible stipend amount
- PhD enrollment in arts or humanities
- Submission of a professional portfolio with atleast 15 work samples
- Franklin Mosher Baldwin Memorial Fellowship
This fellowship is sponsored by the Leakey Foundation for international students from developing countries. It provides international fellowships for accredited PhD programs with an application deadline of February 15th.
Key factors of this scholarship include:
- A $15,000 yearly stipend
- Candidates from prehistory, paleoanthropology, primatology, and related fields
- An intention to return home after course completion
Other than these, the international PhD students can also apply for Campbell Fellowships for Transformative Fellowship, East West Centre Graduate Degree Scholarship, Fullbright Foreign Student Program, HHMI International Research Fellowship, and IBM PhD Fellowship Awards Program.
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Tips to Apply for Scholarships in USA for PhD 2023
It is paramount to note that a fully funded PhD in USA is a competitive task. Not everyone gets the applied scholarships. But that doesn’t mean that you should not apply for one. You just need to follow the right steps or tips to amplify your chances of getting a fully funded PhD in USA for international students. Let’s go through the pointers…
- Look for an appropriate scholarship on your university website. They might mention the offered scholarships or route you to the ones that can be applied.
- Be prepared in advance as some scholarships require you to give formal interviews or crack an exam like IELTS, TOEFL, etc.
- Stay motivated as few universities might sanction the scholarships based on a student's financial needs. In other cases, the academic qualifications or admission applications might be considered.
- Make yourself stand out from the rest by showcasing involvement in extracurricular activities or local community services, possessing leadership skills, supporting academic and personal qualities through a letter of recommendation, etc.
- Read the scholarship application instructions carefully and submit an essay/cover letter/personal statement with information on your PhD projects, career goals, etc.
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With the available USA PhD scholarships for international students, one might get confused easily on which fellowship/scholarship to apply for. If you, too, get stuck at any step or need expert end-to-end guidance, choose Yocket premium. Our well-qualified counsellors will surely guide you through the process, making your PhD study abroad experience successful.
