UMass Boston Scholarships: A Guide for International Students

For international students aspiring to study at the University of Massachusetts (UMass) Boston, understanding the available scholarship opportunities is crucial. This article provides a comprehensive overview of scholarships available to international students at UMass Boston, including merit-based awards, diversity scholarships, and external funding options.

Merit-Based Scholarships

UMass Boston automatically considers incoming first-year students for merit-based scholarships based on their admissions application. International students with a GPA of 3.3 or higher are considered for a merit scholarship of up to $10,000 annually. The Office for Merit-Based Scholarships manages these scholarships offered by or through UMass Boston.

A high GPA will certainly help you, but it is not a guarantee of an award. The specific number and amounts of scholarships offered each year are based on available funding.

Diversity and Inclusion Scholarships

The Esther Kingston-Mann Student Achievement Awards for Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship is open to undergraduate students who have demonstrated their commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion in their communities.

Departmental Scholarships

Certain academic departments might also have scholarships available, so it's worth reaching out to the department that hosts your major to see if there are any opportunities relevant to you.

Read also: Camp Scholarships Guide

Need-Based Awards

Awards are granted based on financial information students provide at the time of their admission but may also be granted if a student's financial situation changes.

External Scholarships

Besides UMass Boston's internal scholarships, international students can explore external scholarships from private organizations and foundations.

The Office for Merit-Based Scholarships does not manage outside scholarships. If you are already receiving an outside scholarship, you should address all inquiries and concerns to the entity funding the scholarship. Checks for outside scholarships are paid directly to the Bursar's Office.

The Alray Scholars program is an outside scholarship not administered by UMass Boston that some of our students have used in the past to help fund their education.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

If you also qualify for a scholarship, we can often replace the loan with a scholarship that requires no repayment. This reduces your overall indebtedness. In rare cases, if you are receiving full financial aid, you may not be eligible to receive scholarship funding.

Read also: Benefits of NSHSS Scholarships

Other Funding Options

As an international student, you may explore financial support options through private loans available from private lenders and other financial institutions. These alternative loans can be costly and are intended to supplement other financing sources, such as family or sponsor funding. Students may use ELM Select to compare many different lenders and their terms and conditions. For added convenience, students can apply for these loan options directly from www.elmselect.com. Students and their parents/guardians have the right and ability to select the education loan provider of their choice. Students are not required to use any of the lenders listed.

On-Campus Employment

International students studying at UMass Boston on a J1 or F1 visa are eligible for on-campus employment only through the Institutional Student Employment (Non-Work Study) Program. International students may not work more than 20 hours per week while classes are in session or 40 hours per week when classes are not in session.

Key Considerations for International Students

Eligibility Criteria: Remember to read the eligibility criteria of each scholarship carefully to make sure you qualify.
Application Process: UMass Boston automatically considers all incoming freshman applicants for merit-based scholarships - there's no separate scholarship application. However, some departmental scholarships might have separate applications. On the other hand, for outside scholarships, you would generally need to apply separately for each one.
Financial Aid: Frequently, financial aid packages include loans which require repayment. If you also qualify for a scholarship, we can often replace the loan with a scholarship that requires no repayment. This reduces your overall indebtedness. In rare cases, if you are receiving full financial aid, you may not be eligible to receive scholarship funding.
Renewal: If a student continues to meet the eligibility criteria, awards could be renewed for up to 8 semesters of undergraduate enrollment.

Additional Scholarship Opportunities

The Chancellor's Scholarship: This is a competitive scholarship that promises a significant tuition reduction, although it may be harder for international students to secure this due to the heavy competition from domestic students.
Foster Furcolo Scholarship: Each community college president may select one student for recommendation and submit a letter describing the nominee’s qualifications for the Furcolo Scholars to the Office for Merit-Based Scholarships. Final selection will be determined by UMass Boston.
Community College Advantage Scholarship (CCAS): This scholarship is awarded to the top 10 percent of community college spring graduates who enroll at a University of Massachusetts campus. Qualified students will be notified of their eligibility by their community college. This scholarship is a tuition credit of up to $1,714 per year, renewable for up to two years while enrolled at UMass Boston.

Important Information

Outside Scholarships: If you are already receiving an outside scholarship, you should address all inquiries and concerns to the entity funding the scholarship. Checks for outside scholarships are paid directly to the Bursar's Office.
Study Abroad: Your scholarship may cover a study abroad or national exchange semester if the charges are applied to your bill at UMass Boston and not the host institution.
Appeals: If you are a first-year student who has already been admitted to the University and would like to submit an appeal for funding consideration, you can do so here. Students must present a compelling case beyond what is already listed in their admission application for consideration.
Transfer Students: As a transfer student, there are a number of scholarships available to help support your education. Apply early, even if you are still completing courses at your previous institution.
FAFSA: Apply for aid by completing your FAFSA. UMass Boston's school code is 002222.

Read also: Scholarship Guide

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