Unlike some countries that run one large centralized government scholarship, US government funding for international students is spread across several smaller agencies and programs, each with its own focus and application process.
The ten routes below cover the main federal programs along with the broader system of government-linked funding that supports international graduate study.
1. Fulbright Foreign Student Program
The [Fulbright Foreign Student Program](/foreign-fulbright-student-program/), funded by the US Department of State, remains the flagship government scholarship for international graduate study, covering tuition, a stipend, airfare, and health insurance.
2. Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program
Also funded by the State Department, this program brings experienced professionals to US universities for a year of non-degree graduate-level study and leadership development, fully covering program costs.
3. Community College Initiative Program
This State Department program funds a one-year, non-degree program at a US community college for students from a defined list of eligible countries, covering tuition, living costs, and a return flight home.
4. USAID Higher Education Partnership Scholarships
The US Agency for International Development funds a range of university partnership programs that include scholarship components for students from partner countries, typically tied to development-related fields of study.
5. Federally Funded Research Assistantships at Public Universities
Many PhD and some master’s students in the sciences are funded indirectly through federal research grants awarded to professors, which pay for a graduate assistant’s tuition and stipend as part of the grant budget.
6. State University Graduate Assistantship Tuition Waivers
Public universities funded by state governments commonly offer tuition waivers to graduate assistants, including international students, in exchange for part-time teaching or research work.
7. Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program
Though not a purely US program, this multilateral scholarship can fund study at American universities in development-related fields, covering tuition, a living stipend, and travel.
8. NIH Grant-Funded Research Assistantships in Biomedical Sciences
Research assistant positions funded through National Institutes of Health grants support graduate students, including international students, working in biomedical research labs at many US universities.
9. National Science Foundation Grant-Funded Research Assistantships
Separate from the citizenship-restricted NSF fellowship program, research assistantships funded through NSF research grants awarded to faculty are generally open to graduate students of any nationality.
10. Provost and Presidential Fellowships at State Universities
Many public universities offer flagship fellowships, often named after the provost or president’s office, that provide additional funding on top of a standard assistantship for the strongest incoming graduate students.
Because federal funding in the US tends to flow through individual faculty grants rather than a central scholarship office, reaching out directly to a potential advisor about available funding is often the most effective step for graduate applicants.
Because so much US funding flows through individual faculty grants rather than a single application portal, applicants benefit from treating the process as a research project in itself, mapping out which professors hold active federal grants in a target field before applying.
Embassy education advising centers in many countries also maintain updated lists of which US government exchange programs are currently accepting applications, which can save considerable time compared to searching university by university.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the US have one central government scholarship like some other countries?
No, US government funding for international students is distributed across several agencies and programs rather than one unified scheme.
Can research assistantships be considered government funding?
Indirectly, yes, since many are paid for through grants from federal agencies like NIH and NSF awarded to the supervising professor.
Is the Community College Initiative Program open to every country?
No, it is limited to a defined list of eligible countries that changes periodically based on State Department priorities.
Do these programs cover undergraduate study?
Most, including Fulbright and Humphrey, are graduate or professional-level programs rather than undergraduate scholarships.
How is the Joint Japan/World Bank program connected to the US government?
It is not directly a US government program, but it does fund study at American universities alongside other eligible countries.
Are federally funded research assistantships guaranteed for every admitted student?
No, availability depends on whether a specific faculty member has active grant funding to support a graduate assistant position.
Is prior government or public sector experience required for these programs?
Not for most research assistantships, though programs like Humphrey specifically target professionals with relevant public sector or civil society experience.