International Merit Scholarships 2027 in United States | Fully Funded — Wake Forest University
Wake Forest University draws a clear line that catches some applicants off guard: it offers no need-based financial aid to international students at all, so unless you’re admitted with a merit scholarship, you’re expected to show you can cover the full cost yourself. The upside is that the merit scholarships on offer include several genuine full-cost awards, not just partial discounts.
About the Scholarship
Wake Forest, located in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, runs a set of named merit scholarships open to international undergraduate applicants, several of which (the Carswell, Gordon, Reynolds, and Stamps Scholarships) cover the full cost of attendance. Because there’s no need-based aid for international students here, these merit awards are the primary funding route available.
Scholarship Benefits
- Several full-cost scholarships (Carswell, Gordon, Reynolds, and Stamps) covering tuition and other costs in full
- A range of additional merit scholarships at varying amounts
- All awarded automatically through the regular admission review, with no separate scholarship form
Eligibility Criteria
- You must be an international applicant for undergraduate admission to Wake Forest
- You must be able to demonstrate sufficient financial support for admission, unless you receive a merit scholarship, since Wake Forest does not offer need-based aid to international students
- You must submit a complete application through Wake Forest’s regular international admission process
Fields of Study Covered
Open to incoming international undergraduates across Wake Forest’s majors, with no restriction by field of study.
Required Documents
- A completed Wake Forest undergraduate admission application
- Academic transcripts
- Proof of financial support, required for international applicants who are not awarded a merit scholarship
- Standardized test scores, where submitted
How to Apply (Step-by-Step)
- Apply for undergraduate admission to Wake Forest as an international applicant
- Prepare proof of financial support in case you are not awarded a merit scholarship, since this is required for admission
- Submit your complete application by Wake Forest’s international admission deadline
- Scholarship consideration happens automatically alongside your admission review
Selection Process
Wake Forest’s admissions committee reviews each international applicant’s full academic record and application materials to determine admission and, where merited, which named scholarship (if any) to offer, with the most selective named awards reserved for the strongest applicants.
Tips to Improve Your Chances
- Prepare your financial support documentation early regardless of whether you expect a scholarship, since Wake Forest requires it for admission absent a merit award
- Treat your full admission application as your scholarship case, since there’s no separate scholarship essay
- Students who don’t receive one of Wake Forest’s full-cost awards may want to compare against other full-tuition options like American University’s Emerging Global Leader Scholarship
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Wake Forest offer need-based financial aid to international students?
No, Wake Forest does not offer need-based aid to international students; admitted applicants must show sufficient financial support unless they receive a merit scholarship.
Are the Carswell, Gordon, Reynolds, and Stamps Scholarships really full-cost?
Yes, these are among Wake Forest’s full-cost named scholarships, though they are highly competitive and awarded to a limited number of students each year.
Is there a separate scholarship application?
No, eligible international applicants are automatically considered for merit scholarships through the regular admission process.
What happens if I don’t receive a merit scholarship?
You would need to demonstrate sufficient financial support to be admitted, since Wake Forest requires this for international students without a merit award.
What is the application deadline?
There’s no separate scholarship deadline. It follows Wake Forest’s regular international undergraduate admission deadline, so check Wake Forest’s current admissions calendar.