Financial Resources for International Students
International Student Grant Program
The Office of International Affairs accepts applications for a financial assistance grant during each Fall and Spring semester. The application deadline for the Fall semester is October 15th at 5:00 pm, and deadline for the Spring semester is March 15 at 5:00 pm. If the deadline falls over a weekend, the application deadline is changed to the following Monday at 5:00 pm.
Please read all information below prior to submitting an application.
Purpose of Grant
This grant is intended to assist students whose funding or program has been negatively impacted by some event that was unpredictable and beyond their control. Applicants are asked to explain what happened to their original source of funding to place them in financial need. Students with no change in funding or situation are generally not considered.
Eligibility
If you are an IUPUI graduate or undergraduate student from abroad, you may apply for grant assistance if you meet the following requirements:
- You are currently enrolled in a degree program and have at least a 2.75 (undergraduate) or 3.2 (graduate) GPA. (Please note that we are unable to consider students in certificate programs at this time.)
- Must have completed at least two semesters of full-time coursework at IUPUI at the time the award begins.
- Must be maintaining legal F-1 or J-1 student visa status.
- Must be assessed tuition at the out-of-state rate.
- You agree to make a contribution to internationalization at IUPUI by volunteering your time.
Selection Process
Preference is given to students who meet the following selection criteria:
- Priority of applications is assigned in the following order: undergraduate students, master's level students, PhD and Professional level students (MD, JD, DDS).
- The minimum GPA requirements are listed above, but priority is given to students who have earned a GPA of 3.0 (undergraduate) and 3.5 (graduate) or higher.
- Students nearing the end of their program are given higher priority than those near the beginning.
- Applicants who demonstrate severe financial need with no other alternative for meeting this need. This need must have developed after starting the academic program. (In other words, applicants must have had sufficient funding when starting the program, as was demonstrated on the visa documents.)
These criteria will be used to determine which applicants will be asked to come in for an interview. Once the interviews are completed a committee consisting of OIA staff and non-OIA faculty will review the applications and interview notes. The committee will review your academic records and financial history and may consult with your Academic Advisor. This committee will make the final award decisions.
Award Amounts
The amount of the award varies according to the financial need of the student. We try to meet the needs of individual students while providing assistance to as many as possible. As there are often many applicants, we are unable to meet the needs of all students. No single award is intended to cover the total living or tuition costs of a student, nor are the funds available to support needs of dependents. Awards can only be applied to bursar balances, and cannot be used for a cash refund. Usually awards range from $1,000 to $2500 USD. Applicants are encouraged to consider this award along with other ways to meet their needs. Applicants are allowed to apply during more than one semester, regardless of whether an award was previously granted.
How to Apply
- Complete the application and attach supporting documents of your financial situation. This should include a letter from your sponsor(s) explaining their current financial situation with a realistic picture of their ability to continue funding. Specific dollar amounts should be included. You can also attach any other documentation that supports your case. (Ex. Bank statements, Newspaper articles, Employment termination letters, etc.) We highly recommend that supporting documents be provided. Without documentation, an application is considered weak.
- Ask your Academic Advisor to complete and sign the Plan of Study. Attach this to the application.
- Submit complete application no later than the deadline listed above. (This is March 15 at 5:00 pm for the Spring semester and October 15 at 5:00 pm for the Fall semester.) Applications should be brought to the reception desk of the Office of International Affairs, ES 2126. Late applications will not be accepted.
Economic Hardship Work Authorization
F-1 students who find themselves faced with severe, unforeseen economic hardship and have been unable to find an on-campus job sufficient to meet their financial needs may apply to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) for permission to accept off-campus employment. The application requires that students have been in full-time F-1 status for at least one academic year. An application fee applies. Please click here for further details.
J-1 students may also apply for a similar benefit. Please consult with an International Student Advisor if you are a J-1 student experiencing severe financial hardship.
If you are having financial difficulty, but your situation does not qualify as severe and unforeseen, please consult with an International Student Advisor. You may not qualify for Economic Hardship Work Authorization, but you may be eligible to use another type of off-campus work permission not based on financial difficulties.
Student Loans
International Students may apply for student loans. The most common lender is Sallie Mae, although there are other lenders. Sallie Mae offers the Smart Option Student Loan to international students, but they must have a cosigner who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. Information about this loan can be found on the Sallie Mae website at www.salliemae.com/international/non_us_students/.
Short-Term Loans
The Office of Student Account Services offers short-term loans up to $750 USD which must be repaid within 30 days to avoid late fees. More Information...
For questions or assistance regarding short-term loans, please email bursar@iupui.edu.
Scholarships
Scholarships for international students are limited, as many programs require that the applicant be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident. However, if you are doing well in your academic program, this should not discourage you from searching for scholarships to help fund your study. Following are some sources of scholarship information:
- Scholarships for International Students at IUPUI
- The IUPUI Office of Student Scholarships (http://www.iupui.edu/~scentral/). Consult this website or visit the office in person at CA103.
- Your academic department. If you are admitted into your degree program, consult with your advisor to see what scholarships may be available for high-performing students directly from your school.
- Online searches. You can find a lot of sources of income from private organizations or companies by searching online. However, many of these sources are for students at specific schools, from certain countries, or studying in specific degree programs. Make sure to check eligibility requirements before applying. Some good sources for your scholarship search are www.iefa.org and www.fastweb.com.