Funding for International Students

Finding funding resources as an international student

Finding financial assistance for your education in the United States can be a challenge, but resources are available. Start looking for funding as soon as you begin your application process. First, research funding options in your home country. Then, explore the resources below. You can apply for funding after you are admitted to your degree program. 

Fellowships and assistantships through the O’Neill School

We offer incoming students a generous amount of funding through a competitive award process each semester—approximately 50 percent of incoming students receive fellowship awards from O’Neill.

Fellowships are available to students pursuing their Master of Public Affairs (MPA), Master of Science in Environmental Science (MSES), MPA-MSES, Master of Environmental Sustainability (MES), Master of Science in Healthcare Management (MSHM), Master of International Affairs (MIA), Master of Arts in Arts Administration (MAAA), and MAAA-MPA. 

To apply

Submit your complete application by the priority deadline to be considered for O’Neill School Fellowships. You will need to answer the Financial Aid questions found in the Program Materials section of the online application to be considered for all opportunities. We strongly recommend that you provide information in the Financial Aid section that accurately reflects your financial need. We encourage you to be as compressive as possible. Please note that answers to questions in this section of the application will not influence an admissions decision, but rather will be utilized in the fellowship decision process.

How to Apply 

The decision process

Academic and professional achievements, extracurricular and volunteer activities, recommendation letters, and responses to application questions are among the factors considered when selecting fellowship recipients. Decisions are made based on how your overall credentials compare to those of other applicants in that current year.

Award notification

O'Neill School Fellowship decisions are made separately from admission decisions—your admission notification will not be accompanied by an award offer. After the priority deadline, we begin making funding decisions. You will be notified of your selection for an award in early March.

 *Priority deadlines for each program can be found on the How to Apply page. 

We offer many graduate and teaching assistantship positions throughout the academic year right here at O’Neill. These positions support classroom instruction, faculty research, and administrative functions. Graduate and teaching assistants typically work between 10 and 15 hours per week and are paid at an hourly rate. We will notify students of these opportunities as they arise.

Assistantships are available to students pursuing their Master of Public Affairs (MPA), Master of Science in Environmental Science (MSES), MPA-MSES, Master of Environmental Sustainability (MES), Master of Science in Healthcare Management (MSHM), Master of International Affairs (MIA), Master of Arts in Arts Administration (MAAA), and MAAA-MPA. 

50 years at O'Neill