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.
Finding funding resources as an international student
Need assistance?
For questions about specific awards, reach out to the award provider. For general funding questions, email us at oneillgd@indiana.edu.
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.
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.
Indiana University funding resources
External funding resources
- American Association of University Women: Apply for scholarships and grants that support higher education for women, including International Fellowships.
- College Board: Get information and advice on finding financial aid, and search the scholarship database.
- eduPASS: Learn about your options for financial aid, and search for scholarships on the eduPASS database.
- International Education Financial Aid (IEFA): Search for scholarships and grants that specifically seek to support international study.
- International Student: Read about searching for scholarships as an international student, and consult its list of scholarship resources.
- MacArthur Foundation: Apply for grants and fellowships, including awards specifically intended for international study.
- NAFSA: Apply for scholarships specifically for international undergraduate students.
- National Science Foundation (NSF): Apply for scholarships and grants that support science education.
- Organization of American States (OAS) Rowe Fund: Interest-free loans provided to citizens of Latin America and Caribbean OAS member states.
- P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship: This scholarship is available for women in graduate programs (any major).
- MPOWER Financing: Offers loans and scholarships
- Prodigy Finance: O’Neill’s eligible programs
- International Student Loan Center: Provides access to loans to international students with a co-signer who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Global Student Loan Corporation and the HSBC Bank of India have designed an international student loan program to provide funding to students from India to attend U.S. colleges and universities. A U.S. citizen or permanent resident co-signer is not required, but you must find a co-signer in India.