We do understand that funding can be a barrier for our international students. Below are some funding options that can be helpful. In addition to the information below, you can look into international student loans. Unfortunately, we are not able to subsidize all of our international students' degrees so you will need to secure funding through the available means.

• GVSU Scholarships
• Off-Campus Scholarships
• Jobs on Campus
• Loans

There are three ongoing scholarships at GVSU dedicated to International Students. Two are awarded prior to beginning a degree at GVSU. They are:

• The International Merit Scholarship is awarded prior to beginning a degree program and is reserved for undergraduate students. Undergraduate international students can apply to the International Merit scholarship. If selected, students are awarded the Merit scholarship on a 4 year basis ($2,500 for 8 semesters).
• The GVSU International Scholarship is also reserved for undergraduate students and is awarded prior to beginning a degree. This covers the difference of cost between resident and non-resident tuition so that all F-1 undergraduates only end up paying the resident rate. 

The International Student Scholarship is the third scholarship for GVSU iStudents and can be applied for while completing a degree. Award amounts for the International Student Scholarship range from $250.00 to $3000.00. The committee considers each applicant's academic achievements, extracurricular involvement, and personal essay in determining the awards. The deadline to apply is March 13, 2026 before 11:59pm. Decisions are typically announced in April. Students awarded this scholarship will have the award amount applied during the next academic year (Fall 2026- Winter 2027). Questions should be directed to [email protected].  

APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 13, 2026 at 11:59pm

The application is now OPEN.  Apply now. 

The application will require you to submit the following information:

1. Eligibility

• You must have completed at least one full-time semester by the beginning of January 2026. This means if you are a new student this semester, you are not eligible to apply until the Winter 2027 cycle
• You must be an F-1 visa-holder (degree-seeking)
• You must plan to attend GVSU in the upcoming Fall 2026 semester

2. General Information

3. Personal Essay

4. Electronic Signature and Submission

Tips for completing the application:

• You CAN exit an incomplete application and return to it later but you CANNOT go back through completed pages.
• We recommend you type up your essay in a word document before filling out the application and save frequently. 
  • Essay prompt: “How has being a GVSU student shaped you as an individual? What have you been able to contribute to the university and community through coursework, involvement in organizations, work, volunteering, etc? How do you see your experience at GVSU impacting your career after graduation?”
• Please keep your essay at or under 300 words/1800 characters in length.
• Make your essay personal and interesting. We weigh the applications mostly on the essay.

The Winter 2026 International Student Experience Scholarship was a one-time pop-up scholarship available for Winter 2026 semester only. 

Here are some of the winners:

1) Campus Community  

How have you built community at GV or in the surrounding area? Share experiences that highlight belonging, friendship, student organizations, faith communities, cultural groups, or unexpected connections. 

Mahdi bedoui 

2) Academic Experience 

What has your academic experience been like as an international student? Share challenges, achievements, mentorship experiences, research, classroom insights, etc.  How has it been impactful to you? 

Joel Dadiboe      Siddhartha Poudel      Bibi Maria

3) Embracing Diversity 

How have you shared your culture or learned from others? Reflect on identity, cross-cultural learning, or meaningful moments of exchange. 

Geofrey Nyakairu    Christopher Khajira    

4) Volunteerism & Leadership 

How have you engaged with the local community, internships, service projects, or professional development opportunities? How have you grown as a leader? 

Halee Belghouthi     Lasya Priya Vemalla    

5) Showcase your Space (Housing) 

Where do you live, who do you live with, and how has your housing impacted your experience as an international student? How have you structured your space to meet your needs? Reflect on your growth and adaptation as it relates to your housing.   

Phil Collins Onyango   Thomas Munoz

6) The Working iStudent Laker 

Where have you worked on campus, and what opportunities has that afforded you? What was your favorite on-campus job experience? Share how your on-campus job helped shape your time at GVSU. 

Mariam Joseph    PUneeth Kumar Amudala

7) Places & Events (Hidden Gems, Favorite Hangout, Recommendations, etc.) 

Consider the GVSU campus, Allendale & Grand Rapids, and all of Michigan. From your favorite table at Fresh to the Renaissance Fair to that special spot at Pictured Rocks to the tailgate party you joined last year, what makes your favorite places or events special?  What hidden gems have you found?  

Ranjith Kumar Patil     martin Ondiwa

There are many opportunities pertaining to private scholarships and grants. You will find the following websites helpful when researching alternative sources of funding:

Funding for U.S. Study is a great resource (database) that allows you to search for scholarships, fellowships, and grants, which includes all types of funding programs for all levels of post-secondary study across the full range of academic areas based on your country.

Scholarship Opportunities

Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund

LewerMark 'Make You Mark" Scholarship

The Princeton Review

FastWeb

International Peace Scholarship for Women

International Student Scholar Award

International Scholarships

International Student Scholarship Opportunities

International Student Loans

The Leo S. Rowe Pan America Fund

Asherah Foundation | Second Chance Scholarship for Women Aged 24+

Fulbright Foreign Student Program

Rotary International Fully-Funded Rotary Peace Fellowships

AAUW International Fellowships in USA for Women

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program

• F-1 student are able to work on-campus for a maximum of 20 hours during the Fall & Winter semesters and a max of 40 hours during breaks.
• Workday is the platform we use at GVSU for general job postings. Once student are admitted they are given their GV login credentials and can then log into the site and create a profile to search for on-campus positions: Link to Workday
• Most openings for Fall jobs become available in July & August or November & January so there may not be many options on the site at other times of the year.
• Resident Assistants (RA) are maybe the most financially beneficial jobs for undergraduates. Graduate students are also eligible to hold these positions. Room & Board is provide along with a stipend (no hourly pay). More information here: https://www.gvsu.edu/ra/
• Graduate Assistantships (GA) are the most financially beneficial jobs for only graduate students as they cover either half or full tuition along with a stipend (no hourly pay). More information can be found on the graduate school's website (applications must be submitted on Workday which is linked above): Graduate Assistantships Keep in mind that many programs do not hire students who have not completed any GVSU courses and these are highly competitive positions.

Loans are another source of funding that international students can use to pay for their education. For information about loans, please refer to the Financial Aid office's Alternative Loans page: https://www.gvsu.edu/financialaid/alternative-loans-74.htm