Additional Funding Sources for International Students

Federal regulations limit the types of financial assistance available to international students. An international student that is in the U.S. on a non-immigrant visa for the purpose of study is not eligible for need-based federal financial aid (FAFSA.)

It is generally expected that international students have the financial resources to cover the duration of their study at UNT. International students are encouraged to research loan programs and other forms of financial assistance from their home countries.

UNT is a public, state-funded university. Texas residents pay a lower tuition rate than non-residents.

Many international students ask how they may receive a tuition waiver. One such waiver is a competitive scholarship waiver.

As soon as you are issued a UNT EUID and password, you may begin the competitive scholarship application process in the Eagle Scholarship Portal. International students awarded a competitive scholarship of $1,000 or more may be eligible to receive a competitive scholarship waiver.

Check out the competitive scholarships offered by International Affairs and be sure to search for scholarships offered by your department or program of study.

Many thanks to the UNT Student Money Management Center for their contributions to this list of funding resources. The mission of the Student Money Management Center is to prepare students to be financially responsible in a rapidly changing world. The vision of the Student Money Management Center is for students to have the knowledge, resources, and confidence to become financially responsible. Programs include Financial Wellness, Financial Preparedness, and the Eagle Support Program.

It does take time and effort to identify potential scholarship opportunities and that is often what deters students - they feel that it is not worth the time or effort. Hard truth. The scholarship process in this country is intended to be at no cost to applicants - from researching, creating profiles, applying, to awards. That will not mitigate the presence of advertising for fee-based services you may come across while using at-no-cost websites. Websites have bills to pay.

Keep in mind that most scholarship funds are disbursed at a future date. While you may find it challenging attaining scholarship funding for immediate needs, scholarships can be an excellent funding source to help you in the future to continue and complete your degree matriculation.

The UNT Financial Aid Office will often recommend that you research private lenders.

elmselect.com | thebalance.com | consumersadvocate.org/student-loans | studentloanhero.com.

Please keep in mind that the university has no affiliation with these sites. Some lenders may consider international students, while others may not. Most will require a U.S. citizen or resident as a cosigner.

You may also want to contact your personal bank/credit union.

Many international students don't have a U.S. credit history. Without finding a co-signer who does, these borrowers have few alternative funding options. There is a growing number of private lenders specializing in serving international students. It is imperative for you to review terms and conditions before considering whether to submit a loan application or not.

Questions

International Student Support Advising
International.Scholarships@unt.edu