Planning to study in the USA? The University of Alabama (UA) offers a range of scholarships and assistantships for international students in both undergraduate and graduate programs. Whether you’re a high-achieving high school student or a graduate applicant, UA provides opportunities to ease your financial burden while pursuing a degree in the United States.
Here’s a complete guide to the international scholarships, eligibility requirements, visa updates, and how to apply in 2025.
The University of Alabama offers merit-based undergraduate and graduate scholarships for international students in 2025. These include automatic scholarships based on GPA and test scores, competitive departmental awards, and assistantships. External funding options and visa policy updates are also available to support global applicants.
Undergraduate Scholarships for International Students
The University of Alabama offers merit-based scholarships for first-year and transfer international students. Scholarships fall into the following categories:
1. Automatic Merit Scholarships
Awarded based on:
- High school GPA
- Standardized test scores (ACT or SAT)
No separate application is required. Scholarships are automatically awarded upon admission.
2. Competitive Scholarships
- Require a separate application
- Awarded based on academic excellence, leadership, and extracurricular achievements
3. Departmental Scholarships
Many UA colleges offer their own scholarships:
- College of Engineering
- Honors College
- College of Communication and Information Sciences
- College of Education
- Culverhouse College of Business
- School of Social Work
- College of Nursing
- College of Human Environmental Sciences
How to Apply for Undergraduate Scholarships
Visit these official pages:
- UA International Freshman Scholarships
- UA International Transfer Scholarships
- General UA Scholarships Page
Ensure you meet the deadlines and submit all required documents on time.
Graduate Scholarships & Assistantships
UA offers various funding opportunities for graduate international students, including:
1. Graduate Assistantships
- Cover tuition and fees
- Provide a stipend in exchange for teaching or research duties
- Apply through your academic department
2. Graduate Fellowships & Department-Specific Awards
- Offered by departments like Engineering, Law, Nursing, and Business (Manderson Graduate School)
Visit the University of Alabama Graduate School website for detailed application procedures and deadlines.
External Scholarships & Student Loans
If you need additional funding, consider the following:
External Scholarship Sources:
- Education USA
- IIE Funding for U.S. Study
- Aga Khan Foundation
- PEO International (for women)
- UNIGO, AMIDEAST, Open Society Institute
International Student Loan Providers (No U.S. Cosigner Required):
- MPOWER Financing
- Prodigy Finance
- Stilt
- SBI + Flywire (for Indian students)
- Edupass
- Envisage
Visa & Immigration Updates for International Students (June 2025)
New U.S. Travel Bans (Effective June 9, 2025)
Full Travel Ban (No entry for immigrants or nonimmigrants):
Afghanistan, Burma, Chad, Congo (Rep.), Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Yemen
Partial Travel Ban (No B-1/B-2, F, M, J visas):
Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan, Venezuela
Students with valid visas issued before June 9, 2025, are not affected.
Social Media Screening for Visa Applicants
Effective June 18, 2025, F and J visa applicants must:
- Make social media profiles public
- Avoid posting:
- Political or extremist content
- Antisemitic or anti-U.S. sentiments
- Anything that could raise national security concerns
- Political or extremist content
Private accounts may lead to delays or rejections.
Important Documents for International Students
Always keep these documents on hand (digital & print). Originals are required for international travel:
For F-1/J-1 Students:
- Passport (valid for at least 3 months)
- U.S. Visa stamp
- Form I-20 or DS-2019 (offer letter)
- I-94 Arrival/Departure record
- I-797 Notice of Action (if applicable)
- Enrollment verification or class schedule
For Scholars & Other Visa Types:
- Passport with valid visa
- DS-2019 or I-797 (depending on visa type)
- I-94 record
Tip: Consult with International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) before planning any travel.
UA International Student Office Contact
- Drop-in Advising Hours: Monday–Thursday, 11 AM – 3 PM
- Email: international@ua.edu
Appointments: Book online via ISSS portal