International Students

International students are ineligible for Federal Student Aid and institutional need-based financial aid. However, international students may be considered for scholarships and assistantships.

The Scholarship Retriever is available to all UMBC students and allows students to submit a general scholarship application to be considered for additional opportunities available at UMBC.

Scholarship Retriever houses both internal and external scholarship opportunities for undergraduate, graduate, and international students! You can complete the general application and apply to any other opportunities that may be of interest, and new opportunities are posted regularly, so check back frequently!

Search for Scholarships – Scholarship Retriever

UMBC also participates in the #YouAreWelcomeHere national scholarship program, pledging to offer scholarships for international students to study in the U.S.

Freshmen applicants, (new, first-year students), are automatically considered for all general merit-based scholarships. They may also apply to UMBC Scholar Programs.

The International Student and Scholar Services offers two annual, renewable scholarships for up to four years of study that covers 50% tuition at time of initial matriculation. The scholarships are open to first-year (incoming freshman) international students admitted for undergraduate degree-seeking study at UMBC. Successful applicants will be dedicated to furthering the #YouAreWelcomeHere message by bridging intercultural divides. Applicants will submit a 500-1000 word written essay or a 2-5 minute video about their ideas for advancing intercultural learning and understanding at UMBC.

Graduate Students may receive funding through Assistantships, which are typically offered by academic departments. Questions about assistantships should be directed to your academic department. 

For more information about international study at UMBC, please visit our International Student and Scholar Services.

Be sure to download the International Student Arrival Guide to help you prepare for your first few weeks here at UMBC!

If you need financial documentation of your merit scholarship for your I-20, your offer letter is sufficient. A letter of financial support is not needed for a merit scholarship.

Additional Resources

Financial Aid Information for International Students

Monthly Payment Plans:

International students may participate in UMBC’s Monthly Payment Plan, as an alternative to a one-time payment of the bill in full. Students can sign up for payment plans each semester with Student Business Services (SBS). You can find more information on payment plans and billing with SBS.

External Scholarships

International students may also visit the following web pages to gather additional information regarding their studies in the United States:

External scholarship information is provided for informational purposes only. Inclusion on Scholarship Retriever and Outside Scholarships does not constitute endorsement. Neither UMBC Scholarships nor UMBC can guarantee the accuracy or the timeliness of information found at any of these sites. It is critical that students verify information, particularly where deadlines are concerned. 

Avoiding Scholarship Scams

Unfortunately some scholarships advertised online may not be legitimate applications, and students should take care to be aware of opportunities that request information outside of the normal scope of a scholarship application.

Some information to be cautious of providing when applying to scholarships externally:

  • Customer Identification Program (CIP) Information
    • SSN
    • Full Date of Birth
    • Full Address
  • Sensitive Questions (often used in password recovery/two-step authentication)
    • Mother’s Maiden Name
    • Pet’s Name
    • High School Mascot
    • First Car
  • Payment Information
    • Credit Card Information
    • Bank Card Information
    • Bank Account Information
  • Other considerations to be wary of
    • If the scholarship charges a fee in order for you to receive the funds
    • A “guarantee” that you will receive a scholarship
    • False sense of urgency
    • Scholarships that state they are “approved by a reputable organization”
    • Scholarships that offer a “free seminar or interview”
    • Unprofessional or fake looking websites, spelling errors, etc.

Reporting Scholarship Scams

If you encounter a scholarship scam, we encourage you to report it to law enforcement authorities. By reporting a scholarship scam promptly, you may help save other students from becoming victims too.

  • Report the scam to the National Fraud Information Center (NFIC) at 1-800-654-7060 or visit www.fraud.org. The NFIC shares information with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the state attorney general.
  • You can also report the scam directly to the FTC by filing a complaint form or calling 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).
  • The U.S. Postal Inspection Service investigates mail fraud, which includes scams sent by postal mail. Report such scams using the online complaint form. Or you can call 1-877-876-2455 (say “fraud”) or 1-800-654-8896.
  • To report fraud involving federal student aid funds, such as FAFSA fraud rings, contact the Office of the Inspector General at the U.S. Department of Education by calling 1-800-MIS-USED (1-800-647-8733) or filing a report using the OIG Hotline.