Fully Funded Masters In USA ! The Information Line

Fully funded master’s programs in the USA are highly sought after by international and domestic students. These programs typically cover tuition fees, provide stipends for living expenses, or offer other financial benefits such as health insurance. Below are some avenues to explore fully funded master’s programs in the USA:

1. University Scholarships

Many universities offer fully funded scholarships for master’s students, particularly in fields like STEM, public policy, or the arts.

• Stanford University – Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program
  • Offers full funding for graduate students in any discipline.
  • Includes tuition, living stipend, and travel expenses.
• Yale University – Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences Fellowships
  • Provides fully funded master’s programs in selected disciplines.
  • Includes tuition, stipend, and health insurance.
• University of Chicago – Graduate Aid Initiative
  • Fully funds graduate students in humanities and social sciences.
  • Covers tuition, stipend, and health insurance.

2. Government-Funded Scholarships

Government programs often sponsor students pursuing higher education in the USA.

• Fulbright Foreign Student Program
  • Offers fully funded scholarships for international students in any discipline.
  • Covers tuition, living expenses, airfare, and health insurance.
• USAID Scholarships
  • Funded by the U.S. government for students from developing countries.
• Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program
  • Covers tuition, travel, and living expenses for students from World Bank member countries.

3. Departmental or Research-Based Funding

Certain programs fund students through research assistantships (RAs) or teaching assistantships (TAs). Look for departments that have strong research funding:

• MIT and Harvard Graduate Programs
  • Many STEM fields at these universities offer RA/TA positions that provide tuition waivers and stipends.
• University of Michigan and University of Wisconsin
  • Frequently offer assistantships for master’s students in engineering, public health, and education.

4. External Scholarships and Fellowships

Private organizations and foundations also provide fully funded scholarships:

• Rotary Peace Fellowship
  • Fully funds master’s programs related to peace and conflict resolution.
• MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program
  • Supports African students pursuing graduate studies in select institutions.
• Gates Millennium Scholars Program
  • Covers the full cost of study for outstanding students from minority backgrounds.

5. Professional Fellowships

Programs tailored to specific professions sometimes offer full funding:

• AAUW International Fellowships
  • For women pursuing graduate studies in the USA.
• Chevening Scholarships (UK students)
  • Allows UK citizens to pursue fully funded master’s programs in the USA.

6. Universities with a History of Fully Funding International Students

Some universities are known for their generous funding packages for international students:

• Princeton University
• University of California, Berkeley
• Duke University
• Columbia University

How to Increase Chances of Fully Funded Offers

• Strong Application: Highlight academic achievements, research experience, and leadership skills.
• Contact Professors: Building connections with potential advisors can increase your chances of securing research assistantships.
• Apply Early: Some funding opportunities are limited and awarded on a rolling basis.

7. More University-Specific Funding Programs

Duke University – The Graduate School Fellowships

• Offers fully funded opportunities for master’s and doctoral students in select disciplines.
• Includes tuition, stipend, and sometimes travel or research allowances.

University of Southern California (USC) Merit Scholarships

• Various scholarships for graduate students, including fully funded options, especially for exceptional candidates in public policy, business, and engineering.

Cornell University – Tata Scholarship (for Indian Students)

• Fully funds selected master’s programs, specifically for students from India.

University of Washington – GO-MAP Fellowships

• Supports underrepresented students in graduate studies with full funding, mentoring, and career development.

University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) – Penn Graduate Fellowships

• Available for master’s students in social sciences, humanities, and education.

Georgetown University – McCourt Scholars Program

• Fully funds master’s students in public policy, including tuition, living stipend, and professional development.

University of Notre Dame – ESTEEM Program Fellowship

• Provides fully funded master’s in entrepreneurship and STEM fields through fellowships and assistantships.

8. Specialized Fields with Generous Funding

STEM Fields

• Many STEM-focused master’s programs offer Research Assistantships (RAs) and Teaching Assistantships (TAs).
• Top institutions like MIT, Caltech, Georgia Tech, and Carnegie Mellon University offer fully funded RA/TA positions that include a stipend and full tuition waiver.

Public Health

• Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health: Multiple fully funded scholarships for students pursuing public health or global health programs.
• Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health: Offers funding through the Bloomberg Fellows Program, covering full tuition for students committed to public health initiatives.

Law

• Fully funded opportunities through Berkeley Law LL.M. Scholarships and NYU Law’s Hauser Global Scholars Program.

Education

• Harvard Graduate School of Education: Provides scholarships and fellowships that cover full tuition and stipends.
• Teachers College at Columbia University: Numerous fully funded opportunities for master’s students in education and social sciences.

Business

• Some MBA programs, like those at Stanford GSB, Harvard Business School, and the Wharton School, offer fully funded fellowships (e.g., Harvard’s Joint MBA/MPA funding options).

9. Foundations and Organizations Offering Full Funding

Erasmus+ Joint Master Degree Scholarships

• Though primarily for European universities, some programs partner with U.S. institutions for fully funded opportunities.

American Association of University Women (AAUW) International Fellowships

• Specifically for women pursuing graduate-level studies in the USA.

Ford Foundation Fellowship Program

• Funds master’s and doctoral degrees, focusing on underrepresented students and research with a societal impact.

Schwarzman Scholars Program (at Tsinghua University, with U.S. ties)

• While based in China, many scholars use this funding as a stepping stone for further U.S. graduate studies.

10. Professional and Employer-Sponsored Fellowships

Boren Fellowships

• Fully funded scholarships for graduate students in exchange for public service commitments, focusing on areas critical to U.S. interests (language study, public policy, etc.).

American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Fellowships

• Covers tuition and provides stipends for students pursuing graduate studies in engineering fields.

Company Sponsorships

• Some companies, like Google, Microsoft, or Boeing, sponsor employees for graduate studies in exchange for work commitments.

11. Regional or Country-Specific Programs

India:

• Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation Scholarships: Offers interest-free loans to Indian students pursuing master’s degrees in the U.S.
• Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships: Fully funds graduate programs for exceptional students in arts, sciences, and humanities.

Africa:

• MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program: Provides full funding for African students in select U.S. institutions.
• Africa-America Institute (AAI) Fellowships: Supports students from Africa pursuing graduate degrees.

Latin America and the Caribbean:

• OAS Academic Scholarships: Fully funds master’s and doctoral students from OAS member states to study in the U.S.

Middle East and Asia:

• KAUST Fellowship (Saudi Arabia): Provides funding for students pursuing research-based graduate programs in partnership with U.S. institutions.
• Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarships: Sponsors students for master’s and doctoral studies in various disciplines.

12. Online and Hybrid Opportunities

Some U.S. universities offer online master’s programs with full funding for exceptional candidates:

• MIT Open Learning Fellowships
• Arizona State University (ASU) Global Education Program

These are often aimed at professionals who want to advance their education while working.

13. Networking and Proactive Steps

• Contact Professors and Departments: Many professors have discretionary funding for research assistants. Contact them with a clear research proposal or interest aligned with their work.
• University Graduate Funding Portals: Use university-specific tools like Harvard’s “CARAT” funding database or Stanford’s financial aid portal.

14. Fellowships and Prestigious Scholarships

Open to All International Students

1. Humphrey Fellowship Program
   • Designed for experienced professionals seeking graduate-level non-degree programs (can lead to funded master’s).
   • Covers tuition, living expenses, and travel costs.
2. Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship
   • Fully funds master’s programs in development-related fields at select U.S. universities.
   • Includes tuition, monthly stipend, travel, and health insurance.
3. UNESCO Fellowships
   • Supports international students pursuing higher education in areas related to science, culture, or sustainable development.
4. DAAD Scholarships for Study in the USA
   • Primarily supports German and EU students pursuing advanced degrees in collaboration with U.S. institutions.

15. Unique University Programs with Full Funding

Ivy League Institutions

• Harvard University – Public Service Fellowships
  • Covers tuition and stipends for students committed to public service careers.
• Columbia University – The Columbia SIPA Fellowships
  • Fully funds master’s in public administration or international affairs for exceptional candidates.
• Princeton University – Woodrow Wilson School Scholarships
  • Provides full funding for master’s in public policy.

Public Universities

1. University of Texas at Austin – Graduate School Fellowships
   • Fully funds graduate studies in many programs, especially for STEM and humanities.
2. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign – Illinois Commitment
   • Offers full funding to underrepresented and low-income students, including international students in some cases.
3. UC Berkeley – Berkeley Fellowships
   • For master’s students in engineering, law, and social sciences.

Specialized Institutions

1. The New School (NYC) – Impact Entrepreneurship Fellowship
   • Fully funds master’s programs for students developing innovative social ventures.
2. Claremont Graduate University – Fellowships for Social Impact
   • Covers tuition for master’s students focused on social innovation and public policy.

16. Financial Aid Through Assistantships

Master’s students often secure funding through Graduate Assistantships (GAs), Research Assistantships (RAs), or Teaching Assistantships (TAs), which provide tuition waivers and stipends.

Where to Focus

• STEM Programs: Institutions like Georgia Tech, Purdue, and University of Wisconsin are particularly generous in offering RA/TA positions.
• Social Sciences and Humanities: Liberal arts universities, such as University of Chicago or Emory University, fund teaching assistantships for master’s programs.
• Public Administration: Schools like the Maxwell School at Syracuse University or the LBJ School of Public Affairs at UT Austin often hire graduate assistants for program management and research.

17. Scholarships for Specific Communities

1. For Women
   • AAUW International Fellowships: Fully funds master’s programs for women from developing countries.
   • PEO International Peace Scholarships: Provides funding for women pursuing graduate studies in the U.S.
2. For Underrepresented Groups
   • The Gates Millennium Scholars Program: Fully funds minority students in all fields.
   • National GEM Consortium Fellowships: Supports underrepresented students in STEM fields with tuition, fees, and living stipends.
3. For Refugees or Asylum Seekers
   • UNHCR Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative (DAFI)
   • World University Service of Canada (WUSC) Programs: Sometimes partners with U.S. schools for refugee student sponsorship.

18. Scholarships by Field of Study

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)

1. NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF-GRFP)
   • For U.S. citizens or permanent residents pursuing research-intensive master’s or doctoral programs.
2. Hertz Foundation Fellowship
   • Fully funds graduate studies in applied sciences and engineering.

Business

1. Forté Foundation MBA Fellowships
   • Covers full tuition for women pursuing MBAs at partner schools like Stanford and Wharton.
2. Consortium for Graduate Study in Management
   • Full tuition funding for students pursuing MBA programs at participating universities.

Health and Medicine

1. NIH Oxford-Cambridge Scholars Program
   • Fully funds students pursuing biomedical research programs in collaboration with U.S. institutions.
2. Fogarty Global Health Training Program
   • Fully funded master’s in public health programs with a focus on global health challenges.

Arts and Humanities

1. Getty Foundation Fellowships
   • Covers full funding for students pursuing art history or conservation programs.
2. George Lurcy Fellowship
   • Provides funding for students in French studies, humanities, and literature.

19. Online Search Platforms for Funding

Databases for Scholarships

1. IEFA.org: International Education Financial Aid database with numerous funding opportunities.
2. ProFellow: A comprehensive directory of fellowships for graduate students.
3. FastWeb.com: U.S.-focused scholarship search engine with graduate-level funding options.

University-Specific Search Tools

• Many universities have internal funding portals that list assistantships, fellowships, and external grants.

20. Strategies to Improve Your Chances

Networking with Professors

• Directly email professors or department heads with aligned research interests. A personalized email with your research proposal or academic background can lead to RA positions.

Apply to Less Competitive Programs

• Programs in niche fields or at smaller universities may offer fully funded opportunities due to lower competition.

Early Application

• Many scholarships and funding opportunities are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis or have early deadlines.

Leverage Research Experience

• If you have prior publications or research, highlight this in your application, as many master’s programs prioritize candidates with research potential.

Utilize Your Alumni Network

• Contact alumni from your undergraduate program who studied abroad. They can provide insights into funding options and introduce you to professors or funding bodies.

21. U.S. Government and Fulbright Program Expansion

Fulbright Alternatives

1. Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship Program
   • Fully funds students from Eurasian and Central Asian countries.
2. Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship
   • Provides mid-career professionals with graduate-level non-degree training in the U.S.

22. Rare but Promising Opportunities

1. Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans
   • Supports immigrants and children of immigrants in pursuing graduate studies.
2. Knight Foundation Fellowships
   • Focused on media, journalism, and civic innovation programs.