INTERNATIONAL STUDENT AID

Understanding Your Aid Options as an International Student

International students are not eligible for U.S. federal financial aid programs, including Federal Direct Loans, Federal Work-Study, and federal grants. However, there are meaningful funding options available to you:

• The Colleges of Law scholarships and special tuition rates – Confirm with the Financial Aid Office which scholarship programs are available to international students.
• Private loans – some privately funded student loans, such as those provided by eduPASS, are available to non-U.S. citizens provided there is a creditworthy co-signer who is a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
• Canadian loan programs – Canadian students may use both Canada and provincial loan programs to fund their education at The Colleges of Law. Visit canada.ca for more information.
• External scholarships – scholarships available through your home country’s government, multinational organizations, and U.S.-based agencies.

We encourage you to explore all of these options and reach out to our financial aid office early in your planning process. The earlier we know your situation, the more we can do to help.

Canadian Students

Canadian students are eligible to use both Canada and provincial loan programs to fund their education at The Colleges of Law. This makes Saybrook accessible to The Colleges of Law students who cannot access U.S. federal aid but can leverage government-backed funding from home.

To apply, visit your provincial student aid program website or canada.ca/en/services/benefits/education for information on Canadian federal and provincial loan programs. Include The Colleges of Law’s school code 042501 on your application where applicable.

Visa Considerations

• International students must consult with their Designated School Official (DSO) prior to taking a Leave of Absence or making any enrollment status changes to discuss immigration implications.
• Students sponsored in F-1 status must maintain full-time enrollment to maintain non-immigrant status.
• Any enrollment changes can have serious implications for your visa status in addition to your financial aid. Always consult your DSO before making enrollment changes.

How scholarships are disbursed:

• Scholarships exceeding $1,000 are disbursed evenly across your student account over the academic year, unless otherwise noted.
• Awards under $1,000 are applied in full during the applicable term.
• The Office of Financial Aid will notify selected applicants in writing via email.
• Institutional scholarships cannot be combined with other institutional scholarships or tuition discounts.

The Colleges of Law admits students of any race, color, nationality, ethnic origin, sex, or age to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the university. [Learn more about our non-discrimination policy.]

Private Loans for International Students

If personal savings do not fully cover your costs, private educational loans may be an option to explore. Most private lenders require an eligible U.S. citizen, national, or permanent resident cosigner, someone who meets the lender’s creditworthiness requirements and is willing to share responsibility for the loan.

A few things to know before applying:

• Some lenders may require a valid U.S. Social Security number.
• Interest rates, terms, and eligibility requirements vary significantly by lender. Research carefully and compare multiple options before applying.
• The Colleges of Law certifies any eligible private lender of your choice and does not endorse specific lenders.

Visit our Private Loans page for a full overview of the process, a comparison of loan features, and ELMSelect, which lists private lenders, as a starting point for your research.

External Scholarship Opportunities by Country

International students may also be eligible for scholarships offered by their home country’s government, multinational organizations, or U.S.-based funding agencies. The resources below are provided as a starting point for your research. We do not endorse the opportunities listed here. You are responsible for reviewing and verifying all details directly with each organization before applying.

If your country is not listed below, we encourage you to research your home government’s ministry of education, regional scholarship bodies, and international development organizations as potential sources of funding.

Canada

• EduCanada Scholarships — educanada.ca
• BC Scholarship Society — bcscholarshipsociety.ca
• Organization of American States (OAS) — oas.org

China

• Chinese Scholarship Council — chinesescholarshipcouncil.com

India

• National Scholarships Portal (Government of India) — scholarships.gov.in
• Indian Government Scholarships Summary Resource — education.gov.in

Indonesia

• LPDP Scholarship (Indonesia Endowment Fund for Education) — lpdp.kemenkeu.go.id

Mexico

• Fulbright-COMEXUS — comexus.org.mx
• FIDERH (Fund for Human Resource Development) — fiderh.org.mx
• FUNED (Fundación Mexicana para la Educación, la Tecnología y la Ciencia) — funedmx.org

Pakistan

• Punjab Educational Endowment Fund (PEEF) — Ph.D. Foreign Scholarships — peef.org.pk

South Africa

• DHET International Scholarships — internationalscholarships.dhet.gov.za

Additional International Scholarship Resources

Beyond country-specific programs, the following organizations offer scholarship and funding opportunities open to students from multiple countries:

• Fulbright Program — One of the most prestigious international exchange programs, offering grants for graduate study in the U.S. — fulbright.org
• Organization of American States (OAS) — Scholarship and fellowship programs for students from OAS member states — oas.org
• Aga Khan Foundation — Graduate study scholarships for students from select developing countries — akdn.org
• Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program — For students from World Bank member countries pursuing development-related studies — worldbank.org
• Rotary Foundation Scholarships — Peace fellowships and vocational training grants — rotary.org

Still Have Questions?

Navigating financial aid as an international student involves more moving parts than it does for domestic students, and we want to make sure you don’t have to figure it all out alone. Whether you have questions about scholarship eligibility, private loan options, or how your visa status interacts with your funding, our financial aid team is here to help.