International Student Aid at George Washington University: Scholarships, Eligibility, and Deadlines
George Washington University offers a range of merit‑based scholarships for international undergraduates, including the Presidential Academic Scholarship and the You Are Welcome Here Scholarship. The university requires proof of financial capacity for visa purposes and has specific deadlines for scholarship applications. This article summarizes the available aid, eligibility criteria, payment schedules, and known gaps in the information.
## Overview George Washington University (GW) provides merit‑based financial aid to international undergraduate applicants. GW does not offer need‑based or U.S. government aid to international students. All aid is awarded automatically during the application review unless a separate application is required. ## Merit Scholarships - GW automatically considers all international applicants for merit scholarships. - Students may qualify for more than one merit award, but only one scholarship can be granted. - Scholarships are awarded only to students who do not receive GW employee benefits. - For first‑year students, a scholarship can continue for up to 10 consecutive semesters, provided the student maintains full‑time enrollment and satisfactory academic progress. - Scholarship funds can be used only toward undergraduate tuition expenses. - The monetary value of each merit scholarship varies and is specified in the admission offer. ## Presidential Academic Scholarships - First‑year fall applicants with strong academic credentials are automatically considered. - The scholarship amount varies. - Recipients are notified in their admission letter. ## You Are Welcome Here Scholarship - GW offers two full‑tuition scholarships each year to first‑year fall applicants. - Applicants must submit an essay or video that outlines how they will promote intercultural learning on campus. - A CSS Profile (School Code 5246) is required. - Eligibility: attended or graduated from a secondary school outside the United States and demonstrated interest and initiative in intercultural activities. - Application is submitted through the admissions portal after the main application is received. - Deadline for the scholarship application: January 31. - If the scholarship application is not visible in the portal, applicants should email intadm@gwu.edu. ## UWC Scholars Partnership - GW partners with the Davis United World College (UWC) Scholars program. - UWC graduates admitted to GW may receive need‑based scholarships that can cover up to full tuition and fees. - A CSS Profile is required for consideration. - Scholarship amounts vary based on the applicant’s financial need. ## Financial Documentation Requirements - U.S. law requires international students to submit documents proving the ability to pay for one year of study before visa documents are issued. - Acceptable documents include a bank statement, certificate of deposit, scholarship or sponsorship award letter, or a combination. - Funds may be in any currency, provided the amount equals the published cost of attendance. - Documents must be in English or accompanied by an official English translation. - Detailed instructions are available on GW’s International Applicant webpage. ## Tuition and Fees Payment - Tuition, fees, and housing charges are due on the first day of each semester. - All charges must be paid in full by the specified deadline. - The published cost of attendance covers a nine‑month academic year (late August to early May). - Married students or those bringing families should budget an additional $10,796 per year for a spouse and $5,394 per year for each child. - Housing cost information is provided by GW’s Campus Living and Residential Education office. ## Eligibility and Restrictions - International students are eligible for merit scholarships but not for need‑based or U.S. government aid. - Students receiving GW employee benefits are ineligible for scholarships. - Only one scholarship can be awarded per student. - Scholarship funds are restricted to tuition and cannot be used for other expenses. ## Deadlines - You Are Welcome Here Scholarship application: January 31. - Other merit scholarships are considered automatically during the application review; no separate deadline is specified. - Tuition and fee payments are due on the first day of each semester. ## Unknowns and Source Limitations - The exact monetary values of the merit, Presidential Academic, and UWC scholarships are not disclosed. - Specific criteria for “strong academic credentials” for the Presidential Academic Scholarship are not detailed. - The process for submitting the CSS Profile and the exact deadlines for that submission are not fully described. - Information is drawn from a single university webpage; external verification or updates may not be reflected. - No external links or additional resources are provided in the source text. ## Key Takeaways - GW offers merit‑based aid to international undergraduates, with specific scholarships such as the Presidential Academic and You Are Welcome Here awards. - Proof of financial capacity is mandatory for visa issuance. - Scholarship applications have a clear deadline (January 31 for the You Are Welcome Here Scholarship), while other scholarships are awarded automatically. - Applicants should review the International Applicant webpage for the most current details and contact GW admissions if questions arise. Source: https://undergraduate.admissions.gwu.edu/financial-aid/international-student-aid Checked: 2026-10-04T08:59:01.243016+00:00 Confirm details with the official institution before applying.