George Washington University Scholarships for International Students 2027
To help students manage tuition and living expenses, George Washington University connects to scholarships across different funding levels. Here are several top options to review first.
Among the university based funding routes linked to George Washington University, these scholarships tend to stand out for their level of support and overall value. Columbian College of Arts and Sciences Doctoral Fellowship is fully funded and typically covers full tuition coverage, living stipend, and graduate assistantship salary. Merit Scholarships is commonly categorized as full tuition support, and coverage that often includes up to full tuition fee coverage. With Graduate Assistantships, students may receive full tuition support, and coverage frequently includes monthly stipend, health insurance, and up to full tuition fee fellowships.
To broaden funding options beyond institutional awards at George Washington University, these external and government scholarships are commonly considered as well. Fulbright Foreign Student Program is a fully funded award, and the listed benefits often include roundtrip transportation from the country of origin to the US, monthly living stipend, and tuition fees. You Are Welcome Here Scholarship is usually considered partially funded, and typical coverage can include at least 50% of tuition fees. A strong option is AAUW’s International Fellowship which is partially funded and often covers $20,000 for Master's and first professional degree recipients, $25,000 for doctoral students, and $50,000 for postdoctoral students.
To see every scholarship associated with this institution and compare coverage and eligibility, browse the sections below.
George Washington University Scholarships for International Students
The scholarships at George Washington University can help fund your study expenses. There are currently 7 scholarships being offered to international students at the George Washington University, all with varying requirements, benefits, and application processes. We have compiled them in this list to help you find the scholarship that best fits you.
Undergraduate Scholarships
Graduate Scholarships
External Scholarships
There are many degrees that are open to international students right now — find yours.
George Washington University Admissions
Here are the official admission pages for George Washington University:
| Degree | Admissions Pages |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | International Students Admissions Page |
| Master's | International Students Admissions Page |
Admissions and Scholarship Results at George Washington University
Here are some of the admissions and scholarship results from previous applicants to George Washington University, which you might find helpful. For more results to George Washington University, please see the George Washington University Admissions Profile Page .
| Nationality / Region | SAT/ACT | EFC | GPA | Scholarship | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mexico | N/A | N/A | 93/100 | Partial financial aid | Accepted |
| India | 1440 | N/A | 3.74 | N/A | Accepted |
George Washington University Application Deadlines
| Degree | Admission Deadline |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's (Early Decision I) | November 1, 2026 |
| Bachelor's (Regular Decision) | January 5, 2027 |
| Bachelor's (Early Decision II) | January 5, 2027 |
Tuition Fees at George Washington University for International Students
Indicative annual tuition fee ranges for international students at George Washington University. Exact fees vary by program, so always confirm the current cost on the university's official tuition fee pages.
| Degree Level | Typical Annual Range |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Tuition | 69,780 USD |
| Master's Tuition | 23,340 – 41,940 USD |
Please note that tuition fees can vary based on the specific program you choose. For the most accurate and current fee information, consult the official tuition fee pages linked above.
George Washington University Scholarship Recipients
International students who received scholarships to study at George Washington University, documented by Global Scholarships.
Scholarship Recipient Insights at George Washington University
The stories reviewed include 5 degree-study accounts.
Featured Recipients by Nationality
| Nationalities | Stories per nationality |
|---|---|
| Pakistani | 3 each |
| Argentinian, Pakistani, Singaporean | 1 each |
Degree Levels and Subjects
| Degree level | Stories | Subjects |
|---|---|---|
| Master’s | 3 | Business Analytics; International Development Studies (Quantitative Research and Evaluation); Environmental Law (LL.M.) |
| PhD | 1 | Public Policy and Public Administration (gender and social policy) |
| Graduate degree studies | 1 | Law, with intellectual-property interests |
Funding Routes Reported by Featured Recipients
| Funding route | Stories | Recipients |
|---|---|---|
| Fulbright Foreign Student Program | 4 | Savera Shah, Aman, Obaid Arshad Khan, Antonella Micaela Lemos |
| Thomas Buergenthal Scholarship | 1 | Aman |
| Columbian College of Arts & Sciences Doctoral Fellowship | 1 | Zara Qaiser |
| GW Law Merit Scholarship | 1 | Antonella Micaela Lemos |
Reported Funding Coverage
| Recipient and degree/program | Reported coverage |
|---|---|
| Savera Shah — Master’s in Business Analytics | Fulbright covered tuition, living costs, insurance, air travel and other necessary expenses. Also received an offer of the GW School of Business Fellowship Award distributed over the 1.5-year program. |
| Obaid Arshad Khan — Master’s in International Development Studies, graduated 2017 | Fulbright covered full tuition, a monthly living stipend, settling-in allowances, insurance and one round-trip international airfare. |
| Zara Qaiser — PhD in Public Policy and Public Administration | Described the CCAS package as tuition, living stipend, salaried graduate assistantship and a health-insurance subsidy; assistantship work was 20 hours weekly. |
| Antonella Micaela Lemos — LL.M. in Environmental Law, completed 2024 | Fulbright–Consejo Federal de Inversiones and GW Law Merit funding together covered tuition and living expenses. |
Examples of Featured Recipients’ Application Backgrounds
| Recipient and degree/program | Scholarship/application route | Reported background and preparation |
|---|---|---|
| Savera Shah — Master’s in Business Analytics | Fulbright placement | BBA from Sukkur IBA University, distinction, academic medal and CGPA 3.53. More than five years at Pakistan’s central bank, club leadership and entrepreneurial competitions. Connected analytics to financial inclusion and public policy; revised essays with alumni and recommenders. |
| Aman — Graduate law studies | Fulbright and Thomas Buergenthal Scholarship | LUMS BA-LLB in Law and Policy with English Literature minor. Built publications, student-government and sports leadership, teaching-assistant work and law-firm internships during undergraduate study; a year of litigation experience preceded the award. |
| Zara Qaiser — PhD in Public Policy and Public Administration | CCAS Doctoral Fellowship; no separate scholarship application | First Class Economics bachelor’s from University of London, Development Studies MPhil at University of Cambridge, and about seven years in international development. Matched gender/social-policy interests to faculty research and built a coherent statement of purpose. |
| Obaid Arshad Khan — Master’s in International Development Studies, graduated 2017 | Fulbright through USEFP | LUMS Economics bachelor’s, 2014, with extensive health, evaluation and social-protection internships. Submitted independent economic analysis and a study of adapting Mexico’s Progresa model to Pakistan. |
| Antonella Micaela Lemos — LL.M. in Environmental Law, completed 2024 | Fulbright–CFI and GW Law Merit Scholarship | UNNE law degree, 2017, average 8/10, completed in 3.5 years. Child/family services, legislative research, university teaching and textbook contribution shaped interests in governance, natural resources and human rights. |
How Recipients Met Language Requirements
| Language requirement route | Stories / total degree-study stories | Recipients and examples |
|---|---|---|
| TOEFL taken in the application/placement process | 3/5 | Savera Shah — Master’s in Business Analytics: 113. Obaid Arshad Khan — Master’s in International Development Studies: took TOEFL after Fulbright acceptance, drawing on prior English-medium schooling. Antonella Micaela Lemos — LL.M. in Environmental Law: TOEFL preparation with an English professor and Fulbright pre-academic training at University of Alabama, March–July 2023. |
| TOEFL taken while applying across universities; optional at joined GW program | 1/5 | Zara Qaiser — PhD in Public Policy and Public Administration: took TOEFL and GRE to keep application options open; both were optional for her GW program. |
Standardized Tests Reported by Featured Recipients
| Test | Stories reporting the test / total degree-study stories | Linked recipients and reported scores |
|---|---|---|
| GRE | 4/5 | Savera Shah — Master’s in Business Analytics: Quantitative 160; three months’ preparation. Aman — Graduate law studies: Manhattan Prep, Magoosh and ETS practice. Obaid Arshad Khan — Master’s in International Development Studies: self-study, coaching and timed tests. Zara Qaiser — PhD in Public Policy and Public Administration: ETS and Manhattan Prep; optional for joined program. |
Firsthand Academic Experience
| Recipient and degree/program | Reported experience and limitations |
|---|---|
| Aman — Graduate law studies | Learned from former judges, practitioners and academics; legal writing/research sharpened speed and clarity. Field trips included FTC, World Bank and USPTO. Experienced a mid-year international-advisor transition, while later describing strong logistical and bar-preparation support. |
| Obaid Arshad Khan — Master’s in International Development Studies | Capstone work with World Bank’s Independent Evaluation Group involved a community-monitoring randomized trial in Burkina Faso. Took courses across international affairs, public health, policy, economics and education, and consulted with Humanitas Global Development during study. |
| Savera Shah — Master’s in Business Analytics | Technical training and elective flexibility helped her adapt the degree toward policy goals. In retrospect, believed a program combining economics or public policy more explicitly with data analysis might have fitted those goals better. |
| Antonella Micaela Lemos — LL.M. in Environmental Law | Washington’s policy environment matched her governance interests. Would learn more before arrival about law-school grading, participation and classroom expectations, and connect earlier with American classmates. |
Application Timelines Reported by Recipients
| Recipient and degree/program | Application or scholarship route | Reported application timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Savera Shah — Master’s in Business Analytics | Fulbright | Began preparation nearly a year ahead → researched programs and sought alumni insights → spent three months preparing for GRE and prepared TOEFL → university offers and Fulbright matching to GW. |
| Zara Qaiser — PhD in Public Policy and Public Administration | University doctoral admissions with CCAS funding | First applied for Fall 2023 entry unsuccessfully → reassessed academic and faculty fit → reapplied for Fall 2024 and received four fully funded doctoral offers → joined GW. |
Country-Specific Application Timeline Examples
| Country and route | Recipient and degree/program | Reported sequence or timing |
|---|---|---|
| Argentine provincial applicant — Fulbright–CFI | Antonella Micaela Lemos — LL.M. in Environmental Law | One year of UNNE English training during the pandemic, followed by another year of study → TOEFL in early 2022 and unsuccessful general Fulbright application → later selected through Fulbright–CFI’s provincial-diversity initiative → pre-academic program in Alabama, March–July 2023 → LL.M., completed 2024. |
Other Offers in Featured Applicants’ Journeys
| Recipient | Reported alternative | Decision described in the story |
|---|---|---|
| Savera Shah | Admission offers from Columbia University, Arizona State University, Tulane University and Brandeis University | Fulbright Placement Committee matched her to GW. |
| Zara Qaiser | American University funded PhDs in Economics and Public Administration and Policy; University of Massachusetts Boston funded PhD in Public Policy. Packages covered tuition and stipends; American awards also included insurance, with travel/summer support for Public Administration and Policy. | Chose a program offering research fit, flexibility and varied graduate career paths. |
| Obaid Arshad Khan | Fulbright placements at Boston University and Northeastern University | Chose GW for close study-objective fit, Washington’s development-policy environment and the capstone model. |
| Antonella Micaela Lemos | UCLA Dean’s Tuition Fellowship; Pace University tuition scholarship of 70%; Penn State Dickinson Law tuition funding; University of Colorado Law tuition/fees scholarship | Chose GW, where Fulbright and GW Law Merit funding covered tuition, and valued the Washington policy environment. |
Applicants Who Chose Another University
| Applicant and intended degree/program | Offer from George Washington University | University/program chosen | Reason described in the story |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emna Achour — Master’s applicant in marketing analytics | Admission offer | Clark University — Master’s in Marketing Analytics | Clark’s program aligned with her academic background and future goals. |
| Ifrah Maskan — Master’s applicant in international affairs | Admission offer | Columbia University — Master of International Affairs | Columbia was her top choice; received a generous scholarship and Fulbright supported her enrollment. |
| Victoria Contreras del Olmo — Master’s applicant in public policy | Scholarship offer | University of Maryland, College Park — Master of Public Policy | Public Policy program, faculty and proximity to Washington’s internships and professional opportunities. |
What Recipients Pursued After Studying at George Washington University
| Recipient | Degree/program at George Washington University | Reported outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Aman | Graduate law studies | Reported working in privacy and AI governance after beginning a career in litigation. |
| Obaid Arshad Khan | Master’s in International Development Studies, graduated 2017 | Returned to Pakistan; served over five years as Social Sector Policy Advisor to Sindh’s Planning and Development Department, plus UNDP consulting. Since 2023, worked with ThinkWell, now Health Systems Insight, in health financing and strategic purchasing; reported serving as Technical Advisor. |
| Antonella Micaela Lemos | LL.M. in Environmental Law, completed 2024 | Continued environmental-governance research and presented in Buenos Aires and at a virtual Canadian conference. Took the New York Bar Exam in late July 2026. Also described progression from paralegal to Legal Fellow at a nonprofit serving vulnerable communities during her Washington period. |
What Scholarship Recipients Say
Advice and insights from international students who successfully secured funding to study at George Washington University.
"This prestigious award covers full tuition, living expenses, health insurance, air travel, and other necessary costs."
"My advice: start early, take multiple full-length practice tests under exam conditions, and be honest with yourself about where you are losing marks."
"I am now pursuing a PhD in Public Policy and Public Administration at The George Washington University, specializing in gender and social policy."
"The faculty were accessible, the coursework was rigorous, and the Capstone model ensured that academic learning was constantly tested against real-world problems."
"The combination of GWU's own services and the Fulbright network made the transition to studying and living in the U.S. significantly smoother than it might otherwise have been."
"The intellectual property program is among the top programs in the world, and I got to study from the best instructors (people whom I used to cite in my undergraduate essays!)."
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about scholarships, admissions, and studying at George Washington University.
Yes, some GW online degrees advertise built-in tuition scholarships. For instance, GW’s Online Business Master’s Programs describe an automatic tuition scholarship for admitted students (often shown as a 25%–30% tuition savings).
Scholarships at GWU exist across a wide range of subjects, both broadly (university-wide merit awards) and within specific schools. In the Global Scholarships recipient stories, Savera Shah studied Business/Analytics (MS in Business Analytics), Zara Qaiser studied Public Policy/Public Administration (PhD), and Aman pursued Law (LL.M. in Intellectual Property Law). GW also has scholarship pathways across STEM fields (e.g., computer science, data science, engineering), humanities and social sciences (e.g., history, political science, languages), business (e.g., finance, marketing, business analytics), and more.
GWU scholarships include options that are open to international students of many nationalities (especially merit-based awards). In the scholarship-recipient stories from Global Scholarships, funding examples included students from Pakistan (Savera and Aman) and a student with ties to Singapore and Pakistan (Zara). Also, some major scholarships that bring students to GWU are nationality- or country-program-based (for example, Fulbright “Foreign Student” pathways vary by country), so your nationality can matter more for the external scholarship than for the GWU degree itself.
Often, yes, especially for international applicants, though it can depend on your program and your prior education in English. In the recipient stories, Savera Shah submitted strong English proficiency testing as part of her pathway (she lists TOEFL 113), and she described a process where “GRE and TOEFL scores” were among the required components. Zara Qaiser shared that she took TOEFL and GRE to keep options open, “even though these tests were optional for the program I ultimately joined at GWU.”
GWU reviews many applications holistically, and minimum-grade rules can vary by level and program. For undergraduate admission, GWU does not generally publish a single “minimum GPA” as a hard cutoff, but admission is competitive. In recipient examples, Savera reported, “I maintained a 3.81 CGPA during MSBA,” and she also noted a strong undergraduate record (3.53 CGPA) before starting at GWU. At the doctoral level, Zara emphasized that it was “not any single degree, GPA, or experience” alone; fit and the overall story mattered.
Typically, there isn’t one universal age limit across GWU scholarships. Eligibility is usually based on academic level (undergraduate/graduate), enrollment status, and program-specific requirements. For example, some external scholarships commonly used to fund study at GWU (like Fulbright) do not set a strict age cap. It’s best to confirm the specific scholarship’s criteria rather than assume a university-wide age restriction.
A strong academic record plus clear evidence of impact tends to matter most. In the Global Scholarships stories, Aman described being “extremely methodical” and said, “I tailored my university experience to get a good GPA,” alongside leadership roles and publications. Zara highlighted holistic review and academic fit: “It was not any single degree, GPA, or experience that made my application stand out.”
Practically, “minimum eligibility” usually means meeting baseline program requirements (degree prerequisites, required tests if applicable, and required documents). For renewable scholarships, you often also need full-time enrollment and satisfactory academic progress after you arrive.
Undergraduate (typical requirements, especially for international applicants): A completed application (such as the Common Application), official school transcripts, letters of recommendation, proof of English-language proficiency (when required), and financial certification documents for international processing. Some special programs may add requirements (for example, portfolio requirements in certain arts/design pathways).
Graduate (typical requirements): Transcripts from each institution attended, a statement of purpose, recommendations (number depends on the program), and any program-required test scores (some programs require GRE/GMAT, others do not). International graduate applicants often have additional items (such as passport identification and financial/visa documentation).
Recipient examples can help you picture what this looks like in real life: Savera Shah said her scholarship pathway required multiple components: “academic transcripts, GRE and TOEFL scores, essays, recommendation letters, and a well-defined statement of purpose.”
Undergraduate: Yes, GWU lists a non-refundable application fee (and fee waivers may be possible depending on your situation and application platform).
Graduate: Yes, GWU lists a non-refundable application fee for graduate applications as well, with certain waiver categories sometimes available.
There are many degrees that are open to international students right now — find yours.
About the Author: Hyun Lee
Hello, I saw the scholarship notice on the website, and I am interested. I am from Sierra Leone but presently in Turkey
Hello, you can apply for George Washington University scholarships. Most of them do not have nationality requirements.
I am an international student searching for a master’s scholarship at George Washington University.
Hello, there is one Master’s scholarships available at GWU. Please see Graduate Assistantships.