New York University Scholarships for International Students 2026

Some NYU online degree programs do offer scholarships (it depends on the specific school/program).

NYU scholarships span a wide range of subjects, STEM, engineering, business, humanities, arts, and more, and the recipient stories show that range in a very personal way. For engineering/STEM, Muhammad Taha Ali studied Electrical Engineering (renewable energy) at NYU Tandon, while Francisco Suazo pursued a STEM-leaning Management of Technology master’s at NYU Tandon. For social science/business-adjacent study, Eesha completed a master’s in Industrial/Organizational Psychology (she highlights its “STEM nature”). For arts/humanities/creative programs, Senaida Ng studied Recorded Music at NYU’s Clive Davis Institute and built a scholarship stack around her creative path.

NYU scholarships can be open to many nationalities, but eligibility often depends on the specific scholarship (NYU-based aid vs. external/government funding). The GlobalScholarships NYU recipient stories include students from Pakistan and Nicaragua receiving Fulbright funding to study at NYU. See Eesha (Pakistan), Muhammad Taha Ali (Pakistan), and Francisco Suazo (Nicaragua). You can also see a Canadian pathway through scholarships such as the Horatio Alger Canadian Scholar award in Senaida Ng’s story. Practical takeaway: treat nationality as a “filter” for external scholarships (like Fulbright) and as less of a blocker for NYU’s program-level merit scholarships (which often consider international applicants, but not always).

It depends on your program and your prior education, but the NYU recipient stories show that English testing is very common for international applicants. Eesha shared, “I ended up achieving a score of 116” on TOEFL, and Francisco Suazo said, “I took both the TOEFL and the GRE.” Muhammad Taha Ali also took TOEFL and noted, “my TOEFL score was low, 98 out of 120.” If your NYU program requires TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo, treat the minimum as a baseline and aim higher if you want scholarships or competitive consideration.

NYU doesn’t have one universal “minimum grade” across all schools, requirements vary a lot by program, so think of it as competitiveness rather than a single cutoff. The recipient stories show different academic profiles working with different strengths: Eesha reported an undergraduate “GPA:3.88,” while Muhammad Taha Ali wrote, “My CGPA was 3.17,” and explained how projects and recommendations strengthened his profile. In other words, grades matter, but scholarships (especially big ones like Fulbright) often weigh your plan, fit, leadership, and impact story heavily alongside academics.

Many NYU scholarships and external scholarships do not advertise a strict age limit, but some programs may have eligibility windows (for example, certain fellowships or government scholarships can have rules tied to career stage).

A strong scholarship profile at NYU usually combines academics + evidence you’ll use the degree to create impact. From the recipient stories, “good academic background” can look different depending on the scholarship: Eesha paired a “GPA:3.88” with strong testing (“I sat for the GRE (Score 324)”) and a clear plan for a specialized field; Muhammad Taha Ali showed that even with “My CGPA was 3.17,” strong engineering projects, recommendations, and a focused mission can still lead to a fully funded outcome. Minimum eligibility is typically “meet admissions requirements + submit all required materials,” but scholarship competitiveness comes from the total story you present.

Your documents depend on level (undergrad/grad) and program, but common requirements include transcripts/academic records, personal statement or essays, letters of recommendation, and test scores when required (TOEFL/IELTS/GRE/GMAT or program alternatives). The recipient stories give very concrete clues about what to prepare: Francisco Suazo described planning around “writing essays, gathering documents… and requesting recommendation letters,” and Eesha noted she completed “interviews, supplemental essays, case studies, or videos” after Fulbright submitted university applications. For creative programs, portfolio-style materials can matter too. Senaida Ng recommends tracking “any additional materials or essay questions” each scholarship requires. A good checklist mindset is: transcripts + test scores + essays/personal statement + recommendations + resume/CV (common in grad apps) + portfolio/audition (arts) + any program-specific supplement.

Yes, NYU typically charges an application fee, though fee waivers may be available depending on the application type and your circumstances. For undergraduate first-year applicants, NYU lists a nonrefundable application fee and also explains that students who can’t pay can request a waiver. For graduate programs, the fee amount can vary by school/program, so always confirm the specific program’s fee page (and look for waiver options).