Northeastern University Scholarships for International Students 2026

Yes, Northeastern has scholarships that can apply to online degree programs (not usually to a single standalone online class). For example, some Northeastern business scholarships explicitly include the Online MBA, and the College of Professional Studies (CPS) offers scholarships for eligible students in its programs (including Online offerings).

Northeastern scholarships are offered across a wide range of subjects, including STEM, engineering, business, and humanities/social sciences, often tied to your college/program and the type of award (merit scholarships, program scholarships, external scholarships like Fulbright, etc.).

• Engineering & STEM: Scholarships can support engineering and technical fields, including advanced areas like robotics. Amina Tabassum studied Robotics at Northeastern on Fulbright and later moved into research focused on healthcare applications.
• Business: Business scholarships and fellowships may be available across MBA/MS programs (some explicitly cover Online MBA too), often based on application strength, background, and fit.
• Humanities & Social Sciences: Scholarships can support policy, international affairs, and related fields. Sophie Arjevanidze studied Public Policy at Northeastern via Fulbright.
• Arts/Design: Creative programs may have portfolio-based opportunities (and Northeastern encourages portfolios for arts/design applicants).

Northeastern offers scholarship consideration to international students, and eligibility is often broad (open to many nationalities) while some awards are targeted (region-based or identity-based). The GlobalScholarships Northeastern recipient stories show this range clearly: Amina Tabassum is from Pakistan and Sophie Arjevanidze is from Georgia, both studied at Northeastern through Fulbright. If you’re applying through an external scholarship (Fulbright, government programs, foundations), nationality rules are set by that scholarship, not just by Northeastern.

Often yes for international applicants, unless you qualify for a waiver based on your prior education in English. In practice, many successful applicants submit TOEFL/IELTS (or other accepted tests). For example, Sophie Arjevanidze reported TOEFL 115 and IELTS 8.0 in her story, and Amina Tabassum shared a practical prep tip: “You can use the Magoosh application for TOEFL preparation.” Even when programs are test-flexible, having a strong English score can strengthen your overall profile for competitive scholarships.

Northeastern is competitive and typically evaluates applicants holistically (grades, course rigor, fit, recommendations, essays, and more), and minimum grades can vary by program. In the GlobalScholarships recipient stories, we can at least see what worked for specific students: Sophie Arjevanidze reported a 3.8 GPA and emphasized the importance of positioning your profile through your writing: “I focused on crafting a narrative that went beyond just listing my achievements.” If another recipient doesn’t list a GPA, it’s best not to assume one—focus instead on building a strong overall application.

Most Northeastern-administered scholarships do not have a universal age limit; requirements are usually tied to program level (undergraduate vs graduate), enrollment status, and merit/need criteria. External scholarships can be different: some have nationality-based rules, time-since-graduation expectations, or country-specific eligibility.

At a minimum, you typically need to be a qualified applicant for admission to your chosen program and meet any scholarship-specific rules (deadlines, enrollment type, and sometimes extra materials like portfolios). For highly competitive scholarships, a strong academic record plus clear goals, leadership, and compelling application writing matter a lot. Sophie Arjevanidze highlighted the strategy of presenting more than stats, “a narrative that went beyond just listing my achievements.” Meanwhile, Amina Tabassum framed her Fulbright journey as extremely intentional, saying, “I applied for only one scholarship – Fulbright,” which shows how focused targeting (one strong application done well) can be a winning approach.

The exact documents depend on whether you’re applying for undergraduate or graduate study, and on the specific college/program, but these are common requirements.

• Undergraduate (commonly): application form, academic transcripts, school report, teacher recommendation, counselor recommendation, and (when required) English proficiency results; Northeastern is test-optional for SAT/ACT in many cases. If you apply to arts/design programs, a creative portfolio may be encouraged.
• Graduate (commonly): online application, transcripts from prior institutions, a personal statement (goals and fit), and a professional résumé/CV. Some programs require 1–3 recommendation letters and test scores (GRE/GMAT/LSAT), depending on the program.

The recipient stories reinforce how important writing and testing can be for scholarship pathways: Sophie Arjevanidze stressed storytelling in essays, and also warned, “I would suggest having a lot of time for prep for the GRE.”

Yes, application fees commonly apply, though fee waivers may be available depending on your situation and application type. For undergraduate applications, Northeastern lists a non-refundable fee (with an option to request a waiver). For many graduate programs, Northeastern notes that a non-refundable fee “may be required” depending on the program, so you should check your specific program’s admissions page. When budgeting for scholarships, it’s smart to include both application fees and testing cost, especially since recipients like Sophie Arjevanidze prepared for multiple exams and emphasized allowing enough time for GRE preparation.