University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Scholarships for International Students 2026

Most major University scholarships are tied to being admitted to a degree-seeking program (so “online-only, non-degree” students often have fewer options).

Scholarships span broadly across the University’s majors and colleges (the Twin Cities campus alone lists 150+ majors), including STEM fields (computer science, data science, math, natural sciences), engineering, business, and humanities/social sciences, plus many others. In the Global Scholarships recipient stories, Giovanni Gallina studied a Master’s in Marketing at the Carlson School of Management, and Stepan Caramalac attended a Public Affairs (Humphrey) fellowship at the University of Minnesota, showing that scholarships/funding routes can support both business and public-policy style pathways.

It depends on the scholarship: some are specifically for international students, while other scholarships are restricted to U.S. citizens/permanent residents and/or Minnesota residents. In the Global Scholarships recipient stories, you can see international backgrounds represented, for instance, Giovanni is from Italy and Stepan is from Moldova, so “international” funding paths can apply across many nationalities, but the exact eligibility always depends on the specific award.

Often yes for international applicants, the University of Minnesota Twin Cities undergraduate admissions lists minimum required English proficiency scores (with accepted options including TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, PTE, and Cambridge), though exemptions/alternative pathways can apply depending on your background. The recipient stories show how real applicants handled this: Giovanni said, “I chose to take the Duolingo English Test,” and Stepan shared, “I scored 78 points” on TOEFL during his process.

For undergraduate admission (Twin Cities), the University describes decisions as an individualized, holistic review rather than a single fixed minimum grade cutoff. For graduate admission, the Graduate School notes that many programs prefer an undergraduate GPA of 3.0/4.0 or higher (but program requirements vary). In the Global Scholarships stories, Giovanni reported a converted bachelor’s GPA of about 3.3/4.0, while Stepan explained his region didn’t use GPAs and he graduated with a “red diploma,” signaling high academic achievement.

University of Minnesota admissions requirements and scholarship listings typically focus on academic records and eligibility criteria (citizenship/residency, program level, etc.) rather than stating a universal age cap, but some external scholarships or special programs may have their own rules. In the recipient stories, Giovanni even introduces himself as “a 26-year-old,” which is a reminder that funded paths can apply to applicants at different life stages—always check the specific scholarship’s eligibility page.

For many UMN merit scholarships (including awards considered through the admissions application), strong academic preparation is the biggest driver, but decisions are still made through an overall review (not one single factor). For international freshmen/transfer students, Global Excellence Scholarships are merit-based and tied to admission (and maintaining F-1 status). From the scholarship stories, you can see what “strong preparation” looks like in practice: Giovanni paired his academics with a clear plan and noted he targeted programs where standardized tests were optional, and Stepan emphasized that in his process “the most critical component was the essays,” showing that clarity + academics can matter together.

Undergraduate (Twin Cities, international freshman): the checklist highlights a completed application, the nonrefundable application fee, and self-reported courses/grades; international applicants also typically provide English proficiency test scores, may need certified English translations for non-English records, and (if a visa is needed) complete a Certification of Finances form, with official final documents submitted later if you enroll. Graduate: requirements vary by program, but Graduate School guidance commonly includes an online application, uploaded unofficial transcripts/credentials, proof of English proficiency (when applicable), and (often) letters of recommendation and any program-required tests. The recipient stories show how “documents” can expand for competitive funded routes: Giovanni described “extensive documentation, including recommendation letters,” while Stepan noted his first stage included “five essay questions.”

Undergraduate (Twin Cities): yes, international freshman guidance lists a $55 application fee (with some applicants receiving an automatic fee waiver based on answers in the application). Graduate: yes, the Graduate School lists application fees of $95 for international applicants and $75 for U.S. citizens/permanent residents, and notes the fees are non-refundable.