Washington University in St. Louis Scholarships for International Students 2026

Most WashU scholarships are tied to being admitted to a degree program (and many programs are primarily on-campus), so “online-only” scholarships are usually program-specific rather than a general university-wide category.

WashU offers scholarships across a wide range of subjects,  STEM fields (including engineering and computer/data science), humanities and social sciences, business, and creative fields like art/architecture (often with portfolio-related requirements). A real example from Global Scholarships: Vipul Garg studied Materials Science & Engineering and received the McDonnell International Scholars Academy Fellowship, showing that engineering/STEM pathways can be well-supported when your profile fits.

Many WashU funding opportunities are open to international students from a wide range of countries, but the exact eligibility depends on the scholarship/program. For instance, Vipul Garg (India) received McDonnell International Scholars Academy funding and described joining “a community of scholars from across the globe.” That said, some opportunities (especially external fellowships) may require specific citizenship or have other restrictions, so always verify the eligibility rules for the specific scholarship you’re targeting.

It depends on your background and level. For many international undergraduate applicants whose first language is not English, WashU lists English tests like TOEFL, IELTS, or Duolingo as required components on the application checklist. At the graduate level, requirements vary by school/program and may include minimum score policies. From the recipient side, Vipul Garg shared, “Yes, I took the GRE and the TOEFL,” and he said he practiced English speaking/writing daily to perform strongly, so plan ahead if testing is part of your pathway.

WashU is highly competitive, but many admissions processes are holistic and may not publish a single “minimum GPA” cutoff for admission. In scholarship recipient stories, you can see what competitive profiles can look like. For example, Vipul Garg entered his PhD pathway after earning a GPA of 8.6/10.0 at IIT Delhi and emphasized building a strong research portfolio. Also note that once you’re enrolled, some scholarships require you to maintain satisfactory academic progress to keep the award.

Many WashU-administered scholarships do not have an age limit, but it depends on the specific award. For example, a WashU scholarship brochure for the Elizabeth Gray Danforth Scholarship explicitly states, “There are no age limitations for student eligibility.” However, certain external or special fellowships can include age rules (and other constraints), so treat “age limit” as scholarship-specific rather than university-wide.

Eligibility depends on the scholarship type (undergraduate merit/need-based aid, graduate fellowships, departmental funding, etc.), but strong academics plus a compelling personal/research story are common themes.

Undergraduate (including international first-year): WashU notes that your applicant portal checklist can include items such as a School Report and Official Transcript, Teacher Evaluation, Counselor Recommendation, optional SAT/ACT, English proficiency test scores (TOEFL/IELTS/Duolingo) when applicable, and a portfolio for certain art/architecture applicants. Graduate: requirements vary widely by department, but commonly include an online application, transcripts, statement of purpose/personal statement, CV/vita or resume, and letters of recommendation (often three), plus test scores if required by the program.

Undergraduate: WashU lists a nonrefundable application fee (and also provides fee-waiver guidance).

Graduate: fees depend on the school/program (some programs list $45, others can be higher, and some programs may have no fee). Because this varies across graduate/professional schools at WashU, confirm the exact amount on your specific program’s admissions page before submitting.