Funding for International Scholars in the United States

Resources in Print: A Selection

The following books are located in the Grants Information Collection (GIC) in the Reference Department, Room 262 D/E Memorial Library at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The number following the abbreviation GIC indicates the shelf location of each title. For web resources on this topic, please see Financial Aid for International Scholars in the United States: Internet Resources.


Annual Register of Grant Support: A Directory of Funding Sources. Medford, NJ: Information Today, Inc. (GIC: LB/2338/A88)

One of the few all-inclusive directories of grants available from almost every kind of organization and agency, both public and private. Compiled for academic scholars, researchers, and other individuals as well - including foreign nationals. Foreign students may first want to check the table of contents for pages for the category, "Programs for Foreign Scholars". Be sure to make full use of the subject index following the text, beginning with the heading, "Foreign Nationals, Eligibility of." Also features an excellent proposal outline in the introductory material.

Directory of Biomedical and Health Care Grants. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press. (GIC: R850 A1 D57)

Includes over 4,000 funding programs. Most originate from the U.S., but programs from other countries included as well. Indexed by subject, program type, and geographical location. This title is networked as the GrantSelect database available to UW-Madison clientele.

Directory of Financial Aids for Women. By Gail A. Schlachter. El Dorado Hills, CA: Reference Service Press. (GIC: LB/2338/S342)

This directory includes nearly 1,600 financial aid programs designed primarily or exclusively for women of all educational levels, and covers funding for travel, research, study, career development, and any other "innovative effort". The Introduction states that the focus is "on programs open to American citizens or "tenable in the United States." Largely international in scope, since a fair number of funding opportunities are listed for female citizens of various countries outside the U.S. See the residency, tenability, and subject indexes.

Directory of Grants in the Humanities, 2005-2006. Westport, CT: Oryx Press. (GIC: AZ/187/D57)

Similar in content and arrangement as the Directory of Research Grants, described below. Profiles funders for research, travel, internships, fellowships, dissertation support, conferences, exhibitions and performances, primarily but not exclusively in the U.S. and Canada. Includes a subject, program type, and geographic indexes. This title is networked as the GrantSelect database available to UW-Madison clientele.

Directory of Research Grants. Westport, CT: Oryx Press. (GIC: LB/2338/D58)

Describes nearly 5200 programs for scholars, researchers and others who need a directory similar in content and comprehensiveness to the Annual Register of Grant Support described above. For many grants, there are no citizenship requirements as long as the applicant is already enrolled in a U.S. educational institution. The text is in alphabetical order by grant title, so make full use of the subject and program type indexes in the back. This title is networked as the GrantSelect which is available to UW-Madison clientele only.

Financial Aid for Research and Creative Activities Abroad. By Gail Ann Schlachter and R. David Weber. El Dorado Hills, CA: Reference Service Press. (GIC: LB/2375/F552)

Although intended to help Americans find funding opportunities for research, creative, professional, or related activities abroad, international students may find this publication useful, since citizenship requirements for a good portion of the grants are unrestricted. Note that funding for "structured or independent study" is excluded in this book, and listed instead in a companion volume, Financial Aid for Study and Training Abroad, described below. The geographic index following the text is excellent, especially for foreign nationals who are preparing for research or other projects in their home countries. (Be sure to check the ambiguous heading, "Foreign countries," just to be thorough.)

Financial Aid for Study and Training Abroad. By Gail Ann Schlachter and R. David Weber. El Dorado Hills, CA: Reference Service Press. (GIC: LB/2337.2/F57)

This work provides funding information for study abroad. Though geared for Americans, international students may find it useful for study in the U.S. as a country "abroad". Worth checking for the same reasons given for its companion volume above, Financial Aid for Research and Creative Activities Abroad.

Funding for United States Study: a Guide for International Students and Professionals. Marie O'Sullivan & Sara J. Steen, eds. New York: Institute of International Education. (GIC: LB2337.2/F86)

Compiled by the largest U.S. higher educational exchange agency at the time of this publication date, this directory is the only one of its kind for providing funding information exclusively for foreign nationals, specifically for pursuing educational objectives in the United States. Includes aid available from public and private sources both in the U.S. and abroad. No update available as of December, 2006.

Grants Register: the Complete Guide to Postgraduate Funding Worldwide. Edited by Louise Baynes. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire and New York: Palgrave. (GIC: LB/2338/G74)

This title is intended for students at or above the graduate level, as well as for other individuals requiring assistance to further professional or vocational goals. A number of grants are international in scope, with citizenship requirements for eligibility unrestricted. Covers grants from 86 countries and includes an eligibility-by-nationality subdivision including any country under subjects.

Money for Graduate Students in the Arts and Humanities. By Gail Ann Schlachter and R. David Weber. El Dorado Hills, CA: Reference Service Press. (GIC: LB/2337.2/M664)

Money for Graduate Students in the Physical and Earth Sciences. By Gail Ann Schlachter and R. David Weber. El Dorado Hills, CA: Reference Service Press. (GIC: LB/2337.2/M667

Money for Graduate Students in the Social Sciences & Behavioral Sciences. By Gail Ann Schlachter and R. David Weber. El Dorado Hills, CA: Reference Service Press. (GIC: LB/2337.2/M667)

The above titles list grants for graduate students for study, training, research, and creative activities in their respective disciplines. International students will find useful the residency and tenability indexes as well as subject and deadline access. Note that for many of the programs listed in each book that there are a host of entries whereby enrollment in a program regardless of citizenship is the key eligibility factor.

Scholarships, Fellowships and Loans: A Guide to Education-Related Financial Aid Programs for Students and Professionals. Amanda C Quick. Detroit: Gale Group. (GIC: LB 2338 F4)

A particularly valuable reference for international students for study in the U.S. because of its Vocational Goals Index, which under each goal or subject lists within a table geographic restrictions, which include citizenship, legal residence, and place of study. A particularly comprehensive source for undergraduates in particular. Other indexes special recipient type and field of study.