Scholarships, student grants, student loans and aid for graduate students

The following is a list of organizations that provide cholarships, student grants, student loans for graduate students for foreign graduate students to study in the US. Most funding is restricted to students who are interested in a specific field of study. Some of the funding is restricted to students from specific countries.

ADAMHA National Research Service Awards

Westwood Bldg.. #240, NIH, Bethesda MD 20892 (telephone 301-594-7248)

PhD in areas of biomedical & behavioral research within one of the three institutes.

Agency for Health Care Policy & Research, Grants for Dissertation Research

2101 E. Jefferson St. #502, Rockville, MD 20852 (telephone 301-594-1357)

For students in the social, medical, management or health sciences.

American Bar Association, International Legal Exchange Program (ILEX)

1620 L Street, N.W., Suite 825 Washington, D.C. 20036 (telephone 202-466-2600)

Grants for law studies.

American Cancer Society, California

1710 Webster St., Suite 210, Oakland, CA 94612

Dissertation fellowships for research in the social & behavioral aspects of cancer. Applicants must be currently enrolled at a California institute.

American Council of Learned Societies, Grants for Chinese Studies

288 E. 45 St., NY, NY 10017 (telephone 212-697-1505)

Fellowships are available for original research on Chinese culture or society. Language training and support for China specialists available.

American Council of Learned Societies, East European Language Training

288 E. 45 St., NY, NY 10017 (telephone 212-697-1505)

PhD dissertation fellowships for research on East Europe are available to students of the humanities or social sciences. Study trips may also be sponsored.

American Institute for Economic Research

Great Barrington, MA 01230 (telephone 413-528-1207)

Fellowships to college seniors applying to graduate programs leading to a PhD for research in the institution.

American Institute of Indian Studies. Fellowship Program

1130 E. 59th St. Chicago, IL 60637 (telephone 312-702-8638)

Graduates specializing in Indian aspects of academic discipline and for study in India.

American Philosophical Society, The J. C. Slater Fellowship

104 South 5th St. Philadelphia, PA 19106

Scholarships for doctoral dissertation on the history of the 20th century physical sciences

American Philosophical Society, Phillips Fund for Native American Studies

104 South 5th St. Philadelphia, PA 19106

Scholarships for graduates doing research on North American Indian linguistics and ethnohistory.

American Research Center in Egypt

30 E. 20th St. NY, NY 10003 (telephone 212-529-6661)

PhD dissertation from the fields of Egyptology, archeology, art history, humanities, social sciences and related disciplines.

American Scandinavians Foundation

725 Park Ave., New York, NY 10021 (telephone 212-879-9779)

Awards for graduate Scandinavian students to undertake study or research program in the US. Also awards in all fields for advanced study or research in Scandinavia.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Foundation

10801 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20852 (telephone 301-897-5700)

Scholarships and grants to graduate students for research and study in the field of communication sciences and disorders.

Atlantic Salmon Federation

P.O. Box 429, St. Andrews, NB, EOG 2X0

Fellowships to graduate students for research in Atlantic salmon biology, management and conservation

Audio Engineering Society Educational Foundation

60 E. 42nd St., NY, NY 10165 (telephone 203-866-6005)

Scholarships for graduate studies in audio engineering.

Center for Hellenic Studies

3100 Whitehaven St. NW, Washington, DC 20008 (telephone 202-234-3738)

Fellowships for PhD and candidates with background in hellenic studies.

Charles Babbage Institute

103 Walter Literary, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455 (telephone 612-624-5050)

Fellowships to graduate students whose dissertation will address a topic in the history of computers and information processing.

Einstein (Albert) Institute

1430 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge, MA 02138 (telephone 617-876-0311)

Support for graduates and scholars conducting research on the history, characteristics, and potential application of nonviolent sanctions.

Electrochemical Society, Inc.

10 South Main St., Pennington, NJ 08534

Scholarships and fellowships to graduate students for study and research in the field of electrochemistry.

Freedom Support Act Graduate Fellowship Program

ACTR, 1776 Massachusetts Ave., NW Washington, DC 20036

Administering many funds, especially for Eastern European students, in the fields of communication, education administration, library and information science, and public policy.

Geological Society of America

3300 Penrose Place, P.O. Box 9140, Boulder, CO 80301 (telephone 303-447-2020 ext. 137)

Grants for graduate students to support master?s and doctoral thesis research in geological science.

Guggenheim Foundation

527 Madison Ave. NY, NY 10022 (telephone 212-644-4907)

Awards for thesis clearly relevant to aggression, violence and human dominance.

International Reading Association

800 Barkdale Road, P. O. Box 8139, Newark, DE 19714

Offering a program of grants and awards relating to the field of reading and literacy for doctoral students.

International Research & Exchange Board

1616 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006

Fellowships for graduate study at the master?s level in the following fields: business, economics, law, public administration, education administration, journalism and mass communication, and library and information system. Applicants must be citizens of Eastern European countries.

Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society

4990 Northwind Dr., Suite 140, East Lansing, Michigan 48823-5031

Grants for masters and doctoral students who study or conduct research in the area of home economics.

L.S.B. Leaky Foundation Grants

Grants to doctoral students for research in human origins, behavior and survival.

Medical Library Association

Suite 300, Six North Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60602

Scholarships and grants to graduate students for study in library science programs.

Memorial Foundation for Jewish Culture

15 E. 26th St., New York, NY 10010

Scholarships for graduate students specializing in Jewish studies.

National Institute of Justice

U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Washington, D.C. 20531

Fellowships to graduate students for research in criminal justice.

NATO Scientific Affairs Division

B-1110 Brussels, Belgium. (telephone 32-2-707-4111)

Fellowships for scientists of NATO countries to pursue their work or to continue their training at institutions in other NATO countries. Fellowships are available for masters and doctoral students.

Organization of American States

General Secretariat, OAS, 17th & Constitution Ave, NW, Washington, D.C. 20006 (telephone 202-458-3900)

Fellowships are awarded to carry out graduate studies in a field which promotes the economic, social, scientific and cultural development of the Member States. Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of an OAS county (most of South American countries).

Purina Mills, Inc.

1401 S. Hanley Rd.., St. Louis, Missouri 63144

Fellowships to graduate students for research in the field of nutrition as applied to animal, dairy, and poultry science.

Resources for the Future

1616 P St., NW, Washington, DC 20036. 202-328-5000

Dissertation fellowships for research related to natural resource and environmental issues.

Rockefeller Foundation, Sub-Saharan Africa Dissertation Internships

1133 6th Ave. NY, NY 10036 (telephone 212-869-8500)

Support for African graduates to undertake supervised dissertation research in Africa, in agriculture, health and life sciences, economic development, and poverty alleviation.

Samuel H. Kress Foundation

174 E. 80th St., New York, NY 10021

Pre-doctoral fellowships to art history students.

Sinfonia Foundation, Research Assistance Grants

10600 Old State Rd., Evansville, IN 47711

For research in music. The subject of the research should be related to American music or music in America.

Social Science Research Institute, Soviet Studies Grants

605 3rd Ave., NY, NY 10158 (telephone 212-661-0280)

For Soviet studies of graduates and PhDs.

Social Science Research Institute. Dissertation Fellowships for Area Research

605 3rd Ave., NY, NY 10158 (telephone 212-661-0280)

For dissertation research in the social sciences and humanities.

Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality

P.O. Box 208, Mt. Vernon, IA 52314 (telephone 319-895-8407)

Grants to support research related to sexuality.

Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues

P.O. Box 1248, Ann Arbor, MI 48106

Graduates studying sexism & racism.

Special Libraries Association

1700 18th St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20009 (telephone 202-234-4700)

Scholarships for graduate study in librarianship.

Spencer Foundation

900 North Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60611 (telephone 312-337-7000)

For graduates doing research in any academic discipline with the dissertation topics relevant to education in its broader sense that includes cultural knowledge, socialization, and the production and distribution of knowledge.

State Historical Society of Wisconsin

816 State St., Madison, WI 53706. (telephone 608-264-6400)

Administering various fellowships to graduate students for research in American history, business and economic history, and women history. Preference is given to topics of Wisconsin.

Supreme Council

P.O. BOX 519, Lexington, MA 02173

Administering various fellowship programs for graduate students with career interests in fields relevant to schizophrenia research.

United States Institute of Peace

1550 M St. NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20005

Dissertation scholarships to doctoral students for research in the fields of humanities and science.

Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation

CN 5281, Princeton, New Jersey 08543

Administering several funds for Ph.D. candidates in the areas of humanistic or women studies.

The United States continues to be one of the most attractive countries for immigrants and international students, and many look for USA work opportunities as they move. However, the only way you are legally allowed to work in the USA when you are not a citizen or permanent resident is to obtain a USA Work Visa. The work visa allows you to work for a predetermined period of time, and different types of visas have certain restrictions and requirements. Whether you?re an international student thinking about working the USA, or are a foreigner interested in applying for a USA work visa, you will need to know what the rules and regulations are for your specific situation.

What is a USA Work Visa?

If you want to legally work in the USA, you will need to be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, or hold a USA work visa. The United States Immigration and Nationality Act grants a minimum of 140,000 employment-based immigration visas to individuals that meet certain criteria, and these visas allow you to work on a part-time or full-time basis under certain conditions. If you apply for and work at a job in the USA without a work visa or work permit, you may be fined heavily and deported immediately.

Types of Visas that Allow You to Work in the USA

There are several different types of visas available to immigrants and non-citizens of the United States. Each visa application is different, and you will need to provide extensive documentation about your background, birth certificate and other supporting documents before the visa can be granted. Anyone that wishes to work in the USA will need to go through this process, and may consider hiring a lawyer to do so.

The types of visas that allow you to work in the USA include:

• Employment Based First Preference (E1)
• Employment Based Second Preference (E2)
• Employment Based Third Preference (E3)
• Employment Based Fourth Preference (E4)
• Employment Based Fifth Preference (E5)
• F1 Student Visa
• J1 Student Visa
• M1 Student Visa
• H1B Visa
• L-1 Visa
• TN1 Visa (for Canadian immigrants)

E1 through E5 USA work visas are granted to individuals that have filed an Immigrant Petition for Foreign worker document, and have either received a job offer for a position in the United States, or are a working professional with exceptional abilities and an approved labor certification from the Department of Labor. Other stipulations for these visas apply, and these work visas are not typically granted to international students. All of the stipulations and requirements of the Employment-Based visas can be reviewed on the Travel.state.gov website http://travel.state.gov/visa/immigrants/types/types_1323.html#first.

H1B, J1 Exchange, L-1 and TN1 visas are typically granted to non-student foreigners who wish to work in the USA for a certain period of time.

Getting a USA Work Visa as an International Student

If you want to get a USA work visa as an international student, you will be eligible for an F1 Visa, J1 Student Visa, or an M1 Student Visa.

About the F1 Student Visa:

The F1 Visa is granted to international students who are attending an academic program at an accredited college or university in the United States. You will need to maintain full-time student status in order to qualify for this visa, and you are allowed to stay in the U.S. for up to 60 days after graduation from your degree program. As an F1 visa holder, you are allowed to work 20 hours or less per week at a job on campus, and must report your working hours to your university on a regular basis. You are also eligible to complete practical training in your field of study for 12 months after graduation, at which point you are allowed to work on a full-time basis in your industry.

About the J1 Student Visa:

The J1 Student Visa is granted to students who need to acquire practical training in a field that is unavailable in their home country. They must find a sponsor who can provide them with the training, and they can enter the United States through the Exchange Visitor Program. If you are granted this visa, you will need to work with your employer to go through the sponsorship process.

About the M1 Student Visa:

The M-1 Visa does not permit you to work in the USA, but does allow you to enter the country legally and pursue an education. M-1 visas are granted to individuals attending a technical or vocational program, and you will need to provide proof that you can support yourself without having to work in the USA.

It is generally a good idea to speak with your international student advisor at the college or university you are attending to clarify all the rules and stipulations about working the USA with your particular visa status.

Working in the USA as a Foreigner (non-student)

If you are interested in applying for a work visa in the USA as a non-student immigrant, you will need to find an employer to sponsor you for the length of your employment contract, and must work only a set number of hours based on the type of visa granted to you. Your eligibility will be based on the Employment Based visa requirements as outlined by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consumer Affairs.

About the H1B Visa:

This visa allows you to work in the USA for up to six years as a non-immigrant. You are permitted to enter the United States with this visa, but must show proof of a sponsoring company before you move.

About the J1 Exchange Visitor Visa:

This visa is granted to both students and non-students interested in participating in the Exchange Visitor Program. This allows you to legally work or train in your field during the length of your stay, but you must take a job in the private sector as an alien physician, au pair, camp counselor, secondary school student, teacher, or flight trainee, or work in the academic and government sectors as an international visitor, government visitor, short term scholar, professor or research scholar, specialist, or attend a student college or university.

About the L-1 Visa:

The L-1 Visa allows companies to transfer certain employees from certain departments overseas to the United States. This type of visa is granted only to managers and executives, or specialized knowledge staff members, and the individual is only allowed to work in the United States for a certain time frame.

About the TN1 Visa:

The TN1 Visa is granted to Canadian citizens who are given preferential treatment for entry into the United States through the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The TN1 Visa is granted for one year but can be renewed indefinitely. It is usually granted immediately at the Canadian border, and is one of the most efficient ways for a Canadian to enter the United States with the ability to work (as long as they are working for a specific employer).

USA Work Visa: Resources

Here are some important resources to review when you are considering applying for a USA work visa, or are seeking USA work opportunities: U.S. Department of State: Visa Services http://travel.state.gov/visa/visa_1750.html

H1BVisa.com http://www.h1base.com/ – information about finding sponsors and applying for a USA work visa

Social Security Administration: International Students and Social Security Numbers http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10181.html

United States Immigration Support Services http://www.usimmigrationsupport.org/