Georgia Southern University Scholarships for International Students: A Comprehensive Guide

Georgia Southern University welcomes students from over 100 countries, offering a diverse and dynamic community for international students to learn, grow, and succeed. Recognizing the financial challenges of higher education, the university provides various scholarship opportunities to support international students in their academic pursuits. This article provides a comprehensive overview of scholarships available to international students at Georgia Southern University.

International Merit Scholarship

Georgia Southern University strongly values international students and demonstrates its support through a limited number of International Merit Scholarships. This scholarship waives the out-of-state fee, which is charged to all international and out-of-state students. With tuition and fees for international students around $10,500 per semester, this scholarship significantly reduces the financial burden of attending university.

Eligibility:

New international freshmen or transfer students in F-1 Visa status beginning in the fall term are eligible to apply.
Applicants must be officially accepted for enrollment at Georgia Southern before being considered for the scholarship.
Consideration will be given to applicants who demonstrate good academic standing, financial need, and a commitment to the university and community.

Important Notes:

The International Merit Scholarship is not available to students beginning in the spring or summer terms.
The scholarship committee reviews applications only after the applicant has been accepted for admission.
The Office of International Student Admissions and Programs (ISAP) notifies applicants of the scholarship committee’s decision no later than April 1.
Scholarships awarded to new international freshmen are renewable for eight semesters (four years), while scholarships awarded to international transfer students are renewable for four semesters (two years).

Out-of-Country Tuition Waivers

Georgia Southern University recognizes the importance of international education and the benefits of a multicultural student population. To help ensure diversity, the university awards a limited number of out-of-country tuition waivers to undergraduate and graduate international students who demonstrate outstanding academic standing, financial need, and commitment to the university and community.

Eligibility:

Only students with F-1 visa status may be granted a waiver. F-1 Visa status must be maintained at all times.
Graduate students granted the waiver must maintain a minimum semester and cumulative graduate GPA of 3.5 to be eligible to continue to receive the waiver.
Graduate students with a semester and/or cumulative graduate GPA less than 3.5 may apply. Applications will be considered based on available funding, academic record, and essay content.

Important Note: Those who fail to continue to meet the visa and grade point requirements will lose the waiver and must be prepared to pay the non-resident tuition and fees. Students should not wait to obtain an I-20.

Other Scholarship Opportunities

In addition to the International Merit Scholarship, Georgia Southern awards over 150 academic scholarships to incoming students each year. These scholarships are competitive and based on high SAT scores and GPAs. International students are encouraged to explore these opportunities as well.

College-Specific Scholarships

Georgia Southern also appears to have a number of college-specific scholarships that international students might want to inquire about.

External Scholarship Opportunities

International students are encouraged to seek out external scholarship opportunities that are available to them.

Additional Georgia Southern Scholarships

Allen E. Paulson Student Scholarship: Provides recognition and assistance to outstanding engineering and technology students.
Robert B. Scholarship: Awarded to outstanding traditional students who are athletes majoring in Civil Engineering. Recipients must be enrolled full-time and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0. Financial need, extracurricular activities, school and community involvement, and prior work experience will be considered.
Thomas & Hutton Scholarship in Honor of J.: Available to junior or senior level students majoring in Construction. First preference should be given to students from Bulloch County, followed by Candler County.
William Jones Lane, Sr. Scholarship: Students applying for this scholarship must be pursuing a Construction degree. Students must have taken at least 12 semester hours or three courses within the program with a C or better.
Ray M. Scholarship: Applicants must be majoring in Construction and demonstrate a genuine vocational or professional interest in the building construction industry, preferably the residential sector. Applicants must have at least a 2.75 cumulative GPA.
Stephen G. Moore Scholarship: Established in memory of Stephen G. Moore, who aspired to be an engineer.
Lancy C. Jen Scholarship: Awarded to IT or Computer Science students who maintain a 3.0 GPA and are from a rural city or town in Georgia (population less than 100,000). Preference may be given to minority students.
Robert and Thalia Stoddard Family Scholarship: Rotates between the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing and the Parker College of Business.
Claude A. Scholarship: Applicants must be rising senior MfgE majors with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5. First preference shall be given to applicants from Statesboro and the surrounding region.
Hugh E. Darley, Sr. Scholarship: This scholarship was erected in memory of Hugh E. Darley, Sr.
Charles Robert Pound, Sr. Scholarship: Students must be pursuing a Mechanical Engineering degree. First preference goes to those at the junior and senior level.
R.J. Kennedy, Jr. and Spencer W. Boyd, Sr. Scholarship: Awarded to an undergraduate student with unmet financial need, majoring in one of the college’s engineering programs and on track to graduate.
F. Scholarship: Available to undergraduates who demonstrate financial need and are majoring in Civil, Electrical, Manufacturing or Mechanical Engineering; or Construction. First preference will be given to students from Bulloch County, Georgia.

Annual Awards

Hugh E. Darley, Sr.: Annual award for undergraduate students enrolled full-time at Georgia Southern University majoring in Technology with an emphasis in design. Students must have a minimum 2.5 GPA and a minimum 1200 SAT score.
Sudie A.: Annual award for Glynn County, Georgia residents who are undergraduate students enrolled full-time at Georgia Southern University.

Application Process and Requirements

The application process for scholarships at Georgia Southern University varies depending on the specific scholarship. However, some general requirements typically include:

Application for Admission: Applicants must be officially accepted for enrollment at Georgia Southern University.
Academic Transcripts: International transcript evaluation is required for all students who have attended an international institution. They must include a course-by-course evaluation with a GPA, and the evaluation will need to show that you have earned a degree equivalent to a United States bachelor’s degree.
English Proficiency: Citizens whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency through the TOEFL or IELTS, unless they have received a degree from an accredited college or university in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada (except Quebec), Australia, or New Zealand.
Essay: Many scholarships require a 500-word essay describing your educational intent, service to the local community, and financial need. The essay should also explain how you intend to use your education after returning to your home country.
Letters of Recommendation: Some scholarships may require letters of recommendation from teachers, counselors, or other individuals who can attest to your academic abilities, character, and potential.
Financial Need Documentation: Applicants may need to provide documentation to demonstrate financial need, such as tax returns, bank statements, or other financial records.

Important Deadlines

Priority Undergraduate Admission: April 1 for Fall enrollment; November 1 for Spring enrollment.
Scholarship Application: February 1 (check specific scholarship details as deadlines may vary).
Southern Leaders Program: The Georgia Southern Scholarship deadline to apply is February 1, 2026.

Additional Resources

Office of International Student Admissions and Programs (ISAP): The ISAP office offers a full range of International Student Services, including guidance on obtaining your visa and understanding the regulations and benefits associated with your visa status. You may seek assistance from any advisor in the ISAP office.
College of Graduate Studies: Graduate students may apply for an assistantship opportunity and/or out of country tuition waiver through the College of Graduate Studies.
Georgia Southern University Website: www.georgiasouthern.edu

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