You Are Welcome Here Scholarship: A Comprehensive Guide for International Students

The #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship program extends a warm invitation to international students, promoting cross-cultural exchange and recognizing promising individuals with a vision for enhancing intercultural understanding. This article provides a detailed overview of the scholarship, its requirements, eligibility criteria, and participating institutions.

Introduction to the #YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship

The "#YouAreWelcomeHere" hashtag serves as a welcoming message to international students globally. This scholarship aims to support first-year international students who demonstrate leadership skills and a commitment to intercultural learning. By offering financial assistance, the program encourages students from diverse backgrounds to pursue their academic goals and contribute to a more inclusive campus community.

Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship, applicants must meet specific criteria:

First-Year International Applicant: The scholarship is exclusively for students applying as first-year international students at a participating college or university.
Demonstrated Interest in Intercultural Learning: A key requirement is the applicant's demonstrated interest and initiative in promoting intercultural learning and exchange. This can be showcased through various activities, experiences, or projects.

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Leadership Skills: Applicants should possess and be able to articulate their leadership skills, typically through an essay or multimedia submission.
Academic Admission Criteria: Applicants must meet the standard admission criteria of the college or university to which they are applying, including adhering to all deadlines.

Application Process

The application process for the #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship involves several steps:

Apply to a Participating Institution: First, students must apply for admission to a college or university that participates in the #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship program.
Complete the Scholarship Application: Students should complete a #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship application for each selected institution by the institution’s deadline, including either an essay or multimedia submission explaining how they will apply their leadership skills in the campus community.

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Submit an Essay: A crucial part of the application is a 500-1000 word essay (or an alternative multimedia submission) describing leadership skills and how the applicant plans to apply these skills at the chosen institution. SUNY New Paltz, for example, requires this type of essay. The essay that is a required part of the SUNY Supplemental Application or the Common Application is acceptable. You may also use the SUNY International Applicant Essay form - form for your essay.

It's important to note that some participating colleges and universities may only accept essays as part of the application.

Financial Coverage

The #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship offers significant financial support, though the exact amount and coverage vary by institution.

La Roche University: A #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship is $19,000 per year and can be renewed on an annual basis.
General Coverage: Participating institutions commit to offering scholarships that cover at least 50% of the published annual (out-of-state) tuition costs, excluding fees.

It is crucial to understand that the scholarship typically applies to tuition only and does not cover other expenses such as university fees, room and board, books, or supplies.

Renewal Criteria

The #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship can be renewed annually, provided the student maintains satisfactory academic progress, as determined by the institution. The scholarships will be renewable for the length of the degree program (maximum of 2 years for an associate’s degree or maximum of 4 years for a bachelor’s degree).

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Participating Colleges and Universities

Several institutions have committed to offering the #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship. The following institutions have committed to offering two #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarships beginning Fall 2025. For details on a particular institution's scholarship, please contact the institution directly. This list may change without notice. Some participating institutions include:

Salve Regina University (Newport, Rhode Island)
St. Catherine University (St. Paul, Minnesota)
St. Francis College (Brooklyn Heights, New York)
La Roche University
Widener University
University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC)
SUNY New Paltz

Prospective students should contact the participating college or university of their choice directly for specific details about their scholarship program.

Timeline

The timeline for the #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship program typically follows this pattern:

January 1: Colleges and universities confirm their participation in the upcoming academic year's scholarship campaign. For example, for the 2026-2027 academic year, institutions should confirm by January 1, 2026.
Spring/Summer: Students complete and submit their scholarship applications to each selected institution by the institution's specific deadline.
September 1: Colleges and universities notify NAFSA (the organizer of the program) of their scholarship recipients. For example, for the Fall 2026 intake, notification should occur by September 1, 2026.

The deadline to apply for the #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship for Fall 2025 is now closed. The #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship application for Fall 2026 will be announced at a later date.

Essay Requirements

A key component of the #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship application is the essay. Here's what you need to know:

Word Count: Essays typically range from 500 to 1000 words.
Content: The essay should describe your leadership skills in your school or community and how you plan to continue applying your leadership skills at the university.In looking forward to your future education and career, what significant activity, research, work, or project do you hop to undertake in support of intercultural learning and bridging cultural divides?

Additional Scholarship Resources

Besides the #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship, numerous other resources are available for international students seeking financial aid:

Scholarship Databases: Free scholarship databases provide information on various scholarship opportunities from private, corporate, nonprofit, and government sources.
Caution: Be wary of scholarship offers that require you to send money, bank account numbers, or credit card numbers. Legitimate scholarships do not ask for payment in return.

Responsibilities of Participating Institutions

Colleges and universities participating in the #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship program commit to several responsibilities:

Funding: Fund the scholarships with institutional money. The scholarships will be additive. They are not relabeled awards or drawn from preexisting scholarship funds.
Scholarship Amount: The scholarships offer at least 50% of published annual (out-of-state) tuition costs (excluding fees).
Renewal: The scholarships will be renewable for the length of the degree program (maximum of 2 years for an associate’s degree or maximum of 4 years for a bachelor’s degree) provided the student makes satisfactory academic progress; as determined by the institution.
Selection: Select students who meet the criteria as outlined in the #YouAreWelcomeHere scholarship program.
Data Sharing: Share relevant data, including application received, student information, scholarship awards, etc.

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