Top Scholarships for International Nursing Students, Full Ride and Merit-Based Nursing Scholarships

Top Scholarships for International Nursing Students: Scholarships for International Nursing Students cover tuition, living expenses, and research opportunities while recognizing academic excellence, leadership, and diversity. Most full-ride scholarships for nursing abroad allow talented students to further their nursing careers at some of the world’s most prestigious universities.

List of Top Scholarships for International Nursing Students 

There are numerous top scholarships for international nursing students available worldwide to help international students pay for tuition and other school-related expenses. Awards may be based on academic merit, financial need, leadership potential, and diversity. These awards can help aspiring nurses make higher education more affordable.

International Nursing Student Scholarships

Numerous universities and colleges worldwide provide scholarships to international nursing students. These scholarships may cover tuition fees, living expenses, and research opportunities, allowing students to pursue their passion for nursing. Some of the universities that offer scholarships for nursing students include Johns Hopkins University, University of Sydney, King's College London, and University of Toronto. These universities have well-established nursing programs and offer scholarship funds to attract top nursing students from all over the world.

East Tennessee State University (ETSU) International Merit Scholarship

Open to any international student applying to study for a degree at East Tennessee State University (ETSU) with a minimum GPA equivalent to 3.0.

• Must be an F-1 or J-1 student visa holder.

• Can provide up to $9,000 per year to help with tuition fees.

• No separate application required for this scholarship. 

• Applicants are automatically considered when they apply to ETSU.

• The ETSU College of Nursing offers a number of other scholarships, including the Barbara Oakley Scholarship, the Betsy Brogan Scholarship, and others that focus on academic success and involvement in the community.

March of Dimes Undergraduate Nursing Diversity Scholarship 

Open to undergraduate nursing students who are from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups and enrolled in an accredited school of nursing.

• Focuses on those who intend to work in maternal and infant health and are looking to make a difference in these health areas.

• The scholarship amount is $10,000. 

• The March of Dimes has a mission of supporting diversity and inclusion in nursing education as well as in the nursing healthcare professions.

• Applications often require showing academic success and an intention to do community service in the maternal-infant health area.

Slippery Rock University International Student Tuition Waiver 

An award for new international undergraduate students, including students of nursing, who attend Slippery Rock University (SRU) in Pennsylvania.

• Must maintain a minimum 3.0 GPA to be eligible.

• Students can get an award of approximately $3,500 as a tuition waiver, as well as another $1,500 for achieving this academic threshold.

• Helps international students attending SRU lower their overall cost of studying by a significant margin.

• Does not have specific requirements for financial need.

• Does provide an extra achievement bonus for those with strong academic results.

University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) Laurette Kirstein Scholarship for International Students

Awarded to all full-time international students at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC), including undergraduate, graduate, and professional students.

• The students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 at UIC in order to be eligible to apply for the scholarship.

• The scholarship amount is $5,000. 

• The award is to help nursing and other students pay for their tuition expenses.

• Is an award for strong academic achievers across a variety of fields, including health sciences.

• Most often awarded on academic merit and with little or no regard to financial need.

University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing Bobby Joe Waggoner Memorial Scholarship

Open to graduate nursing students who attend the University of Missouri.

• The scholarship has a preference for non-traditional students with a financial need, which helps those students with a different route to their education.

• The exact amount of the scholarship is undisclosed, but is a competitive amount to help lower the cost of graduate studies.

• It is an award that is particularly focused on students from underrepresented groups in higher education, especially as they pertain to nursing.

• Applications are also encouraged from students who are looking to be strong nursing leaders and nurse professionals.

Emergency Nursing Diverse Voices Research Fellowship 

This nursing scholarship is targeted at first-time nurse researchers who are looking to focus on emergency healthcare for underrepresented populations.

• All applicants must be a member of the Emergency Nurses Association.

• Will provide nursing scholars and professionals with funding to support research, including travel, to foster more inclusion in this area of nursing research.

• Supports research that can pioneer changes in the field of emergency nursing practice and the patient outcomes in this field.

• Encourages more diversity among nurse-led research into healthcare disparities and how to overcome them.

Epsilon Sigma Alpha Alice/Jeanne Wagner Memorial Scholarship 

Open to both U.S. and international students applying to an undergraduate or graduate nursing program in the U.S.

• Awarded based on academic achievement as well as a demonstrated leadership and community service record and financial need.

• Provides a scholarship amount of $650 to help cover the costs of a nursing education.

• Offers support for students that can show they are a strong fit for nursing as a career, based on academic success as well as work outside of class.

• Helps students be able to afford tuition while also building leadership and professional skills.

University of California San Francisco (UCSF) School of Nursing Styles International Student Scholarship

Open to international students studying for their master’s and doctoral nursing degrees at the University of California San Francisco (UCSF).

• Named after the former dean Margretta Styles to recognize academic and professional achievement.

• The scholarship amount is undisclosed but is a prestigious award to be named as a recipient within the UCSF nursing programs.

• The award supports advanced nursing education and research for international students.

• The scholarship encourages high-achieving graduate nursing students to further their education and study in both the clinical and academic nursing fields.

THEDREAM.US National Scholarship 

Designed for immigrant students who came to the U.S. before November 1, 2018 and before they were 16 years old.

• Eligible students can get in-state tuition at partner colleges. The THEDREAM.US National Scholarship covers up to $16,500 to be paired with an associate degree and $33,000 for a bachelor’s degree.

• It also offers an alternative for students who are unable to qualify for in-state tuition rates to help make U.S. nursing and healthcare degrees more accessible to immigrant students.

• Supports students who have the talent to complete higher education in the U.S. nursing and healthcare fields but are held back by economic barriers.

• Highlights inclusion and opportunity for the immigrant population when it comes to studying nursing in the U.S.

Esperanza Education Fund Scholarship 

Graduating high school seniors or recent GED recipients who are from Washington D.C., Maryland, or Virginia. The applicant, or their parent, must be born outside of the U.S.

• Provides $5,000 to apply to bachelor’s degree study and $16,500 for an associate degree.

• The scholarship encourages students who are immigrants or from underrepresented groups to pursue higher education, including the field of nursing.

• Looks to foster higher education for students who come from a range of cultural backgrounds.

• Helps students that have financial need so they can successfully enroll in and complete a nursing program.