The cost of nursing school for international students is way above the roof but they can mitigate this cost by applying for scholarships. Curated in this blog post are the best nursing scholarships for international students to apply for and use the funding towards their nursing education.
Nurses are found across a range of healthcare facilities such as hospitals, clinics, medical research centers, and elderly homes. Their contributions to the healthcare field are unmatched and they are in high demand as well, so if you are considering getting a nursing degree, I think you should follow up on that dream and achieve it because you will be earning well in no time.
It takes about 2-4 years to become a nurse depending on the degree you want to pursue whether it is an Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) or a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). You may decide to take on additional professional nursing education like the Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) or Doctorate of Nursing Practice (DNP) which may take an additional 2-3 years.
Now, to get the best nursing education and work where nurses are more in demand and given higher pay, some people prefer to study abroad. Of course, there are other reasons, aside from the ones I mentioned, why they would prefer to study nursing abroad but we won’t be concentrating on them but rather on how to afford the cost through scholarships and other financial aid options.
As a prospective international student, expect to pay more in tuition when you go abroad to study irrespective of the program you want to study and nursing is not spared. So, if you want to study nursing abroad in Canada, the USA, Australia, the UK, or anywhere aside from where you are a citizen or permanent resident, you will pay a higher tuition compared to domestic students.
In as much as the tuition for international students to study nursing cannot be reduced by the host institutions, you can still do something to offset the tuition and that is applying for scholarships and grants. These are financial aid options that can reduce or even cover the entire cost of your nursing education abroad without paying back.
I have gathered all of these scholarships and grants here as the nursing scholarships for international students. Each of the scholarships has its specific eligibility criteria and requirements for applying which you have to satisfy to be eligible for the scholarship fund. Several of the nursing scholarships for international students are offered by colleges and universities offering nursing programs.
Hopefully, these scholarships will make you more confident to apply for nursing programs abroad and fulfill your desire to study and work abroad as a nurse. In addition to the scholarships curated here, you can also apply for public health scholarships for international students and scholarships for international students in STEM if you meet their requirements, the additional funding can go a long way to support your nursing education abroad.
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How to Apply for Nursing Scholarships as an International Student
There are nursing scholarships for international students and the application process is just the same as any other scholarship for international students. First, you have to be certain that the nursing scholarship is for international students, the application is typically online.
Requirements for nursing scholarships for international students vary by the donor but the typical requirements are:
- Excellent academic record, You ought to have a high GPA like 3.0 or higher
- Leadership abilities
- Participation in extracurricular activities like the Red Cross
- Proof of community involvement
- An essay or personal statement
- Proof of language proficiency e.g. TOEFL or IELTS
- Letters of recommendation
- Relevant experience
There may be more or less of these requirements, it all depends on the scholarship donor so keep an open mind and be prepared to provide whatever is asked of you.
List of Annual Nursing Scholarships for International Students
The following are nursing scholarships for international students:
- A Nurse I Am Scholarship
- The Nurses Makes a Difference Scholarship
- R&D Systems Scholarship
- Slippery Rock University (SRU) Scholarships
- Johns Hopkins School of Nursing Scholarships, Grants & Fellowships
- Health Heroes Scholarship
- GREAT Scholarships
- March of Dimes Nursing Scholarships
- MPOWER Women in STEM Scholarship
- Queen’s University, Belfast School of Nursing and Midwifery Scholarships
1. A Nurse I Am Scholarship
A Nurse I Am Scholarship is an annual scholarship funded by Cherokee Uniforms and provided to prospective nursing students from around the world to help them get a nursing education in the US. To be eligible, you must be enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate nursing program in the US. Recipients will receive $3,000, for scrubs, shoes, medical instruments, and other accessories.
2. The Nurses Makes a Difference Scholarship
The Nurses Makes a Difference Scholarship is one of the nursing scholarships for international students funded by Cascade Healthcare Solutions. To be eligible for the award, you must be currently enrolled or newly accepted in an undergraduate nursing program. The scholarship is held annually and recipients are selected through an essay contest with a different essay topic each year.
In addition to the eligibility requirements, applicants must have a CGPA of 3.0 or higher, hold a valid student visa, and provide proof of enrollment in an undergraduate nursing program. Applicants with the best essay will be awarded $1,000 to apply toward their nursing education. The essay will be assessed based on quality, thoughtfulness, and relevance to the topic.
3. R&D Systems Scholarship
R&D Systems Scholarship is not specifically for nurses but for students in science-related fields like life science, medical science, and health science therefore nursing qualifies since it is related to one of the fields. So, the scholarship is awarded annually and it is open to all levels of education above high school for those enrolled in a college or university within the US, Canada, and European Countries.
As an international nursing student in any of the countries above, you qualify to apply for the R&D Systems Scholarship. If selected, the funds will be sent directly to your host institution and applied towards your tuition.
4. Slippery Rock University (SRU) Scholarships
Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, USA offers all new undergraduate international students scholarships valued at $3,500 to offset the cost of tuition for international students. This scholarship offered by SRU is not specifically for international students who want to study nursing, it is for all international students including those who want to study nursing, so the competition will be high.
However, you can stand out in your application and increase your chances of receiving the scholarship by submitting a strong application for admission. At the end of the day, you can save up to $20,000 by receiving this scholarship.
5. Johns Hopkins School of Nursing Scholarships, Grants & Fellowships
Johns Hopkins School of Nursing is a prestigious nursing school with a global reputation for teaching excellence and research. International students are accepted into the Johns Hopkins School of Nursing but the admission process is a rigorous one due to the tough entry requirements.
However, if you are finally admitted, you can qualify for a wide range of scholarships, grants, and fellowships. These awards spread across Master of Science in Nursing (MSN), Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP), Doctor of Philosophy, and Post-Master’s Certificate.
6. Health Heroes Scholarship
Health Heroes Scholarship is funded and tenable only at the University of Salford, Manchester. It is a scholarship set aside for international students enrolled in the nursing and midwifery programs at the University of Salford. It is an annual scholarship and is for BSN and MSN students but with varying award amounts.
There is no separate application for the scholarship, recipients are selected based on their application for admission into any of their preferred nursing programs.
7. GREAT Scholarships
GREAT Scholarships is one of the most popular scholarships for international students in the UK. It is offered by the British Council in partnership with 49 different universities across the UK and awarded to students from 14 countries.
The scholarship is not specifically for international students who want to study nursing but for all programs with nursing included so I had to put it out here so that you do not miss out on the opportunity of receiving up to £10,000 that can go a long way to offset your tuition.
8. March of Dimes Nursing Scholarships
Registered nurses currently enrolled in a graduate program in maternal-child nursing at the master’s or doctoral level are eligible for the March of Dimes Nursing Scholarships and receive funding for their nursing education. The scholarship was established in 1998 and offered to date. International students also qualify provided they meet the criteria.
9. MPOWER Women in STEM Scholarship
MPOWER supports international female students who are currently enrolled or accepted to study full-time in a STEM-degree program in the US or Canada. Since nursing is classified under STEM, female nursing students can apply for this scholarship and receive up to $6,000 as support for their nursing education.
To be eligible, you must be an international student with a study visa eligible to study in the US or Canada. The scholarship is awarded annually.
10. Queen’s University, Belfast School of Nursing and Midwifery Scholarships
All students, international students included, enrolled in nursing programs at Queen’s University, Belfast are eligible for several scholarships and bursaries to support the cost of their education. The support may also include partly and fully-funded scholarships as well as other awards and prizes.
Conclusion
Studying abroad is expensive irrespective of the degree program and your host institution cannot do anything about the cost but you can offset the cost by applying for scholarships. This blog post already provided information on nursing scholarships for international students and if you fall into the category then go ahead and apply for as many as you can.
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