Does the University of North Dakota offer scholarships for international students?

University of North Dakota Scholarships for International Students: A Comprehensive Guide

Introduction

Securing funding is often the foremost concern for international students aspiring to study in the U.S. The University of North Dakota (UND), located in Grand Forks, offers a multitude of academic programs and a supportive campus environment. With over 1,000 international students from 97 nations, UND is both global and welcoming University of North Dakota. But what about scholarship opportunities specifically open to students from abroad? Let’s explore what’s available, how to apply, and everything in between.

1. UND Internal Scholarships: What International Students Can Access

1.1 Scholarship Central – The Gateway to UND Scholarships

UND’s Scholarship Central is the central portal for internal scholarship applications—covering 1,300+ opportunities, including academic, merit-based, and need-based awards University of North Dakotaeducation.und.edu. Applications typically open October 1 and close by February 1 for new incoming students and March 1 for returning students University of North Dakota+1.

International students can use this platform, as long as they are admitted to UND (undergraduate, graduate, or law level), though they should verify individual scholarship criteria, as some may be U.S.-citizen only University of North Dakota+1.

1.2 Automatic Academic Scholarships for New Students

Incoming freshmen and transfer students may automatically qualify for scholarships based on academic performance:

• Freshmen:

  • $14,000 total ($3,500/year for 4 years) — 3.90+ GPA or 30+ ACT (1370+ SAT) with 3.00+ GPA

  • $11,000 total ($2,750/year) — 3.70–3.89 GPA

  • $1,500 non-renewable — 3.50–3.69 GPA

  • Must apply by the February 1 priority deadline and be full-time (12+ credits) University of North Dakota+1.

• Transfer Students:

  • $2,000 max ($1,000/semester) — 3.90–4.00 cumulative GPA

  • $1,000 max ($500/semester) — 3.50–3.89

  • Must apply by August 15 (fall) or December 15 (spring) and transfer fewer than 120 credits University of North Dakota+1.

Since these are merit-based and automatic, international students meeting the criteria can benefit as long as admission and credit conditions are met.

2. UND’s Specialized Scholarships: Fields & Languages

International students pursuing language studies or study abroad-related programs have several specialized award opportunities:

2.1 Scholarships within Language & International Studies

• John G. Arneberg Foreign Travel Scholarships — Up to ~$2,500 for travel and language study, traditionally in German, Scandinavian, French, and sometimes Chinese, Greek, Latin, Spanish arts-sciences.und.edu.

• Paul W. Larsen On-Campus Scholarships — Up to ~$500 for outstanding language students studying at UND arts-sciences.und.edu.

• Diane J. Weber Foreign Language Scholarship — $1,000 for foreign language majors studying abroad arts-sciences.und.edu.

• Ronald and Carol Vantine International Scholars Scholarship — Awarded to students of languages influential globally (e.g. Chinese, Arabic, Indian languages) through UND Foundation arts-sciences.und.edu.

• Additional language-specific awards (French, German, Norwegian, Spanish) exist; amounts and availability vary. Many are nomination-based arts-sciences.und.edu.

2.2 Broader Study Abroad & International Language Scholarships

UND highlights a wide array of programs subsidizing study abroad and language learning:

• Asia Pacific Education Scholarship — Awards vary ($500–$2,000) for undergraduates studying in Asia-Pacific University of North Dakota+1.

• Boren Awards — Up to $20,000 for language and regional study abroad University of North Dakota+1.

• Critical Language Scholarship (CLS) — Covers travel and program costs for intensive summer language institutes University of North Dakota+1.

• German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) — Covers study/research/stay in Germany (4–10 months undergrad; up to 1 year graduate) University of North Dakota+1.

• Gilman International Scholarship — Up to $5,000 for Pell-eligible undergrads studying abroad University of North Dakota+1.

• Gilman Critical Need Language Supplement — Additional $8,000 for high-need language study University of North Dakota.

• Other programs: Humanity in Action, NSEP Boren (David L. Boren), Frank Newman Leadership, NOAA Hollings, PPIA, Think Swiss Research — all offer substantial support for international academic or research experiences abroad University of North Dakota+1.

These national scholarships are open internationally (some with U.S. restrictions), and UND aids in identifying and applying for them.

3. External UND Scholarships with International Eligibility

UND also lists some externally administered awards that international students can still leverage:

• Outstanding Graduate Student Research Award — About $280 to grad students with exceptional research contributions Masters Portal.

• Ralph Engelstad Underrepresented Scholarship — Up to $5,000 per year, renewable for up to eight semesters; for first-time freshmen with ≥ 3.0 GPA, TRIO eligibility (first-gen or low-income), in specified majors; open to any nationality, with preference for historically underrepresented groups Masters Portal.

4. What Students Say: Are Full-Rides Possible?

On Reddit, a user asked whether international students with top GPAs and SATs could achieve a full ride at UND. A reply noted:

“You can but it’s very unlikely unless you know someone that’s already in UND.” Reddit

This suggests full-ride opportunities for international students are rare and often exception-based.

5. Key Takeaways & SEO Perspective

For International Students, UND Offers:

• Automatic academic scholarships (freshman, transfer) based on GPA/test scores—international students are eligible if they meet criteria.

• Scholarship Central provides access to 1,300+ internal awards—though some may require U.S. citizenship, most are open.

• Language & study abroad scholarships tailored to fields like languages, cultural studies, and international research—many highly relevant to global students.

• External and institutional awards, e.g., research grants, TRIO-based scholarships, though amounts vary.

• National competitive scholarships (e.g., Gilman, Boren, CLS) that UND helps students apply for.

SEO Highlights (Keywords to include):

• “University of North Dakota international student scholarships”

• “UND scholarships for international students”

• “UND Scholarship Central international eligibility”

• “UND study abroad scholarships”, “language scholarships UND”

• “automatic academic scholarships UND international”

• “UND Gilman Boren DAAD scholarships”

6. Recommendations for Prospective International Students

1. Apply early to Scholarship Central (opens Oct 1; deadlines Feb 1/March 1).

2. Ensure full-time admission and meet GPA/test thresholds for automatic scholarships.

3. Explore language and travel-specific scholarships if your field aligns.

4. Look into external funding such as Gilman, Boren, DAAD, CLS, etc., with UND support.

5. Confirm individual eligibility—some awards have citizenship or TRIO-based requirements.

6. Budget wisely, as full rides are rare; combine UND and external funding when possible.

Conclusion

While the University of North Dakota may not have a dedicated “international student scholarship” program, many of their offerings are accessible to students from abroad. Eligibility hinges on admission, academic excellence, and proactive application. With Scholarship Central, field-specific grants, and national scholarship avenues, UND provides a strong foundation for funding an international education—so long as you awaken early, research broadly, and apply diligently.

If you’d like, I can help you craft your Scholarship Central application, or zero in on scholarship programs relevant to your field (e.g., engineering, Arabic, etc.). Just let me know!