Funding Your Studies
Because William & Mary is a publicly-funded state university, financial aid for international students is extremely limited. The W&M Financial Aid Office deals almost exclusively with federal aid programs for US citizens and permanent residents.
Graduate Assistantships
Graduate assistantships are awarded to graduate students by academic departments (e.g., History, Computer Science, etc.) and offices. They generally require 10-20 hours per week of research, administrative, or teaching assistance from the student in exchange for a stipend and/or payment of tuition. Note that most graduate assistantship stipends are only for 9 months (fall and spring semesters), therefore, students receiving assistantships may need additional funds to cover living expenses during the summer. Students should inquire with the academic department as to the availability of an assistantship.
On-campus Resources (available to students after they have begun study)
- Reves Center Scholarships
Scholarships for international students, administered by the Reves Center for International Studies. - Sponsored Programs
An office of William & Mary, their website has several links to potential funding sources. - Charles Center
The Charles Center provides assistance in locating scholarships and grants for undergraduate students. - Student Leadership Development Conference Fund
This fund, administered by the the Office of Student Leadership Development, provides funding to graduate and undergraduate students for conferences. - Office of Career Development & Professional Engagement
The Office of Career Development & Professional Engagement provides funds to cover expenses associated with their sponsored activities and funding for internship opportunities.
Off-campus Resources (available to students before or after they have begun study)
- eduPASS
This site provides information for international students studying in the U.S. - Funding for U.S. Study
A database of scholarships, fellowships, and grants, maintained by the Institute of International Education (IIE). - International Education Financial Aid Website
Contains a searchable database of scholarships and loans for international students. - PEO International Peace Scholarship Fund
Scholarship for international female graduate students. - Margaret McNamara Education Grants
Scholarship for women from developing countries. - Mai Anh Do & David Nguyen Foundation
Scholarship for graduate or undergraduate international students, from a previous W&M graduate.
Working in the US
Students in valid F-1 and J-1 status, with an I-20 or DS-2019 issued by William & Mary, may be eligible to work in the US with the proper work authorization. It is not possible for students to fund their studies by working in the US, however, the money earned might cover some of their costs (e.g., clothes, entertainment, etc.).
During the fall and spring semesters, F-1 and J-1 students may only work a maximum of 20 hours a week at W&M or VIMS. This total is the aggregate of all employment (i.e., one could have a 10 hours per week Graduate Assistantship, and work 10 hours per week in the Swem Library, totaling 20 hours). However, some graduate programs do not recommend that their students work while classes are in session due to the demanding nature of their programs.
In general, most students will only be eligible to apply for off-campus work authorization after they have completed two academic semesters and declared a major (for undergraduate students).
See F-1 student employment or J-1 student employment for more information.
Private Loans
These loan programs are for international students and do not require a U.S. co-signor for the loan.
