Author: Cara Keirstead

Deadline: March 1, 2020

The Good Neighbor Scholarship (GNS) provides an exemption of one year’s worth of tuition (fall, spring, and summer) to students who were born in and are residents of a nation in the Western Hemisphere (excluding Cuba and the United States). A full list of eligibility requirements, including eligible nations, can be found within the GNS application. The exemption provided by the Good Neighbor Scholarship does not pay for any fees or charges on the tuition bill, such as health insurance, late registration fees, ISSS Support Services fee, etc. The scholarship is administered through ISSS on behalf of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board.

Application Details

The 2020-2021 Good Neighbor Scholarship application will be available February 1, 2020.The deadline for the 2020-2021 school year Good Neighbor Scholarship is March 1, 2020 by 5 pm .

In addition to the online application, the following documents are required for your application to be considered complete:

• Statement of Purpose: You must provide a typed statement (minimum of 2 pages) that addresses all of the following points:
  • Campus and community involvement -Discuss your involvement with student groups, university committees, and/or community involvement/volunteering and how they contribute to your success as a student.
  • Academic Goals – Explain your current academic interests and plans after graduation.
  • Financial Need – Indicate need for financial assistance, including any recent changes in your financial situation (e.g. medical bills, loss of sponsorship).

Deadline: November 1, 2019

The General ISSS Financial Aid award provides $3,500 per semester for the fall and spring semesters and $2,500 in the summer semester in cash assistance* for international students who demonstrate financial need. This is a competitive process as the number of awards allotted per semester is limited. Only international students who have completed at least 2 semesters at UT by the time the award is disbursed are eligible to apply for this award. A full list of eligibility criteria is available within the application itself.

The general financial aid awarded by ISSS does not provide a waiver of the nonresident portion of a student’s tuition & fee bill.

*All cash awards will be automatically applied towards any outstanding UT debts upon disbursement. Amount award amount in excess of debts are distributed to the student’s direct deposit account.

Application Details

The spring/summer 2020 application for the ISSS General Financial Aid will be available October 1, 2019. The deadline for the spring/summer 2020 General Financial Aid award is November 1, 2019 by 5 pm.

In addition to the online application, the following documents are required for your application to be considered complete:

• 14% of the scholarship will be withheld for tax purposes per US tax law, unless a tax treaty for scholarships is in effect or the recipient is considered a resident alien for tax purposes.
• Recipients will be obligated to file a tax return for the scholarship income earned, but may also receive a tax refund for the amount withheld from the scholarships.
• It is recommended that the recipient applies for a taxpayer identification number if they do not already hold an ITIN or SSN. You will also need a taxpayer identification number in order to claim any applicable tax treaty benefits and to file a tax return to claim any tax refunds due.
  • Bank statements: You must provide copies of your monthly bank statements for the most recent three months, including a statement of deposits and balances.
    • Note: Bank statements must be in English.
  • Personal Statement: You must provide a typed statement (limit 2 pages) that addresses your financial need. Indicate recent changes in your financial situation (e.g. medical bills, loss of sponsorship), if applicable.
    • Please note: This statement helps in evaluating your needs and qualifications for receiving the award.
  • Special documentation (if applicable: Submit evidence of termination of a scholarship, loss of sponsorship, medical bills, currency devaluation, or written documentation of government restrictions on funds/resources permitted out of your country.

Deadline: April 1, 2020

The Jerry D. Wilcox Community Engagement Scholarship is a $2,500 fall tuition award that recognizes an undergraduate international student who has demonstrated leadership in their undergraduate program through academic achievement; participation in campus and community organizations – particularly in leadership roles, and has made positive contributions to the campus community.

Thank you letters are required upon being selected for the Jerry D. Wilcox Community Engagement Scholarship. Awards will not be applied to recipients’ accounts until a thank you letter is received.

Application Details

The application for the fall 2020 Jerry D. Wilcox Community Engagement Scholarship will be available March 1, 2020. The application deadline is April 1, 2020 by 5 pm.

In addition to the online application, the following documents are required for your application to be considered complete:

Applicants will need to provide an Essay of Involvement (500-1500 words, typed, double-spaced) that addresses all of the following points:

• Discuss the importance of leadership and community engagement as it relates to your own involvement
• Describe, with specific examples, the positive impact that your involvement has had on yourself, others, and the community
• Summarize the significant lessons that you have learned by participating in your listed activities (ex: how your experiences have helped you better understand U.S. culture, how your experiences have impacted the way you view issues in your home country, etc.)

Deadline: April 1, 2020

The International Education Fee (IEF) Scholarship was initially established in 1989 by a student referendum. The IEF Scholarship supports scholarships for both incoming international students and outbound students studying abroad. This specific scholarship application will benefit first-time incoming undergraduate UT international students and covers tuition and required fees on your tuition and fee bill for up to 4 years.

Application Details

The application for the 2020-2021 International Education Fee Scholarship will be available March 1, 2020. The deadline for application is April 1, 2020 by 5 pm.

In addition to the online application, the following documents are required for your application to be considered complete:

• Personal Statement: Provide a typed statement (maximum 3 pages) that addresses all of the following topics:
  • What challenges have you experienced in accessing education in your country and how did you overcome these challenges?
  • How do you plan on positively impacting your home community as a result of completing a degree at UT Austin?
  • What contributions will you make to the university as a UT Austin student?
  • Discuss your financial need. If you are not awarded this scholarship, how will you fund your education at UT Austin?
• Letters of Recommendation: You must provide at least 2 letters of recommendation. The letters of recommendation must be in English.
• Special documentation (if applicable): Submit any special documentation you feel necessary to support your personal statement.