The universities abroad provide financial aid in various ways. They may give you a full scholarship or may give you a tuition waiver with a teaching assistantship, etc.

This means that the student does not have to pay the tuition fees at the university. However, general fees (for the use of university facilities like the library, computers, sports and health services) usually have to be borne by the student. A tuition waiver is frequently awarded in conjunction with a scholarship or teaching/research assistantship.

This is usually an outright grant based on the student academic ability and performance. Hence, only a truly outstanding student may be considered for this type of award, before enrolling at the university. A full scholarship would pay for a student's entire living expenses at the university, whereas a partial scholarship would require additional funds from the student.

Most graduate students who receive assistance do so in the form of an assistantship, i.e. usually a cash stipend, sufficient for their living expenses, and/or tuition waiver, in return for which they have to work for a maximum of 20 hours a week. The duties normally consist of teaching or research. You should keep in mind that teaching assistantship may be more readily available in those subjects in which there are likely to be large undergraduate classes while research assistantships tend to be more common in those subjects and at those universities in which considerable research is being carried on. Information brochures of universities would give this information. Often, teaching or research abilities must be proved before assistantships are granted. Hence, many universities only award them to foreign students after the first semester or the first year.

The Internet is an outstanding source of information, which is utilized lavishly by educational Institutions. One of the following web-sites may have the information you need. Or, if you have a particular college or university in mind, a simple name search on the Net should turn up plenty of information about it.

• Financial Aid for International Students
• NAFSA Association of International Educators
• The College Board Web Site
• Petersons

• National Science Foundation World Wide Serve
• Amherst College-Foundation and Corporate Support Funding Information Office
• MacArthur Foundation
• Financial Aid Information Page: A great source of general information

Study Abroad - United Kingdom (U.K)