American University Merit Awards

Deadline: January 15 2013
Academic Year: 2013/ 2014
Funding Source: American University
Country of Study: USA
Degree Targeted: Bachelor

Type of Scholarship
	Partially funded
Periodicity
	Annual
Description
	American University’s merit awards for international students are partial, not full, scholarships.  Note: No need-based financial aid is available to international students (non-U.S. citizens). Merit award consideration is highly competitive and the number of scholarships available is limited. For the 2011-2012 academic year, only one-third of all admitted international students received merit awards, which ranged from U.S.$6,000 to U.S.$32,000 per academic year. These funds are renewable for all four years of study based on successful continued academic performance. Similar scholarship award amounts are predicted for 2013–2014.
Eligible African Countries
	Any African country
Field of Study
	Any field of study offered at the American University
Eligibility
	They are based on a combination of outstanding academic achievement, excellent communication skills in English, leadership, volunteerism, and community service.
Application Procedure
	No separate application form or process is required for AU merit scholarships. Important for first-year applicants who wish to be considered for AU’s partial scholarships: Apply for the fall (August) semester, not spring. Fall application deadline is January 15. Make sure your application packet is complete and includes the AU Certification of Finances for International Students (CFIS) form and bank letter. Your CFIS and bank letter must demonstrate that you have at least U.S.$55,289 available for your first year of study, even if you hope to qualify and receive one of AU’s competitive merit awards. Plan to have similar funding available for each additional year of undergraduate study (up to four years total). First-year applicants will be notified of any merit awards together with their admission letter that is sent in the spring. AU merit awards are offered only at the time of admission. There are no further opportunities for AU partial scholarships once you have begun your studies. No increases in scholarship amounts are available from year to year. The initial amount of your AU merit award remains constant for all four years of study. Costs for the 2012–2013 academic year are estimated at U.S.$55,289. This includes tuition, mandatory fees, room, board, insurance and personal expenses. For all subsequent years, expect a 5-6 percent increase per year.
Tips
	To be considered for admissions and merit awards, please make sure to submit a complete application packet with all supporting documents, including proof of financial support as stated above, by the application deadline. Incomplete or late applications will lower your chances of being admitted as well as disqualify you from merit scholarship consideration.
Contact
	http://www.american.edu/