The International Merit Scholarship

The International Merit Scholarship

The University at Buffalo offers merit-based scholarships in varying amounts to qualified international freshmen. Scholarship awards vary from $2,500 - $15,000 per academic year and are renewable for up to four years with good academic standing. Each year, 20 - 25 of these prestigious scholarships are awarded.

Eligibility criteria

Open to qualified incoming freshman (first-year) students who have no course work or credits completed at a postsecondary institution

• Open only to full-time international students who will hold an F1 student visa (or in the case of Canadian citizens, be eligible for the F1 visa status) at the time of enrollment
• Available to students initially enrolling in the fall semester
• Most scholarship recipients have a high school average of at least 88 percent or a B+ average (or the equivalent).
• Most scholarship recipients have an SAT (Critical Reading and Math) test score of at least 1250 or an ACT Composite test score of at least 27.

Fall semester only

International Merit Scholarships are not offered for those students entering UB in winter, spring and summer terms.

Application and review process

• There is not a separate scholarship application form. All qualified freshman applicants will be considered for the scholarship as part of the regular application review process.
• Scholarships are awarded using a holistic review process. While GPA and test scores are the most important criteria, they are not the only criteria we consider.
• Submit a one-page essay about why you want to study at UB. This essay can be the same as the standard application essay; you do not need to submit an additional essay.
• Submit at least one letter of recommendation from a teacher who can comment about your potential as a university student and about your extracurricular activities. This recommendation letter can be the same as the standard application recommendation letter; you do not need to submit an additional letter.

Deadlines

Apply early

Only complete applications received before April 15th will be given scholarship consideration.

University name:University of Buffalo