Scholarships for Bangladeshi Students in US for 2023/24

Undoubtedly, the great USA is a sought-after - though unfortunately, often expensive - study destination. Every year many learners, including Bangladeshi ones, plan to apply for admission to hundreds of American academic institutions. While many Bangladeshi cohorts take steps to fulfill their dream, a few put them off thinking about the study cost. Yes, the educational expense can be high in America. But you can bear it with the help of available scholarships for Bangladeshi students in US for 2023/2024! Our team of US experts at UniSearch break down everything you need to know to score a scholarship in America below.

What Are the Criteria to Study in the USA with Scholarship for Bangladeshi Students?

The eligibility criteria for scholarship differs from university to university and scholarship to scholarship. Some schools can award you a scholarship based on your excellent academic results, while others may check your performance outside your field of study.

For instance, admission officers from some educational institutes may look into your leadership ability, sports skills, work experience, and more to grant you a scholarship.

So, achieving excellent academic results is one of many criteria to get a scholarship in the USA. Amazing results can help you effortlessly receive the grant offered by some American educational institutes to reduce your load on financial expenses.

Types of Scholarships Available in the USA

You can find many available scholarship programs with a thorough search across countless universities' websites. Below you will uncover the details on some of the key scholarships most American universities offer.

Merit-Based Scholarship

Academic scholarships, aka merit-based scholarships, are awarded to students who demonstrate academic excellence or exceptional skill in a particular area. For instance, students who achieve high marks or cumulative GPAs in exams tend to qualify for academic scholarships.

Need-Based Scholarship

Another sought-after type of scholarship is the need-based one, awarded to students who require financial support. Domestic students receive this aid from the US government through the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) program.

International students, including Bangladeshi and Indian ones, are exempt from government-offered financial aid. Nonetheless, some universities do offer need-based scholarships to international students. Need-based scholarships in the USA for international students can be either need-blind or need-aware.

Identity-Based Scholarship

The identity-based scholarship is offered to a specific group of students. In other words, some academic institutions in the US grant scholarships to particular socio-demographic groups, such as BIPOC individuals, students belonging to certain gender identities, etc.

STEM Scholarships

These scholarships are accessible to students enrolling in STEM majors. Eligible students studying in a science, math, technology, and engineering discipline usually benefit from STEM scholarships.

Athletic Scholarships

Athletic scholarships - or sports scholarships - are extraordinary financial aid awarded to only a few student-athletes. Generally, learners who demonstrate exceptional skills in sports qualify for full and partial athletic scholarships. However, to receive funds continuously, they must exhibit satisfactory academic performance alongside performing well in sports.

Subject-Based Scholarships

Some colleges and universities in the USA offer scholarships to students based on the subjects they choose to study. Many schools, colleges, universities, and private organizations award this kind of scholarship to students to encourage them to pursue a particular field of study.

No Essay Scholarship

Unlike the traditional scholarship application system, this type of scholarship doesn't ask for additional requirements, like submitting essays or attending video interviews.

That means you don't need to include any written essay, personal statement, or other application components! This cuts down the application prep time and lets you focus on other aspects of the process.

Some Popular Scholarships for Bangladeshi Students

We will now go through some popular full-free scholarships for Bangladeshi students in the US that can give you the financial support you need to complete your higher education in America.

1. Endowed Scholarships for International Students - University of Oregon

The University of Oregon offers Endowed Scholarships for International Students. Cohorts can access this aid if they demonstrate financial need and exceptional merit. 

Bangladeshi students must showcase their financial needs and meet the minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA requirement to qualify for this scholarship. Finally, they must apply to get admission to the University of Oregon.

Scholarship Worth
Successfully enrolled students can expect to get a scholarship worth full tuition fee coverage for their selected study programs.

2. International Undergraduate Scholarship - Montana State University

Montana State University, aka MSU, grants International Undergraduate Scholarships to cohorts who attend MSU and possess great academic backgrounds. Specifically, in order to qualify for this scholarship, students must achieve a cumulative GPA of 2.5+ on a scale of 4.0 in high school. Based on your acquired CGPA, you can receive up to $12,000 per year, which can offset your tuition fees.

Here you need to remember two crucial factors regarding this scholarship:

• When you submit your admission application to MSU, you will be automatically considered for a scholarship depending on your GPA from high school or college coursework

• To continue receiving funds for the entire course program, you must maintain a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale and hold full-time student status

3. Fulbright Foreign Student Program

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is the US government's international educational exchange program aiming to promote mutual understanding between America and other countries. The US Department of State mainly sponsors this scholarship, and the Institute of International Education administers it.

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program accepts students from all disciplines who want to pursue their master's courses at American universities. In order to qualify for this outstanding scholarship program, Bangladeshi students must meet the following criteria.

Eligibility Requirements
You:

• Must complete a four-year bachelor's course and achieve an exceptional CGPA from an accredited public or private university in Bangladesh 

• Cannot have a degree from a US college/university or another educational institute from a foreign country 

• Must have at least two years of full-time professional work experience pertaining to your field of study 

• Must be fluent in English and have a score card of TOEFL iBT with a score of 90 or IELTS with a band of 7.0

• Need to be a Bangladeshi citizen and reside in the country at the time of application

Scholarship Benefits
Recipients of this scholarship will enjoy the following benefits:

• Tuition fees

• Health insurance

• Travel allowance, and of course

• Accommodation allowance

4. The Gates Scholarship

The Gates Scholarship (TGS) is another in-demand scholarship program that many students dream of. Every year numerous outstanding students receive this scholarship and continue their studies free of cost. Fortunately, you can also be lucky if you meet the following requirements. 

Eligibility
You must

• Hold an outstanding academic record in high school (acquired a cumulative weighted GPA of at least 3.3 on a scale of 4) 

• Demonstrate leadership ability

• Possess exceptional personal success skills (e.g., motivation, emotional maturity, and so on)

• Plan to enroll in a full-time four-year degree program in the US 

Scholarship Worth 
Scholars will receive funding for tuition fees, room, board, books, and transportation. The scholarship program may cover other personal expenses.

5. AAUW International Fellowships

AAUW International Fellowships are designed to support women who want to pursue graduate or postdoctoral studies in America. These fellowships are open to women who have earned a bachelor's degree equivalent to the US bachelor's degree from an accredited institute. Besides this, they must demonstrate leadership ability and have excellent academic achievement to benefit from AAUW International Fellowships. 

Scholarship Worth
International students - more specifically, women pursuing a master's degree, will receive funding of about $20,000. Others enrolled in Doctoral programs will get $25,000, and Postdoctoral applicants will be awarded $50,000 to complete their higher education. 

These excellent scholarships are a few of the pool available for Bangladeshi students who want to enroll in higher education in the USA. To give you an idea of the variety available, we will now explore other significant scholarships offering full or partial funds to help you accomplish your dream of studying in the USA.

Other Notable Scholarships for Bangladeshi Students in the US

Below, UniSearch's experts present a table containing a few other noteworthy scholarships available for Bangladeshi students in America.

Documents Required to Apply for Scholarships in the USA

The documents you need depend on which scholarship program you choose and which university you prefer for admission. Some universities or private organizations offering financial aid may not need a separate application, while others might request a specific set of submissions.

• All academic transcripts and certificates

• A valid passport

• SAT or ACT scores (If required)

• GRE or GMAT scores (If needed)

• TOEFL iBT or IELTS scores

• Passport size image 

• Resume/CV

• Portfolio/Research paper (For master's applicants)

• Recommendation letter(s)

• A personal letter describing your career goal

• Proof of work experience (Students pursuing master's courses)

• Tax return documents (For need-based scholarships)

and more

How to Apply for Scholarships for Bangladeshi Students in the US

The application process varies from scholarship to scholarship and university to university. Each scholarship program comes with its own requirements that you can find on your chosen scholarship's website. We recommend following the application guide described on a particular scholarship's website and applying for scholarships accordingly.

In some cases, you will be in consideration for a scholarship as soon as you apply for admission.

Here is a general outline illustrating how you will apply for scholarships as a Bangladeshi student.

Step-1: Visit the scholarship's website, and check the requirements and application deadline.

Step 2: Arrange necessary documents, create a profile (if required), and fill out an application form.

Step-3: Submit the form and wait for the authority's response. The authority (university admission boards or scholarship providers) will assess your application and determine if you are eligible for the scholarship or grant.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is It Easy to Get a 100% Scholarship in the USA?

Receiving fully-funded scholarships is challenging since they are very competitive. But that doesn't mean you should avoid applying for such scholarships. American educational institutes grant many eligible international students 100% scholarships, and you can be one of the luckiest ones if you fulfill the scholarship requirements and apply correctly.

How Much IELTS Score is Required for a US Scholarship?

It entirely depends on the scholarship program you choose to apply for. Some programs require students to achieve a satisfactory band of 7 in the IELTS exam, while others consider candidates with a 6.5 band score.

How Much GPA is Required to Get a Full Scholarship in the USA?

To apply for merit-based scholarships, you must possess an excellent academic record. You must acquire a minimum GPA of 3.0 to 3.5 on a scale of 4.0 to qualify for an academic scholarship (or its equivalent). But remember that this GPA margin can significantly vary depending on your chosen scholarship programs.

How Many Funds Can Bangladeshi and Indian Students Get Through Scholarships in the USA?

Again, like the IELTS score and GPA, how many funds Bangladeshi and Indian students will receive through financial aid depends entirely on their chosen scholarships. Some programs may offer a few thousand dollars, while others can cover total tuition fees, books, room costs, health insurance, and travel costs.

Which American Universities Give 100% Scholarship?

Numerous universities in the USA offer full-ride, aka 100% scholarships, to potential candidates. You can find fully-funded scholarship programs at the University of Chicago, Duke University, Yale University, the University of Oregon, Montana State University, the University of Notre Dame, and more.

Our Concluding Thoughts

As you can see, these are plenty of scholarships for Bangladeshi students in the US. We have hardly scratched the surface of the options out there. All these scholarship programs provide exceptional support to aid you in completing your studies and leading your dream life in America. Are the educational expenses stopping you from applying to an American institute? All the scholarships described in this article are here to the rescue! Make sure you read everything about all these scholarships, shortlist your most-suited ones, and apply to study in the USA with reduced or no tuition fees!