It is no doubt that studying in the US comes with high costs, especially to those students coming from abroad where they will have to think of tuition fees and other expenses.
Academy of Art University International Student Scholarship, located in San Francisco, California, is one of the scholarship options available to those who want to study in the US.
This guide covers information on the scholarships available at Academy of Art University, who qualifies, the amount of money offered, and what preparations are needed before the application.
What Is the Academy of Art University International Student Scholarship?
The Academy of Art University offers three main scholarship categories for international students:
Academic scholarships
Portfolio scholarships
Needs-based scholarships
As stated by the university, an international student can apply for more than one scholarship provided they qualify for it. Nevertheless, the maximum amount to be received from these various scholarships cannot exceed $5,000 per semester.
What this means is that you should not presume that getting all these scholarships would pay for your entire tuition. They are intended for financial aid only.
1. Academic Excellence Scholarship
This scholarship program targets students who have demonstrated excellence in academics.
For those joining college, there is an Academic Excellence Scholarship that will earn you $5,000 if your GPA is 3.5 or higher either in high school or undergraduate studies.
If you have been doing well academically all along, then this is something to consider first.
2. Academic Merit Scholarship
Students with just a slightly reduced GPA can also receive academic support.
At present, the University offers an Academic Merit Scholarship amounting to $2,500 to those incoming students whose high school or undergraduate GPA is from 3.0 to 3.49.
The reason why it is useful is that the scholarship opportunities are not confined to just top-performing students.
3. Portfolio Scholarships
For students applying to programmes where creative work is important, the portfolio-based scholarships may be particularly relevant.
The current application lists two portfolio options:
Course Waiver Portfolio Scholarship — $1,500
Portfolio Submission Scholarship — $1,000
These require portfolio submission for review.
If you're applying for a creative programme, don't treat the portfolio as an afterthought. Your work can become an important part of your scholarship application.
4. International Needs-Based Scholarship
Academic achievement is not the sole basis for consideration.
There is an International Needs-Based Scholarship awarded by the university amounting to between $1,000 and $2,500.
Students have to write an essay of 500 words detailing their economic needs.
This gives students whose financial background makes studying abroad challenging another chance.
How Much Can You Receive?
The amount depends on the scholarship you qualify for.
| Scholarship | Current listed amount |
|---|---|
| Academic Excellence | $5,000 |
| Academic Merit | $2,500 |
| Course Waiver Portfolio | $1,500 |
| Portfolio Submission | $1,000 |
| International Needs-Based | $1,000–$2,500 |
The important detail is that the university states that students can qualify for more than one scholarship, but the combined award is capped at $5,000 per semester.
Therefore, calculate your remaining education and living costs before assuming a scholarship will make studying in the U.S. affordable.
Who Can Apply?
The scholarship application is designed for international students and currently allows applicants to indicate whether they are applying as:
Undergraduate
Graduate
Transfer
In addition, the applicant is supposed to choose his/her desired term and mode of study, whether offline or online.
It is important to note that qualification for each scholarship program varies and therefore the requirements for the specific scholarship selected by the individual should be taken into consideration.
What Documents Should You Prepare?
Depending on the scholarship you're applying for, you may need different materials.
The current application includes requirements such as:
Academic scholarships
Academic transcript
GPA information
Portfolio scholarships
Portfolio submission
Needs-based scholarship
A 500-word essay explaining your financial need
The application also asks for basic information such as your name, student ID, email address, major and intended start term.
My advice before applying
Don't wait until the scholarship deadline to start preparing your documents.
Create a folder containing:
Your academic transcripts
Certificates
Portfolio files
Personal information
Scholarship essay draft
Admission information
Other documents requested by the university
This makes the actual application much easier.
How to Apply
It is most straightforward to begin by completing the official International Student Scholarship Application of the university, instead of using an agent or applying via unofficial scholarship websites.
This is because, in the current application process, international students are able to pick out the scholarships that they believe they are eligible for and provide the necessary academic, portfolio, or essay material.
Don't Make This Mistake
One common mistake international students make is looking only at the scholarship amount.
A $5,000 scholarship may sound substantial, but studying abroad involves more than tuition.
You should also consider:
Remaining tuition
Housing
Food
Transportation
Health insurance
Books and supplies
Visa-related expenses
Personal expenses
Think of the scholarship as one part of your financial plan, not automatically as full funding.
Final Thoughts
There are many scholarship options available at the Academy of Art University for international students, which include academic scholarships, portfolio scholarships, and need-based scholarships.
The current scholarship application states that the scholarship amounts vary from $1,000 to $5,000, with a maximum of $5,000 scholarship amount per semester.
If you are interested in applying for the scholarship, then you should first review the application and prepare the required documents according to the scholarship you wish to apply for.
However, it is important to note that you should verify the current scholarship requirements with the university before submitting an application form.