American University offers 15+ scholarships, of which 8 are accessible to Indian applicants across undergraduate, master’s, and PhD levels.
Awards start at $3,000 per year (INR 2.84 Lakhs) and reach full-ride packages worth roughly INR 79 Lakhs annually.
Two Indian-eligible students receive the AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship each year, which covers tuition, room, and board. Most others stack partial AU merit awards with external Indian funding from Fulbright-Nehru, JN Tata Endowment, and Inlaks Shivdasani.
- Standard undergraduate tuition (Fall 2026-27): $57,000 per year (INR 53.86 Lakhs)
- With AU partial merit waiver: $32,000 to $49,000 per year (INR 30.24 to 46.31 Lakhs net)
- With AU EGLS full award: $4,000 per year self-funded (INR 3.78 Lakhs)
- Next major deadline: January 15, 2027 (AU EGLS plus first-year Fall intake, tentative annual cycle)
Currency Note: All INR conversions use the live rate of 1 USD = INR 94.5 as of September 2026. Billable expenses at American University include tuition, mandatory fees, room, and board. That means costs the university charges directly, not books, travel, or personal spending.
Table of Contents
- American University Scholarships for UG Students
- American University Scholarships for PG / Master’s Students
- India-Specific Scholarships at American University
- American University PhD Scholarships
- External Government Scholarships for American University Indian Students
- American University Scholarships: Frequently Asked Questions
American University Scholarships for UG Students
Four undergraduate awards are open to Indian applicants, ranging from $6,000 (INR 5.67 Lakhs) to full tuition, room, and board.
| Scholarship | Amount (USD / INR) | Eligibility | Application | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU Presidential / Deans’ / Leadership Scholarship | $6,000 to $35,000 per year (INR 5.67 to 33.08 Lakhs) | Top 10 to 15 percent of admitted class; strong academics and leadership | Automatic at admission | January 15, 2027 (Fall 2027 intake, tentative) |
| AU Partial Merit for International Freshmen | $8,000 to $25,000 per year (INR 7.56 to 23.63 Lakhs) | Academic record, English proficiency, leadership, community service | Automatic; Fall intake only | January 15, 2027 (Fall 2027, tentative) |
| AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship (Full) | Full tuition + room + board, approx. $83,680 per year (INR 79.08 Lakhs) | Non-US citizen; secondary schooling outside US; 3.8 GPA on 4.0 scale; TOEFL 100 / IELTS 7.0 / Duolingo 125; leadership record | Common App plus AU EGLS essays and Declaration of Finances form | January 15, 2027 |
| AU EGLS Partial Award | Up to $40,000 per year (INR 37.80 Lakhs) | Same criteria as EGLS Full; up to 8 partial awards annually | Same AU EGLS application | January 15, 2027 |
| Tuition Exchange Scholarship | $45,000 for 2027-28 (INR 42.53 Lakhs) | Applicant is a dependent of a staff member at a member institution | Employer’s Tuition Exchange Liaison Officer | January 15, 2027 admissions deadline |
The three named merit awards (Presidential, Deans’, Leadership) require no separate essay and apply at the moment of admission decision. Only the AU EGLS demands a distinct application with two additional essays and a bank letter confirming a minimum $4,000.
Explore More: American University Admissions | Programs and Courses
American University Scholarships for PG / Master’s Students
Graduate awards at American University flow through the eight academic units, and each school sets its own funding budget.
| Scholarship | Amount (USD / INR) | Eligibility | Application | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU Graduate Merit Award | Partial tuition remission, typically $5,000 to $20,000 per year (INR 4.73 to 18.90 Lakhs) | Every admitted master’s applicant considered automatically | No separate form; tick the merit-aid box on the application | January 15, 2027 for Fall 2027 (program-specific) |
| AU Graduate Assistantship | Tuition remission plus annual stipend | Merit-based; departmental nomination | Contact program director directly | Fall 2027 admission window |
| WCL Merit Scholarship (LLM / JD) | $10,000 to full tuition (INR 9.45 Lakhs to full) | LSAT score and undergraduate GPA; over half the incoming class receives an award | Automatic at admission | Rolling; final decisions by April 2027 |
| WCL Restricted Scholarship (LLM) | Varies by donor fund | Matriculated international students; based on academic record or program | Separate application with essay and resume | 2 to 3 weeks after fall announcement |
| School of Communication Fellowship | Partial tuition plus stipend plus DC-based placement | Merit-based; select graduate programs at SOC | Program-specific application | Priority February 15, 2027 (tentative) |
| Kogod Merit Award (MBA / MS) | $10,000 to $30,000 per year (INR 9.45 to 28.35 Lakhs) | GMAT or GRE, academic record, work experience | Automatic with admission | Round 1 October 15, 2026; Round 2 January 15, 2027 (tentative) |
Most Indian master’s students end up in the $8,000 to $15,000 partial band because full assistantships are prioritised for PhD cohorts. STEM programs like MS Analytics and MS Data Science occasionally add course-specific tuition discounts of $3,000 to $6,000 per year.
Reddit Insight: Indian MS Analytics admits on r/gradadmissions report auto-merit awards of $8,000 to $12,000 per year. Departments respond to polite reconsideration emails after competing offers arrive from ASU or Northeastern.
India-Specific Scholarships at American University
American University does not run a bilateral India-only scholarship, so Indian students combine AU merit aid with external Indian awards.
| Scholarship | Amount (USD / INR) | Eligibility | Application | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship | Full tuition, fees, airfare, living stipend, health cover (up to 2 years; roughly $60,000 per year; INR 56.70 Lakhs) | Indian citizen; UG degree; minimum 3 years professional work experience; leadership | USIEF portal | May 14, 2027 for 2028-29 intake (tentative, annual) |
| JN Tata Endowment Loan Scholarship | Loan up to INR 20 Lakhs at 2 percent simple interest, plus a gift and travel component up to INR 2 Lakhs | Indian citizen; PG study abroad; admission secured or in application | jntataendowment.org | January 5 to March 29, 2027 (annual cycle) |
| Inlaks Shivdasani Scholarship | Up to $100,000 (INR 94.50 Lakhs) covering tuition, living, one-way travel | Indian citizen; under 30 on July 1 of application year; admit in hand; strong academic record | inlaksfoundation.org | Mid-January to March 2027 (tentative, annual) |
| KC Mahindra Scholarships for PG Studies Abroad | Up to INR 8.5 Lakhs one-off top awards; interest-free loans up to INR 10 Lakhs | Indian citizen; admit letter for PG abroad | kcmet.org | March 31, 2027 (tentative annual close) |
| Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation Scholar Loan | Interest-free loan up to INR 20 Lakhs | Indian citizen; under 30; strong academic profile | nsfoundation.co.in | April 2027 (tentative annual cycle) |
A common Indian funding stack at American University is straightforward:
- AU partial merit of $15,000 (INR 14.18 Lakhs)
- JN Tata loan of INR 20 Lakhs at 2 percent interest
- Family top-up to close the residual gap
Fulbright-Nehru winners are effectively fully funded but bind to a 2-year home-residency rule on the J-1 visa.
American University PhD Scholarships
PhD funding at American University is nearly always a full package of tuition remission plus a stipend, awarded automatically to admitted students.
| Scholarship | Amount (USD / INR) | Eligibility | Application | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doctoral Fellowship (Departmental) | Full tuition plus annual stipend of $25,000 to $30,000 (INR 23.63 to 28.35 Lakhs) | Admitted PhD students; automatic | Automatic at admission | Program deadlines December 15, 2026 to January 15, 2027 (varies) |
| Roger Brown Dissertation Fellowship | $10,000 (INR 9.45 Lakhs) | Returning PhD in advanced dissertation stage | Faculty nomination | Spring 2027 nomination cycle |
| Patrick Clendenen Dissertation Fellowship in Women’s and Gender History | $15,000 plus 2 tuition credits (INR 14.18 Lakhs) | PhD in final dissertation year; Women’s or Gender History focus | Automatic departmental selection | Annual spring 2027 cycle |
| Adel Ait-Ghezala Graduate Research Fellowship | Varies by project | Master’s or PhD; research aimed at improving lives in developing countries | Application via Office of Graduate and Professional Studies | Tentative March 15, 2027 |
| Barbara Bergmann Graduate Fellowship for Gender Economics | Varies by cohort | Returning PhD in Gender Economics Program | Automatic departmental selection | Rolling within academic year |
| Frank M. Tamagna Educational Fund | Typically $3,000 to $5,000 (INR 2.84 to 4.73 Lakhs) | Returning PhD in Economics with international finance focus | Automatic departmental selection | Annual spring 2027 |
PhD applicants from India should target programs in strongly ranked departments like Economics, International Relations, and Public Affairs. Full tuition plus stipend is the norm in these fields.
External Government Scholarships for American University Indian Students
Six external government and public-charity funders regularly cover American University Indian admits alongside AU aid.
| Scholarship | Amount (USD / INR) | Eligibility | Application | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowship (USIEF) | Full tuition, fees, airfare, living stipend, health cover | Indian citizen; UG plus 3 years work; leadership record | Via usief.org.in | May 14, 2027 (annual, tentative) |
| Fulbright-Nehru Doctoral Research Fellowship | Monthly stipend, tuition affiliation fee, travel, health cover (6 to 9 months) | Indian citizen; registered for PhD at an Indian university | Via usief.org.in | July 15, 2027 (annual, tentative) |
| Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme | 50 percent grant and 50 percent loan for PG study | Indian citizen from qualifying developing region; PG admit | Via Aga Khan Foundation India office | March 31, 2027 (tentative annual close) |
| Rotary Foundation Global Grant | $30,000 or more (INR 28.35 Lakhs+) per academic year | Indian citizen; project aligned with one of 7 Rotary focus areas | Via a local Rotary club sponsor | Rolling; club-dependent timing |
| Tata Trusts Grants for Higher Education | Partial tuition, typically INR 2 to 10 Lakhs | Indian citizen; income-based means test | Via tatatrusts.org | Rolling; program-specific |
| OPEC Fund for International Development Scholarship | $50,000 (INR 47.25 Lakhs) across 2 years | Indian citizen; PG admit relevant to developing-country themes | Via opecfund.org | Annual April cycle 2027 (tentative) |
Rotary Global Grants and OPEC Fund awards tie funding to project themes like peace, water, and education. Pick a course of study that maps to the funder’s focus.
Reddit Insight: r/gradadmissions Indian users note Fulbright-Nehru names its final list by February each year. Keep AU as a paid Plan B rather than banking on the fellowship.
Explore More: American University Overview | USA Cost of Living for Indian Students | F-1 Visa Guide for Indian Students
American University Scholarships: Frequently Asked Questions
Ques. What is the maximum American University scholarship stack an Indian student can receive?
Ans. The AU Emerging Global Leader full scholarship covers tuition, room, and board worth roughly $83,680 per year (INR 79.08 Lakhs). That leaves only $4,000 per year (INR 3.78 Lakhs) for personal expenses. Master’s students typically stack AU partial merit of $15,000 with a JN Tata loan of INR 20 Lakhs. Family contribution then covers the remaining gap.
Ques. When should I apply to be considered for American University scholarships?
Ans. The single hard deadline is January 15, 2027 for the AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship covering the Fall 2027 intake. Standard AU merit awards use the regular admission timeline. Decisions arrive alongside the offer letter. Freshman awards land around March 2027; graduate awards land in April 2027.
Ques. What GPA and test scores do Indian students need for the AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship?
Ans. Applicants need a minimum 3.8 GPA on the 4.0 scale, which maps to 90 percent aggregate in Indian CBSE, ICSE, or state boards. English proficiency requires TOEFL iBT 100, IELTS 7.0, Duolingo 125, or PTE Academic equivalent.
Ques. Does American University offer any India-specific scholarship?
Ans. American University does not have a country-specific scholarship dedicated to India. Indian applicants qualify for the same merit awards as all international students. They additionally draw on external Indian funding such as Fulbright-Nehru, JN Tata Endowment, and Inlaks Shivdasani.
Ques. Do American University scholarships cover the cost of living in Washington DC?
Ans. Only the AU EGLS full award and PhD assistantships cover housing (room plus board averaging $18,000 per year; INR 17.01 Lakhs). Undergraduate partial merit and most master’s awards apply only to tuition. Indian students should budget $20,000 to $25,000 per year (INR 18.90 to 23.63 Lakhs) for rent, food, and transit in Tenleytown.
Ques. Can I apply for an American University scholarship after receiving my admission offer?
Ans. The three main AU merit awards (Presidential, Deans’, Leadership) are decided at the point of admission. No separate application is used, so post-offer requests are not accepted. The AU EGLS requires its own essays and financial documents at the same January 15 deadline as the Common App submission.
Scholarships offered
American University Emerging Global Leader Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: Variable Amount
- Type: College-Specific
- Level of Study: Bachelor
- Number of Scholarships: 2
Bharat Petroleum Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: Variable Amount
- Type: Merit-Based
- Level of Study: Master
- Number of Scholarships: N/A
Comindware Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: $4,000
- Type: Merit-Based
- Level of Study: Apprenticeship
- Number of Scholarships: N/A
Forktip Women’s- Innovation Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: Variable Amount
- Type: College-Specific
- Level of Study: Bachelor
- Number of Scholarships: 10
FINCAD Women in Finance Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: $20,000
- Type: Merit-Based
- Level of Study: Master
- Number of Scholarships: N/A
Jane M. Klausman Women in Business Scholarship
- International Student Eligible: Yes
- Amount: $5,000
- Type: Merit-Based
- Level of Study: Bachelor
- Number of Scholarships: 37
Reviews
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4 Reviews Found
Likes
- My program is ranked among the top 50 in America which makes it very prestigious and is held in high regard in the world of policy-making.
- We have some of the best faculty at our institution who are esteemed and widely respected in academic circles.
- Our placements are impressive with many students working at the White House and World Bank.
Dislikes
- It is hard to adjust to the American accent the teachers speak in and sometimes difficult to understand what they are saying.
- There are strict academic and research expectations that are hard to meet as Indian education does not prepare you very well for it.
- You are expected to work along with graduate school which makes life extremely hectic.
Scholarship
- I received a scholarship, which is merit-based financial aid. Additionally, I received two grants from the university. The eligibility for the merit aid was exceptional academic and leadership achievements. For the grants, I had to write academic essays.
- I received 28,000 USD for the merit aid. One grant I received was worth 650 USD, while the other was worth 2000 USD.
- My batchmates also received scholarships that are merit-based financial aid. I received the highest; the other amount offered was 14,000 USD for the entire programme. Approximately one-fourth of students in the whole program receive these types of financial aid based on merit.
- I live off campus and found my apartment through apartments.com
- The monthly rent is 1865 USD, which includes furniture, a gym in the building, a convenience store, a laundry room, and community recreation and work areas.
- I found it challenging to find a place close to my university. As it was popular and in demand by many students, it took some time to find it.
- I would recommend students start looking at least two months in advance so that they have ample time to find the right place for themselves.
- My accommodation is a ten-minute walk from campus. Most of the Indian students stay in my neighbourhood.
Likes
- Being located at the hub of Biotechnology, close to NIH, and many biotech companies.
Scholarship
4700 for two years, no application.
Overall experience is very good personally, I found the teachers more supporting in every aspects.
Likes
- Good program and professor and Washington, D.C has a lot of good opportunities to offer as it's the capital.
Scholarship
25000 merit scholarship.
It was been a really pleasant experience at American University. I really like all the professors who are really friendly. The students are diverse so you are exposed to various cultures. The campus is also really safe to be on. The facilities like gym and library are also nice.
Scholarship
AU offers various scholarships and grants, both based on financial need and merit. The presidential scholarship from the university and the dean?s grant requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.2 and 3.4, respectively. But, there are many other scholarships, loans, and grants offered to students in their financial aid packets.
The location and opportunities that I would have access to while attending American University seemed great and suitable for my area of study. Also, they guarantee to meet your total financial need when applying early decision, which is what I did. I took a lot of AP classes in high school to prepare for college, which helped in the decision process due to my commitment to learning. The School or International Service is very highly ranked among colleges in the U.S for studying international relations, which made me very interested in studying here. I became interested in this field of study due to my interest in law, and I discovered that this major would be a good path as an undergraduate degree leading up to law school.
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