International Students

International students do not qualify for federal aid (and are not eligible for the FAFSA). To assist international students with their educational costs, UTSA participates in two programs that international students may apply for to receive funding. Please review the links below detailing these programs.

International Student Grant

The International Student Grant is a need-based offer given to both undergraduate and graduate international students. Consideration for the International Student Grant is based on demonstration of need and funding availability. The maximum offer varies depending on the availability of funds.

Eligibility Requirements

• Demonstrate Financial Need
• Maintain good academic standing and satisfactory academic progress
• Graduate students must maintain a 3.0 GPA and undergraduate students must maintain a 2.0 GPA
• Maintain a valid F-1 or J-1 Visa
• Students must be coded as International by the Admissions Office
• Maintain full-time enrollment (minimum 9 hours for graduate students, minimum 12 hours for undergraduate students) as of census date for the fall and spring semesters

How to Apply

To apply for the International Student Grant you must submit:

• International Student Grant Application by the deadline indicated on the form
• A statement fully explaining your need for financial assistance (see Additional Documentation below)
• A copy of your Visa,
• A copy of your I-94 Departure Record,
• A copy of your Form I-20,
• If employed, a copy of last year’s W-2 Form or a copy of year to date pay stub
• If the students is married and/or has any dependents living in the US:
  • A copy of spouse’s I-94 Departure Record
  • If spouse is employed, a copy of last year’s W-2 Form or a copy of year to date pay stub
  • A copy of the Birth Certificate for dependents in the US

Additional Documentation:

In the statement, fully explain your need for financial assistance:

• Include any recent change in your financial situation and explain why you cannot obtain the total amount of funding necessary for the academic year.
• Indicate how you meet your current monthly expenses.
• If no financial aid is forthcoming, explain how you will meet your financial needs.

The following are unusual expenses or circumstances that can be considered in a student’s application for the UTSA International Student Grant:

• Unusual Medical Expenses: expenses not normally incurred by an average family (i.e., cancer treatment, extensive surgery, etc.).  Consideration will be given for medical expenses not covered by insurance.
• Evidence of Termination of Scholarship or Stipend.
• Evidence of Death of Sponsor (Death Certificate required).

Other extenuating circumstances (i.e., Sponsor withdrawing support- Letter from sponsor required)

Good Neighbor Program

The Good Neighbor Program provides an exemption of tuition for students from the nations of the Western Hemisphere (excluding Cuba). Students may be offered one year of tuition (fall, spring, and summer). Students are exempt from paying tuition only: students must still pay applicable fees. Financial Aid offer notifications will be sent in mid to late July.

To be eligible for the Good Neighbor Program:

• Students must be on a current United States Immigration Service approved “Student Visa” (Usually F-1 or J-1).
• Students must have been born in and be a current resident of one of the politically independent nations in the American Hemisphere other than Cuba or the United States, listed below.
• Students must intend to return to the eligible country upon completion of his/her program of study.
• Students must be admitted “unconditionally” to UTSA and maintain satisfactory academic progress.
• Undergraduates must take a minimum of 12 hours each semester; Graduate students must take a minimum of 9 hours.

Good Neighbor Program Application

In order to be considered for the Good Neighbor Program students must complete the Good Neighbor Program application located on the UTSA Scholarship Hub by the deadline indicated on the form. Incomplete applications or applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

For additional information on the Good Neighbor Program, please visit the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board Web site.

For questions or additional information, contact the One Stop Enrollment at 458-8000.

Complete applications submitted by the deadline are ranked then sent to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for final selection.

Codes of Eligible Countries (Independent Nations Located in Western Hemisphere)

• 405 Argentina
• 407 Antigua and Barbuda
• 419 Bahamas
• 421 Barbados
• 425 Bolivia
• 430 Brazil
• 431 Belize (British Honduras)
• 440 Canada
• 445 Chile
• 455 Colombia
• 460 Costa Rica
• 474 Dominica
• 475 Dominican Republic
• 480 Ecuador
• 485 El Salvador
• 507 Grenada
• 510 Guatemala
• 511 Guyana
• 513 Haiti
• 515 Honduras
• 562 Jamaica
• 610 Mexico
• 630 Nicaragua
• 650 Panama
• 655 Paraguay
• 660 Peru
• 681 Saint Kitts & Nevis
• 683 St. Lucia
• 687 St. Vincent & the Grenadines
• 704 Suriname
• 725 Trinidad and Tobago
• 740 Uruguay
• 745 Venezuela