Scholarship
The University of Southern California Scholarships 2027 support international students pursuing undergraduate and PhD programmes at USC in Los Angeles, United States. International undergraduate students are eligible for USC’s competitive merit scholarships, including the Trustee Scholarship, which covers full tuition, and the Presidential Scholarship, which covers half tuition. USC also offers the Deans Scholarship covering one-quarter of tuition. At the doctoral level, many USC programmes provide multi-year funding through fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships that can include tuition, a stipend, and health insurance.
Eligibility: Criteria for University of Southern California Scholarships Undergraduate Merit Scholarships To be considered for USC merit scholarships, applicants should: Apply as first-year undergraduate students Submit a complete USC admission application Meet the academic requirements of their intended programme Demonstrate strong academic achievement Show leadership, service, talent, or significant extracurricular achievement Meet USC’s English-language requirements Complete any portfolio or audition required by their programme
How to apply: for University of Southern California Scholarships? Undergraduate Merit Scholarships (1) Choose your USC undergraduate programme and check whether it requires additional materials such as a portfolio, résumé, writing sample, or audition. (2) Complete the Common Application and USC-specific questions. The application normally includes:
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The University of Southern California Scholarships 2027 support international students pursuing undergraduate and PhD programmes at USC in Los Angeles, United States. International undergraduate students are eligible for USC’s competitive merit scholarships, including the Trustee Scholarship, which covers full tuition, and the Presidential Scholarship, which covers half tuition. USC also offers the Deans Scholarship covering one-quarter of tuition. At the doctoral level, many USC programmes provide multi-year funding through fellowships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships that can include tuition, a stipend, and health insurance. International students are automatically considered for the main undergraduate merit scholarships when they submit their admission application by the appropriate scholarship consideration deadline. In this article, we have explained everything you need to know about the University of Southern California Scholarships, including their benefits, eligibility criteria, required documents, and a step-by-step application process to help you apply successfully.
International undergraduate students are not eligible for USC need-based financial aid, but they can compete for USC merit scholarships and departmental awards. USC states that no merit scholarship by itself covers the entire cost of attendance because even a full-tuition scholarship does not cover all living expenses.
USC merit scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, leadership, service, talent, and the overall strength of the application. USC reports that more than 1,000 admitted students in its latest class received merit scholarships worth at least US$10,000 per year.
USC has published the scholarship consideration deadlines for students entering in Fall 2027:
November 1, 2026: Merit scholarship consideration for most undergraduate majors through Early Action or Early Decision.
December 1, 2026: Merit scholarship consideration for applicants to Dance, Dramatic Arts, and Music programmes that use the performing-arts Regular Decision route.
January 10, 2027: Final Regular Decision deadline for most other undergraduate applicants, but applicants submitting at this stage are not part of the main USC Admission Merit Scholarship consideration process.
PhD application periods vary by department and generally fall between December and January. Applicants should check the exact application period for their selected doctoral programme.
The Trustee Scholarship is one of USC’s most valuable undergraduate merit scholarships.
The scholarship is available to international applicants who meet USC’s application requirements. There is no separate need-based financial aid application required for consideration.
For this reason, it is best described as a full-tuition scholarship, rather than a completely fully funded scholarship.
International applicants are eligible.
Like the Trustee Scholarship, selection is based on the overall strength of the admission application rather than financial need. USC evaluates academic achievement, leadership, service, talent, and other accomplishments.
Although it provides less funding than the Trustee and Presidential Scholarships, it remains one of USC’s major undergraduate merit awards.
USC PhD funding varies by academic school and programme. Many doctoral students receive multi-year packages combining:
USC’s Graduate School states that most PhD students receive at least one year of fellowship support as part of a four- or five-year funding package. Fellowships generally include tuition, fees, and a stipend.
Funding arrangements differ between departments.
USC Price School PhD students receive four years of support including full tuition, a competitive stipend, and health and dental insurance.
USC Political Science and International Relations PhD students in good standing receive five years of full funding including tuition remission, stipend, and health and dental insurance.
USC Marshall PhD students receive a package including full tuition, stipend, individual health and dental insurance, student health fees, and mandatory university fees.
USC Viterbi doctoral research and teaching assistantships provide a monthly stipend together with tuition, health insurance, and fee support.
Applicants should therefore check the funding guarantee of their individual PhD programme rather than assuming that every USC doctorate provides exactly the same stipend or funding period.
There is no minimum GPA or test score that guarantees a USC Merit Scholarship. USC describes the selection process as highly competitive and based on holistic review.
International students are explicitly eligible for USC Merit Scholarships.
USC currently operates a test-optional admission policy. Applicants can decide whether to submit SAT or ACT results, and students applying without scores are not disadvantaged in either admission or merit scholarship consideration.
International applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency. USC currently does not provide waivers from this requirement.
TOEFL under the revised scoring system: 5 overall with at least 4 in each section
USC notes that competitive applicants often achieve scores above these minimums.
You can also review our guide to scholarships without IELTS.
Funding decisions are usually made by individual academic departments together with admission decisions. International students can receive university fellowships and departmental merit scholarships, although they are generally ineligible for US federal financial aid.
USC does not use a separate Trustee, Presidential, or Deans Scholarship application. Your admission application is used to select candidates for these scholarships.
International applicants whose native language is not English must submit one of USC’s approved English proficiency examinations.
USC requires international applicants to submit a Financial Statement of Personal or Family Support together with proof that sufficient funds are available for at least the first academic year. Scholarship applicants must still provide this evidence because merit scholarships are not guaranteed.
Applicants meeting the scholarship consideration requirements are automatically reviewed for USC Admission Merit Scholarships. Selected students receive further instructions from USC.
Read recent publications before contacting faculty and attach a concise academic CV.
Use our guides on preparing an academic CV, statement of purpose, and scholarship recommendation letter.
Most PhD funding is awarded through the department, fellowship competition, teaching assistantship, or research assistantship rather than through one separate central USC scholarship application.
The individual department’s funding offer is the most reliable source for the exact support you will receive.
Yes. All international undergraduate applicants who apply by the appropriate scholarship consideration deadline can compete for USC Merit Scholarships.
The Trustee Scholarship covers full undergraduate tuition, but it does not cover the complete cost of attendance, including housing, food, travel, and personal expenses.
It is therefore a full-tuition scholarship rather than a completely fully funded scholarship.
The Presidential Scholarship covers half of USC undergraduate tuition.
The Deans Scholarship covers one-quarter of undergraduate tuition.
No. USC states that international undergraduate applicants are not eligible for USC need-based financial aid. They can instead compete for merit scholarships and departmental awards.
No. Applicants who submit their USC admission application by the appropriate scholarship consideration deadline are automatically considered for the main USC Admission Merit Scholarships.
Many USC PhD programmes provide comprehensive multi-year funding, but the exact guarantee differs by department.
For example, USC Price, Political Science and International Relations, and Marshall provide packages including tuition, stipends, and health-related benefits.
No. USC is currently test-optional, and students who do not submit SAT or ACT scores are not disadvantaged in merit scholarship selection.
IELTS specifically is not compulsory, but international applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency through a USC-approved examination.
Accepted options include TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge C1 Advanced, PTE, and Duolingo under USC’s current rules.
There is no minimum GPA or test score that guarantees a USC Merit Scholarship. USC describes the selection process as highly competitive and based on holistic review. International students are explicitly eligible for USC Merit Scholarships.
USC currently operates a test-optional admission policy. Applicants can decide whether to submit SAT or ACT results, and students applying without scores are not disadvantaged in either admission or merit scholarship consideration.
International applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency. USC currently does not provide waivers from this requirement.
TOEFL under the revised scoring system: 5 overall with at least 4 in each section
USC notes that competitive applicants often achieve scores above these minimums. You can also review our guide to scholarships without IELTS.
Funding decisions are usually made by individual academic departments together with admission decisions. International students can receive university fellowships and departmental merit scholarships, although they are generally ineligible for US federal financial aid.
USC does not use a separate Trustee, Presidential, or Deans Scholarship application. Your admission application is used to select candidates for these scholarships.
International applicants whose native language is not English must submit one of USC’s approved English proficiency examinations.
USC requires international applicants to submit a Financial Statement of Personal or Family Support together with proof that sufficient funds are available for at least the first academic year. Scholarship applicants must still provide this evidence because merit scholarships are not guaranteed.
Applicants meeting the scholarship consideration requirements are automatically reviewed for USC Admission Merit Scholarships. Selected students receive further instructions from USC.
Read recent publications before contacting faculty and attach a concise academic CV.
Use our guides on preparing an academic CV, statement of purpose, and scholarship recommendation letter.
Most PhD funding is awarded through the department, fellowship competition, teaching assistantship, or research assistantship rather than through one separate central USC scholarship application.
The individual department’s funding offer is the most reliable source for the exact support you will receive.
Yes. All international undergraduate applicants who apply by the appropriate scholarship consideration deadline can compete for USC Merit Scholarships.
The Trustee Scholarship covers full undergraduate tuition, but it does not cover the complete cost of attendance, including housing, food, travel, and personal expenses. It is therefore a full-tuition scholarship rather than a completely fully funded scholarship.
The Presidential Scholarship covers half of USC undergraduate tuition.
The Deans Scholarship covers one-quarter of undergraduate tuition.
No. USC states that international undergraduate applicants are not eligible for USC need-based financial aid. They can instead compete for merit scholarships and departmental awards.
No. Applicants who submit their USC admission application by the appropriate scholarship consideration deadline are automatically considered for the main USC Admission Merit Scholarships.
Many USC PhD programmes provide comprehensive multi-year funding, but the exact guarantee differs by department. For example, USC Price, Political Science and International Relations, and Marshall provide packages including tuition, stipends, and health-related benefits.
No. USC is currently test-optional, and students who do not submit SAT or ACT scores are not disadvantaged in merit scholarship selection.
IELTS specifically is not compulsory, but international applicants whose native language is not English must demonstrate English proficiency through a USC-approved examination. Accepted options include TOEFL, IELTS, Cambridge C1 Advanced, PTE, and Duolingo under USC’s current rules.
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