How can international students study in the USA for free?

International graduate students can study in the USA for free through Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTA), Graduate Research Assistantships (GRA), and institutional fellowships. These awards provide a 100% full tuition waiver plus an annual living stipend ranging from $22,000 to $38,000 USD.

Do graduate assistantships cover health insurance and living expenses?

Yes, standard GTA/GRA appointments (typically 20 hours/week) at major US universities (such as Purdue, UIUC, Georgia Tech, and UC Berkeley) include comprehensive university health insurance coverage and bi-weekly living stipends.

Do I need a GRE score to get a fully funded scholarship in the USA?

Many US universities have made GRE scores optional or waived them entirely for Fall 2026 admissions. Check our Fall 2026 Fee Waiver and GRE Exemption directory for specific departmental policies.

Verified Institutional Funding Guide (2026)

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Fully Funded Assistantships & Scholarships

Complete statutory funding guide for international graduate students at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (Cambridge, Massachusetts). Learn how to secure full tuition waivers, $42,000 - $48,000 / year living stipends, and application fee waivers.

Institutional Rank

#1 Best Engineering & Computer Science School in the World

Average Stipend

$42,000 - $48,000 / year

International Cohort

42% of Grads

Funding Guarantee

100% PhD / STEM MS

Featured Fully Funded Programs & Fellowships

Masters & PhD

MIT Graduate Research Assistantships (EECS, MechE, AeroAstro, Media Lab)

Annual Value

$3,500 - $4,000 / month ($42,000 - $48,000/year)

Coverage: 100% Tuition Remission + Full Medical Insurance + Monthly Stipend

Application Deadline: December 15 (Annual Fall Intake)

Key Eligibility & Requirements:

Exceptional background in STEM disciplines
GRE (optional/waived in most departments)
TOEFL / IELTS for non-native English speakers
Strong research portfolio or open-source software contributions

Visit Department Admissions

Graduate Assistantship Types & Benefits (GTA / GRA)

Research Assistant (RA)

20 hours/week

Conduct pioneering research in MIT CSAIL, Lincoln Laboratory, Koch Institute, or Media Lab.

Statutory Benefits: Full tuition coverage, MIT Student Extended Health Plan, and 12-month annual stipend.

Application Fee Waiver Guide

Standard Fee: $75 - $100 (department dependent)

MIT Office of Graduate Education provides fee waiver request forms directly on the admissions portal based on financial need.

View 20+ University Fee Waiver Codes

Frequently Asked Questions (MIT)

Does MIT offer Master’s degree funding for international students?

MIT primarily admits graduate students into continuous MS/PhD programs in engineering (EECS, MechE, AeroAstro). Admitted students receive full RA/TA funding from day one.

Local Living Cost Summary

Cambridge / Boston living expenses average $1,600 - $2,000/month. MIT provides subsidized graduate student dorms (Sidney-Pacific, Ashdown, Edgerton House) ensuring comfortable living on the graduate stipend.

💡 Tip: Half-time assistantship stipends at MIT are calibrated to cover housing, health insurance, and local living costs without personal loans.

Check Your Acceptance & Assistantship Odds

Use our free statutory predictor to evaluate your GPA, GRE, publications, and funding eligibility.

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Other Fully Funded Universities

Purdue University

$24,000 - $34,000 / year • West Lafayette, Indiana

Stanford University

$45,000 - $52,000 / year • Stanford, California

Georgia Institute of Technology

$26,000 - $36,000 / year • Atlanta, Georgia

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

$25,000 - $35,000 / year • Urbana-Champaign, Illinois