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)

Stanford University Fully Funded Assistantships & Scholarships

Complete statutory funding guide for international graduate students at Stanford University (Stanford, California). Learn how to secure full tuition waivers, $45,000 - $52,000 / year living stipends, and application fee waivers.

Institutional Rank

#1 Global Research & Innovation University

Average Stipend

$45,000 - $52,000 / year

International Cohort

34% of Grads

Funding Guarantee

100% PhD / STEM MS

Featured Fully Funded Programs & Fellowships

Masters & PhD

Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program

Annual Value

$45,000 / year living allowance

Coverage: 100% Full Tuition + $45,000 Annual Living Stipend + Travel Grants

Application Deadline: October (Annual Intake)

Key Eligibility & Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree conferred within the last 7 years
Simultaneous application to any full-time Stanford graduate degree program
Demonstrated independence of thought, purposeful leadership, and civic mindset

Visit Department Admissions

PhD Only

Stanford Doctoral Fellowship (SGF) & Departmental GRA/GTA

Annual Value

$50,000 / year guaranteed for 5 years

Coverage: Full Tuition + Health Insurance + $12,500/quarter Stipend

Application Deadline: December 1 - December 15

Key Eligibility & Requirements:

Admission to Stanford School of Engineering, Humanities & Sciences, or Medicine
Exemplary undergraduate academic and research record

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Graduate Assistantship Types & Benefits (GTA / GRA)

Research Assistantship (RA)

20 hours/week (50% appointment)

Advanced research in state-of-the-art Silicon Valley labs in AI, robotics, bioengineering, and quantum computing.

Statutory Benefits: 10-unit tuition allowance per quarter (100% coverage) plus Cardinal Care health insurance and monthly stipend.

Application Fee Waiver Guide

Standard Fee: $125

Fee waivers granted to applicants demonstrating financial hardship or who have participated in specific STEM pipeline programs.

View 20+ University Fee Waiver Codes

Frequently Asked Questions (Stanford)

Is Knight-Hennessy open to international students from any country?

Yes. Citizens of all countries without restriction are eligible for the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program. There are no quotas by country or academic discipline.

Are Stanford PhD students required to pay any tuition?

No. Admitted doctoral students at Stanford receive a guaranteed 5-year financial support package covering 100% of tuition, full Cardinal Care health insurance, and a living stipend.

Local Living Cost Summary

While Silicon Valley / Bay Area living costs are high, Stanford graduate stipends ($45k-$52k/yr) are among the highest in the world and designed specifically to cover on-campus graduate housing (Escondido Village) and living expenses.

💡 Tip: Half-time assistantship stipends at Stanford 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

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

$42,000 - $48,000 / year • Cambridge, Massachusetts

Georgia Institute of Technology

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

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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