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)

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor Fully Funded Assistantships & Scholarships

Complete statutory funding guide for international graduate students at University of Michigan - Ann Arbor (Ann Arbor, Michigan). Learn how to secure full tuition waivers, $34,000 - $42,000 / year living stipends, and application fee waivers.

Institutional Rank

#1 Public Research University in Annual Research Volume

Average Stipend

$34,000 - $42,000 / year

International Cohort

36% of Grads

Funding Guarantee

100% PhD / STEM MS

Featured Fully Funded Programs & Fellowships

PhD Only

Rackham Graduate School Doctoral Funding Guarantee (GSRA / GSI)

Annual Value

$34,000 - $42,000 / year (12-month guaranteed support)

Coverage: Full Tuition + Premier Health & Dental Insurance + Living Stipend + Summer Support

Application Deadline: December 15 - January 15

Key Eligibility & Requirements:

High academic achievement in undergraduate studies
Demonstrated capacity for independent scientific inquiry
TOEFL 84+ or IELTS 6.5+

Visit Department Admissions

Graduate Assistantship Types & Benefits (GTA / GRA)

Graduate Student Research Assistant (GSRA)

20 hours/week

Participate in faculty research projects funded by NSF, NIH, DARPA, and industry sponsors.

Statutory Benefits: 100% tuition remission and comprehensive GradCare health benefits with $0 employee premiums.

Application Fee Waiver Guide

Standard Fee: $90 for International Applicants

Rackham Graduate School offers pre-application fee waivers to participants in approved pipeline programs.

View 20+ University Fee Waiver Codes

Frequently Asked Questions (UMich)

What is the Rackham 5-Year Funding Guarantee?

Every doctoral student admitted to a PhD program in the Rackham Graduate School is guaranteed five full years of financial support (tuition, health insurance, and monthly stipend) through a combination of fellowships, GSRAs, and GSIs.

Local Living Cost Summary

Ann Arbor is a vibrant, safe college town with moderate-to-affordable living expenses ($1,000 - $1,400/month).

💡 Tip: Half-time assistantship stipends at UMich 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

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

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

Georgia Institute of Technology

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