The International Space University Scholarships
The International Space University is provided funding from industry and government agencies to help support MSS, SSP and SH-SSP students who are unable to cover all of their tuition fees. This aid is available to selected applicants, and covers a portion of their tuition fees. It is paid directly to ISU by the sponsoring organization. Please note that the MSS scholarships do not cover living expenses, which need to be secured by the applicants.
This financial aid is available for:
- Applicants from Europe (the countries listed below have priority*)
- Applicants from the United States, Canada and Australia
- Applicants from developing countries
- Applicants from other countries (within the limits of funds available)
(* Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom)
Financial aid is granted on the basis of:
- Academic and professional merit
- Demonstrated efforts in personal fund-raising
- Demonstrated financial need
Applicants for the MSS program 2016-2017 should apply online on the ISU website by 15 March 2016 if they are in need of financial support, and by 30 June 2016 otherwise.
SSP16 applicants should apply online on the ISU website and send the requested documents by 31 January 2016 if they are in need of financial aid, and by 30 April 2016 otherwise.
SH-SSP16 applicants should apply online on the ISU website and send the requested documents by 31 October 2015 if they are in need of financial aid, and by 30 November 2015 otherwise.
Financial aid will be awarded within the limits of funds available, so early applications are highly recommended. Please note that the relevant box on the Confidential Financial Information form of the application must be checked. It is recommended that candidates make a personal effort to raise funds enabling them to attend the program. Such initiatives are taken into consideration when ISU allocates funding.
When submitting your application to ISU, please don't forget to attach your resume. Your resume may be given by ISU Staff Members to sponsors. However, ISU will not give its sponsors contact information, but will try its best to match applicant's profiles to sponsor requirements.
The ISU Funding Committee, which includes both faculty and Sponsors, awards funding to applicants whose career goals appear to stand to gain substantial benefit from the ISU programs.
MSS scholarships are granted to help towards tuition fees only. ISU does not assist with living expenses, travel or insurance costs for the MSS. SSP scholarships are granted for help towards tuition fees and living expenses only. ISU does not assist with travel expenses or health insurance for the SSP.
You will find below the list of partners who have supported ISU students for many years. Please note that unless specified otherwise, you should go through ISU when applying for scholarships and not directly to the sponsors.
Other sources of support
We recommend that applicants undertake their own fundraising efforts to increase their chances for enrollment at ISU. Here are some tips:
- Start with non-governmental sources and foundations; they are more likely to give you financial support to attend ISU. Funding is more likely to come in small amounts and from a number of sponsors, than from one sponsor. Another possibility is to approach newspapers, magazines, and community organizations and offer to write an article or give a talk about your experiences in return for an agreed sponsorship amount.
- Some students attending ISU are sponsored by their employers. Others obtain sponsorship from companies, government agencies or international organizations, educational foundations, etc. In some countries, the ISU National Liaison may be able to advise applicants (their citizens only). Some financial organizations offer loans at low interest rates to promising young professionals. Applicants are encouraged to investigate all possibilities available to them.
Commitment for tuition support
Each year many applicants wish to attend ISU programs but lack the financial means to do so. Using funding from various Agencies and the space industry, as well as donations, ISU has managed to provide part of the tuition from its own funding to allow applicants to bridge the gap between the full tuition and the participants' personal contribution.
As the funding from these different sources is decreasing, ISU has been forced to introduce a system of pledges whereby such an advance is made on a reimbursable basis. Although based upon a moral obligation and not a contractual one, and in the interest of helping future applicants to finance their studies at ISU, applicants are therefore asked to make a best effort to reimburse a portion of the scholarship they have received when this becomes financially possible for them.
It is important to note that in most countries, it will be possible to deduct a large portion of the repaid sums from income taxes. Applicants should not hesitate to contact ISU for more information in this regard.
Procedure:
1. The first year after graduation those who remain unemployed will not be asked for repayment.
2. One year after graduation an installment plan is suggested. Note that installment plans suggest a 50% repayment only of the scholarship received, in order to minimize applicants' financial burden.
3. If salary at that point in time does not allow to sustain the payment plan, a justification for either a delay or reduced payments can be requested from the ISU Director of Administration and Finance to find an acceptable compromise.
4. Finally, to reduce the commitment duration, those who are employed immediately after graduation will be asked to begin the reimbursement process after closure of the program as reflected in their installment plans.
This opportunity has expired. It was originally published here:
http://www.isunet.edu/admissions/funding-scholarships