The Opportunity Funds Scholarship by EducationUSA is a U.S. Department of State program that supports highly qualified students who are likely to be awarded full financial aid from U.S. colleges and universities, but lack the financial resources to cover the up-front costs to apply, such as testing, application fees, or airfare.
Each Opportunity Funds grantee undergoes a selective process of evaluation by an EducationUSA adviser, Regional Educational Advising Manager (REAC), and the Public Affairs Section of a U.S. Embassy/Consulate. In addition to academic abilities, Opportunity Funds students bring cultural and socio-economic diversity to U.S. campuses. More than 100 colleges and universities have enrolled Opportunity Funds students since 2006.
There are more than 50 countries around the world that receive Opportunity Funds. The list of participating countries changes slightly each year depending on individual country needs, priorities of Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, and EducationUSA, and the budget situation.
Opportunity Funds Scholars are important, vital members of our Fulbright@Rice Community! If you are an Opportunity Funds Grantee at the graduate level, we encourage you to consider Rice! Reach out with questions!
What does it cover?
- Application fees for U.S. colleges and universities
-
Applying to U.S. universities is an expensive process, this scholarship ensures that its grantees are solely focused on building a competitive application to their desired universities. Opportunity Funds covers the application fee of up to 5 universities.
- Standardized test fees (e.g., SAT, GRE, TOEFL, IELTS)
-
Universities in the United States will most likely require international students to be proficient in the English language. Opportunity Funds covers all of the fees related to taking the standardized tests that are necessary to apply, it also covers official score sending fees to the selected universities. The award may offer travel support to test centers depending on need.
- Visa application fees
-
- May offer travel expenses to U.S. Consulate if the grantee presents the need.
- SEVIS Fee
- Airfare to the United States
- One-time settle-in allowance
-
Once Grantees are accepted into U.S. universities, this scholarship offers a one-time deposit to economically support students once their stay in the U.S. begins.
Note: The exact coverage may vary depending on the specific program and the student's needs.
Empowering the Grantee
Even though Opportunity Funds Grantees already possess a highly competitive academic & professional profile, the scholarship strengthens their profile by several trainings in regards to all aspects of their application.
EducationUSA advisors are responsible for guiding Opportunity Funds grantees in the long process that is applying for a U.S. higher education institution. Whether it be for undergraduate or graduate studies, Opportunity Funds grantees constantly receive support from their advisors from the start.
| Aspect | What Opportunity Funds does |
|---|---|
| Comprehensive Support | Guide grantees throughout the application process in a holistic, supportive manner |
| Essay Writing | Weekly workshops to strengthen writing and communication skills, as well as individual follow-up meetings to have strong, compelling essays |
| Psychological support | Arrange meetings with a certified professional for all its grantees for emotional support |
| Interview Preparation | Meetings with representatives from U.S. institutions who offer unique insights into admission-related interviews |
| Standardized test preparation | Offers its grantees access to online, highly specialized training platforms for standardized tests |
| Mentorship | Provided by EducationUSA advisors in every step of the application process and beyond |
High Success Rate
While this scholarship does not offer financial support towards tuition & living expenses, many grantees were offered some financial support from U.S. universities. Last year’s Opportunity Funds grantees (2023-2024 generation) were awarded a total of over 2 million dollars in financial support.