Scholarship Overview
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Overview
The Stony Brook #YouAreWelcomeHere Scholarship is a competitive, renewable award designed specifically for first-year international undergraduate students who demonstrate leadership in intercultural understanding. The scholarship covers 50% of tuition annually and is renewable for subsequent years, subject to meeting continued eligibility requirements.
This program aligns with the broader #YouAreWelcomeHere national campaign, which recognizes international students who bridge cultural divides and strengthen global connections on campus. For students from Zimbabwe and the SADC region, this represents a significant opportunity to reduce the cost of a US undergraduate education while contributing to campus diversity.
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What the Scholarship Covers
The award provides:
- 50% of annual tuition costs, renewable each year of undergraduate study
- Continued funding contingent on meeting scholarship terms outlined in the official offer letter
Important: This is a partial scholarship. Awardees remain responsible for the remaining 50% of tuition, plus room, board, health insurance, books, and personal expenses. Students should budget approximately $35,000–$45,000 USD annually in uncovered costs, depending on program and living arrangements.
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Eligibility Requirements
To qualify, applicants must meet all criteria:
- Be a first-year undergraduate international applicant to Stony Brook University for Fall 2027
- Hold citizenship in a country outside the United States without US citizenship or permanent residency
- Demonstrate leadership skills and personal initiative in activities involving intercultural learning
- Articulate clear plans to apply these skills at Stony Brook University
The scholarship committee conducts holistic review, evaluating: academic fit at Stony Brook; history of intercultural learning activities; leadership experiences; goals and aspirations; video quality; and creativity of submission.
Application Process
Admission and scholarship applications are separate but linked processes:
Step 1: Apply for Admission
Submit your first-year undergraduate application to Stony Brook University by the early application deadline of November 1, 2026. Your transcript and English proficiency scores from this application will also be used for scholarship review.
Step 2: Access Your StartSBU Portal
Within several days of submitting your admission application, you will receive login credentials for the StartSBU portal. Monitor your email closely, including spam folders.
Step 3: Submit Scholarship Application
By February 12, 2027, complete the #YouAreWelcomeHere Application in your StartSBU portal, including:
- A 2–5 minute video describing your leadership skills in school or community settings
- Explanation of how you plan to continue applying leadership skills at Stony Brook
- Link to your video uploaded to the portal
Step 4: Await Decision
Awards will be announced in March 2027. Selected students must pay their enrollment deposit by May 1, 2027 and enroll full-time for Fall 2027.
Selection Criteria
The committee evaluates applications holistically. Strong candidates typically show:
- Sustained involvement in cross-cultural initiatives (student exchanges, community bridging programs, multilingual outreach)
- Documented leadership roles with measurable outcomes
- Clear, specific plans for contributing to Stony Brook’s international community
- Authentic, well-produced video presentations
For Zimbabwean and SADC applicants, emphasize experiences like peer tutoring across language barriers, organizing regional cultural events, or volunteer work with diverse communities.
Important Conditions
Awardees must:
- Pay enrollment deposit by May 1, 2027
- Enroll full-time at Stony Brook for Fall 2027
- Accept additional terms in the official scholarship offer letter to retain funding in subsequent semesters
Failure to meet these conditions results in forfeiture of the award.
Contact Information
For questions: enrollintl@stonybrook.edu
Official scholarship page: https://www.llrc.stonybrook.edu/commcms/welcome/scholarship/index.php?
You apply directly with the provider. We never charge for applications or ask for payment details. How we verify scholarships