Funding and Scholarships
Scholarships
The International Space University receives funding from space agencies, government organizations, and industry partners to support its educational programs, such as the new Master’s Degree in Space Studies and the Northern Hemisphere Space Studies Program (SSP).
This financial aid is available to selected applicants based on their academic and professional merit and covers a portion of their tuition fees. It is paid directly to ISU by the sponsoring organization.
Financial aid is available for applicants from all countries.
ISU is approved for U.S. Federal Student Loans from the U.S. Department of Education (available only to U.S. citizens attending the Master of Space Studies program). For more information, please click here.
Students and unemployed young graduates who are members of the following organizations are entitled to at least 50% scholarships for the Master’s Degree in Space Studies and the Space Studies Program: the Space Generation Advisory Council (SGAC), Women in Aerospace, Euroavia, NASA Academy, Students for the Exploration and Development of Space (SEDS), Brooke Owens Fellowship, and Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship Program. Please indicate the date when your membership with the applicable organization began.
ISU also offers tuition support. Upon request and justification, part of the tuition fee may be deferred at the start of the program, subject to a promise to repay later when financial conditions allow, in accordance with a flexible repayment scheme.
Financial aid is granted on the basis of:
- Academic and professional merit
- Personal efforts to raise additional funds
- Demonstrated financial need
Financial aid will be awarded within the limits of available funds, so early applications are strongly recommended.
Please note that the relevant box on the Confidential Financial Information form of the application must be checked. Candidates are encouraged to make a personal effort to raise funds to enable them to attend the program. Such initiatives are taken into consideration when ISU allocates funding.
ISU will not share sponsor contact information but will make every effort to match applicants’ profiles to sponsor requirements.
The ISU Funding Committee, which includes both faculty and sponsors, awards funding to outstanding applicants based on their academic and professional merit and career goals.
Master’s Degree Program scholarships are granted to cover tuition fees only. ISU does not provide assistance with living expenses, travel, or insurance costs for the Master’s program.
Space Studies Program scholarships are granted to support tuition fees and living expenses only. ISU does not cover travel expenses or health insurance for SSP participants.
Below is a list of partners who have supported ISU students for many years.
Unless specified otherwise, please apply for scholarships through ISU and not directly to the sponsors.
CNES
Several MSS and SSP partial scholarships for French candidates
ESA
Several MSS and SSP partial scholarships for citizens of ESA member states only
ASI
1 MSS scholarship and 3 SSP scholarships for Italian candidates
Please fill out your SSP application by 31 January to be considered for this scholarship.
AAS
Scholarship available for SSP or MSS: $10,000 (limited to US citizens, with preference given to AAS and SEDS-USA members).
Please fill out your SSP application by 31 January to be considered for this scholarship
UK Space Agency
Several scholarships available for SSP and MSS for UK candidates
Please fill out your SSP application by 31 January to be considered for this scholarship
NewSpace Catalonia
3 SSP scholarships available for candidates studying or having recently studied in Catalonia
Please fill out your SSP application by 31 January to be considered for this scholarship
SSPI
The requirement to qualify is to pursue education in a satellite-related discipline. The amount available goes from 2,500 to 3,500 USD.
FFG
Partial funding support available for Austrian applicants for the SSP
SSPF
Several SSP scholarships available for candidates from (or residing in) the Netherlands
Please fill out your SSP application by 31 January to be considered for this scholarship
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.
The following are links to potential sponsors and various institutions with whom you may be eligible for scholarships or loans if you fit their criteria (but please note that there is no guarantee, and that some grants that were given in the past may not exist any more). We encourage you to visit their websites for further details.
- SSPI Scholarships available for students in fields related to satellite technology
- French Embassy Scholarships available in your country of residence can possibly be granted for studying in France. Contact your nearest French Embassy (in your place of residence). Scholarships available to all citizenships
- Rotary Club Scholarships available to all citizenships
- Lions Club Scholarships available to all citizenships
- The World Meteorological Organization “Voluntary Cooperation Program” available for applicants coming from emerging countries through the Direction of the Meteo organization of your country of residence. Scholarships available to all citizenships
- Centennial Scholarship Fund Royal Aeronautical Society Scholarships available to all citizenships
- ISSF Graduate Student Fellowship Program Scholarships available to applicants studying at a university located in a member country participating in the International Space Station
- Toptal Scholarships for Women: Toptal® is awarding $10,000 and a year of mentorship to five future female leaders who want to change the world.
The Austrian space industry association (AUSTROSPACE) For Austrian citizens only
Styria Government For Austrian citizens only
The Schmiedl Foundation- Graz For Austrian citizens only
Fondation Belge de la vocation For Belgian applicants only
Canadian Students Loans
Ontario Student Support Branch Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
Manitoba Student Financial Assistance Department of Education and Training
Alberta Students Finance Alberta Learning Information Service
Newfoundland Student Aid Division Department of Education Thompson Student Centre
British Columbia Student Aid Branch Advanced Education, Training and Technology
Quebec Student Financial Assistance Programs Ministère de l’éducation
Foundations/Universities
Baxter & Alma Ricard Foundation for Canadians French speaking citizens only
University of Alberta – Education Abroad For Alberta University students only
CRESTech, a division of the Ontario Centers of Excellence Inc Various scholarships may be available for Canadian citizens only
Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal Various scholarships may be available for Canadian citizens only
Ingenioerforeningen i Danmark For Danish applicants only
Otto Moensteds Fond For Danish applicants only
General information about Danish scholarships For Danish applicants only
Augustinus Fonden For Danish applicants only
Knud Højgaards Fonden For Danish applicants only
Oticon Fonden For Danish applicants only
The Social Insurance Institution of Finland Financial assistance to study abroad for Finnish applicants
Bourses ESPACE (CNES / Fondation des Ailes de France) Scholarship for French citizens
IEDU Various scholarships available for French citizens
Fondation Marcel Bleustein-Blanchet For French citizens only
Regione Autonoma Della Sardaigna For Candidates from Sardegna only
Dr. Kalpana Chawla scholarships for female Indian candidates (apply directly to ISU)
Charpak Master’s Program for Indian nationals residing in India only
Ilan Ramon scholarships (apply directly to ISU)
Cedies For citizens from Luxembourg only
The Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund For Norwegian citizens only
Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian Only for applicants from Portugal
“La Caixa” GRANTS Grants available for post-graduate programs. These grants are handled by the King of Spain himself. For Spanish students only
DURSI Information Society, Research and University Department of the ‘Generalitat de Catalunya ‘ (GENCAT) Grants for short research periods abroad Catalonia For Spanish students looking for a future PhD diploma (as the SSP academic program can be in relationship with a doctoral thesis)
CSN (Swedish Financial Aid for students) Form 5501M- Student Loan- Sweden For Swedish citizens only
Grants- Sweden For Swedish citizens only
The Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm For Swedish citizens only
The Wallenberg Association “Tekn. Dr. Markus Wallenbergs fond for utbildning i internationellt industriellt foretagande”Stiftelseforvaltningen 106 40 Stockholm- Sweden Particular link: “OVRIGA STIFTELSER” For Swedish citizens only
Kempe-foundation For Swedish citizens only
Swiss Academy of Engineering Sciences For Swiss applicants only
SSPF For Dutch citizens or residents in The Netherlands and for Dutch citizens working or studying abroad
Department for Education For UK citizens only
Federal Student Loans For American citizens only (for more information click here)
ISSF Grants are restricted to applicants studying at a university located in a member country participating in the International Space Station: USA, Canada, Japan, Russia and member European countries (Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom).
Matthew Isakowitz Fellowship Program For US citizens or US permanent residents only
US GI Bill For US veterans only
Institute of International Education Fulbright Program For American citizens only
Space Grant For American citizens only
Studysoup For American citizens only
