Financial Aid

Financial Aid is available for students within the Joint Bachelor’s Degree Program and is consistent with other students enrolled in the School of General Studies. Scholarships are awarded to students with demonstrated financial need and can be influenced by academic achievement. Amounts typically increase from year to year based on academic success.

Financial aid applications must be submitted by the appropriate deadlines in order to receive priority consideration.

For more information on applying for scholarships, visit the School of General Studies website.

Several types of financial aid are available to students:

  • Scholarships and Grants: Institutional scholarships, outside scholarships, and Federal and State grants (for U.S. citizens) are forms of aid that do not have to be repaid.
     
  • Loans: Federal and private education loans are forms of aid that must be repaid.
     
  • Student Employment: The Federal Work-Study Program (for those eligible), the Center for Career Education, and the International Students and Scholars Office can assist students in finding part-time employment.
     
  • Aid for International and Military Students: Specific sources of aid are available for international students.

Types of Aid Available to International Students

International students are eligible to apply for GS institutional scholarships. In order to apply for institutional aid, all international students must complete the GS Scholarship Application. International students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents do not need to complete the FAFSA to receive institutional aid, but are required to complete the International Student Financial Aid Assessment form. International students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents must complete the FAFSA, in addition to the GS Scholarship Application, in order to receive institutional aid.

Limited private-loan options are available for international students; more information is available on the Student Financial Services website.

International students may also wish to consult the following resources:

  • Columbia University International Students and Scholars Office website
     
  • U.S. Dept. of Education: Information for international students attending college in the United States 
     
  • EduPass: Guide to financial aid for international students
     
  • International Scholarships: Scholarship search service for international students

Applying for Institutional Aid

Prospective student applicants for institutional aid who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents must submit both the CSS Profile and the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Students who are neither citizens nor permanent residents in the U.S. are only required to complete the CSS Profile. 

To be considered for institutional aid, prospective students should complete the CSS Profile using Columbia University’s General Studies CSS School Code: 2095.

For consideration for GS institutional aid, complete family and parental information is required on the CSS Profile application from both custodial and non-custodial parents. If the parents have separate households (unmarried, separated, or divorced,) complete financial information for both parental households must be provided on the application. 

In addition, once admitted, all incoming Joint Bachelor’s Degree Program students applying for financial aid must also submit the Planned Enrollment Form, as described in your acceptance packet. Please note, the Planned Enrollment Form is not accessible to prospective students until they have been accepted.

Please note:

  • The Columbia University School of General Studies CSS School Code is 2095.
  • The Columbia University FAFSA code is 002707.

Through the generosity of private donors, CityU offers a wide array of scholarships that students admitted to the Joint Bachelor’s Degree Program may apply for to support overseas studies. Scholarship awards typically range from approximately $2,550 (HKD 20,000) to $44,600 (HKD 350,000) per year. 

Candidates for the Joint Bachelor's Degree Program may apply for the below listed scholarships during their second year of study.

In addition to the awards listed below, CityU offers various scholarships and prizes to current students. Most of these awards are made by nomination by the colleges, schools, or academic departments on the basis of academic merit, while some are made by open application on a competitive basis. The value of these scholarships varies from $600 (HKD 5,000) to $13,000 (HKD 100,000). Students may view the details of the scholarships and prizes, such as regulations, eligibility, awarding process, and the application deadline on the Scholarship and Financial Aid (SFA) System under AIMS. Interested students can also visit the scholarship website of the Student Development Services.

Remark: Recipients will remain eligible for CityU entrance scholarships if students are being selected for the Joint Bachelor’s Degree Program.

Note: Details about these scholarships, including eligibility, selection criteria, terms, and conditions, can be viewed in the catalogue of Scholarships and Financial Aid (SFA) System from Student Services via AIMS.

For further enquiries about these scholarships, please contact Ms. Minnie Wong at the Student Finance Team of Student Development Services.