For many, the biggest hurdle in pursuing an LL.M. is neither choosing a school or LL.M. program nor the application process, but coming up with the necessary funding. Here are some ideas and resources that may help you locate funding sources inside and outside the U.S.
Possibilities in the U.S.
- Fulbright Scholarships
The Fulbright program, sponsored by the U.S. government, is active in more than 155 countries around the world. There is a difference between a Fulbright international student and a Fulbright foreign scholar. While the former is for graduate students, young professionals, and artists who would like to study in the U.S., the latter enables college and university faculty members with a Ph.D. to teach and conduct research in the U.S. Therefore, you should seek information for Fulbright students. Fulbright scholarships are competitive, and awards are based on your academic and professional profile. - Grants and Scholarships
Grants and scholarships are awards that do not have to be repaid. A scholarship is given based on merit, while a grant is given based on need. Grants and scholarships may come from U.S. government departments or public or private trusts and foundations. Some may require either citizenship or permanent residency. You should never pay for scholarships or grants. If a grant or scholarship search engine or application form asks for a credit card or other financial information, do not use it!
- Student Loans
Student loans are a form of financial aid that must be repaid. There are a variety of student loans but to keep it simple, I divide them into federal and private loans.Federal loans have different names such as Stafford Loan, Federal Direct Student Loans, PLUS Loans, or Perkins Loans, and come in two varieties: direct subsidized and unsubsidized. The catch is that to receive federal loans, you have to either be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident. This, unfortunately, won’t apply to most prospective LL.M. students.Private loans are given to students by banks or finance companies. The terms of the loans vary from lender to lender, so it is not easy to make any general statements. The catch with private loans again is that they are granted only to U.S. citizens and permanent residents for the most part. However, a few U.S. banks will offer student loans to international students if the loan is co-signed by a creditworthy U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
- Financial Aid from Your Law School
You should certainly ask for financial aid at the law schools you are applying to. Some law schools do not have any offerings for international LL.M. students; however, others do—and some are rather generous.
Possibilities in your home country
There may be options to secure funding through domestic or international associations and organizations. Since every country is different, you need to research possibilities that might apply to you. The following are some places to start:
- Student Loans
Some countries offer loan-type financing for their citizens wishing to study abroad. You can go to the international or exchange office at your home university or the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. These offices are most likely prepared for such questions and often have a list of resources for you to consider.
- Private Loans
The terms of private loans vary not only from country to country but also from lender to lender. It is worthwhile asking your home bank if they offer financial assistance for studying abroad.
- Grants and Scholarships
EducationUSA is a network of hundreds of advising centers in 170 countries, where millions of international students each year find comprehensive and current information about U.S. higher education, including grants and scholarships. The EducationUSA network is supported by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. Unfortunately, most online scholarship search engines are geared towards undergraduate education, often called “college.” You may search for scholarship opportunities using their search functions. Once you know the association or organization, reach out to them and ask if they also provide scholarships for Master of Laws studies.
- Foundation Scholarships
There are numerous international service organizations, such as Rotary International, which facilitate study abroad by providing scholarships to exceptional students. A number of these are targeted toward students with a particular demographic makeup, such as those from a specific country. Chambers of Commerce sometimes also offer scholarships for LL.M. students or resources for locating funding sources.
Desiree Jaeger-Fine is a writer and author of Pursuing Happiness: One Lawyer’s Journey, A Short & Happy Guide to Networking and A Short & Happy Guide to Being Hired.
