West Virginia University is helping more international graduate students obtain the funding they need to attend the University – by paying for part of their education.

WVU is agreeing to pay two-thirds of eligible students’ tuition.

The International Graduate Student Fellowship Program – a joint operation between WVU’s Office of International Programs, Office of International Students and Scholars and Office of Graduate Education and Life – is for federally-funded sponsored students. For example, Fulbright and Muskie scholars are sponsored by the U.S. State Department; but students from any government-funded program requiring a host university cost-share are eligible.

The students and/or sponsoring agency will be responsible for fees and room and board costs.

“These sponsoring programs are incredibly competitive internationally, and they bring in only the best and the brightest,” said Michael Wilhelm, director of the Office of International Students and Scholars. “The hope is that with this program we will be able to recruit more of these top students, more scholars doing research and more students from around the world.”

Currently WVU has four Fulbright students in areas of engineering, business and economics, microbiology and journalism.

“The Office of Graduate Education and Life sees this as a great opportunity to enrich the educational environment for both our graduate and undergraduate students,” said Jonathan Cumming, associate provost for graduate academic affairs. “Supporting high achieving international students on campus will advance the global awareness of all of our students and prepare them for success in their future careers.”

Prior to this program, the individual departments handled requests for students in federally-funded programs to attend the University and participate in cost-sharing. This program will allow the University to have a cohesive response and allow WVU to compete on a more international level, Wilhelm said.

The University plans on marketing the program throughout the year, and to begin accepting students for the fall 2011 semester.

Students interested in participating in the program can contact their country’s embassy or Wilhelm at 304-293-3519 or Michael.Wilhelm@mail.wvu.edu.

-WVU-

cd/09/23/10

CONTACT: Michael Wilhelm, Office of International Students and Scholars
304-293-3519, Michael.Wilhelm@mail.wvu.edu