The University of Florida (UF) is a public research university located in Gainesville, Florida, United States. It offers a range of scholarships and financial support opportunities for students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees.

For the 2027–2028 academic year, applicants can explore merit-based undergraduate scholarships, college-specific awards, graduate fellowships, and graduate assistantships. Some opportunities are open to international students, while others are restricted by residency, citizenship, academic department, or degree program.

Undergraduate merit scholarships are competitive and generally awarded based on the student’s overall admission application. Individual academic departments often manage graduate funding and may offer research assistantships, teaching assistantships, or fellowships.

Important: The University of Florida does not offer one universal fully funded scholarship for every international student. Some graduate funding packages may cover tuition and provide a stipend and health insurance, while undergraduate awards may cover only part of tuition or other education expenses.

Types of Scholarships and Funding

1. Undergraduate Merit Scholarships

The University of Florida offers competitive merit scholarships to selected incoming undergraduate students. Awards may be based on academic achievement, extracurricular involvement, leadership, community service, and the overall admission application.

UF’s published merit scholarship options have included presidential scholarships and tuition awards for eligible out-of-state students. The amount and availability of each award may change, so applicants should consult the official scholarship page for the 2027–2028 cycle.

International freshmen may be considered for selected out-of-state tuition scholarships. These awards are competitive and do not necessarily cover the full cost of attendance.

2. Graduate Fellowships

The University of Florida offers graduate fellowships through the Graduate School, colleges, and academic departments. Certain University Graduate Fellowships provide multi-year support to eligible newly admitted PhD students and MFA students.

Depending on the award, a graduate fellowship may include full tuition support, a stipend, and other benefits. Funding conditions, eligibility, duration, and the number of awards vary by program.

Applicants should contact their intended graduate department to learn whether they will be considered automatically or need to submit a separate application.

3. Graduate Assistantships

Graduate assistantships allow students to work as teaching assistants, research assistants, or academic support staff while pursuing a graduate degree.

Assistantships commonly provide a stipend and may include tuition support and health insurance. The exact package depends on the position, department, appointment, and funding available.

The University of Florida’s Division of Student Life states that graduate assistantship opportunities for 2027–2028 are expected to be posted in January 2027. Other departments may follow their own recruitment schedules.

4. College and Departmental Scholarships

Individual colleges and academic departments administer additional awards for eligible students. These may support undergraduate or graduate study and can have separate application windows and selection requirements.

For example, the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering uses the Scholarship Universe platform for eligible engineering students. Students should check the relevant college’s website for current award availability and application dates.

Degree Level

Available opportunities may include:

• Undergraduate: Bachelor’s degree programs.
• Graduate: Master’s degree programs.
• Doctoral: PhD programs and other eligible research degrees.
• Other graduate study: Selected professional or terminal graduate programs, depending on the funding source.

Not every scholarship is available at every degree level. Applicants should confirm that their intended program qualifies for the specific award.

Available Subjects

The University of Florida offers programs across a wide range of academic disciplines, including:

Agriculture and Life Sciences, Arts and Humanities, Business and Management, Computer Science and Information Technology, Education, Engineering and Technology, Environmental Studies, Health Sciences, Law, Mathematics and Statistics, Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Natural Sciences, Public Policy, and Social Sciences.

Scholarship eligibility depends on the academic program, funding source, and award-specific requirements.

Benefits

Scholarship benefits vary by award. Depending on the funding opportunity, successful applicants may receive:

• Full or partial tuition support.
• A merit-based scholarship or tuition reduction.
• A graduate stipend through a fellowship or assistantship.
• Health insurance benefits under eligible graduate funding arrangements.
• Multi-year financial support for selected graduate fellowships.
• Opportunities to gain teaching, research, or academic work experience.
• Access to academic resources and research facilities at the University of Florida.

Not every award provides all these benefits. Applicants should check the official terms before assuming that tuition, living expenses, travel, books, and personal expenses will all be covered.

Eligible Nationalities

Students from the United States and other countries may be eligible for selected University of Florida scholarships and funding opportunities. However, eligibility differs by award.

International applicants should pay particular attention to scholarship terms, as some forms of US federal financial aid are restricted to eligible US citizens and certain other eligible noncitizens. International students may instead qualify for selected university, college, departmental, private, or graduate funding opportunities.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants should review the requirements for their chosen scholarship. Depending on the award, typical criteria may include:

• Meeting the University of Florida’s admission requirements for the intended degree program.
• Having a strong academic record and meeting any award-specific academic standards.
• Applying by the relevant admission or scholarship deadline.
• Meeting the nationality, residency, or immigration requirements of the funding opportunity.
• Enrolling in an eligible degree program and maintaining the required enrollment status.
• Meeting any additional requirements established by the relevant college or department.
• For graduate fellowships and assistantships, receiving admission to the eligible graduate program and meeting any departmental requirements.

Some awards are considered through the admission application, while others require a separate application or departmental nomination. Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee a scholarship.

Language Requirements

Applicants must meet the English-language requirements applicable to their intended University of Florida degree program.

Accepted tests, minimum scores, and exemptions may differ by program and applicant background. Graduate applicants should check the requirements of their specific department, while undergraduate applicants should consult the international admissions guide.

Required Documents

The required documents depend on the degree program and funding opportunity. Applicants may need to prepare:

• Completed University of Florida admission application.
• Academic transcripts and certificates.
• Standardized test scores, if required by the program.
• Proof of English-language proficiency, if required.
• A personal statement or statement of purpose, where applicable.
• Letters of recommendation, where required.
• Resume or curriculum vitae, particularly for graduate applications.
• Research proposal or writing sample, if required by the department.
• Scholarship-specific forms or supporting documents.
• Financial and immigration documents required after admission, where applicable.

Applicants should use the official checklist for their intended program. Do not submit documents that are not requested by the university or scholarship provider.

How Winners Are Selected

Scholarship selection procedures vary by award. Undergraduate merit scholarships may be evaluated using academic achievement, the admission application, leadership, extracurricular activities, community service, and other relevant factors.

Graduate fellowships and assistantships may be awarded based on academic performance, research potential, departmental needs, teaching or research experience, and available funding. Some awards require departmental nomination or a separate application.

Only applicants who meet the requirements and are selected through the applicable process will receive funding. Scholarship availability and award amounts may change from year to year.

Application Procedure

Step 1: Choose a Degree Program

• Visit the University of Florida website and identify the undergraduate or graduate program you wish to study.
• Check its entry requirements, available study options, and application deadlines.

Step 2: Review Available Scholarships

• Explore the university’s scholarship listings and identify awards that match your degree level, academic background, nationality, and financial needs.

Step 3: Apply for Admission

• Complete the appropriate application for your intended degree program and submit all required documents before the relevant deadline.
• Some merit scholarships are considered through the admission application, so submitting a separate scholarship form may not be necessary.

Step 4: Explore Graduate Funding

• Applicants seeking a master’s or PhD degree should contact their academic department to ask about graduate fellowships, teaching assistantships, research assistantships, and other funding packages.

Step 5: Submit Any Separate Scholarship Applications

• If your chosen award requires a separate application, complete it through the designated scholarship portal or department.
• Follow all instructions and submit any additional documents by the stated deadline.

Step 6: Monitor Your Application

• Check your admission portal and email regularly for updates, scholarship decisions, requests for additional information, and next steps.

Step 7: Confirm the Funding Package

• Before accepting an offer, review the award letter carefully. Confirm the amount, duration, tuition coverage, stipend, health insurance, fees, and any work or academic conditions attached to the funding.

Application Deadline

There is no single deadline for all University of Florida scholarships for 2027–2028.

Undergraduate admission and merit scholarship consideration have their own priority dates. The university’s published undergraduate scholarship guidance has used a November 1 freshman admission priority deadline for scholarship consideration, but applicants must verify the deadline that applies to their intended entry term.

For 2027–2028 graduate assistantships offered through UF’s Division of Student Life, the university has indicated that positions are expected to be posted in January 2027. Graduate fellowships and departmental scholarships may have different deadlines.

Applicants should check the official scholarship and program pages for confirmed dates before applying.