University of Alabama Scholarships 2027: Up to Full Tuition for International Students

Applications are open for the University of Alabama Scholarships 2027 for international students seeking undergraduate study in the United States.

The University of Alabama (UA) offers several scholarship opportunities for high-achieving international freshmen entering in Summer or Fall 2027. Depending on academic performance and standardised test scores, students can receive automatic merit scholarships ranging from $6,000 to $28,000 per year.

Exceptionally strong students may qualify for the Presidential Elite Scholarship, which provides the value of tuition for up to four years, first-year on-campus housing, annual supplemental funding and an additional research or international study allowance.

Students from Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana and other African countries are eligible because the awards are explicitly available to international first-time freshmen.

The priority deadline for Summer/Fall 2027 applicants is December 4, 2026.

About the University of Alabama Scholarships 2027

The University of Alabama is a public research university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States.

For the 2027 admission cycle, the university offers both automatic merit scholarships and competitive scholarships to eligible international freshmen.

This is particularly useful for international students because the automatic awards have clearly defined GPA and ACT/SAT requirements. Therefore, students who meet the published academic thresholds can determine the scholarship level for which they may qualify.

There are also competitive awards that consider academic achievement alongside factors such as leadership, service, honours, work experience and other accomplishments.

University of Alabama Automatic Merit Scholarships 2027

The automatic merit scholarships are based primarily on an applicant’s high school GPA and qualifying ACT or SAT score.

For international and out-of-state freshmen entering in 2027, the scholarship structure is:

These automatic scholarships do not require a separate scholarship application when students apply through the appropriate University of Alabama undergraduate admission process.

However, applicants must submit qualifying official standardised test scores to be considered for automatic merit scholarships.

Presidential Elite Scholarship 2027

The Presidential Elite Scholarship is the highest automatic merit award in the 2027 scholarship structure.

Students need exceptionally strong academic results to qualify.

Applicants must have:

• A GPA of at least 4.0
• An ACT score of 36, or
• An SAT score of 1600

Students meeting these requirements can be selected as Presidential Elite Scholars.

What Does the Presidential Elite Scholarship Cover?

A presidential elite scholar receives:

• The value of tuition for up to four years or eight semesters
• First year of on-campus housing at the regular room rate
• $1,500 per year in supplemental scholarship funding for four years
• A $2,000 one-time allowance for research or international study after completing one year at UA

The tuition benefit may apply to qualifying undergraduate and subsequent graduate or law studies within the scholarship’s conditions.

Although the award is an exceptionally generous scholarship, applicants should not automatically describe it as covering every possible cost of attending university. Students should budget for expenses that their award does not specifically cover.

University of Alabama Presidential Scholarship

Students who do not meet the perfect-score requirements for Presidential Elite can still compete for substantial funding.

The Presidential Scholarship provides $28,000 per year.

Applicants need:

• GPA of at least 3.50
• ACT score of 32–36, or
• SAT score of 1420–1600

Over four years, an award of $28,000 annually could provide up to $112,000 in scholarship funding, subject to the university’s renewal requirements and scholarship conditions.

Other Automatic Scholarships

Several additional scholarships are available to students with qualifying academic records.

The UA Scholar provides $24,000 annually to students with a minimum 3.50 GPA and ACT scores of 30–31 or SAT scores of 1360–1410.

The Foundation in Excellence Scholarship provides $15,000 per year for qualifying students with a 3.50+ GPA and an ACT score of 29 or an SAT score between 1330 and 1350.

Other awards provide between $6,000 and $10,000 annually, depending on the student’s academic profile.

Therefore, applicants do not necessarily need perfect test scores to receive substantial scholarship support.

Competitive Scholarships for International Students

The University of Alabama also offers competitive scholarships.

Unlike automatic merit scholarships, these awards use a broader review process that may consider:

• Academic performance
• Honours and distinctions
• Leadership
• Community service
• Life experiences
• Other significant achievements

One major award is the UA Competitive Admissions Scholarship, valued from $6,000 up to tuition.

Another is the UA Competitive Achievement Scholarship, which can provide:

• Tuition
• Housing
• $1,000 per year in supplemental scholarship funding

These awards are competitive, so meeting the general admission requirements does not guarantee selection.

Do You Need SAT or ACT Scores?

This is an important distinction for international applicants.

Students must submit qualifying SAT or ACT scores to receive automatic merit scholarships.

The University of Alabama does not use superscores for automatic scholarship purposes. The qualifying score must come from a single test date, and official scores must ultimately be received from the testing agency.

However, students without standardised test scores can still be considered for certain competitive scholarships.

For admission itself, students applying for a 2027 entry term with a cumulative high school GPA below 3.0 are required to submit either an ACT or SAT score.

Therefore, African applicants aiming for the major automatic scholarships should plan to take either the SAT or ACT.

Who Can Apply?

The scholarships are available to qualifying first-time freshmen, including international students.

For automatic merit scholarships, international applicants generally need:

• First-time freshman status
• A qualifying high school academic record
• At least a 3.50 GPA for the published international automatic scholarship tiers
• A qualifying ACT or SAT score
• Admission to the University of Alabama
• Submission of required documents and official scores by the relevant deadline

Competitive scholarship requirements can differ because selection considers a broader range of achievements.

Can Cameroonians Apply?

Yes.

Students from Cameroon can apply as international freshmen and compete for the University of Alabama scholarships.

Cameroonian applicants should pay particular attention to academic document requirements, English-language proficiency and the SAT/ACT requirements for automatic scholarships.

Can Nigerians Apply?

Yes.

Nigerian students are eligible to apply for undergraduate admission and international freshman scholarship consideration.

Students seeking automatic merit scholarships should ensure their qualifying ACT or SAT scores are submitted according to the university’s requirements.

Can Ghanaians Apply?

Yes.

Students from Ghana can also apply as international applicants and compete for the scholarships if they satisfy the applicable admission and scholarship requirements.

Students from other African countries can also apply, as the scholarship programme is open to all African nationalities.

International Freshman Admission Requirements

International applicants who completed secondary school outside the United States are evaluated individually.

The university considers applicants with a cumulative GPA of approximately 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for admission, although scholarship requirements can be higher.

International students must also satisfy the university’s English-language proficiency requirement.

Applicants who meet the academic and financial requirements but have not yet satisfied the English requirement may have conditional admission options through the university’s English Language Institute.

Students requiring an F-1 or J-1 visa must provide the necessary financial and immigration documentation before the university can issue the appropriate immigration document.

Documents International Applicants Should Prepare

Depending on the applicant’s educational background and circumstances, documents may include:

• Online undergraduate application
• Secondary/high school academic records
• Official transcripts
• Graduation certificate where applicable
• Official SAT or ACT scores for automatic scholarship consideration
• Proof of English-language proficiency
• Passport or identification information
• Financial documentation required for immigration purposes
• Any additional international credential documentation requested by the university

Applicants should ensure that all required supporting materials arrive before the scholarship priority deadline.

How to Apply for University of Alabama Scholarships 2027

The application process begins with undergraduate admission.

Step 1: Apply for Undergraduate Admission

International students can submit the University of Alabama Undergraduate Application.

First-time freshmen applying to the main campus may also use the Common Application.

Step 2: Submit Academic Documents

Provide the required secondary-school academic records and any other documents requested for international admission.

Step 3: Submit ACT or SAT Scores

Students seeking an automatic merit scholarship should submit their official ACT or SAT scores.

Official qualifying scores must be received according to the university’s scholarship requirements.

Step 4: Meet the Scholarship Deadline

For students entering in Summer or Fall 2027, the priority deadline is:

December 4, 2026

Applicants should not wait until December to begin the process. Students seeking additional competitive scholarships through the Alabama Scholarship Award Manager may need to be admitted early enough to access and complete those opportunities before the same deadline.

Step 5: Check Additional Scholarship Opportunities

After admission, students should review the Alabama Scholarship Award Manager for any additional competitive scholarships for which they qualify.

Some university colleges and departments also offer their own scholarship opportunities.

Application Fee

International and out-of-state students applying for 2027 entry currently pay a $50 non-refundable undergraduate application fee.

Applicants should factor this charge into their application preparation.

Important Dates for 2027 Applicants

Students who miss the December 4 priority deadline may still receive scholarship consideration on a funds-available basis, but applying before the deadline provides applicants the strongest opportunity for consideration.

Are the University of Alabama Scholarships Fully Funded?

Not all of them.

This distinction is important.

Most automatic merit scholarships provide a fixed annual amount ranging from $6,000 to $28,000 and therefore should not be described as fully funded scholarships.

The Presidential Elite award is significantly more comprehensive because it includes tuition, first-year housing and additional financial benefits.

However, even the Presidential Elite package should not be assumed to cover every personal, travel, insurance, meal or living expense unless the university specifically includes that expense in the student’s award.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are University of Alabama Scholarships 2027 open to international students?

Yes. The university publishes automatic merit scholarship levels specifically for out-of-state and international freshmen.

Can African students apply?

Yes. Eligible applicants from Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana and other African countries can apply.

What is the scholarship deadline?

The priority deadline for Summer/Fall 2027 freshman applicants is December 4, 2026.

What is the maximum automatic scholarship?

The highest automatic award is the Presidential Elite Scholarship, which provides the value of tuition for up to four years or eight semesters, first-year housing and additional financial benefits.

Can I receive a scholarship without SAT or ACT?

Students need an official SAT or ACT score for automatic merit scholarship consideration. However, students without scores may still qualify for competitive scholarship consideration.

Is there a separate application for automatic merit scholarships?

No separate scholarship application is required for the published automatic merit awards. Scholarship consideration is connected to the undergraduate admission process.

How much is the application fee?

The 2027 application fee for international students is $50.

Final Thoughts

The University of Alabama Scholarships 2027 provide international students with several routes to substantially reduce the cost of undergraduate education in the United States.

Automatic scholarships range from $6,000 to $28,000 per year, while exceptional applicants with a 4.0+ GPA and perfect ACT or SAT score can qualify for the Presidential Elite Scholarship with tuition and additional benefits.

Students from Cameroon, Nigeria, Ghana and other African countries are eligible to compete as international applicants.

Because the largest automatic awards depend heavily on standardised test performance, prospective applicants should prepare for the SAT or ACT early and ensure that their official scores and other required application materials reach the university before the December 4, 2026, priority deadline.

Official Links

University of Alabama International Freshman Scholarships

University of Alabama International Freshman Admissions