The Brown University Scholarships 2027 support international students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, and PhD programmes in the United States. Brown now admits first-year international undergraduate applicants on a need-blind basis and meets 100% of demonstrated financial need, with aid packages built from scholarships and grants rather than packaged student loans. International PhD students receive an even more structured funding package, with five or six years of guaranteed support that includes full tuition remission, a living stipend, health-service fees, and health and dental insurance. Selected master’s programmes also provide substantial merit funding; for example, Brown’s one-year Master of Public Affairs programme considers every admitted student for merit aid and offers awards ranging from partial tuition support to limited full-tuition scholarships. These funding routes do not use one common scholarship application: undergraduate students apply for need-based aid alongside admission, PhD funding is normally awarded automatically with the doctoral admission offer, and most programme-specific master’s scholarships are assessed through the programme application. In this article, we have explained everything you need to know about the Brown University Scholarships, including their benefits, eligibility criteria, required documents, and a step-by-step application process to help you apply successfully.
The three strongest Brown University funding routes covered in this guide are:
- Brown University International Undergraduate Financial Aid
- Brown University PhD Funding
- Brown Master of Public Affairs Scholarships
Brown does not award general undergraduate merit or athletic scholarships. As an Ivy League institution, its main undergraduate funding is based on demonstrated financial need. Graduate funding works differently: PhD students receive institutional funding guarantees, while master’s scholarships vary significantly by academic programme.
Brown University Scholarships Summary
- Level of Study: Undergraduate / Master’s / PhD
- Institution: Brown University
- Study Destination: Providence, Rhode Island, United States
- PhD Funding Period: Five years for most doctoral students; six years for Humanities and Social Sciences
Brown’s undergraduate students study through the university’s Open Curriculum, while graduate programmes span humanities, social sciences, engineering, physical and life sciences, public health, data-intensive fields, public affairs, and other disciplines. Master’s funding is not centrally standardised, and the majority of master’s students should check their individual programme for scholarship availability.
Brown University Scholarships Application Deadline
The deadline depends on the degree level and scholarship route.
Undergraduate Scholarship Deadline
Brown University has published the deadlines for students applying for Fall 2027 entry.
Early Decision
- Admission application deadline: November 1, 2026
- CSS Profile financial aid deadline: November 2, 2026
- Admission decision: Mid-December
Regular Decision
- Admission application deadline: January 5, 2027
- CSS Profile financial aid deadline: February 1, 2027
- Admission decision: Late March or early April
Brown’s first-year application must be submitted by 11:59 PM in the applicant’s local time. International students seeking institutional financial aid use the CSS Profile rather than the FAFSA, which is intended for eligible US citizens and permanent residents. Brown’s CSS Profile code is 3189.
Because financial aid materials have their own deadlines, international applicants should not assume that completing the Common Application automatically completes their scholarship application. Students must also submit the required financial information and any additional income or tax documents requested by Brown.
Brown University PhD Funding Deadline
Brown has already published programme-specific application deadlines for Fall 2027 PhD admission.
Most doctoral applications open around August or September 2026, and deadlines generally fall between November 2026 and early January 2027. Exact dates differ by programme.
Examples include:
- Psychology: November 15, 2026
- American Studies: December 1, 2026
- Anthropology: December 1, 2026
- Biomedical Engineering: December 1, 2026
- Engineering: December 1, 2026
- Neuroscience: December 1, 2026
- Computer Science: December 15, 2026
- Chemistry: December 15, 2026
- Physics: December 15, 2026
- Economics: January 1, 2027
- Mathematics: January 1, 2027
- Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences: January 5, 2027
- German Studies: January 7, 2027
All Brown Graduate School deadlines are listed in Eastern Time. Applicants should use the exact deadline displayed for their selected programme rather than another department’s date.
There is normally no separate deadline for Brown’s standard PhD funding package. Applicants are considered for the funding commitment through the doctoral admission process.
Brown Master’s Scholarship Deadline
Brown does not use one university-wide master’s scholarship deadline because each professional and academic master’s programme administers its own admission and financial aid.
For programmes such as the Master of Public Affairs, scholarship consideration is integrated into the admission review and does not require a separate scholarship application. The next-cycle application period generally runs from autumn into the following admission season, but applicants should follow the exact 2027 deadline published by the programme once available.
Brown University Scholarship Coverage
Brown University International Undergraduate Financial Aid
Brown University meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted first-year undergraduate students, including international students. Beginning with students entering in Fall 2025, first-year international applicants are also evaluated under Brown’s need-blind admission policy.
Need-blind means that an international first-year applicant’s ability to pay for Brown is not used as a factor in deciding whether that applicant should be admitted. This is an important difference from many other US universities, where international students requesting large amounts of financial assistance may face a need-aware admission process.
Brown then calculates each admitted student’s demonstrated financial need using family income, assets, expenses, household circumstances, and other information provided in the financial aid application.
The resulting package may include Brown University Scholarship and other institutional grants covering the difference between the family’s expected contribution and the cost Brown determines the student needs to attend.
The cost considered in Brown’s financial aid calculation can include expenses associated with:
- Tuition
- University fees
- Housing
- Meals
- Books and course materials
- Personal expenses
- Health-related costs where applicable
- Travel and transportation allowances
The exact amount differs for every student because Brown does not award one fixed international scholarship value.
The Brown Promise
Under The Brown Promise, Brown does not package student loans as part of its undergraduate financial aid awards.
Instead, Brown meets demonstrated need primarily through:
- Brown University Scholarship
- Institutional grants
- Other scholarship resources
These grants and scholarships do not need to be repaid.
This does not necessarily mean that every family pays nothing. Brown first calculates how much the student and family can reasonably contribute and then provides financial aid for the remaining demonstrated need.
A family with very limited financial resources may therefore receive an aid package covering almost the complete cost of attendance, while a student from a higher-income family may receive a smaller scholarship or no need-based aid.
Is Brown University Financial Aid Fully Funded?
For students with sufficiently high demonstrated financial need, Brown’s aid package can effectively cover almost all university costs.
However, it should not be described as a fixed “full scholarship” offered automatically to every international student. The university promises to meet 100% of demonstrated need, not to provide identical full funding to every admitted student.
Brown University PhD Funding
Brown University offers one of its strongest financial packages to students admitted to its doctoral programmes.
Incoming PhD students receive five or six years of guaranteed financial support, including summer funding.
The standard package includes:
- Full tuition remission
- Annual living stipend
- Health-services fee
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Summer funding
- Teaching, research, fellowship, or proctorship appointments where applicable
Doctoral students in the Humanities and Social Sciences are guaranteed six years of funding. Students in other doctoral areas generally receive at least five years of support.
International students are eligible for the same central doctoral funding commitment provided they are admitted to an eligible Brown PhD programme.
Brown University PhD Stipend
The latest base doctoral stipend amount currently published by Brown’s Graduate School is:
US$52,198 per year
This corresponds to approximately:
US$4,349.83 per month
The published figure applies to the 2025–2026 fiscal year. Brown has not yet published the final base stipend that will apply to students beginning the 2027–2028 academic year, so applicants should expect the actual 2027 rate to be stated in their funding offer or updated Graduate School stipend table.
Because the stipend is reviewed periodically, applicants should avoid using the current US$52,198 figure as a guaranteed 2027 amount.
Funding Sources
Brown PhD funding may be provided through:
- Graduate School fellowship
- Teaching assistantship
- Research assistantship
- Departmental funding
- Faculty research grants
- Proctorships
- External fellowships
The source can change during the degree without changing the overall funding guarantee stated in the student’s admission and funding offer.
Doctoral students may also apply for research travel grants and other internal funding opportunities to support dissertation research, conferences, or specialised academic activities.
Brown Master of Public Affairs Scholarships
Brown University’s one-year Master of Public Affairs programme provides unusually strong scholarship opportunities compared with many other coursework master’s programmes at Brown.
The Watson School states that every admitted Brown MPA student receives some level of merit-based financial aid.
The scholarship portfolio includes:
- Full-tuition scholarships
- Half-tuition scholarships
- MPA Merit Scholarships
- Global Policy Scholarships
- Public Service Scholarships
- Watson Equity in Policy Scholars awards
- Additional targeted scholarships
The current scholarship page states that limited full-tuition scholarships cover 100% of Brown MPA tuition and are awarded based on academic and personal achievement, leadership potential, and demonstrated interest in public affairs or public policy.
Half-tuition scholarships cover 50% of programme tuition, while general MPA Merit Scholarships vary in value. Global Policy Scholarships provide partial tuition support to students demonstrating exceptional experience or leadership in global or international affairs, making them particularly relevant for international applicants.
Brown has not yet published the final number or value of each scholarship available for the 2027 intake, so applicants should use the new scholarship page when their admission cycle opens.
No separate general scholarship application is required. Brown’s MPA scholarship committee evaluates the information already contained in the admission application.
Eligibility Criteria for Brown University Scholarships
Eligibility depends on the degree and funding route.
Undergraduate Financial Aid Eligibility
International first-year students can apply for Brown’s need-based financial aid regardless of nationality.
Applicants must:
- Apply as first-year undergraduate students
- Submit a complete Brown admission application
- Indicate that they wish to apply for financial aid
- Submit the CSS Profile
- Provide parent financial information
- Submit tax returns or income statements when requested
- Provide English translations of financial documents where necessary
- Complete additional financial aid documents requested through the Brown Applicant Portal
- Meet the relevant financial aid deadline
Brown determines the size of the award according to demonstrated financial need rather than academic ranking alone.
Brown does not award undergraduate financial aid based on:
- Academic merit alone
- Athletic achievement
- A separate international merit scholarship examination
Applicants can therefore be academically exceptional but receive no scholarship if Brown determines that their family can meet the full cost of attendance.
Conversely, a highly qualified student from a family with limited financial means may receive an extremely large grant package.
First-Year Admission Requirements
Brown evaluates applicants holistically.
International first-year applicants should submit:
- Common Application
- Brown supplemental essays
- Official high-school transcript
- School Report
- Counselor recommendation
- Two teacher recommendations
- SAT or ACT
- English-language proficiency result where required
- Application fee or approved fee waiver
Brown’s application fee is currently US$80.
Brown has returned to requiring the SAT or ACT for first-year admission.
There is no minimum SAT or ACT score that automatically guarantees admission. Brown evaluates scores within the applicant’s educational, socioeconomic, school, and geographic context.
Applicants to special programmes such as the Program in Liberal Medical Education or Brown–RISD Dual Degree must complete additional essays and requirements.
Undergraduate English-Language Requirements
Brown recommends an English proficiency test for international applicants whose English-language background does not already demonstrate sufficient proficiency.
Accepted tests include:
- TOEFL
- IELTS
- Duolingo English Test
- Pearson Test of English
- Cambridge C1 Advanced
- Cambridge C2 Proficiency
Brown currently expects the following minimum scores in most cases:
- TOEFL iBT taken before January 2026: 105
- TOEFL under the revised scale from January 2026: 5.5
- IELTS: 8.0
- Duolingo English Test: 130
- Pearson Test of English: 75
- Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency: 191
Students enrolling in Fall 2027 who self-report an English test must provide an official score report by May 2027.
Applicants can review our guide to scholarships without IELTS, but Brown University makes the final decision on whether an applicant’s background requires a formal English test.
Brown University PhD Funding Eligibility
To receive Brown’s standard doctoral funding, applicants must first be admitted to an eligible Brown PhD programme.
Successful candidates typically demonstrate:
- Excellent undergraduate and/or postgraduate academic performance
- Strong preparation in the selected discipline
- Research ability or potential
- Clear alignment with Brown faculty and research resources
- Strong recommendation letters
- Appropriate academic or professional experience
- A convincing statement of research interests
- Required English-language proficiency
- Any programme-specific prerequisites
Brown’s individual academic programmes make admission decisions based on their own criteria, so there is no single university-wide minimum GPA guaranteeing PhD admission.
Applicants are automatically considered for the normal doctoral funding package when admitted. A separate central “Brown PhD Scholarship” application is generally not required.
Graduate English-Language Requirements
International applicants whose native language is not English generally need an accepted English-language test unless they meet Brown’s exemption requirements.
The Graduate School’s current thresholds are:
- TOEFL taken before January 21, 2026: Minimum 90
- TOEFL under the revised scale from January 21, 2026: Minimum 4.5
- IELTS: Recommended minimum overall band of 7.0
Individual graduate programmes may require higher scores.
Applicants can receive an exemption when they earned a degree from an institution where English was the primary language of instruction or from an eligible English-speaking country. Applicants from other countries may be asked to obtain a formal letter from their university confirming English as the primary language of instruction.
Brown Graduate School currently accepts the TOEFL Home Edition and IELTS Indicator but does not accept the Duolingo English Test for general Graduate School language proficiency.
Brown MPA Scholarship Eligibility
All admitted Brown MPA students are considered for merit funding.
Selection criteria vary according to the award but may include:
- Academic achievement
- Leadership potential
- Professional experience
- Commitment to public service
- Interest in public affairs or public policy
- International or global affairs experience
- Personal achievement
- Contribution to the diversity and strength of the MPA cohort
Full-tuition scholarships are highly competitive and are limited in number. Meeting the programme’s admission requirements does not guarantee a full scholarship.
The programme’s Global Policy Scholarships are especially relevant to students with significant experience, interest, or leadership in global and international affairs.
How to Apply for Brown University Scholarships?
The application process depends on the degree level.
How to Apply for Brown University Undergraduate Financial Aid?
(1) Review Brown’s first-year admission requirements and decide whether to apply through Early Decision or Regular Decision.
The confirmed Fall 2027 admission deadlines are:
- Early Decision: November 1, 2026
- Regular Decision: January 5, 2027
Early Decision is binding. Applicants should choose this route only if Brown is their clear first choice and they are prepared to enrol if admitted.
(2) Complete the Common Application and Brown supplemental questions.
Your application should include your academic history, activities, personal information, intended academic interests, and Brown-specific essays.
Brown’s Open Curriculum places significant value on intellectual curiosity and students who can explain how they intend to use the university’s academic flexibility. The application essays should therefore be specific to Brown rather than generic US university statements.
(3) Arrange for your school to submit the required academic documents.
Brown requires:
- Official secondary-school transcript
- School Report
- Counselor recommendation
- Two teacher recommendations
- Midyear grades when available
Applicants considering a Bachelor of Science or PLME are encouraged to include at least one recommendation from a mathematics or science teacher.
You can use our guide on requesting a strong scholarship recommendation letter when selecting and approaching recommenders.
(4) Submit the SAT or ACT.
Brown requires first-year applicants to provide SAT or ACT scores under its current admission policy.
The university superscores both examinations where applicable and does not impose a fixed minimum admission score.
(5) Submit English-language evidence where required.
International students may submit TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, Pearson, Cambridge English, or another accepted form of evidence according to Brown’s international admission rules.
(6) Indicate that you are applying for financial aid.
Do not wait until after admission to begin the financial aid process.
Brown meets 100% of demonstrated financial need only after it receives the financial information necessary to calculate the family contribution.
(7) Complete the CSS Profile.
Use Brown University’s CSS Profile code:
3189
International applicants should report family income, assets, property, business interests, household details, and other requested financial information accurately.
If the parents are separated or divorced, the non-custodial parent may also need to submit financial information unless Brown approves a waiver.
(8) Upload income and tax documents when requested.
International applicants may need to provide:
- Parents’ most recent national tax return
- Official income assessment
- Business tax documents for self-employed parents
- Non-filer statements where applicable
- Certified or clear English translations
Brown requires international financial documents to be translated into English.
(9) Submit everything by the financial aid deadline.
- Early Decision: November 2, 2026
- Regular Decision: February 1, 2027
If both the admission and aid applications are complete, Brown normally provides the financial aid decision with the admission decision.
How to Apply for Brown University PhD Funding?
(1) Review Brown’s doctoral programmes and select a programme closely matching your previous education and research interests.
Brown’s Fall 2027 PhD application deadlines vary by programme, generally falling between November 2026 and early January 2027.
(2) Research potential faculty supervisors.
Study:
- Faculty profiles
- Recent publications
- Research laboratories
- Centres and institutes
- Current grants
- Ongoing doctoral projects
Whether applicants should contact faculty before applying depends on the programme. In research-intensive disciplines, a concise email to an appropriately matched professor may help establish research fit.
Attach a focused academic CV highlighting:
- Degrees
- Thesis
- Research projects
- Publications
- Conferences
- Technical skills
- Awards
- Relevant professional experience
(3) Prepare a strong statement of purpose or research statement.
Explain:
- Your academic preparation
- Previous research
- The questions you want to investigate
- Why Brown is appropriate
- Faculty or laboratories relevant to your work
- Long-term research goals
Our guide on writing a statement of purpose for scholarship can help you organise the document, but follow the specific Brown programme prompt because some departments replace a standard personal statement with programme-specific questions.
(4) Arrange three recommendation letters.
Brown Graduate School normally requires three letters of recommendation.
At least two should generally come from faculty members at your current institution or the institution you most recently attended. Referees should be able to discuss your research ability, academic performance, independence, and suitability for advanced study.
(5) Submit the application through the Brown Graduate School application system.
The current PhD/MFA application fee is:
US$75
Applicants demonstrating financial need may request an application fee waiver under Brown’s eligibility rules.
(6) Upload all programme-specific documents.
These may include:
- Academic transcripts
- Personal statement
- Research statement
- Writing sample
- Academic CV
- Publications
- GRE where required
- English-language test result
- Portfolio or other programme-specific material
Applicants with international academic records must provide certified English translations when the original records are in another language.
(7) Submit the application by your programme’s exact Fall 2027 deadline.
For example, Engineering closes December 1, 2026, Computer Science closes December 15, 2026, and Economics closes January 1, 2027.
(8) No separate standard PhD funding application is normally required.
Applicants admitted to Brown doctoral programmes receive the relevant five- or six-year funding commitment as part of their admission and financial support offer.
How to Apply for Brown MPA Scholarships?
(1) Review the Brown Master of Public Affairs programme and ensure that its one-year intensive structure matches your academic and professional goals.
The programme runs from early summer through the following spring and is designed for students interested in policy analysis, government, nonprofit leadership, global affairs, and related careers.
(2) Complete the MPA admission application during the relevant application period.
Brown has not yet published a separate 2027 scholarship deadline. Scholarship consideration is tied directly to admission, so applicants should follow the MPA admission calendar when the new cycle is posted.
(3) Prepare the strongest possible admission application.
Scholarship selection considers evidence such as:
- Academic achievement
- Leadership
- Professional impact
- Public service
- Global affairs experience
- Commitment to public policy
- Personal accomplishments
Full-tuition scholarships are awarded through holistic review of these materials.
(4) No separate general MPA scholarship form is required.
All admitted MPA students are automatically considered for merit financial aid using the information contained in the admission application.
Documents Required for Brown University Scholarships
Undergraduate Admission Documents
International first-year applicants should prepare:
- Common Application
- Brown supplemental essays
- Official high-school transcript
- School Report
- Counselor recommendation
- Two teacher recommendations
- SAT or ACT scores
- English-language test result where required
- Early Decision Agreement for ED applicants
- Midyear academic report
- Programme-specific materials for PLME or Brown–RISD
- Additional academic or creative materials where relevant
The current undergraduate application fee is US$80, although eligible students may receive a fee waiver.
Undergraduate Financial Aid Documents
International students applying for aid should additionally prepare:
- CSS Profile
- Brown CSS code 3189
- Custodial parent financial information
- Non-custodial parent CSS Profile where applicable
- Parent tax return or income assessment
- Business tax returns where applicable
- Non-filer statements where required
- English translations of foreign-language financial documents
- Additional documents requested through Brown’s financial aid portal
International applicants do not need to complete the FAFSA unless they also qualify under a US federal-aid category. FAFSA is primarily intended for eligible US citizens and permanent residents.
PhD Application Documents
Brown PhD applicants should generally prepare:
- Graduate School online application
- Bachelor’s degree transcript
- Master’s degree transcript, where applicable
- Certified English translations
- Statement of purpose
- Research statement or programme-specific essays
- Academic CV
- Three recommendation letters
- TOEFL or IELTS where required
- GRE where required by the programme
- Writing sample where required
- Publications or research evidence
- Portfolio where applicable
- Additional programme-specific documents
The exact checklist differs by department, so applicants must follow their selected programme’s requirements.
Applicants can use the following ScholarshipRoar resources:
Website
For more information about Brown University Scholarships, please visit the official pages:
- Brown University Financial Aid for Applicants
- Brown Graduate School PhD Funding
- Brown Master of Public Affairs Scholarships
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Brown University Scholarships fully funded?
Brown undergraduate financial aid can effectively provide full funding for admitted international students with very high demonstrated financial need. Brown meets 100% of demonstrated need, but the amount depends on each family’s financial circumstances.
Brown PhD programmes are fully funded under the university’s standard five- or six-year doctoral support guarantee.
Master’s scholarships vary by programme and are not universally fully funded.
Is Brown University need-blind for international students?
Yes. Brown now evaluates first-year international applicants using a need-blind admission policy.
The amount of financial aid an applicant needs is therefore not used when deciding whether to admit that first-year student.
Does Brown meet 100% of international students’ financial need?
Yes. Brown meets 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted first-year students who complete the financial aid process.
The amount depends on Brown’s assessment of what the student and family can reasonably contribute.
Does Brown offer merit scholarships?
Brown does not offer general undergraduate merit or athletic scholarships.
Undergraduate institutional aid is based on demonstrated financial need.
Some graduate professional programmes, including the Master of Public Affairs, do offer merit-based scholarships.
Does Brown financial aid include loans?
Brown’s standard undergraduate aid packages do not contain packaged student loans.
Through the Brown Promise, loans have been replaced by scholarships and grants that do not need to be repaid.
Can international transfer students receive Brown financial aid?
International transfer applicants follow different rules from first-year applicants.
Brown remains need-aware for transfer admission, meaning financial need can be considered during the transfer admission process.
Is Brown University PhD fully funded?
Yes. Incoming doctoral students receive guaranteed support covering tuition remission, a living stipend, health-service fees, and health and dental insurance.
The normal guarantee is five years, increasing to six years for Humanities and Social Sciences doctoral students.
How much is the Brown University PhD stipend?
The latest base stipend currently published by Brown is US$52,198 per year, equivalent to approximately US$4,349.83 per month.
This is the published 2025–2026 figure. Brown has not yet posted the final 2027–2028 base stipend, so applicants should use the updated amount in their future funding offer.
Do I need a separate application for PhD funding?
Normally no.
Students admitted to Brown’s doctoral programmes receive the standard institutional funding package through the PhD admission process.
Can international students receive Brown master’s scholarships?
Yes, but master’s funding varies significantly by programme.
For example, every admitted Brown MPA student receives some level of merit aid, and the programme currently offers partial, half-tuition, and limited full-tuition scholarships.
Is SAT or ACT required for Brown University in 2027?
Yes. Brown requires first-year applicants to submit the SAT or ACT under its current admission policy.
There is no fixed minimum score required for admission.
Is IELTS compulsory for Brown University?
Not always.
Undergraduate students can demonstrate English proficiency through TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, Pearson, Cambridge English, or qualifying educational background.
Graduate applicants can be exempt from TOEFL or IELTS when they earned an eligible degree at an institution where English was the primary language of instruction.
What is the Brown University application fee?
The current application fees are:
- Undergraduate application: US$80
- PhD/MFA Graduate School application: US$75
Fee waivers are available to eligible applicants under Brown’s rules.
