These scholarships support high-potential, in-need students who have crossed borders and boundaries to pursue their education.
The Western Union Foundation (the Foundation) is investing more than $500,000 in scholarships this academic year for high-potential students who are struggling to financially afford their higher education.
For the 2023-24 school year, the Foundation has awarded 70 scholarships to students studying at 31 universities spanning 10 countries around the world. These high-achieving students hail from more than 30 different countries of origin and moved to make their higher education dreams a reality.
The Western Union Foundation’s scholarships are administered across two different programs:
- Western Union Foundation Global Scholars Program, in partnership with the International Institute of Education. This is the Foundation’s signature scholarship program that supports international students from low-income communities who are pursuing their education in some of the world’s top academic destinations, including Australia, Canada, Europe, New Zealand, Japan, the United States and the United Kingdom.
- Immigrant Scholarship Program, in partnership with Metropolitan State University of Denver. This program supports immigrant students as they move from their home countries and learn how to adapt and thrive in their new community.
The Western Union Foundation recognizes that many international students must juggle a variety of demands while pursuing their education. They typically work multiple jobs in addition to their study program and often live abroad, separate from their families and without a local support system. The Foundation’s scholarships help give these students the resources they need to remain in school and graduate.
This year’s cohort of Western Union Foundation scholars represent a diverse range of majors, with many studying in the STEM and business fields. Below are just a few of this year’s standout scholarship recipients:
Muaaz, Engineering Major studying in Canada. Muaaz is intent on seeking every resource available to make ends meet – including working multiple jobs to afford tuition and necessities. He is also financially supporting his mom and siblings who are living in his home country of India. “Not receiving this scholarship would simply mean that I wouldn’t be able to complete my graduation and would have to return to India,” Muaaz shared. “This scholarship has not only lightened the financial burden of my education but has also given my mother a renewed sense of hope and happiness.”
Gabriela, Construction Management Major studying in the United States. Gabriela is originally from Bolivia and moved to the U.S. five years ago to start a new life. She has always valued the importance of education and is determined to achieve her academic dreams, despite financial obstacles that have limited the number of classes she can take each semester. “I am so grateful that the Western Union Foundation gave me this opportunity… now I can afford to take all the classes that I need,” said Gabriela.
Mohammad, Cybersecurity Major studying in the United States. Mohammad was not originally planning to become an international student, but his life changed overnight when the Taliban took control of Kabul in 2021. After arriving in the United States in urgent circumstances, Mohammad faced language barriers and financial constraints on his path to higher education. “When I came to the United States, I was looking for how to pay for college or how to even participate in college here. I couldn’t speak English,” said Mohammad. “Knowing that there is an organization like Western Union Foundation out there, that they’re trying to help immigrant students is both comforting and hopeful.”
The Western Union Foundation recognizes that far too many high-potential, underserved youth worldwide lack access to quality higher education, which is why investing in scholarships for international students who are struggling to afford college is a signature program within Prosperity Beyond Borders, the Foundation’s current social impact commitment to drive $500 million in wage gains for those who lack access to economic mobility.
Click here to learn more about Prosperity Beyond Borders.
