Bridge4Students Merit Scholarship Application: 2026-2027 Academic Year

PART 1. YOUR ELIGIBILITY AND GENERAL INFO

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* 1. PLEASE READ BELOW BEFORE PROCEEDING

Bridge4Students.org is a non-profit organization that supports international students affected by war. Bridge4Students (B4S) is focused on refugee students or new international students from war-torn countries applying to or studying at US-accredited educational institutions full-time.

Bridge4Students.org provides limited Merit Scholarships to help qualified students experiencing financial hardships due to the war. B4S Merit Scholarship covers all or part of the student's outstanding educational expenses for the 2026-2027 academic year, such as Tuition, Room & Board.

Please read and ensure you meet these

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:
To qualify for the Bridge4Students (B4S) Merit Scholarship, applicant students must meet the eligibility requirements:

1) Be an international student and/or a refugee from a country currently at war or recently affected by conflict, and have evidence of the impact of the war on the applicant’s life.

2) Be enrolled, accepted, or have applied (with a pending decision) to an accredited U.S. educational institution for full-time, in-person study toward an associate, undergraduate, or graduate degree, with clear plans to complete the chosen program. Generally, online or part-time degrees are not eligible.

3) Have legal authorization to reside and study in the U.S. - e.g., J-1 or F-1 visa, asylum status, Temporary Protective Status (TPS), Humanitarian Parole, or be in the process of applying for status.

4) Show clear financial need to cover educational expenses for the upcoming semester or academic year, resulting from relocation due to conflict, displacement, or other hardship related to fleeing adverse conditions.

5) Show a consistent and proactive effort to identify and pursue financial support, including:
- Communicating with educational institutions to explore and secure financial aid opportunities
- Applying for grants, scholarships, and assistantship programs
- Securing on-campus or off-campus employment, including summer jobs
- Seeking and utilizing available financial support programs
- Actively seeking more affordable housing and food options to manage living expenses

7) Exhibit a proactive mindset, strong passion for their field of study, a commitment to make a positive impact on the world

8) Have had a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 or equivalent, and be able to provide verifiable academic records (e.g., transcripts, translated diplomas). Additional considerations will be given to those with a history of academic achievements and meaningful contributions to their community.

NOTES
· Please only apply if you meet ALL eligibility criteria. Applicants who do not meet eligibility criteria will be declined.
· The application closes by EOD June 15, 2026.
· Bridge4Students reserves the right to decline a scholarship and decide on the amount of scholarship to be awarded. The grant amounts will vary from $200 to $5,000.
· Bridge4Students pay the scholarship directly to the student’s educational institution.
· More information about eligibility and FAQs - see this document: https://tinyurl.com/bridge4studentsFAQs

APPLICATION AND CONSENT
Your participation in sharing information with Bridge4Students.org is voluntary. You may choose not to participate.

The application process is extensive and requires detailed information about your background, financial need, accomplishments, and personal motivations, including several essay responses. We encourage you to complete the application thoughtfully and thoroughly.

If you decide to participate, you may withdraw at any time. If you withdraw, your records will not be stored. Only completed applications will be considered.

We will keep your information confidential and will not share it with any third parties.

Agree - I meet all eligibility requirements and want to proceed

Disagree - I will withdraw now: I do not meet eligibility requirements and/or do not want to share information

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* 2. Please enter your (student's) name and contact information

Name (First and Last) *

Email Address *

Phone Number

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* 3. Your (student's) date of birth

(Minors will need a parent, guardian, or administrator to work with us - see next question)

Date

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* 4. If a student is a minor (below 18 years of age), please provide contact information for an adult supporting the student in the US. They MUST be informed that the student is filling out this form and verify financial information (not merit essays). Please add their information here along with relationship to student. (This may be a parent/relative residing in the US, guardian in the US, host parent in the US, or high school / college advisor, etc.).

Contact Name

Relationship to student

Email Address

Phone Number

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* 5. At what stage of the application process are you in? SPECIFY details.

I have APPLIED to U.S. educational institution(s) and still waiting to hear back

I have APPLIED to U.S. educational institution(s), got ACCEPTED and applied for FINANCIAL AID (waiting to hear back from the financial aid department)

I got ACCEPTED and was provided FINANCIAL AID from the educational institution, but it doesn't cover 100% of my expenses

I got ACCEPTED, but wasn't provided any FINANCIAL AID

I am ENROLLED into an educational institution, but need FINANCIAL AID to continue my education

Other ____ Please explain

SPECIFY your semester and year of study, the degree level and your desired major(s) in the education institution you will be enrolled in (or hoping to be enrolled in) in Fall 2026.
(For example: "In Fall 2026, I will be doing my 2nd semester / 1st year, Undergraduate degree, Major in Computer Science")

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* 6. Please provide information on the educational institution you are considering to be enrolled in and have been enrolled in, for WHICH you will be seeking financial assistance. Also provide information on their tuition costs and any financial assistance you secured.

Note: Only US-accredited schools and universities are eligible.

University Name

University Address

Total Annual Tuition Cost ($)

Total Annual Financial Aid provided to you by this university, please include both Merit and Need ($)

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* 7. Please provide information on any other U.S. institutions you got accepted to at the time of your application, but decided not to pursue. Please include the University Name, the Total Annual Tuition ($), and the Total Annual Financial Aid provided to you ($).

Please list universities with the most financial aid provided first.
Put N/A if you haven't applied anywhere else.

University 1 (Name, Total Annual Tuition, Total Annual Financial Aid provided to you):

University 2 (Name, Total Annual Tuition, Total Annual Financial Aid provided to you):

University 3 (Name, Total Annual Tuition, Total Annual Financial Aid provided to you):

Other Universities you got accepted to:

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* 8. If you answered "N/A" above and you are not enrolled in or have not applied to a school or a University, please provide additional information about your status as a student.

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* 9. Matriculation Date and Graduation Date

MATRICCULATION DATE - Please specify when you will be starting (if you are enrolled) / have started school .

Date

GRADUATION DATE - Please enter when you are planning to graduate from this school. If you are not yet enrolled please enter date when you plan to graduate if you get enrolled

Date

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* 10. Are you (the student) or anyone related to you on the US sanctions list?

Yes or not sure - it's complicated (please explain)

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* 11. Have you (current or prospective student) ever been convicted or accused of a crime that has resulted in legal proceedings in the US or in their home country?

Yes or not sure (it's complicated) - Please Explain:

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* 12. When did you (the student) arrive in / planning to arrive in the US?

Enter date

Describe the circumstances of arrival in the US (e.g. arrived with family and living in US OR planning to arrive for start of school). Please add as much detail to give us an understanding of your situation and eligibility as a refugee.

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* 13. What is or will be the student's current status in the US when attending educational institution?

TPS / applied to TPS

Other (please specify)

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* 14. Where is the remainder of the student's immediate family (parents, guardians) located?

Ukraine (home country)

Nearby countries (if they fled Ukraine)

Father in Ukraine, Mother has left the country

USA

Home country experiencing conflict (if home country is not Ukraine) (please specify)

Nearby countries (if they fled another country experiencing conflict, please specify)

Other (please specify)