Fee waivers for Study Abroad Exams - How to Apply

Fee Waivers for Study Abroad Exams - Popular study abroad exams have fee waivers, through which students can cut the costs of the application fee. It is sure that students are applying to various colleges and exams while considering education abroad. So obtaining an application fee waiver allows candidates to utilise their personal funds for more opportunities or other applications.

Fee waivers for study abroad exams are not just limited to these popular IELTS or GRE but there are available for many other entrance exams and admission applications also. The eligibility of every application fee waiver can vary. Read the article to know all the available abroad exam application fee waivers and how to apply for them.

What is a Fee Waiver For an Abroad Exam?

Here, a waiver of the exam fee refers to reducing the amount payable for the application form of the particular exam. While applying for study abroad, the candidate gets involved in attempting more entrance or qualifying exams. This can result in a financial drain for many individuals. So, to support low-income level candidates many colleges, schools, NGOs and exam-conducting authorities support them by providing application fee waivers or vouchers, etc.

Fee Waivers for Study Abroad Exams

For Indians or other international students, most of these study abroad application fee waivers are not directly available on the exam registration website. Students need to approach the school or college they are currently studying at to avail of these fee waivers for study abroad exams beforehand.

Students can also obtain these fee waivers from the universities to which they are applying or willing to enrol. Here is the eligibility and detailed process to apply for fee waivers for study abroad exams.

Eligibility for Fee Waivers

Most universities accept application fee waiver requests based on conditions like a low-income family background or being an orphan, etc. This eligibility can vary for each college. Candidates need to submit appropriate documentary proofs to support their eligibility.

How to Get a Fee Waiver as an Indian Student?

Here is the process to be followed for obtaining application fee waivers for study abroad exams.

• Write down the list of abroad colleges where the candidate is interested in studying.

• Check the official university website for the availability of fee waivers.

Tip 1- Candidates can simply search on Google with “(college namexx, exam namexx, fee waiver)”.

Tip 2 - Candidates can directly contact the university admission department regarding exam fee waivers.

• Filter the universities and follow the fee waiver request process mentioned on the university website.

• Some of the possible methods followed by universities for application fee waiver requests are as follows.

Fee Waiver Form - Fill out the online fee waiver form provided by the university and submit it.

Common App Application - The Common App is an interface for submitting admission applications to universities. While submitting the university application in the Common Application, answer the application fee waiver-related questions in the profile section. Also, select the “economic need” option in the application form.

University application - Some universities directly select candidates based on the financial assistance requested in the admission application itself. So candidates have to provide the necessary information while filling out university applications.

• If the university does not provide any information regarding fee waivers on its website, candidates can drop a mail to the university admission committee or program coordinator, requesting application fee waivers for the abroad exams. Make sure to mention the reason behind the request or explain the financial background in the mail.

The process to seek these fee waivers for study abroad exams varies for each university. If a college demands a particular exam score for admission purposes, then there are more chances to get application fee waivers for that respective exam.

How to Reduce SAT Exam Fees?

To be eligible to get SAT fee waivers, the applicant must be a low-income student from the USA or US territories or a US citizen. However Indian students can reduce their SAT exam fee through the College Board Indian Scholars Programs 2024. Through this program, candidates can avail of either a 50% or 90% SAT fee reduction.

Here is the eligibility for the Scholars program of the SAT.

• Citizen of India

• Studying in 11 or 12th class

• Family income is less than 15 lakhs.

Candidates can apply for this SAT exam fee reduction through the Buddy for Study website at https://www.buddy4study.com/collegeboard. The application deadline for this program in 2023-24 is February 19, 2024.

Fee Waivers for Study Abroad Exams - International students

Here are some of the application fee waivers for study abroad exams available for international students. The following application fee waivers can be applied directly from the official exam conducting authority’s website.

TOEFL Fee Waiver

The ETS which conducts the TOEFL exam provides a fee reduction service. However, this applies only to USA applicants. There is no reduction in TOEFL fee waiver for Indian students.

GRE Fee Reduction

The ETS which conducts the GRE exam offers a 50% discount on the GRE test fee. This GRE fee reduction voucher applies only to U.S. citizens who are either college seniors or unenrolled college graduates. There is no GRE fee reduction for Indian students.

ACT fee waivers

Students from 11th and 12th classes who are testing in US, US territories, Puerto Rico, etc., are only eligible for ACT test fee waiver given by ACT.

How to get fee waivers for college applications?

If the students are not able to get fee waivers for study abroad exams, they can check other alternate options to save their money on university application fees. Most of the universities abroad provide application fee waivers to admission applications. Candidates can check these details on the university website.

Know the available scholarships:

• Scholarships in USA

• Scholarships in Canada