United Education
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Funding US study — scholarships & assistantships for Nepalese students
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Who this is for
Nepalese students figuring out how to pay for US undergraduate or graduate study.
Where the money actually comes from
- University merit scholarships — many schools offer merit-based awards to strong international applicants; apply early and submit your best application.
- Graduate assistantships (TA / RA) — the main funded path for grad school: you work as a teaching or research assistant and often get a tuition waiver + a living stipend. Contact departments + faculty directly about these.
- External / private scholarships — some are open to international students (subject- or country-specific). Search reputable databases; apply broadly.
- On-campus work — F-1 students can usually work on campus within the rules (limited hours) — see the F-1 work-rules / OPT guide and your DSO.
- Note: federal aid (FAFSA/Pell) is not for international students — don't waste time there.
Steps
- Research each school's international funding — scholarships + (grad) assistantships — before you apply; it varies a lot by school.
- Apply early + strong — essays, recommendations, and (where required) test scores drive merit awards.
- For grad school, email departments/faculty directly about TA/RA openings — that's how many funded spots are found.
- Search reputable external scholarships and apply to several.
- Plan on-campus work within F-1 rules once enrolled.
Watch out
- No legitimate scholarship charges a fee to apply or "guarantees" a win — that's a scam (a recurring problem for Nepalese students). Never pay an "agent" for a scholarship.
- Funding is competitive — apply to a range of schools/programs, not just one, and have a backup plan for costs.
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Education Applying to US universities from Nepal (F-1) The path from Nepal is: apply to a school → get admitted → the school issues your I-20 → you pay the SEVIS fee → you apply for the F-1 student visa at the US Embassy in Kathmandu. Start early — a year or more ahead — and use EducationUSA Nepal (free, official advising). 
Education Starting at a community college, then transferring (saving on tuition) Starting at a community college (much cheaper) and then transferring to a 4-year university for your bachelor's is a legit, common way to save money — if you plan which credits transfer before you take them, and (for F-1 students) maintain status + move your SEVIS record correctly. 
Education Bringing family on F-2 (what dependents can & can’t do) An F-1 student can bring a spouse and children on F-2 visas — but F-2 has firm limits: the F-2 spouse generally CANNOT work and cannot do full-time degree study (only part-time/recreational); F-2 children CAN attend K-12 school. For a spouse who wants to work or study full-time, they'd need their own status (e.g. their own F-1). 