Financing Your Education

MTSU estimates that an international student attending MTSU must be able to show that he/she has a minimum of 22,000 US dollars per year to cover tuition fees and living expenses. When you submit your financial statement, please remember to ask your bank to convert your currency to that of US dollars.

Although MTSU does not grant outright scholarships to international students, numerous assistantships are available for all students. International students do well in competing for the graduate teaching assistantships, and several of them hold these positions in different departments. Generally speaking, because departments have to attest to the student's English proficiency, it is not common for foreign students to be granted assistantship before their arrival in the US. Students would do well to apply for the second semester after they have enrolled in the university.

Graduate Assistants are paid a monthly stipend and also are allowed a tuition waiver; that is to say, they don't pay for their tuition. Therefore, if a foreign student is granted an assistantship, this financial arrangement should enable the student to meet all his educational and living expenses. Please be advised that you are not automatically guaranteed assistantship at the time you apply to MTSU; it is competitive; therefore, your chance is 50/50.

Employment on campus may be possible on a part-time basis but not guaranteed. The International Office does not have placement service, but there is another office that does that. If you can locate a job on campus, you are allowed to work full-time for the summer. Please remember that this is only a supplement and not a means to finance your education in the US. Since there is no guarantee that you will be employed, make sure that you are adequately prepared financially before your arrival here.

Opening a Checking Account
When you go to a bank, be sure to take your passport as a picture ID and take your MTSU student identification card with your picture on it. You will need to provide proof of your local Murfreesboro or surrounding city address to open your checking account.

Taxes!
If you have a scholarship of any kind, you will be taxed on it. See Denise Hollowell in Accounting Services, Cope 108, for more information. If you work on campus, you will have taxes withheld. We will have a tax workshop in the spring semester. Please watch your MTSU e-mail account for details as to when and where the workshop will be. Everyone who works or has a scholarship with taxes withheld must file income tax by April 15 of each year.