University of the West scholarships for international students centre on the Lotus Scholarship: $6,000 a year for new international undergraduates and $7,000 a year for new MBA and MA Psychology students. It is renewable for the length of your programme if you keep your grades up, and it can pay tuition, fees, housing and other required costs. Unlike automatic awards at bigger universities, you must apply for it with a separate form and a 500-word essay about your finances, submitted with your admission application.
UWest’s 2026-2027 estimate for an undergraduate living on campus is $38,584 a year, so the Lotus award covers about a sixth of that. For fall 2027, apply for the scholarship by 1 April 2027, as awards are made while funds last; the admission priority deadline is 30 June 2027.
Key facts about the UWest Lotus Scholarship
- University: University of the West (UWest), a private university in Rosemead, near Los Angeles, California.
- Award: Lotus Scholarship.
- Value: $6,000 a year for international undergraduates; $7,000 a year for MBA and MA Psychology students (domestic or international).
- Who: new degree-seeking students starting full time.
- Minimum GPA to qualify: 3.0 (undergraduate), 3.25 (graduate).
- Application: required. UWest scholarship application form plus a 500-word essay on your financial circumstances, sent with your admission application.
- Deadline: apply by 1 April 2027; decisions are generally sent by 30 April.
- Duration: up to 4 years for first-year undergraduates, 2 to 3 years for transfers, 2 years for the MBA, and 2 or 3 years for MA Psychology.
- Fully funded? No.
UWest scholarships international students can apply for
| Scholarship | Value | Who | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lotus Scholarship | $6,000 a year (undergraduate, international only); $7,000 a year (MBA, MA Psychology) | New full-time students, GPA 3.0 (UG) or 3.25 (grad) | Apply by 1 April; reviewed while funds last |
| UWest Scholarship | Up to $1,000 a semester ($2,000 a year), credited to tuition and fees | Continuing degree students, at least half time, GPA 3.0 (UG) or 3.2 (grad), with leadership, service and integrity | 1 April |
| IBEF Scholarship | $3,500 to $4,500 a semester | Religious Studies and Buddhist Chaplaincy students, GPA 3.5 | 1 May (fall), 15 November (spring) |
| IBEF Monastic Fellowship | $2,000 to $3,000 a semester | Buddhist monastic students in Religious Studies or Buddhist Chaplaincy, GPA 3.0 | 1 May (fall), 15 November (spring) |
These awards cannot be stacked. The Lotus Scholarship cannot be combined with the Metta, Dream, President’s, Dean’s, Buddha’s Light, IBEF or UWest scholarships, and the UWest Scholarship likewise excludes the Lotus, IBEF, Buddha’s Light, President’s and Dean’s awards.
Awards that are not for international students
- Metta Scholarship ($6,000 a year): for domestic undergraduates only. International undergraduates apply for the Lotus instead.
- Dream Scholarship ($10,000 a year): for first-time undocumented students with exceptional need, not for students coming on an F-1 visa.
- AJ Wang Foundation Scholarship: for domestic high school seniors and domestic college transfers.
This is where many listings go wrong. Scholars4Dev and others describe UWest awards for international students as $6,000 to $10,000 a year. The $10,000 figure belongs to the Dream Scholarship. The Lotus, the main award for new international students, is $6,000 for undergraduates and $7,000 for eligible master’s students.
Is the University of the West scholarship fully funded?
No. The Lotus Scholarship is a partial award that goes toward your student account. It is generous relative to UWest’s tuition, but living costs in Los Angeles County make up most of the bill.
UWest cost of attendance 2026-2027
| Programme | Tuition per unit | Tuition per semester (full time) | Mandatory fees per semester | Annual cost, on campus | Annual cost, off campus |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate (12 units) | $623 | $7,476 | $652 | $38,584 | $49,920 |
| MBA (9 units) | $788 | $7,092 | $652 | $37,816 | $49,152 |
| MA Psychology (9 units) | $788 | $7,092 | $652 | $37,816 | $49,152 |
| Religious Studies, Buddhist Chaplaincy (9 units) | $759 | $6,831 | $652 | $37,294 | $48,630 |
| Doctor of Eastern Philosophy and Management | $3,300 | $29,700 | $500 | $82,728 | $94,064 |
Average on-campus housing is $3,674 a semester. UWest does not run a meal plan, and its international page estimates food at $7,560 a year for students living on campus (2024-2025 figure).
For your I-20, UWest’s international admissions page asks you to show about $26,000 for one academic year of tuition and living costs. That is well below the full cost estimate above, so I would plan with the cost of attendance, not the I-20 minimum.
What you pay after the Lotus Scholarship
| Programme | Annual cost (on campus) | Lotus award | Remaining |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | $38,584 | $6,000 | $32,584 |
| MBA or MA Psychology | $37,816 | $7,000 | $30,816 |
These are my subtractions from UWest’s published estimates.
Who is eligible for the Lotus Scholarship?
- You are a new student admitted to an undergraduate major (international students only at this level), the MBA or the MA in Psychology.
- Your GPA is at least 3.0 (undergraduate) or 3.25 (graduate).
- You meet UWest’s minimum English proficiency requirement for admission.
- You enrol full time: 12 units a semester for undergraduates, 9 for graduate students. Part-time students get a prorated amount.
- You submit the scholarship form and finance essay with your admission application.
Not eligible: other graduate programmes (they are pointed to the IBEF Scholarship), non-degree students, Intensive English Program students and certificate-only students.
UWest deadlines for fall 2027
| What | Date |
|---|---|
| Lotus Scholarship (encouraged date) | 1 April 2027 |
| Lotus decisions (generally sent by) | 30 April 2027 |
| IBEF Scholarship (fall) | 1 May 2027 |
| Admission priority deadline, fall (undergraduate and graduate) | 30 June 2027 |
| Admission priority deadline, spring 2027 | 30 October 2026 |
| MBA summer 2027 admission | 1 April 2027 |
Admission is rolling. If you start in spring, you can apply for the Lotus award for the following fall, and your spring grades are considered.
The scholarship form goes in with your admission application
UWest does not consider Lotus applications that arrive without an admission application. Submit both together, well before 1 April 2027, because awards stop when funds run out.
UWest admission requirements for international students
English proficiency
| Level | Full admission | Conditional admission (English Placement Test required) |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | TOEFL iBT 69 or IELTS Academic 5.5 | TOEFL iBT 59 to 68 or IELTS 5.0 |
| Graduate | TOEFL iBT 79 or IELTS Academic 6.0 | TOEFL iBT 69 to 78 or IELTS 5.5 |
There are section minimums too. For full undergraduate admission, TOEFL needs at least 16 in Reading and Listening, 16 in Speaking and 18 in Writing; IELTS needs 5.0 in Reading and Listening and 6.0 in Speaking and Writing. UWest also offers its own remote English Placement Test for $50.
Documents
Undergraduate applicants send:
- The online application and fee.
- Sealed official transcripts from every school attended, sent directly to the Enrollment Office.
- A high school diploma or equivalent.
- A passport (and US visa if you have one).
- English proficiency evidence.
- Financial documents: an official statement of finances, bank verification and a sponsor agreement if someone else pays (submitted after admission).
Graduate applicants also send a 500 to 600 word statement of purpose and three letters of recommendation sent directly by the referees. The MBA asks for a CV, and some programmes interview applicants. Transfer students already in the US add their current I-20, any OPT card and an F-1 Status Verification Form.
How to apply for the Lotus Scholarship: step by step
- Pick an eligible programme: any undergraduate major, the MBA or the MA Psychology.
- Check your GPA: 3.0 for undergraduates, 3.25 for graduate applicants.
- Complete the UWest admission application: and pay the fee.
- Download the UWest Financial Aid Application for Scholarships: complete and sign it.
- Write the 500-word essay: describe your financial circumstances, other scholarships you expect, what your family can contribute and anything that could change.
- Submit everything together: admission application plus scholarship form and essay, ideally months before 1 April 2027.
- Arrange English results and transcripts: transcripts must come sealed or directly from your school.
- Watch for the decision: usually by 30 April.
- Prepare financial documents: for the I-20 after admission.
Writing the Lotus finance essay
The essay is not a personal statement. UWest asks you to explain your financial situation in about 500 words. A clear structure:
- Your situation: who supports you and roughly what they earn or have saved, in US dollars.
- What is already arranged: family contribution, savings, any other scholarship you expect.
- The gap: how much of the cost you still need to cover.
- What could change: a parent’s retirement, exchange-rate swings, a sibling starting university.
- How you will contribute: your academic plan and how you plan to engage in student life or community service, which the award requires.
Be specific and consistent with your bank documents. A short example: “My mother, a secondary school teacher, earns the equivalent of $4,800 a year; with my uncle’s support we can cover $26,000 of my first-year costs, leaving a gap of about $12,500.”
How to keep the scholarship
- Keep a GPA of at least 3.25 (undergraduate) or 3.5 (graduate), both term and cumulative.
- Stay full time, with no Incomplete grades.
- Take part in student life or community service and follow the Student Conduct Code.
- Eligibility is reviewed in the first two weeks of spring. You can appeal a disqualification up to twice.
- Renewal is possible but not guaranteed; it depends on your performance and available funds.
Postponing your start to spring halves the award, and postponing for longer forfeits it. A leave of absence means no payment for that semester.
Costs the scholarship does not cover
- The rest of your tuition, fees and housing.
- Food (there is no meal plan).
- Health insurance, books and personal costs.
- Transport in Los Angeles County.
- Visa, SEVIS and application fees.
Common mistakes
- Sending the scholarship form on its own. UWest does not consider Lotus applications that arrive without an admission application.
- Writing a personal statement instead of a finance essay.
- Applying in June, when Lotus funds may already be used up.
- Showing only the $26,000 I-20 minimum and running short during the year.
- Deferring to spring and losing half the award.
How UWest compares with similar US awards
| Scholarship | Value | Application | Our guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| UWest Lotus Scholarship | $6,000 to $7,000 a year | Form and finance essay | This page |
| University of Houston scholarships | Merit awards, priority date 2 November 2026 | With admission | University of Houston scholarships |
| Tulane merit scholarships | Up to $32,000 a year | With admission | Tulane University scholarships |
| Dartmouth King Scholars | Full aid for low-income international students | Need-based | Dartmouth King Scholars Program |
Our list of the best American scholarships for international students covers fully funded options, and scholarships for college students lists awards you can add after you enrol.
Who should apply, and who should not
UWest suits students who want a small private university in Southern California, with a GPA of 3.0 or more and family support of around $30,000 a year. Business, psychology and religious studies students have the most scholarship options.
If you need full funding, the Lotus award will not be enough on its own. Pair UWest with applications to full-need universities and government scholarships.
FAQ
How much is the University of the West scholarship for international students?
The Lotus Scholarship pays $6,000 a year to new international undergraduates and $7,000 a year to new MBA and MA Psychology students. It renews if you keep the required GPA and funds allow.
Is the UWest Lotus Scholarship automatic?
No. You submit a signed scholarship application form and a 500-word essay on your finances together with your admission application.
What is the University of the West scholarship deadline for 2027?
Apply for the Lotus Scholarship by 1 April 2027; UWest reviews applications while funds last and usually sends decisions by 30 April. The fall 2027 admission priority deadline is 30 June 2027.
What IELTS score does University of the West require?
Undergraduates need IELTS 5.5 (or TOEFL 69) for full admission, and graduate students need IELTS 6.0 (or TOEFL 79). Lower scores can lead to conditional admission with an English Placement Test.
Sources and updates
Lotus Scholarship terms come from UWest’s 2026 Lotus Scholarship policy; the UWest Scholarship terms from its 2026 UWest Scholarship policy; other awards and deadlines from UWest’s admissions scholarships page. Costs come from UWest’s cost of attendance page (2026-27); the food estimate from its international students financial page (2024-25). Admission deadlines, English scores, documents and the $26,000 proof-of-funds figure come from UWest’s international students admission page. Checked on 25 October 2026.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
