Emory University Fully-funded Scholarships 2027 Open Worldwide

Emory University will consider outstanding students from every country for partial-to-full merit scholarships through its Scholar Programs for Fall 2027 undergraduate admission in the United States.

The opportunity is open to first-year applicants seeking admission to Emory College of Arts and Sciences or Oxford College. No separate scholarship application, school nomination or additional scholarship essay is required. Applicants must complete their Emory admission application by the scholarship deadline and answer “Yes” when asked whether they wish to be considered for the Emory University Scholar Programs.

Emory University Scholar Programs 2027 at a Glance

What Are the Emory University Scholar Programs?

The Emory University Scholar Programs are highly selective undergraduate awards for students who combine exceptional academic ability with leadership, intellectual curiosity and a record of meaningful contribution.

These are not simply tuition discounts awarded according to grades. Selected students join structured scholar communities and receive access to academic, leadership and mentoring opportunities intended to help them contribute to Emory, Atlanta and the wider world.

Depending on the award and campus, benefits may include:

• Partial or full merit-based scholarship funding
• Early course registration
• Faculty mentorship
• Scholar-only academic and leadership programming
• Access to a close-knit community of high-achieving students
• Networking and professional-development opportunities
• Continued support throughout undergraduate study

Scholarships may be renewed for up to eight regular academic-year semesters, provided recipients maintain the academic, personal and programme standards stated in their award conditions.

Which Emory Scholar Routes Are Available for 2027 Entry?

1# Emory College Woodruff Scholars

Emory College Woodruff Scholars begin their studies at Emory College of Arts and Sciences on the university’s Atlanta campus.

This route is best suited to students who want immediate access to a major research-university environment, broad academic choices and opportunities connected to Atlanta’s hospitals, organisations, businesses and cultural institutions.

Woodruff Scholars may receive merit funding, early course registration, exclusive programming and membership in an established scholar community.

2# Oxford College Woodruff Scholars

Oxford College offers a smaller residential learning environment where students complete the first two years of their Emory undergraduate education.

After finishing the Oxford College curriculum, students continue to Emory’s Atlanta campus for their junior and senior years.

Oxford may appeal to applicants who prefer:

• Smaller introductory classes
• Early faculty mentorship
• A close residential community
• More accessible leadership roles during the first two years
• A planned transition to the larger Atlanta campus

Applicants may apply to Emory College, Oxford College or both through the Common Application.

Is the Emory Scholarship Fully Funded?

Some awards can provide full merit funding, but not every selected student receives a complete full-cost scholarship.

Emory describes the Scholar Programs as offering partial-to-full merit-based scholarships. Applicants should therefore distinguish between three different funding outcomes:

International applicants should not assume that “full scholarship” automatically includes airfare, visa fees, health insurance, accommodation and personal expenses. The final scholarship letter determines the exact financial package.

Students requiring additional support may also apply separately for need-based financial aid. Merit awards are applied first, after which eligible applicants may receive further assistance toward any remaining demonstrated financial need.

Who Can Apply?

All first-year applicants may request consideration regardless of citizenship. A competitive applicant will normally demonstrate:

• Outstanding grades in a demanding secondary-school curriculum
• Strong written communication
• Intellectual engagement beyond classroom requirements
• Sustained leadership or initiative
• Meaningful service, research, employment or community involvement
• Clear evidence of personal responsibility and impact
• Strong recommendations containing specific examples
• A convincing reason for choosing Emory

There is no separate nationality quota stated for Scholar consideration. International students compete within an exceptionally strong global applicant pool.

What GPA Is Required for Emory Scholars Program?

Emory does not publish a minimum GPA specifically for Scholar Program selection.

That does not make academic performance optional. Scholar finalists are likely to be among the strongest applicants in Emory’s admission pool. A student should ideally present grades close to the highest level available within their school system and show that they selected challenging subjects whenever possible.

There is no universal conversion that makes one GPA automatically competitive across all countries. Emory evaluates applicants in the context of their school, curriculum, grading system and available academic opportunities.

A high GPA alone will not secure the scholarship. Thousands of applicants may have excellent grades. The application must also show what the student has done with their ability.

How Competitive Is the Selection Process?

Approximately 10,000 students seek Scholar consideration each year, but only around 175 to 200 are selected as finalists. This means roughly two percent of applicants may reach the finalist stage. The strongest application does not read like a catalogue of activities. It demonstrates a pattern:

1. The applicant identified a problem, opportunity or responsibility.
2. They took meaningful action.
3. Their contribution affected other people or produced a measurable result.
4. The experience shaped what they hope to do next.

A student who has led one sustained initiative with genuine results may be more convincing than someone listing numerous clubs without explaining their contribution.

Are SAT or ACT Scores Required for Emory University Scholarship?

Applicants should verify Emory’s testing policy for the Fall 2027 admission cycle before submitting.

Test-optional policies can change from one admission year to another. Students should not assume that a policy announced for an earlier intake will automatically remain in effect for 2027. Where test scores are optional, a strong result may still strengthen the academic profile of an international student, particularly when the school curriculum or grading system may be unfamiliar to a US admission committee.

However, weak scores should not be submitted merely because the applicant believes Scholar candidates must provide them.

Is IELTS Required for International Applicants at Emory University Admissions?

Emory Scholar consideration does not carry a separate IELTS rule, but international students must satisfy Emory’s undergraduate English-language requirements. Depending on the applicant’s educational background, accepted evidence may include:

Students educated entirely in English for the required number of years may be exempt, but attending an “English-medium” school does not guarantee an automatic waiver. Applicants should check Emory’s current exemption rules before deciding not to submit a language test.

How to Apply for Emory Scholar Consideration?

Apply to Emory University through the Common Application and select Emory College, Oxford College or both.

During the application, answer “Yes” to the question asking whether you wish to be considered for the Emory University Scholar Programs.

Submit the full admission application and all required supporting materials by the applicable scholarship deadline. No counsellor nomination, separate form or additional scholarship essay is required.

Applicants who are not selected as Scholar finalists remain under consideration for admission. They may also be considered automatically for smaller merit scholarships.

Should You Apply Early Decision or Regular Decision?

Students who can attend Emory only with substantial funding should approach Early Decision carefully. Early Decision is binding. A student admitted through that route is generally expected to enrol, while the exact merit-scholarship outcome may not be known when the binding decision is made.

Regular Decision may be the safer option for international applicants who need to:

• Compare scholarship packages from several universities
• Wait for need-based aid decisions
• Avoid making a binding commitment before understanding the full cost
• Consider visa, travel and family financial arrangements

Early Decision may suit students for whom Emory is unquestionably the first choice and whose families can accept the likely financial outcome.

What Happens After Submission?

Admission and faculty committees review Scholar applications from approximately October through January. Scholar finalists are expected to be selected and notified by the end of February. Finalist activities and scholarship decisions are scheduled for late March.

Applicants located within the United States may be required to attend an on-campus finalist visit, with travel arranged at no expense to the student. International finalists should follow the instructions in their notification regarding interviews, virtual participation or travel arrangements.

Should You Apply?

Apply if you are a high-achieving undergraduate applicant with strong academic preparation, sustained leadership and evidence that your work has benefited others.

Do not skip the opportunity merely because you cannot submit an extra scholarship essay. Your existing admission application is the scholarship application, so the personal statement, Emory short answers, recommendations and activity descriptions must collectively explain why you stand out.

The last date to apply for the Emory University Scholar Programs for Fall 2027 entry is November 15, 2026. Early Decision I applicants must submit their applications by November 1, 2026.