Davis scholarships offer new source of aid to foreign students

Foreign students at the University will soon have access to another source of much-needed financial aid, according to Director of Communications Justin Harmon '78.

The Davis World College Scholars program — sponsored by Shelby Davis '58 and his family — will provide funds to foreign students attending Princeton who are graduates of any one of the United World Colleges, a group of 10 preparatory schools located in Asia, Europe and North America.

The scholarships — which will be available for the upcoming academic year — will help cover tuition and other expenses, Harmon said.

According to Director of Undergraduate Financial Aid Don Betterton, the scholarships will function like other University sources of aid in that they will be awarded based on family need. Betterton estimated that between three and five University students would receive a Davis Scholarship each year, based on current enrollment.

Harmon said the University was "absolutely" delighted to receive this new form of aid because most scholarships offered by the University only can be granted to U.S. citizens.

"There aren't as many sources of aid for foreign students as there are for U.S. students," Harmon said. "So we're always eager to identify new potential sources of aid for international students."

According to Harmon, sometimes foreign students — despite being accepted — are not able to attend the University because they cannot meet the costs.

"I don't think we have turned anyone down" because of inability to meet costs, Harmon said.

"No one likes to think of any student, whether from the U.S. or from overseas, who would need to make a decision about the right school based on financial circumstances," Harmon said.