School of Social Work to Participate in Columbia’s First-Ever Scholarship for Displaced Students
Update: Since this article was posted, Columbia School of Social Work has accepted three displaced students, the most of any Columbia graduate school.
On Wednesday, December 4, Columbia University launched a new scholarship program for internationally displaced students.
The Scholarship for Displaced Students is Columbia’s first-ever university-wide scholarship, and the world’s first university-wide scholarship for displaced students. Managed by the Columbia Global Centers, it will support up to 30 displaced students each year to attend Columbia. The scholarships are for foreign nationals who are refugees, asylum seekers, or in the US on Temporary Protected Status, and will be open to students from anywhere in the world.
All 18 of Columbia’s schools and affiliates will offer scholarships that will cover the students’ full cost of attendance—including full tuition, housing, and living assistance—with funding provided by individual schools and the Global Centers.
Melissa Begg, Dean of the School of Social Work, voiced her enthusiasm for the the new scholarship program.
“The Columbia School of Social Work is honored to participate in this initiative,” Begg said. “It is completely consistent with our social justice mission, and builds on a growing number of global efforts at the School. Having these students with us will enrich our learning environment and broaden the spectrum of international perspectives at CSSW.”
Within the School of Social Work, the scholarship is open to incoming MSW students.
“The School of Social Work is proud to participate in the Scholarship for Displaced Students,” said Michael Lovaglio, the School’s Associate Dean of Enrollment & Student Services. “This program will help our school further its mission of promoting human rights and social justice at the global level.”
According to the United Nations (UN), more than 70 million people around the world have been forced from their homes by violence, persecution, and other human rights violations. Almost 26 million of these individuals are classified as refugees by the UN. Only 3 percent of them will ever enroll in a college or university.
More details about the scholarship, including eligibility requirements, the application process, and the application itself, can be found at https://globalcenters.columbia.edu/cusds.
Related External Links:
- Columbia Starts Scholarship for Refugees, Displaced Students (12.5.19 Inside Higher Ed article)
- Columbia Will Give Full Scholarships to Refugees and Other Displaced Students (12.4.19 Washington Post article)
- First University-Wide Scholarship Program for Displaced Students (12.4.19 Columbia News article)
