20 Universities with No Application Fees + How to Get a Waiver

Each year, thousands of students apply for admission to local and international universities. During the application cycle, most international institutions, as well as local ones, charge an application fee as part of their initial requirements. For international students, these fees typically range between $50 and $200, depending on the country and level of study.

Some international universities use an Admission Application Fee Waiver as a strategic tool to attract highly qualified global applicants. However, many institutions do not offer an automatic waiver, which can unfortunately discourage or disqualify talented students who face financial constraints.

Fortunately, many universities consider fee waiver requests on a case-by-case basis. One effective way to secure a waiver—even if the university does not explicitly offer one—is to write a formal request to the admissions office via the official email provided on their portal.

Below is a template for an Admission Application Fee Waiver request. You can adapt, edit, and send this as an email to request support for your application. Carefully read through the draft and customize it to suit your specific circumstances.

APPLICATION FEE WAIVER REQUEST/MAIL

Below are two sample application waiver request emails to guide you if the university does not have an outright application waiver policy.

APPLICATION FEE WAIVER REQUEST/MAIL

Subject: Request for Application Fee WaiverDear [Admissions Committee/ Fee Waiver Committee]

I am writing to respectfully request a waiver of the application fee for [Program/UniversityName]. As a [Your current degree level, e.g., undergraduate, graduate] student with a strongpassion for [Field of study], I am excited about the opportunity to apply to this prestigiousprogram.However, due to [State your reason for requesting a fee waiver, e.g., financial hardship,low-income background], I am facing significant financial constraints that make it challenging forme to pay the application fee. I believe that my academic achievements, research experience,and commitment to [Field of study] make me an excellent candidate for this program.I would greatly appreciate it if you could consider my request for an application fee waiver. Ihave attached [Required documents, e.g., proof of income, letter from employer or academicadvisor] to support my request.Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to the opportunity to contribute to andlearn from the [Program/University Name] community.Sincerely,[Your Name]

Sample letter 2

Subject of the email should be : Request for application fee waiver.”

Dear xxxxxxxxxxxxx

I am (your name) , a First-Class graduate of mechanical engineering with a CGPA of xxxx from the University of xxxx.. As a result, I emerged as the top one percent of my faculty. Moreover, I took the GRE and had xxx and I had xxx on my TOEFL test.  

Having checked through the requirements of this prestigious institution, the University of xxxxxx, and the research carried out in the mechanical engineering department is perfectly aligned with my career and research interests. Therefore, the only limitation I have to submitting my application is the application fee.

It is worthy of mention that the application fee by the institution is justifiable, and I would have loved to pay for it, save for my current financial situation. But with the current economic situation in (Country), due to the impact of the pandemic and particularly with the exchange rate of the dollar to my home country’s currency, it is almost impossible for an individual who can barely feed comfortably in a day to cope with the payment of the application fee.

The University of xxxxxxxxx is my school of choice, as the school’s curriculum resonates with my career aspirations as a right activist. It will be a step in the right direction to submit my application to this school for a possible offer of admission. I will be glad to have the application fee waived to make my plan/dream a reality.

20 international universities across the US, Europe, and Canada that offer application fee waivers

Here are 20 international universities across the US, Europe, and Canada that offer application fee waivers for international students for the 2026/2027 cycle.

Always Free (No Fee Required)

These universities generally do not charge an application fee to any international applicant.

Need-Based or Criteria-Based Waivers

These schools charge a fee but offer waivers for students demonstrating financial hardship or those from specific regions.

• The Common App: Most US universities allow you to check a box stating that an application fee would be a financial burden. Your school counselor may need to sign off on this.
• Webinar Codes: Many mid-tier US schools (like NYU Tandon or Illinois Tech) give out “Waiver Codes” during their live Zoom information sessions.
• Emailing the Department: For PhD and Research Master’s programs, emailing a potential supervisor and expressing serious interest can sometimes result in the department covering your fee.

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Finding universities that waive application fees can significantly reduce the “hidden costs” of applying for a degree abroad. These opportunities typically fall into two categories: always free (no fee required by anyone) or need-based/criteria-based waivers (fee exists but is removed if you meet certain conditions).