Scholarships & Awards
Laurette Kirstein Scholarship for International Students
The Office of International Services is honored to administer the Laurette Kirstein Scholarship Program for UIC International Students. The scholarship is funded by the estate of Professor Kirstein who founded the Office of International Services in 1961 and served as its Director until 1993. Currently enrolled international students are invited to apply each spring for an award in the form of a student account credit for tuition, books, and living expenses.
The deadline to apply for the 2025 Laurette Kirstein Scholarship was Friday, Feb. 21.
How to apply
The UIC Office of International Services is pleased to offer the 2025 Laurette Kirstein Scholarship for International Students.
This year, seven awards of $5,000 each (pretax)* in the form of student account credit for tuition, books, and living expenses will be awarded to UIC students who display academic excellence and meet the following eligibility requirements:
- An international student** currently enrolled full-time at UIC pursuing an undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree.
- A minimum UIC cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
- Must have completed at least one semester of coursework at UIC at the time of application.
*Non-qualified scholarship payments (i.e., living or travel expenses) made to nonresident aliens for tax purposes (NR) are subject to withholding and IRS reporting.
**The term “international student” encompasses any student enrolled at UIC who is neither a U.S. citizen nor a permanent resident, who holds a valid non-immigrant status, and who is maintaining status. This includes individuals on U.S. student visas and their dependents who are eligible to enroll full-time in an academic program.
How to apply:
- Complete the online 2025 Laurette Kirstein Scholarship Application.
The application form will collect information about you and your academic progress. You will also enter an 800-word personal statement and financial description in the online form. - Request and submit two (2) letters of recommendation using the scholarship recommendation form.
Letters from UIC faculty and staff members are preferred. All letters should address your scholastic and professional abilities and should not come from family or friends. Letters of recommendation must be printed on academic department letterhead. Letters can be emailed directly to oisscholarships@uic.edu or handed in by the applicant to the Office of International Services.
Completed applications were due by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. The application is now closed. Winners will be announced in late March.
Questions about the Laurette Kirstein Scholarship can be sent to oisscholarships@uic.edu.
2025 Laurette Kirstein Scholarship winners
The Office of International Services is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 Laurette Kirstein Scholarship for International Students!
Seven individuals were selected from a competitive pool of applicants to receive $5,000 (pre-tax) in the form of a student account credit for tuition, books, and living expenses. The winners represent a diverse range of countries and fields of study from across campus but each demonstrated academic excellence and a determination to achieve their goals. Please join us in congratulating them, and thank you to all who applied!
Winners
| Victoria Boni | College of Engineering |
| Zaid George | College of Liberal Arts & Sciences |
| Haedodam Kim | College of Urban Planning & Public Affairs |
| Christabel N. Koomson | College of Medicine |
| Deepesh Mehta | College of Business Administration |
| Nimra Patoli | College of Business Administration |
| Andrea Pinto | College of Medicine |
About the scholarship
History
Professor Kirstein began her career with the University of Illinois in 1946 teaching English at Navy Pier. She went on to found the Office of International Services in 1961 and served as its director until her retirement in 1993. She was known for her tireless dedication to helping international students, faculty and staff with their transitions to both a new country and a new university. The Laurette Kirstein Foreign Student Fund, created through a generous gift from Professor Kirstein’s estate, continues her legacy by providing scholarship support for international students.
Eligibility
The Laurette Kirstein Scholarship recognizes students who display academic excellence and meet the following requirements:
- An international student* currently enrolled full-time at UIC pursuing either an undergraduate, graduate, or professional degree.
- A minimum UIC cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.
- Must have completed at least one semester of coursework at UIC at the time of application.
*The term “international student” encompasses any student enrolled at UIC who is neither a U.S. citizen nor a permanent resident, who holds a valid non-immigrant visa status and is maintaining their status. In addition to those individuals who entered the U.S. on student visas, this population includes students in dependent status who are eligible to enroll full-time in an academic program.
Application Process
The Office of International Services typically awards the scholarship once a year during the spring semester. Around February, the OIS website is updated and an email is sent to the UIC international community announcing the availability of updated application details, including materials, process, and deadlines. Outside the application window, students may send questions about the scholarship to oisscholarships@uic.edu.
Chicago Consular Corps Professional Development Award
UIC maintains a strong relationship with the international consulate community in Chicago. One reflection of that connection is the Chicago Consular Corps Professional Development Award. The CCC Professional Development Award honors the Corps’ commitment to education and cultural exchanges that foster international understanding and support the academic and professional development of our international students.
The deadline to apply for the 2025 Chicago Consular Corps Professional Development Award was Friday, Feb. 28.
2025 CCC Award
UIC international students (those at UIC on an international student visa) enrolled full-time in a degree-seeking undergraduate, graduate, or professional program of any discipline are invited to apply for the 2025 Chicago Consular Corps Professional Development Award. Up to ten successful applicants will each receive awards of $1,000. Award recipients will be recognized at the Office of Global Engagement International Student Awards ceremony on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
The deadline to apply is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28.
Questions about the CCC Scholarship can be directed to the Office of Global Engagement at oge@uic.edu.
International Student Ambassador Service Award
The International Advisory Council and Office of Global Engagement (OGE) are pleased to call for
nominations for the International Student Ambassador Service Award (ISASA), which recognizes the service of international students, particularly those who contribute to UIC’s international cross-cultural or intercultural understanding.
The deadline to submit a nomination for the 2025 ISASA was Friday, Feb. 28.
2024 ISASA application
International students engaged in intercultural activities are strongly encouraged to apply. In addition, OGE encourages faculty, staff, and students to consider nominating an international student. UIC international students at every level on all UIC campuses are eligible.
Up to (2) students will receive a $500 monetary award and will be recognized at the Office of Global Engagement International Student Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.
The application deadline is 5:00 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 28, 2025.
Questions about the ISASA can be directed to the Office of Global Engagement at oge@uic.edu.