For many aspiring airline pilots, finding funding for flight training is a common challenge. Flight training can be expensive, particularly for those living in developing countries where incomes are low. The ideas of aviation student loans, flight training scholarships, and aviation sponsorships, airline cadetships, and so on, can be confusing and overwhelming. In this article, we aim to simplify the various financing options available to international students and clarify how they operate. Additionally, we recommend exploring the scholarship and student loan petition tools provided by Aerocadet for international students.
Can I get a full aviation scholarship?
Getting a full aviation scholarship can be tricky. Usually, what’s called a “flight training scholarship” is more like a loan. A bank gives money to a student based on a promise from an employer, often an airline. The employer promises to hire the student as a pilot once they finish training, so the student can pay back the loan. In other words the employer provides a petition for a loan on behalf of a student, and that petition may secure a student flight training funding.
In North America and Europe, there aren’t many full flight training scholarships available. There are some smaller “partial scholarships”, but they’re usually just for certain domestic students who excel in their studies and community work, and they are limited to $5000 per student. More about them – below.
Flight training is expensive because it’s very hands-on and involves costly equipment like airplanes and simulators. Unlike regular academic scholarships, flight training can’t be done in a big classroom, so it’s harder for schools to offer free programs.
There are some exceptions, though. Countries like the UAE, Germany, Russia, and China have programs where the government pays for flight training, but there are strict rules. For example, graduates usually have to work for the country’s airlines for a long time.
Can I get a partial aviation scholarship?
Yes, there’s a chance. Some organizations offer partial flight training scholarships, usually ranging from $3000 to $25,000 USD. Domestic students usually get priority over international students for these scholarships. But for international students, it might not be enough to cover all the costs, especially for getting a student visa. However, in many cases, international students already have some funding saved up, and just need additional funds to get enough to pay for the full training program. In such situation, applying for a partial scholarship would not hurt. Besides, the application is always free.
To help you out with this mission, we have prepared a list of all the organizations in the United States and Canada that provide small, partial aviation scholarships for domestic and international applicants. If you apply for all of them, and get funding from some, you may be able to come up with a significant sum to offset a large percentage of your training costs.
United States
United States has a number of popular scholarship funds offering significant flight training financial aid to both domestic and international students.
International students can apply. It is a unique flight training scholarship fund for professional flight training programs in the United States and Canada. Aerocadet awards up to $5000.00 USD per applicant, annually, and only to foreign students from developing countries.
Up to $16,000 USD total scholarship award. The applicant must be US residents and hold FAA PPL license.
Scholarship applications range from $2,500 to $14,000 for primary flight training, advanced ratings/certificates, aviation maintenance, and more. Open to AOPA members that are U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent legal residents
International students can apply. Applicants must be ICAO Student Pilot Members for three months prior to the First Wings submission deadline and have logged five hours flight time within the preceding six months. Award is up to $6,000 for specific milestones as they are achieved. Up to $20,000 to complete an additional pilot certificate or rating or pilot training course.
International students can apply. EAA’s scholarships are supported by dozens of donors, benefactors, and others who “pass it forward” by endowing these programs. In all, EAA awards more than $1 million in aviation scholarship money via various programs each year. All applications are reviewed against the criteria for the individual scholarships and then awarded to those who show the greatest potential to be actively engaged in aviation. EAA strives to provide scholarships that have a minimum award of $5,000.
Scholarship applications range from $2,500 to $5,000 for primary flight training, advanced ratings/certificates, aviation maintenance, and more. Open only to U.S. citizens or U.S. permanent legal residents.
Two (2) scholarships may be awarded in the amount of $2,500 each to an enrolled (or to be enrolled) aviation degree-seeking student at one of Ohio’s colleges or universities. The areas of study include, but are not limited to Flight Technologies, Aviation Engineering, Aviation Management, and Aviation Maintenance.
International students can apply. Must be a WIA member and hold ICAO PPL. International WAI members may apply if they meet all other requirements. Scholarships available up to $25,000 for female applicants only.
Canada
Canada also runs a number of popular scholarship funds for the Canadian flight training programs. Some Scholarships are available for international students.
International students can apply for the Amelia Earhart Memorial Scholarships for Women Pilots. The scholarships are open to members of The Ninety-Nines, an international organization of women pilots, regardless of their nationality. As long as applicants meet the eligibility criteria, such as membership in The Ninety-Nines and holding at least a private pilot certificate, they can apply for the scholarships. Applicants must hold an ICAO PPL to apply. Max scholarship award is $20,000 CAD.
International students can apply for the First Wings Award for Student Pilot Members offered by The Ninety-Nines. The First Wings Award is designed to help student pilot members of The Ninety-Nines who are pursuing their initial pilot certification. Here are the key eligibility criteria: Applicants must be members of The Ninety-Nines. Membership is open to women pilots and student pilots worldwide. Applicants must be student pilots working towards their first pilot certificate. Max scholarship award is $6,000 CAD.
International students can apply for the Jazz Aviation Pathway Award for Professionalism. This award is part of the Jazz Aviation Pathways Program (Jazz APP) and is open to students enrolled in aviation programs at partner institutions. The key points for eligibility are: Applicants must be full-time students enrolled in an aviation program at one of Jazz’s partner institutions. These institutions include several Canadian flight schools and aviation colleges, including Aerocadet’s FTPs in Canada. Max scholarship amount is 3,000 CAD.
International students can apply. Same as above, also open to foreign students and, in fact, priorities students from developing countries. Max grant is $3,000 CAD.
Can I get an academic scholarship?
Maybe. Some colleges offer performance-based scholarships for academic students, especially for degree programs that involve both academics and flight training. For example, Our Associate in Aviation College Degree Program in Florida, USA, offers up to $15,000 USD for Aerocadet students who do well academically (maintain GPA at 3.5 or higher). This scholarship is paid out over the course of the program, but it’s only available for certain students and programs.
Can I get financing by a U.S. or Canadian Sponsor?
One option to pay for your flight training is to have someone in the United States or Canada sponsor you. This sponsor needs to be a permanent resident with a stable job, income, or savings. They can apply for a loan with you at their local bank, online, and serve as guarantors who will covering all your tuition fees. Usually, you’ll be the main person responsible for paying back the loan, but your sponsor will co-sign it, which means they’re also responsible if you can’t pay.
Once the loan is approved and marked for education, you can use it as proof of your finances when applying for a student visa. This shows that you have the money you need to study.
Another way is if your U.S. or Canadain takes out a personal loan from his bank, and then puts the money in a special account just for your education. This account, called an escrow account, makes sure the money is only used for the flight school. When you apply for your visa, you’ll need to show the bank statement for this account to prove you have the funds.
Please note: just promising the consulate to pay for your training isn’t enough. The consulate won’t accept a promise letter from your sponsor unless they’ve already put the money in an escrow account for you and you can show the account statement to the visa official. Your sponsor might also need to give you a separate letter saying they’ll cover your living expenses. They’ll need to show proof of their income or savings to support this promise. Otherwise – your student visa application may be rejected.
Can I get financing by a local organization?
If you’re looking for help to pay for your aviation training, we offer a package to support your petition for sponsorship. You can use this to ask local airlines, businesses, or government groups for scholarships.
And again, please bear in mind, that if you find a sponsor who’s a private person (like a family member) or a business or government group, just having a letter of sponsorship isn’t enough for your visa application. They need to put the money in a scholarship escrow account. This account, set up by a domestic or North American company, has to say the money is for your school fees overseas.
Can I petition for a student loan or a scholarship on my own?
Yes, you can – and this is the most common and most successful strategy for obtaining full or partial funding for flight training. So, if you don’t have someone in the U.S. or Canada to help you with your finances, which is the case for 99% of applicants, we can offer you a sponsorship of loan Petition Support Package called S.L.A.S. This package helps you ask for a student loan or sponsorship for your career development in your own country or from some organizations in the United States.
When it comes to getting a student loan, it’s your call to pick the loan provider and decide how to apply for it. We suggest reaching out to local banks with our complete SLAS packet, which confirms your eligibility for our program and guarantees a well-paying job after you graduate. Banks want to make sure they’re lending to someone who can pay back the loan, so our SLAS packet is important because it shows them you’re a good candidate.
To qualify for a loan in your country, international students need to show Aerocadet they have a strong command of English, have at least a high school diploma, decent academic scores, and pass an online assessment test.
Special loan arrangement for Indian students
Most of our students are from India, so we’ve become well-known for helping them get flight training loans from Indian banks using our SLAS package. If you’re interested in getting a student loan in India, we can help you with that.
If you want to ask for a student loan or scholarship from a bank or government group in your country, we can provide you with a special SLAS petition package. This package includes all the documents your bank needs to consider your loan application. You can get this package as a printout with a QR code to check your application status online, or you can get it as a professional printed document, which we recommend.
So, how do I proceed?
Well, first of all, you need to need to decide on the budget you need for your flight training. Start by reviewing the full list of Aerocadet’s integrated programs which come with guarantee internship and employment placement – only such programs are eligible for SLAS petition support, because they guarantee a pilot job after graduation. If you need help deciding – schedule a free consultation call with one of our consultants. Once you have decided on the program, you will have an idea of program cost. Aerocadet always publishes full estimated cost of training on each program page, in the Tuition Cost section. The next step – apply for the SLAS petition package in order to apply for student loans or scholarships locally and internationally. A detailed, step-by-step SLAS application qualification process is published here. Use both strategies – apply for training scholarship with all of the organizations listed above, and, simultaneously, apply for a loan at a local bank and sponsorships at the local airlines and government organizations.
Do not be discouraged by rejections: sometimes, your application for a loan maybe denied upon the initial application. However, if you get approved for one or two partial flight training scholarships from our list of sponsors, and present the approvals and evidence of partial funding to the banks with your repeated applications, your loan petition may be approved. The approval will strengthen your petition and will allow you to solicit for more and more funding from other banks and organizations, until you have enough to start training.
Stay positive – if you are smart, determined, hard-working, persistent and confident – you will eventually achieve your aviation career goals!
Questions? Comments?
Let us know – contact us today via info@aerocadet.com for additional information!