In order for UMD to be able to issue an I-20, incoming international students must show proof of funding that covers the cost of their first year of living and studying in the U.S. The amount of funding required for the I-20 is only an estimate. Costs may change each year and your actual expenses may be more or less depending on a variety of factors. General Cost of Attendance information can be found on the OneStop website.
Financial Documentation Requirements
These are general guidelines for acceptable documentation. We may still request additional information or documentation.
Personal and Family Funds
Personal funds are accounts owned by the student and list their name on the account. Family funds are owned by a family member and do no list the student's name on the account.
- Usually documented by a bank letter or bank statement
- Must be on the financial institution's letterhead and include the name of the account holder and date of document
- Must be less than 3 months old when submitted to the university
- Funds must be liquid and readily available (e.g. stocks, property, salary verifications, etc. are not acceptable)
If the funds do not belong directly to the student, they must be accompanied by a letter of support. This letter must include the account holder's name, their relationship to the student (parent, sibling, etc.), and the amount of money they are promising to the student's educational expenses. It must be signed and dated.
Loans
Loan approval letters should be on letterhead and include the amount of the approved loan and the name of the person receiving the loan. If the person receiving the loan is not the student, it must be accompanied by a letter of support.
Assistantships & Other UMD Funding
If a student is receiving funding from the university, such as a graduate assistantship, athletic grant-in-aid, or scholarship, they should provide a copy of the award letter.
Government & Corporate Sponsor Funding
Government or corporate sponsor funding must be documented through a support or scholarship letter. This letter must be on letterhead and include these details:
- Student's name
- Program being funded (ex: Master's in Integrated Biosciences)
- Start term or period of funding (ex: Starting Fall 2025)
- University's name
- Types of expenses covered (tuition, fees, health insurance, etc.)
- Amount of living stipend if applicable (ex: $2,000 per month)