What the funding covers
- Need-blind admission for international applicants (from students entering in autumn 2025 onwards).
- 100% of demonstrated need met.
- No loans: under the Brown Promise, packaged loans are replaced by scholarship funds.
What you will still pay
| Cost | Who pays |
|---|---|
| Tuition, room and meals ($74,568 + $10,710 + $8,754 in 2026–27) | Brown's aid, up to your full demonstrated need — if you apply for aid when you apply for admission |
| Travel, books and personal expenses | Aid helps with these; holiday and summer costs are not covered |
| Application fee ($80) | You, unless a fee waiver is accepted — a counsellor's letter, or a College Board or NACAC waiver |
| CSS Profile ($25 for the first college, $16 for each extra one) | You — Brown does not waive it |
| US student visa: $185 application fee and $350 SEVIS fee, plus a new $250 visa integrity fee that some embassies now charge | You, before you travel |
Who can apply
- First-year applicants from any country applying to Brown's undergraduate college.
- Aid is calculated from family income and assets.
Documents you will need
- Common Application with Brown's supplement, school report and teacher recommendations
- SAT or ACT scores — required again since the 2024–25 cycle, with no minimum score
- An English test if English is not your first language or the language of your schooling. Brown's minimums: TOEFL iBT 105 (5.5 on the scale used from January 2026), IELTS 8.0, Duolingo 130, PTE 75 or Cambridge 191
- CSS Profile by 2 November 2026 (Early Decision) or 1 February 2027 (Regular Decision)
- If College Board's IDOC asks: your parents' 2025 tax returns (or non-filer statements) and employer statements of 2024 earnings
How to apply
- Apply through the Common Application with Brown's supplement.
- Choose binding Early Decision (1 November) or Regular Decision (5 January), both by 11:59 pm your local time.
- Submit the CSS Profile and Brown's aid documents for international applicants.
- Request a fee waiver if needed.
Before you apply: things to know
- Early Decision is binding.
- Brown's Open Curriculum has no core requirements — your essays should show how you would use that freedom.
- Transfer applicants may be treated differently from first-year applicants; check the international financial aid page.
Common questions
Will asking for financial aid hurt my chances?
No. Since the Class of 2029, Brown decides on international first-year applicants without looking at whether they need aid, then meets 100% of demonstrated need. The condition is timing: apply for aid at the same time as you apply for admission.
Do I need the SAT or ACT?
Yes. Brown brought back its test requirement for first-year applicants from the 2024–25 cycle. It superscores the SAT and ACT and sets no minimum score.
Does Brown give merit scholarships?
No. All Brown aid is based on need — there are no merit awards.
A working timeline
Counting back from the next typical deadline (Nov 1, 2026). Steps marked NOW are already due if you start today.
Aug 9, 2026 · NOWResearch the route in depth — confirm eligibility, costs and every required document
Aug 23, 2026 · NOWAsk your referees (for a PhD, email potential supervisors with a short, specific pitch)
Sep 6, 2026 · NOWWrite the first full draft of your motivation letter or statement of purpose
Sep 20, 2026 · NOWOrder transcripts and certified translations · book any language test
Oct 4, 2026Second draft — get feedback from someone who reads critically
Oct 18, 2026Finalise every document and complete the online form
Oct 25, 2026Submit — never on the last day
Nov 1, 2026Typical deadline
Related routes
Dartmouth College
Due in 37 daysDetails →
Yale University
Due in 37 daysDetails →
Amherst College
Due in 45 daysDetails →
Harvard University
Due in 37 daysDetails →
Sources
- Brown University — Need-blind admission for international undergraduates
- Brown University — Financial aid for international applicants
- Brown University — Application checklist for first-year applicants
- Brown University — How to apply (application fee and fee waivers)
- Brown University — Standardized tests for first-year applicants
- Brown University — English proficiency
- Brown University — Financial aid for first-year international applicants
- Brown University — FY27 tuition and fees
- College Board — What does the CSS Profile cost?
- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement — I-901 SEVIS fee
- Boston University ISSO — Visa integrity fee (with the $185 visa fee)
Page reviewed Sep 25, 2026. Spotted something out of date? Tell us and we will check it against the official source.