Michelle & Anthony Consulting

Tricks to getting scholarships abroad

Faith Ikade

If there is an impediment when it comes to studying abroad, it is the cost. Studying abroad is an exciting experience that comes with a high financial obligation for students. With tuition fees and living costs adding up to a large budget, most students are left with no option but to surf the internet in search of a little relief, in the shape of grants, scholarships, or student loans.

Scholarships, as we all know, are the most-searched-for relief fund among students. We all hear the word “scholarship” and have probably at one point tried to apply for various scholarship opportunities. But do we know what scholarships are about, the available scholarships out there, and how to apply for them?

In this article, we will be discussing what scholarships are about, who can apply for a scholarship, the documents required to apply for a scholarship, the available scholarships out there, and how to apply for a scholarship.

What is a scholarship?

According to the Cambridge dictionary, a scholarship is “an amount of money given by a school, college, university, or other organization to pay for the studies of a person with great ability but little money.” Both scholarships and grants are types of gift aid, which means students do not need to pay the money back. But grants are usually need-based and often go to young people who can not afford the cost of their studies. In contrast, most scholarships are awarded based on academic, athletic, or artistic abilities.

There are hundreds of scholarships to study abroad, including general scholarships and more specialized funding schemes. Some are offered by government agencies, some by individual universities, and others by external funding organizations and charitable enterprises.

The secret is to know not just where to seek study abroad scholarships but also how to apply for them. Even if it does not entirely cover your study abroad expenses, it will certainly assist in reducing your expenses and make your study abroad experience more reasonable.

Who can apply for scholarships?

Anyone who meets the application requirements can apply. However, scholarships are grouped into various categories and target different students. These include lists of international scholarships to study abroad in a particular country; scholarships to study a particular subject; and scholarships targeting particular groups of students. Always check if you can apply if the scholarship application deadlines are up-to-date and if the scholarship is open to national students, international students, or both.

What types of scholarships are out there?

There are many different types of scholarships for study abroad that you should explore. However, searching through all the international scholarships out there can be a mammoth task. To make your search easier, we have categorized the list based on the most common types. You can begin your search based on:

Scholarships for excellent academic results: 

You need to be a top student to apply for this type of scholarship. Universities and Colleges are the most common organizations offering scholarships for academic work. To find out if a university offers this type of financial aid, check out the “costs and funding” page on the official university website.

Scholarships for research, artistic, or athletic achievements: 

If you are into research, sports, or the arts, then this scholarship category is for you. Athletic excellence scholarships are especially popular in the US, but you can find them in other countries as well. To receive financial aid, you need to showcase your skills. This might involve impressing scouts, showing research skills beyond your age, or creating a work of art that could easily impress critics.

Scholarships for students with low incomes: 

This type of scholarship is very similar to grants. The aim is to support students who want to study but cannot afford to pay the full tuition fees or living costs. Universities and other organizations make an excellent investment in need-based scholarships because future graduates often give back to their community and try to help others who face the same struggles.

Scholarships for underrepresented groups: 

The goal is to support and encourage individuals from underrepresented groups to pursue education without worrying about costs. Here are a few examples: women, native Americans, African Americans, Hispanic-Latino students, and students from developing countries.

Location-specific grants or scholarships: 

These are aimed at encouraging students to study in specific countries or even certain cities, such as scholarships specifically for students looking to study in Japan. You might find these scholarships provided by your university, by the government of the country you plan to study in, or even by the government of your home country, which hopes to foster international relations through the exchange of study abroad students. 

Program-Specific Study Abroad Scholarships or Grants:

These scholarships or grants are often offered to students who decide to study abroad through a particular program. This could be through an independent study abroad provider or a particular program crafted by only students who intend to study under that program. For example, HEX is offering $1000 scholarships to RMIT, University, and University of Technology Sydney students who participate in their Great Global Challenge program, as well as 140 grants and full scholarships for Australian students across 10 universities in their APAC program.

Subject-specific grants or scholarships:

These are awarded to students who plan to pursue a certain field of study or major while abroad, such as Foreign Language Scholarships. This financial aid can be incredibly specific, zeroing in on not just the subject, but also a certain subject to be studied in a particular country. 

Student-Specific Scholarships or Grants:

Some Scholarships are awarded based on the students themselves, due to factors such as gender, race, religion, disability, or sexual orientation. For instance, there is a specific study abroad scholarship for high school students! With a demand for more diverse study abroad students, programs such as the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship or Diversity Abroad Scholarships are especially helpful for students searching for financial aid. 

University-provided study abroad scholarships or grants: 

This is awarded based on a merit basis to any student looking to study abroad. Many higher education institutions worldwide provide scholarships for international students to encourage a more diverse student body to attend their universities.

Organization-Provided Scholarships/Grants: 

Be sure to do thorough research on non-profit, chapter, or heritage organizations that provide scholarships or grants to deserving students who match their criteria. Prime examples include scholarships for those of Italian or Hispanic descent.

Government-Funded Scholarships/Grants for Study Abroad:

Aside from assuring that your FAFSA financial aid will carry over for your study abroad semester, several government-funded grants or scholarships encourage students to study or do work abroad. Good examples of this include the Fulbright Program or Chevening Scholarships and Fellowships, which are funded by the UK government specifically for international student leaders looking to study in the UK. 

 

 

Now that you know where to search, the next stage is how to land the scholarship. It is important to remember that there. There are thousands of international students trying to apply for the same scholarship as you. Therefore, you must stand out and score that financial aid.

for your studies abroad. It is, nevertheless, critical to have your paperwork ready before you begin looking for scholarship options. This is so that you are better prepared and ready to apply once you come across an opportunity, that fits your desired goal. Some of the most common necessary documents for scholarships are:

Documents required for scholarship applications

 

There are tricks involved in securing a scholarship or grant. However, they do not guarantee that you are getting the aid. Following these tricks will only help you be different and push you closer to other aspirants.

Now that your documents are ready the next question on your mind is how to score the best study abroad scholarships. It is important to remember that there are thousands of students bidding for the same scholarship, therefore your application will have to stand out. Listed below are 10 sure-fire steps to score the best study abroad scholarships:

How to score financial aid for study abroad

The internet is an excellent resource for locating a large number of study abroad scholarships. Many of these scholarships will allow you to apply directly online. You can potentially apply for dozens of scholarships in a few short hours. Some of the ways are:

How can you apply for a scholarship?

It is important to note that a larger application pool will reduce your chances of being awarded aid. Therefore, do a lot of research and be open-minded. Here are some popular places to start: 

The official study abroad pages of individual countries also offer information about scholarships:

At the end of the day, the most important thing to remember is to put in the time and effort when applying to study abroad scholarships, just as much as you would for any other academic scholarship, and you are sure to see the results. Even if you do not receive as many scholarships for your study abroad experience as you would have hoped, there are other options to fund your time abroad with crowdfunding websites.

 

 

Share this article
Exit mobile version