How to Secure Study Abroad Scholarships

How to Secure Study Abroad Scholarships

Studying abroad brings you a lot of opportunities for academic enrichment, cultural immersion and personal growth. However, studying abroad is not so affordable for everyone. International education is very expensive and hence may be a barrier for many students. But you need not worry about the same as in this article we will guide you in detail about how to get a scholarship for study abroad.

The desire to study abroad in a foreign nation is driven by a lot of aspirations. Students planning to study abroad are keen to experience diverse educational systems, learn new languages and achieve a global perspective. But on the other hand, education expenses, living expenses and other fees can add up to huge expenses which can be a big financial challenge for any student.

Scholarships are the solution to this. There are certain scholarships which are specifically designed for study abroad programs. This gives a big financial relief to the students and helps them to focus on their studies.

Before opting for a scholarship, one needs to understand the various types of scholarships available for studying abroad. There are various forms of scholarships for studying abroad like merit-based, need-based, destination-specific and field-specific. In this article, you will get an in-depth idea about how to get a scholarship for studying abroad. And if you need any assistance in this regard then you can connect with Global Colliance. It is a leading abroad study consultancy in Ahmedabad.

Top 10 Scholarships for International Students

Study Abroad Scholarship can help students reduce their financial burden and pursue their courses without any stress. But one may not know which scholarships to apply. As there are so many scholarships available for international students. Here is a list of some of the top scholarships for international students. 

  1. Fullbright Scholarships (USA) 

    Fullbright Scholarships are for international students who are planning to study in the USA. It is one of the most popular study abroad scholarships. International students from 155 countries around the world can avail of this scholarship. Fullbright Scholarships provide funding for the full study tenure and cover expenses like tuition fees, textbooks, airfare, living stipend, health insurance etc. 

  2. Chevening Scholarships (UK)

    The Chevening Scholarship is the flagship global Scholarship program by the British Government. Around 1000 students from 130 countries are chosen for this scholarship to pursue postgraduate degrees in the UK. Students must have an admission letter from the University to apply for this scholarship. 

  3. Australia Awards Scholarships (Australia) 

    Australia Awards Scholarships are for students from developing nations and specifically the Indo-Pacific region. It offers scholarships to these students to study in Australia. This scholarship helps these students to pursue full-time graduate or postgraduate programs in participating Australian Universities and Technical and Further Education (TAFE) Institutions. 

  4. Gates Cambridge Scholarships (UK)

    The Gates Cambridge Scholarships have a high reputation and are for all international students around the world. These scholarships are for graduate studies and research in all subjects that are available at the University of Cambridge. 

  5. Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme (France)

    The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme was started by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. It helps students to pursue master’s and doctoral studies in France. Applicants can enrol for engineering or joint doctoral programs. This doesn’t include tuition fees but can be used for various secondary costs like local travel costs, monthly   allowances etc. 

  6. GREAT Scholarships (UK) 

    The Great Scholarships is for international students from 14 nations who can pursue post-graduate degree programs for one year. More than 200 scholarships are offered by more than 49 universities in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland for the academic year 2024-25. 

  7. Commonwealth Scholarships

    Commonwealth Scholarships are majorly for Experts and PhD students who are planning to get admission to Colleges in the UK. The British Council gives these scholarships to deserving students from commonwealth partner nations. 

  8. Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme 

    The majority of Universities in the world accept Aga Khan Scholarships except some nations like Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Ireland, Norway, Austria, Netherlands, and Italy. The Aga Khan Establishment allocates a fixed number of grants every year for postgraduate courses as well as to help them set up businesses. 

  9. Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarships (Japan) 

    The Ministry of Education, Sports, Culture, Science and Technology (MEXT) provides scholarships to international students who want to study at Japanese universities. The scholarship includes tuition fees, travel expenses and a monthly stipend. 

  10. Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation Scholarships (Canada)

    The Pierre Foundation accepts scholarship applications from students from various disciplines like social science, humanities, business, law, public health etc. It provides a stipend of up to 40,000 Canadian dollars. In addition to this, it also provides a research and travel allowance of up to 20,000 Canadian dollars for 3 years. 

Understanding Scholarship Eligibility Criteria

One needs to understand the eligibility criteria for study abroad scholarships. Different scholarships have different criteria and hence meeting these criteria is very important. Here are some of the common eligibility criteria students shall be aware of: – 

  1. Academic Excellence 

    One of the most common eligibility criteria for study abroad scholarships is academic excellence. The scholarships generally demand good academic records. This ensures that students with good academic records get a scholarship. 

  2. Field of Study 

    There are certain scholarships which are limited to certain fields only. STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) fields have many scholarships as its in high demand all over the world. Similarly, there are also scholarships in the fields of arts, social science, business and humanities.

  3.  Level of Study 

    Scholarships can also be as per particular levels of study. There are scholarships for undergraduate programs, postgraduate programs, doctoral programs etc. An applicant shall check that their level of study demanded matches with scholarship requirements. 

  4. Country of Origin and Destination 

    Geographic criteria are very common in scholarship eligibility. There are certain scholarships which are open to only students from specific countries. 

  5.  Financial Need

    Need-based scholarships are generally offered considering the financial condition of the person. These scholarships aim to support students who don’t have the means to fund their education. 

  6. Language Proficiency

    If you are applying for a scholarship in a country that has a different language than yours, then you will need to prove your language proficiency to get a scholarship. You will have to appear for standardized tests like TOEFL, IELTS, etc. 

Step-by-Step Guide to Scholarship Applications

Application for study abroad scholarships is a bit complicated process. Here is a step-by-step guide to help you navigate the scholarship application process

  1. Research Scholarships   

    You need to first research a bit about the various scholarships available. You can use an online database and various other resources to check for this. Create a list of scholarships that align with your education. 

  2. Check the Eligibility

    Once you have created the list of potential scholarships it’s time to check the eligibility criteria. Check that you have the required education, field of study and any specific criteria required for a scholarship. Narrow down the list with scholarships which match your criteria. 

  3. Collect Required Documents 

    The majority of the scholarships require you to submit certain documents. Some of the common documents are academic transcripts, standardised test scores, Program Acceptance letter, Financial Statement, Identification proof, Letter of recommendation, Personal statement etc. Start collecting these documents. 

  4. Prepare Your Personal Statement 

    The personal statement or scholarship essay is an important part of the scholarship application. It gives you an opportunity to market yourself through your academic achievements, career goals and motivation for studying abroad. Prepare the personal statement as per the specific scholarship and should highlight the aspect that how the program aligns with your goals. 

  5. Get Recommendation Letters

    Letter of Recommendation gives an insight into the academic abilities, character, and potential you have. Select such a recommender who knows you personally and can write about your strengths. Give them sufficient time and information to write a good recommendation letter. 

  6. Complete the Application Form 

    Fill out the scholarship application form and ensure that all information is accurate and complete. Please double-check if there is any error as this can have a negative impact on your application. Attach all required documents in the application as per the guidelines. 

  7.  Submit Before Deadline 

    You shall start the scholarship application well in advance so that it is completed before the deadline. Late submissions in this case are hardly accepted and hence you shall avoid them. Also, make a copy of all documents and application form submitted and keep them with you. 

Conclusion

In this article, we have given you complete information on how to get a scholarship to study abroad. There has been an increase in students going abroad for higher studies in countries like the USA, Australia, UK, France and Canada. However, studying abroad is not so easy as it requires enough finances. Study abroad scholarships can help students and reduce their financial burden. 

There are many scholarships available for studying abroad in different nations. You need to conduct proper research that which scholarship fulfils your requirements as per your field of study. Also, check properly the eligibility criteria of the scholarship. All scholarships have different eligibility criteria.

The scholarship application will need a certain set of documents. Start collecting these documents well in advance to avoid end-time hustle. Take care in writing a personal statement as it gives you an opportunity to showcase your achievements and strengths. 

If you are planning to study abroad and need guidance then you can also take the help of Global Colliance. It is a leading abroad education consultant in Delhi. They have a good amount of experience and have helped thousands of students in going abroad. 

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