31 October 2021
Are you looking to study abroad?
There must have been a big concern on your mind. And that is nothing else but to manage your living costs and study expenses abroad. After all, it is not easy to live and study abroad on a budget.
Obviously, you might wonder how to study abroad with less or limited money in hand. Even worse, sometimes, you don’t get a sponsor or someone who can support you financially.
But don’t let your financial problems give up on your dream of studying abroad. This is because there are many scholarship programs to choose from. Scholarships aim to provide the financial support that many students require.
What is a Scholarship?
A scholarship is “an amount of money awarded by a school, college, university or other organization to pay for the studies of a person with great ability but little money.” Some scholarship programs are more flexible, enabling students to apply regardless of their financial or academic abilities.
How Scholarships are Different from Grants?
Both scholarships and grants are financial aid to fund the study. However, the grants are basically need-based and often provided to young people who are not able to afford to cost of their studies. Scholarships are awarded based on academic, artistic and athletic abilities.
What is a Difference between Scholarships and Student Loans?
Although student loans are a kind of financial help, they must be repaid. But this is not the case with scholarships.
Who Can Apply for Scholarships?
Anyone who fulfills the application requirements can apply. There are different types of scholarships meant for different students. That’s why you should always check the requirements before applying for them. For example, you can check if the scholarship is meant for national students, international students, or both as well as check the deadline.
Some General Application Requirements for Scholarships
- Registration or application form
- Letter of Recommendation
- Letter of acceptance from an academic institution
- Proof of low income, official financial statements
- Proof of extraordinary academic or athletic achievement
How to Apply for a Scholarship?
The next step is to start preparing your documents. A general process looks like this:
- Apply for the scholarship, generally by completing an online application form.
- Make sure to check your inbox to see if you’ve received the confirmation email.
- Create a personal statement or essay. Although you can download the one from the Internet, make sure to sound original.
- Get official proof of your academic, athletic or other achievements.
- Get official proof of your low income or nationality for regional scholarships.
- Check all the documents for errors.
- Submit the acceptance letter from the university (or an official document from the university showing that you’ve been accepted.)
Understanding the Types of Scholarships Available
There are different types of scholarships available for every type of student. Some of them are…
Merit-based:
These scholarships are provided on basis of students’ academic performance or extracurricular activities such as achievement in sports or community service.
Student Specific:
This scholarship is based on certain factors such as race, gender, religion, family and medical history.
Subject-Specific:
Certain universities and institutions provide grants to students who are looking to pursue a certain field of study.
Need-Based:
Aimed towards needy students, these scholarships are awarded based on the financial background of your parents. You might be asked to provide the documents for family income, tax statements, employment proofs, etc.
Athletic Scholarships:
Awarded to top-notch sportsmen, these scholarships need you to contribute with rigorous training and represent your university at events while balancing your study.
