How to get a scholarship abroad – a simple guide

Across the globe, many students dream of studying abroad. This is because studying in a new country is not only academically advantageous, but it also helps broaden a person’s horizon. However, attending a foreign university is not always easy, primarily because of the high costs of education in different countries.

Under such circumstances, most students look for scholarship programs to finance their studies. To facilitate deserving students from around the world, different governments, non-governmental organizations, and universities run various scholarship schemes. Some of these programs are fully funded, while others offer partial funding. Since there are millions of students who aspire to study abroad on a scholarship, the competition is fierce.

Most students win a scholarship because of their overall academic and professional profile. And while a person's academic background and potential play a crucial role in getting a scholarship, many students who have excellent profiles sometimes fail to get selected.

The reasons for failure include missed deadlines, incomplete documentation, and lack of preparation, to name a few. Although there is nothing that could guarantee a scholarship, knowing how to properly apply could enhance your chances.

If you are a student who is looking to apply to a foreign university and win a scholarship, here is a simple guide to making the process easier.

1. Start searching

If you have decided to apply for a scholarship but you are unsure where to start, the first step is to start searching for different scholarship schemes. The best way to do that is to use Google. 

Entering keywords like "scholarships for students," "scholarships abroad," "fully-funded studies," or "international studentships," would return thousands of results. Make sure you stay relevant during your search to save time. For instance, if you are a Sociology student looking for a graduate scholarship, use keywords like “Sociology, graduate, scholarships”, to get relevant results. Next, sort out how many scholarship schemes offer partial funding and which ones are fully funded. Once you find that out, filter your choices accordingly.

Another important medium is Facebook. There are various pages and groups on Facebook that are dedicated to academic scholarships. The good thing about Facebook groups is that you can also find fellow students from different countries who are applying for similar scholarships. In this way, you can interact with other candidates to get additional information. Some people also share application tips.  

2. Sort out and collect necessary information 

Once you use Google or Facebook groups to search for scholarships and filter the most relevant ones for yourself, start looking for individual requirements of each scholarship program.
Every program has different prerequisites so read about them carefully. Next, note down the deadlines and see which documents are required. Some scholarship programs also have age and geographical limits, so be careful about that too.

3. Start preparing your application

Once you have decided which scholarship you want to apply to, start assembling all the required documents. This process is not only important but can be very tedious and time-consuming. Many a time, candidates are unable to supply the required documents on time and end up getting rejected. In general, most scholarships require the following documents:

• Diploma or degree obtained through your last education;
• Transcripts;
• English-language test scores (IELTS, TOEFL). These are for students whose first language is not English;
• Other tests (GRE, GMAT, SAT, etc);
• Recommendation letters from your university or college professors/ work supervisors;
• Proposed research topic;
• Proof of employment;
• Work samples or list of published work (if any);
• CV;
• Conditional admission letter from a university (some programs require it); and
• Motivation letter (also called a letter of intent or statement of purpose). This is the most important part of the application as it makes you stand out from other candidates. Ideally, you should take several weeks to write this letter and keep revising it for perfection. You can refer to available samples on Google but never copy another candidate’s motivation letter. Doing so amounts to plagiarism, and it is considered an academic crime. A generic, impersonal letter can also reduce your chances of being selected.
  

4. Interviews

If you submit a complete application that fits the eligibility criteria, you will probably be getting an email that your application has been duly received. Some programs ask the candidates to wait for several months for the results, while others conduct face-to-face or Skype interviews. If you are selected for an interview, congratulations! 

Before the interview, make sure you remember what you wrote in the application so that you are prepared to answer the questions. There are lots of sample interviews available on websites like YouTube. Some schools also have a mock-interview facility to prepare their students for job or study-related interviews. Look out for those too.

5. Waiting time

Once the application and the interviewing stage is complete, it’s time to be patient. Keep checking your emails regularly (including spam folders)!

6. Results

If you’re lucky, you might be awarded a scholarship in the very first attempt. However, many successful candidates receive their first scholarships after several tries. Getting a rejection or an admission without a scholarship could be very disappointing but people should not take the rejection personally. Some students are rejected because they do not fulfill the eligibility criteria. For instance, they have irrelevant academic backgrounds or they are clueless about their plans. Sometimes the application is very poorly or hastily prepared. 

If you think you fit the bill but still get a rejection, the key to success is to keep applying. However, don’t put all your eggs in one basket and apply to various programs to maximize your chances. With time, you will learn from your mistakes and submit better applications.

With good preparation, as aforementioned, your chances can be greatly enhanced. So, if you are a candidate who is planning to study abroad on a scholarship, start looking up for opportunities and apply today!

This article was published here.