Scholarship for International Students

Are you planning to study abroad? But the thinking of tuition fees, accommodation, and living costs discouraged you from applying.

But do you know many schools and universities provide many scholarships for international students?

Scholarships and grants are great sources to reduce the expenses of studying abroad.

As an international student, you may think that getting a scholarship for you is a tough job. But high-performing students are valued by the government and universities worldwide.

Many international universities offer scholarships to the talented and brightest minds to give them financial support.

Definition of Scholarship

The scholarship is financial support provided by the scholarship sponsor.

It is a source of encouragement to the students for their outstanding results and achievement.

But to get the scholarship, you have to meet all the requirements given by them.

There are two kinds of scholarships for international students available. They are-

• Full scholarship- This scholarship provides all of your tuition and textbook fees. Besides, they might also give the stipend as your living expense.
• Partial scholarship- It is a smaller amount reduced from your tuition fees. You will get the scholarship according to the admission requirement of the scholarship sponsor.

Scholarship vs. grants vs student loans

Scholarships and grants are kind of similar. Both are gift aid that reduces a fixed amount of money from the tuition fees.

But scholarship is a reward that a student can earn based on the performance of their academic, athletic, and artistic ability.

On the other hand, grants are for young people who cannot afford their studies. It is for the needy.

Moreover, student loans are a kind of financial aid that needs to be paid back with some interest.

Any international student can take student loans. But they have to pay it back with interest. The interest rate usually varies from country to country.

Eligibility of applying for a scholarship

Almost everyone can apply for a scholarship if they meet the requirements. But the type of scholarship varies by the eligibility of a student. But before applying for a scholarship, always check if the eligibility of applying for a scholarship matches you. Moreover, do check if the application deadline is up to date.

Check if the scholarship is only available for national or international students. Sometimes it is available for both.

Here are some general application requirements of a scholarship for international students.

• An application form
• Letter of motivation to justify why you deserve the scholarship
• Letter of recommendation
• Letter of acceptance
• Proof of your poor financial status or low income
• Evidence of your extraordinary academic result or skills.

Application procedure of a scholarship for international student

Once you have found a scholarship from a university that matches your eligibility, start preparing your documents.

The application procedure of a scholarship for the international student begins with following some process. Such as-

• Fill up the application form to register for the scholarship.
• Check if you have received the confirmation email.
• Write an original and uniquely personal statement  or letter of motivation.
• Make a translated document of your academic, athletic, and artistic achievements.
• Prepare evidence of your poor financial status.
• Proofread all the documents and send them to the scholarship provider.
• Submit the letter of acceptance from the university that proves your admission to it.
• Lastly, wait for the result if they allow you for the scholarship, Congratulations! And if not, try to get it in other universities.

How can you find a study abroad scholarship?

You should check the official websites of your chosen university to find a study abroad scholarship.

If you couldn’t find anything relevant there, contact a university representative to know about it.

In addition, you can get the scholarship info on the individual official study abroad page of a country.

Some accessible sources of scholarships are here to find a study abroad scholarship.

• Search through the financial aid office in school or college.
• Federal agencies
• State grant agency
• Ethnicity based organisation
• A high school or trio counsellor

How would you get your scholarship money?

The receiving process of scholarship money varies from type to type. The funds will reduce the college’s tuition fees or the cost you owe.

After that, if there are any leftover funds, they will give them to you. Besides, the scholarship money will be sent to you directly.

Types of scholarship

You should know the types of scholarship that is available for the students. Match your one and go for it.

• Scholarship on Academic result: Academic scholarships are provided based on deserving students’ high school grade point averages. This scholarship is given to a small group of students who achieve remarkable results. To avail of this scholarship, you need to be a top student in your class or institution. Universities and colleges mainly offer Academic scholarships.
• Scholarship on Research and Achievements-( Athletic, Artistic): If you are interested in research or have achievements in sports or art, this scholarship is for you. To receive the scholarship, you have to be a quality athlete or artist who has lots of achievements to show. On the other hand, a research scholarship is a kind of fellowship given to the students to research at their graduate, postgraduate, doctoral, or post-doctoral level.
• Scholarship for financially unstable student: These types of scholarships and grants are very similar to each other. This scholarship is given to a student who is needy but meritorious. The scholarship authority offers this scholarship to students who cannot pay their tuition fees. Many universities and organisations make a substantial investment for disadvantaged students who can be an asset in the future.
• Scholarship for an underrepresented group: People of color, disabilities, lower socioeconomic status, non-dominant religion, transgender, or homosexuality are underrepresented. They are financially and socially unstable and need support to grow. That’s why governments are giving scholarships to an underrepresented group.

What does a scholarship do for you?

A scholarship can be a blessing for you if you are from an unprivileged background. Without scholarships, many students cannot take a higher degree.

Most scholarships are given to the worthy or the needy. So if you are given a scholarship according to your merit, it will motivate you more to take your study seriously and improve your chance to build a promising career.

Mistakes that create a barrier for you

As an international student, if you don’t write your essay and apply it at the last moment it can threaten you.

On the other hand, international students tend to copy completely plagiarised sentences from the internet, showing their unprofessional attitude.

When applying for a scholarship, you should be honest about your achievements, extracurricular activities, and qualifications that reflect your potential.

Before submitting your essay, always reread, spellcheck, and show it to the counsellor or teacher for a final check.

Scholarship for an average student

Being an average student, getting a scholarship is like building a castle in the air. But the happy news is that there are plenty of scholarships available for which you don’t require a minimum GPA.

So, search for scholarship opportunities for an average student and apply to one of them.

Scholarship in the UK

The dream of studying in the UK has hundreds of benefits. You will get an outstanding quality education with a chance of a successful career.

To help international students, the UK government is providing many scholarships, bursaries, and other financial support.

To find out your eligibility for a scholarship, visit UKCISA ( UK Council for international student affairs) website.

Moreover, many UK universities offer fully-funded postgraduate studentships.

If you are thinking of a postgraduate degree in the UK but are worried about the fund, you can apply for the GREAT scholarship.

Over 300 GREAT scholarships are available for 40 universities in the UK.

Scholarship in Canada

If you want to get a scholarship in Canada, you have to apply early. Most of the students don’t get Canadian scholarships because they are late.

To get a scholarship in Canada, research the opportunities, and understand the requirements.

Scholarship in the USA

In comparison to other countries, the USA education is costlier than others. It is not the tuition fee that empties your bank balance, but additional costs are too.

If you avail of a scholarship in the USA, it will reduce your tuition fees and give you a relief to stay there for study purposes.

There is merit and need-based scholarship. The USA government also offer educational loans. Apart from this, if somehow you missed the scholarship, there are ways to reduce your expenses. Such as-

• On-campus job or paid academic employment: This financial help provides students who are supposed to work 20 hours per week.
• Graduate Teaching Assistantship: This type of scholarship is provided by the department you study. You will reduce your tuition fees in exchange for part-time work to assist the teacher.

FAQ- Frequently asked question