How To Apply For International Scholarships: It’s Not As Difficult As You Think
With an international scholarship, you can get to any study level. However, you must meet certain requirements and follow some smart steps to achieve them.
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How To Apply For International Scholarships: It’s Not As Difficult As You Think
Do you seek an opportunity to further your studies overseas but lack the financial resources for it? Well, the good news is that there are international scholarships that you can apply for. This post will help you understand how to apply for international scholarships, even if it is your first time.
One of the benefits of scholarships is that they assists students financially who ordinarily cannot afford it.
In addition, some scholarships will require that a student participate in mentorship sessions, internships, and networking events that will enable the student to gain practical experience in his or her area of discipline.
We will now briefly describe the types of scholarships that are available and who is eligible for them.
How to Apply for International Scholarships: Scholarships Available
For anyone interested in applying for international scholarships, it is important to know the various scholarships that exist. Here are the primary types of scholarships:
1. Merit-Based Scholarships
Academic scholarships are forms of scholarship awarded to students based on their performance in their studies. They are extremely competitive and have factors like high GPAs, high test scores, or strong extracurricular achievements.
For instance, the Rhodes Scholarship awards are for competent students and the awards are based on their academic and leadership abilities.
2. Need-Based Scholarships
As the name suggests, these scholarships are granted to students who require financial assistance to finance their education. The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program provides full scholarships to students from economically challenged backgrounds.
3. Government-Funded Scholarships
These scholarships may be specific to certain fields or areas of specialties that are given high priority by the government.
Typical examples are the Chevening Scholarship in the UK and the Fulbright Program for graduate study and research in the United States.
4. University-Specific Scholarships
Most universities provide scholarships to brilliant students who want to study at their university. These scholarships may be given based on merit, financial need, or for special categories of students.
5. Private Organization Scholarships
Apart from government institutions, foundations, and nonprofit organizations also offer scholarships to students who wish to further their education.
TheMTN Foundationand the Aga Khan Foundation are some of the well-known foundations that provide postgraduate education to students from developing countries.
6. International Scholarships
The DAAD Scholarships and the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees provide scholarship opportunities for master’s degree programs in Europe. Any international students who need scholarship grants to study in their desired country should not hesitate to apply for these scholarships.
Applying for International Scholarships: Getting Scholarship Updates
These websites enable you to filter the results by parameters like a subject, country of study, and eligibility details, which makes it more convenient to select a scholarship grant based on one’s preferences and needs.
ii. University Websites
Scholarship information can also be obtained from university websites. It is important to note that several universities across the world have scholarship programs for foreigners, including Nigerians.
iii. Educational Fairs and Expos
Study-abroad enthusiasts can get up-to-date information on scholarships during educational fairs and expos. Some of them include the Nigerian International Education Fair as well as the Study Abroad Fair, where representatives of universities and scholarship facilities gather together.
These fairs allow you to discuss specific concerns, collect handouts, and explore different types of scholarships andfunding. The events also create a chance for applicants to meet with and interact with university representatives and other students.
How to Apply for International Scholarships: Steps to take
1) Gathering the necessary documents
First, you will need to arrange all the necessary documents. If the instruction says documents should be scanned and uploaded, do that and ensure that you attach the files properly.
2) Provide a means valid means of identification
During the verification process, you will be required to provide identification documents, such as a passport or national ID. Make sure the following documents are genuine and has the name used in the application.
Some of these scholarships may also require an applicant to provide a birth certificate or proof of residence.
3) Personal Statement or Essay
When writing a personal statement, an applicant must write a winning personal statement. This is the “selling point”. Note that a student won’t be there when the scholarship organizers will be reading the essay or statement.
Write an engaging introduction, and then elaborate on paragraphs that discuss your background, experiences, and purpose.
4) Recommendation Letters
Choose people that can speak good of you. Recommended references are teachers, professors, employers, or anyone who knows you and can vouch for your character and describe your intellectual capability.
5) Prepare A Strong Resume
Your resume or CV should be clear and well-formatted. Make sure to use clear headings and subheadings, as well as bullet lists and other easily readable templates. It should be short and usually does not exceed two pages; there should be no spelling or grammatical mistakes.
6) Highlight Your Accomplishments
Concentrate on experience and skills that are related to the scholarship and your program of study. Add educational accomplishments, employment history, internships, volunteer positions, and other relevant activities.
Maximize the leadership positions, scholarships, achievements, and projects to showcase your capability and potential.
Tips for Success
a) Start Early
Applying for scholarships allows applicants to search, gather documents, and fine-tune their applications. Staying organized reduces the level of last-minute rush and ensures all deadlines are met, which increases the likelihood of submitting well-prepared applications.
b) Apply for Multiple Scholarships
Applying for several scholarships enhances your chances of getting some scholarship funding. Submitting several scholarships makes it possible to have other options in case the scholarship is not awarded to you. It is therefore a very effective way of increasing the probability of success.
c) Track Important Dates and Documents
It is very important to keep a schedule of the scholarships deadlines. This will help you remember when you should submit your application.
Applying For A Scholarship: Common Mistakes To Avoid
1. Incomplete Applications
One of the worst mistakes that a candidate can make is submitting applications that are not complete.
Details such as academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, and statements of purpose, among others, should not be missing. Review the application checklist to ensure every part is properly filled before submitting the application.
2. Missing Deadlines
Late submission of your scholarship application can cost you the chance of scaling through the screening process. The best thing to do is to set a reminder for the submission of the application before the due date.
3. Ignoring Eligibility Requirements
When a student applies for a scholarship without qualifying for one, the person will just be wasting his or her time and effort. Ensure that you read the details of each scholarship.
4. Poorly Written Personal Statements
A badly-written personal statement can affect your scholarship application process in a big way. Write a good and structured essay that explain your achievements, goals, and reasons why you should be considered for the scholarship. Check grammar, and spellings properly before submitting.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. What are the general requirements that any candidate applying for international scholarships must meet?
A. The requirements for the scholarships differ. However, requirements such as academic results, essay, CV, motivation letter, recommendation letter, proficiency test scores (If need be), are the basic.
Q. What can I do to get a scholarship?
A. To increase the chances of success, get good grades, engage in extracurricular activities, provide good recommendation letters, and write a good personal statement.
Q. When should I start applying for scholarships?
A. It is ideal to begin your search and application process once the application portal is open. Ensure that you meet all the requirements.
Before now, you might have thought that applying for scholarships was very hard. So, if you are thinking of how to apply for an international scholarship from Nigeria, start by selecting the type of scholarship you need; if you are eligible, go on and start the application process.
Besides meeting the eligibility criteria, interested applicants must understand that there are thousands of other applicants applying too. So, it is important to start the application early and provide all necessary documents.
To stand a better chance of securing a scholarship, you need to write an impeccable personal statement stating why you are a deserving candidate for the scholarship. Good luck with your scholarship applications!
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