If you’re an international student, finding a scholarship to help with your tuition can really be the difference in making studying abroad possible. But where do you start? There are thousands of scholarship opportunities out there, some of which are open to students from just about every country in the world. The trick is knowing where to look. What kinds of scholarships are there? Scholarships are awarded based on many different factors, and can be either merit-based or need-based and some depend on your chosen field of study.
Scholarships are given to students based on their academic records, extracurricular achievements, financial background, socio-economic status, country of origin, and even their contribution to society. You will fit in either one category or multiple categories
There are multiple sources that can be turned to, to ease the process. When it comes to scholarships, the common misconception is that it is only for smart students. That is not true; scholarships and grants have various types and eligibility criteria.
Outlined below are the things to keep in mind before applying for scholarships
Build a Strong Profile
Scholarships are not only for the academically inclined. While it is necessary to have a strong GPA, preferably between 8.0 and 9.0 if you are looking for an undergrad course, and anything above 7.0 if you are going for a master’s course, it is equally important to have some extracurricular achievements to add to your profile. Everything that you pursue carries weight – academics, sports, drama, music, etc. Universities want students who are versatile and willing to grow holistically.
Research University scholarship
Once you have narrowed down the universities you are considering, you can check out their website and see the scholarships available. Every university will have its own set of scholarships, some common across fields, some specific to fields and courses. The scholarship amount will vary but the good part is that you can apply for multiple scholarships.
Next, you can explore scholarships and grants by other entities. There are many scholarships given by government bodies and private foundations. Your home country will have scholarships for students going abroad and the country to which you are applying will also have a number of scholarships for international students. The best way to find out about these scholarships is through the Department of Education of both countries.
Apply for all relevant scholarships
As mentioned earlier, you do not have to pick just one scholarship. You can keep applying to university, private and government scholarships. Some may be a small grant, some may be significantly large; it all helps. Keep in mind that studying abroad does not involve only tuition; there is rent, utilities, travel, food, recreation and study material that also add to the expenses. So, even the small grants contribute to reducing the financial burden a little bit.
Begin early
Begin at least 18 months before your course commencement. There are applications to be filled out and documents to be submitted, after which it officially gets scrutinised before you get a reply. All of this takes a while so do not wait until the last minute to send in your applications. Also, when you begin early, you have a fair amount of time to add new things to your profile and create a strong one. For example, if you read that certain certifications hold value, you can get those certifications, add it to your profile and then apply for the scholarship.
Get a professional to review your application
Even after you have done everything right, it is still the first time you are doing it. So, overconfidence will not help. Get your documents and SOP in order and run it past a professional. There are many education consultants who will review your application and offer valuable feedback that will help your case.
Be real
Finally, do not fake it. Write your essay with as much honesty as you can. Universities want to know that you are willing to put in the immense hard work required to learn, grow, and secure an amazing future. Do not glorify yourself too much; with humility, talk about your interests, skills, passion, and past accomplishments.
Scholarships are given to students based on their academic records, extracurricular achievements, financial background, socio-economic status, country of origin, and even their contribution to society. You will fit in either one category or multiple categories. Apply to all the relevant ones well in advance with confidence, and you will definitely stand a chance at securing them. While there are many applicants, there are many scholarship opportunities too. Good luck!
Improve foreign language skills
International students will be required to provide some English language certificates when applying for scholarships.
IELTS or TOEFL iBT
For each school, each different study program will have different requirements for English language proficiency. Students can choose one of their strengths and then take the exam. The full scholarship programs require an IELTS score of 6.5 and a TOEFL score is 79.
GMAT or GRE
Depending on the school and major you are applying for, there will be different requirements for GMAT and GRE scores. However, some schools do not require this certificate and still consider scholarships for students.
SAT or ACT
These are two entrance exams for international students in the United States.
• American College Testing (ACT): includes English, Maths, Science, Reading. If international students score 25/36 in the exam, it will be a great support to get a scholarship to study abroad.
• Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT): This is a test of thinking, writing and math. If you get from 1700 to 1800/2400, the chance of getting a scholarship will be higher than the others.
Participate in extracurricular activities
This is quite different from the universities in Vietnam. The foreign schools attach great importance to extracurricular activities. This can be considered as an advantage for students. The certificate of extracurricular activities, social will help you increase the chance of successful scholarship application.
Participating in public activities, extracurricular activities in society will help you receive plus points when applying for scholarships from foreign universities.
Find out scholarship information through ApplyZones
In addition to the necessary and important papers, we mentioned above. Students need to use the help of overseas study consultants to save time and money. ApplyZones is the most accurate and fastest online study abroad platform for students who want to study and work abroad.
With ApplyZones’ smart platform, you can gather as much information as you need about the school, tuition, study programs, entry requirements and scholarship programs. Besides, you can also apply directly to the school when you need to enroll or apply for a scholarship. With the smart ApplyZones’ platform, international students will save time and cost to the maximum.
Finding yourself a scholarship to study abroad is not too difficult. If you are in need, you should not ignore the ApplyZones online study abroad platform. We hope that the information will be the key to brighten the students’ future.
Check our previous schloarship post and apply for any scholarship that suites your standards
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