As student who is pursuing a Bachelor's or Master’s degree,
one of your main responsibilities is figuring out how you’re going to
pay for it. Robbing a bank is not an option, and selling a kidney is
more trouble than it’s worth. So instead, you’ll have to come up with
more savory methods of paying for your university education.
Scholarships are difficult to procure, but they are the best ways of
getting financial assistance when you’re planning to go to university.
Especially if you’re an international student who does not have access
to government loans or stipends, scholarships are much more secure and
stable means of funding your education.
Searching for scholarships is also quite difficult; knowing where to
look, what to look for, and what to avoid are important things to know
before you venture out into the vast sea of scholarly awards. So below
we will provide concrete advice for finding and applying for
scholarships all over the world.
- Search for scholarships made especially for your locationOne way to catch the most scholarships or to get the widest selection would be to search the overall scholarships (private or government-backed) scholarships that are offered in the region where you are studying. For example, if you’re going to study in Germany, you may find that there are several scholarship opportunities available for international students who are studying at a German university. At the early stage of looking for a scholarship, it’s best to start with a wider selection, that way you can have a larger number of scholarships to apply for, and more chance of receiving funding.
- Several scholarships are available to students around the entire country, province, or city you are planning to study in. You will find that many are useful for students no matter which institution they attend or discipline they study.
- Local companies, non-profit or corporations will often sponsor their own scholarships. These are separate from the institutions and the government awards, and are designed to support students within their own industry.
- Be aware that some federal or national scholarships require students to be citizens before applying. While some countries do offer federal scholarships made specifically for foreign students, you will still want to be sure to check your eligibility in each scholarship.
- Do not feel that you should limit yourself in your applications. More than likely, your applications are free of cost; so you are encouraged to apply to as many scholarships as you can. With a wide search query, you are sure to come across many scholarships that you will be eligible for; apply to any of the ones that you qualify for!
- Search for scholarships unique to your degree programmeAnother way to begin finding the right scholarships for you would be to seek out scholarships that are meant for your specific degree programme or subject. Many companies and organizations are eager to support and finance subjects that will benefit their own industry. Students often find that they can easily find scholarship options for engineering, computer science, or business; and, indeed, many other disciplines in the social sciences, humanities, and fine arts also offer great funding options and awards for students. So, if you’re looking for scholarships that will assist with the unique needs of your study programme or discipline, try searching for scholarships specific to that subject (e.g. “Scholarships for __ students”).
- Search for scholarships at your universityWell, you’ve applied to and enrolled in the university of your dreams. That university is lucky to have someone as smart and ambitious as you! To show their appreciation, shouldn’t they help you out with some extra money to pay for college? It’s the least they could do!
Although universities don’t really think this way, many universities all over the world offer scholarships for their Bachelor’s and Master’s students. Through the various donors, endowments, and government support that universities and institutions receive, they will often give out some of this funding to their students. These scholarships are then made specifically for the students at that university; and so the number of students you are competing against for the scholarship is much smaller.
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