When looking for study abroad scholarships, the number one question that many potential international students have is: Where to start? From then on, the questions pile up: How and where to apply for study abroad scholarships? Where can I browse the available scholarships online?
Luckily, your entire finding-a-scholarship journey doesn’t need to be nearly as intimidating as you think. This guide outlines everything you need to know to get started and prepare you to become an international student!
Where To Start With Study Abroad Scholarships?
If you are unsure where to begin your hunt for study abroad scholarships, you are on the right path to securing one. Scholarships are, in a way, a gift that you don’t have to repay – just make good use of them to further your knowledge.
A good starting point is always to decide upon two things:
What you want to study and where you want to study abroad. While it’s not an easy decision to make right off the bat, it will help you immensely, as you won’t lose precious time. Once you have decided upon these two factors, your third step should be to do research. Researching scholarships based on your college major and the location will ease the process significantly!
Where To Apply For Study Abroad Scholarships Online?
Once you know what and where you want to study, and have researched a bit about it, you can get onto the next step: Applying.
The Internet is an infinite depository of information and knowledge. However, it can be tough to sieve useful information out. Study abroad scholarships can be found on numerous websites that you can follow and make use of:
- Scholarships.com – Register and explore the scholarships in the field(s) that you are interested in. Relevant scholarships will appear and you can opt-out of the ones you don’t find interesting.
- SEG Abroad Hub – Curated for international students, you can browse countless scholarships until you find one you want to apply for.
- Niche.com – This website is filled with honest reviews from its users so that you know what you’re getting into before applying. The scholarship search is made easy by personalized searches.
- EU scholarships – The official website for EU-funded programs, where you can check your eligibility requirements and apply for scholarships.
- Fastweb.com – It is one of the most regularly updated scholarship websites. You will be emailed regularly and matched with scholarships that fit your profile to apply for them.
The best thing about these website scholarship databases is that you don’t have to stick to just one. You can use and combine them to make the most out of the scholarship information that you find.
Once you’ve found a scholarship you want to apply to, you should start getting your documents ready. The most common application processes include registering and filling out an online application form, writing an essay, and submitting your academic documents.
Where To Find Free Scholarship Resources
Free resources are there to help you elevate your academic path to another level – to lead you to success and scoring a scholarship. However, your educational path doesn’t stop there; it’s only the beginning. These free resources can be used throughout your academic path.
College Websites
The websites of colleges that you are applying to contain information that can come in handy. From detailed info about your department of choice to scholarship information, you should always familiarize yourself with the schools that you are applying to.
Chegg.com
As a future international student, you’ll want to keep your costs at a minimum. This can be achieved through websites such as Chegg.com, where you can rent or buy books at an affordable price.
Studyist.org
Studyist can help you with many things – from finding a studying buddy to trading textbooks, all of the things which keep you focused and aligned with your goals. You can find information about scholarships there, too!
Pro Tips For Writing Scholarship Essays
Scholarship essays play a major role in your admission and scholarship granting. To polish your scholarship essay to perfection and make it stand out, here’s what you’ll need to do:
1. Personalize Your Essay To The Max
Personalizing your scholarship essay and adding details about yourself is what makes your essay authentic and impactful. Genuine essay applications always catch the eye of those who review them. Reviewers often have to read through thousands of applications. Getting a feeling out of your essay about what you’re like in person will definitely increase your chances.
2. Research & Familiarize Yourself
Scholarship essay prompts are largely universal. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to get a headstart by researching the most common forms. Once you familiarize yourself with them, you can make use of those that fit your particular essay the most.
3. Keep The Parameters Of The Study Abroad Scholarships In Mind
Many candidates do a vast majority of things well during their application process except following directions and parameters. Not keeping in line with given directions and parameters can easily make you disqualified. So, make sure you know them and stay on top of them.
4. Review, Revise…
Don’t send your essay upon finishing it. Always make sure to proofread and revise it. It’s better to prevent even the tiniest of mistakes. So, always leave yourself enough time to take a look at your essay with fresh eyes.
Study Abroad Scholarships: Start Applying
Now you have the knowledge of where and how to find study abroad scholarships, as well as feel more confident about applying.
In the end, the best piece of advice you can get is: Don’t stop applying.
With the abundance of study abroad scholarships you can apply for, you shouldn’t narrow your search down to one or two. Instead, make sure to explore your options well and apply as much as you can. It’s the first step of your study abroad experience – so make sure to enjoy it!