An International scholarship or scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further their education at any academic institution. Studying abroad can be costly. One technique to financing your studies is to apply for a scholarship that can pay some of your costs. There is a wide variety of scholarship programs to choose from, including academic (high-profile) scholarships, minority scholarships, or even innovative and average student scholarships. You don’t need to be disappointed if your grades aren’t the best, even if you’re afraid that you’re not going to satisfy anyone merely because of the huge number of students applying for scholarships, you still have a decent shot of seeing your aspirations granted if you abide by the laws.
At the end of this article, you will learn:
- Why You Should Consider A Scholarship
- Distance Learning Education: Benefits And Disadvantages
- How To Get Scholarship To Study Abroad
- Also, Major Eligibility Criteria For Scholarship.
Why you should consider a scholarship?
1. Scholarships affords students more time to focus on their studies.
The stress of working up to 20 hours per week make it difficult for most students to graduate on time, or graduate with the high grades they have the potential to achieve. Hence with scholarships, the burden of work to maintain the cost of education is put aside and students can focus more on their studies.
2. Scholarships teaches us to be philanthropic too.
It is generally said that to him whom much is given much is also expected. It is hoped that students who are beneficiaries of financial aid will become philanthropic themselves and “give back” when they are financially able.
3. Full time or Partial Scholarships help to lessen the impact of rising tuition costs.
The cost of education is steadily on the rise. Hence the impact of scholarships both full or partial cannot be overemphasized.
The truth is, most people don’t really know that a large number of grants are widely available to sponsor their education, which is really a shame if you think of the doors student scholarships can open. Due to the extensive experience in helping students getting their hands on the grants for the school they want, we know the exact steps you need to take to be awarded the funding suited to your needs, a scholarship is financial aid awards designed to help students pay for an undergraduate degree even masters degree. Sometimes a scholarship is a one-time cheque. Other school scholarship is renewable and provides money for students each semester or school year. These awards differ from student loans in that they don’t have to be repaid.
It also instils a greater sense of belonging – and motivation – to make it to higher education. The scholarship is more important than ever from a financial perspective.
What you should know about Distance Learning Education
Distance learning is one of the best ways to earn a PhD or Masters degree certificate, work your dream job and be with your family, children and loved ones without sacrificing one for the other. The benefits are enormous and the best part of distance learning is that most of the courses are tuition-free! Before we explore further lets quickly look at the meaning of distance learning and why it could be your best shot amidst your tight working schedule to acquire that extra degree you so desire.
What is distance learning?
Distance learning is a method of learning, studying or education which does not involve being physically present to be taught. In distance learning, students receive lectures via correspondence and are not required to attend the school or college.
How to succeed in distance learning as a Masters or PhD student?
To succeed at distance learning, you must be passionate, inspired and probably self-motivated! This is because there is nobody to police you about or force you to learn apart from yourself. Hence you need to be disciplined and self-motivated to consistently sit and put in the hours required to excel in your online course.
Who is distance-learning meant for?
- Busy and working-class individuals who don’t have time to attend college but are passionate about learning.
- Self-motivated individuals who don’t need the school environment motivation to learn or study.
- Individuals who prefer learning at their own pace and convenience.
The advantages of distance learning for Masters and PhD students
- It allows you to manage your education and work effectively without conflicts
- it allows you to kill several birds with one stone. For instance, you get to keep your job, be with your family and earn a degree certificate.
- Your location doesn’t matter – you can earn a degree from anywhere in the world.
- A distance learning course often costs less than a full-time degree.
- You learn and study at your own pace.
The disadvantages of distance learning for Masters and PhD students
One of the downsides to distance learning is boredom and loneliness especially if you are not self-motivated and inspired. To avoid this you must constantly remind yourself why you started in the first place and the impact it would make in your life if you complete the course. You can also keep in touch with your tutors and fellow online students in forums – this is how to kill loneliness when receiving education via distance learning.
Accreditation
It is important to confirm that your course is accredited by the institution offering it online before starting your application. It is also more important to confirm if the institution is accredited by the Distance Education Accreditation Commission (“DEAC”). For instance, the University of the People is well accredited by DEAC and licensed by the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education (“BPPE”) of the State of California, United States of America.
HOW TO GET International SCHOLARSHIP TO STUDY ABROAD
Are you an International Student wanting to study Abroad? Well, the following are detailed factors that will guide students on how to get Scholarship to study abroad:
- Apply for many:
The more scholarships you apply for, the better your chances of actually getting one, and you may be lucky to get more than one scholarship. But make sure to put in the effort for each application you make.
A careless or incomplete application will not get rewarded so it is better to do 10 good applications than 20 bad ones.
- Apply early to your preferred school:
Schools are the leading scholarship givers. Many schools let you apply for their scholarships at the same time that you submit your application to study there.
They will only award scholarships to accepted students and scholarships are limited so make sure to apply early (at least six months before your course starts) to increase the chances of getting a scholarship from your school.
- What to include in the application:
This varies between different scholarships so make sure to send everything that is required. The most commonly requested documents are a CV/resume, an essay, a transcript of your grades, financial aid documents and letters of recommendation.
- Organize, prioritize and apply on time:
Guarantee to take notes when you do explore for scholarships. Record the scholarship site (if you thought that it was on the web), the measure of the scholarship, what you have to remember for the application, the cutoff time and who it is for.
Organize the scholarships you have found when you have completed your research.
- Make your application stand out:
For competitive scholarships, it is important to make your application stand out from the rest. An excellent academic record and/or an inspiring essay is a good start. You might also want to include a photo and maybe use a colourful envelope or a special stamp without exaggerating it.
If you have some strong references or merits you can include them, but they are not mandatory. You can even record a YouTube-presentation and include the link and a QR-code if you are comfortable in front of the camera.
However, what works for one scholarship application might not work for another. Sometimes it is best to stay formal. Try to get a feeling for the organization that you are applying to. If you have contacted them in advance they might remember you, which can be helpful.
- Submit your application:
Always apply before the deadline. Ensure that you have included all the requirements in your application. Double-check your essay and CV for spelling and grammatical errors and make sure that the address and label on the envelope are accurate.
Remember to sign the application and include your contact details. Submit and wait for feedback.
HOW TO APPLY AND GET SCHOLARSHIP TO STUDY ABROAD
MAJOR ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SCHOLARSHIP
Below are the various categories of Students who have the best chances of qualifying for Scholarship to Study Abroad:
- PhD Students
As a PhD student, you have a good chance to get funded because at this point in your academic career you can be a valuable asset for your university to help them teach classes and carry out research.
You can also get a fellowship grant where universities, companies, individuals or governments support your research. This is particularly common if you do a PhD in technical subjects that are of interests to many companies.
- Master Students
As a Master’s student, you have gained a lot of experience and can help out at your university as an assistant to a professor or the administrative team. This usually involves about 10 work hours per week in exchange for free tuition.
The exact compensation will vary between different universities some might even cover your living costs while others might compensate you with an ordinary salary.
- Academically Talented
Students with an outstanding academic record have a better chance of getting a scholarship, especially if you also score well on the required entrance exams.
This is mostly true if you apply for a university that is not at the top of the rankings since attracting great students can help to improve their ranking.
- Students with a Special Skill
Many universities, especially in the U.S., give scholarships to students that are very skilled in sports, music or similar subjects since such students can strengthen the university’s team and help put the school on the map if they become famous.
- Minority Students
Schools like variety. A good gender balance and nationality mix can help both their ranking and their general attractiveness. So if you are the only applicant from your country you will have a much better chance of getting a scholarship than if the schools already have hundreds of students from your country.
- Poor Students
One common criterion for scholarships is the financial system of the student’s family. Many scholarships aim to help poor students to get a good education, while students from more wealthy families are expected to support themselves.
Many high ranking schools like Harvard have generous financial aid programs with fixed amounts that you can get based on your family’s income, where almost all of your tuition fee will be covered if you come from a low-income family. The challenge here is primarily to get accepted into these schools in the first place.
If you do not have any of the qualities above, there are also many that you can apply for a chance, as long as you are willing to put in more effort.
All the above are full guidelines on how to get a apply for scholarship to study abroad. Do not forget to check the Top Guidelines for Getting International Scholarship
