Scholarships work to assist students with finances to make their dream of studying abroad a reality. Tuition fees, living expenses, accommodation amount for a larger budget for studying abroad. Thankfully, scholarships offer students the financial assistance they need without having to worry about funding their expenses.
So, what is a scholarship and how are they different from bursaries?
A payment made to support a student’s education, awarded on the basis of academic or other achievement defines a scholarship. Scholarships are available in plenty and are distributed to students by universities, private organization and governments. As a student you have an access to a host of scholarships awarded beyond academic merit and ethnic background.
Differences between scholarships and bursaries
A scholarship is awarded to a student based on their academic achievement, sport association or excellence in a specific area or subject targeted under the scholarship. Scholarships are non-repayable.
A bursary is the support offered to a student that meets the financial eligibility criteria. Some bursary providers require students to pledge a lieu in return or may ask that students make donations to extend their support to other deserving students. However, often time’s bursaries are non-repayable.
Are you eligible for a scholarship?
Different scholarships have different requirements that target specific students. Check and apply to understand the criteria and deadline to submit your application. Deadlines differ with scholarships and it is imperative to go through this process to ensure that you stay abreast with updates. Mentioned are common scholarship requirements –
- University acceptance letter
- Letter of recommendation
- Statement of purpose
- Scholarship application form
- Proof of achievement – academic or otherwise
- Proof of income
- Financial statements
- CV
- Copy of passport
- Standard test scores
Types of scholarships to study abroad
- Merit-based scholarships
- University or College Scholarships
- Financial Assistance
- Government-funded Scholarships
- Country-specific Scholarships
- Privately funded Scholarships
How to find a study abroad scholarship aligning with your profile
Scholarships eligibility details – academic merit, nationality, athletic merit, submission date, documents needed etc. will be listed on the website of the university you seek to apply with. Likewise, if there is a specific scholarship you are targeting, you should find details for the same on its website – e.g. Details of the Erasmus scholarship can be found on the official website –
erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu
Country study pages have a separate section of scholarships for international students. And if you want to be less bothered to scour the internet looking through an exhaustive list of possibilities to apply, our counsellors can assist you with by suggesting scholarships that aligns with your profile while making the process of application simpler.
Popular International scholarships for Indian students
- Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Scholarships
- Fullbright-Nehru Fellowships
- Tata Scholarships
- India Global Leaders Scholarship
- The Felix Scholarship
- Orange Tulip Scholarships
- Charpak Master’s Program
- Chevening Scholarships
How can you apply for a scholarship?
- With the assistance of your envision counsellor shortlist a list of scholarships that suit your application.
- Get ready the necessary documents required to complete your application.
- Your Envision counsellor will help you register and complete your application form
- You will be intimated via email with a confirmation of your application
- Prepare your statement of purpose or essay needed as a part of your application. You may ask your counsellor to help you will a structure and important points to include for effective delivery.
- Gather your academic, sports or other achievements that fulfil your eligibility for the application. If these vitiates are issued in a regional language have them translated to English or a language your scholarship provider requests’.
- Based on the Scholarship targeted, you may have to submit an official proof of your finances or nationality. Translations must be done if needed.
- You will also need to submit your acceptance to a university, this can be in the form of an acceptance letter or an official document stating that you are have been accepted to the university for a registered course. Note: the scholarship money will be disbursed only if these criteria are met.
- Now, that you have all your documents in place, proof-read all documents and share their error-free versions with your counsellor
- Patiently await your results. If granted, the amount will be directly transferred to the institution to cover the expenses as mentioned in its clauses.
How to get a scholarship
- Maintain a healthy resume. Update your resume to highlight accolades in academics, sports, volunteering and other extracurricular activities
- Draft a cover letter to speak the language of your resume. Highlight your accomplishments and portray how deserving you are of the scholarship.
- Facts and references you use in your essay should be rechecked and verified.
- Ensure you apply for the scholarship at the right time. Given that you will possibly apply for multiple scholarships it is necessary to keep a track of the date to avoid missing on an opportunity
- Apply for the scholarship on time, and keep all necessary prerequisites ready to avoid delay
- Maintain a good academic record. Not all scholarships are dedicated to meritorious students. Through a student’s academic excellence, the scholarship provider gauges the candidate’s seriousness about their experience to study abroad.
The access to international education has been easier than a decade before, the number of opportunities, scholarships, grants and loans have been instrumental in getting the world closer in terms of education.