Planning to study abroad is a starry-eyed dream for countless students in India. However, the total cost of studying abroad is expensive, to say the least, and students look out for the possibility of applying across various educational scholarships to reduce the overall cost.
Scholarships come in different forms and offer students resounding waivers on certain segments, right from tuition fees to hostel fees. These vary from one scholarship to another and students need to research and examine each of these scholarships beforehand.
While considering applying for the scholarships, here are some tips to remember and points to expect:
Knowing the Options: The first step is to know the scholarships that would suit a student. Since there are tons of scholarships available from various institutions, government agencies, and organizations, it is worth noting the levels of coverage provided. Some might waive 50% of tuition fees, while some scholarships waive the hostel fees for the entire duration of the program. Therefore, students need to verify all the scholarship offerings and opt for the one that’s giving them the best deal.
Eligibility of Scholarships: Scholarships offered by different agencies and institutions are different from each other with regards their eligibility. Some consider the scores in language proficiency exams like TOEFL, IELTS, and others, while some consider the overall GPA secured in qualifying examinations. There are scholarships that reward students with stellar records in extra and co-curricular activities too. So, students need to verify and drill down the eligibility criteria for each of these scholarships.
Preparation of Documents: Now comes perhaps the most tedious task of applications: preparing the documents. Since scholarships come with merit-based performance, students need to prepare and be ready with all the documents according to the requirements. Agencies verify all the documents, including the application, letter of admission from the university, scores in different examinations, and passport validity. Some agencies may ask students to write an essay on why they need a scholarship and the benefits. This is done to filter out a large list of applicants to a limited pool of scholarships offered.
Application Processing and Response: Applications for scholarships are available both online and offline, depending on the agency offering the same. Students need to fill out the form very carefully and share all the details as mentioned in the application form. Once done, the agency would take time to verify and once done, students are informed about of the status. It is worth noting that some agencies take a longer time to process and respond to the application form. Therefore, patience is the key while keeping fingers crossed for the eventual outcome.
Personal Interviews: Some top-rated scholarships require students to attend interview sessions from the agencies as a part of the scholarship selection. This interview can either be face-to-face or via online meeting platforms. The agenda of the meeting is to know the students better, in addition to their future ambitions.
Final Selection: After all the above-mentioned processes are over, students get word from the scholarship provider over selection or rejection. Based on the information, the next step might require additional documentation and formalities that a student needs to complete, in order to secure the scholarship.
In a nutshell
Scholarships are responsible for helping deserving students receive a reward in the form of financial aid for pursuing an expensive education abroad. Additionally, students can also apply for multiple scholarship programs at the same time. Since the sphere of scholarships is a competitive one, applying for multiple scholarships would boost the chances of getting into at least one of the programs without a fuss.
The article is authored by Ashwini Jain, CEO & Cofounder, ForeignAdmits.
