Lately, we are overwhelmed with many opportunities for international students to study in America, Asia, and Europe. Getting a degree abroad is an exciting adventure that many international students can barely afford.
However, you can access post-graduate scholarships or grants to achieve your dream of getting a world-class education. Competition for limited scholarships is intense, but you can become one of the successful candidates to secure funding to study abroad.
Here are practical steps to tip the odds in your favour:
#1. Focus on the scholarships you qualify for
Begin your scholarship application by outlining all the scholarships you qualify for locally and internationally. You can reach out to past awardees or alumni and ask essential questions about the eligibility, criteria, and requirements. You’ll also find updated information on the scholarship home page.
Prioritize the scholarships that offer a fair chance for you. When you’ve made a list of the opportunities you’re eligible for, it’s time to start preparing your scholarship application.
#2. Take note of what the assessors want
Every scholarship sponsor has specific attributes, skills, and qualifications they expect from potential awardees. Before you start applying, study what the assessors want in a candidate.
You’ll find helpful information within the funder’s mission statement, core values, and preferences. Identify these values so that your application can prove how you meet the requirements.
#3. Prepare compelling scholarship applications
You need to work harder on your scholarship applications because you compete with thousands of others. Avoid copying other people’s SOPs because you might be invited for an interview by the scholarship board. Write a persuasive Statement of Purpose, and let your Personal Statement be unique.
Increase your chances of getting selected by applying to several funding opportunities. Some may be fully funded, while others may offer partial funding. Also, don’t limit yourself to one scholarship opportunity.
#4. Avoid generic essay statements
You may be tempted to adopt someone’s writing style when preparing documents for your application. But the trick to winning scholarships is to craft the most original essays that align with the funder’s requirements.
If you cannot write the essay yourself, you can hire someone to do it for you. But make sure the essays express your uniqueness without exaggeration. Use personal experiences or anecdotes to capture your interests, abilities, and future goals.
#5. Get impressive recommendation letters
Here’s another critical aspect that many scholarship applicants ignore. You need to inform your referees ahead of time to prepare a recommendation letter. This will give them time to write a thoughtful reference letter that reflects your academic and professional strengths.
You can also provide your referees with helpful information about the scholarship and yourself. This will save them the stress of looking for what to write.
#6. Double-check all your application documents
Don’t submit your scholarship application without proofreading it. Make sure you’ve met all the requirements and that your documents are in the correct versions and free of errors.
Double-check your essays to be sure you added leadership experience, community involvement, and interests. Only hit the submit button when you’ve confirmed that everything is complete.
#7. Apply early
Develop an early-bird approach when applying for scholarships to study abroad. Starting early gives the sponsors enough time to consider your application. Think of yourself in a race with people where only the fastest person wins the prize.
As the application deadline draws closer, pressure on both sides increases. More people will submit applications closer to the deadline, and there’s a possibility that scholarship sponsors will start skimming through applications.
