Expert tips for securing full scholarships for studying abroad

When it comes to studying abroad, getting a full scholarship is the best option. An expert explains how you can do this in several ways.

Many students, researchers, and professionals aspire to attend prestigious universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, Stanford, and Sorbonne. To gain admission to these institutions, one must arrange financial resources to cover both tuition and living expenses.

A lot of candidates rely on a fully-funded scholarship to realize their dream of studying abroad. This is the reason why numerous universities, governments, and organizations provide fully-funded scholarships to assist students in studying abroad.

1. COMPREHEND THE VARIOUS SCHOLARSHIP TYPES 

Scholarships aim to aid students and researchers in their education by offering financial support that assists them in covering educational costs. That said, there are various kinds of scholarships. A scholarship may be granted to you based on your merit or financial need.

Following are the various kinds of scholarships and discover the options that are available to you:

• Merit scholarships: Numerous universities grant scholarships to students who have demonstrated excellence in academics, leadership skills, or extracurricular activities. After obtaining a conditional acceptance letter from the institution/university, consult with the course coordinator about applying for these scholarships.
• Field-specific scholarships: This category of scholarship is awarded to students aiming to further their education in areas such as STEM, public service, social sciences, and more.
• Financial need-based scholarships: These awards are granted based on the applicant’s financial situation instead of their academic achievements. It is necessary for applicants to submit documents like income statements, tax returns, and so on.
• Scholarships funded by the government: The scholarships funded by the government encourage international education and cultural exchange between two nations. Such examples are the Commonwealth Scholarship (UK), Fulbright Program (USA), and DAAD Scholarships (Germany). They often encompass tuition fees, cost of living, and travel expenses.

2. EXPLORE SCHOLARSHIP OPTIONS WITH COMPLETE FUNDING 

Various platforms provide scholarship details; check if there are funding options for the course you have selected. Numerous departments at a foreign university provide scholarships, either partial or full.

A good first step in launching your study-abroad plan is to look for universities and countries that offer fully funded scholarships. If you are seeking 100% scholarships for studying abroad, check out the following platforms:

• University websites: The majority of universities offer a comprehensive list of scholarships, criteria for eligibility, and deadline details. The funding details are located in the ‘Financial Aid,’ ‘Scholarship,’ or ‘International Student’ sections.
• Government websites: The Indian government often offers financial assistance to encourage higher education and promote global collaboration. The scholarships can include coverage for tuition, living expenses, travel, and visa fees. Look for scholarship announcements on the ‘Department of Higher Education’, Ministry of Education (Government of India) website. To find national scholarships, external scholarships, and educational loan schemes, you can check the website of the Ministry of Education.
• Country-specific scholarship platforms: The UK, USA, Japan, and various other countries provide specialized platforms designed to assist you in locating scholarships that suit your educational funding requirements. Consult the official websites of the education and foreign affairs departments for the relevant country.
• As another option, you can look for scholarships on the British Council India website if you wish to apply for undergraduate or postgraduate programmes in the UK. Other country-specific websites where you can search for 100% scholarships include:

1. Education USA
2. DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst) – Deutschland
3. Learn in Australia
4. EduCanada
5. Japan – MEXT scholarship

3. BUILD A ROBUST ACADEMIC PROFILE AND GO OVER THE ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS 

To secure a fully funded scholarship, it is crucial to develop a compelling application. Numerous scholarships assess candidates based on their academic performance, involvement in extracurricular activities, and leadership experiences.

It is essential to emphasize significant accomplishments in your scholarship that correspond with the eligibility criteria in order to distinguish yourself. This is due to the fact that each scholarship is aimed at a specific goal, like promoting community change or introducing progress in a certain field.