International Students Scholarship Application Ultimate Guide

In this article, I will take some time out to share my experience with international students scholarship application as a Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (German Academic Exchange Service) – DAAD alumni, who over the years have bagged several scholarships at different academic level. This summary shall be a guide to navigate any international student regardless your origin to find and prepare to ace a suitable fully-funded scholarship opportunity available in the United States, Germany, Canada, United Kingdom etc.

Overview of the scholarship ultimate guide

In this ultimate guide, I will also be sharing information on how much scholarships cost, where to look for scholarships, and how to apply for them. Exclusive success tips on writing your Statement of Purpose and Motivation Letters, advice on filling out application forms, and what documents you should have ready to stand out among thousands of highly motivated applicants like yourself around the world will be shared. I will provide answers on how to get ready to submit a scholarship application seamlessly and ace your scholarship interviews.

It is no news that lack of funding has truncated many dreams due to the high expenses of education, making it nearly impossible for some people to have a study abroad experience. Many students have resorted to serving some organizations over a period of time who would in turn help them foot their tuition.

Ultimately, the good news is that scholarship makes it possible to achieve your dreams by giving you all the money you may need to realize them. This money or funding as popularly called covers your cost of living, tuition, transportation, school supplies etc. or at least, help lower the cost. Therefore, the A to Z information about scholarships from application phase to interview and acceptance stage are covered in this guide. Grab a cup of coffee, relax and let’s dive right in.

This guide will answer questions to address the following:

Who needs a scholarship?
Where to find scholarships for international students?
What scholarship categories are available for international students?
Exclusive tips for landing a scholarship

Who needs a scholarship?

Before I proceed to answer this, it is important for you to understand what a scholarship is and the purpose of it. A scholarship is a financial award given to any student who is able to prove they need it to pursue their education. In most cases, there are limited awards and many highly motivated scholars will have to convince the awarding body that they are the best candidate for it.

A scholarship is either fully-funded or partially-funded, but either ways, the scholar do not repay the funds that come with this award. For this reason, it is highly competitive and awarded based on academic merit, financial need, demographic background, leadership potential, field of study, extracurricular involvement etc. Conversely, student loans are repaid based on the agreed terms and conditions between the student (borrower) and the lender.

It might interest you to know that there are various organizations who have the interest of students at heart and occasionally creates budgets to sponsor them through school. Some of these organizations include universities, colleges, private foundations, government agencies, corporations, non-profit organizations, state and local government, communities and groups. They can cover expenses like tuition fees, textbooks, accommodation and other educational costs like transportation thereby making education more affordable and accessible for students with financial needs.

Therefore, it is safe to say that scholarships are a means to invest in the education and future of young motivated people. These persons or scholars are anyone regardless of your race, who are able to demonstrate they are in some financial need and are the best candidate for the scholarship offer. Providing scholarships is a way of contributing to the personal and professional development of students in financial needs, through financial support. This support enables scholars to achieve their dreams while fostering societal progress and advancement.

Where to find scholarships for international students?

A major problem I faced and sure many scholars face as well is where to find these scholarship opportunities. You can find a suitable scholarship by visiting the web page or website of the issuing organization.

University scholarships

These are scholarships granted by various institutions based on a student’s financial needs and engagement with extracurricular activity and exceptional academic merit. Each university has its own list of scholarships and requirements for applicants. These requirements may vary based on the course of interest. Here is a compiled list of universities with scholarships for masters and PhDs with no IELTS required.

Merit-based or academic scholarships

These are awarded to students with strong academic records and a high GPA who excel in certain subjects or on final exams. Here are academic scholarships you might be interested in.

Scholarships based on performance

These are awarded to youngsters who want to attend a university and excel in sports, the arts, or music. It is completely based on the individual’s performance and offered to encourage them improve on their art.

External scholarships

These originate from non-university based organizations including higher education associations, businesses, or charities. Non-profit organizations and foundations like the Tony Elumelu Foundation offer this category of scholarship. Typically, applications to them are made independently of forms used for admission to universities.

Country/region-based scholarships

These can come from a range of sources including universities themselves, government departments, businesses or charities and will be aimed at students from a particular country or region. For example, the Nigerian government have scholarship for people in the Niger Delta Development Commission areas like Imo State, Abia State, Akwa Ibom State, Rivers State, Delta State etc. Also Petroleum Technology Development Fund – PTDF. Every country or region have scholarships setup to support young people of those regions. Take advantage of them.

Government scholarships

For overseas students hoping to apply to study in their nation, the majority of governments offer a variety of scholarships that will cover tuition costs and travel costs (including airfare). Numerous people will also be targeted. The German government offer DAAD scholarship, the Korean government offer the Global Korean scholarship annually etc. Do check them out.

What scholarship categories are available for international students?

There are several scholarship categories. Not all scholarship cover all expenses. When applying for scholarships, please be mindful of this.

Fully funded scholarships

Fully funded scholarships are financial awards and support to cover all important expenditures or cost of studying. Usually, they would include full tuition fees, accommodation and living costs throughout the university degree course and sometimes, additional benefits like airline tickets and language programs. In my case, i was offered all of them including health insurance cover.

Requirements for International Students

To qualify for fully funded scholarships, international students often need to meet the following criteria:

High score on English proficiency exams like IELTS or TOEFL (for American schools).
Standardized test scores such as SAT/ACT for undergraduates or GRE for graduate students.
Excellent academic grades and
Strong recommendations.

Partially funded scholarships

Partially funded scholarships, on the other hand, provide limited financial aid which may include tuition waivers. These waivers are a common form of partial scholarships where a college or university waives a portion of the tuition fees. This type of scholarship award only cover a portion of the cost of study.

In most cases, tuition waivers, as a form of financial aid, where a college or university waives part or all of the tuition fees, is a typical example of a partial scholarship.
They are also offered or award based on academic performance, financial need etc. Therefore, as opposed to full scholarships, students pay a portion of their study cost. As a result, students might need to find additional sources of funding, such as personal savings, family assistance, part-time employment, or additional scholarships, to cover the remaining cost of their education.
Some partially funded scholarships may grant assistance for only one or two years of study.

Duration and Examples

Some partially funded scholarships may grant assistance for only one or two years of study. Some examples include:

The Korea University Global KU Scholarships: Offered by the Korea University in South Korea for Masters programs.
University of Bolton Academic Excellence Scholarships: Awarded in the United Kingdom for Bachelor’s, Masters and PhD.
University of Otago Research Masters Scholarship: Available in New Zealand for masters and research programs.

Exclusive tips for landing a scholarship

It is one thing to desire a fully funded scholarship and another thing to land an offer. This honest pursuit does not come on a platter, hence the need to carefully read through this section. Truth be told, it can be challenging because you are simply in competition with other highly motivated scholars. Therefore, pay close attention to these tips to help you stand out among others.

Carry out extensive research

At this point look through several scholarship websites, including government programs, universities, private organizations, and NGOs. Check scholarship alerts here. Understanding the scholarship requirement is very important and gives you a better chance to make a strong application.

Prepare a strong application for international students scholarship application

This phase is very critical and much care must be taken to create a strong application. Invest some time in writing a compelling personal statement. In your personal statement, highlight your goals and why you deserve the scholarship. Check tips on writing a personal statement as a recommended guide.

Obtain letter of recommendation

Ask your formal university professor to offer you a letter of recommendation. This will provide more information about your academic performance and increase your chances of being made an offer.

Write a compelling resume for international students scholarship application

Create a professional resume that includes your academic achievements extracurricular activities, work experience, and any other relevant accomplishments.

Maintain excellent academic records

Aim and maintain the highest grades possible to increase your chances. It is highly recommended to prove your English language proficiency by writing IELTS academic or other standardized tests like SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, or TOEFL, if applicable. Identify which test result you may need to present from the international students scholarship application requirement. High scores can make a huge difference. Do not take this for granted.

Engage in extracurricular activities that showcase leadership

A mention of your involvement in activities relating to community development and sustainability showcases your leadership qualities. This is a plus to your application. Do not sleep on it.

Write journals relating to your field

To really stand out and of course show how diligent and dedicated you have been in your academics, a good journal on any of your school projects, thesis, or personal research will go a long way to attract you extra points during the evaluation process.

Always apply early for international students scholarship application

Beware of the application deadline and endeavor to submit your application well before the due date to avoid last minute rush and to allow you some time to cross your ts and dot your is. You can never be too early for your international students scholarship application. Remember to apply to multiple scholarships as you are eligible to increase your chances of an offer or award.

Allow someone else to proofread your application

This is very important. Most often than not, other people are able to spot errors you do not see when you let them review your application documents like personal statement, resume etc. Be sure not to submit an AI written personal statement. The guide here will help you a lot. The practice of allowing a second person review your application before you submit is highly recommended. That way, you tend to receive feedback and constructive criticism. Also seek advice from academic advisors or other scholars who may have received that scholarship award in the past. A mentor can provide you invaluable insights and feedback on your international students scholarship application.

Prepare for your international students scholarship application interviews

Not every scholarship requires a face to face interview. I have shared some interview questions for PTDF scholarship as a guide you might want to look up and practice with. This will give you a strong clue of what to expect during an interview. Discuss your goals, achievements and why you should be preferred over others and support this with relevant documents. Dress appropriately and official while maintaining a professional behavior during the interview.