If you wish to study abroad on scholarship then this post is for you. As an international scholarship applicant, equipping yourself with the right application knowledge is one of the major keys to a successful application. You may be qualified based on your experience and education, maybe you graduated with an excellent result and your resume is outstanding but without following a step by step approach to applying you may miss out on an opportunity that you basically qualify for. In this blog post we have carefully outlined the step by step process that leads up to a successful scholarship application.
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Step 1: Identify your study goals
Before you start looking out for scholarships and delving into applications, you have to first identify your study goals. You have to ask yourself important questions like: What do I want to study? What countries am I interested in? What long term career do I want to pursue? Am I looking at permanently relocating to my country of study? I’m I open to online studies? etc. These are a few of the questions you can ask yourself. Your answers to these questions will guide your scholarship search.
Step 2: Research available scholarships
Use the information you have gathered about yourself from the answers to the questions listed above to search for the available scholarships that are tailored to fit your purpose and need. To research available scholarships, you can search on scholarship websites like this one, search on university websites, search scholarship bodies like DAAD, Fulbright, or Chevening. There are several scholarship bodies providing fully funded scholarships yearly and there are also internally funded scholarships provided by several higher institutions and universities. So you can have several opportunities to choose from.
Important details to take note of while searching for scholarships include: location or county, eligibility criteria,funding coverage (tuition, living expenses, health, travel, etc.), application deadline, required documents and application procedure.
Step 3: Organize your documents
After you have found a scholarship or the scholarships that suits you, the next step is to prepare the essential documents for the application. Of course, it is expected that your documents are ready and available before you need them but once you have an active application you then need to be sure of the format the documents are required to be submitted as, and the exact documents needed. This is always captured in the application procedure. Below, we have highlighted some necessary documents you may need to submit any scholarship application.
- Academic transcripts
- Passport copy
- English proficiency test scores (IELTS, TOEFL)
- Recommendation letters
- Statement of purpose or motivation letter
- CV/resume
Step 4: Tailor your application
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Tailor each application to fit each scholarship application goals. You can achieve this through your CV, your statement of purpose or motivation letter and also through your references. You have to show how your background and goals align with their mission. Do not use the same essay for different applications.
Step 5: Write a strong personal statement
Like we have mentioned previously your application should be tailored for each scholarship. This also includes your personal statement. Through your personal statement, you tell a compelling story of why you are best fit for the scholarship, it’s just like a cover letter for job application. You are to highlight your achievements, the challenges you have overcome, your passion, and how the scholarship will help you make a difference.
Step 6: Get your recommendation letters ready
You have to choose people who know you well and can attest to your professional and educational achievements. It is advisable to have your recommendation letters ready ahead of your application so there are no delays. To achieve this, you have to contact your references way ahead of your application time to give them enough time and context to write thoughtful and personalized reference letters that will stand you out.
Step 7: Proofread everything
This is a very important step in submitting your scholarship application, because grammatical errors show a lack of thoroughness and can also weaken your application. You have to review your documents carefully. You may use ai tools as assistance and also consider the help of a friend or editor to help you proofread.
Step 8: Submit before the deadline
There is no need submitting an application when it’s already past the deadline even if the application portal is still open. So, never wait till the last minute. The moment you are sure of a scholarship that you meet all the eligibility criteria, start the application process. Do not assume you still have a lot of time. You also have to submit early to avoid technical issues in case they arise.
Step 9: Prepare for Interviews (if applicable)
Some scholarships may require you to participate in an interview stage as part of the application process. You have to prepare for the interview even before you get called for it. Ask any previous recipient of the scholarship that you may know, do a detailed research and prepare adequately for the interview. Practice answering questions about your goals, your program of interest, and how you plan to use your education to further your career.
Step 10: Stay positive and keep applying
Rejection is part of the process. You win some and lose some. Many scholarship recipients applied multiple times before they finally won a scholarship. So don’t give up,stay motivated and keep improving your applications with the guidelines we have given you. Applying for scholarships abroad requires patience and determination. With the right attitude and persistence, you can turn your academic dreams into reality.
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