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Don’t let the cost of studying abroad discourage you. The idea that studying abroad is expensive is a popular one, but guess what? Thousands of study abroad grants and scholarships are out there, waiting for your application!
Prior to your summer, semester, or year abroad, you may need to make some sacrifices, but managing your finances wisely is simply the first step toward greater and more exciting experiences.
You can finally fulfill your trip ambition if you combine smart spending with financial assistance (such as study abroad scholarships); all you need to do is put in the effort to apply.
How Can I Get Scholarships to Study Abroad
Below are 10 tips to help you get amazing scholarships to study abroad:
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1. Ask for Help
How can I get a scholarship to study abroad..First and foremost, don’t be hesitant to ask those around you for support. Contact your university’s study abroad office, teachers, financial aid office, and academic advisors to inquire about scholarships or grants that they may be aware of.
If feasible, visit these offices in person to seek assistance on how to obtain a scholarship to study abroad, rather than simply emailing or calling.
Not only would this make it easier for your lecturers or the study abroad office to assist you, but they will also be impressed by your clear commitment and effort in coming to discuss financial aid in person.
The hardest aspect of getting study abroad scholarships is simply finding them, so ask professionals if they know of any.
2. Do Your Research
It is important to conduct thorough research! You will receive more financial help the more scholarships you are able to apply for.
Other resources, like the NAFSA, provide lists of scholarships available to students wishing to study abroad. However, this list is not all-inclusive, and you should also look into the many other kinds of study abroad scholarships available, such as:
- Location-specific grants/scholarships to study abroad
- Program-specific study abroad scholarships/grants
- Subject-specific grants/scholarships for studying abroad
- Student-specific scholarships/grants
- University-provided study abroad scholarships/grants
- Organization-provided scholarships/grants:
- Government-funded scholarships/grants for study abroad
3. Contact the Scholarship Funder Directly
As they practically wrote the book on how to obtain a scholarship to study abroad, getting in touch with the funder directly is the best method to learn all the specifics of the scholarships you want to apply for as well as the most recent requirements for applications!
Ensuring the accuracy of your application and demonstrating your initiative to actively seek the scholarship you are applying for will be appreciated by the scholarship or award funder/provider.
4. Customize Your Resume
Once you’ve compiled a list of study abroad scholarships that you intend to apply for, you must now focus on actually receiving the scholarships.
Your CV will play an important role in this! Make sure to highlight any overseas experience you’ve had, update all of your recent college activities, and keep it to one page. Writing concisely is important
Cover letters complement resumes and are sometimes an essential component of an application, as they may be your only opportunity to argue why you deserve to be awarded a scholarship.
However, you cannot simply put in a generic cover letter claiming how great of a student you are. Consider how you intend to use what you’ve learned overseas to your life on and off college.
If you are applying for a study abroad scholarship offered by an international university, make sure to find out how resumes and cover letters are typically formatted in that nation.
If you are comfortable enough with the language, you may even try writing them in the language of the nation you will be studying in!
5. Check Your References
The majority of study abroad scholarship essays and applications want personal references, which are individuals you have collaborated or studied with in the past.
Most students will contact their lecturers and request assistance. When requesting a professor to be a reference or to write a recommendation letter for you, always inquire ahead of time so they can prepare.
It is also important to select lecturers or companies with whom you have interacted so that they are familiar with you and can recommend you. In other words, do not ask your Spanish 101 professor from two years ago to write your reference letter.
Check Out Usa Scholarships For International Students 2024
6. Mark Your Calendar
It might be tough to keep track of all the deadlines and application criteria while applying for many scholarships or grants, as well as the study abroad program itself.
This may sound obvious, but create a calendar just for your study abroad scholarship applications, with deadlines clearly indicated. Staying organized is essential when applying for many scholarships (or even just one!).
7. Apply, Apply Apply
It may appear tiresome, but apply for study abroad scholarships as soon and thoroughly as possible. This will require a significant amount of time and patience, but every small piece helps. Because you’ve already done a lot of legwork, your procedure should go smoothly.
Even modest awards add up, allowing you to experience a lot more economical and stress-free summer, semester, or year abroad.
Also, whenever possible, customize your applications and avoid the urge to just copy and paste between them. Scholarship providers recognize when you’ve done your study on their foundation’s beliefs or the subject of a particular scholarship.
Customizing each application increases your chances of becoming an expert on how to study abroad with a scholarship.
8. Take Your Time and Take it Seriously
It’s easy to feel compelled to rush through applications, especially if you’re applying to multiple ones. However, you should consider study abroad applications with the same seriousness as you did while applying to your university.
Read and follow the requirements for scholarships to study abroad, and give yourself enough time to finish all of your applications without feeling rushed. If you don’t feel pressured, you’ll produce higher-quality work, which increases your chances of receiving more financial help.
9. Have the Grades
This may appear simple, but in order to receive a scholarship for studying abroad, you must frequently have good grades. Not all scholarships or grants require high grades or grade point averages, although many do.
It is important to put in the effort and achieve strong marks before your time abroad to show to scholarship providers that you intend to take your study abroad experience seriously as not only a chance to travel, but also an opportunity to broaden your academic horizons.
10. Your Personal Essay
A personal essay is required for most, if not all, study abroad scholarship applications. You may begin to experience intense memories to the anxiety your college application essays brought on, but don’t panic!
This is your opportunity to shine in these applications. In your application essay, make sure to express your enthusiasm for studying abroad and the nation you will be visiting.
Scholarship sponsors and providers want to know that their funds are going to a deserving cause and that the applicant recognizes the value of the opportunity.
So, don’t be afraid to speak your mind; share your experiences and justify your merit for receiving the scholarship that will pay for your study overseas experience.
Summary
At the end of the day, the most essential thing to remember is to devote the same amount of time and effort to applying for study abroad scholarships as you would to any other academic scholarship, and you will undoubtedly see results.
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