This is a general guide for international students to increase their chances of getting accepted and securing a scholarship. There are definitely specific guides for different countries but in general, they follow the same rules and policies.
As an international degree-seeking student you must be aware of the things or skills you need to acquire or prepare before even planning your studies abroad. Here’s a quick rundown of what you need to prepare.
Tips to Improve Your Chances of Getting a Scholarship
1. Spend Your Time on Honing and Improving Your Skills and Credentials
This step seems obvious to many, but it cannot be emphasized enough. You need to dedicate your time and effort to better yourself. This will lead to a better chance of receiving a scholarship.
The earlier you prepare, the better your chances will be. Take a look at the next steps to see what you can spend your free time on.
2. Improve Your Language Skills, Especially English
So, if you have a lot of time on your hands, what do you do? First, we recommend to improve your English skills. We have encountered degree-seeking applicants who have written emails full of grammatical errors. Remember, universities, especially those in English-speaking countries, will be hesitant to accept students who cannot fluently speak and write English.
Even in universities whose primary language is not English, such as China and Korea, international students are expected to acquire a high level of English proficiency.
Almost all dissertations and theses are written in English, and many undergraduate and graduate courses are taught in English, even in Korean and Chinese universities. Because of these reasons, improving your English skills will help you to secure a scholarship as an international student.
So, how can you improve your English skills? There are many resources on the internet to improve your English skills. Check out these helpful resources: Free TOEFL Resources, English Books to Increase Your Speaking Skills, Grammar Tests, and the Duolingo App.
You can find other resources on Google that help to improve your English. There are limits on what you can do with these resources, so you should buy a good grammar book to help you to be better at grammar.
3. List All Your Accomplishments in Your Resume
How do you improve your student portfolio? Here are several things you can do. First, study to get a better GPA and test grades. Each country differs in which exams you need to take, better to research and check the university website to know the exact tests you need.
Second, gain some experience. Internships and research experience will be helpful for graduate schools, while extracurriculars will boost your chances when applying for an undergraduate program. Work on your student portfolio as early as possible but you need to be committed with everything that you do. Don’t just do it to gain experiences, enjoy while you’re at it.
4. Research Possible Universities Where You Can Receive Scholarships
Take Advantage of Scholarship Databases
If you have free time, you should research as many universities and look at their eligibility criteria, application deadlines, and competitiveness such as admissions rate. If you check a scholarship database online, you find tons of information about universities that offer scholarships to international students.
A scholarship database is a good source especially if you don’t know which financial aid applies to you. You can quickly scan all the scholarships available to international students and choose which ones to apply for. You’ll find numerous scholarship databases online, so take advantage of those also.
Visit the University Scholarship Page for Detailed Information
While scholarship databases provide the information you need, you still need to check the individual university websites for more detailed information such as scholarship amount, application deadlines, required documents, application procedure, etc.
Fill out the Application Form and Apply
After you have trimmed down your list, it’s time to apply! Read the application procedure carefully, and apply using whichever application form is provided. Many universities now have online applications. This is much easier and more secure. And you can even settle the application fee online.
Additional Tips for Securing a Scholarship
1. Include Universities You Have Never Heard Of
One common mistake many international students make when applying to universities is that they only apply to schools they have heard of before, likely because those familiar names are the most popular and prestigious. The problem with this is that these schools receive thousands of applications yearly and tend to be very selective. You will be competing with students across the globe with outstanding academic portfolios.
We recommend applying to your dream or chosen universities, as well as to institutions that have a good educational system but are less famous. These “lesser-known” universities are eager to recruit international students to increase diversity within their student body. Most likely they are willing to give out scholarships to international students.
And we are not just talking about universities, this also applies to countries. Many international students want to study in the USA, Canada, or Europe. However, you should also consider applying to universities in Korea, Japan, and China. These countries have top-notch education systems that are comparable to popular study destinations.
Moreso, they offer numerous scholarship opportunities to international students. The financial aid Korea, Japan, and China provide can cover from partial funding to full funding.
2. [For Undergraduate Level] Scholarship Value Are Not Major Specific.
This is a question that you’d see frequently or a question that you’d want someone answer correctly: “Is there a scholarship offered to a <study program> major at <university name>?” The answer to this would be, “Yes, universities do offer scholarships specifically intended for major-specific programs”.
However, major-specific scholarships offer much lower scholarship amounts compared to non-major-specific scholarships. For example, the University of Alabama offers full tuition for non-major-specific scholarships, which is more than $20,000/year. The school offers scholarships that are specific to engineering students, but the scholarship value only amounts to $2,500/year. Other universities also offer not-major-specific scholarships which are bigger than major-specific scholarships.
Since the policies are different for each university, you should read the scholarship page for the university that you are interested in. This is just a general guide that applies to most universities.
7. [For Graduate Level] Scholarships Policies Vary Per Department/Faculty
If you are pursuing to secure a graduate scholarship, you should note that many universities have different policies regarding scholarships for different majors. Visit the department/faculty page to check the eligibility requirements and procedures.
These are just some tips to help you to secure a scholarship at any university of your choosing. It is essential to plan as early as possible. Build your student portfolio and acquire skills and credentials that you think will help you with your educational goals. The things you need to do may seem like a lot (and it is!), but the reward that you will get in the future will definitely help transform your life!
We hope you’ve enjoyed reading this scholarship guide. Explore more options by checking out our Available Programs for International Students!
