How To Apply for Overseas Scholarship Programs in 2023

Students who are planning to study abroad, are always seeking avenues that can lessen their financial burden. In this regard, study abroad scholarships play a huge role in offering financial aid to students. Scholarships are of different kinds; they are different from student loans or grants. Each scholarship also has its criteria and a set of requirements that an applicant needs to meet.

A scholarship is a certain amount of money/aid given by any educational institute to a bright/able student either in academics, sports, or creative fields so that they can pursue their studies without having to worry about repaying the amount. A scholarship is typically awarded to students who have strong merit but lack financial support.

Another feature or means to help students besides study abroad scholarships are university grants or grants, a type of gift- aid which the students do not need to repay. They are need-based and are awarded to students who cannot afford to pursue their educational goals, due to lack of finances. However, unlike grants and scholarships, student loans need to be repaid with interest, hence it is not the best way for one to go ahead with his/her educational pursuits.

Scholarships to Study Abroad for Indian Students

If you happen to be an Indian student seeking opportunities to study abroad, then you’ll be pleased to know that international scholarship to study abroad for Indian students are offered by many governments, organizations and specific universities. Below is a diverse selection of international scholarship offer to study abroad for Indian students:

Application Process

For scholarship programs abroad, some of the most essential application requirements are:

• A duly, filled in registration/application form
• Letter of intent/motivation or statement of purpose/personal Statement
• Recommendation letters
• Admission Letter from an academic institution
• Financial Statements/bank statements indicating proof and source of funds
• Academic transcripts/mark sheets
• Certificates of academic achievement or sports/creative achievements, any scholarly awards certificate
• Some applications may need English Proficiency scores like TOEFL iBt, IELTS as well

To begin the process for any scholarship application, the student should have received an admission offer from the university. Once the offer and financial documents are in place, the online application for the scholarship can be started. The application process is transparent, online and documents need to be uploaded for the application to be considered complete. Incomplete applications are rejected.

Let us Now Look at Scholarships Offered by Different Countries

Scholarships in USA

More than 1100 scholarships in USA are available at the top universities for international students. They provide an average monthly stipend of US $2000 that includes tuition, accommodation, health insurance and travel. Generally, in USA, each university has a scholarship program to which each admitted student can apply. Besides, there are other programs as well available for international students, as summarized below:

The two most popular scholarships in USA are:

• Fulbright Foreign Student Program in USA- These are offered to international students pursuing graduate programs. They are meant only for master’s and PhD studies and the amount covers tuition, living and accommodation fee, air travel fare and health insurance.
• Fully Funded Rotary Peace Fellowships- These are offered to international students pursuing graduate programs. They are meant only for master’s and PhD studies and the amount covers tuition and fees, lodging and boarding, airfare travel and other study-related expenses.

Other scholarships based on each university are:

• Stanford University Scholarship is a fully-funded scholarship for international students pursuing graduate studies.
  Yale University Scholarship is a fully-funded scholarship for international students pursuing undergraduate, and graduate studies. The average need-based scholarship is over US $50,000.
• University of New Haven Scholarship is again fully-funded for international students and is offered for only master’s studies. This scholarship covers 75% of tuition assistance and even provides an hourly wage.
• The University of Memphis Scholarship is fully-funded for international students and is given for undergraduate and masters studies. The scholarship amounts aim to cover the difference in the cost of international and domestic non-Tennessee resident tuition rates.
• The University of Minnesota Fellowship is fully-funded for international students pursuing master’s studies. This scholarship covers tuition, living expenses, travel and health insurance.
• AAUW Fellowship Program is a fully-funded scholarship offered by The American Association of University Women (AAUW), USA. This scholarship is only available for graduate and post-doc studies and covers US $18,000 to $30,000 per year.
• ACI Foundation Scholarship is a fully-funded scholarship for international students and is offered to students pursuing undergraduate, graduate and postdoctoral studies. It amounts to $10,000 – $15,000 US stipend for tuition, accommodation and study materials.
• Onsi Sawiris Scholarship program is offered by the top universities in USA namely Stanford University, Harvard University, The University of Chicago, and the University of Pennsylvania. It is a fully-funded scholarship for international students pursuing undergraduate and master’s programs. It covers tuition, accommodation, travel and health insurance.

Scholarships in Canada

More than 800 scholarships in Canada are available at the best Canadian universities for international students. Typically, these scholarships award an average monthly stipend of CAN $2500 along with paying for fees, accommodation, health insurance and travel. Just like in the USA, almost every Canadian University has a scholarship available. Mentioned below are some of the most common ones:

The University of Waterloo Scholarship is a fully-funded scholarship for international students pursuing undergraduate, or graduate studies. The scholarship is valued up to CAN $10,000.

Université de Montréal Scholarships are tuition fee exemption scholarships for international students pursuing undergraduate or graduate courses. They provide up to CAN $27,300/year.

Douglas College International Student Scholarship is available for international students pursuing undergraduate programs and it amounts up to CAD $7000 of the tuition.

University of Saskatchewan Graduate Scholarship is available for a fully-paid graduate program like master’s and PhD for international students. It amounts up to CAN $20,000 for PhD and CAN $16,000 for master’s.

Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship Program offered by the University of Toronto is for international students pursuing undergraduate programs. 37 scholarships are available, and it covers tuition, books, incidental fees and residence support for four years.

UBC Undergraduate Scholarships – These are of two types: Outstanding International Student (OIS) Award and International Major Entrance Scholarships (IMES). Depending on the funding, several international scholarships are awarded each year.

Université de Montréal Scholarships are for international students and are tuition fee exempted. They are for students pursuing undergraduate, and graduate studies. This scholarship provides up to CAN $27,300/year.

Dalhousie University Scholarship is a fully-funded scholarship for international students pursuing graduate studies. It provides CAN $30,000 and includes a monthly stipend, tuition, accommodation charges and health insurance.

University Canada West Scholarship is a funded scholarship granted to meritorious international students. This scholarship is offered only for undergraduate and master’s studies. This scholarship provides up to CAN $20,000 for an undergraduate degree and CAN $10,000 for masters.

University Canada West Scholarship is a fully-funded scholarship for international students pursuing undergraduate and master’s programs. It offers up to CAN $20,000 for undergraduate degree and CAN $10,000 for masters.

McGill University Scholarships are again fully-funded for international students pursuing undergraduate and graduate studies. It offers up to CAN $8,500 for undergraduate programs.

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship Program is fully-funded for international students pursuing PhD. It offers CAN $50,000/year for three years.

She Began for Women Scholarship is fully funded for women international students. It is offered to students pursuing undergraduate, and graduate studies. The sponsorship amount ranges from US $18,000 to US $ 32,000 that includes a monthly stipend and health insurance.

University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship is a fully-funded undergraduate scholarship. It is offered to international students in the Fall term of the first year of starting the undergraduate degree program.

To avail scholarships and pursue the upcoming Intakes to Study in Canada, or in USA, one must keep checking the websites of each scholarship available and be on time to apply for the same. Students with good GMAT score can always fulfil their goal of pursuing higher education from the top universities worldwide, if they are awarded a good scholarship as it boosts their self-confidence and takes off the financial burden from their shoulders.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ques.1 How difficult is it to get accepted into the best academic school?

A student needs good grades, good test scores and if the student is seeking a sports-based/athletic scholarship then they should have competed in their respective sports teams.

Ques.2 When can I apply for a merit scholarship?

The first step is to start the general study abroad application. Merit scholarship details for Fall programs are usually available in October, and for Spring programs they are available in May.

Ques.3 Can I apply for multiple scholarships?

Yes, students can apply for multiple merit-based scholarships.

Ques.4 Do I need to finish high school to apply for undergraduate programs/universities?

Yes, because the minimum requirement for attending a university abroad, is to have passed all classes at high school, and received an official diploma.

Ques.5 What will a study abroad scholarship cover?

What international scholarships you receive and who provides them determine what your scholarship funds will be used for. The majority of them are designed to cover your basic education costs. Tuition, student fees, books, and any other school-related expenses are included. A portion of your living expenses, such as food and accommodation, may be covered in some cases.

Other study abroad scholarships are less stringent. These may provide you with a lump sum of money that you can put towards your study in any way you see fit.

Ques.6 What are the different types of study abroad scholarships?

The most common types of scholarships available for study abroad are as follows:

• Scholarships for excellent academic results (also called merit scholarships)
• Scholarships for students with low incomes
• Scholarships for research, artistic, or athletic achievements
• Scholarships for all international students
• Scholarships for under-represented groups

Ques.7 How to get a scholarship to study abroad in 2022?

Start preparing your documentation once you’ve found a study abroad scholarship that you may apply for. The following is an example of a typical application process:

• Apply for the scholarship by filling out an online application form.
• Make sure you’ve received the confirmation email.
• Make a personal statement or an essay for your application. There are plenty of models on the internet, but don’t forget to be unique and impress with your own experiences and ideas.
• Get official documents of your academic, athletic, and artistic achievements. If necessary, translate the documents — it usually is.
• Alternatively, obtain documents of your low income or nationality (for region-based scholarships). Again, a translation may be required.
• Check for errors in all documents before sending them to the scholarship provider.
• Submit the university’s admission letter (or an official document from the university confirming your acceptance). You will not be granted the scholarship unless you indicate that you will commence your studies.

Ques.8 How can I get 100% scholarship to study abroad?

No, there are no fully funded scholarships for international students. Some scholarship awarding bodies may cover up to 85% of total costs, however these are few and far between. Not to add, there will be a lot of competition for these scholarships. You must have outstanding academic records as well as meet all other eligibility requirements.

Ques.9 What GPA do you need for overseas scholarship?

A specific GPA is not specifically required to get a scholarship. This criteria varies depending on the sort of scholarship and the institution that bestows it. Students with a GPA of 3.5 to 4.0 often stand out the most to academic scholarship awarding institutions. Because many students have excellent GPAs, universities frequently award scholarships to those who meet other requirements in addition to their GPA.

Ques.10 Which overseas scholarship is best for Indian students to study abroad?

In other countries, Indian students can apply for a number of scholarships. Students have a plethora of different options to choose from, ranging from government-sponsored scholarships to private institute-sponsored scholarships. Despite the fact that scholarships for Indian students studying abroad are readily available, many students are unaware of the funding possibilities available to them.

Find Your Dream University

If you are planning to study abroad and searching to match your profile with the best-suited university, Experts at Manya – The Princeton Review have gathered important information of top Universities from abroad. Surely, this information will help you narrow down your quest for universities.

You can access accurate & authentic information related to rankings, application fees, average tuition fees, cost of living, scholarships, latest updates, and much more from more than 1000+ universities. You may also search for universities by name, country, or courses in common specializations, such as Physics, Finance, Business, Language and Culture, Agriculture, Environmental Science, Computer and IT, Media and Communication Marketing.

Manya – The Princeton Review offers end-to-end study abroad services encompassing admissions consulting services, test preparation, English language training, career assessment, and international internship opportunities to study abroad aspirants.

For more information, call our Study Abroad Helpline 1800 102 4646.