A 100% scholarship to study abroad - Is it really possible?

A full scholarship to study abroad will be an aspiration for many. One of the first thoughts that cross the mind of a student when applying for a course to study abroad is the total course fees and the total scholarship amount on offer. In many cases, the amount offered through scholarships and the official sanction of a scholarship or grant determine if a student will accept the admission offer and join the institution. Several scholarships are offered by different universities, organisations and governments to support international students.

Scholarships are usually of the following types:

• Scholarships offered by the institution/university.
• Scholarships offered by the government.
• Scholarships offered by private trusts, charitable organisations and companies.

Usually, scholarships offer a monetary discount, which is offered as a deduction to the tuition fees; no direct cash payment is made to the students. Some scholarships will also cover the cost of living, travels and other expenses. Several criteria will have to be met to be eligible for a scholarship. This might vary based on the university, subject, study level and the individual’s merit. Bursaries and research grants are different, wherein students are paid a regular grant at intervals. The scholarship amount varies from as less as USD 1000 to as much as USD 25,000 or more. Check with our counsellors to know if the university of your choice offers scholarships for the course you applied for.

A 100 per cent scholarship to study abroad - Fact or fiction?

A question that many students aspiring to study abroad ask is – ‘will any scholarship cover 100% of the expenses of studying abroad?’ The true answer to this question is ‘NO’. There are no fully funded scholarships for international students. Some scholarship awarding bodies may foot nearly 85% of the total costs, but these are limited in number. Not to mention, the competition for these scholarships will be very high. You should have exceptional academic records along with meeting other specific eligibility requirements.

Don’t be dejected though; there are several other scholarships that you can apply for, which offers decent support with the expenses involved in studying abroad. Financial support in any way, big or small, will go a long way.

Before we learn about the different scholarships, here are some aspects that you have to keep in mind when you look for and apply for scholarships.

Things to remember before applying for scholarships to study abroad

There are several steps involved in finding the right scholarship.

Be prepared with the basic requirements: Some of the obvious requirements for a scholarship to study abroad include your academic certificates, reference letters and university offer letter. Decide whom you would like to contact for referral and keep them informed.

Understand the scholarship-specific requirements: You should read the scholarship requirements and application guidelines carefully. Make sure you meet the eligibility criteria. Also, check out the specific requirements as to what documents are to be submitted. Adhere to the deadlines.

Write a convincing cover letter to your application: Along with the other documents that you submit, you will have to write a cover letter that stands out. Include points that would demonstrate your skills and achievements. You should be able to convince the deciding authorities that you deserve the scholarship.

Remember that the competition for scholarships is high. Being fully prepared from your end will not ensure that you’ll get the scholarship for sure. So be prepared for setbacks. Don’t give up, you can apply for the next best scholarship.

Popular Scholarships to Study Abroad

Some of the popular scholarships that are available for international students are listed below; click on them for more information.

• Chevening UK Government Scholarships – If you want to pursue a one-year master’s degree at any university in the UK, you can apply for the Chevening scholarship. It is a fully-funded scholarship; however, check out the website for more accurate information.

• Commonwealth Scholarships – You can apply for commonwealth scholarships after having studied in a UK institution for a year. There are specific scholarships for students pursuing masters or PhD. The Ministry of Human Resource Development will be conducting an interview for shortlisting the eligible students. Do check out the eligibility criteria before applying for this scholarship.
• Erasmus Scholarships – You can apply for this scholarship to study at the master’s or doctorate level.
• Royal Society Grants – These grants are offered for researchers.
• Tata Scholarship at Cornell University for Indian Students – Students who received an admission offer from Cornell University for undergraduate studies can apply for this scholarship. They support 20 students at a time.
• Fulbright-Nehru Master’s Fellowships for Indian Students – Some of the eligibility criteria for this scholarship is that you should have 3 years professional experience in the field of study and also hold a degree from an Indian institution which is equivalent to the U.S. Bachelor’s degree. (Bachelor’s degree in the U.S. takes 4 years to complete.)

Apart from these, there are several other scholarships given by the universities, for Indian international students. These include the India Global Leaders Scholarship offered by The University of Queensland, Future of Change Scholarship offered by University of New South Wales, the Rhodes Scholarship for India for students applying to the Oxford University, the University of Lincoln India Scholarship offered by the University of Lincoln and so on. These are not 100 per cent scholarships, but will support you in your study abroad journey.

Applying for Scholarships        

This is one of the most important steps of the whole process. Once you have short-listed the institutions to which you plan to apply; focus on the various scholarships listed on the institutions’ websites. Read through the details and apply to all the scholarships for which you are eligible.

Ensure that you complete the scholarship application form properly, provide all relevant details and send the form well in time. In addition to these scholarships, regular announcements are made by philanthropists and private organisations before the admission season. Check educational websites, newspapers, international student support forums and Facebook pages for updates and apply accordingly. 

Note: Some institutions mandate that the scholarship application should be made with the original course admission form. Some institutions open up the scholarship process for students only once the admission form is verified and the student is given a conditional offer. You can check with our counsellors for clarity on these aspects.

Research Grants and Fellowships

Students need to note that research grants and technical fellowships are different from a regular scholarship. As research-fellows, students dedicate long hours of intense research in laboratories working on their research projects. Such research projects are funded by large corporations or the government and students receive regular grants to fund the research.

Competition is extremely cut-throat and if the research is a failure or not economically sustainable such projects are shut down. We once again reiterate that a ‘fully paid research fellowship’ should not be confused with a scholarship for studying abroad!

Team Hotcourses India's Take

Scholarships do help, but still, a major portion of the fees, living and accommodation costs will have to be borne by the student. There is more than one way of funding your studies. With most banks offering student loans at attractive rates and plans that start instalments once you start earning; education loans from banks can be combined with scholarships and your ‘study abroad dream’ can be fulfilled.

Scholarships play a pivotal role in a student accepting or declining an offer to study in a specific institution. A majority of students still rely on scholarships to study abroad so that a major part of their expenses is met. While there are a lot of options out there to choose from, you have to be vigilant and not fall for scholarship scams. All the very best for your scholarship-search and studies! You can check out our course matcher tool to find the right institution for you or you can speak to our counsellors for expert advice.

Editor's note: This article was originally published in August 2015. We have included up-to-date information and made it comprehensive.