Are you an Egyptian student seeking to obtain an international scholarship? You may be somehow worried about that, as many think it is not as easy as it seems. However, getting international scholarships is becoming more common and easier. Let’s learn how through the upcoming lines.
Sometimes it is not just about being an international student, perhaps you’d like to focus more on how to manage your financial duties during your academic years abroad. Of course, we all love free money opportunities and feel the vibes of the heart-eye-emoji when just thinking about them. So the best way here is to gain a scholarship that provides the essential financial support that so many students need.
What is a scholarship?
The scholarship is financial support awarded to a student with great ability but limited funds for the purpose of schooling due to various factors and changeable criteria, including, but not limited to, academic achievement, departmental and community involvement, employment experience, areas of study, and financial need. Most common scholarships. Merit-based and need-based scholarships are two of the most common types of scholarships.
The funds or amounts granted by a university or any other entity are directly managed to cover all costs relevant to a student’s academic life such as books, tuition, residence, etc… The department or donor providing the scholarship determines the selection criteria, and the grantor outlines in detail how the funds are to be used.
How is the scholarship different from both grants and student loans?
Other types of funding are awarded to students as well. The first is the grant, which is usually need-based and often goes to young people who cannot afford the costs of their studies regardless of their academic achievement, as is the case with scholarships. However, what both grants and scholarships have in common is that students do not need to pay the money back.
As to student loans, it is the second type here, some consider them a mixed blessing as they always turn into an overwhelming curse when students stumble for payback. Student loan repayment varies depending on the lender; some demand immediate repayment, while others permit borrowers to start repaying after they graduate.
Stuck in time… here are 5 smart steps to score a scholarship
1- Pick your destination
There is no doubt that your journey begins when you choose your destination. And here, you should read more and more about the best destinations for affording a scholarship. Sometimes you may have some common misconceptions about a given nation, so all you need to do here is keep on searching and searching just to cut to the chase and win the appropriate chance.
2- Ask for advice
First, keep in mind that reaching out to the people around you for help is a good practice that increases the chance of potential scholarship opportunities for you. Don’t hesitate to contact your professors and academic advisors and ask about scholarships or grants that they may know of.
In addition, you may need to email or call some study abroad offices and agencies to ask for an advisory. And guess what? The best thing ever is to go in person, if possible, to these offices to ask for advice on how to get a scholarship.
3- Head toward the application process
What should be taken into account is that you, as an applicant, must meet the criteria of your destination in order to apply for the program that you picked. Contact the funder directly to know all the nitty-gritty details of the scholarships you will be applying for. This valiant step helps you ensure that you have all the correct information.
4- Tweak your resume and cover letter
There is no need to overact, it is all about customizing both your resume and cover letter to comply with the list of study abroad scholarships that you plan on applying for. Your continuous search will guide you to how the country you will be studying in typically organizes its resumes or cover letters. And that is why the key piece of advice is always, search and search.
5- Set your calendar
You should always be organized when you apply for many scholarship opportunities, or even just one. Setting a calendar helps you keep track of all the different deadlines and application requirements and never lets you fall under a heavy deadline during this crucial period of time.
Finally, be sure that it always seems impossible until it’s done, and you should always take your ambitions seriously. So, don’t let thinking about study-abroad costs get you down; just try to expand your prospects and focus on the completely transformative experience of immersing yourself in a new world outside of your comfort zone, along with all the adventures that accompany it.