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Securing a Scholarship to
Study Abroad!
TOGETHER, LET'S MAKE STUDY ABROAD SIMPLE!
Choosing the right university and course could be the two hardest decisions you
have ever had to make – especially when you are looking to study in a foreign
country. This is what will shape your career! Uniguru has all the tools you will need
to help you make an informed decision – from course selection to university
application. Join us and let's make study abroad simple!
Find Courses
More than 4,00,000 courses to choose from, in 10 study destinations
Find Scholarships
More than 20,000 scholarships to choose from to help you fund your
education
Get Prospectuses
Download official prospectuses of universities and shortlist your preferred
universities
Apply Online
Apply online to your preferred University with the help of our expert
counsellors for free
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INTRODUCTION
Did you know that in ancient India, kings used to sponsor the education of poor
and needy students in universities like Taxila and Nalanda! These are amongst
the earliest recorded instances of scholarships being granted to students.
Similarly, well-to-do Romans supported students in ancient Rome as well.
In the current scenario dollar and euro values keep fluctuating, and institutions
across the world increase tuition fees and the cost of accommodation on-
campus; so it becomes essential that students plan their finances accordingly.
As a student planning to go abroad for higher studies, does the cost factor give
you sleepless nights? Do not worry; we at Uniguru have put together this guide to
offer you information on some popular scholarships that will help you fund your
studies.
Take your time to go through this guide and apply for a scholarship that caters
to your requirements
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CONTENT
What is a Scholarship? -6
Types of Scholarships -8
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CHAPTER 1
What is a Scholarship?
YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SECURE A SCHOLARSHIP 7
The ‘Oxford Dictionary of English’ defines the word ‘scholarship’ as: ‘a grant or
payment made to support a student’s education, awarded on the basis of
academic or other achievement’.
Further Reading:
How to fund your education abroad?[Video]
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CHAPTER 2
Types of Scholarships
YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SECURE A SCHOLARSHIP 9
• Merit-based
• Need-based
• Student-specific
Merit-Based
Generally people think that ‘merit scholarships’ are just for those students who
have high grades or are excellent in academics. Merit scholarships are definitely
given to top-scoring students, but that's not all, ‘Merit’ means ‘to be worthy of or
to deserve’.
So, if you are a brilliant athlete and excel in a specific sport, or you are a
talented singer, musician, or dancer and you excel in a specific performing art
you may still get a ‘merit scholarship’
Top scores in standardised tests such as SAT, ACT, GRE, GMAT, IELTS and TOEFL
etc. are also taken into consideration for academic eligibility. Merit scholarships
are offered by educational institutions and by private organisations. A consistent
top-ranking performance from senior school or class ten onwards ensures that
applicants have a good chance of obtaining a scholarship.
Need-Based
Need-based scholarships are given to students who cannot afford to pay their
college tuition fee. Students coming from a less well off family can apply for
these scholarships. Students who have financial/economic problems and are
consistently good at their studies are eligible for need-based scholarships. Some
institutions also offer need-based scholarships to single parent students.
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YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SECURE A SCHOLARSHIP 10
Student-Specific Scholarship
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CHAPTER 3
• Colleges/Universities
• The Government
• Corporations or Non-profit Associations
• Individual donors and Philanthropists
While the eligibility for a scholarship will vary from one programme to another,
there are some general requirements that all students will be expected to meet.
• Good GPA
• Scholastic & Co-Scholastic Activities
• Exam scores such as SAT, GRE, GMAT, IELTS, TOEFL
• No disciplinary action taken against candidate in previous schools /
colleges
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CHAPTER 4
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CHAPTER 5
Popular Non-Subject
Scholarships to Study
Abroad
YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SECURE A SCHOLARSHIP 16
Given below is a list of popular scholarships, which are available for students to
study in USA, UK, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Sweden, Netherlands, New
Zealand, Ireland and Hong Kong.
Further Reading:
Scholarships for International Students to Study in US[Video]
What are the Funding Options to study in US? [Video]
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17
YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SECURE A SCHOLARSHIP 17
Ref: http://www.mohe.gov.my/portal/antarabangsa/penajaan.html
Ref: http://www.minedu.govt.nz/NZEducation/EducationPolicies/Tertiary
Education/ForTertiaryStudentsAndParents/ScholarshipLinks.aspx
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YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SECURE A SCHOLARSHIP 18
Ref: http://www.icosirl.ie/eng/irish_aid_fellowships
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CHAPTER 6
Lady Meherbai D. Tata Education Trust Scholarships are awarded to women with
an exceptional academic record or work experience.
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YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SECURE A SCHOLARSHIP 21
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CHAPTER 7
Some institutions might insist on specific documents, while others might need a
letter from the bank. Please ensure that you submit all necessary documents
mandated by the institution and the scholarship awarding body.
Prepare all
Write winning
relevant
essay(s)
documents
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YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SECURE A SCHOLARSHIP 24
• Academic transcripts
• Curriculum Vitae
• SAT / GRE / GMAT and TOEFL / IELTS / PTE Scores
• Essays or Statement of Purpose
• Letters of Recommendation
• Cover Letter
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CHAPTER 8
There are many scholarships available, and not all of them require you to
prove you’re the most academically gifted person on earth. But they are
incredibly competitive. So how do you make sure you get the scholarship or
bursary you deserve?
Further Reading:
How to Avoid Scholarship Scams?
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YOUR ULTIMATE GUIDE TO SECURE A SCHOLARSHIP 27
Scholarships checklist:
Remember that you are not the sole applicant for a scholarship;
numerous applicants apply for the same scholarship and only the most
suitable applicant wins it. Hence it is important that you apply for all
relevant scholarships. Also remember to apply for a bank-offered student
loan as a back-up plan.
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