I'm exploring international scholarships for undergraduate studies across different countries. What are the general options available, and how competitive is it to secure one of these scholarships?
There's a broad range of international scholarships available for undergraduate studies, which differ in the degree of their competitiveness.
1. Merit-Based Scholarships: These scholarships are awarded based on your academic, athletic, artistic, or other abilities, and often factor in your community service record and extracurricular activities. Schools like New York University (NYU) offer scholarships explicitly for international students, like the Goddard Scholarship.
2. Need-Based Scholarships: These are given based on your family's financial situation. Schools like Harvard University fall under this category, where they provide need-based aid that can cover full tuition for families earning less than $85,000 a year.
3. Country or Region-Specific Scholarships: These are scholarships provided for students from specific countries or regions. The Aga Khan Foundation and The United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF) Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships are examples.
4. Course-Specific Scholarships: These scholarships are offered for specific fields of study. MIT offers the Media Lab Fellowship for students interested in Media Arts and Sciences.
5. Organization Scholarships: Certain organizations or companies provide scholarships too. For example, the Rotary Foundation offers scholarships for undergraduate and graduate study.
The competitiveness of these scholarships varies. Scholarships that offer significant aid amounts are typically more competitive. The ease of obtaining a scholarship also depends on factors such as the student's academic record, extracurricular achievements, or the country/region and field of study.
Remember to begin your scholarship search early and thoroughly, looking at both scholarships offered by colleges and independent organizations. Some universities have specific pages for international scholarships on their websites, and resources like Appily can help you find opportunities as well. Also, be sure to double-check the eligibility criteria, as some scholarships may only be open to students from certain countries or regions or studying particular subjects. Good luck!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.