All about Need-Based and Merit-Based Scholarships for Studying Abroad
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All about Need-Based and Merit-Based Scholarships for Studying Abroad

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Priya
Priya Garg
Study Abroad Expert
Updated on Jun 17, 2024 12:16 IST

Need-based and merit-based Scholarships: Scholarships have always provided students with a medium to fulfil their dreams by allowing them to study abroad. They provide the much-needed financial aid required to lessen the burden of the strenuous tuition fees and living expenses that a domestic student wanting to study abroad faces. However, scholarships are of different kinds.

All about Need-Based and Merit-Based Scholarships for Studying Abroad

While some are general scholarships others are more categorical in nature. Today we are going to discuss the types of scholarships that are available to Indian students looking to study abroad.

Related Reads:

How and When to Apply for International Scholarships

10 Scholarships that will help you study abroad for free

Common Expenses Covered in Scholarship

How Are Scholarships Awarded?

Types of Scholarships

Today we are going to be talking about merit-based scholarships, need-based scholarships, and general scholarships among other financial grants/aids for applicants looking to study abroad at a low cost. 

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What are Merit-Based Scholarships?

As the name suggests Merit-Based Scholarships are financial grants that are provided to students on the basis of a student’s past academic records and/or extracurricular activities such as achievements in sports and service to the community. The financial background of a candidate is of no importance here. Read: Merit Scholarships for SAT and ACT Scores








What are Need-Based Scholarships?

As the name suggests, Need-Based scholarships are financial aids/grants that are provided to students that are facing financial difficulties. These scholarships are aimed towards students with weak financial backgrounds who are unable to meet the high tuition fees and living expenses of foreign countries. Candidates would be required to produce proof in the form of family income proof, tax statements employment documents among others to apply for this particular category of scholarship.







Difference Between Merit-based and Need-based Scholarships

The differences between the need-based and the merit-based scholarships are given below.

Differences between Need-based and Merit-based Scholarships
Merit-based Scholarships  Need-based Scholarships
The Merit-based Scholarships require specific academic achievements as its selection criteria. For example, test scores, essays, extra-curricular activities, etc.  The selection criteria for Need-based Scholarships is the financial aid dependency of the applicant. 
Examples of merit-based scholarships are specific college/university scholarships.  Examples of need-based scholarships are several federal/government grants.
Aimed towards recognising the hard work and academic achievements of meritorious students and boosting motivation among other students to utilise their full potential and do good in their academics.   These scholarships are aimed at supporting students who come from economically weaker backgrounds to get a fair chance of receiving higher education.  

 

Also Read:

What is the Right Time to Apply for a Scholarship?

How to Get a Scholarship to Study Abroad?

What are the chances of receiving a Scholarship?

How to Apply for a Scholarship

What are General Scholarships?

As the name suggests, General Scholarships is an umbrella term that talks about all financial aid/ grants that are given to deserving candidates to embark on their study abroad journey. This particular scholarship does not follow any set pattern but has been constituted for the deserving. For the benefit of our readers, we have brought together the most popular scholarships for study abroad destinations that have one of the largest Indian student footfalls, every academic year. Candidates would be surprised to know Indians form the second largest percentage of foreign student composition abroad only second to China. 

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The list of country-wise scholarships is as follows.

Scholarships for France

Scholarships for Germany

Scholarships in Singapore for Indian Students

Scholarships for studying in New Zealand

Top Scholarships to Study in Canada for International Students

Scholarships to Study in the USA for International Students

Scholarships to Study in Australia for International Students

Scholarships to Study in Sweden for International Students

Scholarships to Study in Ireland for International Students

Popular UK Scholarships for Indian students

Scholarships for European Countries: Erasmus Mundus Programme

Apart from the scholarships mentioned above, there are also various other scholarships that candidates can apply for. These scholarships are again for students who comply with a certain larger category. These include.

  • Student Specific Scholarships: As the name suggests, Student Specific Scholarships are based on factors such as gender, race, religion, family, and medical history of the applicant, and students who are eligible can apply to such scholarships.
  • Destination Specific: These are scholarships that are more destination specific. For example, the Chevening fellowship granted by the UK Government is for international students belonging to the Commonwealth countries. Hence, you see scholarships could also target Tier II and Tier III countries, to bring about equal opportunities.
  • Athletic Scholarships: As the term suggests, these are scholarships that are reserved for top-notch sportsmen. The financial grant would require applicants to contribute with rigorous training and representing their university at events whilst balancing their education, simultaneously.

Check out:

Scholarships vs Fellowship vs Freeship

While we know all about scholarships, let us closely look at what Fellowship and Freeship mean and how different are they from scholarships.

What are Fellowships?

The fellowship is the financial aid awarded to students who are going to pursue research on a specific subject after clearing the qualifying exam. A fellowship can be a grant given to students or scholars from various disciplines like finance, management, science, etc. for pursuing research in a specific area.

What is Freeship?

Freeship is when the total tuition fee is paid by the authority which is sponsoring it for the time period which they have approved. Some universities offer Freeship where they waive off tuition fee, however, the student has to pay for the accommodation and food expenses.

Don’t forget to write to us in the comments below for more content on scholarships and how to get them.

Related Reads

Types of scholarships available for Study Abroad aspirants

Do average students get a scholarship to study abroad?

Difference between Scholarship and Freeship

Difference between Scholarship and Fellowship

Q:   Is university of West of Scotland good for international students?

A:

The University of the West of Scotland has five modern and diverse campuses in United Kingdom. The University has welcomed more than 3,000 international students which are representing 1/3 of the globe. They also have 130 European partners who are actively in global study and exchange options through the Commonwealth universities programmes. The University also offers study abroad opportunities for UWS who are eligible for the same and also have more than 20 transnational education partners worldwide which helps them deliver UWS Bachelors and Masters Degrees around the world.

Q:   How can I get admission in the University of Manchester?

A:

The application process at the University of Manchester may vary depending on the course and level of study. However, here is the application process for UG and PG courses: 

The Undergraduate Application Process:  

Step 1:  You can apply through the UCAS common application portal.

Step 2: Go to the website and select the course you are interested in.

Step 3: Ensure you meet the Entry requirements (Academic qualifications, English proficiency, etc.

Step 4: Once you decide on the course, submit documents such as SOP, Transcripts and personal statements. 

Check out:  tips to improve your SOP

Step 5: You can track the application's progress through your given credentials by UCAS. 

Step 6: Once the applicant submits the application to UCAS, it forwards to the University, and the admission teams carefully analyse the application document.

Step 7: The university will send you an offer letter once selected. Hence keep checking your UCAS portal for your application status.

The Postgraduate application process: 

Step 1: Select the postgraduate course you are interested in from the University of Manchester.\

Step 2: Ensure you meet the entry requirements for the chosen program, as they vary depending on the course.

Step 3: Complete the online application by providing your personal information.

Step 4: Upload the required documents, such as Academic transcripts and proof of English language proficiency ( TOEFL/ IELTS). experience in your fields and references (depending on the course). You also may require Two LORs depending on the course. 

To make your admission better, check out the following: How Admission Officers Evaluate your application. 

Step 5:  If your application is successful, you will receive an offer from the University of Manchester. 

Q:   Does the University of Essex require IELTS?

A:

International students whose native language is not English must meet the University of Essex English language requirements to get admission. The university accepts IELTS scores as proof of English language proficiency. Mentioned below are the IELTS scores required for UG and PG admission at the university:

English Language Test

 Score

IELTS

Overall score of 5.5 to 8.0 with minimum of 5.5 to 7.5 in each section

The university also accepts the score of other English language tests such as TOEFL and PTE for admission to undergraduate and graduate programs:

English Language Test

 Score

TOEFL iBT

Overall score of 72 to 114

PTE

Overall score of 59 to 84 with minimum of 59 to 80 in each section

Also read: Required IELTS Score for UK Universities

Q:   How to prepare for UK 10th board exam 2025?

A:

Those who are preparing for the UK Class 10 exam 2025 are recommended to follow the tips below.

  • Know the exam pattern
  • Make a proper time table as per the syllabus
  • Solve previous year question papers
  • Make short notes of important formulas and theorems
  • Revise regularly
  • Figure out weaker areas and learn them well

With proper planning and hard work, students can easily clear the UK 10th board exam.

Q:   What is University of Wales, Trinity Saint famous for?

A:

University of Wales, Trinity Saint (UWTSD) was founded in 2010, is a public institution for higher education and research at multiple locations. It was set up under the 1828 royal charter of Lampeter, the institution was the result of the merger between Trinity University College and the University of Wales. The institution merged with the Swansea Metropolitan University in 2013.

  • Top Ranked University: The UWTSD is not ranked by any major ranking body, however as per the university ranking given on the official website of the university, it is ranked among:
  1. #1st in Wales and UK Top 5 Film Production and Photography
  2. #1st in Wales and UK Top 5 Fashion and Textiles
  3. #1st in Wales and UK Top 20 Graphic Design
  4. #1st in Wales and UK Top 5 Education
  5. #1st in Wales and UK Top 20 Sports Science
  6. #1st in Wales and UK Top 20 Mechanical Engineering
  7. #1st in Wales for Fine Arts
  • Variety of Courses: UWTSD offers more than 300 programs at various levels including undergraduate, postgraduate degrees as well as multiple online courses.
  • Highly distinguished and learned faculties: the faculty at UWTSD    is highly learned and distinguished which enables students to be the best in their field of study.
  • High Placements: According to Graduate Outcome data 2019-2020 quoted by the UWTSD, more than 95% of its graduates were found to be employed within 15 Months of graduation. The average salary of a graduate is not explicitly released by UWTSD, however, as per some unofficial sources the average salary of the graduates of UWTSD is approximately INR 30-35L. with the highest salary being reported as high as INR 66.5L for jobs in Financial Services.

Q:   Why indian students choose to study at Hult International Business School - UK?

A:

Indian students choose to study at Hult International Business School in the UK for several reasons, including its highly ranked programs, global outlook, and career support. Hult offers a range of full-time master’s degrees, immersive bachelor's programs, and MBA options that prepare students to excel in the global job market. The school is the largest and top-ranked global business school, providing students with an incomparable universal outlook. Additionally, Hult's focus on experiential learning, extensive career support, and the opportunity to study at multiple campuses around the world are attractive to Indian students seeking a global business education. Furthermore, the school's emphasis on innovation and meeting the needs of students and employers may also contribute to its appeal to Indian students

Q:   What rank is Wolverhampton University in UK?

A:

The University of Wolverhampton is one of the best universities in the United Kingdom. The university is consistently ranked among the best universities nationally and globally. For nearly 200 years, the University of Wolverhampton has been consistently providing a quality of education to students and producing highly skilled graduates. The national rankings of the University of Wolverhampton are given below:

Ranking Body Ranking
The Guardian University Guide 2024 #101
The Complete University Guide 2024#117

Q:   What is your review of Central Lancashire University?

A:

University of Central lanchester surely a good option for international students mainly beacuse of a diverse range of excellent academic programs across its professional schools and colleges

Here are the reasons why you should go for UCLAN:

Academics: University of Central Lancashire offers a range of over 350 undergraduate programs as well as more than 200 graduate programs for their international students. Below are some famous courses the university is highly famous for:

  • Arts, Engineering, Applied & Biomedical Sciences;
  • Business & Management;
  • Psychology;
  • Social Science;
  • Community Service;
  • Design & Fashion;
  • Medicine & Nursing;
  • Language & Global Studies;
  • Journalism;
  • Media Studies; and
  • Sports.

Location of the university - The Universit of Central Lanchester is in a location where arts & culture, technology industry and entertainment industry providing endless internship. International Students have access tooutdoor activities, live music/performances and attractions which makes their make campus life more enjoyable. The location gives students an additional mark to study at UK. 

Ranking: According to global ranking partner THE (Times Higher Education) University Ranking, University of Central Lancashire ranking is 1001-1200 in Best Global Universities, which is Improving from 801-1000 in 2022.

Fees: : The cost of attending UCLAN for Indian students can vary depending on several factors. Tuition fees for international students at UCLAN are typically higher than for UK citizens. However, it is important that the tuition fee can change over time, and it is recommended to visit the official website to recheck the fees and accommodation. Indian students should also consider other costs such as housing, health insurance, meals and transportation attending UCLAN. 

About the Author
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Written by
Priya Garg
Study Abroad Expert

Priya Garg is a seasoned content writer and editor. With her rich experience in content writing, teaching and research & analysis, Priya believes in providing only the correct information which is also up-to-date. H... Read Full Bio

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