How Are Scholarships Awarded?
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How Are Scholarships Awarded?

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Priya
Priya Garg
Study Abroad Expert
Updated on Aug 7, 2024 12:05 IST

How to get a scholarship remains a common question among scholarship-aspiring students willing to study abroad. There are two types of scholarships namely fully-funded scholarships and partially-funded scholarships. Both ease the financial burden off the students' shoulders. However, since many students from all over the world apply for these scholarships to study abroad, these become extremely competitive in nature and difficult to obtain. Read this article to learn how scholarships are awarded to students for studying abroad.   

How are scholarships awarded?

Every scholarship has different eligibility criteria. If a student meets those minimum requirements, they are awarded the sum amount of the scholarship. Let us understand what could be the eligibility criteria for all kinds of scholarships in the section below.

Also Read: 

Eligibility Criteria for Scholarships to Study Abroad

Below are a few requirements that the students must meet in order to be eligible for getting granted a scholarship. 

1. Academic requirements – If your scores and GPA are high enough, you will automatically get high points to get awarded the scholarship. These numbers could be different from one scholarship to another. One thing to note is that if the scholarship details mention a 'minimum requirement of grades' and you have the same score, it does not mean you will get the scholarship. A minimum requirement is a kind of cut-off required to apply for the scholarship. Anyone who has scored more than the requirement can apply. And from that pool of students, the ultimate winner or multiple winners will be chosen.  

2. Extra-curricular activities – If you have a well-rounded profile and you have held a leadership position in any society of your college/school, you might be considered for the scholarship. You must have contributed to society in a beneficial manner through your leadership role.  

3. Diversity-based – If you belong to a minority community, religion, affiliation, orientation etc. You may be given preference over other students. For example, students from varied racial backgrounds may have an advantage, as well as female applicants.  

4. Essay-based â€“ If you were required to submit essays along with your application, then your writing skills may get you a scholarship. Usually, a topic is provided for the essay and you need to form your answer in form of the essay. More than one essay could also be required. How well you address the question and how well your answer reflects on your profile decide your chances of getting the scholarship amount.  

5. Need-based – If your family income is not enough to pay for the tuition costs or loans, you may be eligible for need-based scholarships. You will have to prove your source of income and your own academic excellence as well.

Learn more about scholarships:

What is a Good Scholarship Amount?

What Kind of Student Profile is Required to Win a Scholarship?

Types of scholarships available for Study Abroad aspirants

Private Trusts offering Scholarships and Loans for studying abroad

What are the chances of receiving a Scholarship?

Common Expenses Covered in Scholarship

How are Scholarships Awarded?

Scholarships for studying abroad are awarded through various processes, depending on the organisation offering them. Some require proof of your admission by your foreign university while some require proof of your financial means (for need-based scholarships). Check some of the factors/elements that determine how scholarships are awarded to deserving candidates below. 

  1. Application: Most college-specific scholarships need not be applied for separately, they are awarded to you along with your university offer letter if your application is strong. However, this does not imply that all applicants will receive a scholarship. On the other hand, most scholarships require formal applications including essays, personal statements, or project proposals. 
  2. Eligibility Screening: All scholarship applications are first screened to ensure they meet basic eligibility criteria. The screening process may typically include checking the GPA requirements, field of study, nationality, etc.
  3. Merit-based Selection: Many scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence, the factors considered often include GPA, test scores, and academic achievements.
  4. Specific Criteria Matching: Some scholarships target specific demographics, fields of study, or countries. Applicants who closely match these criteria may have an advantage. 
  5. Holistic Evaluation: Some scholarships look beyond academics and consider participation in extracurricular activities, leadership experience, community service, personal qualities and potential.
  6. Financial Need Assessment: Need-based scholarships evaluate the applicant's financial situation. The applications to these scholarships typically require the submission of financial documents
  7. Interview Process: Competitive scholarships with numerous applicants often include an interview stage which can be in-person, via phone, or video call. 
  8. Committee Review: A special scholarship selection committee typically reviews all the applications received for the current session. The scholarship selection committee may include faculties, administrators, and sometimes alumni or donors. 
  9. Competitive Ranking: Due to the limited number of scholarships available for students from different nationalities, applicants are often ranked against each other and only the top-ranked applicants are shortlisted for further rounds of awarding a scholarship.

Also Read:

This was all about how the scholarships are awarded to study abroad. If you wish to study abroad, then you can get assistance from Shiksha Counselling Services for free. You can also drop your queries in the comments section below.

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:   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:   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:   How can I get a 100% scholarship to study in UK?

A:

Yes, it is possible to get 100% scholarships to study in the UK. There are various external funding agencies that offer 100% scholarships to international students to study in the UK. Three main UK government scholarships for international students are;

However, to get 100% scholarships to study in the UK, international students must meet all the eligibility criteria and apply within the deadlines.

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 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:   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:   What is the cost of an Essex MBA?

A:

The University of Essex MBA cost is vary from INR 17 L to INR 27 L for first-year. The university offers an affordable MBA programme to international students. The table below includes the complete first year cost of studying MBA program: 

Fees components

Amount (for 1 year)

Tuition & fees

INR 27,67,000

Hostel & Meals

INR 6,59,321

Insurance

INR 85,888

Total approximate fees

INR 35,12,209

Also read: MBA in the UK Cost 

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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