How To Get a Full Scholarship as an International Student

Studying abroad is your investment toward a more progressive future. On a more realistic note, studying abroad requires financial investments too.

How can you fund your overseas education? Studying internationally is expensive, which drives prospective students to save up money or take out huge loans. 

If you possess exceptional academic abilities or are in great financial need, you can apply for a full-ride or 100 percent scholarship. 

Is It Possible To Get a Full Scholarship?

The quick answer is yes. But this doesn’t apply to all types of scholarships and scholarship programs.

As an example, the Rotary Peace Fellowship is a scholarship grant that covers 100 percent of an international student’s tuition fees. On top of that, this scholarship also covers additional expenses such as accommodation and meals. However, only students who are taking a master’s degree program that is related to peace and resolution are eligible to apply.

In the United States, over 250 institutions offer full scholarships to international students. These scholarships are often, if not exclusively, granted to students who are enrolled in that institution.

For an international students who wants to study in UK, many universities provide scholarships which aids in their education.

Australian governments also spend a lot of money for providing scholarship benefits to students coming to study in Australia.

In most cases, organizations, private groups, and institutions that grant scholarships only cover up to 85 percent of a student’s expenses. And that still depends per case, especially with need-based scholarships, as the financial aid would be granted based on the computation between expenses and household income.

Yes, it’s technically possible to get a full-ride scholarship, but not in every case. 

How To Get a Full Scholarship

Set SMART objectives

As stated previously, a full scholarship is possible, but only in a few cases. And institutions and groups that do grant full-ride scholarships usually have very competitive applications.

As much as possible, you need to stay extremely realistic with your applications. Setting up specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals can help you set the right levels of expectation.

Plan carefully and think about where and how many times should you send your scholarship application. You can apply for as many scholarship grants as you can, and you can receive more than one scholarship.

But be mindful of your time frame, and do consider your resources too. Determine if it would be better for you to apply for many smaller scholarships, or just focus your energy on at least one greater scholarship.

Determine Eligibility Criteria and Requirements

Once you’ve selected the scholarship or study grant you’re going to apply for, it’s necessary that you consult its requirements and eligibility criteria.

Eligibility requirements may differ depending on whether you are applying for a need-based or merit-based scholarship. 

Need-based scholarships often have criteria based on financial need, regardless of a student’s academic abilities. A merit-based scholarship may require you to maintain a grade and present proof of academic abilities including honors and awards.

Identifying document requirements will also help you plan in advance, and obtain alternative documents in case you’re not in possession of a particular requirement.

Make sure to thoroughly thread through the stipulations of the scholarship applications. Everything that you must know when applying is listed there, so make sure not to miss anything relevant. 

Prepare a Scholarship CV

Writing an impressive scholarship CV is easier said than done. Considering that you are applying for competitive scholarships, every student sending in an application is also exceptional in his or her own way.

A cliche yet very valuable thing to remember when applying for scholarships is that you have to present the best version of yourself. 

What’s the highest recognition you’ve received on an international level? What’s your most recent example of demonstrating your leadership skills? What was your greatest achievement as a student?

Think about the qualifications, skills, experience, and achievements that best reflect who you are as a learner and a person. Attempting very hard to stand out may even weigh you down. Try to be honest and driven.

Full-ride scholarships are guaranteed to students who need them the most. Check out our articles at MSM Unify to find which scholarship is right for you and more about study abroad.