Studying abroad is something many African students desire. This is because the higher education system is better built in other countries, which also have a strong and rich history of delivering exceptional teaching experiences and programs. However, studying abroad might be expensive for international students.
Thankfully, many colleges and universities design programs and international scholarships in an attempt to help international students succeed and pursue their academic goals. These scholarships are also increasing diversity within classes and campuses, something that any college wants. African students might not know how to get an internal scholarship or if they are eligible for it. Well, in the next paragraphs, we will shed more light on this topic.
Make Sure You Have a Clear Idea of What Scholarships Are
As an African student who wants to travel and study abroad, you have probably asked yourself which is the difference between different financial aids you can get from the college you apply to. Well, scholarships are granted to exceptional students who have remarkable results, but little money to continue their studies. Even though at the beginning getting a scholarship might have been more difficult, nowadays things are pretty easy. Today, scholarships are granted to students independently of their previous results.
On the other hand, student loans or grants require you to pay the money back. This can be tricky, especially because you do not know how your future career will be or how easy you will get a job. Being aware of what scholarships are is the first step that will help you get one.
Register for the Scholarship
The next step that will help you get an international scholarship as an African student is to register for the scholarship. Each university and college has a scholarship program, so if you have already chosen your study topic, all that remains is to register for the scholarship. This part of the process is not a difficult one. You will surely find on the university’s website more details about this and a form to fill in.
Write a Powerful Personal Statement
When applying for scholarships, submitting your documents and filling in a form is not the only thing you have to do. You also need to submit a personal statement where you share relevant things about yourself, your plans, and your experiences. The personal statement is the essay that will make the difference and that can get you an international scholarship. It might seem difficult to write an essay and you may look to hire a writer to help you face this challenge. You can get the help of an Edubirdie writer, not only for organizing and structuring your personal statement but also for making sure that you do not have any spelling or grammar errors.
Collect All Your Documents
The application process to get an international scholarship is a complex one. You also need to submit your personal document, proof of your completed studies, and of any courses you participated in. If you do not have all your documents submitted, you may miss that scholarship. At the same time, it is important to translate your documents, if they are not in English. But more details about this should be listed on the university’s website.
Confirm
A tip that will be of huge help for African students is to confirm that they will begin their studies. This is essential because you will have to confirm this before you get the answer from the university regarding the scholarship. To grant you the scholarship, they need to be sure that you will actually start your studies and not delay them. In the latter case, the scholarship will be granted to a student that will begin their studies shortly, so that money will be of help for them.
Conclusion
Getting an international scholarship as an African student might seem a complicated process, but these tips will help you face it successfully. You need to register for the scholarship after you have read more about the process and the differences between it and other financial aids you may apply for. Then, fill in the form, craft a compelling and powerful personal statement, translate your documents, and confirm that you will begin your studies. From there, you have nothing to do but wait for their response.
Bio lines: Vendy Adams is a content and essay writer. She loves travelling the world and finding places that inspire her. Vendy is focused on helping international students pursue their academic goals.
