How to get a Scholarship to Study Abroad

Studying abroad opens up a world of opportunities for students, both undergraduates and postgraduates. However, it's a choice that comes with many challenges, one of which is financially supporting one's studies, accommodation, and everyday needs while living in a foreign country far from home.

Fortunately, in most countries, educational institutions, government bodies, and private entities offer financial aid to both local and international students through scholarships. That way, many people have the chance to pursue the degree of their dreams and kick-start their careers without spending a penny. They just have to learn the nuts and bolts of how to get a scholarship to study abroad, apply, get funded, and successfully complete their education.

Still, some may shy away from applying because they don’t really know how to get a scholarship to study abroad. Perhaps they think that scholarships are hard to get, but they couldn't be more wrong. These days, there are many scholarships for international students and the application process is usually relatively straightforward.

If you’re searching for a scholarship to study in the UK, then you should first learn about the country's universities. Explore the top universities in the UK and make the best choice for your future.

What is a scholarship?

A scholarship is a form of financial aid awarded to students based on various criteria like academic performance, ethnicity, economic status, etc. Hence, they are different from grants and bursaries, which are exclusively given to students who cannot financially support their studies.

Before learning how to get a scholarship to study abroad, it’s good to know what’s on the menu in the first place.

What types of scholarships are there

As mentioned above, there are many different types of scholarships out there to cover every possible student need or achievement. Generally, they can be sorted into two primary categories, based on the financial coverage and eligibility requirements.

So, in terms of financial coverage, a scholarship can be:

Partial scholarship

The most common type of scholarship covers part of the tuition or other expenses tied to the applicant's studies. So, partial scholarships just reduce the financial weight a student has to bear. Still, they offer significant help and should not be overlooked.

Full-tuition scholarship

A full-tuition scholarship is a form of partial scholarship since it doesn't cover any of the student's expenses other than their tuition fees. But on the condition that someone can pay for accommodation and living costs, not having to worry about tuition for the entire term of their studies is certainly great.

Full-ride scholarship

A full-ride scholarship is the most coveted form of financial aid among students, and it's easy to see why. It covers most (if not all) of the student's expenses like tuition, housing, daily meals, study material, etc., and can turn one's studies into a cost-free experience. Some full-ride programs also offer a monthly amount as pocket money for the beneficiary. So, finding out how to get a full scholarship to study abroad, should be every student’s priority.

If you plan to study in the USA, where both tuition fees and the cost of living are relatively high, a full-ride scholarship is the best option.

In terms of eligibility, scholarships can be:

Merit-based scholarship

In the academic world, excellence and dedication are often rewarded. Merit-based scholarships are given to students that have performed exceptionally well in their previous studies or have excelled in a particular subject. For universities, it's a means of attracting top talent in their student bodies. Often, beneficiaries are required to maintain excellent performance levels during their studies in order to remain eligible for financial aid.

So, in order to be considered for a merit-based scholarship, you need to have a high GPA and actively try to maintain it throughout your studies.

Need-based scholarship

Higher education should be available to everyone; that's why there are many scholarships aimed at students with a low income. Need-based scholarships are awarded to students who cannot cover the cost of their studies on their own. Sometimes they also require that the student keeps their academic accomplishments above a specified minimum. A special form of need-based scholarship is when an organization covers a student's remaining fees after their aid has expired.

Student-specific scholarship

Many institutions and government or non-government bodies offer scholarships based on a student's ethnicity, gender, affiliation, religion, race, special needs, etc. Some of these initiatives are equal opportunities-driven and aim to help young students from vulnerable or potentially excluded groups move forward. Others are solidarity-driven and their goal is to help members of a larger group overcome their financial obstacles while receiving their education.

Athletic or activity-based scholarship

Young people who have proven to be highly skilled in a particular sport or other extra-curricular activity (in arts, STEM, culture, etc.) are often granted scholarships to pursue their passion under the university emblem. It's a widely offered type of merit-based aid that helps recruit top talent in specific fields.

So, before claiming a scholarship, it's good to know how much financial coverage you need and what type of funding you're eligible for. For example, if a partial scholarship is enough for you to pursue your dreams, you have several funding options. Similarly, your chances grow if you are eligible for two or three different types of scholarships.

How to get a full scholarship to study abroad

Even if partial funding is helpful enough, claiming a full-ride scholarship is the way to go when studying abroad. That's because when leaving their comfort zone, students may have to deal with higher or unexpected costs that could make it harder to focus on their studies.

Claiming a full scholarship is not impossible, as long as you follow the required procedure and keep these few essential tips in mind:

Start early: When planning your academic steps, you must always keep a high level of preparedness. Taking the time required to best prepare for an application could make all the difference during your evaluation by the selection committee.
Ask the right people: Looking for scholarships you might be eligible for without prior experience is not easy. Therefore, the best way to start is to ask those who know better, like your university's student services or a private consultant. Remember, it's a race against other candidates, so getting a head start is essential.
Do your research: It's a given that you will apply for more than one scholarship to improve your chances of getting one. To do that, you must thoroughly research all available scholarships and pick the ones that are most suitable for you. That means going through every online source or directory, finding funding programs, and reviewing eligibility requirements and terms and conditions.
Speak with the benefactor: After you have your list of scholarships to apply to, you must find out precisely what each program requires. The best way to do that is by contacting the people who run the program to express your interest directly and get all the details from the most qualified source.
Focus on the paperwork: Just like in any application process, to get a scholarship, you must follow guidelines. That means submitting the proper credentials and putting your best effort into anything that requires your personal touch, such as the motivation letter. Note that you'll have to write a different version for each application, so don’t waste time.
Be on time: That said, don't forget that preparing multiple applications simultaneously may be distracting. So, always try to keep good track of your deadlines and submit everything as soon as you're ready so that your submission flow remains uncluttered.

So, now that you know the basics of how to get a full scholarship to study abroad you also need to remember that, whatever the outcome, it's always important to give it your best shot. In case you don't get a scholarship on your first try, do not underestimate the value of your experience. It’s going to be very useful if you decide to try again in the future.

Meanwhile, you should keep looking for new funding opportunities. Mind you, they can pop up in places you didn't expect, like Brive.

What is the Brive scholarship?

As we have already mentioned, scholarship opportunities come in many shapes and sizes; that's why you should take the time to review as many as you can and apply to as many as you need.

Lucky for you, a scholarship is waiting for you right here, as long as you become a Briver and use our platform to apply to the programs you like. As an avid supporter of your quest for the higher education you deserve, Brive offers the opportunity to fund your dreams through one our scholarships.

Not bad for kickstarting the next chapter of your academic journey, right?

If you have a passion for sports and are currently undecided about your field of study, you might want to explore the possibility of pursuing a degree in Sports Management.

How to become eligible for Brive scholarships

You can apply for a Brive scholarship as soon as you become accepted to an on-campus undergraduate or postgraduate program. Just follow our simple 5-step process:

1. Sign up for a Brive account: Being a Brive member is required to claim one of our scholarships. Also, it's the fastest way to explore your potential career paths and apply to universities all over the world.
2. Create a detailed profile: Having an updated academic profile on Brive allows you to apply to university programs in a few clicks.
3. Pick your preferred studies: Brive offers access to thousands of study programs worldwide. Just make sure you choose an on-campus degree to qualify for our funding.
4. Apply online through Brive: Applying to the university of your choice through Brive is a straightforward process that saves you much time and effort.
5. Confirm your eligibility status: We will review your application and confirm your eligibility when the process has been completed.

So, now is the right time to become a Briver, carve your academic path through our platform, and have a shot at one of our funding options.