Understanding How Scholarships Works

Scholarship has a permanent place in academic and training programs. The search for scholarships is increasing daily at a high rate, each individual has a reason or others for applying for a scholarship. Scholarship can come in monetary value such as grants and funding or free training (internship).

Majority of scholarships applicants mostly do not have successful application because they do not know about the particular scholarship they are opting for. Firstly, as an individual either for academics purpose or vocational training, you are expected to make necessary research to ascertain the scholarship’s background and eligibility criteria. Applying for a scholarship you are not qualified for and exempted will automatically fault your stance to be considered by the awarder.

What is Scholarship? How Do They Work?

You have an undying desire to study a particular course or get trained in a vocational field, financial incapability and sometimes the access to opportunities may keep you off the radar to realize your dreams. Here is where scholarship comes in to help. Scholarship is a form of financial and access assistance given to individuals to cover their tuition fees or bills of learning. Tuition fees coverage can be fully or partially depending on terms and conditions of the scholarship. Apparently, financial grants are the most sought type of scholarship, understandable that money is awarded freely without you having to pay back.

Scholarships applications are reportedly higher in Asia and Africa. Both continents take the lead in international scholarships application. Scholarships take different form, while some cover just the tuition fees, some cater for other expenses such as books, housing, food and others.

Types of Scholarship Offers

People, both governmental agencies and NGOs and schools may offer scholarships to needy applicants or eligible people who fall under their criteria.

Broadly, there are three types of scholarship offers:

1. Scholarships awarded by government. A local, state or federal government can offer scholarships out to citizen and non-citizen to benefit. They are mostly fully funded scholarships that cover your tuition fees and other expenses, they can be applicable to colleges and universities.
2. Scholarships offered by the awarding colleges and universities. These are closed type of scholarship that are only exercisable at the college and universities offering. A college or a university may award scholarships either fully funded or partially to students who are willing to study in their school. It may be given to already admitted students or the prospective ones.
3. Private scholarships; these are independent grants offered by third-party organization and individuals. These are common to apply because of their application process ease when compared to the aforementioned two. They can come from an individual, families, NGOs and companies. One of the advantages of this type of scholarship offer is the liberty to decide which college or university’s tuition fee you wish to fund by yourself.

Scholarships are many and unlimited as they seem to be, everyone has an offer they are eligible for regardless of your location and personal attributes. Scholarships are not available to the intelligent students only as many term it to be but to any student. You may have to check the ones that suits you best and apply.

How to Apply for Scholarships

Scholarship application process may be tasking but when you make necessary researches, it becomes easy.

Scholarship application can be physical or online (website). The physical application are the ones in your locality which you have access to a face-to-face interview and submission with the awarder either directly or by proxy. Physical application terms and conditions are not always difficult to comprehend hence you are required to take the needful steps.

Online application process has always been reported to be difficult, due to the complexity of terms and conditions, many applicants find it hard to complete their submission. Not recognizing the necessary rules of a scholarship may ditch you the golden opportunity to be considered.

Each scholarship has processes and steps laid down, ranging from eligibility, deadline, documents required and many more.

Scholarships websites may accept applications through email for example, “WSV annual scholarship applicants are to submit the required document via  admin@worldscholarshipvault.com“.

While some scholarships necessitate writing of essay and letter, some may require some designated documents only. Examples of such documents include;

• International passport (for international students)
• Certificates of merits such as IELTS, ESL, SAT, MBBS, degrees and many more.
• Record of conduct as a good citizen.
• Reference/Recommendation letter
• Application essay
• Fields inclusion, such as; law. medicine, engineering and so on.

All these are to assess your stand, to know what you are capable of and if you really merit the scholarship’s prerequisites. The deadline for application are mostly given and winners (beneficiaries) will be announced after the whole process has been scrutinized and judged. WorldScholarshipVault recommends that you write a thank you letter if you are luckily offered a scholarship. Check here for an example and how to write a thank you letter.

Scholarships Eligibility and Who can Apply

As stated earlier that each scholarship has its terms and conditions, among these conditions are eligibilities criteria. While some may be open to just undergraduates, others may be open to Master’s degree students. All scholarships have a constrained targets, limiting it to a particular niche and categories. Examples of scholarship eligibility criteria include;

1. Scholarships for women.
2. Scholarships for people with disabilities.
3. Underage scholarship.
4. Vocational scholarships such as crafts training
5. Applicants from a particular country.
6. Degree levels such as bachelor and Master’s degree.

Many scholarship awarders indicates the targeted applicants by stating their conditions and if they are met, you can go on with the application.

Where Do You Find Scholarships?

Seeing a scholarship that you fit in may just be easier than you think, you have to be conversant with scholarships websites such as www.worldscholarshipvault.com or check directly from the official website of the awarder.

Be informed about colleges and universities grant programs either by the schools themselves or government both online and in your locality.

Most Asked Scholarship Essay Questions

1. Tell us about you?
2. Why are you applying for this scholarship?
3. In what way will this scholarship help you?
4. Why should we consider you for this opportunity?
5. Do you have any career goals? If any, share with us!
6. What are the leadership skills you possess?
7. If awarded, how will you contribute or impact to your community?

Check here for a detailed list of most asked scholarship questions while we bring a new update on how to write a convincing scholarship essay.