In Europe, it is not a new word for young and old students to discuss or talk about, it’s quite a good thing to know that there are in total 15.6 billion Euros worth of scholarships available every year! But which scholarship is that the right for you? This post article gives you a summary about the different types of scholarships. You’ll discover that scholarships are often very individual and therefore the best scholarship for you would possibly be completely different to your best friends!
General information
Of course the major reason for getting a scholarship is to get financial support. So-called full-ride scholarships are the most comprehensive ones. They cover all of your tuition costs and also your living expenses but are in fact comparably hard to get one. However, there also are many partly scholarships available, they don’t really cover all, but at least some of your expenses during your studies.
Scholarships aren’t only about money, though! Besides the financial support, scholarship givers often provide you with book support, internships, seminars or valuable business- and academic contacts for instance. On the other hand, some scholarships have also certain requirements for you to fulfill. You would possibly for example be obliged to participate in certain research projects, participate in conferences or work for a particular company or institution after your studies. Also, some scholarships got to be renewed regularly, some on a yearly basis! That’s why you ought to inform yourself carefully when choosing your scholarship.
Types of Scholarships for International Students
Merit-based scholarships (fellowships)
These scholarships are among the most common ones and are usually awarded by private organisations also as by public institutions or directly from the university where you’re planning to study. Most scholarship holders of merit-based scholarships are chosen by considering the tutorial performance also as extracurricular activities like volunteer commitment, work experience or other experiences. However, there also are special fellowships that focus less on educational aspects except for example more on artistic, athletic or musical abilities.
Many merit-based scholarships are awarded without regard for financial need.
Specific scholarships
Besides fellowships, many organisations award specific scholarships where the awardees need to meet certain criteria like nationality, gender, religion, political affiliation, race, special needs e.g. thanks to disabilities or a particular medical record and lots of more. The David Herzog Fund for instance, offers scholarships especially for Jewish students to sponsor their study in Israel. Let’s take a look at the Graça Machel Scholarships Programme, they provide postgraduate scholarships to female students from Southern African countries. You’ve got some chances of you belong to a special group of students or a minority?
Need-based scholarships
Depending on your personal and your family financial situation, you may qualify for a need-based scholarship. In Europe those scholarships are often known as student grants and offered by public institutions like governments (government funding) but also by charitable organisations for instance. Even though you’re not citizen of the country you’re planning to study in, you may qualify for a need-based scholarship if you fulfill certain requirements. For instance in Germany, need-based kind of scholarships is combined with low-cost or free student loans.
Student prizes
Student prizes aren’t a classical kind of a scholarship but they’re also a decent opportunity to support you during your studies. In contrast to scholarships which usually offer you a monthly payment throughout your program, student prizes are one-time awards for educational achievements, winners of competitions or research results. They will range from a few of hundred to some thousand Euros. The University of Reading for instance has an achievement prize for the years best students worth £1000.
Other Types of Scholarships
- Academic scholarships.
- Community service scholarships.
- Athletic scholarships.
- Scholarships for hobbies and extracurriculars.
- Scholarships based on applicants’ identities.
- Need-based scholarships.
- Employer scholarships and military scholarships.