SCHOLARSHIPS

To get the best talent to their halls, international universities offer plenty of scholarships to international students. There are many varieties of aids offered by colleges (such as merit-based, need-based, and so on). Scholarships are also offered by philanthropic organizations, governments, and research grants.

STUDENT LOANS

Securing a scholarship alone is hardly enough to cover the totality of the expenditure in studying abroad unless it’s a full ride to the country like Chevening and Commonwealth. Expenses for food, supplies and other overheads almost always require student loans to be met with. Indian students can apply for educational loans from public or private banks. There are different moratorium periods for repayment: end of the applicant’s course or to the beginning of their employment.

STUDENT PRIZES

Student prizes are one-time awards and they can range from a couple of hundred to several thousand Euros and are offered for the following:

• to reward performance in undergraduate examinations
• for academic achievements
• awarded based on the results of coursework and public examinations
• for the best paper in a wide range of subject areas
• rewarding outstanding work submitted for a dissertation, examination or thesis

PART-TIME JOBS

Working while studying is an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with the local culture and to earn money to cover several expenses. Not all countries and visas permit students to work legally during study, though. A lot of countries though do allow students to work 20 hours a week and it enables you to meet your extra expenses without touching your savings.

EMPLOYMENT INSIDE UNIVERSITIES

Colleges list the job opportunities open to international students on their websites and within university departments. Sometimes, institutions ask you to work for them in exchange for discounted fees, and hence could be considered a legitimate route to funding your course!

PERSONAL FUNDS

Whether you are tapping into a nest egg built specifically for college by your parents or borrowing from friends and family, it is a huge expense. But they almost always amount to greater returns in terms of salaries after employment as foreign education adds to your resume.

Things to bear in mind:

Apply To A Variety Of Scholarships

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket! Apply to multiple scholarships at a time. Some may be merit-based, some are need based, some have other requirements such as a particular activity, or work experience. Applying to multitudes of scholarships will increase your chances of winning at least one of them.

Early bird gets the worm! Apply Early

Applying early may bode favourably in some cases. And often, universities may require you to submit scores for tests or mark sheets; apply early so you have enough time to meet other requirements and that could be a deciding factor. Sticking to applying early allows you enough time to give enough effort and submit to maximum number of loans and scholarships as possible.

Be careful while applying for a loan/scholarship. Submit all documents before time to ensure you can clear out confusion and discrepancies later before the deadline, if need be.

Carefully draft your Personal Statement

It’s basically your message to the college administration. It is also an opportunity for you to differentiate yourself from other candidates by appearing more rounded and considerate, as well as erudite.

Letter of Recommendations matter!

A compelling recommendation goes a long way to throw light on your attitude and potential by people who have seen you from close quarters and can elaborate on why you make an excellent candidate for funding.

Extra-Curricular Activities

Active participation in extracurricular activities or volunteer work differentiates you from other applicants and shows that you are motivated and hardworking, and can adapt to different environments.