The Truth About 100 per cent Scholarships to Study Abroad

Every year a significant number of students from India move to foreign universities for higher education. This number which has surged in the recent past is a result of the pupil’s rising graph of excellence and easy accessibility to Universities abroad.

As per A 2017 DATA RELEASED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF INDIA, Indian students are pursuing higher studies in 86 countries across the globe. Out of this huge chunk, 206708 are in the USA, followed by Canada with an estimate of 100000 students and Australia grabbing the third spot with 63283 students.

A new study recently revealed a new trend however. According to this, the number of INDIAN STUDENTS STUDYING IN AUSTRALIA increased to a seven-year high. This report claimed that the number of Indian students in Australia in November 2017 was 14.63% higher than what it was in 2016, which made Australia the most favored destination for Indian students.

This reportedly is a consequence of the approach of the governments towards promoting their education sector. However, welcoming gesture of the host countries towards its potential students is only one aspect for growth in student immigration. The other aspect which attracts many is the scope for scholarship.

The range of SCHOLARSHIPS being varied, with some offering as less as 25% to others offering 100% is pivotal for students applying to STUDY ABROAD. And with the given infinite choices, there are a few flying remarks and opinions (most of them being speculations) about what a 100% scholarship offers and demands. Let us call them myths.

‘100% or not, any scholarship demands hard work and requires an expression of the potential which any student can unleash once given the financial support by the Universities or the concerned Government.’

 

However, 100% or not, any scholarship demands hard work and requires an expression of the potential which any student can unleash once given the financial support by the Universities or the concerned Government. So here are a few truths about full scholarships, i.e. 100% scholarships:

The first step to even think about 100% scholarship would be a thorough research. This is nothing but finding or deciding upon which course one wish to pursue abroad and then looking for the countries and its Universities and check if the course is offered by them.

This is usually a humongous task, consuming most of the time and it is when people approach counselors. This is largely because the counselors are trained and updated about all the latest information about the Universities and Institutions abroad. Most of them are also directly in contact with various Universities, hence cutting down the time one would spend on researching themselves.

 

When done with the research, the next step would be to apply to a University of choice (or the one advised by the counselor) and find out their scholarship schemes.

At this stage, one must understand that not all Universities offer 100% scholarship every year. To over simplify it, if a University decides to offer 100% scholarship in 2017, then it is not necessary that it will offer the same in 2018 or in the consecutive years. And this is primarily why one must correspond with respective Universities to understand their scholarship schemes for the respective year.

Now comes the question of being eligible for scholarships, 100% or otherwise.

Academic grades i.e. merit of the student is what the Universities assess while deciding to offer or not offer a scholarship. But then again, this condition is highly country-specific. Because while some countries like Australia and NEW ZEALAND offer scholarships based on merit, UK, US and Canada has a few other determinants for the same. In these countries the other determinants are the applicant’s SAT, GRE or GMAT scores.

Significant Digression: Most of the scholarships available for UG students are University scholarships.

However, in the US and Canada, the profile of the applicant is also vital for securing a scholarship, which is basically what the applicant has done apart from academics in the field of study s/he has applied for. This could also be the applicant’s work experience.

Finally there is also another way to apply for a scholarship, 100% or otherwise. These are scholarships which are country-specific and are sponsored by their respective governments. A few of such scholarships for Post-graduate students are NZH for New Zealand, Endeavour Scholarship for Australia, Commonwealth and Chevening Scholarship for the UK and Erasmus Mundus for Europe.

Significant Digression: The British Council also offers the GREAT scholarship which is available on certain courses and universities in UK. However, the scholarship is not 100%.

 

The Government-sponsored scholarships require the applicants to go through a screening, mostly held in two stages, first comprising of a written test and the second an interview.

However, to apply for such government-sponsored scholarships, one needs to show a proof of application. This proof of application is NOT the offer letter from the Universities. THE COUNSELORS ARE GENERALLY UPDATED ON WHAT COUNTS AS PROOF OF APPLICATION. The offer letter will be necessary at the later stage of the application process.

‘One must realise that all the myths about 100% scholarships being a herculean task are after all, myths.’

So, quite evidently, as of now, one must realise that all the myths about 100% scholarships being a herculean task are after all, myths. At max, it requires some degree of guided research and rest can follow.