This is one of the most common questions we receive. Almost every day I open my email inbox and see this question, and it seems to be the most misunderstood aspect of international education in general. Let's look at what scholarships are, how we can apply for them, and what they really mean.
First of all, scholarships can mean a free education. That is what most people seem to think and they are correct to a certain extent. However, not all scholarships mean 'totally free'. Free education is promoted in many countries, and those who are legal residents of such countries are entitled to the free education provided by their government - although at times the word 'free' is used quite loosely from my own experiences of having 'free' education which actually cost my parents money ... but that's an issue for another day.
Free education is usually provided to residents of the particular country in question, and that is because money contributed by residents through taxation is used to fund or supplement the cost of education. That sounds fair! Probably because it is fair. Now, when an international student i.e. - someone from another country who is not a legal resident and has not contributed to the wealth of that economy through taxes or other types of investment - asks for free education, that does not sound fair, right? And that's because it is not fair and is exactly one of the reasons why international students pay higher fees than local students. However, there are usually exceptions to any rule.
There are fully-funded scholarships out there, they do exist in the real world, they are not figments of our imagination! However, they are few and far between. They are typically reserved for athletic or exceptional academic ability and require the recipient to achieve certain criteria both before and during the term of the scholarship, and thereby place a significant amount of pressure on them.
The most common type of scholarship is a more modest form of financial aid than a fully-funded scholarship. Again, they may be offered based on academic achievement, but also may be based simply on your nationality, race, or other factors. These scholarships can be offered as a $ amount discount applied to your tuition fees, or in some cases, a $ amount paid directly to you which you can use not only for tuition but also for things like books and accommodation, for example.
So the question remains - how can I get a scholarship? If you are looking for a fully-funded scholarship then I am sorry, but we cannot help you. If you are an exceptional athlete or student, then the university will come looking for you, so don't worry! For other scholarships which offer you a discount on your tuition fees or an amount of money to support you (but not a totally free ride), then we can help you with that.
The process for applying for a scholarship is exactly as outlined in our service options. Firstly, we need to talk so that we can understand you, where you would like to go, what you would like to study etc. Secondly, based on the information you provide, we can search for courses which you are eligible to apply for. Thirdly, we can submit an application on your behalf. Finally, if you are made an offer by the university, we can then apply for any available scholarships which you are eligible to apply for.
Free education is not easy to find, so if that is your objective I hope you can achieve it, but we are not in a position to assist you with that. Scholarships, however, do exist more commonly in the form of a discount on your tuition fees. We can show you courses which do offer scholarships/discounted fees, but we need to have in-depth discussions to check your eligibility. Click on this link to start a discussion or contact us using the form below.
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