Don't let the expense of studying abroad drive you down. A prevalent myth about studying abroad is that it is inexpensive, but guess what? There are practically thousands of scholarships and grants for studying abroad. We all get these vibes of heart-eye-emoji just thinking about it. In the months leading up to your summer/semester/year abroad.
You will have to make some sacrifices to say no to splurging on dessert and cut on post-Christmas-sales shopping, but being careful with your money before studying abroad is just one step on the path to bigger and better adventures. Combined with financial assistance for students such as scholarships to study overseas, smart saving strategies mean that you will eventually be able to achieve your travel target as long as you are willing to apply.
Ask for Assistance:
First and foremost, do not be afraid to reach out for assistance to the people around you. To ask them about scholarships or grants they may know about, contact the study abroad office of your university, your professors, the financial aid office, and your academic advisors.
It would not only make it easier to assist you with your professors or study abroad office, but they will be impressed with your strong commitment and initiative to come to negotiate financial assistance in person. Merely finding them is the most challenging part of studying abroad scholarships, so be sure to ask the experts if they know of any.
Studies:
Enough cannot be said: do your homework! The more grants you will apply for, the more you can receive financial assistance. You can start exploring the Go abroad Directory of Scholarships. Various other websites compile lists of scholarships for students studying abroad, such as NAFSA. Still, this list is not comprehensive, and you can also explore several different forms of scholarships to learn overseas.
Directly Contact the Scholarship/Grant Funder.
As well as up-to-date eligibility criteria, the best way to know all the nitty-gritty specifics of the scholarships you will apply for is to contact the funder directly. They published the book on how to get a scholarship to study abroad! It ensures that you have all the correct details. You will also show the funder/provider of the scholarship or grant that you are not afraid to take the initiative to seek the scholarship you are applying for actively.
Tweak Your CV:
You will have to focus on getting awarded the scholarships once you have compiled your list of study abroad scholarships that you plan on applying for. Your resume is a big part of this! Ensure that every foreign experience you have had is highlighted, update all of your recent campus events, and try not to go over one list. It is essential to write concisely. Cover letters go hand-in-hand with resumes and are a vital part of an application often since they can be the only chance to argue that you deserve a scholarship to be awarded.
You can't just submit a generic cover letter about an outstanding student you are, though. Reflect on how you want to translate your lessons on campus and home from abroad into your life. If you apply for a foreign university scholarship to study abroad, make sure you examine how that country usually organizes its resumes or cover letters. If you are confident enough in your language skills, you can try to write them in the country's language in which you are studying.
Check Your Sources:
No, we don't mean a bibliography of yours. Most scholarship essays and applications for study abroad require personal references, that is, someone you have interacted with in either a professional or academic setting. For most students, this means reaching out and asking for their support from professors. Often ask them well in advance when requesting a professor to be a guide or to write you a letter of recommendation so that they can plan.
Label the Calendar:
It can be hard to keep track of all the various deadlines and eligibility criteria if you apply for a variety of different scholarships or grants and apply for the study abroad program itself. It may seem simple, but make a schedule unique to your scholarship applications for studying abroad, with each deadline marked.
Applicate:
It might seem tiring but apply for scholarships to study abroad as efficiently and thoroughly as you can. This bit WILL take large quantities of time and patience, but it counts every little bit. Your process should run smoothly because you've already done a lot of legwork. Even smaller awards all add up and eventually encourage you to have an overseas summer, semester, or year that is much more manageable and less stressful.
Take Your Time & Seriously Take It:
Mainly if you apply to a lot of them, it can be simple to feel the need to hurry through applications. However, you can take study applications abroad as seriously as the applications you have completed to be admitted to your college. Read and follow the guidelines for studying abroad for scholarships, and leave ample time to satisfy all your applications without feeling like you're under a heavy-hammer deadline.
