Studying abroad is a dream that many cherish in their minds and hearts. The reasons for this are many: some want to experience a new culture, others want to learn a new language, and many want to gain new perspectives and see new places. All of these are good reasons to pursue your education abroad. However, we all know that one of the biggest challenges in studying abroad is finding financing.
Read on as we cover the approaches to take to succeed in your future career and make your wish to study abroad come true.
Understanding your priorities
Before diving into the topic of financing, you need to understand what your priorities are. In other words, what is the most important aspect of studying abroad that interests you? Do you have a specific country in mind? Or do you have a specific university or program you want to apply to? All of these are essential questions you should be asking yourself before taking further steps.
The answers to these questions will help you focus on your options and proceed accordingly. When you answer these questions, you can go on and read more about the specific grants and scholarships you may want to apply for.
Also, make sure that you start your research as soon as possible. Sometimes, it takes a very long time to find all the relevant information and details. Thus, you need to take your time to be prepared in advance.
Finding the right program
Regardless of your priorities and interests, at the end of the day, you need to have a program to apply to. Choosing the right program is an essential part of your research, as it is going to impact your experience abroad greatly. The program and the university you apply to also directly affect your chances of getting funding.
Some universities provide funding for international students; others don’t. Some others have relatively lower costs that you can cover with external grants and scholarships. That is why you should make sure you are well aware of all these details when choosing your program.
General grants and scholarships
Now that we have got the basics covered about the general approach and preparation for studying abroad, let’s get to the most critical part – funding.
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program
Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program is one of the most popular scholarships for financing your studies abroad. It is available for all US citizens who are currently studying in undergraduate programs and are in the process of applying or have applied for a study abroad program. The awards granted by the scholarship can vary from $100-$5,000.
Fund for Education Award
Another possible program you can consider is the Fund for Education Award. With a mission to provide support for underrepresented groups in the US, it helps students of color, first-generation college students, and others who need access to life-changing experiences and better their lives.
To be eligible for this scholarship, you need to be a US citizen, be enrolled in an undergraduate program, and plan to stay abroad for at least four weeks during the program. Here, you can receive from $1,000 up to $5,000 to cover your expenses.
License Lookup Scholarship
This scholarship aims at encouraging junior and senior students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills to receive funding for their studies. It is also suitable for those, who are familiar with licensing requirements of different states and are willing to bring value to this field.
To qualify for it, you should be enrolled in an accredited college or university in the US, present a well-written essay, and submit an application.
Boren Language Scholarship
As the name suggests, Boren Language Scholarship is a language-oriented scholarship that encourages students to learn a new language abroad or improve their skills in a foreign language they already know. The scholarship is available for people with various proficiency levels as long as they are eager to learn and improve their language skills.
It is available for US citizens who are at least 18 with a high school diploma or an equivalent and are planning their studies outside English-speaking or Western European countries. The scholarship is quite generous in the amount of money it grants to its recipients. It can vary from $8,000 to $25,000.
Fulbright Scholarship
Fulbright Scholarship is another well-known grant that operates in the US, as well as internationally. The scholarship is primarily for graduate students. It is a prestigious program for master’s and doctoral students to improve their research and professional skills.
The candidates should:
- meet the language requirements of the country they are planning to visit
- be US citizens
- have a strong interest in intercultural studies
Best of luck!
The aforementioned scholarships were only a few among many others waiting for their recipients. You can learn more about each of them and understand which one is more suitable for you. All of them can be of great help and may entail many opportunities.
As your next step, you should explore them, find out more, start looking for programs and be sure that the opportunities are many as long as one is committed and determined to achieve their goals.
Studying abroad can be an incredible journey full of new experiences, life lessons, and joy. Given that, you must be keen on pursuing your dreams and not miss a chance to receive a better education.
