Can I get a scholarship to study abroad?
It is almost impossible to answer this question reliably from one year to the next because the situation changes all the time.
However, as we are asked this question so often here is a summary of some of the things you should bear in mind if a scholarship is something you need.
1. Which subject(s) are you intending to study and to what level?
Many universities (and companies who sponsor students) have clear preferences for the kinds of subjects for which they are willing to offer scholarships. These could be for subjects where they are struggling to recruit students but it is more likely that they will be for subjects where specialist knowledge can deliver a commercial benefit. In the current economic climate it is fair to say that science, engineering and technology subjects are more likely to offer scholarships than business or the humanities, for example.
It is also true that postgraduate students are more likely to be offered scholarships than undergraduates.
2. Where do you want to study?
In many countries scholarships do not form a significant part of the student finance debate. In European countries where tuition fees are often free (or very low) for EU students there has not been the same requirement for students to receive scholarships or bursaries.
In other countries, such as Australia and New Zealand, while the fees are higher little provision is made for scholarships for international students.This does not mean that scholarships don't exist; they can be very difficult to find, however.
In the USA scholarships are much more common. However, the scholarships available to international students are often very different from those awarded domestically.
If you are a gifted athlete there are a number of organisations in the UK who will help you to find universities that are offering scholarships in that particular year. Be aware however, that these scholarships are not always for 100% of the cost of going to the USA so you may still have to find significant funds to take up the offer.
Academic scholarships are offered by many universities in the USA but they can also vary dramatically in terms of their generosity. Some may only reduce the cost of tuition by a few thousand dollars. Others may amount to 50% of the entire cost of your studies. If you are interested in trying to find an academic scholarship you would probably be best advised to look at private universities in the USA as they tend to offer more generous awards than public or state universities.
3. How do you find scholarships?
Well, as mentioned at the top of this page we are not really best placed to help you with this. As and when our partner universities offer scholarships you will get to hear about it if you are subscribed to our email newsletter.
For information about the USA you can try here for more information.
For information about all countries you can try here.
We take no responsibility for the accuracy of the information available to you via these links but we do think you will find them useful as you start looking for scholarships.
4. Are there any other ways to find funding?
Yes. You might want to consider asking any companies you know whether they would be willing to sponsor you. Sometimes your school may have prizes and awards for students who want to go on and do something more adventurous after they leave. You might also want to consider other groups to which you belong as these may also have charitable funding available.
Financial support doesn't always have to come from your chosen university.