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10 Best Scholarships for Studying Abroad: A Student’s Guide

Okay Lets Talk About Money.. Scholarships.

So you want to study ? Yeah me too.. Well I did. Studying abroad was the decision I ever made.. Here’s the thing nobody really prepares you for. The price tag.

Everyone talks about the culture shock, the amazing food and the friends you’ll make.. They conveniently forget to mention that your bank account is going to take a massive hit. Tuition is the start. Then you’ve got rent, flights, groceries that urge to travel every weekend and don’t even get me started on insurance.

The good news? There is a lot of money out there. I’m serious. Scholarships aren’t for geniuses or star athletes. They’re for people who know how to look for them.

To save you some time I’ve rounded up 10 popular scholarships that are worth checking out.

• 1. Erasmus+ (The Classic): If you’ve even glanced at studying in Europe you’ve heard of this one. It’s huge. Basically if you’re already in an university this lets you pack your bags and study or intern in a different European country for a while. They give you cash to help with flights and living costs. You don’t have to pause your degree. It’s a no-brainer for Erasmus+.
• 2. Erasmus Mundus (For the Travel Junkies): This is like Erasmus+ on steroids. Of staying in one country you do your entire masters degree hopping between different universities in different countries. One semester in Spain the next in Germany. Erasmus Mundus covers everything. Tuition, travel and they give you a monthly allowance. Just be warned: everyone wants Erasmus Mundus so you’ve got to be on your A-game.
• 3. VSBfonds (For the Do-Gooders): This one is pretty cool because its not just about how smart you’re. The VSBfonds actually cares about what you do outside of school. Are you a volunteer? Do you run a community project? They want to know how your studies are going to make the world a better place with VSBfonds. It’s for people who actually give a damn about making a difference.
• 4. Fulbright (The Big One): Okay this is the gold standard if you’re aiming for the US with Fulbright. Saying you got a Fulbright is a deal. It carries weight.. Honestly? It’s more than a check with Fulbright. You get hooked into this network of really smart influential people. It’s a career launchpad, plain and simple with Fulbright.
• 5. NL Scholarship (For Non-Europeans in the Netherlands): This used to be called the Holland Scholarship. Its aimed at students from outside Europe who want to study in the Netherlands with NL Scholarship. It doesn’t cover 100% of everything. It gives you a nice chunk of change to help with the costs. Just double-check with your university because the rules change depending on where you go for NL Scholarship.
• 6. DAAD (If Germany is Your Dream): Germany has universities and a lot of them are actually free.. Living there still costs money with DAAD. That’s where the DAAD scholarship comes in. The German government funds this. They’re looking for people with good grades a clear plan for the future and a genuine motivation to be there for DAAD.
• 7. Chevening (The UKs Crown Jewel): This is the UK governments one with Chevening. It pays for everything. Your masters degree in the UK.. They don’t just give it to anyone. They want leaders. People who aren’t just book-smart. Who have personality, ambition and a clear idea of where they want to go in life with Chevening. It’s prestigious for a reason Chevening.
• 8. Cultural Treaty Scholarships (The Underdogs): These are a bit hidden which is why they’re great. They’re basically agreements between countries to swap students for Cultural Treaty Scholarships. You can find these for places like Japan, South Korea, Hungary or Mexico. The benefits are totally different depending on which country you pick so you have to do your homework on Cultural Treaty Scholarships.. They are a fantastic way to go somewhere completely off the beaten path with Cultural Treaty Scholarships.
• 9. Culture Fund Scholarship (For the Creatives): Are you an artist, a musician or a researcher working on something social with Culture Fund Scholarship? This one is for you. It’s specifically for people in culture, arts or science. They’ll give you money for project materials, travel or just to keep you fed while you work on your masterpiece with Culture Fund Scholarship.
• 10. Dutch2USA Internship Grant (For Future Professionals): If you don’t want to study but you desperately want to get some work experience in the States with Dutch2USA Internship Grant this is your ticket. They help you find an internship. They chip in for your visa, flights and rent. It’s basically a track to getting American experience on your resume with Dutch2USA Internship Grant.

How to Actually Win One of These Things

Look I’m not going to lie to you. Getting a scholarship is tough.. It’s not impossible. Here’s what I learned from going through the process myself:

• Start now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. These deadlines sneak up on you faster than you think.
• Get your grades up. It’s not the thing they care about but it definitely helps to have a solid GPA.
• Write a letter. Don’t just copy a template. Tell them your story. Why do you care about this scholarship? Be honest. Be yourself.
• Brag a little. I know it feels weird.. If you ran a club started a business or volunteered mention it! They need to know you’re a person with actual interests.
• Don’t be shy about asking for help. Get a teacher or a mentor to write you a recommendation.. Ask them early. Give them time to write something
• Apply to a bunch. Do not. I repeat, do not. Put all your hopes on one scholarship. Spread your bets.

The Bottom Line

Seriously studying abroad changed my life. It forces you to grow up figure things out and see the world from a different angle. Yes it’s scary. Yes it’s expensive.. With the right scholarships it becomes way more than just a pipe dream.

Take a breath do your research and just start applying. It’s a lot of work. Trust me when you’re sitting in a café in a city you’ve never been, to looking at a completely different skyline you’ll realize it was all worth it. You’ve got this.

https://quizwallah.com/best-scholarships-for-studying-abroad