subject: Applications For Scholarships - How To Apply [print this page] The term scholarship refers to the financial assistance given to a student and come in two forms. The 1st form is provided by the state authorities while the second is administered by the private institutions or firms which believe in promoting young talent. Both these forms are widely popular with the likes of World Bank and Microsoft proving to be apt examples of both forms respectively.
Both forms have their pros and cons. The positives include that both would allow the selected candidate to undertake studies of his choice but the cons are that there can be cases when an institute from a specified list can be chosen. If the desired institute falls into the list, well and good, else, new plans would have to be made. Along with this setback comes another one - not everyone is eligible for these scholarships.
The eligibility criterion for most of the institutions is unique and separate time and attention needs to be given to them all. Every one of them requires the candidate to have a basic qualification level before his application is processed. Only a student with graduation in English can think of pursuing higher studies in the same subject with a scholarship. These are subject to the course requirements and may vary from one organization to another.
While some of them are awarded based on merit and need, there are also some which have strict guidelines such as age. A bracket or range of age is specified and only those candidates who come under that bracket are evaluated. This method is most commonly seen in the defense department where physical fitness is required in every sphere. If there does exist such a clause, it would be mentioned in the eligibility criteria.
Knowledge of the native language is a factor which plays a role in selecting the candidate. He would be given preference over any other and an exception may only arise in case of extreme contrasts in capabilities. Various language courses and examinations exists which can be passed and a certification attained. Amongst these, the most common are the IELTS and the TOFEL, English language certifications taken by millions worldwide.
Different universities have different procedures while awarding scholarships. Some prefer to award it before admitting the student while the others give it once the admissions are complete. Scholarship application form has to be filled and submitted with the authorities so that the required process can be undertaken. However, in special cases, the scholarship form comes included in the admission form itself.
The date and time of applying for the scholarship is decided by the authorities. All applications received within the given time frame are evaluated while those received otherwise have dim chances. In the most general cases, the applications should be submitted half a year before the actual scholarship period has to start.
The application form can be bought from the reception desk of the institution for a price. There is no reimbursement for this amount and hence, sufficient amounts of savings need to be in place. Attach a brief introduction about yourself along with the application to make a deeper impact.
