* What will you study? You should clearly decide on the specialty (and its name), as well as the topic of the diploma thesis that you plan to prepare during your studies. Those who plan to engage in scientific research abroad need to submit to the relevant organization a clear and well-thought-out title of the research topic, as well as a detailed description of what you intend to do to achieve a scientific result.
* Which country to study in? The choice of study country may depend primarily on how developed your field of interest is in that country. Also important is which foreign language you speak.
Almost all programs have two main requirements for applicants: good academic performance and language proficiency. Therefore, it is worth considering your academic progress and obtaining an international certificate confirming your language level. Having such a document is not always a mandatory condition for receiving a grant, for example, from the commercial Offshore Foundations, however, for admission to any Western university or graduate school, regardless of who will fund you, official confirmation of language skills is necessary.
Search
There are many organizations that provide grants. First of all, these are foreign government organizations, national programs, and foundations. The former are not limited to any one field of knowledge and can cover humanities, natural sciences, and economics. They are often patronized by the government of a particular country or act on behalf of its scientific community. For example, the Gustave Eiffel scholarship for graduate students under 35 can be obtained by contacting the cultural and scientific-technical cooperation department of the French Embassy.
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), in turn, offers the opportunity to participate in a variety of programs, be it "Annual scholarships for third-year students of economics" or "Mikhail Lomonosov" grants intended for Russian graduate students in technical disciplines.
The French counterpart of DAAD is EduFrance, which provides information on programs that differ both by specialty and by the education level of potential applicants (students, graduate students, etc.)
Foundations that are not so strictly tied to a specific group of countries are common. They facilitate the "delivery" of students to universities around the world. Their goals can differ fundamentally. For example, the Ford Foundation seeks to equalize educational opportunities, paying special attention to applicants from the provinces or those experiencing certain difficulties in obtaining education (e.g., refugees). The German Konrad Adenauer Foundation, on the other hand, tries to stimulate the political activity of students from different countries.
Another way to get financial aid is named scholarships. For example, the Austrian Ernst Mach scholarship for university graduates is awarded for a period of two to nine months. The application form for this scholarship can be obtained at the representations of the Republic of Austria or printed from the website www.oead.ac.at.
Motivation
The granting of any scholarship is based on a competition - a contest in which the most determined person becomes the winner. It is no wonder that, in addition to "academic success" and language proficiency, grantors particularly value the ambition of applicants. In practice, this means the need to prove that you are the one worthy of receiving the money. To do this, organizers suggest writing a motivation letter or a short essay in which you must present all your achievements, merits, and academic or research plans. The latter implies a clearly formulated goal of your stay at the university of a particular country.
In addition, attention is also paid to the so-called social activity of the applicant - their ability to demonstrate leadership and organizational skills. Therefore, it would be good to have experience in volunteer work at summer camps, social projects, or environmental organizations. At worst, you can indicate active participation in the social life of your home university.
Stages of a Long Journey
If you do not break down during the preparatory work, boldly start taking practical steps:
* Find out the competition deadlines in advance. Often the start is in mid-autumn. Information can be obtained from the representations of foundations and organizations, on the Internet, or in print media.
* Submit the application and all necessary documents. You can do this in person by bringing them to the company's office, or by sending them via courier or mail. Official papers are usually not accepted in electronic form or by fax. Remember that at the selection stage, a correctly completed application is your second face. Your further participation in the program depends on how accurately you follow all instructions and requirements.
* Be prepared for the competition to be held in several stages. The review of submitted documents by the committee and the selection of candidates for an interview are only the "semifinals." After passing the interview, which may include a foreign language test, the documents of "finalist applicants" are sent to the company's head office. There, their final approval takes place. Thus, the competition can drag on for four months.
* Before starting your studies, take short-term foreign language courses if necessary. Most often, they are organized by the program itself on site, that is, in the country of study, unless a certain level of knowledge was an integral condition of participation in the competition itself.
What then?
In essence, the grant consists of the organization awarding the winner of the competition a specific, predetermined amount (for example, the Chevening program is ready to provide scholarship recipients with 20 thousand pounds sterling). These funds primarily go toward tuition. In addition, the organization often covers all expenses related to the student's accommodation, meals, and air travel.
However, receiving a grant does not always mean that you will automatically be enrolled in a particular course at a foreign university. Often, the student is required to pass entrance exams on their own, on an equal basis with other applicants. For example, the Ford Foundation gives applicants one year to pass the relevant exams. In case of failure, the grant is revoked.
The choice of specific universities usually remains with the program organizers. Their list may be specified in advance, in the initial conditions for receiving the grant. This rule is established, for example, for participants of the Edmund S. Muskie Student Exchange and Scholarship Program, operating under the auspices of the American Councils for International Education (IREX). Only universities approved by the U.S. Department of State and IREX are eligible to accept participants of the student exchange program. The educational institution is selected according to the participant's specialization.
Documents attached to the grant application (for students):
* an application form (questionnaire) of the organization (most often can be downloaded from the grantor's website);
* a certified copy of a high school diploma and academic record (possibly translated into English or another language);
* letters of recommendation (usually two or three);
* a motivation letter or a short essay explaining why you should be there.
Documents attached to the grant application (for graduate students):
* a copy of the diploma (naturally, with excellent or good grades);
* documentary evidence of work experience in the chosen specialty (the duration may vary, usually one to two years);
* a statement of research intentions, a list of publications, an invitation from a scholar at a foreign university (specific conditions depend on the program);
* letters of recommendation from the educational institution and from the workplace.