Need financial assistance with your studying? Maybe it’s time to apply for a scholarship – it’s easier than you think.
By Craig Falck for Africa Report
Photograph: © Mangostock | Dreamstime.com
Studying scholarships are basically study aids where your tuition fees are paid. There isn’t just one type though… Each country offers different kinds of studying scholarships, but the most common are merit-based, need-based, and career-specific. It’s important to remember that not just anyone can apply for a scholarship – you will need to prove that you’re worthy of it because studying is not only expensive these days but also an investment.
Merit-Based scholarships are based on the student’s past and current academic performances as well as future expectations. If a university grants a student a scholarship, they’re expecting the student to be brilliant and perform at nothing but the ultimate level – in short, that means they want pretty much distinctions in each and every subject and for the student to be the best at everything he or she does. Failure is not an option. However, many companies that provide scholarships are less expectant… but only slightly. While they won’t expect or demand distinctions in each and every course taken, they will expect the student to attain the best marks possible in the most important subjects while still performing in the highest tenth percentile in the rest of their subjects.
Needs-based scholarships are very different to merit-based ones as they take the student’s current lifestyle into account. If the student leads an affluent lifestyle, they wouldn’t necessarily receive the same amount as someone from a poorer background. This is because the latter is deemed as “disadvantaged” and will need more help to compete with those from a more advantaged upbringing.
Career-based scholarships take into account the type of qualification being studied as well as where the person intends working once their studies have been completed. Should they choose a high-skill profession such as medicine, the scholarship will be a lot higher than someone studying to be a journalist. The important thing to remember is that the student will often be bound to the company offering the scholarship for a period of years as “repayment” of the scholarship – basically the firm is investing in a future employee that will work for them once they have finished studying.
Scholarship programmes play a vital role in the education system – they give less -fortunate students or students who show talent and determination to be the best. Don’t think that there isn’t one for you… Apply today and your education could be paid for by someone investing in you as their future.
