Scholarships Past Questions and Answers From Applicants

Scholarship past questions and answer is our topic on this post. We will be providing answers to the frequently asked questions by students applying for scholarship. 

Below is a number of scholarship past questions and answers. This questions are frequently asked  by scholarship applicants around the world.  We  implore you to ask more questions in the comment section of this post and we will provide answers.

 Scholarship Questions and Answers Frequently Asked by students 

QUESTION 1: Are there scholarships for [specific field of study]? Are there scholarship for [nationality]?

ANSWER: A number of scholarship opportunities are available for students across the world. Some of the scholarships includes partial scholarships and full scholarship.

• Partial scholarships: This cover some tuition fees
•  Full scholarships: This covers the duration of your studies. 

Students should be aware that most scholarships cover tuition fees only, why students will have to take care with their personal cost.

That Being said, students should also note that scholarships for international students differ from one region to another and/or even for students  in a particular field. An example is that many students from developing countries, including parts of Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe etc can apply for specific scholarships. The key is to find these scholarship opportunities.

QUESTION 2: What are the general eligibility requirements to get a scholarship?

Answer: Eligibility for scholarship vary. Usually, the eligibility for a particular scholarship can be accessed  by reading through the provider’s website. 

The requirements vary from  one scholarship to another. Eligibility may depend on the level of study the scholarship supports.

 Another important criteria may be your nationality, this means if the scholarship in question is targeted at students from specific regions e.g. Africa, students from Asia are not eligible for it. 

Lastly,  subject-specific scholarships, may also  affect your eligibility if the course you intend to apply for is not offered for scholarship.

Other requirements for scholarship includes:

 Good grades at prior level of study, a degree from a reputed university (for postgraduate scholarships), and proficiency in English (e.g. TOEFL/IELTS, for English-language programs).

QUESTION 3: How do I apply for a scholarship?

ANSWER:  The application instructions vary among scholarship providers so there is no standard way of applying to a scholarship.  The application instructions are usually outlined very clearly.  

Scholarshis are usually listed online by the providers. The listed scholarship often carry details of how applicants can apply. Most will require you to submit your application online, with  any other required credentials you are asked to attach to your application.

If you have any problem applying for any scholarship, we advice that you contact the provider via the contact details on their website 

QUESTION 4: When is the best time to apply for a scholarship?

ANSWER: The deadline for many scholarships is usually similar. This often depend on the start dates of the academic year in the concerned country. For all International scholarship admission, scholarships application can be found up until the late summer months, and for winter admission you’ll often have until late in the fall to apply. For exact dates, be sure to check the details provided on the website of the scholarship provider and note them down in your calendar.

QUESTION 5: Are scholarships offered every year? 

ANSWER : Most Universities and major scholarships providers offer scholarship yearly. However, scholarship depend on the available fund for scholarship program.

scholarship past questions and answers from Scholars4dev

QUESTION 6: I have searched for scholarships so many times but I’ve failed to see scholarships offered to undergraduates. Most scholarships only cover PhD or MS/MA studies. Are there any undergraduate scholarships out there?

ANSWER: Although it is somewhat true that most of the  existing scholarships are for postgraduate studies, there are international undergraduate scholarships that can be found (with a lot persistent searching).

Question : Will a scholarship allow me to study at any University around the globe or the does it require me to study only at a specific place or university?

ANSWER:  It depends upon the type of scholarship.  There are scholarships that allows you to study at any country (i.e. Aga Khan Foundation Scholarships, Ford Foundation Fellowships, etc.)* while other scholarships only allow you to study at specified host institutions (e.g. World Bank Scholarships, ADB-JSP Scholarships).  Most government-sponsored scholarships allow you study at any University in their country (i.e. Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme, Australian Government International Postgraduate Scholarships, etc.).
Related Link: List of Scholarships for Study in Any Country
From Aliu and  Ngalim Adrian S. 

QUESTION :  Do I need to gain admission into my preferred course of study in the university of my choice first before applying for a scholarship? Is it possible to get a scholarship when you don’t have admission in a university yet?

ANSWER: The application process differs from scholarship to scholarship. Most of the time, admissions to the Univeristy is required before you are allowed to apply for the scholarship.  Sometimes, the application to admissions and the application to the scholarship are submitted at the same time. In some instances, your application to admission already serves as your application to the scholarship – you don’t need a separate scholarship application. Still, there are some scholarship providers that allow you to apply for the scholarship even without admissions to a programme/school or while you are still processing your application to the programme.  One must then follow the application instructions set by the scholarship provider.
From Babalola, Yisau 

QUESTION : Sometimes, the application form is not found at the website of the scholarship provider. How can I find the application forms easily?

ANSWER:  The application form should always be found at the scholarship website but there are a number of reasons why it can’t be found. One reason could be that the scholarship application period hasn’t started yet so the form is still not available for viewing/downloading.  Another reason is that some scholarship websites don’t readily display the link to the application form.  If this is the case, then you should try to visit all the relevant pages of the scholarship website. Don’t forget to look at the left or right sidebars as the download link might be placed there.  When all else fails, contact the scholarship provider and request for the link to the application form.
From Nalumansi Moureen 
QUESTION :  Is it possible for me to get a scholarship in the same country I am in and do i get to choose the course i want to study?

ANSWER :  Most international scholarships require you to study in any country except your own. If you want to study in your own country, you should try to find national or local scholarships.  The liberty to choose a particular course of study will depend on the conditions set by the scholarship provider/University. From Mahama Alhassan and Hamidatu Salia Zakari 

QUESTION :  I have applied for a scholarship and am still waiting for a reply from the University . I want to know whether it’s advisable to call them and find out how my application is doing?  How will I know if I have  won a scholarship?
ANSWER :  As much as possible, you should refrain from contacting the University regarding the results of your scholarship application.  If you are shortlisted or accepted into the scholarship, the scholarship provider/University will surely contact you. Usually, the scholarship provider indicates a specific time period when the selection results will come out. When you haven’t a received a confirmation during this time, then it would be safe to assume that you were not awarded with the scholarship.
From Alexandra Muhaya

Q: I haven’t undertaken IELTS nor TOEFL  exams. Does that hinder my chances of getting a scholarship?

Related Question from Moses Byomuhangi:
I am from an English speaking country (Kenya) and i have been taught in English since i started school, would TOEFL be a requirement?

A: Not all Universities require you to take the TOEFL or IELTS. A significant number of Universities  accepts a Certificate of English as Medium of Instruction in place of an English proficiency exam. When it is absolutely required by the University, then you must take TOEFL or other English proficiency exams regardless if you were taught in English during your University studies or not.
From Billy 

Q: How do you write the scholarship essay?

Did the scholarship provider provide any format? If they did, you should follow that. If they have not specified a specific format, then you can follow this simple outline when making your application/motivation letter: (1) Background/Key Qualifications, (2) Intentions for studying, (3) Expectations of the Course, and (4) your plans during and after the study. In making the letter, you should not just tell them why you need the scholarship but more importantly you should  explain clearly why you deserve to get the scholarship.
From  Carlos Mbuta 

Q: The issue to age is not mentioned in most scholarships I have come across. Is age not a criteria?
Related Question from Clement Irhiemi:

Q: Is there any age limit to obtaining a scholarship abroad?

A: Some scholarships set an age limit and some do not. If the scholarship provider did not indicate an age limit as part of their eligibility requirements then it is safe to assume that there is no age limit. When there is an age limit, scholarship providers set different age limits for different levels of study (i.e. Masters, Phd, postdoctoral fellowships).
From Charity Mbuvah 

Q: Is there a way for the application fee to be waived? l cannot afford to pay for it.
Related Question:
Is TOEFL exam supported by the scholarship?

A: You should be prepared to use your own funds for the application fee because most scholarship providers don’t shoulder this  cost*. Most often than not, the cost of preparing the application requirements including the TOEFL exam is not covered by a scholarship. If you are really serious in pursuing a scholarship, you must try to save up for the cost of TOEFL or the application fee.

Note: Not all Universities require an application fee, in fact, a significant number of Universities allow you to apply without  having to pay any application fee.  Be aware of scholarship scams and double check if the University really requires an application fee.
From Melkamu 

Q: How can I find Universities that offer scholarships?

A:  This is one challenging task to undertake. Luckily, we have developed a list of Universities that offer scholarships for developing countries, for your reference.