4 ways to study abroad for free

Many students today dream of getting a foreign education, but not everyone has the financial ability to do this. Indeed, studying abroad is not cheap and requires a lot from the student and his parents.

 However, there are several ways to study abroad for almost free, and all of them are somehow related to the financial support that universities, the state or private foundations provide to students.

 In this article, you will learn about what kind of financial support you can count on if you dream of studying in another country, but do not have enough funds for it.

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 Grants

 Grant is a general term used to refer to financial assistance for a specific purpose. This support does not require subsequent monetary compensation.

 Grants may be awarded to students who are unable to cover the expected costs of studying abroad on their own. In this case, the student must present documents confirming his financial insolvency.

 There is also another type of grants, which are given to cover all costs associated with, for example, scientific work and experiments. In this case, the grant serves as an incentive for the best students to develop their research and projects, and has nothing to do with the financial situation of the students.

 The validity period of the granted grant cannot be extended. Thus, if a student has already received a grant and wants to get a new one, it is necessary to again take part in the corresponding competition for the provision of financial support.

 Scholarships

 Getting a scholarship is another way to study abroad for free. This type of financial aid is less dependent on the student's financial situation and relies on other factors, which will be discussed below. As a rule, in order to receive a scholarship for an education, a student must write a motivation letter and state in it why exactly he is worthy of receiving financial assistance. In most cases, the following factors influence the awarding of a scholarship to a student: 

1. Talents and achievements

 The scholarship can be awarded based on a student's special academic, creative, sporting, scientific or volunteer achievements.

 2. Demographic factor

 There are scholarships that are only awarded to individuals of the same gender, ethnicity, religion, age or health condition. For example, there are scholarships for women only or for members of one nationality only.

 However, this does not mean that any woman or citizen of a particular country can receive a scholarship. That is, such restrictions determine the criteria for participation in the competition for a scholarship, which does not guarantee its receipt.

 3. Priority specialization

 The scholarship can also be awarded to students whose university specialization is considered a priority. Such scholarships are allocated as an incentive for students in whose future profession it is especially important to have a high-quality education, for example, students of medical faculties.

 This type of scholarship can also be awarded to students who have chosen to study in the specialty in which the university specializes.

 There are also scholarships that are only awarded within a specific university. In Western universities, this system is widespread in order to attract the best personnel from all over the world to the ranks of their students.

 The number of annual students, in this case, depends on the university budget and the number of applicants for financial support. Sometimes the award of such a scholarship imposes certain obligations on the student, for example, such as participating in university volunteer projects.

 Highest Possible Fellowship

 This type of financial assistance is provided for obtaining an education in a master's or doctoral studies at a foreign educational institution. In most cases, this type of scholarship also fully or partially covers the student's living expenses and other needs.

 The source of funding for masters and doctors of sciences can be both the state and private or public funds. There are various criteria for this type of scholarship: academic achievement, research potential of the student or his financial situation.

 The application for such financial aid can be made through the university or directly to a student finance organization.

 Research scholarship

 This scholarship is only available to holders of a Master's or Ph.D. It includes financial support for further studies or a salary for working as an assistant professor in his spare time.

 Such work for an assistant may include giving lectures to first or second year students, as well as participating in research projects conducted by the faculty.