A successful career is inconceivable without a solid foundation – a quality education. After we get the degree, a wide range of possibilities are waiting for us. With the help of education, we discover a completely new world, expand our boundaries, and develop ourselves. But unfortunately, getting a degree nowadays is a very expensive endeavor.
That’s why not many students are working hard on getting one. Instead of dedicating time to studying, they need to sacrifice their time to find at least a part-time job with a reasonable salary. If you also have a job and tend to put off writing assignments, you can pay for essay at EssayPro and get a great paper in return. A team of qualified specialists will land you a helping hand in studying when you can’t make time for tasks like these.
If you have already set an academic goal, but the only obstacle you have is a high price for education, we highly recommend you take into account all the information we have provided you with. In this article, we will share tips on how you can get the degree of your dream free of charge.
Get a Scholarship
So, the first (and perhaps most obvious) way to reduce tuition costs is to get a scholarship. When a student is awarded financial support, his or her academic performance, achievements in sports, creativity, or social activities are taken into account.
It is also worth immediately identifying the difference between this kind of financial support and a grant, which are often confused. A scholarship is usually paid monthly, while a grant is a one-time payment.
There are merit-based (based on personal achievement) and need-based (based on financial need) scholarships.
Merit-Based Scholarship
A merit-based one is awarded by the university to the most talented students. These are the people who have demonstrated high academic and extracurricular achievement and a high level of motivation to learn.
You can get financial support when you enroll at the university, as well as during your studies there. It is important to remember that the earlier you apply for admission, the better your chances of receiving this type of financial support.
Need-Based Scholarship
A need-based scholarship is awarded by foreign universities to students with financial difficulties. To qualify for this financial support, you need to provide documents proving the need for financial support.
For example, it can be information on the composition and income of the family, bank statements, tax returns, and health certificates.
Here is a list of the best scholarships you can apply for:
- Stanford University Scholarship.
- Clark University Global Scholars Program.
- Global Diversity Scholarship.
- Boston University Scholarship.
- University of Hawaii Scholarships.
Get a Foundation Scholarship
Another option for those who want to get a free education is to look for financial support programs from various foundations. Foundations can have a variety of purposes. Some want to help students with financial difficulties. Some – to support certain areas of study or to finance higher education for members of a particular social group.
The number of foundations themselves and the financial support they provide vary from specialty to specialty. For example, there are many foundations in the US for:
- architecture
- art
- aviation
- biology
- chemistry
- engineering
IMA Foundation
The IMA Foundation specializes in the field of business. It provides 20 scholarships ranging from $2000 to $5000. Students who intend to obtain higher education in business and pursue a career in financial management and accounting can apply for this financial support.
Applicants must be a student in a four-year program and have demonstrated leadership ability. You will be required to prepare a resume, application form, essay, and references.
Television Academy Foundation
The Television Academy Foundation offers 21 scholarships annually. They range from $500 to $2,000. Students who study mass communication, television, and related fields can apply. You must submit a video for the competition. The Academy awards three spots in categories:
- comedy
- drama
- music programming
- documentary
- news
- sports
- animation
Requirements: application form, personal attendance at the competition.
Robert Kaufman Memorial Educational Foundation
This one is ready to help undergraduate and graduate students majoring in accounting. It offers 25 to 30 scholarships annually, with each award ranging from $250 to $3,000.
But if you study hard and have perfect grades and knowledge, you may be given more consideration and more money for your studies.
Requirements: fill out an application form, attach a bank form, references, test scores, and a blank envelope with a reply stamp.
Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme
If your dream is to study in the UK, you can apply for this financial support. This is a joint program of the University of Oxford and the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Trust. It is awarded to 30 talented students from 175 countries annually. It covers all tuition fees at Oxford (including admission fees and expenses for laboratory work), transportation, and accommodation (about 15,000 GBP).
For the most part, the program seeks to fund postgraduate studying but also includes some undergraduate programs. In addition to financial support, applicants have the opportunity to participate in a leadership program. It includes classes in presentation skills, negotiation, interviewing, and other useful workshops.
Students must have an undergraduate degree with a good grade point average. Also, they need to provide an IELTS score of 7 or a TOEFL score of 100 or higher and demonstrate how the study of their chosen field can help improve life in their home country.
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is a program for talented students that covers the entire cost of a master’s, doctoral, or one-year postgraduate program at the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. The program is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
About 80 fellowships are usually awarded each year. Around 25 of them are for US citizens, and the rest are for people from other countries. The financial support covers 100% of tuition fees. It includes the application fees, living expenses (about 17 500 GBP), visa costs, and insurance.
Applicants for this financial support have the following requirements:
- Have no United Kingdom citizenship;
- Have an undergraduate degree;
- Have a good GPA;
- Have an IELTS score of 7.5 or higher.
Studying at the Company’s Expense
It is also possible to go to study abroad at the expense of your employer. There are a number of companies around the world that encourage their employees to study abroad. But you should not consider funding your education as a generous gift from your employer.
As a rule, upon graduation, the student needs to continue working for the company for a few more years. Otherwise, the funding turns into a loan, which the employee will have to pay back in full.
Summing Up
Nothing should stop you on your way to getting a degree. Remember that education is of vital importance in our lives. Thus, you need to seize all the opportunities you are given and don’t let obstacles like finance ruin your future.
