COVID changed the way we approach the world. For more than two years, people were afraid to leave their homes. Though COVID-19 and its variants may not be permanently gone, we are starting to learn how to move through life with COVID in the background. As restrictions start to lift, and more places become welcoming to visitors, students are being welcomed back to study abroad programs around the world.
The United Kingdom is a particularly attractive option, with its proximity to much of Europe, its culture and its prestigious educational institutions. The only thing holding some students back may be the cost of living and studying in the UK but fear not, there are ways to affordably study in the UK, through the magic of scholarships.
I call scholarships magical because they can be the key for students to study in fields they want to study without the burden of having to pay those funds back. Scholarships are like loans but far less painful. The main challenge is, the application process is itself a competition. There is only so much money to go around, so only a few applicants receive each scholarship. Below I have detailed how to acquire one of these scholarships and how to study abroad in the UK.
How it Works
The actual process of winning a scholarship can be boiled down to finding a program; researching scholarships; filling out the applications for both; submitting applications and hoping for the best. The process is that straight forward but there are a lot of things to consider before you get to the application part of the process.
Do Your Research
With the world opening back up, the opportunities to study abroad are becoming more accessible. If you are just finishing your secondary education, or are currently enrolled in an undergraduate program, there are a lot of options to sift through when it comes to studying abroad. Take your time to investigate where in the UK you want to study. Of course study the universities carefully but also the location the universities are in. Find a location that is conducive to the type of life you want to live. Do you want a quiet place to study? Maybe look for somewhere out in the countryside. Do you want more business, networking and job opportunities? Maybe look for a program near a major city. Once you have found your program, next look for scholarships to help you pay your way.
There are plenty of scholarships to go around, the important bit is finding the applications that are right for you. This will take a lot of time and effort. By a lot, I mean days, weeks maybe even months, so get started as soon as you can but take your time. This Scholarship Finder is an amazing resource for you to find the scholarship that is right for you. You can search by the course you want to take, the institutions you are looking to apply to, or even specific scholarships. Take your time sifting through the various scholarships until you find the ones that best fit you. Yes, ones as in more than one scholarship.
Preparation is Key
Applying for scholarships is very similar to applying to schools. You have to go through an entire application process, submit your work and wait to hear back. And just like applying to universities, having all of your material prepared before submission will go a long way in making the process smoother. This is the step after you have done your research, now it’s time to start collecting materials, writing essays and contacting people who may be able to help you through the process.
Now if you are studying abroad in your second, third or fourth year of study, the challenge will be balancing school work and the application process. This is where time management will come in handy but also contacting professors as well. Lean on your professors to help you with the process. People become teachers to help other people, let them help you if they can.
Apply, Apply, and Apply Again!
Hopefully, you now have an understanding of how the process works. Now, repeat that process as many times as necessary until you are receiving enough money to cover your expenses, and maybe a little extra if possible. Countless scholarship opportunities are waiting for applicants like you, all you have to do is find the ones that are right for you and apply to them.
Higher education is expensive. The cost of tuition alone is climbing higher every year, and that does not even take into account all the other things students have to pay for, like food, lodging, clothing, and extracurriculars. All of these things add up to a rather large bill. If you can, do some research to get a rough estimate of how much school is going to cost you, then find the scholarships that are either going to solely cover that cost or combine to add to or above your rough total. There is no cap on the number of scholarships you can apply for, so keep going until you hit your target number.
Conclusion
Try not to limit yourself to one or two universities while applying. There are plenty of universities and programs out there that will provide you with the education you are looking for. All you have to do is find them. They can be tricky to find at times but there are search engines available to make the process smoother for you. Take your time, believe in yourself, submit those applications before their due dates and have a great time studying abroad!
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