Grants for undergraduates. How to get grants for free education? How to get a grant to study at foreign universities

20.02.2015

The financial obligations for admission to a master's program abroad seem overwhelming: tuition fees, living expenses, tutorials... However, do not forget that many universities give scholarships to their students, in addition, there are many grants to pay for tuition. So, today we will talk about scholarships and grants for master's programs... Recall that in we talked about the cost of a master's degree abroad.

The main advantage of master's programs abroad is the possibility of free or partially paid education through the receipt of grants and various scholarships. These can be private grants such as the grand name Anita Borg from Google for female programmers or government scholarships, which, if desired and of sufficient quality of knowledge, can be obtained by everyone.

Among the most popular international programs that allow you to receive a grant or scholarship for education in foreign universities, the following are worth highlighting:


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The main rule: the earlier you start collecting information about scholarships and grants for study abroad, the higher your chances of success. Therefore, do not postpone everything until later, try to start your search as early as possible.

So, let's start answering the question, how to get a grant or a scholarship to study abroad? First, decide on the academic program (s) and institution (s) and familiarize yourself with detailed description each selected program. Particular attention should be paid to the content of the program (the range of disciplines studied should be consistent with your scientific interests and expectations) and the requirements for applicants. As a rule, your chances of receiving a scholarship or grant for study abroad increase if:

  • you do not radically change your specialization and apply for a program that is relevant to your previous education and experience;
  • you have excellent academic performance at school / university;
  • you know foreign languages ​​well;
  • you write thesis or conduct scientific research on current scientific topics;
  • you can justify and imagine how knowledge acquired abroad will contribute to the development of cultural, economic or political relations between this country and Russia;
  • you are confident in your success.

Information about scholarships and grants for study abroad can often be found on the website of the university you are going to enroll in. If this information is not available, but you can contact the Office of Financial Aid or the International Office (department for international student work) and ask what types of financial assistance you can apply for.

If you could not find information about grants, scholarships and other types of financial assistance on the university website, refer to the government websites of the country where you intend to apply. Often, governments or other government agencies have funds to attract foreign students to study in their country.

If you managed to find information about the offered scholarships or grants on the website of the faculty or university, carefully read the requirements for submitting documents and for the applicants themselves.

Find on the website of the selected program or organization that offers it, an application form (application form), a list of required documents and the deadline for submitting an application. Carefully fill out the application, try not to leave empty fields, in questions requiring a detailed answer (for example, describe your work experience or hobby), do not write see CV, etc.

Remember: correct documents are the key to your success.

Grants for study abroad - an approximate list of documents

In order to receive scholarships or study abroad grants necessary:

1. A copy of a higher education diploma with an insert or an academic transcript from the university with a list of courses and grades. These documents must be translated into a foreign language and certified. Some universities may require a notarized translation, others are universities, please read the requirements carefully. There is no need to apostille these documents (unless otherwise specified).

2. CV (resume): it should be just an academic resume, not a resume for work. You must describe your responsibilities at work, internships (it is better even if achievements are described), awards and prizes, scholarships received, indicate the experience of participating in volunteer projects, scientific publications, if you worked in the laboratory, then indicate what. Be sure to proofread your resume or give it to your friends or colleagues for review - there should be no mistakes!

Study Abroad Grants

It should be borne in mind that on study abroad grants required:

Your surname and first name in the foreign version of the resume must be indicated as they are written in your passport;

When writing a phone number, do not forget to indicate the country and city code, for example: + 7-812-xxx-xx-xx;

In the “Nationality” box, indicate your citizenship, not your nationality;

Please enter a valid email address.

Remember, answering the question where and how to get a grant for training abroad, you need the correctly specified information will allow the jury to easily contact you and clarify the questions of interest. Do not overload your resume with insignificant details: include the information that can present you on the best side and meets the requirements for candidates for the scholarship.

Essays on Study Abroad

3.Essays on Study Abroad(motivation letter). The selection committee attaches the greatest importance to this document when considering your application. The standard size of an essay is about 500 words.

As a rule, the letter of motivation consists of a short introduction ("Dear members of the Selection committee, I would like to present my candidacy for ..."), two main parts and a conclusion ("Thank you for considering my candidacy ...").

Why do you want to study in the selected country / university, at this faculty;

What exactly do you want to study and why;

Why you should be given a scholarship, how will you recoup your investment

How / where do you want to apply the acquired knowledge (professional project), etc.

The main thing is not to occupy yourself with retelling your resume, listing your achievements and experiences. A motivation letter should show your ability to explain, reason, persuade. It should show you as a person. If you are applying for a scholarship or study abroad grant, do not copy or use what you find on the Internet. Employees admissions committees who read 500 motivations a day will immediately identify such a letter and it will go to the trash can. Take at least a month to write your motivation letter.

4. Results of international exams, for example, IELTS or TOEFL for English, TCF / DELF / DALF for French, etc. Remember that after you have passed the exam, it will take some time before you know its results (2-3 weeks). Also, take the time to send exam results from test centers to you and the university you are going to enroll in.

5. Recommendations from teachers or from work (usually two). Recommendations must be in a foreign language, signed by the teacher who gave them, indicating his academic degrees, contact phone number and e-mail address.

6. A copy of a valid passport.

7. Other important documents: confirmation of professional internships, participation and victory in scientific competitions, etc.

How to interview for a grant for education abroad?

Participation in the competition for some types of scholarships and grants for study abroad provides for interviews with the jury. It is usually believed that if you are invited for an interview, then you have passed the first stage of the competition. How to successfully pass an interview? Here are some guidelines:

  • Take care of the correct appearance, be nice and polite - this is important to get a grant.
  • Take with you copies of all documents, the main of which are your resume and motivation letter.
  • Be ready to answer any question about your studies, work, research and future plans (professional project), which you wrote about in your resume and motivation letter.
  • about your strengths and your weaknesses.
  • about your plans for the future, after you receive a grant for education.
  • why you need this scholarship and how it will help you achieve your goal

If the outcome is positive, the selection committee will send you to email, and then by regular mail confirmation that you have been selected for a scholarship or grant to study abroad.

Good luck now you know how to get a grant for education abroad!

Look At Me explains what you need to do to study abroad for free.

Education abroad is becoming more and more popular every year. First, Europe is only a couple of summer hours away from home, and graduates of Western universities have much broader prospects than graduates of Russian universities, especially in the field of architecture, design, and art. Many, however, still believe that Western education is only available with wealthy parents or special genius. This is not entirely true. If you have a diploma from a Russian university in your hands or you are completing your studies in the last courses, you have every chance of getting a grant to study abroad. This requires only a desire to learn, talent and self-confidence.

What is a grant

In essence, a grant is a personal fundraising for your education, art project or research activity.

The grant can fully cover the costs of training (including flight, accommodation, visa, etc.) - this is rare, but it happens, or only pay for training. In this case, you will need to pay all other expenses yourself.

Where to begin

To begin with, you should gather as much information as possible about the course you want to take and the institution that offers such a course.

It is better to find several options that meet your requirements, this will increase the chance of getting a grant. In the case of Great Britain, there is an important nuance: you cannot simultaneously submit applications to Oxford and Cambridge. However, no one forbids submitting an application, say, to Oxford and five or six other universities.

Next, you should decide in which country you want to study, and here the main factor may be knowledge of a foreign language or the desire to learn the language of the country to which you are going to go. Of course, it will be a big plus if you at least speak the language of the country in which you plan to continue your studies, but if you do not speak it at all, do not despair - today, almost all educational institutions offer programs in English language like, for example, Germany and some other Western European countries. You may not speak German at all, but study it already on the spot during the learning process. But English must be up to par! Not less than IELTS or TOEFL (when applying for a grant, you will be required to have an appropriate certificate). It should be borne in mind that for people of art, the requirements for language are significantly lower than, for example, for the humanities.

What and where to learn

There are a huge number of educational institutions in the world offering educational programs in the field of art, architecture, design, and each country is traditionally strong in some disciplines.

The list below is not final and it is not a ranking of educational institutions. It is rather a recommendation of the best educational institutions in their field, offering guaranteed quality education; insider information on current schools and colleges. You can search for educational institutions, for example, on the website of the Delegation of the European Union, Study in Europe or Study London.


Great Britainarchitecture, urbanism, design, art, fashion

Bartlett school of Architecture
University of the Arts / chelsea university of the arts
Central Saint Martins College of Art & Design
London Met, London Metropolitan University


USAarchitecture, urbanism, design, art, cinema
Columbia University / New York
Harvard University / Cambridge
New York Film Academy / New York

On the websites of self-respecting schools and universities, as a rule, there is an Alumni section where you can chat with alumni educational institution, read reports.
Be careful with the choice of school, do not rush to loud names and names and do not be lazy to correspond with those who studied there in Lately, this will allow you to collect more complete and up-to-date information about the course and institution.

Grant options

1. Government

You need to contact the representative office of the country in which you want to continue your studies. Generally, scholarships and grants are the responsibility of the culture / education department, which can provide you with all the information you need.

You can also contact representatives of specialized agencies, such as the British Council (British Council). These are organizations representing the interests of various foundations. All the necessary information about scholarships and grants can be found on their websites and there you can apply online or ask questions about the timing, programs, education system, etc.

2. Self-reliant

Another way to get a grant to study abroad is to send information about yourself to the universities or colleges that interest you: they may be able to offer something worthwhile, if, of course, you can cope with the competition and convince that the study grant is needed for you. In this case, the grant is the most difficult, but real.

It is also useful to find out if the Russian university where you study / studied has established a partnership with the higher education institution of interest abroad, or is planning to establish such a relationship.

3. Foundations

The most time consuming option. If for some reason you do not have the opportunity (for example, your age does not allow or you study narrowly specific disciplines) to receive a government grant, you can try your luck and collect the required amount bit by bit from private funds, of which there are an incredible number around the world. To do this, you should directly contact a foundation interested in the development of your field of research, for example, the Ford Foundation (in Russia it is represented by the Institute international education), which allows you to get a grant to study in the field of art in any country in the world.


Natalia Remizova

Received a Chevening grant through the UK Government / 2010-2011 study period.


“Initially, it was necessary to write a motivation letter with clearly formulated plans for the future and explanations why I need this grant. I thought about and rules the letter for about a month, analyzing my past work experience and making plans for the future. The most important thing for me in receiving a grant was what I formulated for myself, what I have already achieved and what I really want to achieve.
The main advice is to believe in yourself! More practical advice- to keep in touch with the British Council, which helped me a lot. "

The timing

Each country has its own education system, conditions and deadlines for submitting documents for grants and scholarships. As a rule, the acceptance of applications begins in the second half of summer and lasts until mid-autumn.

After you have made the final choice of the course, you will need time to collect the necessary documents, pass an interview, resolve housing issues, obtain a visa, etc., therefore it is recommended to start the application process at least one year before the expected start of your studies. The sooner you start gathering information about the scholarship programs you are interested in, the better your chances of success. So don't pull up last day, but try to start the procedure as early as possible.

The most important thing in the process of obtaining a grant

The most important thing in the process of obtaining a grant, oddly enough, is the correct documents. This is the key to your success.

You will be asked for a copy of your higher education diploma; CV (resume), where you will need to indicate your contacts, education, achievements, work experience (if any), knowledge of foreign languages ​​and other documents. Full list documents you can find on the website of the selected program or organization that offers it.

The most important of the documents is the essay or the so-called motivation letter. The writing of this letter should be addressed Special attention... If the resume is short description your education, career, and language skills, the motivation letter is designed to show your ability to explain, reason, persuade and argue. The essay should clearly answer the questions of why you need this grant and how you will help Russia in concrete after graduation.

Participation in the competition for some types of scholarships requires an interview with a jury. It is usually believed that if you are invited for an interview, then you have passed the first stage of the competition. If the selection committee, after considering your candidacy, decides that you are worthy of a scholarship, you will be sent an official notification to the address you indicated on your resume. Having received it, you must contact the consulate or visa center of the country of study and apply for a visa.


Ekaterina Batanova

Received a grant under the Urban Development Planning program at UCL / Great Britain / study period 2006-2007.


“If in the list of required documents you see that something does not fit, do not give up and do not apply for a scholarship! All formalities need to be able to customize. It is more important what you are, and not a triple in the diploma of a Moscow university (do not forget about photoshop). As a rule, a notarized translation of the diploma is required.

In writing an essay, it is important to show yourself as a strong, purposeful person, as a person who is well versed in his discipline. To give a clear answer to the question: why should you give money for training? Why exactly do you know how, having received the education you need (here you need to justify the choice of a university), apply this knowledge to improve things in Russia? Do not forget, grants are given by the governments of advanced economies under the official auspices of saving the developing world, so your intentions should be on paper and in interviews exclusively in this direction.

The other side of the issue is that as long as the government can afford (for example, the British have already cut their budget for scholarships for the third world under the Chevening program, and it may be completely closed from next year), it will be engaged in the supply of high-quality brain resources to their country. Fresh, strong brains ensure the growth and development of the economy. That is why all programs are aimed at selecting the best, respectively, when officially communicating with the guarantor in the language "I want to help Russia", you must present yourself as a strong candidate they are looking for. "

Scholarships at universities abroad are financial assistance that reduces tuition, living and other expenses. Overseas grants are financial assistance to support a project or research.

On the ssia website you will find over 40,000 scholarships, which are updated by the universities themselves. Where to begin?

  • Look at information about a specific university and at the end of the page you will find a scholarship section
  • Ask the university if you would like to learn more about scholarships
  • University brochures also contain information on study scholarships. You can download them for free!
  • Find out more information by clicking on the board

University board with brochures

What do you need for a scholarship?

If you haven't applied for a scholarship yet, then these documents may come in handy.

  • Scholarship Application Form
  • Copy of diploma, certificates and translation certified by a notary

In which countries are scholarships issued?

Hotcourses' guides to study in England, USA and Australia have information on student financial aid. Click on the picture to download!

Most young people believe that higher education v Western Europe or the United States can only be obtained by being rich, famous, or genius. But studying abroad is available to many more young people than is commonly thought. Almost every young man or girl, having tolerably mastered foreign language and having shown good academic results, can receive a grant to study abroad.

What is a grant?

A grant is the amount that a foreign government, university, educational foundation, or some other institution sponsors a student. Some grants cover all the costs of the grantee (housing costs, actually training, flights). And sometimes an amount is issued that covers only part of the costs (for example, only for training). You can get a grant for a short period (one month, six months), and for a fairly long period (up to 3 years). In this case, the due amount is paid in installments.

What does it do?

This kind of funding provides a lot of excellent prospects, especially for students with modest financial resources. Here are the top five reasons to “knock out” a grant and go to study abroad:


How to get a grant to study in another country?

Assess your chances of getting a study abroad grant

These chances are high if:

  • you have chosen to submit documents a program corresponding to your experience and already acquired knowledge. You should not try to change your specialization while receiving a grant;
  • you can boast of excellent or very good academic performance at a university or school;
  • you also have an excellent command of the language taught in the desired educational institution;
  • you have research papers or a diploma in your chosen specialization for a grant;
  • you can give convincing arguments about the value of your research and you as a specialist for the development of scientific, cultural and other ties between the donor country and Russia;
  • you are simply confident in the success of this venture.

Choose the right program and grant

If you want to enroll in a particular university, then look for information about the grants provided on its website, and also ask a question about possible financial assistance at the International Office (office for work with foreign students).

If you do not have a preference for an educational institution, then study the proposed grants, look for students who have previously participated in such programs, ask questions that arise.

What exist government programs study abroad in the countries most popular with Russian students?

In Germany, higher education has recently been free for both local and foreign students. In spite of this government agency DAAD provides up to 60 thousand scholarships and grants to study in Germany in various specialties every year. There are also many opportunities offered by Austria, a country traditionally loyal to young foreigners who come to study.

France invites mainly to master's or postgraduate programs for graduates of Russian universities. Engineering specialties are preferred. There are state programs Fade, Campus France, which gives grants for such training in France.

The UK has high educational standards and high tuition fees. Grants in this way are usually a tuition discount, rarely covering other needs. Nevertheless, many young people take the offered grants to study in the UK under the Chevening program of the Hill Foundation, for example, London Metropolitan University or Edinburgh University because of the excellent prospects and excellent English.

Grants to study in Italy can be found in many specialties: design, engineering, management, natural sciences. Grants are distributed through the state program Farnesina, for example, with the help of the Italian Institute of Culture in Moscow.

Eastern "tigers" are interested in popularizing their own language and culture. Government scholarship programs in China, Japan and Korea are very generous, usually involving a year of language study and subsequent education in it, often in the field of languages ​​and cultural studies.

North America is also full of opportunities for our compatriots to obtain an inexpensive master's degree. There are grants to study in Canada from the Vanier and Banting programs, as well as the Trudeau Foundation scholarships. These programs are primarily aimed at undergraduate and postgraduate degree holders.

The Czech Republic and Poland are champions in terms of the number of students from Russia studying there. Education here is both cheaper and often of much better quality. It is not difficult to find lists of universities in which education for students from Russia will be free. In addition, grants for studying in Poland are distributed within the framework of programs for young scientists, the Gaude Polonia (humanitarian) program or the program named after M. Kirkland (economics, cultural studies). In the Czech Republic, it is possible to receive a study grant from the Visegrad Foundation or from Erasmus Mundus.

There are European state programs for study abroad and student mobility. The largest of them is Erasmus Mundus. It provides a huge number of grants in all possible specialties, many for a long time, with the possibility of obtaining an EU diploma or postgraduate education.

Conditions for obtaining a grant abroad

After the grant for education abroad is selected, a package of documents should be prepared. Its composition and design rules should be clarified each time, but the approximate list is as follows:

  1. A copy of the diploma with academic reference, translated into the required language and certified.
  2. Resume (CV). It must have an academic focus. Describe awards, prizes, fellowships awarded, volunteer work, research papers and research skills.
  3. Motivation letter. This is a very important document: the essay "Why I want to get this grant." Volumes of literature have been written on the topic of writing such essays. It should be about 500 words long. In a courteous but very convincing manner, you need to show the seriousness of your intentions, answer the questions: “why do I want to study there”, “how I see my life and activities after graduation”, “why you should give this grant exactly me "and so on.
  4. Language test results. They must be passed in advance, a month before sending the documents, in order to get the result on time.
  5. Recommendations. There should be two of them: from teachers, curators, project managers, etc.
  6. Copy of your passport.
  7. Various certificates of completion of courses, internships, victories at olympiads, etc., also do not hurt.

Send all required documents and wait. Remember the popular proverb: "He who knocks, to him, and open to him." Be assured of success, and your grant will certainly find you.