Navigating the scholarship landscape: Tips for international and Canadian students

Credit to Author: Canadian Immigrant| Date: Wed, 16 Aug 2023 14:54:59 +0000

Between the high costs of post-secondary tuition and living in many cities, post-secondary education is far from being affordable for many prospective students in Canada. Hence, scholarships are necessary for thousands of students, especially international ones, to ease the financial burdens of funding their education.

Fortunately, despite the high competition for scholarships, students can obtain their dream financial aid as long as they take time and look for the right scholarship opportunities for their unique situation and make themselves stand out through the application process. Through this article, we will go through how you can find the right scholarship, refine your application, and set yourself up for success within the pool of applicants.

Find the right scholarship for you

For Canadian students, government-funded scholarship programs are some of the best starting points in finding scholarships, as national and provincial governments offer ample financial aid opportunities through bursaries. The criteria for government scholarships vary but are often simple. For example, some scholarships may require you to be part of specific programs while others require you to fulfill a service agreement stating you’ll work in the same province you’re currently studying at.

On top of government-sponsored scholarship programs, there are many other options out there for Canadian students, such as those through post-secondary institutions themselves. Local communities, organizations, and corporations also often provide students with financial relief options.

To get a jump start on applying for scholarships, consult your school advisor or counsellor, as they’re often the most knowledgeable about specific scholarship programs in your community.

Even for international students, the Canadian government remains one of the top sources of scholarships. Annually, provincial and national governments offer financial aid options exclusively for non-Canadian students.

Some common criteria for these government scholarships include your program of study, nationality, and degree level. However, it’s not uncommon to find free financial assistance options for all to apply to, with no specific eligibility requirements.

Apart from the Canadian government’s scholarship offerings, you can apply for scholarship opportunities from international foundations, companies, and fellowship programs. These institutions typically offer scholarships worldwide, so your nationality won’t be a hurdle.

Moreover, you should also consider checking opportunities from your home country, as they may also have financial aid for students studying overseas.

To help narrow your search for scholarships suitable for international students, check out StudyinCanada.org. 

Find lesser-known scholarships

Lesser-known scholarship programs are sometimes superior to more popular ones for various reasons. They’re often less competitive, have easier-to-achieve requirements, and may focus more on the niche, industry, or program you’re interested in.

One of the best ways to find lesser-known scholarships is to ask people within your network. Your family, friends, or fellow organization members may have already encountered these programs and can personally vouch for you, giving you a higher chance for approval.

Alternatively, consider contacting your banking institution, as they may offer scholarships that are not widely advertised to the public. Searching online is also possible, but it may be harder to discover underrated scholarships this way.

Don’t let smaller amounts slip away

Many students want to win big scholarships all at once. However, this isn’t always the most effective approach to securing the necessary funding for your education. Scholarship programs that offer smaller amounts of money typically receive fewer applications and have a shorter application process, significantly decreasing the time it takes to apply and increasing your chances of securing funds.

Don’t let even the smallest scholarship opportunities slip away because these can add up to help make your post-secondary study dream a financial reality for you.

Perfect your application

What to include 

Scholarships have different requirements. Hence, instead of keeping a checklist of the information you must include in every application, it is recommended to read the requirements of each scholarship program individually and carefully.

This way, you can cater your application to accommodate the information asked of you, no more, no less.

Format your application properly so humans or AI programs don’t mark it as spam. Stay within the specified word count when writing essays, as you may be penalized for writing too much or less.

How to stand out

Use storytelling: Storytelling your achievements and hardships introduces you not just as an academic but as a multi-dimensional person with values and morals. This showcases your sincerity for the program and demonstrates whether you’re a good fit for the sponsor’s goals, increasing your chances of winning the scholarship.

Make it mistake-free: Always double-check your application’s grammar, spelling, and format to ensure it’s without errors. Research the requirements thoroughly beforehand to avoid silly mistakes, and be sure to re-read them again before you submit.

Show your eagerness: If you must submit your resume, include a well-crafted cover letter introducing yourself and your achievements. Additionally, include strong letters of recommendation from reputable sources if the instructions allow you to do so.

Doing these extra steps shows your eagerness for the program, making you stand out over the generic applications.

In conclusion, put in your best efforts when crafting your applications. Ultimately, being proactive and seizing every opportunity will increase your chances of securing financial funding for your studies in no time.

Enoch Omololu is a personal finance expert and the founder of Savvy New Canadians, a popular online financial resource.

Click here to listen to Enoch Omololu’s advice on managing your finances as a newcomer.

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