The 12 Most Important Tips to Get a Scholarship
1. Start your search as early as possible
The earlier you start your research, the sooner you can get support. And don’t be afraid about not finding suitable scholarships. Just ignore all the misconceptions about scholarships you might have and focus on your application. Because when you have support you can focus wholly on your studies. Many organisations have one deadline per year. If you miss this you will have to wait another year before you can apply.
Creating a profile on european-funding-guide.eu only takes a few minutes. Once complete, you will be able to browse scholarships and funding options that match your profile. You should also check back regularly to stay up-to-date with the new funding opportunities that become available. Just log in at european-funding-guide.eu.
2. Search the scholarship databases for matching grants
Instead of the complex and time-consuming process of researching on the internet, you can check our scholarship databases for funding opportunities. All scholarships are filtered according to application requirements. This saves you time as you won’t have to review scholarships that don’t match your profile.
3. Beware of scholarship scams
Every year, hundreds of thousands of students and parents are affected by scholarship scams. Before you send off any application, learn to recognise the warning signs so you don’t hand over money or personal data to a fraudulent provider.
The clearest red flag is any request for an upfront payment. Legitimate scholarships do not charge an application fee, and legitimate companies never guarantee or promise scholarships or grants. If you have to pay money to get money, it is almost certainly a scam. Common variants include so-called „redemption fees” or „taxes” you have to pay before receiving an unconditional scholarship or a low-interest loan, „pay-to-search” services that promise guaranteed matches in exchange for a premium subscription, and sales events dressed up as free financial-aid seminars.
Other warning signs include: required paid membership in an organisation, privacy policies that allow your data to be sold on, poor grammar or heavy advertising on the provider’s website, high-pressure tactics with artificial „first-come, first-served” deadlines, requests for your bank details or ID numbers, and no evidence that the scholarship has ever actually been awarded. Never hand over credit card or bank details as part of an application, and stick to reputable, free scholarship search tools.
4. Apply now for scholarships that match your profile
Don’t just randomly send your CV to the most popular scholarship funders. Instead you should focus on applying to the organisations with opportunities that match your profile. And don’t hesitate to send several applications as this will increase your chances of success.
The best opportunities are with the lesser known organisations. There are even some that struggle to find enough candidates each year, so you should seek out these opportunities.
When you apply to several scholarships in parallel, staying organised is a key success factor. Set up a spreadsheet, notebook or folder to track each application, including the requirements and deadlines involved. Keep all relevant documents such as transcripts, your CV, personal statements, letters of recommendation and essay drafts in one place, so you can reuse them efficiently across applications.
5. Don’t miss the deadline
The biggest mistake you can make is making a late application. In the majority of cases this will exclude you from the process. Many scholarships have one deadline per year so if you miss it, you will have to wait a full year before you can apply again. As a rule of thumb, submit your application at least one week before the deadline to allow for technical issues or missing documents.
6. Personalise your application
No one likes receiving a generic application that has been sent out en masse, so you should avoid sending out one template to lots of different organisations. The best approach is to personalise and tailor each application. This is not difficult and can include things like addressing it to the right person, or tailoring your responses to match the objectives of the awarding body. You can find further help on preparing your application in our How to Advertise guide.
7. Check your application for mistakes
You will leave a bad first impression if you submit a sloppy application. Read it carefully and correct any mistakes before sending it. In particular you should check your spelling and grammar, as well as checking that the information you are including is factually correct.
Also make sure you follow any application instructions that you are given. For example, if you are asked to send in the application on A4 paper, only use A4 paper.
Pay close attention to formal requirements, as scholarship juries check whether applicants can follow simple instructions. Stick to any minimum and maximum word counts, use the exact file format requested (typically PDF or DOC), and include all supporting documents such as transcripts and letters of recommendation. Missing documents or the wrong file format are among the most common reasons for immediate rejection.
Letters of recommendation take time, so plan the lead time carefully. Ask your referees at least three to four weeks before the deadline, brief them on the scholarship and share examples of your achievements so they can write a personalised letter. A polite reminder about a week before the deadline is appropriate if you have not heard back.
8. Make sure your application is complete
When you are applying for a scholarship, don’t submit an incomplete application. This will usually result in your application being rejected.
9. What appears when you search for your name in Google?
The people responsible for awarding scholarships may Google you to find out more information. Check your privacy settings on Facebook and other social media networks. And look for content that might leave a bad impression and try to get it removed.
10. Use a photo that leaves an impression of professionalism
First impressions count so your profile photo should be high quality and you should look happy and professional. Use a professional headshot from the shoulders up with a plain background, saved as a JPEG; avoid selfies or photos with a hat or cap. It is advisable to include a photo, even if it is not asked for.
11. Don’t become a nuisance
Many organisations do not send confirmation of receipt. Often 1 to 6 months will pass before you get feedback. Some even write on their website that applicants should not make contact to check on the progress of their application. You should follow that request.
12. Prepare thoroughly for the scholarship interview
Many scholarship providers invite shortlisted applicants to an interview. The panel is not only looking for strong achievements but also for genuine enthusiasm for your subject and a clear willingness to make a positive impact. Preparation, not talent or self-confidence, is what separates successful candidates from those who fail.
A widely recommended technique is the STAR method. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action and Result: describe the background of the scenario (Situation), the concrete challenge and why you were responsible for it (Task), the specific steps you took (Action), and the outcome you achieved (Result). Focus on your own actions and try to quantify the result wherever possible.
To prepare, build a „STAR story bank” of three to five real, versatile examples aligned with the selection criteria of the scholarship you are applying for. Practise your stories aloud rather than memorising them word for word, tailor each answer to the specific scholarship, and keep each response to around two minutes. Also reflect on what you learned from each experience.
For the opening self-introduction, a useful structure is: introduce yourself by name and current study status, mention briefly where you are from and which school you attended, ask the interviewer a small connecting question (for example whether they know your home town), talk about your social engagement during school, and finally explain how you came to your subject through internships, competitions or similar experiences.
If you were able to get a scholarship make sure to keep it and don’t risk losing it because of unnecessary mistakes.