Going abroad for higher education is the wishful dream of most Indian students. However, the cost of overseas education is quite high, which includes tuition fees, accommodation, and living expenses making it a deterrent for some students. The good news is there are multiple scholarship opportunities available for Indian students who want to pursue overseas education. In this post, we will talk about a few of the best scholarship opportunities, covering how to apply, and how you can increase your chances of securing scholarship funding. Besides, we will also explore the role of standardized tests, like the GRE, and how a GRE online course or GRE exam preparation online can be useful along your journey.
Types of Scholarships for Indian Students
There are several scholarships for Indian students. Some universities offer such scholarships, while others come from governments, non-profit organizations, and private foundations. Here are some of the popular ones that you may find suitable:
University Scholarships: Merit-based scholarships are provided by many universities across the world for international students, including those from India. These scholarships cover full or partial tuition fees, accommodation costs, and sometimes even living expenses. For instance, providers are University of Melbourne International Graduate Scholarship and Oxford University Rhodes Scholarship both from the UK.
Government Scholarships: Governments of various nations offer scholarships to students from India. The Indian government is running the National Overseas Scholarship Scheme for post-graduate students. Besides this, other countries like the USA, UK, and Australia have scholarships for international students. Some notable scholarships are the Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship (USA), Chevening Scholarships (UK), and Australia Awards Scholarships (Australia).
Private and NGO Scholarships: Organizations like the Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation, Tata Scholarship, and The Narotam Sekhsaria Foundation provide funding for those Indian students who wish to study abroad. For many NGOs, scholarships available for students studying in specific fields.
How to Apply for Scholarships?
While applying for Scholarships, procedures change with the type of scholarship and to what organization is awarding the scholarship. Still, most commonly, the procedures include:
Researching Scholarships: Start by researching available scholarships concerning the course or country you are interested in. Good research sources include updates on university websites, scholarship portals, and government websites for most recent updates.
Fulfilling Eligibility Criteria: Each scholarship has its eligibility criteria, which include minimum academic qualifications, a specified field of study, or other factors such as financial needs or country of origin. Therefore, you have to meet all those criteria before submitting your application.
Drafting Required Documents: General documents that you would be required to get scholarship consideration include your academic transcripts, standardized test scores (GRE), recommendation letters, personal statement, and proof of financial need.
Writing a Strong Personal Statement: A great personal statement can make or break your scholarship application. Your scholarship application must highlight your academic achievements, career goals, and merit for why you deserve the scholarship. Ensure that you tailor the statement to the specific objectives of the provided scholarship.
Preparing for Standardized Tests: Most scholarships call for standardized test scores including the GRE. Well preparation for such exams can make your application make an impression. This is where joining an GRE online course or using GRE exam preparation online tools really makes a difference.
GRE is a Key Requirement for Scholarships
GRE (Graduate Record Examination) is one of the most standardized tests used in the US and other countries for graduate school admissions. A good score on the GRE enables you to get scholarships, as many universities offer merit-based scholarships only in tune with your GRE performance.
The GRE Syllabus
The GRE tests a candidate in three major areas that include Verbal Reasoning, Quantitative Reasoning, and Analytical Writing. Each section of the test evaluates different aspects of your academic skills:
Verbal Reasoning: This section tests your ability to understand and analyze written material, evaluate arguments, and synthesize information from multiple texts.
Quantitative Reasoning: This is the section that tests your ability to understand and analyze quantitative information, solve mathematical problems, and interpret data.
Analytical Writing: You are required to write one essay in this section. The essay will help evaluate your capacity to clearly and effectively communicate complex ideas in appropriate grammar and structure.
GRE Exam Structure
The GRE exam is administered computer-based or paper-based as per the location. The time length of the whole test is about 1 hour 58 minutes. Three sections have no explicit break between sections:
Analytical Writing (1 section): One task with 30 minutes duration.
Verbal Reasoning (2 sections): Two sections: the first contains 12 questions to be answered in 18 minutes and then 15 questions to be done in 23 minutes.
Quantitative Reasoning (2 sections): Two sections: the first contains 12 questions to be answered in 21 minutes and then 15 questions to be answered in 26 minutes.
GRE Preparation
Adequate preparation is the key to getting a good GRE score. The best GRE classes online or offline will help you understand the test format and eventually improve your strategies and test-taking abilities while providing enough practice tests to measure your progress.
If flexibility and convenience are what you want, then a GRE online course is the way to go. Online courses provide students the opportunity to study at their own pace, all while having access to fine-quality study material and expert instructors. For example, most GRE exam preparation online courses contain interactive lessons with video tutorials and practice quizzes that ensure you master all the key concepts.
How Scholarships Relate to GRE Scores
Scores from GRE tests are also utilized by many universities and scholarship bodies to determine the distribution of financial aid. A good GRE score certainly shows academic competency and significantly increases one’s chances of getting a merit-based scholarship. For instance, when applying to the Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship, applicants need to have competitive scores on the GRE.
In addition, some private scholarships and university-specific financial aid packages are merit-based awards, so a good GRE score can put you ahead of other applicants.
Final Tips to Maximize Your Scholarship Chances
Apply Early: Start your search for scholarships early because many have early application deadlines.
Use GRE Prep Resources: To get good GRE results, enrol in the best GRE prep classes available online. The classes provide systematic and all-rounded preparation and perhaps help improve one’s performance on the test.
Keep Track: Note down the following on the scholarship you are applying for application deadlines, list of documents to be submitted, and test scores.
If you are in doubt about how to proceed with the scholarship application, you can seek guidance from mentors or experts. Most GRE prep courses also offer a kind of guidance on scholarship applications.
Conclusion
Scholarships can significantly reduce the cost of studying abroad. To increase the possibility of obtaining financial aid for Indian students, proper research, solid applications, and good scores on exams such as the GRE are necessary. Whether it’s taking the GRE online course or GRE exam preparation online, en route to standardized test success, you’re going to be studying abroad with scholarship support.
