myUface Blog

In almost every country in the world, you will find wealthy individuals who provide scholarship support to students.  Helping students attend universities is one of the oldest forms of philanthropy, dating back to the very dawn of higher education.  Finding such a “sponsor” for at least a portion of your education may be something you should look into.

The motives behind scholarship support are various.  Some individuals give support to individuals connected to them in some way (for example, their family members, or people from the same region).  Some individuals give support to students based on their financial need.   Some give to the best students.  Some give to a particular class of students (for example, to orphans, or to a particular ethnic group).

Similarly, the way in which individuals decide to offer support is different from case to case.  In some cases an individual will hold a competition open to anyone.  At the other extreme, a sponsor might offer support only to students he or she personally knows and likes.

You should ask students, teachers, school directors and others whether they know of any individuals in the community who offer support to students for their studies abroad.  You should also ask you parents if they know of anyone who might be willing to help.

Try talking to a student he or she has helped in the past.  How did that student approach the sponsor?  What kind of support did they offer?  Were there any conditions (i.e., the student has to work for a company the sponsor owns for 2 years)?

Once you have a good idea of who the sponsor is, what his or her interests are, and what kind of support he or she might offer, start thinking of how you might approach the sponsor.  Do you know anyone who knows him or her?  Could they set up a meeting for you to introduce yourself?  Or does the sponsor have a particular procedure for determining who he or she helps?

It’s a lot of work to research, identify, and approach an individual who might offer you scholarship support.  However, keep in mind that, compared to the chances you have of winning a scholarship through a formal competition (where you’ll be competing with hundreds, if not thousands, of others), your chances of obtaining support from an individual may be quite high . . . if you put in the effort to find a potential sponsor.

What do you think?  Are there individuals in your community who assist international students?  Would it be possible for you to approach them?  Why or why not?

Posts in this Series

1. Your Education is an Investment - 08 Jul
2. Researching Scholarship Opportunities - 07 Jul
3. How to Ask Questions About Financial Aid - 28 Jun
4. Ninth Option for Financial Aid: Loans - 27 Jun
5. The Difference Between Scholarships and Fellowships - 26 Jun
6. Eigth Option for Financial Aid: U.S. Universities - 25 Jun
7. Seventh Option for Financial Aid: Ethnic Communities in the United States - 24 Jun
8. Sixth Option for Financial Aid: Private Organizations in the U.S. - 23 Jun
9. Fifth Option for Financial Aid: U.S. Government Programs - 22 Jun
10. Fourth Option for Financial Aid: Scholarships from International Organizations - 20 Jun
11. How to Ask for Support - 18 Jun
12. Looking for Support in Your Country: Why it Makes Sense - 17 Jun
13. Third Option for Financial Aid: Individuals in Your Country (This post)
14. Second Option for Financial Aid: Private Businesses or Foundations in Your Country - 15 Jun
15. First Option for Financial Aid: Government Programs in Your Country - 14 Jun
16. The Third Step in Financial Aid: Find What's Available - 11 Jun
17. The Second Step In Financial Aid: Identify Your Assets - 10 Jun
18. The First Step In Financial Aid: Identify Your Needs - 09 Jun
19. Finding Financial Aid for your U.S. Education - 08 Jun