A scholarship program is a fund set up to support the education of a student, usually on the basis of academic achievement or other criteria that may include financial need. Scholarship funds can be awarded to students in a variety of ways, such as directly paid to the university (which is often the safest option for the grantor) or given to the student themselves in order to cover expenses like tuition, books, and housing.
Scholarships are critical in ensuring that financial constraints don’t hinder students from pursuing their educational goals. There are scholarships available for all sorts of students, from high schoolers to graduate students and beyond. There are also scholarships available to those who identify as LGBTQIA+, or who have a specific heritage or community connection. The best way to find scholarships that are a good fit for your unique characteristics is to research and apply to as many as possible.
The rules of a scholarship depend on the sponsor, but generally they’ll specify whether the money can be used only for tuition or other expenses like living costs and books. Some scholarships will also have restrictions on how long the funds are valid for, with some expiring after a certain period of time.
The biggest providers of scholarship funds are companies, which award them as part of their corporate social responsibility programmes and for their employees’ children or their own students. Other sources include philanthropic organisations, professional associations, and private individuals.