If you want to study abroad via scholarship (or fully paid fees), this post has some great tips for you. Learn how to go about finding a university, picking a research topic, getting your transcript, etc. and eventually gaining admission.
After my undergraduate study in Nigeria, I started researching how to apply for foreign universities as I knew I wanted to pursue a postgraduate degree abroad and not in Nigeria. Just like me, a lot of Nigerian students, both undergraduate and graduates do not wish to continue their studies in Nigeria because of issues like quality of education, poor infrastructure, strike, etc.
If you are interested in finding out how to get admission in a foreign university for undergraduate or postgraduate studies, how to apply for universities in USA, UK, Europe or elsewhere, this article is for you. I will be sharing my experience as regards how I was able to get five graduate admissions with one scholarship in the UK and the United States.
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Make a List
I work with lists all the time. Have a list of the courses you think you would like to study abroad. Make sure your list includes the countries you are looking at too.
Get Your Transcript and Degree Certificate Ready
If you do not have them yet, start applying for them because it is a required document. Whether you are looking for fully paid admission or to get study abroad scholarships, you need your official transcript and degree certificate.
Email Your Professors for References
If you didn’t have a good relationship with your lecturers during your undergraduate study, this is the best time to mend your relationship with them. They are a determining factor as regards your study abroad programs because schools and scholarship boards will need to know how you performed as an undergraduate.
Do Your Research
If you are interested in study abroad scholarships
, there are a lot of websites that you can get that. I would recommend opportunitiesforafricans.com, afterschoolafrica.com, and opportunityvenue.com.
However, if you have the money to study abroad, research for schools and schools that offer the course you are interested in.
Get a Research Topic
This should be the first on your list. You should have a topic in mind because that is the highlight of the postgraduate degree. Look for a topic or topics you are passionate about and educate yourself with what other people have written.
Find a Supervisor
Finding a supervisor is not very necessary in some schools, but schools in Canada like the University of Lethbridge require you to have a supervisor before you proceed with your application. Even if your school doesn’t need you to have a supervisor, try to get one.
Check the departmental website to find lecturers who are interested in your area of research. When you find the lecturer, mail him or her.
Write Your Personal Statement
If you are the best graduating student in your set, if you do not write a compelling personal statement, you are not going anywhere. Ask scholars who are studying to look at your personal statement.
Kindly note that a personal statement is not a sob story. It is not an opportunity to tell the admission board that you are broke. It is an opportunity to sell yourself.
Talk about your research interest, how you arrived at it, the study you have done as regards to your research interest, why you chose the school and more.
If you are applying to a course that is different from what you studied as an undergraduate, make sure you give the admission board a good reason why you have decided to switch careers.
Write Your Research Proposal
When you are done with your personal statement, move to your research proposal.
Before you dive in, make sure you have read a lot of research proposals to familiarize yourself with the process. Also, try to understand the citation style for the department you are applying to.
Write Your Development Impact
If you are applying for a scholarship, this is a determining factor. Since that without the award, you can’t fund your studies, you have to put in extra effort to warm your way into the heart of the admission board.
- Why are you applying for this course?
- What benefit will this study have in your career?
- How do you intend to help your home country after your studies?
These and more are the questions you will get when applying for prestigious scholarships like the Commonwealth, Erasmus Mundus, Queen Elizabeth University, and Mastercard.
Write a convincing letter that will make your dream to study abroad for free come through.
Apply
When you have all your documents and essays ready, it is time to apply. If your school requires an application fee, pay, and apply. It is important to note that schools that require application fees have generous funding most of the time.
Wait for the good news
After applying, move on with your life. Do not pause your life because you are waiting for a decision from the admission board or scholarship board.
If you don't have anything more important to do, get a job, do an internship, volunteer for outreach, or start that business you have wanted to start.
The good news is coming soon!
Now, take a look at Study Abroad Guide: All You Need to Know as an African Student
We hope that this post has given you some great insights on studying abroad and how to apply for study abroad with scholarship. If you have more questions, leave a comment down below. Cheers! 
