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How do I get a scholarship for a foreign student ?
Studying abroad can be an exciting adventure, but it requires solid financing. Fortunately, several scholarships are available to help international students cover the costs associated with their stay. In this article, we explain how to apply for a scholarship, what the criteria for awarding scholarships are, and how to maximize your chances of receiving a student grant to finance your studies abroad.
What is a scholarship for foreign students ?
A scholarship is financial aid to help a student finance his or her higher education, particularly abroad. These scholarships can cover a variety of costs, such as tuition fees, dormitory accommodation, transportation, and even day-to-day expenses. They are often awarded on the basis of social criteria or academic merit.
Scholarships are awarded by various bodies: the CROUS, the French Ministry of Education, foundations, universities and international organizations. There are several types of scholarship, such as scholarships based on social criteria, international mobility scholarships and merit-based scholarships.
Scholarship criteria
Scholarships based on social criteria are the most common, and are awarded according to the resources of the student and his/her family. To be eligible, a student must complete a dossier social étudiant (DSE). Eligibility criteria generally include the total gross income of the taxpayer’s household, the number of dependent children, and the family situation (for example, in the event of a family break-up).
Erasmus scholarships and other international mobility programs may also be awarded on the basis of academic results, training or study plans abroad. These grants are often accompanied by an allowance to cover part of the cost of living and accommodation abroad.
Some mobility grants are also intended for students with scholarships, and can be combined with other assistance, such as merit-based aid or specific aid for students with disabilities.
How do I apply for a grant ?
Scholarship applications are generally made online, via a portal such as the CROUS portal. To do this, the student must prepare an application file, which includes several supporting documents: tax assessment, proof of residence, student social file (DSE), etc. The application must be submitted before the start of the academic year, generally in the spring of the previous year. The application must be submitted before the start of the academic year, generally in the spring of the previous year.
It is important to note that the amount of the grant varies according to the level of the grant, which depends on the student’s overall gross income and financial situation. The CROUS grants scholarships based on social criteria according to a national scale that determines the amount of the scholarship for each student.
Scholarships available for foreign students
- Erasmus scholarships
Erasmus scholarships are designed to encourage the international mobility of European students. They enable students to finance higher education studies in another European Union country. These mobility grants partially cover accommodation and transport costs, and sometimes tuition fees. They are awarded on the basis of the student’s academic record and proposed course of study.
- Government and regional scholarships
The governments of many countries, as well as private organizations and foundations, offer higher education scholarships. For example, regional scholarships may be awarded to students to finance training in a particular field, or to finance an internship abroad. Regional scholarships are often based on the student’s financial situation, and may vary according to income ceilings.
- University scholarships
Many universities offer university scholarships to foreign students, either to finance their studies or to support international mobility. These scholarships can be awarded for an academic year or a semester, and are often based on the student’s academic record or baccalaureate results.
Why apply for a scholarship ?
Obtaining a scholarship enables you to finance not only your studies abroad, but also your accommodation in a university residence and other tuition fees. Scholarships are grants paid directly to scholarship holders to cover their expenses and alleviate the cost of student life, especially for those pursuing higher education in countries where the cost of living is high. These grants are particularly useful for scholarship students, and can be paid in monthly instalments.
Students can also benefit from financial aid for their studies in France or abroad, and in certain cases, particularly for foreign scholarship holders, they can obtain a waiver of tuition fees. These grants can also be combined with other types of financing, such as student loans or special assistance for students with disabilities.
To sum up, to obtain a scholarship, it’s essential to find out about the programs available and to prepare a complete application file, respecting the conditions of attribution. Whether it’s for international mobility, an Erasmus grant or a grant based on social criteria, there is a wide range of financial aid available to support your study abroad project.