Are you an undergraduate or graduate looking for study abroad opportunities? Don’t worry, this post covers a whole lot about studying abroad and how to apply as a Nigerian student.
Most persons desire to study abroad. In fact, some people have always had the dream to study in a university overseas.
I personally have always had that dream to study abroad, not until I discovered these approaches i am to share with you here.
Studying abroad to Nigerians and other third world countries is like a goldmine which must be achieved. The rate of migration to other countries in pursuit of academic achievement is alarming. So, it has become more competitive.
At the same time, the inflation rate in the country has also made everything expensive, even cost of processing your applications.
Overview
Before you start seeking scholarship to study abroad, there are questions you should ask yourself such as:
- What kind of scholarship do I really need?
- What course do I intend to study
- What course do I want to study
- What are the available scholarships I can quality and apply for and where do I find them.
- What are the requirements for scholarships abroad.
- What do I stand to gain after studying abroad?
- Most importantly, what is the cost of studying that course
These questions and more are important and I recommend you always write them then down so that it will be much easier for you to answer.
Don’t worry, before you finish this post, you must have answered all of them.
Important Things To Consider Before Starting Study Abroad Journey
What kind of scholarship do you really need?
This question boils down to whether you need a fully funded scholarship, partial scholarship or the one you can fund all by yourself.
Everyone wants a fully funded scholarship but it is not always easy to get and it is most times based extremely on merit. Some scholarships are also designed as financial aid while some are strictly academic aids.
If you cannot fund your education fully abroad, then you need a partial or full scholarship. There are several opportunities out there for you.
What course do I study?
This is where another bunch of confusion comes in, especially for those going for masters or Ph.D programs. When choosing a course, you begin to consider so many things especially the cost and job opportunities.
I always advise that you stick to a course you already have knowledge about. If you were a science in Nigeria, pick a science course, if you are an art student, choose a course related to it.
Generally, I promote tech and business or marketing courses because they are in high demand now and they will keep rising in demand.
What scholarships are available?
Availability of scholarships depends on your academics level, either as an undergraduate, masters or Ph.D student.
There are always scholarships available for everyone but you need the best out of all.
Every year, the Nigerian federal government offers scholarships to students to study abroad. It covers both undergraduates and graduates. Such scholarships are fit for you but the only disadvantage is that it is very competitive and based on merit.
The FG scholarship is available, Total/NNPC scholarships are also there. Some of these scholarships allow you study abroad for free.
Scholarship requirements
While some scholarships do not require so much documents from you, some actually do.
However, the most basic requirements are: secondary school certificate, WAEC or NECO result, transcripts, international passport, etc.
Documents differs according the country and scholarships. But in all, your academic documents must be in good standing.
What do you stand to gain after studying abroad
This is one of the most important questions you need answer. What exactly is your plan after studying abroad.
Going abroad does not guarantee bright future. So many persons have gone there and come back empty handed.
First, plan your life as an international student. If you want to come back to Nigeria to work, stick to that plan after your studies abroad. If you want to continue to work abroad, make sure to have such plan even before you start processing your admissions abroad.
One mistake most persons make is “not having their plans in their finger tips”. A popular quote has it that “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail” and this same thing applies here.
You should know the duration of your course, how to schedule your work and study sessions, the jobs you want to apply for, the grade you want to graduate with, the kind of life you want to live entirely.
You need a pen and a book to always write down your plans. Start now to do so.
Cost of the course and university.
This majorly applies to those funding their scholarships by themselves either fully or partially.
In fact, no matter how free the scholarship is, you still have one or two roles to play in terms of finance.
Finance has been one of the major set backs for some people who have attempted to go abroad.
Check the cost of the course you want to study and start making plans on how to raise the funds. If you cannot afford it, consider going for courses or universities with lower tuition fees.
Who is your scholarship agent?
Most universities abroad work with agents to recruit students following the necessary procedures. In most cases, direct contact with the university may not guarantee admission and it may cost you more money and time.
For this reason, study abroad agencies are out to help you.
Who is the best travel/study abroad agency in Nigeria? IUSCHOOLS. Yes, you heard me right.
IUSCHOOLS is a leading Edutech company which focuses on guiding and helping African students find the best institutions and courses for them abroad. We help you apply and process your visa while you sit back and wait for your admission letter.
IUSCHOOLS collaborates with over 1000 universities in UK, USA, Africa, and outer European countries. We have decided to come down to Nigerians to make things easier, seeing that the demand to study is high.
Now that you have seen what to consider before starting the journey of studying abroad, now let us delve in to how to bring those things into reality.
Top Tips on How to Get Scholarship and study Abroad
Studying abroad is simple if you meet the requirements in full. It only takes time.
I have already touched most of the things I need to tell you. But let’s get in deeper here.
1. Search for Scholarships to study abroad
While some bloggers share outdated contents on scholarship opportunities, there are still websites with updated contents such as chegg.com, owl.com, niche.com, scholar4dev.com, scholarship roar, etc.
While some of the websites list majorly USA based scholarships, there are still opportunities you can tap into it.
Checkout the eligibility criteria and other necessary information as I mentioned above.
2. Reach out to a Study Abroad Agent to Find it For You
One of the surest ways of securing a scholarship is through a trusted agent. Agents have direct contacts with the school admission officers.
While some agents are offline, there are still few you can work with online. So, you do not have to stress yourself moving to and fro to process anything. The agent does it all.
Agents takes the required admission documents, submits to the school while you wait for positive response.
This is where Iuschools comes in, to enable you process everything you need and offer you admission as soon as possible.
One good thing about working with IU schools is that it fastens the process.
3. Apply for the scholarships
If you do not want to apply by yourself (which I do not recommend), do well start applying as soon the application form is out.
Most applications are online and require a certain fee in money to be paid as application fee. In most cases, it not refundable.
If you are using an agent, follow him up. It is important to get a trusted agent who would handle your application swiftly.
4. Wait for Response
Scholarships can only be denied on special occasions, even if you meet the requirements. However, such occasions are rare.
You will receive an admission letter in your inbox informing you that you have been admitted. Your agent can also inform you and send in all the necessary details needed for you to move overseas.
How does IU Schools help you in this?
IU schools is a study abroad agency which helps students apply to study abroad in any country and institutions of your choice.
Collaborating with universities in different countries in Africa, Europe and beyond makes it easier for us to find the perfect course, institution within your budget.
Conclusion
Studying abroad is no child’s play. It requires resources, time, effort and right connections. The best connections to get in this case is a trusted agent.
The process has become more competitive considering the policies in place and number of people attempting to move abroad.
I hope you have been able to get a more simplified process of getting a scholarship to study abroad as a Nigerian, African or a student from anywhere in the world.
