There are an estimated 4.3 million students enrolled abroad for university-level education. With so many international scholarships available, you can apply for them if you put the time and effort into processing your application and making certain preparations.
If you want to learn more about how any average student can apply for a scholarship and the different scholarship requirements that need certified translation services, keep on reading to learn more about this!
Can Average Students Get Scholarships?
Even though most scholarships are awarded to those who have academic, musical, and athletic excellence, many scholarships are offered to students from every walk of life through sponsorship and other financial support. There are fundraisers for the average student because many of these sponsors were once "untalented" and "unqualified" students themselves. They understand that not every student is academically successful. However, they still have much potential if given the opportunity.
In recent years, many college campuses are no longer for the academic excellence that has a 4.0 GPA. Most of them are trying to boost diversity on their campuses and have students from various ethnic, political, and social backgrounds. Due to this, there has been a rise in international students over the years.
Suppose you're from a non-English speaking country where documents aren't in English. In that case, you will most likely need certified translation services to have all your documents translated and comply with the scholarship requirements. Later on, we will explain why you're better off having certified translations than translating them yourself or by a friend.
List of International Scholarships You Apply For
We've listed below a couple of international scholarships that you might want to consider to apply. Some of them are fully funded scholarships, while in others, you're just given a one-time monetary benefit. It all depends on your preference.
1. Fulbright Program (USA)
Education Level: Master, PhD
Deadline: depends on the country
Status: Full Scholarship
Description: It's one of the most competitive scholarship program application processes. The students selected will be recruited based on open competition and their potential in leadership, community involvement, and academic level. The US Embassy and partnered institutions will review the applications.
2. ScholarshipPoints
Education Level: High School Juniors through Graduate Students
Deadline: The deadline for the application is always available every final day of the month.
Status: One-time Monetary Benefit
Description: International students currently enrolled in the US can avail of this scholarship. The application is free, and you could get lucky and get awarded $1,000 every month or $10,000 every three months. You will need to be a member of their website and log in to get a chance to avail their monetary benefits.
3. Rotary Peace Fellowships
Education Level: Certification for Professional Development
Deadline: May 15, 2022
Status: Full Scholarship
Description: This scholarship is given to students who have enrolled in a one-year learning program that will enhance their experience and practical skills, which will help in promoting peace in their communities worldwide. Fellows of this scholarship program will have to complete their field studies and carry out a social program that will change their communities.
4. There's Space for Everyone Scholarship
Education Level: College Freshmen up to Graduate Students
Deadline: May 2, 2022
Status: One-time Monetary Benefit
Description: This scholarship is given to 5 students with the monetary benefit of $3,000. This scholarship is given to those who have leadership potential and promote equality and inclusivity for ethnic groups, LGBT, PWD, and more.
5. E4D Scholarships for Developing Countries (Switzerland)
Education Level: Master Advanced Studies, Diplomas as Advanced Studies, and Certificate as Advanced Studies
Deadline: April 30, 2022
Status: Full Scholarship
Description: This scholarship program is for international students coming from low-income countries, and their living expenses and education are fully paid in Switzerland. This scholarship is for students who are continuing their studies in the engineering field.
The ones mentioned here are just some examples, as hundreds are being offered worldwide. You can seek out the advice of your school counselor and the department of education in searching for the scholarship that fits you.
Suppose you're coming from a non-English speaking country. In that case, you will need certified translations for your documents and VISA application, which the scholarships we mentioned would most likely require you to have.
Can I Translate an Official Document?
We discourage translating your official documents by yourself for several reasons. You might not be proficient in the target language, leading to mistranslations. And even if you're proficient in the target language and use online translation software to supplement your skill, you still risk mistranslating your document.
Another reason why we discourage this is that most scholarship panelists would like to have a non-biased perspective of your credentials. Also, many governing bodies require that the translation be translated by professional translators who can follow the standard format of the document and have it notarized. So you should seek out certified translation services as they're often in compliance with international standards.
Scholarship Requirements that You'll Need to Translate
If you're wondering what are the usual requirements that you would need certified translation services for, we've listed them below.
- Report Card or Transcript of Records
- Copy of Diploma
- Certifications
- Online Application Form
- Certificate of Good Moral Character
- Income Tax Return
- Certificate of Indigency
- National ID
- Passport
- Curriculum Vitae or Resume
- Financial Statement
- Medical Certificate
The documents that will need certified translations have to follow certain formats and be notarized by the local government depending on the country you're planning to study abroad. We suggest that you ask local officials and do your research before translating your documents.
What to Look for When Seeking Certified Translation Services?
When looking for a certified translation services company, you will have to ask yourself a couple of questions:
- Do they specialize in certified translations for academic and official purposes?
- Are their translators certified?
- Are they accredited and certified by international and local governing bodies or institutions, like the International Organization for Standardization or American Translators Association?
- Do they have positive reviews online?
- Are they within your budget?
You can use these questions to determine if the services you'll be receiving will be worth it. What's important is that the certified translation services you pick will be guaranteed acceptance and compliant regardless of the country you'll be studying abroad. This is because they're up to standards regarding the quality of their translations.
The Costs of Certified Translations and Other Services to Study Abroad
If you're planning to study in America, some scholarships require that you take application tests, like SAT or ACT. However, some colleges and universities have not required it due to the pandemic in the past two years. But this could change as more and more schools are beginning to have face-to-face classes, be prepared to take the tests just in case you're required to take it.
- The costs for Student Visa are 160 USD for non-petition-based and 190 USD for those who are petitioned for international cultural exchange. There are other sets of requirements for a Student Visa, depending on your country. Be sure to inquire ahead to be aware of any additional fees or costs for you to budget.
- SAT and ACT application fees cost around 80 USD and are non-refundable.
- USCIS's Immigration fee is about 220 USD.
- The price for certified translations is usually per word, depending on the provider. Per page, it usually costs from 30 USD to 125 USD. You will have to inquire about this to the certified translation services as some offer discounts depending on the school you’re planning to attend.
Final Thoughts
Even though scholarships are usually given to those with academic or athletic excellence, students these days have more opportunities to find scholarships than ever before. Getting started in applying for a scholarship may seem like a daunting task. Hopefully, with this article, you will get some ideas on how to get started with scholarship requirements and the application process, like finding the right certified translation services and the different scholarships available for international students. Usually, failing to meet the requirements is one of the top five mistakes international students make when studying abroad, so be sure to double-check that everything is in order before you send your application.
