Studying abroad has always been an attractive option for Ukrainian students, but the high cost of living and tuition often casts doubt on its affordability. However, there are many programs that provide grants to make a quality education abroad more accessible to talented young people. In this article, we will look at some of the opportunities for obtaining grants for studying abroad and provide advice for future students who dream of an international education.
Studying abroad: what is needed for this
Studying abroad seems unaffordable to many because of the high cost and conditions. But there are many programs that offer grants to make quality education more affordable for talented youth. Funds can be allocated both by the governments of countries, and by foundations and universities or other institutions. It happens that the grant covers the cost of education or living expenses (housing, food, travel). Funds can be received for different periods depending on the program - from one month to 3 years.
At the same time, among the conditions for receiving a grant are knowledge of languages and high academic results. You can evaluate your chances according to the following criteria:
- success at school or at previous levels of higher education
- knowledge of the local language and the foreign language of study at a higher education institution in the chosen country;
- scientific works on the topic of future specialization;
- persuasive purpose for scholarship study.
Where to look for government study abroad programs
Germany
Higher education in Germany can be obtained free of charge by both local and foreign students. The state agency DAAD provides up to 60,000 scholarships and grants for studies in Germany in various specialties every year. On the organization's website, you can find a large number of training programs and help with the preparation of documents and taking entrance exams.
Those who are already a student of one of the universities of Ukraine, but want to continue their studies in Berlin, Hamburg or Munich, can be helped by the Copernicus Stipendium .
France
In France, graduates of Ukrainian universities can receive scholarships for master's or postgraduate education programs. Preference is given to engineering specialties. Grants for such education can be obtained through the state programs Campus France . There is also the ÉTUDIANTS service, where offers of scholarship programs are periodically updated.
For master's and postgraduate students, it is worth contacting the Bernard Gregory Association , where relevant study programs are collected. There you can find offers mainly from French universities and announcements from Belgian or German higher education institutions.
Czech Republic and Poland
These countries have the largest number of students from Ukraine. Higher education there is affordable and of high quality. Studying at Czech universities is free, provided that you know the Czech language and successfully pass the exams.
In the Czech Republic, you can get a study grant from the Visegrad Foundation or from Erasmus Mundus .
Grants for studying in Poland can be obtained within the framework of programs for young scientists, the Gaude Polonia or the program named after Kirkland for economic specialties, cultural studies.
United Kingdom
Since tuition fees are high in the country, the grants are mostly a tuition discount. You will have to pay for living expenses yourself. Despite this, many young people choose grants in Britain under the Chevening and others.
China
In this country, government scholarship programs often include a year of language study. The scholarship covers tuition, accommodation, insurance and running costs. You can also get a grant only for studying the language for half a year or a year. It is possible to apply directly through the university. More about scholarships - on the Chinese Government Scholarship .
Portals for finding scholarship programs
Erasmus Mundus , Erasmus+ - scholarships under these programs cover the costs of participation in the program, accommodation and travel. The Erasmus Mundus program provides many grants for all possible specialties, a large number of which are long-term, with the possibility of obtaining an EU diploma or postgraduate education.
Global Scholarships is a platform for international students to search for scholarships around the world. On the site, in the scholarship search system, students can filter the criteria: degree, subject, nationality and terms of receiving a scholarship.
Scholarshipportal is a database of over 1000 scholarships available in Europe and beyond. You can choose the level of education, the place where a person wants to study, to see scholarships that match the given profile.
EURAXESS site contains information on European funding schemes for research positions, scholarships and doctoral studies.
Also, many universities, research institutes and higher education institutions offer their own scholarships and financial support. This information can be found on the websites of educational institutions.
