S2NRI

There are many students who dream to study abroad. They see hundreds of growth and career opportunities there, which inspire them to take a flight to a different country. However, a few are fond of learning about different cultures. So, they spend thousands of dollars to explore their favourite country.

There is another way, which is inexpensive. A scholarship can help you to win an opportunity without spending too much of money. However, not all students achieve this possibility because the seats are limited. Here, we’ll discuss the ways to study abroad with the least of efforts and money.

Tips to Win a Scholarship for Studying Abroad

It’s no magic. You can have a scholarship using these tips or strategies.

• Seek Assistance

Dreaming differs from reality. If you want to study abroad for real, seek assistance. For this purpose, there are some institutes, education consultancy, or university officials that can guide you. It’s always good to have discussion with the financial aid officials and then, have words with your academic advisors. Don’t forget to communicate with a non-resident or someone who has been out of the country on a scholarship. His/ her piece of advice can be really helpful.

A lecturer or professor can also assist you in discovering or grabbing such opportunities. Get their suggestions and identify what challenges can hamper winning a scholarship. Once discovered, you can easily prepare yourself to beat them up.

• Research/ Get Deep Into

This is self-made effort. You should search for opportunities online or through different resources. There are some directories like NAFSA that can help you know about financial aid and different types of courses or academic opportunities abroad. In addition, you may apply for some fellowships that various universities or government institutions offer.

But before it, it’s always good to dig a little deeper about the requirements of various scholarships. Once identified, you can find the best fit option as per your qualification.

• Spend Time on Your Application

This is a crucial step. You need to work hard for standing apart from the crowd. Although the competition is tough, your application should stand out. To ensure it, you should look for scholarship providers. Create a list of them. Then, procure all documents that are necessary for immigration or education visa.

A personal statement is necessary to enclose with every application. Utilize this option to the fullest for putting a big impression on your funders. After all, one of them is likely to finance you for education. Show your eligibility and passion in writing. It may be a time-taking process because you need to express them intensely. Once written, recheck once or twice. Proofread and explain in an impressive manner.

• Apply for Numerous Scholarships

Once you’ve dug the details, list down all the studentships that you qualify for. Prepare to pass through successfully as many as you want. Maximum attempts will help you improve your skills, which increase the chance of being accepted. Before doing it, spend some time on listening to such students who have similar qualification or may be a little more before applying.

• Apply Early

Early birds catch the worms. It’s always a good idea to apply early, even if the deadline falls after a month. Late application won’t do any good. Rather, it is a big mistake. The best thing is that early applicants won’t have many competitors. As the deadline approaches, there would be a number of competitors to compare with. An early application won’t let you compete with a number of competitors. This is how you can maximise your chances of being selected.

• Find Some Strong References

This education world also requires personal references for a scholarship. This referrer can be the one who you have worked with. The best alternative is a professor who has a bond with you and can recommend you as the most appropriate or eligible candidate for a scholarship.

If you’re working, approach the head of your department. With due respect, request him/her to recommend you. There may be some fellowships that accept the requisite references. They clearly mention the authority to get a reference.

• Opt In for Small Scholarships

There may be some small opportunities, which involve a large sum of. Try not to avoid them because the majority of students focus on big scholarships. So, you won’t face many challenges or competition.

The application fundamentals will be similar. Explain your interest, passion, and eligibility even if you are going for repurposing your application.

Are you preparing for a study experience abroad?

It involves an extensive paperwork process, which requires the transcript of records. You should know about those important documents beforehand.

Also known as academic records, the transcripts are closely integrated with the learning agreement plan. That plan specifies the opted-in courses, research and training or teaching activities.

This agreement is valid when it is attested and approved by both, your home university and the host -college or institution. If there is any change in the agreement, it should be agreed upon by all-the two colleges and yourself.

In essence, the learning agreement and the transcript of records consist of the academic recognition of your studies and the earned credits under the study program.

Transcript of Records (ToR)

It refers to a document that you need to present as a part of the application process at the future host university from abroad. In case of undergoing an exchange programme, you would require another official transcript at the end of the study session.

Checklist of documents for ToR

It is a composition of all courses that you have opted in and the credits you gained.

Usually, it carries all these docs:

• The course code (basically the code the host university gives to a specific academic course)
• The title of the opted-in courses at your host university
• The duration of the course (like one semester or two)
• The grade/score (your exam mark)
• The ECTS credits you have gained by passing the exam

Probably, your home university may not use the ECTS system. In that case, you need to explain the credits and grading system. Even, you can spotlight it over the internet while describing the grading scale at the institution when you apply for transcript services. The description should explain the highest and lowest grades.

In India, each university has its own set of rules. It’s compulsory to go through them beforehand and then, apply for the ToR. Here, you have a right to get it when your result is awaited for the final year or semester.

Why is it needed?

As the host college or institution needs to know about the list of exams you have passed during the exchange program or an academic year, you would fill it in the form.

Although every university follows different rules, yet you can hire an outsourcer to get the true copy of the transcript. If you intend, you can directly call the principal or dean to get your marksheet and degree attested from.

As soon as you get it, deliver it to your home and international institution/ university together. The foreign university may verify its authenticity also.

What if the ToR is not there and the time to leave has come?

It’s a critical situation. With the end of an academic year, there appears a massive rush in getting the transcript. So, delay may happen, as the number of applicants to get it is more.

Consider the best alternative that has been mentioned above. An outsourcer can help you in battling this situation. Besides, you can request your principal of the university to send the transcript directly right after the results to the international school or university where you are likely to go for further studies.

Generally, three hard copies of the transcript together with original degree and marksheet/ score card are required.

What to look for in it?

Double check if all required fields are filled, especially these:

• Date
• Signature of the administration officer
• Stamp of the Institution

Keep into account that the transcript can be rejected if it is incomplete. It must read the aforesaid details, as the universities need them for the reference.

NRIs quota in professional & technical courses is not sacrosanct, according to the Supreme Court.

NRI candidates cannot claim the right to be admitted over the quota

Honourable Supreme Court has clarified the fact on Friday that private colleges and institutions that invite NRIs candidates for professional and technical courses have a radical discretion over quota or seat offerings. However, they need to provide a reasonable prior notice for it.

The court announced that NRI quota was not sacrosanct, which means that it was unchallengeable.  As the judgement passed, the candidates under this quota cannot declare their right to be admitted.

A Bench of Justices L. Nageshwara Rao and S. Ravindra Bhat said, “Private colleges and institutions, offering professional and technical course have adequate space to work in. They can decide on likelihood and extent of seat offerings to NRIs or management quotas.”

Changes in Seats

The 28-page long judgement came on the appeal over changes in the seat matrix by private medical and dental colleges in Rajasthan for post-graduation courses.  It was completely under the legal rule that the colleges could completely discard the NRI quota for 2020-21 academy year. The colleges had a reason to enclose the fact that the onset of pandemic would not fill the seats. Also, there are many non-resident candidates who have been considered for the management seats, but only on the merit-base.

This verdict has the base of the seven-judge Bench decision in P.A. Inamdar, which stated that 15% NRI quota was not compulsory but, only potential. It means that the quota was not mandatory to introduce for NRIs.

This decision was and still comes within the internal policy making domain of the private medical colleges, as they are the discretionary authority of the management of these colleges, as per Bhat (as written in the verdict).

Dubious over NRI quota

One of the Bench Justices said, the Supreme Court had consistently been dubious about the non-resident’s quota in medical courses. That was the reason of suggesting to keep quota or seats restricted to 15% only by the court.

The previous judgement quoted from the Constitution Bench verdict in the Inamdar case of 2005, which clearly stated that the term NRI for admission in the courses in India was itself a “misnomer”, which denotes an inaccurate designation or name to file a petition.

It stated that the student under this category were not NRIs, nor were the parents.  The reality was that the less meritorious students can get admission provided that they can afford to bring more currency to India.  The brought-in money by the NRI candidates enables educational institutions to improve and strengthen its level of education. Besides, this money can also enlarge its educational activities, according to the judgement.

The nutshell of the judgement refers that the colleges and private institutions do possess a right to offer or not the NRI quota to non-resident candidates in India. They can either invite them or don’t do so, it’s completely their discretionary right.