study abroad essay how to write

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Your Study Abroad Essay Made Easy

Danielle graduated from the University of Mary Washington with degrees in English, creative writi...

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How to write a unique study abroad essay

Sometimes, the process of studying abroad can feel almost as difficult as applying for college. You have to choose the country you want to study in, compare and contrast programs (hint: MyGoAbroad ), collect your transcripts and references and, inevitably, you will have to write a personal statement and study abroad essay for your application. 

When applying for a study abroad program —especially a competitive one—your personal statement and/or study abroad essay can make or break your application. After all, your program wants to know who it is exactly that will be representing their program in another country! They want to know exactly why you’ve decided to make the life-changing decision to spend a summer, semester, or even a year abroad.

Sound intimidating? Don’t you fret. We’re here to give you 10 study abroad essay tips so you can WOW your study abroad program with your application.

10 awesome study abroad application tips

1. brainstorm .

Most study abroad applications will ask you something along the lines of, “Tell us about yourself,” and “Why do you want to study abroad?” Simple questions, right?

Actually, these can be pretty tough, when you consider how many ideas you need to narrow down to fit into a 500 word response. Remember that writing is a process. And, the best first step to streamline your study abroad essay-writing process is to just scribble some ideas down and do some good ol’ fashioned brainstorming.  

[ Read 5 More Ways to Ace Your Study Abroad Application ]

Write down the things you’re excited to see, do, eat while abroad. Think about what intimidates you or what will be challenging in a new country. Doodle some of your goals for your summer/semester/year abroad, and really think about what it is that has made studying abroad so important to you .

Is it the idea of finally exploring that country you’ve been reading about since you were seven? Is it because this will be your first time living independently and far away from home? Are you just over the moon to be learning about your favorite subject in a place that is relevant to your studies? Whatever it is, write it, draw it, sing it— but get those ideas out there, so you can plan out the best essay you can possibly write. 

[ Browse study abroad programs here ]

Take some time to brainstorm and jot a few things down.

2. Outlines, Outlines, Outlines

Yeah, yeah, we know: since day one, your teachers and professors have pushed the idea of an essay outline. You’ve done about a billion of them, but breaking down your study abroad essay and knowing exactly where you’re going to go in your writing can help you have a more concise argument as to why your chosen study abroad program should choose you. We repeat: writing. Is. A. Process. 

3. First Impressions Matter

You always want to have that eye-grabbing introduction: who are you as a student, a person, and a traveler? In just one to two sentences, try to summarize and explain exactly who you are and why you want to study abroad (easy-peasy, right?). Don’t be afraid to get personal and really let your true colors fly — this is how you’ll stand out to the admissions counselors who are reading hundreds of personal statements and essays!

For example: “My grandparents emigrated from Argentina at the ripe, young age of 20 years-old, and throughout my entire life, I have been taught to love a country I have never met. My passion for studying the Spanish language, and gaining a deeper understanding of where my family comes from, has inspired me to apply to ______ study abroad program in Buenos Aires, Argentina .”

Don’t forget to sprinkle in your sparkling personality.

4. Supporting Statements

Up next in our study abroad essay tips: support your statement on why you want to study abroad by expanding on the ideas you presented in your introduction.

This is where your brainstorming comes in! What has brought you to this point? What subjects studied, projects completed, or passions followed have made you choose to not only study abroad, but study abroad with this particular program?

Be honest and sincere. It’s okay if the main reason why you want to study literature in England is because you spent your childhood reading Harry Potter and The Chronicles of Narnia . It’s perfectly acceptable if your love of the ocean comes from an obsession with sea turtles, which is why you’ve decided to study marine conservation in Costa Rica . 

Maybe you want to study in Germany because you’ve always had the goal of working in international business! These are the things that make you a unique and interesting prospective study abroad student! Just be sure to always tie your passions, goals, and dreams back to how this study abroad experience will help you expand on these things and carry them with you through the rest of your life.

5. Get Detailed

Organize your outline and start on Draft 1!

When you’re describing the who, what, when, and why of your decision to study abroad, be sure to state your goals clearly .

Passion is one thing, but your study abroad program also wants to know what it is exactly that you plan on gaining from this experience. How will this summer , semester , or year abroad bring you closer to your academic or career goals in the future?

Example: “Through this study abroad program in Israel , I will expand my worldview and understanding of Middle Eastern cultures, which will, in turn, prepare me for my plans to pursue a graduate degree in Global Peace and Conflict Studies. With this, I hope to eventually utilize my experience and passion to work for the United Nations. Studying abroad will help me achieve these goals.” 

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6. be yourself.

In the world of academia, being formal and professional is key, but in the world of study abroad, it’s all about making those human connections beyond the borders of your own country! That’s why it’s so important to be yourself when writing your study abroad essay.

Of course, always put in the time and effort so that your writing sounds smart, but don’t be afraid to add a little pizzaz and let your personality shine through! This will set you apart from other study abroad applications, and will give your study abroad program a much clearer sense of who you are as a student and a person.

Always related your study abroad essay back to your long-term #GOALS and how this program will help you reach them.

7. A Two-Way Street

Ask not what you can do for your study abroad program, but what your study abroad program can do for you! Studying abroad isn’t just about what your study abroad program can provide you — you also need to prove your worth to the program’s officials .

After all, you’ll be serving as an ambassador of your home country and this program in a completely different country. They want to be sure that they’re accepting dedicated and deserving students into their program, so that years from now, when you’re a famous scientist or a world-leading politician, they can point to you and say: “See that person? They studied abroad on our program!” 

A study abroad program’s reputation is dependent not only on the opportunities they build for their students, but also on the caliber of students that they bring in. So when writing your personal essay, be sure to highlight what you bring to the table and how you look forward to continuing your study abroad program’s mission.

Example: “As a participant in this program, I know that I could expand my worldview and continue <Insert Study Abroad Program Provider’s Namer>’s mission of creating global citizens by creating bridges between myself and other cultures.” 

No need to go totally analog when writing your study abroad essay. Stay in the 21st century!

8. A Solid Sprint to the Finish Line

As you conclude your study abroad essay, be sure to nail the point home and finish with a strong conclusion . You’ll have to tie together your original introduction, the reasons for studying abroad, and your goals for the future all together in a nice, clean, concluding two to three sentences.

Don’t repeat yourself, but be sure that these final sentences pack a punch, and leave your study abroad program admissions officers ready to buy you your plane ticket outta here.

9. Edits & Revisions

Never hit submit without first revising and editing your essay two or three times! You might notice typos or awkward sentences at second glance, and you might also think of an exciting new idea you want to add in after your third look-over! It’s also always a good idea to have someone else to look at your essay (or maybe even write it for you ...), to get a fresh pair of eyes on your writing.

[ Use MyGoAbroad to Find & Compare Study Abroad Programs ]

10. submit (on time).

Once you’ve cleaned up your essay, upload that application and click submit! But, don’t forget to pay attention to all of the application deadlines, and be sure to get all of your relevant documents to the study abroad program on time! There’s no worse feeling in the world than having spent weeks perfecting an essay and application, only to have missed the deadline. 

A Pulitzer Prize-Winning study abroad essay

With all of these study abroad essay tips, you might as well start packing! You’re well on your way to your grand adventure abroad, and by investing so much time and effort into your writing, your chosen study abroad program will be sure to accept you! Applying to study abroad can seem like a lot of work, but the minute you step off that plane and into your new home, you’ll realize that it was all worth it. 

Find a Study Abroad Program & Get Writing!

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How to Write an Outstanding Study Abroad Application Essay

For some students who wish to study abroad, the statement of purpose can be one of the most daunting components of the program application. The good news: it’s not as difficult as it may seem at first! After all, you’ve come this far in the study abroad research process , so chances are you’ve already given thought to what the essay requires you to write about. As long as you don’t rush and take the time to create a solid outline, your study abroad application statement of purpose will truly shine.

Common statement of purpose requirements

Although each program application may have program-specific essay requirements to address, most will ask students to address the following two components:

• Goals for studying abroad (i.e. academic, career, and personal) – Most likely, you will have to briefly describe your goals, outlining specific ways in which studying abroad will help you achieve these goals.
• Reason you chose this program/location – This aspect of the statement of purpose is more specific to why, out of all the programs and locations on Earth to study, you’re applying to this one.

Creating an outline

Before rushing into writing out your statement of purpose, make sure you’ve carefully read the instructions and prompts for the essay. The worst way to sabotage an otherwise excellent essay is to miss a key requirement outlined in the instructions. To help keep essay requirements fresh in your mind, consider copying and pasting the requirements at the top of essay document so that they are there for quick reference.

After you fully understand what points you are required to touch on in your statement of purpose, drafting an outline will help keep your essay organized, clear, and succinct. Consider following the steps below to help make this process easy and straight-forward.

Open up a blank Word document, and get down the general essay components:

Introduction

Paragraph 1

Paragraph 2

Paragraph 3

Now that you have the foundation laid out, you can complete your outline by creating a couple compelling sentences for each paragraph. Having these sentences drafted will help you quickly move forward after your outline is complete. Let’s take a look at each paragraph, and sample sentences for each.

Introduction – Create a strong thesis sentence that sums up your overall purpose for studying abroad.

• Example: Studying abroad at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid will be a monumental step in realizing my personal, academic, and career goals to my highest potential.

This thesis sentence portrays to the reader that you have identified personal, academic, and career goals in relation to studying abroad in a specific program, and will describe them below.

Paragraphs 1-3 – Draft a sentence that sums up your response to the each point, then a second sentence that provides a specific outcome that this study abroad program will provide.

Paragraph 1 (e.g. personal reason/goal for studying abroad in this program):

• Example: My grandfather migrated to the United States from Madrid, and since an early age I’ve wanted to see and experience the city and culture he grew up in. By the end of my study abroad program, I plan to have developed a deeper understanding and appreciation for my family heritage by becoming more fluent in Spanish and familiar with Spanish customs and cultural practices.

Paragraph 2 (e.g. academic reason/goal for studying abroad in this program):

• Example: As a history major, I plan to utilize my time in Spain to contribute to my overall academic success and focus within the history program at my home university. Throughout my time studying abroad, I will visit historical sites around Spain relevant to my intended topic for my graduate thesis topic: Moorish architectural and cultural influences in modern Spanish society.

Paragraph 3 (e.g. career reason/goal for studying abroad in this program):

• Example: I plan to one day teach Spanish history and culture at the college level, and this program will give me the first-hand experience I believe necessary to be qualified and successful in this position. By being completely immersed in the Spanish culture, and by having access to a large number of relevant historical sites and resources, I will enter this study abroad experience with my career development in mind.

For the conclusion, come up with a strong sentence to sum-up (again) why this program and location is the best choice.

• Example: After extensive research of all possible programs, I am convinced that studying history and Spanish culture at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid is an ideal match for my personal, academic, and career goals outlined above.

Drafting suggestions

Now that you have a strong outline, filling in the rest should come easily and naturally. As would be normally expected in college-level essays, it’s important to make sure that each sentence you write relates directly to the main sentences in its respective paragraph you came up with in the outline.

After you’ve written your completed first draft of your study abroad application statement of purpose, save the document and take a break for a week. After you’ve had some time to clear your mind, you’ll likely come back to edit your essay with a fresh perspective and as a result more easily catch mistakes you may not have otherwise caught!

Finally, before you send it off, double (and triple) check to make sure that you haven’t overlooked any requirements for the statement of purpose. Also, consider having at least one other person look at your essay – your campus’s writing center is a great resource you might consider utilizing!

Congratulate yourself

After you’ve sent in your essay, congratulate yourself! You are well on your way to one of the most exciting journeys of your life, and you certainly deserve to be proud of this accomplishment.

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Dave Harriman

Dave Harriman, SHRM-CP, has a background in human resources, anthropology, and international education. His experience teaching English abroad during a gap year as an undergraduate student in Spain ignited his passion and advocacy for student travel. As a human resources professional, Dave is interested in helping students prepare for future career growth, and for helping facilitate social & cultural inclusion in the workplace.

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How Do I Write a Personal Statement for Study Abroad?

September 26, 2023

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Writing a personal statement is an important aspect of the study abroad application process. However, if you’re unfamiliar with the practice, it can seem overwhelming. Have no fear – CIEE is here! Let’s review how to write a personal statement for study abroad.  

What is a Study Abroad Personal Statement?  

First things first. What even is a study abroad personal statement? Knowing the definition of what it is will help you write one.  

Simply put, a study abroad personal statement is a component of your CIEE application, specifically in the CIEE scholarships and grants portion (which every student should fill out, by the way). It is a brief essay (300 words) in which you explain how a CIEE study abroad program will impact your college experience and/or your future career plans.  

Read More: How to Apply to a Study Abroad Scholarship at CIEE: 4 Steps

What Are Study Abroad Personal Statement Examples? 

To give you a better idea of how this content should develop, take a look at a few short study abroad personal statement examples:  

• “Partaking in the Arts + Sciences program in Cape Town , South Africa will further my passion and dream career in public health by volunteering with local health and medical organizations and learning how to better support people in historically complex socioeconomic situations and aid them in finding the resources they need equitably.”  
• “The Sustainability + the Environment study abroad program in Monteverde , Costa Rica will provide me with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a variety of different environments, like the Lowland Rainforest, and conduct research alongside professionals in the field. Eventually, I want to be a researcher that helps bring sustainability and conservation issues to the forefront of each and every country.”  
• “I want to be a Spanish teacher. I have always loved the language and learning more about diverse Spanish traditions, and there’s no better way to do both than by living and breathing the language and local culture during a study abroad program in Seville .”  

While your own study abroad personal statement will be a bit longer than these quick topic sentences, these examples directly explain how a CIEE Study Abroad experience will enhance a student’s passions and general career aspirations.  

How to Write a Personal Statement for Study Abroad? 

We have a few quick tips that will help you write your personal statement for studying abroad.  

How do you start a personal statement?  

Step #1: identify your “why”.

The best way to start a study abroad personal statement is by identifying what you’re truly passionate about. This should be an easy start – if you’ve always been enthusiastic about history, explain why. If you love Japanese manga, explain how you got into it. If you’re an avid hiker, describe when you first fell in love with a trek. Be yourself when writing about topics or activities that are important to you – we want to hear about it!  

Read More: What are Your Goals for Studying Abroad?

Step #2: Explore How Your Passions Translate into a Career

Next, think deeply about how you can turn your passions into a career, or at the very least, how you plan on practicing your interests in the future, whether in college or in a professional capacity.  

Referencing our former examples, if you’re fascinated by history, you might have plans to go to graduate school and study archaeology. As a manga lover, you might start a youth club on the topic in your local community. As an avid hiker, you might want to become a professional conservationist to not only keep your beloved trails intact, but also to protect wildlife and natural sanctuaries.  

Read More: How to Put Study Abroad on Your Resume: 4 Steps

Step #3: Align Your Goals with a CIEE Program

The last step is putting it all together and aligning with CIEE study abroad programs. Once you’ve detailed your passions and how you want to incorporate them into your future plans, pinpoint which CIEE study abroad program will help you fulfill your goals.  

As a history and archaeology lover, studying abroad in Greater China , with ancient battlefields and some of the most impressive structures ever built, might be the best opportunity to kickstart your career. As a Japanese manga fan, heading to Kyoto , home to the world’s first manga museum, will help you dive deep into the subject matter. To continue your hikes, traveling to the iconic Blue Mountains in Sydney will be your best bet.  

Read More: Is Studying Abroad Worth It? 10 Outcomes of Studying Abroad

How long should a personal statement be?  

Word counts for your study abroad personal statement will vary by CIEE program and by host institution (the university you’ll be studying at overseas). Prepare to write at least 300 words, which is a little more than half a page, single-spaced.  

Does CIEE Require a Personal Statement?  

CIEE’s study abroad personal statement requirements vary by program and not all guidelines are the same. Generally speaking, you should expect to be required to complete a personal statement if you decide to apply for CIEE funding (which, you totally should, as CIEE awards thousands each year to students like YOU!). Outside of any CIEE personal statements you may be required to complete, you should also check with your school’s study abroad office to see what their requirements may be.

Make the World Your Classroom

While writing a personal statement for studying abroad may not be required based on your program of choice, it’s still incredibly valuable, at the very least, to think about how a study abroad program will impact your college experience and/or future plans. Establishing this will provide a lot of meaning to your adventure and will really help you become the best version of yourself.  

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10 tips on how to write a winning scholarship essay

Studying abroad can be a costly affair for international students, but scholarships can offer some respite . Scholarship applications typically require students to write a scholarship essay to show the admissions committee why they deserve funding.

While competitive, the essay gives you a platform to demonstrate your strengths, goals and accomplishments, both in and out of the classroom.

It requires plenty of thought to produce a winning scholarship essay, but with the cost of tuition rising each year – one academic year’s tuition fees at a US university can range from US$40,000 to US$52,000 while fees at a UK university could start from £9,250 up to £30,000, depending on the course major — the results may be well worth your effort. 

If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and get busy, here are 10 tips on writing a scholarship essay:

The scholarship essay gives students a platform to demonstrate their strengths, goals and accomplishments, both in and out of the classroom. Source: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP

Scholarship essay tip 1: Highlight what makes you unique

There is no perfect scholarship essay or writing formula, but the vast majority of winning essays give the scholarship committee a good idea of what drives you, your passions and what you want to do with your education. 

In short, write about who you are to the scholarship judges. Make them believe in you and your story.

Scholarship essay tip 2: Read the statement and identify key themes

Your scholarship essay prompt can be either a sentence or a question. From there, identify the theme and what you should expand on. This could be about leadership, your impact or even the community. 

You could write about certain experiences and accomplishments, how and why you chose to be involved in these activities, the challenges you faced and how you overcame these, as well as lessons learnt from the experience.

The more you understand these themes, the more examples you can include to showcase your skills and abilities and how you used them.

For example, 2013 QS Leadership Scholarship winner Hayley Capp ‘s essay statement was: “Where I have demonstrated responsible leadership, or innovation, and how it made a difference either in my community or in my work.”

Capp founded a branch of Enactus – “where people either work with social enterprises or to create a social enterprise, using business and entrepreneurial skills to develop solutions to social problems and make a difference to communities” – at her university during her undergraduate studies.

In her scholarship essay, Capp used her experience of collaborating with Enactus members in Uganda to design strategies for addressing high youth unemployment levels.

Scholarship essay tip 3: Be passionate

Some essay prompts will give you free rein to write about any topic, which will give you the advantage of writing about something that you enjoy or that means a lot to you.

For example, your prompt may ask you to describe your proudest accomplishments. You can discuss your volunteer experiences , or perhaps about looking after your sick family member despite having a busy schedule. An understanding of your family circumstances can give the admissions committee a holistic view of you as sports, extracurricular activities or even community service can be a privilege that requires resources an applicant may or may not have access to. 

Because Joy Zhou ’s supplemental scholarship essay asked her to describe an experience with an extracurricular activity of her choosing, she wrote about how she managed to found a Science Olympiad club in her high school despite numerous challenges, including objections from the athletic director.

“Try to go with something that you have been doing for a long time and think if there is something quirky or different about your experience in it, or there is some aspect of that experience that you can use to sum up the entirety of your experience doing the extracurricular activity or if there is a passion burning, you can write about that too,” Zhou advises.

Vanderbilt University awarded a full-tuition scholarship to Zhou.

Scholarship essay tip 4: Learn what moves the judges

Why are the judges or universities giving this scholarship? You have to dig deep to understand their motivations behind the scholarship, and what their mission is, be it to increase equity or the university’s competitive advantage.

Take a look at previous scholarship winners and read their essays or excerpts, and you will have a better idea of what appeals most to the scholarship committee.

Having a better understanding of what the scholarship committee is looking for will give you a better shot than writing an essay by shooting in the dark.

Scholarship essay tip 5: Create a strong hook

The beginning of your essay should have a strong hook. A powerful opening sentence will help you draw a reader in and convince him or her to read the rest of your essay.

Ritesh Verma wanted to be a millionaire so he studied stock patterns and professional trades and even made some money over two years. He felt he was ready to go even further so he asked his parents to fund an Ameritrade account but “the stock market took it within a week”.

He began his essay with,  “It was ironic that my life shattered into a million pieces,  or so I thought. What’s this dream? Well, I had a vision myself as a millionaire, realising that millionaire stock trader lifestyle that’s our ties across the internet.”

His essay helped him win a scholarship worth over  US$100,000 to study at the University of Maryland, College Park.

Scholarship essay tip 6: Be aware of the word limit

Many scholarships will have a word limit, so stick to it — it’s there for a reason. If you exceed the word count, your scholarship essay, however great and well-written, may be disqualified.

You can keep track of your word count when using  Microsoft Word or Google Docs. There are also apps to help you keep track of your words, including letter counter .

Scholarship essay tip 7: Plan, plan, plan

Your main goal is to make your scholarship essay stand out from the competition. One surefire tip is to plan what goes into your essay.

Create a structure (introduction, body and conclusion) that works for you — a winning scholarship essay may vary in structure, so you need to decide what would work for you that suits your content and writing style.

Scholarship essay tip 8: Persuasive writing

This might be of interest to you if you have not heard of the persuasive “writing triangle” before: ethos, pathos and logos. A great scholarship essay uses this triangle for maximum persuasive effect because these three techniques are excellent for pulling in the reader’s attention.

Ethos uses credibility or reliability to establish your knowledge on the subject matter. Your life experiences – which most scholarship essays ask about (luckily!) – are a form of ethos, so use this to your advantage.

Pathos makes use of emotional appeals like creativity and imagination. For example, you may be asked to talk about an imaginary future and how you will make this a better one with your invention or strengths.

Finally, logos refers to using logic to make your points more factual. Your scholarship essay can include key statistics about a related social issue that you want to discuss.

Scholarship essay tip 9: Be realistic and specific 

Why do you deserve a scholarship? This can be a challenging question to answer, particularly for a need-based scholarship, as you may struggle to decide how honest you want to be about your financial or family circumstances that have led you to apply for a scholarship in the first place.

It’s important to note that you should never lie in your essay. If you know what you want to get out from your scholarship is funding for your studies, state it in your essay. Explain how the scholarship can help you to achieve your goals.

Scholarship essay tip 10: Revise

Above all, make an effort to revise your scholarship essay. Take breaks whenever possible and look at your essay with fresh eyes. This way, you will find more ways of revising your essay to ensure the final copy reads and flows well.

Find someone you can trust – your teacher, friend or advisor – to read your draft. Sometimes, they will find mistakes you have missed and can give you feedback on how to improve it.

All in all, we understand writing a scholarship essay is not easy, but with these tips, we hope that you will have an easier time doing this. All the best!

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How to Write an Outstanding Study Abroad Application Essay

The study abroad application essay is an important part of the college application process.It is a great opportunity to provide valuable information about yourself and your career interests. The content is significant because it gives insight on why you should be selected for a program or school.It provides why you want to participate in the program and why you are the best candidate.Completing the assignment is easy when planning ahead. Here are the basics to help you get started.

Collect Ideas via Brainstorming

How can I write my essay online and get the help I need for my paper? Start by reviewing guidelines and instructions for the paper. Based on the topic information they provide start coming up with ideas for writing.Think about the course or school you are applying. Consider the atmosphere and your career goals and personal interests. Use these aspirations to create original topics for writing.Think about the importance of studying abroad and why it is significant to your learning needs and experience.Narrow down the list of ideas until you find something you can write in full detail.

Develop an Outline

An outline is essential for writing and it breaks up the task into easier segments. Your paper will have an introduction, body, and conclusion. Your outline will have each of these sections but you can mention significant points to discuss. You can focus on developing each one at a time. Your intro will mention your thesis statement. The body will mention three points each having its own paragraph. The conclusion is last summarizing main and supporting points discussed throughout your paper. Essay help through writing tools such as an outline is beneficial for any form of writing.

Explore Supporting Details

As you work on your outline your attention will turn toward supporting statements for your main idea or thesis statement .You'll brainstorm information to support your idea.You will discuss why you want to study abroad and mention experiences or things you have learned contributing to your decision.What you are passionate about should be connected to your main and supporting points to give insight about your educational intentions. Spend time developing a solid thesis statement and supporting details to help your paper come together.

Be Comfortable with Yourself

As you provide information about your career goals, be true to who you are and what you aspire to be.It is important to be professional and formal with your content, but don't lose the essence of who you are. Let your personality come through your words.It will help distinguish your application from the others.Sharing who you are lets the school know why you are a match. Be creative to make a connection but at the same time be you.

Provide Proof You Are a Fit

Give a clear reason why you should be considered for the school or program.Detail your self-worth and show why you are deserving of the opportunity.The program wants to make sure they have the best students for what they have to offer. They want assurance whoever they choose will complete the program successfully.Use this essay to highlight your abilities by discussing what you have to offer and how it fits in with the school or program mission. An essay writing service can assist if needed.

Finish Your Paper Strong

Your conclusion will provide a summary of what you discussed earlier in the paper.It is your last chance to make a good impression and bring your paper to a strong close.You should have a few sentences that are solid, clean, and clear about you are and why you qualify.Make these last few words stand out. Use this time to connect the main idea (thesis statement) with supporting points (body paragraphs) to complete your personal statement.

Revise and Edit

Did you know it is recommended to review your work at least two or three times before you submit it? Much time and effort was spent developing content for your essay. It deserves to be reviewed for typos and errors.Make necessary changes to improve chances of approval.Take a break after writing your draft and come back to it for review. How can I get help with my essay writing ? Hire an editor to do it for you if don't have time. Whatever you do, don't submit without reviewing it first.

In conclusion, planning your work is easy when familiar with essential steps of the writing process.Brainstorming, outline creation, developing discussion points, and revising your work are all important steps to complete for your study abroad application. The time spent planning and writing will be worth it. Make sure to submit your work on time by the deadline.

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63 Study Abroad Essay Examples & Topics

Looking for study abroad topics to write about? Studying in another country is one of the most beneficial experiences for students.

• 🏆 Best Essay Examples
• 📌 Research Titles
• 🗺 Topics to Write about

❓ Questions About Studying Abroad

In your studying abroad essay, you might want to write about advantages and disadvantages of being an international student. Another option is to describe the process of making application for a scholarship. One more idea is to share your personal experience. Whether you’re planning to write an argumentative, descriptive, or persuasive essay, our article will be helpful. Here we’ve collected top studying abroad essay samples and research titles ‍‍‍‍for scholarship papers.

🏆 Best Studying Abroad Essay Examples

• Why Studying Abroad Results in Better Education For most people, especially in developing nations, the only way to gain an education that will satisfy the demands of the international job market is by studying abroad.
• Should Students Study Abroad? Studying abroad offers students an opportunity to travel to new countries and have new experiences that expand their perceptions of the world.
• Specifics of Studying Abroad The purpose of this paper is to discuss the most common benefits and drawbacks, as well as overall outcomes that are related to studying abroad and to recommend the ways to handle the drawbacks.
• Challenges of Studying Abroad A closer look at the information provided by the majority of the companies specializing in student transfer and the related services will reveal that a range of essential data, especially the information concerning the financial […]
• Declining Direct Public Support for Higher Education in USA Partisanship interest in the debate for renewal of the Higher Education Act and a Senate inquiry to validate the governance of the non-profit economic sectors of the United States has demonstrated the complexity of public […]
• The Social Role of Higher Education in UK In addition to this, higher education provides a set of values that changes the students to face the existing and the future problems facing the society and the various sectors of work that they operate […]
• International Education in Australia China is a good market for Australian education and in the year 2010 a sum of 284700 students from China left the country to further their studies most of them on their own expenses.
• The Criteria and Benefits That Allow Students to Work Abroad The most direct experience that a person gets while studying abroad is the understanding of the business world and economics. There is no doubt that the environments and culture of a country are the major […]
• Education in Australia as a Tool of Promoting Equality of Opportunity The main objective of vocational education and training is to promote the people, the society, and the economy and to upgrade the labor market.
• A Benefits of Education Abroad One of the qualitative aspects of the educational reality in today’s world is the fact that, as time goes on, the number of students who decide in favor of studying abroad increases rather exponentially.

📌 Research Titles about Studying Abroad

• Do Study Abroad Programs Enhance the Employability of Graduates
• The Effect Of Study Abroad On Studying Abroad
• Culture and Study Abroad and Some Drawbacks
• How Does Study Abroad Affect A Student ‘s View Of Professional
• Analysis Of Some Of The Benefits Of Study Abroad
• Do People Who Study Abroad Become More Successful
• Increasing Number Of Worldwide People Go Study Abroad
• The Lowering Ages of Students Who Study Abroad
• Colleges Should Make It Mandatory: For Students To Study Abroad For Specific Major’s
• Should Students Spend Lots Of Money For Study Abroad

🗺 Study Abroad Topics to Write about

• The Cultural Shock That Students Face When They Study Abroad
• Advantages and Dis Advantages of Further Study Abroad
• Interlanguage Pragmatic Competence in the Study Abroad
• The Study Abroad Trip On Australia
• History Of Study Abroad And Exchange Programs
• An Analysis of Many Students Wishing to Study Abroad
• Most Study Abroad Program Should Be Rename Party Abroad They Are Waste of Time
• Why College Students Should Study Abroad
• Analysis Of Michelle Obama ‘s Reasons For Study Abroad
• Study Abroad Is Beneficial For All College Students
• The Journey of Traveling and The Study Abroad
• Analysis: Why Student Chose to Study Abroad
• The Benefits of Choosing to Study Abroad
• How Is Studying Abroad Helps Improve Language Skills?
• Which Country Are More Successful for Studying Abroad?
• Is Studying Abroad a Good Idea?
• Does Studying Abroad Induce a Brain Drain?
• Why Is Studying Abroad Beneficial?
• How Is the Studying Abroad Effects Learning About Different Cultures?
• What Are the Cons of Studying Abroad?
• Is Studying Abroad a Waste of Time?
• Does Studying Abroad Enhance Employability?
• What Are the Positive and Negative Influences of Studying Abroad?
• How Capital Accumulation Through Studying Abroad and Return Migration?
• Which Country Is Best for Studying Abroad?
• What Is Culture Shock When Studying Abroad?
• What Is the Impact of Studying Abroad on Global Awareness?
• What Are the Disadvantages of Studying Abroad?
• Which Country Is Cheapest for Studying Abroad?
• Is Studying Abroad Expensive?
• What Are Important Reasons for Studying Abroad?
• Is It Difficult to Studying Abroad?
• What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Studying Abroad?
• Which Country Is Hard for Studying Abroad In?
• What Is the Impact of Studying Abroad?
• What Are the Effects of Studying Abroad on College Students?
• What Are Main Hardships While Studying Abroad?
• Is It Better to Studying Abroad or Locally?
• Does Studying Abroad Help Academic Achievement?
• Does Studying Abroad Cause International Labor Mobility?
• What Are the Differences Between Studying Locally and Studying Abroad?
• Do Students Who Studying Abroad Achieve Tremendous Success?
• What Are the Pros and Cons of Studying Abroad?
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2023, October 26). 63 Study Abroad Essay Examples & Topics. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/study-abroad-essay-examples/

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Student Guide

The Study Abroad Application

While not every school will use the same study abroad application, I am willing to bet that most applications will have pretty similar components. Based on my own experience with the study abroad application process, I’ve compiled a few helpful hints to get you thinking on the right track, as well as provide guidance in case you run into some difficulties.

The study abroad application will look almost like a regular college application. Remember how much work you put into those? Put the same amount of effort into your study abroad application. Unlike the college selection process, there’s no back up or safety net… you only get one shot at this so you need to do it right.

More than likely, it will consist of the following: A personal statement, letters of recommendation, possible course selections, health clearance forms and a general information form.

API programs offer students the opportunity to earn college credit toward their degree programs in the U.S. by completing coursework in a wide variety of disciplines, including such fields as business, the social sciences, medical studies and the arts.

General Information Forms

This will probably be just a generic form requiring the basics like personal information, emergency contacts, degree information, etc. Nothing complicated. Just fill in the blanks.

Study Abroad Health Clearance Forms

You’re going to need to get a complete physical, and the doctor will have to confirm that you’re fit enough to go abroad and that you’re up-to-date on all of your vaccinations. Understandably, no country wants a foreigner bringing in diseases. Your doctor will have to fill-out the forms after your physical and send them to the school study abroad office or wherever instructed, so don’t procrastinate on these! Doctors are always busy, and it could be a while before they get yours done.

Possible Study Abroad Course Selections

This may be called either a home approval form, or course approval form. Make sure you’ve looked at your progress toward graduation. Compare classes from your host school’s course catalogue with those classes you’ll need to complete your major/ minor and fulfill general requirements, and also identify classes that just generally seem interesting.

Letters of Recommendation for Study Abroad Applicants

Depending on how many are required, ask your favorite professors and mentors if they would be willing to write you a letter of recommendation. If you don’t have a close relationship with any professors, it’s ok to choose a few that may have liked you, or in whose class you did particularly well. If they don’t really know you, don’t worry. Professors are used to writing recommendation letters, and will probably have a generic letter that they can use. In this case, if your personal statement is already done, give them a copy along with anything else you think might help them get a better picture of who you are and why you want to go abroad.

Forum-Nexus

Forum-Nexus Study Abroad has a track record of 29 years of successful intensive summer programs around the world. Since 1990, over 3,400 students have participated in Forum-Nexus international multi-country summer programs in 15 countries.The courses are open to both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as to alumni seeking professional development.

Personal Statement - Study Abroad Essay 101

This is the part of the study abroad application that some people dread, and some people love. Don’t worry; I’ll break it down step by step. You already know the reasons you want to go abroad, now you just have to put them on paper to try and convince your school that you should go. Here’s writing your study abroad essay 101:

First, in a nice intro paragraph, explain your reasons for studying abroad. If you're still deciding your best course of action, review some of our deciding to study abroad resources . Just give a general overview since you’ll be getting into the specifics later in the essay. Include why you want to go abroad, what originally interested you in going abroad, what school you plan on attending, along with anything else that seems relevant.

Academics are always going to be number one in the minds of your deans, advisors and faculty, so it’s not a bad idea to go there next. Explain how going to class in a different culture will expand your capacity to learn and interpret new information. Let them know if by going abroad, you’ll be able to complete certain requirements for your major or just make progress toward your degree in general. Be sure to mention if there are classes offered abroad that aren’t available at your home school.

Next, go into depth about why you chose the location and the school that you did. Does the school have a great reputation internationally? Do you have family roots in a particular country? Really get into the fact that you want to explore the specific culture of that country or region. The more sincere and direct you are about why you want to go where you’re going, the more likely the study abroad admissions staff will approve your application.

Don’t forget to include personal reasons and interests as well. You still need to be selective in what you write – the study abroad admissions office will need to see that you’re mature enough to live in another country, but don’t be afraid to go beyond academics. One of the biggest reasons I went to Scotland was because of golf, and I wrote that in my essay. I didn’t say I wanted to wake up and be lazy on the golf course every day. I explained that golf is a huge aspect of Scottish culture; it holds a different place over there than it does in the States, and it would greatly help me integrate into the local culture.

Studying abroad is more than just an academic experience — it’s a life experience. A CEA education abroad expands the boundaries of your education and transforms the world into your classroom. With destinations in 21 cities across 12 countries, CEA offers a balance of academics and adventure to thousands of students each year. Where will your learning take you?

Writing Tips for Your Study Abroad Application Essay

Sentences like, “I am excited to learn about the culture of Scotland through golf,” are a good start, but something even better might be, “It would be the pinnacle of my golfing career to experience the game of golf in its finest form in its birthplace of Scotland. There, golf is not just considered a sport, but also a vital element of Scottish culture.” Make the effort to write with quality in mind and of course honesty.

End the essay with a strong closing paragraph. Express interest in learning about local culture, such as in Japan where you’ll enjoy both the historic artistry of the culture and the modern amenities of the country. Talk about getting an education, not only in terms of academics, but in life as well. Be specific and explain your desire to pursue those interests and hobbies that you’ve picked up in college, and earlier, in a foreign country.

This is just as important as any other admissions letter you’ve ever written. Use correct grammar and avoid spelling mistakes. Write multiple drafts and have someone competent edit it for you. Better yet, have two. And of course, get it in on time!

Be sincere, be honest, and be smart.

There you have it. Those are my suggested ins and outs of the study abroad application… not as scary as you may have thought.

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Articles & Advice > Financial Aid > Blog

How to Write a Winning Study Abroad Scholarship Essay

Studying abroad is a big and expensive part of many students' education, and scholarships can help with that. Here's how to ace those study abroad scholarship essays.

by Ashley Halsey Professional Educator and Writer

Last Updated: Mar 16, 2023

Originally Posted: Nov 23, 2019

Studying abroad is a dream opportunity that can have so many benefits, some of which you may not even realize as you head into your application or daydream about having the chance to go. The most obvious benefit is that you get to experience a different culture, different people, or a different way of life. This is fascinating on its own and could be considered reason enough to start your application. Add to that the opportunity to freshen your perspective with a change of scenery, make new friends, potentially pay lower tuition and living fees, learn a different language, and broaden your understanding of the world, and you’ve got something all students should at least think about doing while at university.

Of course, study abroad isn’t as easy as signing a form and away you go. Most of the time, you’ll need to have some financial support from an institution before you can go galloping off. To earn this, you’ll almost always have to write an essay and compete with your peers for the opportunity. So, here are some tips for making sure that it’s you getting on that plane and not anyone else.

Read the prompt carefully

The most classic error students make with any essay is not answering the question. This goes for travel abroad writing as much as anything else. “You can write the most incredible essay full of perfect demonstrations of your intelligence and passion, but if it doesn’t answer the question, it won’t get considered at all,” says Jake Cole, an educator at Writinity . You’ll also write a more informed essay if you really understand the parameters of your question. You might easily be vague in how you respond if you don’t really know what you’re responding to. A good technique is to reread the question several times, highlighting operative words when they occur to you as a way to keep things under control.

Related: How to Read a College Application Essay Prompt

Surprise your reader

It’s easy to write formulaic essays —an intro, a few body paragraphs, a conclusion, and you’re done. A study abroad essay is unorthodox by nature, so you definitely don’t want to limit yourself in form or substance. The other thing you’re up against is how much competition there is for each spot in the program. The people who make decisions will read hundreds of essays, and you want to make sure yours stands out so come decision time, they haven’t forgotten yours exists. Take an approach to your essay that’s different from what you suspect others are going for. Use your alternative approach as a connection to how strongly you feel about the application. It’s easy to dash off a standard essay, but it’s difficult to slowly piece together something more unusual and specific. It shows care and attention, two traits they’ll want to see to prove you actually deserve the scholarship. 

Run your essay past the right people

It’s easy to get too insular as you work on an essay. They tend to take a good amount of time, and most people prefer to work in isolation. This means you could write an essay for six hours without even stopping to let your own mind have a subjective overview, let alone get an outside opinion. “Whenever I write anything extended, I will always run it past people around me. In the case of a scholarship essay, past winners, parents, people from where you are hoping to transfer to, and your professors are going to be your biggest resources as you try to put something of consequence together,” explains Kaya Gopal, tutor at DraftBeyond and ResearchPapersUK . Always get second, third, and fourth opinions on your content to make sure you’re in the best position to avoid getting lost in your own work, which can definitely happen if you aren’t careful.

Related:   Secrets to Writing an Amazing Scholarship Essay  

This is always important! Making mistakes in a standard essay is bad, but you’re fighting so hard in a study abroad scholarship essay that if you aren’t vigilant about the small things, those judging your work will be eager to cut you out to save themselves the trouble. Proofreading is a complex process. It’s harder than just passing an eye over your work. There are different layers to it: Does your essay’s logic stand? Have you done everything you said you’d do? Is it structured correctly? Is all the spelling correct? The grammar ? The syntax? Each of these details is as important as the rest. Again, getting these things correct helps demonstrate to readers how committed you are to your application and how much work you’re willing to put in to be accepted. Conversely, if you fail to proofread, it comes across like you don’t care about your application.

Do your research

Before you write your essay, you need to research the country, city, and institution you’ll attend if you get the scholarship and, in a different sense, you need to research yourself. Researching yourself means knowing why it is that you actually want the scholarship and how it will be instrumental in making a difference in your life. This means taking some time for reflection.

Related: List: The Experts’ Choice: Terrific Study Abroad Programs

Studying abroad is such an incredible opportunity, so you have to do everything in your power to ensure the application you put in to secure funding is as strong as possible. Hopefully these tips will help as you think about writing your essay.

Find scholarships to fund your study abroad goals with our Scholarship Search tool.

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Scholarship Essay Samples and Tips

Scholarship essay samples.

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Scholarship Essay Tips

• Here are some great scholarship essay tips!

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How to Write Impactful Admission Essays for Study Abroad?

Updated on 12 october, 2023.

upGrad Abroad Team

Upgrad abroad editorial team.

Applying abroad for education requires the fulfillment of certain criteria that make a candidate eligible for foreign universities. One such document that needs to be submitted is the admission essay. An admission essay can be of many types and usually depends on the university or course you are applying for. Let’s begin with a little introduction about admission essays for study abroad . 

Admission essays or commonly known as application essays are a mandatory part of your application process and are required by universities to get a clear understanding of your personality and interests. The application essay can be based on various topics that will be provided by the university. Admission essays are usually a part of the application process for those universities that do not require a statement of purpose. It is just another way of evaluating candidates for admissions. Universities that seek admission essays usually design their requirements depending on the program. A variety of essay topics are set across for UG and PG courses. 

From a student’s point of view, admission essays create opportunities for the students to set themselves apart from the rest of the candidates by exhibiting their writing skills and intellectual ability. This article provides an insightful understanding of Admission Essays for study abroad.

• Importance of Admission Essays:

An admission essay is one of the most important documents in your application. It will provide the university with all they need to know about your (personal) background, abilities, experiences, and personality. Admission essays have the potential to make or break the deal when it comes to admissions and hence must be given high priority. To write an impactful essay, the applicant must have his/her thoughts well aligned and maintain a high standard of the English language . A good essay can ensure your admission into the college of your preference.

• Different Kinds of Admission Essays:

Universities usually seek to understand the applicant’s profile, personality, and purpose through an admission essay. The impression it creates will determine your admission. When it comes to essays for study abroad , there are various types of essays to assess and understand the applicants’ capabilities. 

Mentioned below are the various types of admission essays for study abroad :

• Admission essays for undergraduate programs.
• Admission essays for MS programs in different universities.
• Admission essays for MBA or master’s programs in Management and Business .
• Admission essays for financial aid or also known as Scholarship essays.
• In case you have taken a gap year, many universities ask for an essay explaining your gap year.
• Backlog admission essays are required in case you failed in an exam. The essay will require you to state your reason for failure and your learning experience from the backlog.
• Admission essays that are situation-specific require you to elucidate on incidents in your life.

Each essay may have a different word count. The word count requirement is usually provided by the university you are applying to. Make sure you stick to the instructions provided and do not write more than the word limit. Mentioned below are some ideal situations of word limits provided by foreign universities for admission essays:

• An admission essay is usually around 350 to 500 words long.
• The minimum word requirement is usually around 250 to 300 words.
• The maximum word limit for most admission essays is around 600 to 650 words.

The three most important details you must keep in mind while writing an admission essay are:

• The essay under no circumstances can be vague. A vague essay will reflect poorly on your admission application. 
• Avoid making grammatical mistakes as it is an integral part of the criteria on which your essay will be judged. Punctuations are equally important.
• Make sure that the essay is of a professional standard as it will aid in making your essay stand out.

Before we dive into the tips and guidelines for writing the admission essays for study abroad, let’s talk about some of the basic points that are worth mentioning in your essay:

Undergraduate program admission essay: 

• Start by describing yourself and maybe delve a little into your (personal) background.
• Candidly elucidate your interests in academia and talk a little about your academic achievements.
• Mention your extracurricular achievements and interests.
• You must discuss in brief your reason for selecting the college and the country for your education program.
• You must include your prospects and how the course will help you attain your goals and ambitions.
• Conclude on an inspirational note.

Admission Essays for MBA programs:

• Start by providing a short introduction about yourself. Try to make your introduction as interesting as possible to grab the attention of the reader. You can probably include some inspiring quotes or anecdotes to help your cause.
• It is important to talk about your academic background and professional experiences. 
• You must talk about your prospect concerning the MBA program.
• You must talk about your goals and ambitions. Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years? 
• You must briefly discuss the topic of why you have selected the university and country for your further education.
• It is important to leave an impact as you conclude your essay. This will help in creating a suitable impression.

Remember that the word count might be less than required to jot down so many points. Hence it is very important to be brief and informative at the same time.

Some essays are based on the applicant’s academic circumstances like scholarship essays and gap year essays. These essays are usually not required by the college unless you mention them in your application. 

Scholarship essay:

These essays are usually written by students looking to get financial aid for their education programs. Usually, only tier 1 students tend to get scholarships based on their academic records. Your scholarship essay plays an integral part in determining your position in getting financial aid. Even students who do not have an excellent academic record can get scholarships depending on their standardized exam scores, extracurricular involvement, and social work .  

• You need to create an impactful title for your essay. This itself should grab the attention of the reader.
• You must talk about your personal and family background. 
• Mention your academic performance and achievements
• Your involvement in extracurricular activities and social work. Remember that social work is kept in very high regard by foreign universities. 
• You must elucidate on how the scholarship will help your cause and push you towards your career goals.
• It is important to mention your reasons for selecting a particular university.
• You should express yourself on why you deserve the scholarship.
• Try and write an inspirational conclusion

Gap Year Essay:

Most universities don’t ask for a gap year essay. But in some cases, they might ask depending on how the university wants to assess you. Even though the basic structure of the gap year essay is the same as the above-mentioned essays it is important to mention why you took the gap year and how it has helped you in finding yourself. 

General Tips and Guidelines for Writing an Impressive Admission Essay:

• Plan your essay – Before you start writing your essay, plan. Consider the essay question/topic and the response you wish to provide. Also, think about what the admissions committee could be looking for in your application essay. Before you start writing your essay try to make a detailed strategy, preferably with the aid of a flow chart. This will help you align your thoughts and avoid confusion.  Building a logical argument by going over each aspect will help maintain coherence and fluidity. Prepare a response that will highlight your abilities.
• Establish your essay objectives – Establishing your essay objectives will help you create the right impression of yourself in the eyes of the admission committee. The opinion created about you through your essay will be in your hands by highlighting your achievements, skills and portraying a confident tone. 
• Defining your X-factor – If your goal is to get admission into a top university you will have to set yourself apart from the rest of the candidates. The admission essay is a good opportunity to display your uniqueness and secure admission.  
• A clear understanding of the essay topic – This point is essential for creating the right impact. A clear understanding of the essay topic will allow you to streamline your thoughts and pen down only relevant points. Being vague may diverge the attention of the reader and will reflect poorly on your application. 
• Be Specific – This is an equally important point as the previous one. Admission essays require you to provide more with fewer words. You have a word limit of a maximum of 600 words and a lot to talk about. It is important that you remain concise and to the point. Beating around the bush will disinterest the reader and get you nowhere.
• How will you contribute to the University – An application essay allows you to tell the admissions committee all you want them to know about yourself. One aspect you don’t want them to overlook is how you can contribute to the university. As an international student, you bring a variety of cultures to campus, as well as stories of fresh experiences and potential opportunities. Emphasize how your experience and knowledge may benefit the university and its culture.
• Focus on Grammar and Language – You need to check and re-check for grammatical errors and punctuations. The university will be judging your language skills and grammar through this essay. Any mistake may hamper your chances of getting admission. 
• Re-writing and Proofreading – The best way to ensure no mistakes is to write the essay and then re-write it again. This way you can weed out all the problems and ensure an impactful essay. While re-writing you will realize where to edit and omit. This way you can be concise, informative, and confident at the same time. After writing your final draft it is important to proofread the essay to ensure no errors. You can ask others to do this for you. In this way, you can take some constructive feedback as well as ensure no mistakes in grammar or language. 
• Essay guideline provided by the university – The student must adhere to the guidelines provided by the university concerning the word limit, formatting, and font. 
• Deadlines – Admission essays take time and effort. You will have to write, re-write, edit, omit and proofread your essay before you send it. You may tend to lose track of time while focusing on other aspects. You need to maintain deadlines. Any form of default may lead to disqualification. So make sure you have all the aspects planned out to maintain efficiency and punctuality.

In short, an admission essay for study abroad can be your ticket to a top-class educational institution abroad. As an international student, you must prove your excellence to get into a prestigious university. Avoid procrastinating over thoughts and take the initiative to formulate a plan of action that will help you create an inspiring essay.

We are a dedicated team of study-abroad experts, ensuring intensive research and comprehensive information in each of our blogs. With every piece written, we aim at simplifying the overseas education process for all. Our diverse experience as journalists, content writers, editors, content strategists, and marketers helps create the most relevant and authentic blogs for our readers.

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Essay writing skills for international students

Essay writing is an essential skill that all international students need. We take you through how to approach the process with some guidelines and advice.

As part of our academic writing series, we look at how to start essay writing at university. Academic writing is very different from any English language writing you may have done so far. It’s a process, and you shouldn't miss any parts of the process.  

Here we give you an overview of the steps involved in  academic  essay writing and some advice for each section. 

How to start essay writing  

Reading 

To begin writing, the first thing you must do is read. Read the essay question carefully and highlight the key words and parts of the question. Read your lecture notes and do further reading on the subject using the reading list and other resources you have been given.  

While  reading , make lots of notes and make sure you keep a list of all the sources you have used. You’ll need this to write a comprehensive reference list at the end. Being able to reference and use citations is vital. Copying and using other peoples’ words in your essays is a serious offence at university and has serious consequences. You can find out how to reference and use citations in our article on referencing.  

Planning 

This part is as important as the actual writing, so make sure you never miss this step. Use the essay question to help guide you and keep you focused. The question can help provide the overall structure for your essay. Your reading and notes will also help you decide on a plan, don’t worry if you need to change the order or structure as you go along; it’s easier to adapt a plan than to rewrite a whole essay.  

During this planning phase, you’ll be able to organise your ideas into different sections and start inserting some details and references into paragraphs. Once you’re happy that your plan is organised clearly and cohesively (the ideas and paragraphs link together) and that it covers each part of the essay question, you’re ready to begin writing.  

Writing 

If you’ve followed this advice so far, then beginning to write will be easier now that you have a good, solid plan. While  writing , make sure that your arguments are supported by evidence and that you reference each time you use the words or ideas of a different source. Each university and sometimes each department has its referencing style so ensure you follow the guidelines.  

To potentially avoid using someone else’s words or ideas, you need to be able to summarise and paraphrase. Paraphrasing is expressing the meaning of something you have read during your research in your own words. It's a key academic writing skill that all university students need to learn - it isn’t just  international students . Each university has its own academic skills and  English language  support services, so please make sure to use these services. 

Reviewing  

This is the final part of the essay writing process and definitely shouldn’t be missed or cut short. You should reread your essay and check the following: 

Each part of the essay question is answered. 

The introduction has a thesis statement and clear essay structure.

Each paragraph has only one topic. 

Each paragraph should have a topic sentence. 

Relevant and strong evidence. 

The conclusion summarises the main points and doesn’t introduce any new information. 

Referencing has been used correctly. 

The reference list is included. 

A bibliography is included. This is a list of all the sources you have used in your research, even if you haven’t referred to them directly in your essay. 

The style of writing should be formal: 

                           - use more sophisticated vocabulary.

                           - use more sophisticated grammar structures.

                           - do not use contractions. 

Grammar and spelling.

Save and back up a copy of your essay.

Hopefully, you’ll find this advice useful. Come back for more tips in our academic writing series. While you're here you might find our series on useful English language for different situations helpful.  

Top 10 job seeking tips for international students

Finding a job after university is pretty much every graduate's dream. After years of hard work and late-night cramming in the library, it’s time to enter the professional world of work to gain a well-deserved salary and experience. But how easy is it to find work as an international graduate? Well, it firstly depends on whether you have permission to remain in the country to work. This should be your first step if you wish to stay in your study destination or move

Opening a bank account as a study abroad student

Organising your finances is a major part of the study abroad preparation process. You need to make sure that while you’re in your new study destination, you are able to live and support yourself and have access to your money. This includes being able to pay for things such as rent, groceries, travel, books and daily living costs. To do this without paying exchange fees, it’s a good idea to open a bank account in the country you’ll be living and studying in.

Top five jobs for students abroad

Studying abroad and being a full-time student has many advantages. You’ll be fulfilling your academic ambitions, experiencing a new culture and hopefully getting fully involved in university life. Admittedly one of the other aspects of being a student is not always having that much disposable income available. Studying abroad can be expensive and so finding some extra money to support yourself could mean needing to find a student job. It’ll allow you to fund some

How to revise for exams effectively

We’ve all been there. That circled date on the calendar that looms large, the feeling of anxiety at the amount of work to be done and wondering whether you’re covering the right areas. Examinations, when you’re a student, can seem overwhelming and insurmountable. However, we’re here to help you reduce that stress. We’ve got some top tips, advice and guidance on how to revise for exams, including effective study techniques. Having a good exam revision strategy goes a

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How to Write a Scholarship Essay for Study Abroad

Study Abroad Scholarships | Updated 15 Jan, 2024

The opportunity to  study abroad can be exciting, invigorating, and can help you attain educational experience. Living abroad and discovering new things can change your perspective on life but many students wonder how they can afford to pay for the costs associated with study abroad courses. Traveling to other countries is not cheap, and living there can be expensive.  

Follow these few tips to enhance your scholarship essay for study abroad. Here, scholarships play a significant role as they can help you cut down on extra expenses. Of course, receiving a scholarship cannot be guaranteed just because you ask for one. So, you have to create a scholarship application essay that will help you stand out from your competitors. To get ahead of the competition, you need to excel through the quality of your writing. Remember, many scholarships have thousands of applicants all looking for the same money. You need to be the best of them. To help you stand out, we’ve assembled a few tips that can make your study abroad essay has a powerful impact.

Tips for Writing a Classy Scholarship Essay 

a. Write with passion and use the words from your heart:  First things first, make sure that the essay you will write is veracious and captures your real self. Only by being honest and sharing your inner self with your readers can convey your passion for studying abroad. If you try too hard to write an essay, assessors will know as   writing is an art and must come from within the heart. Falseness is always detectable, and it will make it more difficult for the scholarship committee to evaluate who you are. Be yourself and use your feelings and emotions to honestly explain why you deserve the scholarship.            

b. Write what you know, not what they want to hear:  When you write, focus on your own experiences and the unique perspective you bring through your writing. An authentic essay is worth more than all the Google research in the world. You should always write the truth about your own experiences, and that means that you need to avoid faking facts, embellishing stories, or relying on outside research to report on events you did not personally experience. The committee will not care whether you can research a topic or report on other people’s lives. They want to hear from and about you.            

c. Always read the essay question carefully before you begin:  Scholarship essay questions are often broad and intentionally allows a variety of responses. However, that does not mean you can write about anything with no rules whatsoever. Instead, you need to read your essay question carefully and review it to determine what you need to include in the essay to meet the requirements. An off-topic essay will end up in the discard pile. You would not want to lose out on the scholarship money because you did not write on the right subject. 

d. Do not settle for your first draft:  When you finish writing the first draft of your essay, congratulate yourself for completing the first step. But that does not mean you have finished writing. Never send your first draft. Consider it as an invitation to the circular file — the trash can. Other students will spend hours or even days editing and perfecting their essays, and you should, too. Take the time to carefully revise each sentence and paragraph to make sure everything is as perfect as it can be. Ask yourself at each stage whether the words are clear and whether the audience will understand what you mean. Spare yourself extra time to fully revise your essay. After all, the first draft is never the best. There is always room to improve. 

e. Take inspiration from great essays:  You cannot learn to write well without being a great reader. Review collections of great essays to find inspiration for your own. Doing so can provide you with the tools you need to develop for intense writing and have a better instinctive knowledge of the best way to start an essay. But there is one thing you need to be careful about i.e. when you read numerous essays, there may be a tendency to unconsciously mirror what you have read. Be sure that you are not plagiarizing any of the essays that you read. You would not want your essay to turn out to be so close to a well-known essay that the scholarship committee will recognize the text or the essay you are referring to. There have been multiple cases where a scholarship applicant has been caught borrowing too much from popular essays.

f. Seek professional help:  If you find yourself completely at a loss and need help to write your papers, turn on to a professional essay writing service like WriteMyPaperHub. These online writing companies use professionals to produce custom-written papers that can set you apart from the crowd. When you need a little help or are looking to hire someone to create great writing for you, feel free to contact a reputable service and say: I want to  pay someone to write my essay  like experts from WriteMyPaperHub do online.

Stop Trying — Get Things Done

When writing a scholarship essay, your major goal is to put the substance over the form. Yes, the form is important, as it plays a major role in any academic assignment. There are rules in the academic world, and it is a good idea not to forget about them if you want yourself in. However, formality should not go before the substance of what you have to say about yourself in a scholarship essay. You need to understand that 98% of candidates are applying for the same spot with a similar background, equivalent grades, and test scores. For a scholarship committee member, you all look very alike, and your major task is to look different in a good way. Follow the tips above, but do not forget about your own experience. At this point, you already have written some essays — more and less successfully. Choose the most successful articles and analyze what you did right. It is the best way to determine your strengths and use them to achieve another bigger goal.

Note:  WeMakeScholars  is an organization funded and supported by the Government of India that focuses on International Education finance. We are associated with 10+ public/Pvt banks/ NBFCs in India and help you get the best abroad education loan matching your profile. As this initiative is under the Digital India campaign, it’s at free of cost. The organization has vast experience dealing with students going to various abroad education destinations the US, Canada, UK, Australia, Germany, Sweden, Italy, China, France  among others.

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Essays on Studying Abroad

Studying abroad is more than an academic pursuit; it's a life-changing adventure that broadens horizons and enriches experiences. Writing an essay on studying abroad isn't just about grades; it's a chance to explore the transformative power of international education. Try writing an essay about studying abroad. 🌍🎓

Studying Abroad Essay Topics 📝

Selecting the right essay topic is crucial for a compelling narrative. Here's how to choose one:

Studying Abroad Argumentative Essay 🤨

Argumentative essays on studying abroad require you to defend a viewpoint or argument. Here are ten thought-provoking topics:

• 1. Argue for the benefits of studying abroad as a life-changing experience that enhances personal growth and global awareness.
• 2. Defend your perspective on whether international students should be eligible for the same scholarships and financial aid as domestic students.
• 3. Debate the impact of studying abroad on an individual's career prospects and future employability.
• 4. Argue for or against the idea that universities should offer more diverse programs and scholarships to encourage underrepresented students to study abroad.
• 5. Defend the importance of cultural exchange programs and their role in fostering international cooperation and understanding.
• 6. Debate the ethical implications of universities partnering with foreign governments to establish branch campuses abroad.
• 7. Argue for the benefits of international students contributing to the cultural diversity and academic excellence of host universities.
• 8. Defend your perspective on whether studying abroad should be made a mandatory part of higher education curricula.
• 9. Debate the role of studying abroad in promoting peace and diplomacy among nations.
• 10. Argue for or against the idea that studying abroad can lead to a disconnect from one's home culture and identity.

Studying Abroad Cause and Effect Essay 🤯

Cause and effect essays on studying abroad explore the reasons behind decisions and their consequences. Here are ten topics to consider:

• 1. Analyze the causes and effects of the rise in international student enrollment in universities worldwide.
• 2. Examine how studying abroad can influence an individual's language proficiency and communication skills.
• 3. Investigate the effects of cultural shock and adaptation challenges faced by international students in a foreign country.
• 4. Analyze the causes and consequences of the brain drain phenomenon in countries that lose talented individuals to international universities.
• 5. Examine how studying abroad can lead to a broader perspective on global issues and a greater sense of social responsibility.
• 6. Investigate the impact of studying abroad on an individual's career choices and the industries they enter upon graduation.
• 7. Analyze the causes of international student mobility trends and the influence of destination countries' policies and scholarships.
• 8. Examine the effects of cultural exchange programs on fostering cross-cultural friendships and global networks.
• 9. Investigate the consequences of studying abroad on one's personal identity and sense of belonging.
• 10. Analyze the causes and effects of reverse culture shock when international students return to their home countries after studying abroad.

Studying Abroad Opinion Essay 😌

Opinion essays on studying abroad allow you to express your subjective viewpoints. Here are ten topics to consider:

• 1. Share your opinion on the personal and cultural benefits of studying abroad, emphasizing the transformative power of the experience.
• 2. Discuss your perspective on the ethical responsibilities of universities to provide comprehensive support services for international students.
• 3. Express your thoughts on the importance of integrating global perspectives and international coursework into higher education curricula.
• 4. Debate the significance of government-sponsored exchange programs in promoting international cooperation and diplomacy.
• 5. Share your views on the role of international students in enriching the academic and social environments of host universities.
• 6. Discuss the impact of studying abroad on an individual's understanding of global challenges and their role in addressing them.
• 7. Express your opinion on whether studying abroad should be considered a privilege or a fundamental right for all students.
• 8. Debate the merits of universities collaborating with international partners to offer joint degree programs and research initiatives.
• 9. Share your perspective on the responsibilities of international students to be cultural ambassadors and bridge builders between nations.
• 10. Discuss your favorite personal experience or anecdote from studying abroad that highlights the value of international education.

Studying Abroad Informative Essay 🧐

Informative essays on studying abroad aim to educate readers. Here are ten informative topics to explore:

• 1. Provide an in-depth analysis of the history and evolution of international student mobility trends.
• 2. Explore the psychological and emotional challenges faced by international students during their adaptation to a new culture.
• 3. Investigate the impact of government policies and visa regulations on international student enrollment in different countries.
• 4. Analyze the benefits of studying abroad for career development, including increased employability and higher earning potential.
• 5. Examine the effects of international student exchanges on diplomatic relations and cultural diplomacy between nations.
• 6. Investigate the consequences of studying abroad on an individual's sense of identity and self-discovery.
• 7. Provide insights into the challenges and opportunities of international internships and work experiences for students studying abroad.
• 8. Analyze the connection between studying abroad and the development of global citizenship and cross-cultural competence.
• 9. Examine the role of support services, such as cultural orientation programs, in easing the transition for international students.
• 10. Investigate the therapeutic benefits of sharing and documenting one's study abroad experiences through blogs, vlogs, or social media.

Studying Abroad Essay Example 📄

Studying abroad thesis statement examples 📜.

Here are five examples of strong thesis statements for your studying abroad essay:

• 1. "Studying abroad is not just a chapter in one's academic journey; it's a transformative odyssey that shapes individuals into global citizens with a deeper understanding of the world."
• 2. "The decision to study abroad isn't merely a choice of education location; it's a pivotal moment in a student's life that fosters personal growth, cultural appreciation, and international perspectives."
• 3. "In a world increasingly interconnected, studying abroad is no longer a luxury but a necessity, as it equips individuals with the skills and insights needed to thrive in a globalized society."
• 4. "As we explore the myriad benefits of studying abroad, it becomes evident that this experience goes beyond academics; it's a profound journey of self-discovery, resilience, and adaptability."
• 5. "The pursuit of knowledge knows no borders, and studying abroad is the embodiment of this belief, transcending geographical boundaries and opening doors to a world of limitless opportunities."

Studying Abroad Essay Introduction Examples 🚀

Here are three captivating introduction paragraphs to kickstart your essay:

• 1. "In a world where textbooks are just the beginning, studying abroad is the next chapter in the adventure of education. As we embark on this essay's exploration, we peel back the layers of international study—a journey that is not just about knowledge but also about self-discovery, cultural immersion, and global perspectives."
• 2. "Picture a classroom without borders, where the world becomes your textbook, and every interaction is a lesson. Studying abroad isn't just an academic pursuit; it's a transformative voyage that reshapes how we see the world. Join us as we dive into this captivating narrative of education beyond horizons."
• 3. "Amid the pages of books and lecture halls, there's a world waiting to be explored—a world of diversity, new experiences, and global understanding. As we venture into this essay, we are reminded that studying abroad isn't just about where you go; it's about who you become along the way."

Studying Abroad Conclusion Examples 🌟

Conclude your essay with impact using these examples:

• 1. "As we close the book on this exploration of studying abroad, we recognize that the pursuit of knowledge transcends borders, and the journey of self-discovery knows no limits. The adventure continues, with each student who embarks on the path of international education, enriching their lives and our global community."
• 2. "In the final chapter of our studying abroad essay, we stand at the crossroads of academic exploration and personal growth. The world beckons, and the horizon stretches endlessly, offering boundless opportunities for those who dare to embrace the transformative power of studying abroad."
• 3. "As the echoes of this essay resonate, we find ourselves at the intersection of education and enlightenment. The conclusion marks the beginning of a lifelong journey—a journey of lifelong learning, cross-cultural empathy, and a deeper connection to the world."

Studying Abroad My Experience and Experiences

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The Challenges of Studying Abroad as an International Student

World education systems: why do you want to study in usa, studying abroad: my decision to study in america, the challenges to face while studying abroad, the advantages of studying abroad, studying abroad: advantages of studying in the usa, studying abroad: its history and aspects, studying abroad: my learning and working experience in england, advantages of studying in a university abroad, a journal on diversity and stereotype in society, lasting impact of study abroad experiences, an unforgettable experience of studying abroad in spain, causes of depression among international students, mistakes made and lessons learned, my personal experience of studying abroad, my life in different nations around the globe, different types of university roommates, international students face greater challenges throughout their study in malaysia, culture shock: stages explained and how to alleviate it, kent state: my internship and studying abroad, relevant topics.

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Writing About Your Experiences Abroad

You studied, worked, or volunteered abroad. Now you want to include part of this in your personal statement as part of an undergrad, AMCAS or other application. Maybe you want to show that you’ve experienced a different culture and expanded your perspective through your eye-opening experiences meeting new people, mountain-climbing, assisting in a rural community, or some other opportunity to help people who genuinely need it.

Don’t forget the most important question: WHY?

But, at this point, you’ve also realized that many other applicants have had similar experiences. While the experience may have been transformative for you, requiring you to learn how to operate without your usual safety net in a foreign environment, you need to ensure that your study abroad experience serves a role in your essay as something other than window-dressing.

But you also know that your experiences aren’t unique to you; other applicants will have had similar adventures. 

There’s an old Onion article that jokes about a person whose short work experience in Africa allowed her to post a better Facebook photo. Without asking yourself the most important question of why your experience was transformative in some way, your travel descriptions might resemble the person parodied in that article.

I’ve read many essays with lush descriptions of exotic scenery and people who speak different languages, yet the writer does not seem to have changed. Unless you can articulate how you have changed from these experiences, your stories will simply blend together with those of other applicants. The admissions committee will get the impression that you traveled simply to add another notch to your resume.

You may consider that your travel experience really was transformative for you, requiring you to learn how to operate without your usual safety net in a foreign environment, a pivotal moment in your life journey. The key is for you to be able to explain in your personal statement exactly why . 

[Click here to read a sample diversity essay]

What, specifically, did you learn from your immersion in another culture? It can’t be enough to just tell a story about someone you met on a bus, train, or in a classroom. Explain why and how that person’s influence changed you. How do you think, act, and perhaps even plan differently now as a result of this exposure?

An admissions committee member once told me that an applicant’s actual experience mattered less than how they talked about it . Even a seemingly dull experience can be transformative to someone who is really paying attention.

Do you need help taking your experiences and using them to create a unique, compelling – even exciting – personal statement? Explore our Admissions Consulting & Editing Services and work one-on-one with an expert advisor who will guide you through the admissions process to acceptance.

Jessica Pishko graduated with a J.D. from Harvard Law School and received an M.F.A. from Columbia University. She spent two years guiding students through the medical school application process at Columbia’s Postbac Program and is a former Accepted admissions consultant.  Want an admissions expert help you get accepted? Click here to get in touch!

Related Resources:

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• 9 Secrets to Telling an Attention-Grabbing Story
• 7 Simple Steps to Writing an Excellent Diversity Essay

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How to Write Your Study Abroad Essay?

A study abroad essay portrays your intent and expectations from your trip to a foreign country, either for a semester or a couple of years. To write a really impressive study abroad essay, you need to be absolutely clear about your reasons for studying abroad. This is one of the most crucial points and it will reflect in your essay. 

Studying abroad is the beginning of a new and potentially life-changing journey. By delivering a good and impactful essay, you get an edge over your contemporaries and ensure that you get selected for the study abroad program of your university. Here are few tips for you to follow to write a captivating study abroad essay:

Start by writing down all of your expectations for studying abroad.

This is just to get an idea of what you want your essay to be about primarily. Imagine yourself in the country you want to visit. What would you do there? How do you plan to adapt to their culture?

Write about how you plan to make the most of your experience while staying there and what you wish to gain from your experience of studying abroad.

Write a good introduction

A good introduction sets the direction of the essay. If it is engaging, then the reader will proceed to read the rest of the essay in a good mood.

Start with the reasons behind your decision of going abroad for studying. Write about what inspired you to opt for a study abroad program and what drove you to reach this decision. Describe how you can benefit from studying in a place that is completely different from your current learning atmosphere.

Expand your expectations in the body of the essay

Now use the rough notes you created in the beginning as a guide to write the body of your essay. Elaborate on each point. Present all of your intentions in an organized manner.

This is where you would state your reason for choosing the particular country and university to study abroad. Mention your reasons for choosing them.

Highlight the defining characteristics of the country and the university and how you wish to benefit from it. Being really specific with your intentions will give an impression to the reader that you know exactly what you want and that you deserve to be selected for the program.

Expand on how you will benefit from interacting with students from different backgrounds.

You can even add your personal reasons for choosing that location as well. It will enable the reader to connect with you in a better way.

Show how you can be an asset to the study abroad program

Your program wants to be represented by the best candidate. Make them believe that it is you. Write about your strengths and how you will harness them during the course of your stay abroad.

If you can make it absolutely clear about what is it that you seek to derive from this opportunity and how you can deliver a good performance, you have a higher chance of being selected.

Conclude your essay on a good note

In the end, correlate and summarize all the main points. And make sure you write the essay in a way that captures the real you. You are a unique individual with a unique personality and you have something worthwhile to share with the world. Stay true to yourself and your ideas. Be sincere and honest with all of your points and the essay will definitely reflect your true personality.

When you are done writing the essay, leave it for a couple of hours or even overnight. Come back and proofread with a fresh mind.

Finally, you can you get someone else to read your complete essay. Get other people’s opinion and make suitable changes but stick to your original ideas.

The process of writing the essay itself marks the beginning of a new and special journey of your life. Remember to relax and enjoy the process of writing the essay. Staying calm will allow you to put forward your ideas in a more accurate and efficient way.

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• Writing a Winning Scholarship Essay to Study Abroad

How to write a winning scholarship essay to study abroad

Write a strong scholarships essay with these useful tips.

Studying abroad can be an enriching and life-changing experience, but it can also come with a little hassle. Fortunately, there are many scholarship opportunities available to students who wish to pursue their education overseas. However, with so many applicants vying for limited funds, it's important to stand out from the crowd. One way to do this is by writing a compelling scholarship essay that showcases your strengths, goals, and passion for your field of study. In this blog, we'll provide tips and strategies to help you craft a winning scholarship essay that can help fund your study abroad dreams.

Help me study abroad

What is the format for the scholarship essay to study abroad?

A standard format for scholarship essay s exists to guide applicants on what to include in their writing. The format can vary depending on the specific requirements of the organisation. However, there are some common elements that are typically included in such essays. Here's a suggested format you can follow:

Introduction: Begin with a captivating opening sentence or anecdote that grabs the reader's attention and introduces the main theme of your essay. Clearly state your purpose for applying for the scholarship and studying abroad.

Background and motivation: Provide background information about yourself, including your academic achievements, extracurricular activities, and any relevant experiences that have influenced your decision to study abroad. Explain your motivation for seeking this particular scholarship and why studying abroad is important to you.

Goals and aspirations: Clearly articulate your academic and personal goals related to studying abroad. Discuss how this opportunity aligns with your long-term ambitions and how it will contribute to your personal growth, cultural understanding, and future career prospects.

Fit with the program/country: Highlight why you have chosen the specific study abroad program and country. Discuss how the program's curriculum, faculty, resources, or location align with your academic interests and goals. Show your knowledge and understanding of the host country's culture, history, and language, and explain how immersing yourself in that environment will enhance your educational experience.

Financial need: If the scholarship is based on financial need, provide a concise explanation of your financial circumstances and how the scholarship would alleviate your financial burden, enabling you to pursue your studies abroad.

Conclusion: Summarise the main points of your essay and reiterate your enthusiasm and commitment to studying abroad. End with a strong closing statement that leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

Remember to make your essay to the specific scholarship requirements and word limit, and always proofread and revise your essay for clarity, coherence, and grammar before submitting it.

12 Tips to write a winning scholarship essay to study abroad

If you will follow these tips, you can craft a unique and compelling scholarship essay that effectively communicates your qualifications, aspirations, and the reasons why you are the ideal candidate for the scholarship. Here are some tips and strategies for you to consider when writing a scholarship essay to study abroad :

Follow the word limit: Know the essay's word limit to ensure you stay within the specified boundaries. This shows your ability to effectively communicate your ideas concisely.

Personalise your introduction: Instead of starting with a quote that takes up valuable space, begin your essay with a captivating introduction that showcases your unique profile and immediately grabs the reader's attention.

Strike a formal-yet-engaging tone: Maintain a formal tone throughout your essay while incorporating descriptive language that brings your experiences and aspirations to life. Strike a balance between professionalism and engaging storytelling.

Prepare with notes: Before starting your first draft, jot down key points, ideas, and anecdotes you wish to include in your essay. This preparation will help you organise your thoughts and ensure a focused and coherent essay.

Relevant achievements only: Avoid overcrowding your essay with extra achievements. Instead, selectively include accomplishments that are directly relevant to your chosen course of study and the nature of the scholarship.

Communicate clearly with appropriate vocabulary: Use clear and effective language to express your ideas. Avoid the temptation to include overly complex words solely for the sake of sounding more formal or knowledgeable. Communication is key.

Craft a concise conclusion: Keep your conclusion brief, yet impactful. Express gratitude for the opportunity and briefly reiterates your enthusiasm for the scholarship.

Research the scholarship provider: Take the time to research the scholarship provider and understand their goals and motivations. Make your essay reflect how your aspirations align with their mission, showing a genuine connection.

Be authentic, avoid overselling: While it's important to highlight your strengths, be authentic and avoid overselling yourself. Focus on presenting a well-rounded picture of who you are and the value you would bring as a scholarship recipient.

Understand the expectations: Thoroughly read and comprehend the scholarship statement to understand what the selection committee expects from you and your essay. Address their specific criteria and demonstrate your ability to meet their expectations.

Highlight the impact of the scholarship: Emphasise how receiving the scholarship will play a crucial role in achieving your dreams and goals. Showcase your gratitude and the ways in which the scholarship will make a significant difference in your educational journey.

Proofread attentively: Take the time to proofread your essay multiple times to catch any grammatical or spelling errors. Carefully review the content, structure, and flow of your essay to ensure a polished and error-free final draft.

Types of scholarships available to study abroad

There are different types of scholarships offered for students interested in studying abroad , and with careful strategic planning and thorough research, you can secure the most suitable one. Scholarships for international education generally fall into the following categories:

Indian government scholarships to study abroad

Here are some of the Indian government scholarships for Indian students to opt for when stepping out to make their dream of studying abroad come true:

Read more:    Fulbright-Nehru Master's Fellowships

By following these tips and strategies you can easily write a strong and effective scholarship when planning to pursue your further studies abroad. Also, you can get in touch with our international education experts at IDP to know more about studying abroad. They will help you with the admission procedure.

Talk to our international education experts

Updated on Aug 23, 2023

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Mastering the art of writing a compelling statement of purpose for study abroad admissions.

Crafting a standout SOP involves reflecting the applicant's unique voice, following guidelines, discussing personal experiences, explaining institution choice, future goals, and seeking feedback for a personalized, error-free document.

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• Steer Clear of Plagiarism It is crucial that the SOP reflects the unique voice and perspective of the applicant. Copying content from external sources, templates, or another individual's statement is considered plagiarism and is a serious academic offense. Each applicant should write their SOP in their own words, focusing on highlighting ambitions and goals that are distinctly theirs. After all, nobody can tell their story better than they can.
• Properly Follow Instructions: The SOP should be concise, written in clear language with proper grammar. Institutions typically provide guidelines regarding the length, word count, spacing, and structure, usually limited to no more than one page. Adhering to these guidelines demonstrates the applicant's ability to follow instructions and pay attention to detail, which can leave a positive impression on the admissions committee.

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5 Valuable Language Learning Scholarships

Learning a language for free  isn’t for everyone.

You might want the credits and/or the experience of a more formal education.

However,  studying a language in college can be pricey, and not everyone can afford it. In addition to courses, you may also need to study abroad to complete your program, and costs can add up quickly.

For these reasons, I’ve gathered five language learning scholarships to help you get a great language education without breaking the bank. Let’s take a look at each!

Top Language Learning Scholarships

1. critical language scholarship, 2. cea scholarships & grants, 3. boren awards scholarships & fellowships, 4. gilman scholarship program, 5. nsli-y program, bonus options, how to land a foreign language scholarship, stay on top of deadlines, write a unique essay, have language-related references ready, meet all scholarship requirements, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Amount: Depends on program

Deadline: Mid-November

Wouldn’t it be great if you could study an important language for free? Wouldn’t it be even better if you could do so abroad?

Well, the Critical Language Scholarship program offers intensive language study abroad in languages deemed “critical to national security and economic prosperity” —all expenses paid.

This scholarship covers visa application fees, room and board, program-sponsored travel, international travel to the host location and more .

You don’t need to be a language major to apply. In fact, the program encourages students from diverse disciplines to apply, since the idea is to get skilled speakers for a variety of future careers. The main requirement is that you do need to be an American enrolled at a U.S. university.

Programs usually last for around two months each summer , with spots available to both undergraduate and graduate students in a variety of critical languages .

In 2023, complete beginners through advanced-level students can apply to study Azerbaijani, Hindi, Indonesian, Persian, Portuguese, Swahili, Turkish or Urdu. To study Arabic, Chinese, Korean or Russian, you must have one year’s experience or the equivalent. Those with at least two years’ experience can apply to the Japanese program.

Amount: $100-$5,000

Deadline: March 1, May 1, October 15, November 15 (depending on desired term)

CEA is another study abroad provider that offers an array of scholarship options that you can use to access programs that include a foreign language component.

In fact, CEA commits over two million dollars annually to financial and scholarship programs. These include merit-based scholarships, need-based scholarships and diversity scholarships .

Depending on the program and location, language options can include Arabic, Catalan, Chinese, Czech, French, German, Irish, Italian, Portuguese, Russian or Spanish.

Many of the CEA programs allow you to also study additional subjects while learning a language abroad. For instance, you can study business, tourism, humanities and/or science alongside your language of choice. There’s also options for study plus an internship .

Amount: $8,000-$25,000

Deadline: January

Provided through the Defense Language and National Security Education Office, Boren Awards funds the study of languages considered critical to U.S. national security .

These languages include Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese and Swahili, as well as a host of other lesser-studied languages . Note that Boren Awards has a preference for longer programs.

Boren Scholarships are available to undergraduates who want to study abroad, with multiple award amounts available, including one especially for STEM majors . Graduate students can propose their own research and language study programs for Boren Fellowships , with multiple award levels and a domestic option .

Most Boren recipients study in Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe or South America. You might wish to review a list of recent recipients  (complete with language studied, institution, field of study and country of study) to give you a clearer idea of whether you may qualify.

Amount: Maximum $8,000

Deadline: March

The Gilman Scholarship is a need-based program through the U.S. Department of State that’s designed to allow students the opportunity to study (or intern) abroad who might not otherwise be able to.

The general Gilman Scholarship for studying abroad can be up to $5,000. You select the program you want to participate in, so there’s flexibility with regards to location and language. There’s also the Gilman-McCain Scholarship for students from military families.

Those interested in a Critical Need Language Award (currently available for 16 languages) can receive an extra $3,000, but a student’s total award amount depends on their program length and cost, financial need and the strength of their application .

You can take a look at the program’s 20-year impact report , which includes full lists of previous recipients, so you can get a sense of what country you might want to select for your application.

Additionally, if you receive this scholarship, you’ll have a competitive advantage for certain federal jobs for the next 12 months by being allowed to apply for jobs only open to federal employees.

Deadline: November

This scholarship program (which stands for the National Security Language Initiative for Youth ) is run by the U.S. Department of State for high school students .

To encourage young students to learn critical languages, this scholarship offers merit-based assistance to students who want to participate in summer or year-long language immersion programs .

Participants live with a host family, take intensive language courses and engage in relevant cultural activities in a location where the target language is spoken. The scholarship covers round-trip travel, tuition/program costs, meals and more .

NSLI-Y programs are available for Arabic, Chinese, Hindi, Indonesian, Korean, Persian, Russian and Turkish. No previous language study is required.

If none of the language learning scholarships above are quite what you’re looking for, you still have some options:

• Look for language-specific scholarships. You’ll likely have an easier time finding and obtaining a scholarship for learning a particular language, in fact. You can look for these (and others) via BigFuture’s Scholarship Directory .
• Check with your university. Chances are pretty high that you’ll be able to find scholarships through your own school , and with much less competition! You can check with your school’s scholarship coordinator and/or language department. If you want to study a language abroad, you might also check with your school’s study abroad office.

All of the best colleges and scholarship programs have deadlines. Whenever you’re considering applying for a scholarship, pay careful attention to the deadlines and try to get your application in well in advance.

There’s nothing worse than going to the work of putting together the application materials and then realizing you’re too late!

Some scholarships may require essays or personal statements as part of the application. These could address topics like motivation , goals and/or financial need.

Regardless of what you’re asked to write about, make sure your essay is on point. Reflect carefully on the question that is posed to you and answer as clearly and thoroughly as possible.

You might also ask friends, family and/or your university’s tutoring center to review your work for grammar, spelling and clarity. Even if you have mad writing skills, it can be hard to catch your own mistakes.

Some scholarship applications may request references, especially if you’re applying to more advanced language programs. If that’s the case, you may want to already know who you’ll ask.

Better still, you may want to have already spoken to potential references. It often helps for them to know your goals, motivation and accomplishments so that they can better speak to your qualifications.

Having your references lined up and ready can save you time and ensure that if a scholarship opens up, you’re ready to roll!

Some foreign language scholarships don’t require any knowledge of a language at all, but some want to see that you’ve reached a certain level of fluency.

This means you might need to get up to speed with a preparatory course or language program, like FluentU .

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

Try FluentU for FREE!

Be sure you know what’s expected of you before you apply, and put in the work to meet those requirements if you don’t already. That will help ensure that you’re prepared and that you’re a strong candidate for the funds.

Getting a language learning scholarship might not make you fluent, but it sure won’t hurt.

So, it’s time to mark your calendar and start gathering your materials so you’ll be ready to apply when the time comes!

If you dig the idea of learning on your own time from the comfort of your smart device with real-life authentic language content, you'll love using FluentU .

With FluentU, you'll learn real languages—as they're spoken by native speakers. FluentU has a wide variety of videos as you can see here:

FluentU App Browse Screen.

FluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.

Didn't catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover your mouse over the subtitles to instantly view definitions.

Interactive, dual-language subtitles.

You can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentU's "learn mode." Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning.

FluentU Has Quizzes for Every Video

And FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It gives you extra practice with difficult words—and reminds you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. You get a truly personalized experience.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

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• School Education /

Write A Letter To Your Friend Inviting Him To Your College Cultural Festival

• Updated on  
• May 7, 2024

College Fest is the most enjoyable time of one’s life. Students may lighten their mental stress and exam pressure by participating in festive activities with enthusiasm and energy. It is a great way to expand your network within and across college departments. You will always cherish the moments you shared during a college festival. In this section, we’ll cover how to write a letter to your friend inviting him to your college cultural festival. You can look at some of the letter samples and format.

Table of Contents

• 1 Sample 1: Letter To Your Friend Inviting Him To Your College Cultural Festival
• 2 Sample 2: Letter To Your Friend Inviting Him To Your College Cultural Festival
• 3 Format Of Letter To Your Friend Inviting Him To Your College Cultural Festival
• 4 FAQs 

Also Read: Write a Letter to Your Friend Thanking Him for the Birthday Gift: Samples

Sample 1: Letter To Your Friend Inviting Him To Your College Cultural Festival

Also Read: Write a Letter to Your Friend about Science Exhibition in Your School: Check Samples

Sample 2: Letter To Your Friend Inviting Him To Your College Cultural Festival

Also Read: Write a Letter to Your Pen Friend Living in Another Country: Check Samples and Format

Format Of Letter To Your Friend Inviting Him To Your College Cultural Festival

A.1 College Fest is a joyful event that takes place at college campuses. It might be anything, like carnivals or concerts. Every student attends these events at least once in their lives, creating lifelong memories.

A.2 College fests are an important element of college life because they allow students to socialize. They expand their network, whether it’s between departments or colleges. It also relieves students’ stress and mental pressure by providing a platform for them to express their creativity and enjoyment.  In addition to having fun, students also learn about leadership, teamwork, event planning, task management, and multitasking, among many others.

There are three sections to any letter, formal or informal: the introduction, the body, and the conclusion. By following the above-mentioned format, you can gain a deeper understanding of it.

Popular Letter Writing Topics

We hope the above-listed sample letters will improve your letter-writing skills. For more such interesting topics, visit our Letter Writing page and follow Leverage Edu . 

Deepansh Gautam

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