3 Ways to Study Abroad: Scholarships, Exchange Programmes, and Internships
Many Arab students, of all age groups, dream of studying abroad. There are many ways to achieve this dream, but three of the best ways include scholarships, student exchange programmes, and summer internships.
In this article, Al-Fanar Media brings you the most important steps you need to explore opportunities and successfully achieve your goal of studying abroad. Besides scholarship advice, we also offer examples of relevant opportunities for cultural exchange, and to enrich young students’ knowledge, skills and experiences through internships abroad.
Scholarships
Scholarships are the best way to help students get an opportunity to study abroad.
Mastersportal, a website dedicated to higher education issues, explains that scholarships can be won by each student according to their abilities, unlike other forms of grants that are allocated to students with specific needs and to specific groups.
To obtain a scholarship, applicants must meet its requirements. The awarding authorities specify several steps to be followed by applicants for their applications to be complete. The most important steps are as follows:
- Prepare the required documents.
- Register by completely filling out the application form.
- Check your email for the registration confirmation email.
- Write a distinguished essay about yourself.
- Provide evidence of your academic, sports, and artistic excellence.
- Attach a proof of university acceptance letter from the donor country.
To find scholarship opportunities, a good place to start is Al-Fanar Media’s database of Scholarships for Arab Students. This searchable online resource has details about the latest scholarships around the world that are available to Arab students. Al-Fanar Media’s team filters out low-quality scholarships and only posts opportunities from reputable scholarship providers and educational institutions.
Student Exchange Programmes
Exchange programmes allow undergraduate students to spend some time studying and living at a partner university of their home university. Examples include:
Erasmus Plus (Erasmus+) Programme. For over 35 years, the European Union has sponsored the Erasmus Student Exchange Programme, which is open to students, staff, interns, teachers and volunteers from all over the world.
Besides studying in this programme, participants will have better job opportunities in the future, in addition to improving their language skills and developing self-confidence and independence.
To apply for the Erasmus Student Exchange Programme, click here.
Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (Global UGRAD). The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program, funded by the U.S. Department of State, provides the opportunity to study at an American university for one semester. The programme offers participating students an opportunity to get acquainted with American culture and learning methodologies in the United States.
The programme sets several conditions for participation, namely, applicants must:
- Be over 18 years old.
- Currently reside in one of the countries participating in the programme.
- Have at least one academic semester left at university.
- Be able to start studies at the time specified by the programme.
- Be eligible to receive and maintain a U.S. Exchange Visitor (J-1) visa.
- Have proof of their medical fitness after being examined by a specialist.
- Show commitment to return to their home country after the end of the programme.
Those admitted to the programme enjoy several advantages, such as being exempt from tuition fees and receiving a monthly stipend, a travel allowance, a visa allowance, and a return ticket to their home countries at the expense of the programme.
Turkey’s Mevlana Exchange Programme. Turkey’s Mevlana Exchange Programme promotes student and academic staff exchanges between Turkish higher education institutions and counterpart institutions in various countries that have signed bilateral agreements with the Mevlana Exchange Protocol.
The programme requires a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 out of 4 for bachelor’s degree candidates at the time of application. For master’s or doctoral students, the programme requires a cumulative GPA of not less than 3 out of 4. Undergraduate students in their first year, or postgraduate students in the preparatory year, are not entitled to apply until they pass one semester at least. The final evaluation is based 50 percent on the cumulative GPA and 50 percent on language proficiency.
Summer Internships
Many universities around the world offer summer internship scholarships for students of different nationalities, for periods ranging from one to eight weeks. Most internship programmes include a specific topic from the outset, besides the participation in various social and cultural activities.
- Also see: Saudi Arabia’s Subol Platform Lists 1,900 Training Opportunities for Students and Graduates
France, Germany, the United States, Japan, China, and other countries offer many summer internship programmes. All you have to do is start searching for a summer internship scholarship in a country you want to travel to, and you will find several options.
Related Reading
- The Fulbright Scholarship: A Chance to Earn a Master’s Degree in the U.S.
- The Chevening Scholarship: A Chance to Earn a Master’s Degree in the U.K.
- Emirates’ Internship Portal Connects Students with Leading Companies
Scholarships – Facebook – Newsletter
