Grant for learning English. Scholarships, grants, training, education abroad

20.02.2015

The financial obligations when enrolling in a master's program abroad seem overwhelming: tuition fees, living expenses, teaching aids. However, do not forget that many universities provide scholarships to their students, in addition, there are many grants to pay for tuition. So, today we will talk about scholarships and grants for master's programs. Let us remind you that we talked about the cost of a master's degree abroad.

The main advantage of a master's degree abroad is the possibility of free or partially paid training by receiving grants and various scholarships. These may be private grants, such as the Grand Name Anita Borg from Google for female programmers or state scholarships, which anyone can receive if they wish and have sufficient knowledge.

Among the most popular international programs that allow you to receive a grant or scholarship for education at foreign universities, the following are worth highlighting:

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» allows students from different countries to get an education at the best European universities. The peculiarity is that students admitted to the master's program study for one year at one university in Europe, and the second at another. Sometimes the program is split between three or even four partner universities, so you need to be prepared to pack your bags every semester.

2.

Quite a bit of scholarships and grants provided by the Spanish government. Most financial opportunities are provided for postgraduate programs. As a rule, knowledge of Spanish is required, even if the program itself is in English.

The deadline is closer to the end of summer - beginning of autumn.

3.

German Academic Exchange Service unites more than two hundred higher educational institutions and more than a hundred student organizations. DAAD has representative offices in many countries around the world, including Russia. Every year this foundation awards about six thousand scholarships and grants. The most famous scholarships are for studying master's programs in Germany. In addition to master's scholarships, funding is provided for study tours to Germany, teaching Russian as a foreign language, studying the German language, research programs, graduate studies and much more.

4.

Cheevening Scholarship from the British government provides the opportunity to study for a master's degree at one of the leading universities in the UK. To participate in the program you must have at least one year of work experience. In addition, a mandatory condition is the return of the scholarship holder to his homeland after graduation.

The amount of funding is 12,000 pounds for training and 12,000 pounds for living expenses. Deadline - November 15.

5.

Within Fulbright program The US government provides Russians with great scholarship opportunities: different levels of study, academic internships for teachers and administrative staff of universities, teaching Russian in the USA, conducting short-term research. The most popular program is a full scholarship to study at US universities in graduate programs. Fulbright will also cover the cost of admissions tests such as the TOEFL and GRE.

6.

Grants for graduate students allocated by the Finnish state fund. The scholarship provides the opportunity to engage in research activities at one of the scientific institutes in Finland from three to 12 months.

Scholarship - 1,500 euros. Applications can be submitted all year round, but no later than five months before the expected start date.

7.

Students who have completed their bachelor's degree can continue studying in Israel. Scholarships are available in two areas: summer courses and an academic year in your specialty.

Age limit - up to 35 years.

8.

Universities in Sweden have programs for all levels of study(bachelor's, master's, postgraduate and doctoral studies). The scholarship covers tuition and living expenses. When submitting an application, use courier services, as they are accepted and processed by a single center in a small Swedish town, and then the documents that have passed the initial selection are sent to universities. Acceptance of documents begins in December.

9.

Seven scholarships in various fields offered by the Chinese government to foreign applicants. 279 Chinese universities are participating in the government program.

The deadline varies depending on the university, but usually falls in the spring.

10.

Scholarships of $50,000 per year are available to graduate students in Canada. The grant provides the opportunity to conduct research for three years. The government foundation awards 167 scholarships per year.

11.

The Italian government proposes funding for international students. Training programs must be related to the culture and history of the country, and the main condition for participation is knowledge of the Italian language. Scholarships are available for all levels of study.

12.

Government of Malaysia provides full scholarships for international students to study in master's and postgraduate programs. You can apply for one of three scholarship programs.

13.

Program "Global Education" from the government of the Russian Federation. The grant allocated under the program allows you to study at one of the 288 best universities in the world in one of 32 specialties. The maximum grant amount is 13,800,000 rubles. An important condition is the mandatory return of the scholarship holder to the Russian Federation, as well as work for three years in one of the program’s partner companies.

14.

Swiss Government Scholarships allocated differently for citizens of different countries. Russian students have traditionally been able to enroll in master's programs only in fine arts, as well as all graduate, postdoc, and short-term research programs in the country. Scholarships fully cover tuition and room and board expenses. Deadline - October 30.

Here is a common situation: you have a great idea for starting your own business, you also have enthusiasm and a lot of energy for work, but there is no serious money to start a new business. For some reason, you don’t want to consider the option of a bank loan or a loan from friends. Well, there is another way - getting a grant. What is a grant? We are talking about targeted sponsorship. If you want to know how to get a grant, read on.

Please know: many business projects have found fruition precisely thanks to this form of financial support. If you decide to follow the same path, be patient and prepare to expend considerable effort. But believe me, the result is worth it.

And yet - what is a grant?

These days this word often appears in the media. Before we figure out how to get a grant, let's clarify the essence of the concept itself. A grant is a type of targeted assistance, expressed in money or in kind and aimed at specific goals, one of which may be the expansion or opening of a new business. Its main distinguishing feature compared to a loan is that it is a free subsidy. The grant does not require repayment.

It can be issued by the state and private foundations or foreign organizations. And, as you understand, each of the listed sources has the right to put forward its own demands. That is why you should not “throw” your application everywhere where there is at least some chance. Focus and choose the source that best suits your industry. And then figure out what conditions you have to meet.

Where exactly should I go?

To make the right choice among the three main categories of organizations listed above, you should clearly understand what goals each of them pursues.

Government organizations are most willing to issue grants for business development to representatives of those categories of the population that are commonly called socially vulnerable. We are talking about university graduates, citizens registered with employment centers or laid off, military retirees, disabled people, single mothers and young professionals.

You will not receive the full amount needed to open your own business from the state. Here, preference is given to those entrepreneurs who have their own funds (at least partially) and who are ready to invest them in this business.

The preferred area for the implementation of public money is social or industrial. It is also quite possible to receive a grant for agricultural development here. The state willingly finances the purchase of raw materials or equipment, but the future entrepreneur will most likely have to bear the costs of paying employees on his own. Also in this case, the period of existence and operation of the enterprise is important. According to the terms of grants, it should not exceed a year or two. They also consider the entrepreneur’s ability to hire additional personnel.

How private and foreign foundations issue grants

Such organizations have many reporting requirements. It is important for them to see that the money given by a businessman is spent in a strictly defined way, and does not end up in their pocket. Unlike the state, these sponsors also finance the payment of wages to hired personnel.

When it comes to financing innovations in business or the economy, it is best to turn to one of the private domestic funds. It makes sense to request help from a foreign fund in the case of the option of opening or developing a business in the field of art, ecology, society, culture or the IT sector. Most often, grants in such funds are issued in the form of tranches, that is, each specific stage is implemented separately.

What documents are needed

The list of these will be individual for each organization that finances and supports the business, but their list is often very similar. So what might they ask of you?

1. A duly completed application for participation in the selection, which is held among those wishing to receive a grant.

2. Copies of all identification documents and (most often) the participant’s application form.

3. Copies of documents that can confirm your competence in the economic field. We can talk about both a diploma and certificates of completion of various specialized courses.

4. Copies of registration and constituent documents for your business, as well as papers on tax registration and entry into the register. If applying for business development, copies of documents confirming the availability of jobs or the creation of new ones.

5. Business plan. This item is mandatory.

The list above is approximate. It can always be supplemented and expanded. Therefore, treat it carefully. If any papers are missing or are prepared incorrectly, the fund has the right to refuse to consider your application.

Let's look at a little step-by-step instructions on this issue:

1. Choosing an organization that is right for you.

2. Studying the history of its issuance of money - what projects were financed and in what amount.

3. Study of the requirements put forward by the fund and the rules for drawing up an application for those wishing to participate in the selection.

4. Preparation of a complete package of necessary documents.

5. Drawing up a real business plan with a clear definition of your goals, existing problems and ways to solve them. Make the main emphasis on the financial side of the issue.

6. Preparing a detailed and as convincing as possible presentation of your own future project.

What's next?

By submitting your application for consideration, you go into “waiting mode.” Most often, within three months after the deadline for submitting applications, funds review them and make a decision. The first few days of this period are devoted to checking the correctness of their preparation and the availability of a complete set of necessary documents. The fund then begins to study and compare the business plans provided to it.

They are most often assessed according to the foundation’s own point scale, which is used when forming the rating of participants. Particular attention at this stage is paid to the proposed options for solving the set goals and identified problems.

In addition, the reliability of the calculations provided is checked very carefully. If we are talking about a state fund, those entrepreneurs who have a certain amount to start their own business or develop it are especially noted. Business plans that require full funding are usually rejected.

When it comes to an existing business, serious attention is paid to the dynamics of its development. In case of issuing low indicators for the period of existence of the enterprise, it will most likely be refused. Those projects that the fund has already financed can receive additional points from the fund.

After the final rating of participants is formed, the commission decides who exactly can count on receiving a grant. Notifications are sent to the winners with simultaneous posting of the results on the official website of the foundation.

How to use the received grant?

What is a grant from a legal point of view? It should be viewed as an agreement between a businessman in need of funds and the investor who issued them. That is why the first is now bound by a number of specific obligations that require fulfillment:

1. The funds received should be spent exclusively for the intended purpose, that is, only for what they were issued for.

2. Reports must be submitted in strict compliance with the agreed deadline.

3. In the event of force majeure or the impossibility of carrying out specific actions on the project, the businessman is obliged to immediately contact the fund with corrective proposals.

4. It is prohibited to interfere with the commission during the inspection and it is required to report in detail on the entire amount of funds received.

If facts of misuse of an issued grant or violation of other terms of the contract are revealed, the organization or fund has the right to demand its termination and return all allocated funds in court. This issue should be approached with full responsibility. Think about whether you are able to fulfill all the conditions set by the fund.

If the answer is negative, you will lose an excellent chance to receive additional financing for your business. The financial assistance provided by sponsoring organizations contributes not only to the development and support of individual entrepreneurs, but also to the improvement of the economy of the entire region.

Grants for training

Now let's talk about another type of grant - subsidies issued for research, educational and other non-profit purposes. This could be getting an education or completing an internship, etc. The point of training grants is to finance projects that can benefit society in the future. Their addressees are young, talented, ambitious people.

Such grants are most often issued by non-profit organizations. There is a whole list of detailed requirements for participants. As a rule, a considerable number of applicants fight for the privilege of receiving such a grant. After all, what is a grant in this case? This is an impressive amount that allows us to continue research or achieve other important goals that may remain unrealized without such funding.

Selection criteria

The requirements may vary. Applicants are most often selected according to the following criteria: the leader of the research team is not yet forty years old, the entire composition of the participants is undergraduate and graduate students or employees of a particular university or research institute. Participants must publish a number of scientific papers.

Most often, when reporting basic data about all competitors, it is required to provide information about the participation rate of each of them.

In addition, in this case there is the concept of an additional grant. This is the name given to the subsidy received by the winner in multi-stage competitions. At the first stage, the commission selects a number of participants who demonstrate the most obvious successes and achievements. But the competition does not end with them receiving grants. In the second phase, a reporting conference is held to summarize the interim results of the work of teams of young managers. The one whose story turns out to be the most convincing can count on second prize.

How to get a training grant?

Young talented students and graduates of Russian universities who do not have sufficient funds should think about this. This applies to persistent and inquisitive people. Presidential grants are provided for the most talented. If enough effort is made, everyone has a chance to receive a subsidy for further education within the walls of a foreign university.

Having received an international grant, you will have the opportunity not only to study at a prestigious Western institution, but also to radically improve your own knowledge of a foreign language. These subsidies are issued by universities, scientific foundations and public organizations. Moreover, the grant issued for training can be either full or partial.

In the first case, the amount of money is intended to cover the entire range of expenses, including travel, food and accommodation. This is a rather rare option. The issuance of partial subsidies is more common.

Who can count on him?

For many years, there has been a program under which many capable Russian students are entitled to free education in the United States. It is possible for a high school student to win a similar grant. Having won the competition, he travels to the USA and studies for several months at a local school with accommodation with an American family. All costs are borne by the US government.

Receiving such a subsidy is the dream of almost every schoolchild or student. But winning such a competition is not easy. The chances of receiving an international grant increase for graduate students and young university teachers. The age of the participants is most often no older than 30 years.

Before submitting your application, you should decide on the country in which you would like to continue your education. Then the list of universities offering similar programs is specified. After that, a meaningful, competent letter is drawn up, and the chances increase if it is sent to several different universities. The resume lists your own achievements and describes your plans for the future.

Similar competitions are held in Russia. Victory in them is easier to achieve compared to international ones only at first glance. Grants are awarded to the most promising young scientists or students. If your candidacy is rejected, do not despair. After all, the number of grants is most often limited. The most persistent and hardworking eventually win and it always makes sense to try again next year.

Foreign and Russian public and commercial organizations, educational institutions, state governments, international organizations and citizens provide grants (free transfer of funds) for training under the conditions stipulated by the grantors.

Depending on the conditions, grants cover full or partial costs of studying abroad; expenses related to accommodation, food, visa and air travel. They receive grants on a competitive basis.

To receive a grant for studying abroad, we recommend following the following algorithm.

Step 1. Determine your specialty and country of study

The applicant must have a good understanding of the chosen specialty, the topic of the thesis and (or) the progress of scientific research into the problem in this field of knowledge.

The choice of country in which you plan to study depends on your specialty. It is necessary to take into account the language conditions of the country of study. Some educational institutions offer instruction in English. To confirm your knowledge of a foreign language, you can take an international exam and receive a corresponding certificate.

Step 2: Select a granting organization

Grant providers can be divided into public and private. Government grant providers offer grants to a variety of educational institutions within their own country, while private organizations and foundations are not limited to a specific country.

Step 3. Select a grant, read its terms and conditions carefully

When choosing a grant, it is important to compare your capabilities in advance with the conditions stated by the organizers. Conditions for grants vary. So, in particular, the main criterion for issuing a grant may be academic performance or, for example, a difficult financial situation that does not allow the applicant to pay for education on his own.

Each grant has specific deadlines and deadlines for accepting applications from applicants.

Step 4. Prepare documents, submit an application for participation in a grant and go through the stages of the competition

The standard set of documents includes:

Application form according to the organization form;

Certified copies of the school certificate and grade book, translated into a foreign language;

International certificate confirming language knowledge;

Certificates or diplomas confirming achievements, merits and educational success;

An essay in which it is necessary to justify the motives and purposes of receiving a grant.

The specified list of documents is not exhaustive and can be expanded in accordance with the requirements of the organization issuing the grant.

The application form for participation in the grant is submitted before admission to the selected educational institution. The application is submitted either by hand, if the organization has a representative office in the Russian Federation, or by mail.

Note. Before submitting documents, we recommend that you consult with the organization’s specialists.

Note!

As a rule, grant applications submitted without a complete set of documents and/or submitted after the established application deadline will not be considered.

The grant competition may include several stages. Thus, after reviewing the application, the grant provider may offer the applicant a number of additional tasks, for example, undergoing an interview in a foreign language.

Step 5. Pass exams at an educational institution

If the grant provider is not the educational institution itself, then the applicant may be required to pass entrance exams. In case of failure in the entrance exams, the grant is withdrawn or may be provided next year.

If you do not have the time or desire to study all the universities and organizations that provide grants, you can turn to the services of an intermediary - most often a travel company, which, for a fee, will help you make your choice and collect the necessary documents.

Note!

According to the general rules, personal income tax must be paid on grants received for studying abroad, unless the source of such grants are organizations listed in the relevant lists approved by the Government of the Russian Federation (clause 6 art. 217Tax Code of the Russian Federation).

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According to the Global Education program

I used to think that grants were for geniuses.

But my students are ordinary people, and now I regularly send them to study abroad, at the expense of the state.

Polina Radchenko

sends students to study abroad

In 2014, the Government of the Russian Federation approved the Global Education scholarship program. The winners receive up to 2.76 million rubles for each year of study at the world's leading universities and for related expenses - accommodation, meals, textbooks.

To receive a grant under this program, you must be a citizen of the Russian Federation, not have an outstanding criminal record, and independently enroll in a foreign university. Fulfilled the conditions and passed the competition - received a grant. After completing your studies, you need to return to Russia and work for three years in your specialty. If fraud is discovered, you will be fined triple the amount of the grant.

2,76

million rubles - maximum grant amount for a year

Algorithm for receiving a grant:

1. Select a university and specialty.
2. Submit documents and receive admission.
3. Register on the website, fill out an application and attach scans of documents.
4. Get a grant, go to study and return.

And who are you, exactly?

My name is Polina Radchenko, I am the regional head of an educational agency in Perm. Over the five years of work, dozens of students went to study in Canada, the USA, England, Europe, and Australia with my help. I officially represent the Global Education program, under which two of my students have already begun their studies in Australia and several more are taking part in the competition.

Choosing a university and specialty

The grant program has 5 priority areas, 32 specialties, 288 universities in 32 countries. The government has approved everything - see the official list on the website educationglobal.ru. You can get a grant for master's programs.

Complexity. There are many universities, many countries, it is difficult to understand them. And “education abroad” does not always equal quality education. Fortunately, government approved universities are ranked among the top 300 institutions in the world.

Advice. First, choose a specialty, and then look for which universities offer it best. Pay attention to the indicators: employment statistics after graduation and the role of the university in the scientific world.

Program operators use three world university rankings:

To receive a grant, you need to choose a specialty strictly according to the list. The list does not include business, design and marketing, but you can find a related area or another area.

Most often, for admission to a master's program, universities require a bachelor's degree or a specialist in a related field. Sometimes this can be compensated by experience in the field.

Example. My student Peter received a diploma in translation, but for three years he worked as a regional manager of an international company. His work experience compensated for the lack of a management degree, and he enrolled in a social management degree at an Australian university.

The main thing is to justify why you need this education. Why suddenly from a linguist to a manager? There must be logic for the educational institution and the embassy. This is how Peter justified his choice.

Fragment from a letter from my student Peter to the embassy and university

“...After receiving a diploma as a translator, I helped my mother manage a confectionery shop, and then became a regional director in a large international company. Throughout my experience working with people, I am faced with various problems of my team, ranging from lack of motivation to simple human needs for care, material support, a strong and reliable advocate.

As a leader, I cannot turn a blind eye to this and try to help everyone to the best of my ability. But unfortunately, sometimes stronger levers and support mechanisms are needed, because the well-being of our clients depends on the well-being of my work team. And they, in turn, bring this well-being to society and so on, along the chain.

Now I am sure that my benefit to society should go beyond the restaurant and reach the scale of the city. I dream of working with citizens and the opportunity to help those who need protection and support from not only the leader, but also the entire state. But I need to get an education in order to dive deeper into the social sphere and understand the mechanism of work from the inside.

I chose the University of New South Wales because...”

Submission of documents and admission

The list of documents and conditions for enrollment in the program depend on the country, university and program.

Standard documents:

1. International passport - if it expires soon, change it before submitting documents.
2. Diploma - the admissions committee looks at the average score. But even if you have a C in your diploma, you can still choose a suitable program - there are thousands of them.
3. Certificate of passing the language exam - depends on the language in which the training is conducted. Review your program's language proficiency requirements. The most popular English language exam is IELTS.

Additionally, you may be asked to provide a motivation letter, recommendations, resume, and portfolio. Each university has its own rules. Creative professions usually ask for a portfolio.

What are the risks?

Risk. The applicant may not pass the language exam with the required score, and the grant plan will fail. My student was supposed to start studying in Australia in February 2017, but failed her English five times.

Advice. Start preparing for the exam as early as possible.

Risk. The university is taking too long to respond to your application. The decision to admit a student is made by the university admissions committee. There is no deadline for making a decision: student Peter was given admission a week after submitting his application, and Yulia - after 3 months.

Advice. Allow as much time as possible. You must receive admission to the program and upload it to your personal account before the end of the competition.

The Global Education program has four competitive selections, with two more remaining. You can take part in any of them. Each selection has a deadline: you need to fill out an application form and upload all documents before the end of the competitive selection. After this, the supervisory board will determine the winners. The list of names will be published approximately a month after the selection closes. And after another month, money is transferred to the winners.

In most cases, you will not be able to apply for a visa until you have paid your tuition deposit. And in some countries, visa applications can take up to 4-6 weeks. To get everything done, either pay at your own expense or postpone the start of your studies. Some specialties have 2-4 admissions per year, and you can start studying not only in September, but also in February, May, July, and October.

In my experience, the grant process takes a year. But if you have already passed the language exam, then you can do everything faster.

Risk. The university takes a long time to respond or is silent.

Advice. The Russian operator of the program trained special agencies and educational centers. They help students for free. Agencies contact universities through their own channels and help get a response faster. Therefore, if the educational agency has connections with the university of your choice, there are chances to save time.

Risk. The university may delay with an invitation to study, and the deadline for submitting documents for a grant may be running out.

Advice. If you do not have time to submit documents in the current selection, transfer your application to the next selection. When a new set starts, you will have a special button.

How to register and apply

If you are expelled from the university during your studies, you will have to pay a triple fine. But deductions abroad are rare. Usually, when a student fails a course at a foreign university, he pays extra to retake the course and take the test or exam.

If you choose a curriculum more expensive than 2.76 million rubles, you will have to add your own money. The government cannot give you more than what is budgeted.

The program has no age limit. If you have already completed your studies at a university in Russia and want to develop further, you can use this grant program no matter how old you are.

The program is suitable for any age

If you live in Russia for 10, 20, 30 years, but are not a citizen, you will not receive a grant.

The program operator requires unconditional admission from the university. You will not receive it until you provide the university with a higher education diploma and a certificate of passing the language exam.

Carefully check your program and university for compliance with the program list. You will not be given a grant if the university or program is not on the approved list.

Who is responsible for the program

Moscow School of Management "Skolkovo" is the official operator of the program. You can ask the school questions about the program, registration, universities. The Skolkovo school also holds events in different cities and on the Internet - follow them