A Full Scholarship: How to Get One

Full scholarships, also known as full-ride scholarships, are the ultimate form of financial aid because they almost completely cover the cost of attending college for three or four years. The supplier will pay for your living expenses and tuition, allowing you to concentrate on your education and social life without having to worry about money. Great, isn't that right?  Read more about scholarships 

How the scholarship program at Fountain University is changing the future of its recipients By: Opeyemi Shokunbi, Charles Akanni, Azeezat Salako, Fatima Mustapha, and Kanyinsola Akinola Date: February 15, 2025 Share: University-2 Fountain Financial difficulties continue to hold many students back in a nation where education is frequently viewed as the route to success, particularly in private universities where tuition is still costly. Ruth Lily Oshin's academic journey became an emotional rollercoaster due to the reality of economic difficulties. Like many others, her tale demonstrates the difficulties and solutions offered by organizations committed to maintaining educational accessibility. Oshin had a lot of hope when she got accepted to Fountain University in 2025. She had lofty goals for herself, and the future appeared bright.

Unfortunately, there aren't very many of these "dream" scholarships available. Full scholarships are hard to come by and extremely competitive when they do. Even so, you should still apply for them. Continue reading to learn how to improve your chances of receiving one of these prestigious scholarships.

Understand where to look

Where can you genuinely find complete scholarships, first and foremost? Your first stop should be the official website of the university of your choice, as they may list external scholarships you may apply for or offer their own financing possibilities for students in your area or studying your field.

In addition to your university, you could check websites like FastWeb.com and InternationalScholarships.com, as well as our own Scholarships to Study Abroad page, which lists financial aid opportunities in various study destinations, scholarships targeted at specific student groups, and scholarships focused on particular subjects (e.g. African students).

Get ready in advance.

It's crucial to start planning as soon as you realize you'll require a full scholarship to support your attendance at university. This is crucial if you find yourself in a situation where you have to attend an interview. For example, some universities host special "scholarship weekends" where 50–100 students are invited to campus for an interview with a faculty member. During the interview, they are asked about their goals and motivations and how they relate to the institution and the course.

If you must attend a scholarship interview, you should approach it as you would any other formal interview: dress formally, arrive prepared with solid responses to any questions they may have, and be ready to ask them questions when asked to do so at the end of the interview. Learn how to respond to typical admissions interview questions here.

Work hard and remain inspired.

Despite the fact that some full scholarships will be given solely to individuals who demonstrate remarkable merit, others will consider both factors. It goes without saying that you should study hard in your academics, but if you want to receive the whole scholarship, you'll have to work extra hard.

 since the bulk are given to students who perform the best. High grades are essential since colleges may automatically consider candidates for full scholarships using your standard university application. Despite the fact that pushing yourself intellectually can be mentally draining, strive to stay motivated by remembering your goals and taking occasional breaks to unwind (particularly before and after exam season!).

Make a strong impression on potential employers.

Given the fierce competition for full scholarships, it's critical to distinguish oneself from the other applicants by showcasing a genuine desire to develop personally. To demonstrate your passions and interests outside of the classroom and provide examples of times you've gotten involved with the local community, perhaps by participating in volunteer work for a worthwhile cause, you must have a few extracurricular activities to showcase to scholarship providers.

The ability to lead initiatives in your extracurricular activities or volunteer work is a great way to show off your leadership qualities to scholarship providers.

Building strong relationships with your academic mentors is important because they'll be able to provide a more accurate and personal reflection of you in their letter. Another thing that could really set you apart from the competition when it comes to scholarship applications is a glowing report on your academic and personal qualities through your letters of recommendation.

Read the application guidelines thoroughly.

Despite how apparent it may sound, you don't want to accidently forget to submit a required document or piece of information, which could ruin your chances of receiving the scholarship. To ensure you don't miss anything, read the application guidance thoroughly and repeatedly. If you have any questions, email the provider.

Send in a standout cover letter or scholarship essay.

Your application essay and cover letter must unquestionably be of the highest quality. This is another obvious point. This entails ensuring that it is crystal clear and succinct, properly formatted, captures the reader with a compelling start, maintains focus on its main issue or topic, and has perfect spelling and grammar.

Ask a friend to read it over and look for mistakes and any sentences that don't read as well as they could to ensure that it is perfect rather than just proofreading it hundreds of times.

You may read a very helpful piece on submitting a successful scholarship essay that one of our QS scholarship winners authored here.

Be truthful.

To Apply 

Last but not least, as we briefly said earlier, the terrible reality is that there aren't many full scholarships available, and those that are are fiercely competitive, so many applicants who meet and surpass the requirements for a full scholarship wind up losing out. 

Don't let this stop you from applying, but keep your expectations in check. Additionally, keep in mind that there is no restriction on the number of scholarship applications you may submit or the number of scholarships you can receive, so you may be able to combine two or more smaller awards to create your own full scholarship. Naturally, make sure to confirm with the service providers that you are eligible to apply for and receive funds from other sources. If you do experience rejection, try not to let it depress you; instead, get back up, dust yourself off, and keep trying until you achieve your goals.

Do you have any queries regarding the scholarship application process? Visit our FAQ page or contact us.