As a student pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree, one of your primary responsibilities is to figure out how you'll pay for it. Scholarships are hard to procure, but when you plan to go to university, they are the best ways to get financial aid. Especially if you are an international student who has no access to government loans or stipends, scholarships are a much safer and more stable means of financing your education. It's also quite difficult to search for scholarships; knowing where to look, what to look for and what to avoid are important things to know before you walk out into the vast sea of scholarly awards. So below we'll give concrete advice to find and apply for scholarships around the world.

1.       Search for scholarships specifically made for your location

One way to attract the most scholarships or get the widest range would be to look for the private and government scholarships available in the area you are studying in. Regardless of the institutions or discipline they study, the scholarships offered by country, province or cities are helpful to students. Similarly local businesses, non-profits or corporations will often sponsor their own grants. These are distinct from government and company grants, and are designed to support students within their own industry. Be aware that some national or federal scholarships require that students be citizens before applying. While some countries offer federal scholarships specifically for foreign students, in each scholarship you will still want to check your eligibility.

2.       Look for scholarships that are unique to your degree programme

Many businesses and organizations are keen to support and finance topics that benefit their own industry. If you're eligible for discipline-based scholarships, you're always welcome to use that at any university of your choice. Sometimes, however, as a condition of the scholarship, you're required to use the scholarship only at a particular institution. Be sure to check if you can use the scholarship you are applying for at your preferred university. Many of these scholarships are going to want you to show proof of your academics.

3.       University Scholarships

The university website will have a section where you can find the details of scholarships offered for further information, you may also have to contact your university advisor, bursary or registrar. Many of those scholarships are based on both needs and merit. Needs-based scholarships are specifically designed for students who have deep financial hardships or burdens, and who need a scholarship to fund their studies. Therefore, they will often ask you to provide proof of the income or taxes from your family before you apply. Merit-based scholarships are considerably more common but highly competitive.

To apply for a scholarship implies to start at the right place. So, if you start by customizing your search based on your location, discipline, or university, you're going to have a higher chance of finding the options you need. Start with your location, and see if you have funding opportunities in your position for international students.