Basic information about scholarships
We know that you want to access the scholarships provided by different governments, organizations and educational institutions to continue your studies, however you don't know how to look for or apply to them. That is why we have made a list of the most common questions to help you in the process.
1. What is a Scholarship?
A scholarship is an aid or grant that is given to someone to carry out studies or research. It usually materializes as an economic contribution to students or researchers who do not have enough money to achieve their academic goals.
2. Are there different type of scholarships?
Full scholarships: scholarships that cover the entire cost of the student or researcher.
Tuition scholarships: scholarships that cover the total or partial payment of tuition fees for the academic program.
Travel scholarships: scholarships that cover all or part of the expenses that a student must have to travel daily (a minimum distance) to carry out their studies or air tickets to travel to the place where the studies will take place.
Maintenance Grants: scholarships that provide a fixed amount of money to the student to cover expenses during the period of the academic program. One of the main criteria, in most cases to obtain this scholarship, is that the family has low income.
3. Does RITA provides any form of Scholarship?
RITA is not an organization that provides scholarships or financial aid of any kind, but instead, we want to support and encourage the people who are seeking for one, giving guidance and recommendations in the application process.
This task is carried out by answering the questions sent by the interested parties to the different communication channels (web page, email, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, among others) and through personalized consultations that help to specifically guide people who have already decided which program and scholarship to apply
4. I want to go abroad. What should I do?
Before starting the search for scholarships,you need to decide what you want to do, for example, an undergraduate program, masters, doctorate, language course or an internship. Knowing that, will help you to conduct a more focused and effective search.
This step is very important, since only you know what you want to study, RITA can not choose a program or country for you. RITA can only accompany you in the process and guide you in the best way.
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Once you have that clear, you can start searching for scholarships in the different available platforms. Some of these platforms are created by the specific countries or by organizations that create a database to facilitate the search. The ones we recommend, because they are constantly publishing scholarships for Latin America, are:​
5. I already found some scholarships I would like to apply, what should I do now?
Congratulations!! You are a step closer to being where you want to be. Applying for a scholarship is not complicated, but you must ensure that you submit all the required documentation and do that on time, in order to avoid that your application is discarded for lack of information or because you missed the deadline. Do not forget that RITA is here to guide you through the process.
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Make a list of the scholarships that you can apply: After knowing thoroughly what each one consists of, it is good that you order your ideas. By creating a list of all the scholarships, it will help you prioritize which one you should request. In some cases you may request more than one scholarship, but in others, the application for more than one scholarship is not possible.
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Read carefully: Each of the scholarships specify the requirements, the necessary documentation and the deadline for submitting the application. We recommend that you read it all through and contact the sponsor directly in case of doubt.
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Create a plan: Do your research with enough months in advance before the registration and application period. In a calendar, save the key dates to ensure that you won't miss the deadlines for the application. This step will help you with tracking your application. For example: You can open an Excel file with all the information and update it constantly.
Prepare the documentation: The main procedures are done online. Have all the documentation ready: your ID, passport, certificates, recommendation letters, etc. You need to have all the documentation at hand digitally, so that when you are applying online your session does not expiry before ending the application because you took too much time.
Fill the forms: There are usually standard forms, with general questions about personal information. Remember that it may be necessary to complement it with attaching the documentation that is sent by physical mail. If you must first create a user and a password, select one that you can remember well.
Double check: Before sending the application, review that all the entered data is correct. It is important that you check that you have correctly written your email or postal mail, because that is how you will get contacted again with the results of the application. More important, make sure that the bank account details are correct, you don't want your money to be sent to someone else.
Apply to the scholarship: it's time to send all the documentation. It is important to have a support of the application (you will usually receive an email with the application number). If you are not sure, call or write an email to the people in charge of the scholarship.
Follow up: Follow your request from the first moment. This will help you find out about any problem that may occur, or if you need to send more information.
Claim period. If you are rejected, sometimes the sponsor will specify the reasons for that. If more documentation is necessary, they propose a period of time so that you can send it or clarify the doubts. If still, the result is negative, remember that there are other alternatives and many more help to achieve your dreams! Keep looking for more scholarships and keep applying.
6. is English or another Language a must?
Being able to communicate in a second language, English in particular, is fundamental at any stage of life as it opens doors to new opportunities.
The great majority of calls for scholarships require a certificate of the English language. Institutions and organizations require a minimum score on several exams such as: IELTS or TOEFL. But do not be scared! There are different tools to practice and improve your level of English such as Duolingo, Sena Virtual, Edx.org, among others. Check our Blog constantly, RITA will publish some courses that are offered free on Internet.