How scholarships work, from start to finish

A scholarship pays for all or part of your studies: course fees, travel, living costs, and sometimes more. In return, the provider (the organisation that gives the scholarship) chooses who gets it. Many providers also ask you to come back and work in Vanuatu after your studies. This guide explains the steps that most scholarships have in common. Each scholarship page on this site gives the exact rules for that scholarship.

Three ways to apply

There are three main ways to apply. The scholarship page always tells you which one to use: look for "How you apply".

1. Directly to the provider, online. You create an account on the provider's website and send your application there. For example, Australia Awards Scholarships (Vanuatu) uses an online system called OASIS.
2. Through an office in Vanuatu. For some scholarships, the Vanuatu Government scholarship office or an embassy must choose and send your name (this is called a "nomination"). You follow the steps and the deadline of that office. Its deadline can be earlier than the provider's. These scholarships work this way:

• Commonwealth Master's Scholarships (UK)Fully funded one-year master's degrees in the UK for citizens of lower-income Commonwealth countries, including Vanuatu. You are nominated through the Ministry of Education and Training.
• Japanese Government (MEXT) ScholarshipsFull Japanese Government scholarships for Ni-Vanuatu students to study in Japan, from technical college and university to master's-level research.

3. Through a university. Some scholarships come from universities, or a university must nominate you. First you apply for the course. Then the university takes care of the scholarship.

Two applications, not one

For most scholarships, you need two things: a place in a course and the scholarship. Sometimes the provider gets you the place. But often you must apply to the university or college yourself.

The Vanuatu Government Scholarships are a good example. You must meet the entry rules of your course, and apply to it before the deadline of the university or college. Without this, you cannot get the scholarship.

Step by step

The details are different for each scholarship, but most follow these steps:

1. Find scholarships for you. Check the level, the language of study and the country. The page Which scholarships fit me? can help you.
2. Read the official rules. Check who can apply. Also check your obligations (what you must do) after your studies, for example coming back to Vanuatu for two years.
3. Prepare your documents early. Certified copies, school results, translations and a passport can take weeks. See Getting your documents ready in Vanuatu.
4. Ask your referees (people who write a letter about you). Give them several weeks. See Referee letters: who to ask and how.
5. Write your personal statement or essays. See Writing a strong personal statement.
6. Send your application before the deadline. Online systems are very busy in the last days. Check the time zone of the deadline: some deadlines are in Australian or UK time, not Vanuatu time.
7. Shortlist. The provider checks every application. Then it chooses the best ones for the next step: this is the "shortlist". Often, only shortlisted people get a message.
8. Interview and English test. Many providers interview the shortlisted people. Some ask for an English test only at this step. For example, Australia Awards Vanuatu asks shortlisted people to take the IELTS Academic test. See English tests (IELTS and others).
9. Offer, visa and departure. If you are selected, you accept the offer, get your visa and prepare to leave. See After you're selected.

The year, month by month

Each scholarship has its own calendar. Below, each scholarship is in the month when its last round closed (a "round" is one application period). These are past dates. They show you the rhythm of the year. The next round may have other dates. We only show new dates when the provider announces them. For the next deadlines, see the deadlines page.

If you are not selected

Many people apply, and many good applicants are not selected. It is normal to apply more than once. For example, Australia Awards Vanuatu says you can apply as many times as you want. Keep your documents, improve your text, and apply to several scholarships that fit you.