Scholarships with essays are a fantastic opportunity for students to demonstrate their writing prowess and obtain funding for their studies. While the application process may feel overwhelming, it’s crucial to keep in mind that the time spent writing a compelling essay might result in scholarship funds.
Scholarship essays give students the opportunity to show how much they deserve and fit these grants.
In this article, we will go into great depth regarding 13 top scholarships with essays. So, if you aim to study at prestigious institutions, pursuing valuable scholarships with essays, you are at the right place!
Content
- Why Apply for Scholarships With Essay Requirements
- Top 13 Scholarships That Require Essays
- Chevening Scholarships With Essays, UK
- Maastricht University Essay Scholarships for International Students, Netherlands
- Fullbright Essay Scholarship, USA
- DAAD Scholarships With Essays, Germany
- Naughton Essay Scholarship, Ireland
- Erasmus Mundus Scholarships With Essays, EU
- Yenching Academy of Peking University Scholarship for International Students, China
- Gates Cambridge Scholarships With Essays, UK
- MBZUAI Essay Scholarship, UAE
- SBW Berlin Scholarship, Germany
- Eiffel Excellence Essay Scholarship, France
- University of Exeter Essay Scholarships for International Students, UK
- Knight Hennessy scholarships With Essays, USA
- Summary
Why Apply for Scholarships With Essay Requirements
While scholarships with no essay requirements may seem like an easy option, there are several advantages to applying for scholarships that do require essays. We recommend you focus on applying for Scholarships with essay requirements for the following reasons:
1. Higher chance of winning: Scholarships that require essays often have fewer applicants than those without essays. This means that your chances of winning a scholarship with an essay requirement may be higher.
2. Opportunity to showcase your skills: Writing an essay for scholarship allows you to showcase your writing and critical thinking skills, which could be an advantage in future academic or professional pursuits.
Top 13 Scholarships That Require Essays
Actually, most scholarships require essays. Therefore there are a lot of options for students aiming to win a scholarship. However, students usually prefer some scholarships over others. For this reason, we are here to help you find out what scholarships with essays to apply for. Here are some top scholarships that require essays.
Chevening Scholarships With Essays, UK
Chevening is one of the essay scholarships for international students. This scholarships and fellowships program is funded by the UK government.
Outstanding young leaders from all around the world can study for a one-year master’s degree in the UK thanks to Chevening Scholarships. There is no such thing as a “typical” Chevening Scholar, but we are searching for the sort of people who have the drive, connections, and influence to offer the leadership and solutions required to build a better future.
These scholarships are fully funded, so you are free to concentrate on reaching your professional objectives and making the most of the experience of a lifetime because flights, lodging, and course costs are all covered. For one year, you will live and study in the United Kingdom. During that time, you will grow professionally and intellectually, network widely, learn about UK culture, and create enduring bonds with the UK. You will depart the United Kingdom after finishing your studies with the experience and contacts required to realize your own original ideas.
Chevening Scholarships are essay scholarships for international students. You need to write a total of Four essays, each of which must be 500 words long:
- The first essay discusses an applicant’s networking skills.
- The second essay would inquire about your skills as a leader.
- The third essay would inquire about your future career plans.
- The fourth essay should explain why you desire to continue your education in the UK.
Visit Chevening Scholarships Official Website for more information about these opportunities.
Maastricht University Essay Scholarships for International Students, Netherlands
Maastricht University Scholarships are among the scholarships that require essays. With about 22,000 students and 4,400 staff members, Maastricht University (UM) is the most international institution in the Netherlands and is still expanding. The institution sets itself apart by its cutting-edge educational model, global perspective, and multidisciplinary approach to education & research.
As an open and welcoming academic community, UM provides a number of scholarships to help deserving undergraduate and graduate students who are having financial difficulties pursue their degrees at UM. These students should also have the potential to grow personally. During and after their studies, UM scholarship recipients serve as significant ambassadors for the institution. Students who qualify for UM scholarships are chosen based on their academic excellence, involvement in extracurricular activities, active citizenship, as well as financial need. The selection procedure is quite tough because there are a limited number of grants available.
Even though you have lost the chance to apply for these essay scholarships 2023 /24, you can still apply for the next academic year, as applications will open for 2024/25 in October.
In order to find out more details about Maastricht University Scholarships, have a look at the official website
Fullbright Essay Scholarship, USA
For foreign citizens who have earned a bachelor’s degree or a degree equivalent, it is a pretty fascinating program. Because the scholarship is funded by the United States government, it financially covers the entire programme.
Fullbright programmes host research and studies in all disciplines from 155 countries across the globe! It is primarily offered to broaden intercultural understanding and reduce cultural barriers between Americans and individuals in other nations.
The Fulbright Scholarship is among the scholarships that require essays. For the application, 2 essays are required:
Statement of grant purpose
This two-page paper describes the Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of the Fulbright grant proposal that you are submitting. The key to a successful Fulbright application, especially if you’re pursuing a research project, is to design a good, doable, and appealing project.
To determine the kind of grant you are permitted to submit, you must first get familiar with the grant description for your host nation and the grant you have chosen. Applicants may also suggest pursuing a graduate degree program, depending on the nation and grant. For graduate studies, several nations offer designated plans or need grants. In this situation, candidates should concentrate on outlining their motivations for choosing the specific institution and program in the host nation.
Regardless of whether you are requesting funding for a research project or a degree program, your application should demonstrate your dedication to and plan for interaction with the local community.
Personal Statement
The statement must be a one-page story that paints a portrait of who you are as a person. Your personal history, familial background, intellectual influences, exposure to educational, cultural and professional, opportunities (or lack thereof), and the manner in which these experiences have impacted you and your personal development should all be included. Include things like your life objectives, career plans, and exceptional talents. It shouldn’t be a repetition of information from the application or a more detailed explanation of your Statement of Grant Purpose. Instead, it should be focused on you and your goals in relation to the particular Fulbright Program for which you have applied.
Note that applications for these scholarships are closed for the academic session 2023 -2024. However, they are open for the academic session 2024 – 2025. The deadline for Fullbright essay scholarships is October 10th, 2023 at 5 pm ET.
You can visit the official website of Fulbright Scholarship if you are interested in applying for these awards.
DAAD Scholarships With Essays, Germany
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the biggest financial organization of this kind in the globe, provides assistance to more than 100,000 German and foreign students and researchers each year.
DAAD scholarships do not have to be paid back. They often include a flat-rate travel allowance in addition to a monthly scholarship stipend (currently € 934 for graduates & € 1,200 for PhD students, for instance). Sometimes, the DAAD Scholarship also offers you personal liability, health, and accident insurance. Additional perks may include a one-time research stipend, family allowances, or funds for language classes, depending on the scholarship program.
DAAD Scholarships are among scholarships that require essays (cover letters).
Cover letter
When you submit an application for a study grant or scholarship for a language or specialty course, you must include a letter of motivation. In your letter of motivation, you must include at least 1 page, but no more than 3, outlining your professional and personal motivations for desiring to study in Germany. You have the chance to define your character and the motivations behind your DAAD Scholarship application in this letter. You may compose a great motivational letter thanks to the information and questions below.
- Information about your education, skills as well as knowledge
- Studies: study program, semesters number (if applicable), degree
- Professional experience (if applicable)
- Specialized knowledge, abilities, and linguistic skills
- Rewards and prizes (if any)
- Academic motivation
- Why do you want to enroll in the study program, language class, or specialty course for which you are applying?
- What do you like about the university you chose?
- What do you want to gain from the course, personally, professionally, or in terms of your career?
- Reasons for applying for a bursary
- Why are you submitting a DAAD scholarship application?
- What expectations do you have for this grant?
- How will the DAAD scholarship assist you accomplish your educational, career, and personal objectives?
- Personal interests
- Here, you can discuss noteworthy extracurricular accomplishments, responsibilities as well as personal characteristics that reveal something about your character.
Do you think that writing an essay for scholarship is a hard mission, why don’t read Scholarship Cover Letter | Format, Template & Samples
The next scholarship on our list of scholarships that require essays is Naughton Scholarship.
Naughton Essay Scholarship, Ireland
The Naughton Foundation was established in 1994 by Carmel and Martin Naughton. The organization is a private family one, and its goal is to support worthy creative and educational efforts. In 2008, we took the choice to start the scholarship program in order to increase the number of Leaving Certificate students we could help in their pursuit of studies at the third level in the Republic of Ireland in the fields of engineering, mathematics, science, and technology.
Before, only students from the counties of Louth, Meath, and Monaghan were eligible for the Naughton Foundation Scholarship. However, it is now accessible to students from all of Ireland’s counties.
One of the Personal Statements asks you to list your Non-Academic pursuits. Any interest you have outside of school, such as participating in BTYS, Sci-Fest, Olympiads, music, GAA, all other Sports, dance and the arts, volunteering, etc., is considered a non-academic pursuit. To ensure that our choices are not entirely reliant on exam results, we are simply attempting to gain a more comprehensive understanding of candidates as a whole.
Fortunately, the applications for these essay scholarships 2023 – 2024 are still open. The Closing Date for receipt of applications is midnight on 30th June 2023.
Visit Naughton Foundation Scholarships Official Website in order to get additional details on these opportunities.
Erasmus Mundus Scholarships With Essays, EU
The Erasmus Mundus Program offers EU-funded grants for 3rd-country students and EU/EEA students who have applied to and been accepted by the Human Rights Policy and Practice master´s course. The program provides about 15 bursaries each year.
You will be happy to know that most Erasmus Mundus scholarships including EMJMS programmes are exempted from IELTS, GRE as well as application fee requirements. This makes it super easy for most foreign students to apply for these grants in Europe.
You can get extra details by visiting the Erasmus Mundus Scholarships official website.
Yenching Academy of Peking University Scholarship for International Students, China
Yenching is also one of the scholarships that require essays. Through its multidisciplinary master’s programme in China Studies, the Yenching Academy of Peking University seeks to strengthen ties between China and the outside world.
Approximately 120 new students are enrolled at the Yenching Academy each year, coming from both the Chinese Mainland and outside to study, live, and learn together. Approximately 80% of the student body is overseas students.
Yenching Academy of Peking University Scholarships are essay scholarships for international students. You need to provide a personal statement of 750 words.
The applications for these essay scholarships 2023 / 2024 are closed.
Visit the Yenching Scholarships official website to know more about these essay scholarships.
Gates Cambridge Scholarships With Essays, UK
These scholarships are among essay scholarships for international students in the UK. Gates Cambridge provides around 80 full-fee scholarships annually for deserving candidates from outside the United Kingdom who wish to pursue a postgraduate degree in any field offered by the University of Cambridge. Around 25 grants will be available in the US round and 55 grants will be available in the international round. About two-thirds of these grants will be given to PhD students.
A Gates Cambridge Scholarship covers the full expenses of studying at Cambridge. It also offers additional, discretionary funding.
On the application form for these scholarships that require essays, Cambridge asks:
Please describe why you are applying for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship and how you fit the four primary requirements in no more than 3000 characters (about 500 words).
You may find complete information on how to apply, together with instructions on how to complete this statement, at www.gatescambridge.org.
Gates Cambridge uses the statement to assist distinguish between individuals that the academic departments have nominated. It aids in the identification of applicants who are not just highly accomplished academically but also committed to enhancing the lives of others. You need to use your background, accomplishments, experiences, and future goals to demonstrate how explicitly you satisfy the requirements of the Gates Cambridge program because this is the only part of the application where candidates are questioned about their fit with the programme.
Note: Applications for these essay scholarships are now closed for the academic year 2023 – 24. However, they will open again for the academic year 2024-25 in September 2023.
To know more about Gates Cambridge Scholarship, just visit the official website.
MBZUAI Essay Scholarship, UAE
Another scholarship in our list of scholarships that require essays is MBZUAI Scholarship. The Muhammad Bin Zaid University Award is one of the fully funded essay scholarships for international students and domestic students. The doctoral and graduate programs are eligible for this grant. The MBZUAI scholarship offers various benefits, including a monthly salary, housing aid, and other perks.
MBZUAI offers a range of graduate programs for those who want to further their advanced, specialized knowledge and talents in artificial intelligence. Its dedicated staff and instructors provide support and advice so you can make the best choices.
The candidate needs to explain why he is applying to the university in a 500–1,000 word essay called a statement of purpose. The applicant’s academic and personal experiences, preferred professional route, aspirations for the future as a student, and graduation plans can all be included.
The scholarship includes 100% free tuition fee, on-campus student accommodation, medical insurance and UAE visa sponsorship for non-UAE citizens as well as monthly salary (subject to the University’s rules and regulations)
The applications for these essay scholarships closed for International and UAE residents on April 30, 2023. However, they are still open for UAE nationals until June 30, 2023.
In order to find out more info, check the MBZUAI Scholarship official website.
SBW Berlin Scholarship, Germany
SBW Berlin Scholarship is among the fully funded essay scholarships for international students at bachelor’s and master’s levels. The grant provides various benefits, including a monthly salary, a travel and lodging allowance, as well as a 100% remission of tuition expenses.
The SBW Berlin Scholarship helps overseas students from low-income families who use their education in Germany to further long-term non-profit projects, ideally back home.
We consider a student’s academic qualifications, unique abilities, and social requirements when making scholarship selections for Bachelor’s and Master’s programs in Berlin and Potsdam. In general, funding is provided for all areas of science and the arts. In exceptional cases, we can also assist with Berlin or Potsdam vocational training. Study funding from other German federal states or from your own nation is not included.
As this scholarship is one of the scholarships that require essays, you need to craft a cover letter of 1-2 pages long.
Applications for these essay scholarships are now closed for the academic year 2023 /2024.
More information about SBW Berlin Scholarship is available on the scholarship official website.
Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship, Hungary
The Hungary Government Scholarship (also known as the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship) is one of fully funded essay scholarships for international students. The Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship will cover tuition fees, a stipend, a housing contribution, and medical insurance.
This Scholarship is currently offered in almost 70 countries across 5 continents and yearly enrolls more than 5,000 international students. It is based on bilateral agreements for education between the governments of the sending countries and Hungary. There are more than 500 full degree programs accessible to candidates, spanning every field of higher education, including part-time and PhD degrees.
This scholarship is among scholarships that require essays. You must provide a motivation letter of at least one page, typed in Times New Roman font (letter size is 12 points).
The applications for these essay scholarships are closed for the academic year 2023 / 2024.
If you have an interest in getting this scholarship, you can visit its official website for more details.
Eiffel Excellence Essay Scholarship, France
The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship is the eleventh scholarship on our list of scholarships that require essays. It is one of France’s fully funded essay scholarships for international students. This grant aims to aid students in their pursuit of a master’s or doctorate degree at a premier French university.
Eiffel Excellence Scholarship winners will receive a monthly salary in addition to several additional benefits. The scholarship also covers tuition expenses.
When enrolling in an M2 program, the Eiffel Excellence scholarship is given for a maximum of 12 months. Whereas, when enrolling in an M1 program, the scholarship is given for a maximum of 24 months. When preparing for an engineering degree, the scholarship is given for a maximum of 36 months.
Eiffel Excellence Scholarship is an essay scholarship, you need to write a letter of motivation outlining your qualifications for the grant.
Please The applications for these essay scholarships are closed for the academic year 2023 / 2024.
In order to know further information, visit the essay scholarship official website.
University of Exeter Essay Scholarships for International Students, UK
The University of Exeter Scholarships 2023–2024 are open to international students and are partially funded. In addition to being scholarships with essays, these grants provide the awardees with a range of full, £10,000, and £5,000 tuition cost awards.
UOE established the Global Excellence Scholarships program to support students in realizing their academic potential and contributing to the energetic institution community of students and staff from over 170 different countries.
These scholarships are also among scholarships that require essays. The personal statement for the application must answer the following questions in no more than 300 words:
- What do you find intriguing about the academic course you’ve chosen, and what do you hope to learn?
- What future objectives do you have, and how will your education help you achieve them?
- What would it mean to you to be awarded a Global Excellence Scholarship, and how would it change your life?
- What kind of university ambassadorial role can you play as a Global Excellence Scholar?
The application deadlines for these essay scholarships vary according to the program, but there are several programs that are open for the school year 2023 / 2024.
The UOE Scholarship official website can give you additional info about this essay scholarship.
Knight Hennessy scholarships With Essays, USA
We will conclude our list of the 13 best scholarships that require essays with Knight Hennessy scholarships. Knight Hennesy Scholars is one of the most prestigious essay scholarships for international students in the entire globe. Knight-Hennessy Scholars will bring the most promising future leaders to Stanford University from all areas and academic specialties. You will engage in interdisciplinary education, leadership development, and acquiring a global perspective here. Stanford University offers 100 fully funded scholarships to international students who want to pursue master’s, doctoral, MBA, MFA, MD, or JD degrees.
As we mentioned before, these are among the scholarships that require essays. So, you will need to provide:
Short Answers & Essay
The short-answer questions encourage you to explain in your own words what you have accomplished, who you are, and what you hope to do in the future.
Make use of the chance to demonstrate your more personal side, keeping in mind that you have already stated activities and accomplishments in your background information and résumé. You must respond to three inquiries:
- How will your time as a Knight-Hennessy Scholar help you to achieve your short- and long-term goals? (maximum of 250 words)
- Tell us about the time you; a) made someone exceptionally proud of you, b) faced the greatest obstacle, and c) exceeded someone’s expectations (150-word limit combined).
- Please share with us eight unusual facts about yourself that are actually true (150-word limit combined).
The essay prompt encourages you to think carefully about the people, occasions, and situations that have influenced your life’s path.
Only you may tell your own narrative; there is no correct or incorrect answer, topic, or structure. Nevertheless, we hope you will concentrate more on who you are than on what you have done. The best essays strike a balance between self-reflection and an awareness of external influences. They are also utterly unique in that no one else could have written them. The essay’s subject:
Link the dots. What factors have shaped you throughout your life? (600 words maximum).
Applications for these essay scholarships are now open for the academic year 2023 – 2024.
KHS Application Deadline:
October 11, 2023, 1:00 pm Pacific Time
Stanford Graduate Degree Program Deadline for KHS Applicants: No later than December 1, 2023
KHS applicants must apply to the graduate programme by this date or the program’s standard deadline, whichever is earlier.
For more info about these essay scholarships available for international students, visit its official website.
Scholarship Essay Summary
Scholarships with essays give students the opportunity to show how much they deserve and fit these grants.
There are a lot of great essay scholarships for international students and some of them are fully funded.
Some of these scholarships that require essays: Chevening Scholarships, DAAD Scholarships, Fullbright Scholarship, Naughton Scholarship, Maastricht University Scholarships, Yenching Academy of Peking University Scholarships, Erasmus Mundus Scholarships, Gates Cambridge Scholarship, MBZUAI Scholarship, SBW Berlin Scholarship, Eiffel Excellence Scholarship, University of Exeter Scholarship, Knight Hennessy scholarships,
Students should make the most of these chances and utilize their writings to showcase their distinctive experiences, objectives, and aspirations. Scholarships that require essays can help deserving individuals attend college more easily and affordably with hard work and dedication..
Visit our website for more College Essay scholarships and to check all available scholarships with essays in 2023.
