Opportunities Students Can Use to Help Fund Their Higher Education
For most young people, a higher education is the best investment that they can make to secure a bright future for themselves. However, many of them are overwhelmed by the high cost of higher education, and some are even forced to drop out of school. If you are a student looking for ways to help fund your education, here are some opportunities that you can take advantage of.
Applying for scholarships and grants
Students can take advantage of the numerous scholarship and grant programs from the government, non-governmental organisations, as well as private companies. Government grants and scholarships are usually very competitive and in short supply, so most students have a much better chance of getting scholarships from private entities such as businesses, companies, religious organisations, among others. If you are a student, you can easily find a list of available scholarship opportunities on your university or college website. To increase your chances of winning a scholarship, do your research and apply to all the programs for which you are eligible.
Taking part in essay writing and creative contests
Many businesses stage creative contests with cash prizes to help students fund their higher education. These contests aim to nurture creativity and innovation and to raise awareness on certain topics. Essay writing competitions are by far the most common types of contests that are created by companies because they are easy to carry out. The way essay writing competitions work is pretty simple. A company or business will select an essay topic and lay out the terms and conditions for the competition, as well as the cash prize. The cash prize is usually awarded to the student who submits the best essay before the stated competition deadline. In some cases, there may also be runner-up cash prizes. Companies and businesses are always willing to sponsor essay competitions because they help raise brand awareness among students and young people who could end up becoming their employees or customers in the future.
If you are a student looking to participate in corporate scholarship and essay contests, you can find a long list of ongoing and upcoming contests here. There are lots of contests available for both undergraduate and graduate students, and you can participate in as many contests as you want. To write a winning essay, take the time to research the essay topic, and make sure you engage your creative bone because you will be up against thousands of other smart students. Remember, just because a contest is listed on the website of a particular university, it doesn’t mean participants from other universities are locked out of the competition. Read the terms and conditions of each contest to make sure you are eligible before you participate.
Getting a part-time or work-study jobs
Many universities have work-study programs where students can do simple jobs between classes and earn money for tuition or residency. Work-study programmes are usually very flexible, and they allow students to pick their own hours. The tasks involved are also fairly simple and manageable. They may include organizing offices for professors or putting in a few shifts at the campus cafeteria. If you are a student in need of funds, try to apply for the work-study programme at your school. If you are a graduate student, you may even be able to work as a professor’s assistant.
You can also get a part-time job near your campus to help finance your education. The key is to get a job that doesn’t interfere with your academic work. If you are considering this option, try to get your boss to allow you to take lots of evening and weekend shifts so that you don’t end up missing your classes.
Taking out loans
Many experts advise against student loans, but it remains the last resort for most students when all other options fail. If you have to take a student loan, try to get it from the government instead of private lenders. The Australian Department of Education and Training has several higher education loan programs for students at different levels of study. The government loans can be used to cover tuition fees as well as other college expenses for eligible students.