Scholarships generally fall into a few broad categories, and understanding which type you are looking at changes how you should prepare.

Merit-Based Scholarships

Awarded based on academic achievement, test scores, or a specific talent. These are the most competitive, but eligibility is usually the clearest to check upfront.

Need-Based Scholarships

Awarded based on demonstrated financial need. These often require documentation of your financial situation, not just your grades.

Country- or Region-Specific Scholarships

Many scholarships are only open to applicants from specific countries or regions. Always check this first — it is the fastest way to rule out scholarships that are not actually available to you, no matter how strong your application would be.

Field-of-Study Scholarships

Tied to a specific subject, like engineering, public health, or education. These often want to see genuine, demonstrated interest in the field, not just good grades.

On our own Scholarships page, every listing shows its funding type clearly, so you can filter to the ones that actually match your situation.