Sheikh Iraj

For any student, a scholarship is a wonderful privilege. It allows many meritorious and gifted students to study further, despite any potential financial difficulties. Besides the financial aid, a scholarship may reshape a student’s whole outlook on learning. Obtaining a scholarship can also be a matter of prestige as it proves one’s ability.
If you Google the word scholarship, this is probably what you will see on your screen _ a grant or payment made to support a student’s education, awarded on the basis of academic or other achievement. In today’s world, the cost of education is getting more and more expensive, especially in private universities or overseas. Scholarships can certainly help reduce the financial burden and allow one to pursue his or her studies of choice. This week, Y&I spoke with some universities, cultural centres, foreign education representatives, and students to find out about scholarships on offer.    
Dhaka University

Dhaka University provides more than 358 different scholarships of different categories for its students, depending on their results and other requirements. Most departments of the university provide three or four scholarships, including different dean’s awards, to students who are eligible. For example, DU Mass Communication and Journalism department provides three scholarships. Among them, Sitara Parvin scholarship is given to the top 10 students after considering their results, while Ataus Samad and Abdus Salam scholarships are awarded to Masters students, considering their results and family condition. Besides that, students are often awarded gold medals by different departments or faculties of the university for their brilliant results.

University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh

ULAB offers scholarships in 15 different categories, ranging from 10 to 100 per cent, to its newly enrolled students. It offers 100 per cent scholarship for students with GPA 5.0 (without 4th subject) in SSC and HSC examinations, or 5 A grades in O-Level exams and 2 A grades in A-Levels. A 40 per cent scholarship is provided to students who have attained GPA 5.0 (with 4th subject) in both SSC and HSC examinations.  Moreover, 10 to 20 per cent scholarship is provided based on previous academic results, ranging from a GPA of 3.50-4.99 in SSC and HSC or O’ Level and A’ Level exams. It provides an additional 10 per cent scholarship to each female student.

BRACU University

Since its inception in 2001, the University has awarded more than 200 scholarships and other financial support to academically meritorious students from ultra poor families who could not otherwise afford to attend the university. These students receive complete tuition waiver with a monthly stipend for living expenses. Preference is given to ethnic, minority group, women and students with disabilities. The following are the few categories of scholarships (tuition based waivers) that can be availed by BRACU students: performance based scholarship 10 to100 per cent; merit based scholarship up to 100 per cent; BRAC scholarship 100 per cent; needs based scholarship up to 100 per cent, physically challenged scholarship up to 100 per cent; and children of freedom fighter scholarship up to 100 per cent.

United International University

UIU offers undergraduate students 25 per cent to 50 per cent tuition fee waiver based on HSC and A-Level results, and graduate students 25 per cent tuition fee waiver based on previous exams results. Based on  trimester results, UIU  also offers scholarships to top 20 per cent students programme wise. Among the 20 per cent, the top 4 per cent of students get 100 per cent, the next 6 per cent get 50 per cent and remaining 10 per cent get 25 per cent scholarships. Besides this, UIU offers MDS students working in government, semi-government or NGOs 40 per cent tuition fee waiver, Students get 100 per cent tuition fee waiver in freedom fighter category.

Daffodil International University

DIU offers a wide range of scholarships or waiver programmes for students. In every semester, around 17 per cent students enjoy tuition fee waiver. Students who receive scholarships have to maintain a minimum SGPA 3.00 (out of 4) in each semester, said Kamrun Nahar Aziz, senior assistant registrar, DIU. DIU provides scholarship or waiver programmes in different categories, like result of HSC/equivalent, minor ethnic group or tribal and freedom fighter’s quota, player’s quota, female quota, need-based scholarships, etc. Physically-challenged students get 25 per cent tuition fee waiver. Students also get waiver from 10 to 50 per cent on the basis of their results in the previous semester. Beside these, DIU also provides Professor Dr M Lutfar Rahman Scholarship, Razia Begum Scholarship and Younus Khan Scholarship.

Russian Centre of Science & Culture

The Russian government offers 50 scholarships in different subjects for Bangladeshi students, said Syed Bazlul Hossain, In-charge Education Secretary, Russian Centre of Science & Culture. “These 50 scholarships are issued and supervised by the Russian Education Ministry and we assist them on the matter. They give 20 scholarships in Nuclear Engineering and the rest are given in other subjects. Fifteen scholarships are offered for undergraduates and 15  for postgraduate level. The scholarships are given based on students’ SSC and HSC results, but proficiency in Russian language is also taken into consideration. We organise a seminar on the last working day of every month, and give advertisements in newspapers. Students primarily come to know about the scholarships from those. Students can also go online and find out about the scholarships if they want,” Hossain said.

High Commission of India

Jishnu Prasanna Mukherjee, First Secretary of Education, High Commission of India, said: “We offer ICCR scholarships in all disciplines, except in medicine. Scholarships are offered for undergraduate, postgraduate and for research based education. We hand out a considerable number of scholarships. When we give notification for scholarships, Bangladeshi students can go online and apply for those. Many aspects are considered before giving a scholarship. For example, last year students with GPA 3.5 and their working knowledge of the English language were taken into consideration.”
Scholarship schemes offered by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) to pursue academic courses in various universities in India include India Scholarship Scheme, Bangladesh Scholarship Scheme, SAARC Scholarship Scheme, Commonwealth Scholarship Scheme and Ayush Scholarship Scheme (for Indian traditional medicine systems such as Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy), according to the High Commission’s website.
Besides, under its self-financing scheme, the Ministry of External Affairs of India offers a few seats every year for BE, B Pharmacy and MBBS / BDS to Bangladeshi students. Scholarships are also available for direct descendants of Muktijoddhas (freedom fighters) for undergraduate and higher secondary studies.

Campus Front

Campus Front works in higher education as an agent for the French Embassy in Bangladesh, in collaboration with Alliance Française de Dhaka (AFD). Campus Front assists anyone who wants to study in France through seminars and counselling. It also helps students to apply for scholarships, said Kazi Ashraf Uddin, Agent, Campus Front. “In general, the French government offers one scholarship, and that is the Eiffel Scholarship. It’s open for all undergraduate or postgraduate students. Erasmus Mundus scholarship is another which is actually offered by the European Commission. A student can get a multi-university experience through this scholarship, as they get to study in different universities across Europe. They can also study in some French universities through this scholarship. We get many students who apply for this. Besides students’ GPA (grade point average), their role in social service and participation in extracurricular activities are checked for consideration during the application process. The good news is that the French government is thinking to double its education promotion funding, this means more scholarships for students,” Ashraf Uddin said.

Confucius Institute at North South University

Mahadi Mamun, Department Secretary, Confucius Institute at North South University, said, “Our institute is open for anyone who wants to learn Chinese culture and language. We normally assist with three common scholarships: Chinese government scholarship, Confucius Institute scholarship and South Asian Teachers programme. They are available for all levels of education. We are going to attend the Global Conference in China this year and there, we will decide if the number of scholarships will increase or not. I can say that if you apply for scholarships in China, please make sure all your necessary papers are in the right order, because that’s really important”.

EducationUSA at EMK Center

Susan Rahmatullah, adviser at EducationUSA, said: “The USA government offers a fellowship programme to bright students. Students have to compete really hard and only a few get it. On the other hand, different American universities offer merit, minority, sports and extracurricular-based scholarships. There are scholarships available for all levels of education, along with research assistantship and teacher assistantship. EducationUSA is directly supported by the US Department of State. We regularly conduct seminars from where students can get valuable information. I counsel students one on one, and most of them are very interested to know about scholarship opportunities in the USA”.   

British Council

For the last 66 years, over 1,600 Bangladeshi citizens have been awarded Commonwealth Scholarships by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) in the UK to pursue postgraduate study and professional development with British institutions. The British Council and the University Grants Commission in Bangladesh have been supporting this scheme in coordination with the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU). The schemes offer Bangladeshi nationals PhD, Master’s, Split-Site Doctoral, Shared Master’s and Distance Learning Master’s study opportunities.
Besides, British Council IELTS Scholarships are awarded to assist more students to access overseas education. Five applicants for an undergraduate or postgraduate programme with an IELTS recognised organisation overseas receive scholarships worth BDT 300,000 each. Students applying to higher education institutions in Australia, USA, UK and other countries may apply for this scheme.
Furthermore, Equity and Merit Scholarships of The University of Manchester support Bangladeshi students, specifically those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to study in the UK. The scholarships are jointly funded by the University of Manchester and its alumni. In addition, the Charles Wallace Professional Visits Programme aids mid-career professionals to undertake three-week to three-month visits in the UK to broaden their professional knowledge, skills, and contacts.
Also, Chevening Scholarships are awarded to outstanding emerging leaders to pursue a one-year master’s degree at any UK university. The scholarship offers financial support along with the opportunity to become part of the influential Chevening global network. Chevening is funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and partner organisations.

Nahid Kaizer

I took admission at Daffodil International University for my undergraduate study in 2014. I come from a middle-class family, so the university costs were always at the back of my mind. I wanted to work and share some of the cost of my education. But I had a bike accident and I was not physically fit to work for long hours. Then one of my teachers told me about the needs based waiver programme. I applied and got a 40 per cent tuition waiver. That really helped me and my family. I think students need to try for scholarships. Simply just by knowing the process, one can learn a lot.

Hosain-Al Musanna

I took admission at United International University in EEE department. Just like any other student from a middle-class family, the cost of education was one of my major concerns. Based on my semester result I got a scholarship, where 50 per cent of my tuition cost was waived.  After getting the scholarship, I really feel motivated now. I am studying hard to do even better in my result, so I can get more scholarships.

 Noirit Mustapha and Anisur Rahman contributed to this article.
Photos: Courtesy, Internet