About Free Scholarships for People in Developing Countries

One of the definitions of a developing country includes the lack of adequate educational resources to prepare students to provide necessary services and opportunities for the country's residents. Men and women wishing to obtain the education necessary to help their country grow need to seek schooling, often far from home. Fortunately, many developed or advancing countries and their governments, or other organizations, provide scholarships for students from developing countries to attend college and obtain advanced degrees.

History

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, developed countries began to recognize that maintaining control of their colonies in Africa, Asia and South America could not be managed strictly by providing skilled professionals from home. Education of "natives," in colonial language and customs became a necessity--first, to provide adequate servants for colonial adminstrators, and, gradually, to provide services for the health and well-being of colonial subjects. Training teachers, health-care workers and local administrators became even more important as colonial countries sought their freedom.

Widespread disestablishment of colonial rule and the emerging independence of former colonies reached its peak in the 1960s. The conflicts accompanying new independence destroyed many old and inadequate educational institutions, and the emergence and reorganization of independence continues to plague many civil institutions, from education to health-care to agriculture to financial management in many countries to this day.

Men and women seeking the educational tools needed to help their countries advance must often go far afield. Developed countries, sometimes former colonial powers, have addressed the needs of developing countries by providing scholarship funds for those seeking to improve life at home.

Types

Some scholarship funds are relatively free of restrictions, providing both tuition and a living stipend for students from developing countries. Others have geographic restrictions: Commonwealth Scholarships are limited to residents of British Commonwealth countries. World Bank Scholarships require that students reside in countries that participate in the World Bank community.

Fields of study may also be limited by needs of the student's country, because it is assumed that students will take their skills home to use. Funding may also be limited, to masters' level degrees or PhD thesis-completion, so as to help as many students as possible.

Scholarships also remain scholarships: awards and support for previous academic achievement and demonstrable potential.
Other forms of financial aid, such as grants and fellowships, may require proof of previous service to the community, work during the period of support for study, or work to repay funding once a degree is obtained.

Function

Limitations are understandable--a developing country is by definition greatly in need of returning residents able to apply their education to practical and often devastating problems. One seeking support will, however, find scholarships available in a very wide variety of areas, from economics to information technology to health care and health policy. Knowledge of local issues accompanied by a larger sense of national needs may stimulate students to broaden their focus when seeking educational support. For example, while it is clear that a local community could use a good elementary school teacher, a student might also consider the other roles a teacher could play in community health care, improving crop development and nutrition, or developing other residents' skills into an income-producing economic cooperative.

Geography

The strongest sources of educational support for students from developing countries are found in the United States, the British Commonwealth, The Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Finland and other European countries. Switzerland offers scholarships through "UN University." Norway, Australia, and Japan offer extensive outreach to students.

Advancing countries also offer programs for students from developing countries. China has programs specifically focused at students from African countries. Cuba's medical training programs include students from many countries; recently, Cuba has created a special scholarship program for students from Pakistan.

Time Frame

Students from developing countries should expect to devote considerable time to searching for scholarships. Online resources provide good initial information; see the websites listed below as a starting point.

Different programs have different requirements, but all share some common documentation needs. Most programs will want to see all your educational records, or as many as you can make available. Recommendation letters should focus both on personal character and educational and community accomplishments. Some programs will want documentation of work in your community focused on your planned area of study. All programs take particular interest in how you plan to apply your completed education.

Potential

The more a student researches ways to apply her education, the more options she is likely to find.

Congratulations on your dedication to improving the world around you. May you obtain the support you need to help your community and your country.

Resources

• Broad list of scholarships in many countries
• Britains' Department for International Development's Commonwealth Scholarship Program
• Explanation of a variety of scholarship opportunities