Scholarships are a great way to provide financial support and motivate students to study. Scholarships usually cover the costs of a degree, be it an undergraduate degree or a doctorate course. In some cases, scholarships are simply a one-time check. Moreover, there are also various types of scholarships by different providers, like the state or even independent providers. Read on to find some of the best national scholarships and their providers.

National Merit Scholarship

The National Merit Scholarship is one of the more popular scholarships that are awarded to students all over the country. The Washington State University (WSU) scans roughly 1.6 million students per year, but only 7,500 students are awarded. To be eligible for this scholarship, students have to undergo various rounds of tests and clear each with the highest scores. After clearing the tests, students get around $2500 for their college expenses. The annual deadline for the application is 31st January. Students can see more information on the official website.

Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship

If you’re looking for funding to study internationally, you may want to look at the Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship. This scholarship is awarded by the Benjamin Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. This is mainly for undergraduate students looking to travel and study abroad. Since its inception, the Benjamin A. Gilman scholarship has helped over 125,000 students with approximately $5000. The scholarship is open for various subjects, and the deadline for the application is usually in March.

Fulbright Scholarship

If a full scholarship is what you seek, you may want to apply for the Full Bright Scholarship. The late Senator J. William Fulbright introduced this scholarship after World War II. The idea was to encourage students from around the world to get the education that they deserve. Not to mention, the program also allows students to travel internationally under the exchange student program. This promotes cultural exchange, diversity, equality, and inclusivity. Every year, over 8000 individuals (including students, teachers, professionals, and scholars) are awarded this scholarship. The Fulbright scholarship covers a wide range of subjects and usually pays for tuition fees, textbook costs, monthly maintenance, and a range of other expenses.

Marshall Scholarship

If you’re looking to study in the United Kingdom, you can apply for the Marshall Scholarship program offered by the Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission. The scholarship was founded in 1954, and it has been awarding up to 50 scholars annually. Students and scholars can choose universities that are partnered with the scholarship. They can complete a Doctorate program of their choice at an affiliated university. The scholarship is only open to US citizens who have a four-year degree along with a minimum 3.7 GPA. The program covers university fees, cost of living, and book and thesis grants. It also provides support for research and travel purposes. The program is tenable for two years but can also be extended for a third year if approved by the Commission.

TEACH Scholarship

The TEACH Scholarship, also known as the Teacher Education and Compensation Helps, offers aid to those interested in becoming early care educators. Individuals can apply to this program if they are looking for assistance to obtain an Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree with other certifications in early childhood education. The Florida Office of Early Learning funds the TEACH program, and it collaborates with 60+ universities and colleges. Individuals can get great coverage, including a major portion of the tuition costs.

Critical Language Scholarship

Those interested in learning new languages can opt for the Critical Language Scholarship(CLS) offered by the US Department of State. The scholarship is a summer study abroad program for students to travel to a country of their choice and learn the native languages. The idea is to encourage students to learn and master different languages and promote cultural exchange and diversity. The CLS program covers 15 critical languages, including Persian, Portuguese, Korean, Punjabi, and Hindi. In some cases, the language may require 1-2 years of study along with formal classroom activity prior to admission. The program covers the cost of travel, visa application fees, entrance fees, and even language assessment fees, among other costs. It does cover US passport fees or medical review costs.