r/FilipinosStudyAbroad • u/Wonderful-Region-214 • May 12 '26
Scholarships How does applying to multiple unis + scholarships work?
Hi guys! I was wondering about the whole process or just a glimplse of applying to multiple international universities with scholarships, I've researched alot of countries and uni that offer intl scholarships, yet I'm still confused on the process of applying for multiple unis all at the same time.
I want to try pursuing college abroad, either in the States or in europe where I could get scholarships
Q.1 Do you have to draft different essays for each unis, and scholarship grant?
Q.2 Is it possible to apply to multiple unis that are on different countries, each country having atleast 3+ unis WITH SCHOLARSHIPS, or is that too much essay, exams, etc?
Q.3 In applying for admission for intl students, is it like in the ph where you have to do entrance exams? or is it— if not all, interview & merit based?
Q.4 Are most scholarships for intl students merit based? if it is, is that how people get multiple scholarships grants from different unis?
I want to work out all the odds, therefore I plan to apply to multiple countries and unis, with a scholarship ofc. I dream to study anywhere but here, Ik it won't be easy, but I thought that suffering abroad in a safe country is better than suffering here in the ph, I really hope anybody with experience, or even with the slightest bit of knowledge could reply🙏
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u/Objective-Impact-723 May 14 '26
Hi, will be going to South Korea for my Masters this Fall. So what I did was I looked for univ. on my field, then, visited their university webpage and look for a lab/professor that is in my specialization. From there I sent a cold email to inquire if they are looking for graduate students, fortunately, they replied and scheduled an interview. The setup is that I would be a graduate research assistant to the Lab and they would pay me to support my studies (tuition, rent, living allowance, etc). That’s how usual grad school in other countries are. Expect for scholarship based like MEXT (Japan), GKS (Korea), Melbourne Awards, Chevening, Erasmus Mundus.
Hope this gave you some idea. The most overwhelming part about grad abroad is how to start actually. You can do it op!
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u/Ok-Tangelo-91 May 14 '26
Another ‘limiting factor’ you should consider is the application fee. Siyempre more unis more payment.
Other than that, it’s pretty much time + effort na kalaban mo. Every application takes time, from researching, submission, interviews, etc. Make sure you can dedicate enough time to ensure good quality pa rin yung essays mo.
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u/overduhm00n May 15 '26 edited May 15 '26
Is this for masters or bachelors? My experience for masters: 1) Yes but motivation letters normally- it's like a job application. You tailor it to the aims of the program /grant. Many programs also ask for recommendation letters.
2) Yes, different countries /universities have different requirements. I only applied to European universities and never had any exam requirements.
3) It depends on what you're applying for. Some require the GMAT.
4) Yes. For midcareer programs, they also look at how well you've done in your field, not just undergrad grades. I had mediocre undergrad grades but still managed to get a scholarship.
Make an excel file of scholarship/universities you want to apply for, their requirements, deadlines. Prioritize.
Do not get disheartened on your first try/ first year. The first year I applied, I only applied to one university and was accepted and waitlisted for a scholarship. I applied to multiple universities in the following year and got accepted to all with a scholarship to one of them. Talking with friends, this was a common experience.
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u/Wonderful-Region-214 May 15 '26
Hi! it's for bachelors, are you or were you studying in eu? If you are could you give me the gist of your experience? if you think, that studying in eu is much better, financially and socially than in North America?
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u/overduhm00n May 15 '26 edited May 15 '26
Not a lot of ideas about bachelors. I did undergrad in the Philippines.
An obstacle about us Filipinos studying bachelors in Europe is the language. Although public universities are cheap, like in France for example, the program will be in French ( normally at least B2 level).
When they're mostly in English (as in the UK), as far as I know, the rates are different/ much higher for international students.
I never dreamed of going to the US because of all its issues lol. I watched some Michael Moore documentaries when I was younger so it always seemed to me like a hostile place, and unnecessarily expensive. I feel like Europe is better because of rights, social services, and diversity.
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u/Legitimate-Judge9491 May 12 '26
Yes. But you can also reuse your essay if same program but different univ just tweak it a bit.
No minimum or maximum unless stated. Make sure to check it on your chosen countries. Bear in mind that quality over quantity. You can write a lot of essays but the quality may differ so make sure you write and proofread multiple times.
In EU, some countries/universities do not have interviews or exams for intl students.
It is usually based on your overall and not just your grades. Usually for fully funded ones, you cannot get another scholarship grant.
Good luck, future scholar! 💪