A lot of people are now seeing the need for education, which will enable them in their career prospects and even increase their income potential. Also, people are seeing the need to study abroad, even older individuals.
But, the idea of returning to school as an older student can be overwhelming, especially when you consider the cost of tuition and other educational expenses, which is worse for international students. Not to mention that you also have your family to take care of.
Fortunately, there are some scholarships for international students over 40 years that intend to pursue a degree in a foreign country. Depending on your grade, and other basic requirements, you can be eligible for one or more awards.
You can also be eligible for some subject-related financial assistance like environmental science scholarships or even fashion scholarships. These scholarships can help you to easily access your desired degree in a more affordable approach, which also helps to boost your career advancement.
Table of Contents
Scholarships for International Students Over 40
1. Goldsmiths, University of London: Mature Students Scholarship
This mature student scholarship is worth £3,000 annually for an undergraduate degree program or £3,000 for one year of your PGCE program at Goldsmiths. The scholarship is awarded to up to 10 students and you need to be over the age of 25 to qualify.
2. KUCSA Mature Student Award
This is one of the scholarships for international students over 40 years that is provided by the King’s University College Staff Association. The scholarship is awarded to students in their 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year full-time or part-time with a minimum 70% average in the previous Fall/Winter term.
Whether you’re a Canadian citizen or an international student, you can apply, and the scholarship is worth $500. KUSCA will give preference to students that can balance work, life, and education.
3. Adult Students in Scholastic Transition
The Adult Students in Scholastic Transition is awarded to different kinds of international mature students, and the scholarships are awarded by Executive Women International. The scholarship is worth between US$2,000 to US$10,000 for the benefit of non-traditional students pursuing an associate, bachelor’s, or master’s degree, or a certification program at an accredited educational institution.
4. The Fulbright Scholar Program
The Fulbright Foreign Student Program operates in more than 160 countries worldwide, and approximately 4,000 foreign students receive Fulbright scholarships each year. This scholarship is open for both young and mature international students, including students that are above 40.
The scholarship will cover your round-trip airfare to the U.S., a settling-in allowance, a monthly stipend, a housing allowance, a books-and-supplies allowance, a computer allowance, and health insurance. Candidates need to be Doctoral or Ph.D. students who have completed a significant amount of their doctoral program in their home country university and have the endorsement of their home institution.
5. The Open Society Foundations Grants and Fellowships
This foundation awards different scholarships for international students over 40 annually, but you need to share Open Society values to be eligible. Some of their grants and Fellowships include;
- Open Society Initiative for Eastern Africa
- Leadership in Government Fellowship
- Soros Arts Fellowship
- Soros Equality Fellowship
6. The Rotary Peace Fellowship
Every year Rotary awards fully funded fellowships for dedicated leaders from around the world to study at one of their peace centers. The scholarship goes as far as covering tuition and fees, room and board, round-trip transportation, and internship and field-study expenses.
There are up to 50 fellowships for master’s degrees and up to 40 for certificate studies at premier universities.
7. The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program
To be eligible for this award, you need to be from one of the 160 eligible countries, have relevant professional experience and a history of supporting your countries’ development efforts, and need to be applying to a master’s degree program in a development-related topic. You also need to be in one of the 27 eligible universities in the U.S., Europe, Africa, Oceania, and Japan in key areas of development, including economic policy management, tax policy, and infrastructure management.
8. The DAAD Scholarships
Annually, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) provides more than 100,000 scholarships to German and international students and researchers around the globe – making it the world’s largest funding organization of its kind.
You need to either be pursuing a graduate, doctoral, or post-doc degree to be eligible.
And, you can be 40 and above to apply.
9. The Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Annually, Gates Cambridge offers 80 full-cost scholarships to outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK to pursue a postgraduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge. Approximately, two-thirds of these awards will be offered to Ph.D. students, with approximately 25 awards available in the US round and 55 available in the International round.
Besides the full tuition money that this scholarship will cover, it’ll also cover a maintenance allowance for a single student (more than £18,000 for 12 months), one economy single airfare at both the beginning and end of the course, inbound visa costs & the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge.
Conclusion
Please note that most of these scholarships don’t necessarily indicate that it is available for students above 40, but no age gap makes you qualify regardless of your age. Also, most of them are very competitive, especially those that are fully funded.
Author’s Recommendations
.
.
.
.