What does it take to write a scholarship essay for your master’s degree?

The short answer is: a little bit of luck and a lot of hard work. The long answer on the other hand can be summed up in five key points:

1. Knowing why you’re pursuing higher studies: One of the most basic questions you can expect in a scholarship application is “Why do you want to pursue your master’s degree in [insert field of study]?” Staring blankly at that question and feeling like you’ve been sucked into a void is pretty normal, which is why it’s important to spend some time and think deeply about your answer to this question. Resist the urge to Google ‘why should you do a master’s degree’ and instead sit down with yourself in front of a mirror and figure it out. It could vary from wanting to expand your knowledge in a particular field, or to be specialised in it, or trying to start a new career in a different field, or to give yourself more options on the job front. But the common theme here is that it is career related. A master’s degree is ultimately an investment in your future career. Scholarships are primarily designed to give prospective students a chance to pursue their dreams without being limited by any external factor. Scholarship providers therefore want to invest you only if you know why you’re pursuing your dream!
2. Research, research, research: Scholarships are typically provided by governments, schools or universities themselves, or private organisations in the education space. So the first place to check is with your own government; e.g: In India, check out the website of the Department of Higher Education which is available at https://www.education.gov.in/en/scholarships-education-loan-2. If you’re looking to study in a country different than your home country, know that their government probably has scholarships for international students too! So if you’re looking to study in the UK for instance, check out https://www.gov.uk/postgraduate-scholarships-international-students. Government based scholarships are most often full-award scholarships which means that they usually cover tuition fees, accommodation fees, living costs, travel, etc. The next place to look for scholarships is your preferred university’s website. Most universities will have a dedicated funding page which will illustrate all the ways in which scholarships or student loans or bursaries can be obtained. To improve your chances you can apply to a combination of these or all of them!
3. Understanding the scholarship’s objectives: Do ensure to read the terms and conditions attached to each scholarship as you may have to satisfy the eligibility criteria in order to apply. While reading the T&Cs very closely, try to understand what is the underlying objective of the scholarship organisation or provider. This is important because some scholarships are financial/need-based, and others are merit-based. This will impact the way in which your application is reviewed as the metrics for grading will be quite different. Also, the technical requirements for each application may vary: some may require academic recommendation letters, others may require a letter from someone you have worked with. The technicalities will also tell you which universities and courses are eligible for the scholarship, the minimum number of years of work experience, if any, and even terms related to country of origin. Therefore, it is paramount that you spend enough time on the relevant website and view and read all FAQs, videos, blog posts, etc. to familiarise yourself with the scholarship thoroughly.
4. Make a timetable of deadlines: Once you’ve narrowed down all the possible scholarships you are eligible for, you will immediately recognise that several scholarship deadlines often end before the university’s admission process begins! This is because scholarship application processes can run upto a year and therefore start way before most universities’ admissions cycles. On the other hand, some scholarship providers insist that applicants have a confirmed place at their preferred university before applying for aid. It’s a mixed bag. So keeping track of multiple deadlines is crucial to ensure that you give yourself sufficient time to write each application and have it tailor made to suit their individual objectives.
5. Edit, edit, edit: As the objective of each scholarship provider varies, applying a one-size-fits-all mentality to writing scholarship essays may not be a good strategy. An accepted rule of thumb is to spend 2–3 weeks on each application so that it reflects the criteria and goals of a particular scholarship provider. [Hint: starting a couple of months early never hurts!] After writing your first draft of the application essay or personal statement, try to keep it out of sight for a day or two. Getting some distance from the document and returning to the essay with fresh eyes will help you notice errors and mistakes better! After a round of editing, ask your friends or family to have a run at it too. They may not be experts in your field of study, or be academically inclined by any measure — but feedback from a third party will prove very useful to see gaps in the application that you may be blind to! After yet another round of editing, try to source contacts who have pursued higher studies or obtained a scholarship before. They would have undergone the same process as you and may know a thing or two about writing a successful application essay. By the third or fourth round of editing, you will begin to notice a stark improvement between your first and last draft. And when you’re satisfied, go ahead and hit that submit button!