Applying for one or two scholarships may not be enough to secure funding for international study. But applying for dozens without carefully checking eligibility can waste time and produce weak applications. Here is a practical guide to the number of scholarships international students should target, how to build a balanced scholarship portfolio and how to increase the chances of receiving funding.
For international students, finding a scholarship can sometimes feel like a numbers game. You may see hundreds of scholarship opportunities online and wonder:
Should I apply for 5 scholarships, 10, 20 or even 50?
There is no universal number. The right number depends on your academic qualifications, study level, country, field of study, financial situation, scholarship competitiveness and how much time you can dedicate to preparing quality applications.
However, for an average international student, a target of 10–15 carefully selected scholarship opportunities per application cycle can be a reasonable starting point.
Highly organised applicants may apply to 15–25 or more, particularly when applying to university-based awards with similar documentation requirements.
The important principle is:
Apply widely, but never sacrifice application quality for quantity.
The Recommended Scholarship Application Range
A practical strategy is to divide your applications into three groups.
| Scholarship category | Recommended number |
|---|---|
| Highly competitive “dream” scholarships | 3–5 |
| Realistic/competitive scholarships | 5–8 |
| Safer or more achievable funding opportunities | 3–7 |
| Total target | 10–20 |
This does not mean that every student must submit 20 applications.
Someone with a very specialised profile may find only five genuinely suitable scholarships.
Another student applying for undergraduate study in the United States may have dozens of university scholarships available.
EducationUSA’s financial-aid database illustrates this variety, with hundreds of opportunities that can be filtered by degree level and other criteria.
Why Applying to Only One Scholarship Is Risky
One of the biggest mistakes students make is choosing a single prestigious scholarship and treating it as their only route to studying abroad.
Consider a student applying for:
- Chevening;
- Erasmus Mundus;
- DAAD;
- Commonwealth;
- A university scholarship.
If the student applies to only one and is unsuccessful, the entire study-abroad plan may be delayed by another year.
Scholarships are highly competitive.
Even an academically excellent applicant can lose because another candidate has:
- More relevant work experience;
- Stronger leadership achievements;
- Better research experience;
- A more convincing personal statement;
- A stronger programme fit;
- A more relevant professional background.
Therefore, a portfolio approach is usually safer.
The 10–15 Scholarship Strategy
For many students, 10–15 carefully selected applications provide a good balance between opportunity and workload.
A student could structure the applications like this:
3 highly competitive scholarships
These are the scholarships you would love to win but know are extremely competitive.
Examples might include:
- Chevening;
- Lester B. Pearson;
- Gates Cambridge;
- Rhodes;
- Schwarzman Scholars.
5 realistic scholarships
These should closely match your academic profile, nationality, degree level and professional background.
2–4 university scholarships
These may be attached to admission applications or automatically considered once you apply.
2–3 backup funding opportunities
These could include:
- Partial tuition scholarships;
- Faculty awards;
- Research assistantships;
- Graduate assistantships;
- Smaller external grants.
This gives you multiple potential routes to funding rather than relying on a single award.
The Difference Between Scholarship Applications and University Applications
Students should also understand that one university application can sometimes put you in consideration for several scholarships.
For example, some universities automatically assess admitted students for certain merit awards.
Others require a separate scholarship application.
This means you should not simply count the number of scholarship forms you submit.
Instead, track:
Universities + scholarships + funding amount + eligibility + deadline.
That provides a much clearer picture of your overall strategy.
Undergraduate Students Should Apply More Broadly
Undergraduate international students often have fewer large government scholarships than master’s students.
However, universities can offer:
- Merit scholarships;
- Presidential scholarships;
- International student scholarships;
- Tuition waivers;
- Need-based financial aid;
- Faculty awards;
- Full-tuition scholarships.
Some are highly competitive, while others may be awarded automatically based on academic performance.
For example, EducationUSA lists university-specific opportunities for international undergraduates, including full-tuition awards. One listed example is the Johnson & Wales University Global Full Tuition Scholarship for qualifying international undergraduate applicants.
Recommended target for undergraduate students
10–20 scholarship and funding opportunities
This can include university scholarships, external awards and financial-aid opportunities.
Master’s Students Should Focus More on Scholarship Fit
Master’s applicants often have access to major government and university-funded programmes.
Potential opportunities can include:
- Chevening;
- Erasmus Mundus;
- Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships;
- DAAD;
- Australia Awards;
- Fulbright programmes;
- University scholarships;
- Research scholarships;
- Graduate assistantships.
However, master’s scholarships frequently have specific requirements relating to:
- Work experience;
- Leadership;
- Academic background;
- Research interests;
- Development impact;
- Professional goals.
Therefore, applying to 30 unrelated scholarships is usually less effective than applying to 10–15 programmes where your profile is genuinely relevant.
The 70/20/10 Scholarship Portfolio
One useful strategy is to divide your applications into three levels.
70% — Realistic opportunities
Spend most of your effort on scholarships where your profile strongly matches the eligibility requirements.
For example:
7 out of 10 applications
should ideally be realistic opportunities.
20% — Highly competitive opportunities
These are the prestigious scholarships that attract exceptional applicants worldwide.
For example:
2 out of 10 applications
could be very ambitious choices.
10% — Backup funding
Use the remaining applications for:
- Partial scholarships;
- University awards;
- Tuition discounts;
- Smaller grants;
- Assistantships.
This creates a more balanced funding strategy.
The “Scholarship Funnel” Method
Another effective approach is to start with a large list and gradually reduce it.
Stage 1 — Research
Find 30–50 potential scholarships.
At this stage, do not worry about applying.
Simply collect opportunities that appear relevant.
Stage 2 — Eligibility screening
Remove scholarships where you do not meet:
- Nationality requirements;
- Age requirements;
- Degree requirements;
- Academic requirements;
- Field-of-study requirements;
- Work-experience requirements;
- Language requirements.
You may reduce the list to:
15–25 scholarships.
Stage 3 — Quality assessment
Examine:
- Funding level;
- University;
- Course compatibility;
- Deadline;
- Competition;
- Required documents;
- Scholarship objectives.
Reduce the list further to:
10–15 strong opportunities.
Stage 4 — Application
Now invest serious time in each application.
This is where quality matters most.
Why 50 Applications May Be Worse Than 10 Good Ones
A student might proudly say:
“I applied for 50 scholarships.”
But that does not necessarily mean they have a better chance of winning.
If the applications were rushed, copied, poorly researched or submitted without meeting the eligibility requirements, the number becomes almost meaningless.
For example, submitting the same personal statement to 20 scholarships can be counterproductive.
Scholarship committees want to see that applicants understand:
- The scholarship;
- The university;
- The programme;
- The organisation;
- The scholarship’s objectives;
- Their own future goals.
One Application Should Not Be Copied Into Another
Students should create a master scholarship profile, but customise each application.
Your master profile can contain:
- Personal background;
- Academic achievements;
- Leadership experience;
- Employment history;
- Volunteering;
- Research;
- Awards;
- Career goals;
- Community impact;
- Future plans.
You can then adapt these experiences to each scholarship.
This is much faster than starting from zero every time.
Build a Scholarship Application Calendar
Deadlines are one of the biggest reasons students lose scholarship opportunities.
Create a spreadsheet containing:
| Scholarship | Country | Level | Deadline | Funding | Documents | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scholarship A | UK | Master’s | October | Full | 6 | Drafting |
| Scholarship B | Canada | Undergraduate | November | Full | 5 | Not started |
| Scholarship C | Germany | Master’s | December | Full | 7 | Preparing |
| Scholarship D | Australia | Master’s | January | Full | 6 | Researching |
Update the spreadsheet every week.
This prevents you from discovering a deadline after spending weeks preparing for a scholarship.
Apply Before the Deadline Instead of On the Deadline
Do not make the deadline your personal submission date.
If a scholarship closes on October 31, try to complete it several days earlier.
Technical problems can occur.
Documents can take longer than expected.
Recommendation letters can be delayed.
Universities may require additional documents.
Some scholarship systems also close automatically when the deadline passes.
Chevening, for example, states that application extensions are not granted.
Therefore, applicants should treat official deadlines as final deadlines, not target dates.
Keep Your Recommendation Letters Ready
Many scholarship applications require recommendation letters.
Instead of asking recommenders repeatedly for completely different letters, provide them with:
- Your CV;
- Academic transcript;
- Scholarship description;
- Course information;
- Your career goals;
- Important achievements;
- Submission deadline.
This makes it easier for them to prepare meaningful recommendations.
Keep a Reusable Scholarship Document Folder
Create a folder containing:
01 — CV
02 — Academic Transcript
03 — Degree Certificate
04 — Passport
05 — Recommendation Letters
06 — Personal Statement
07 — Research Proposal
08 — Certificates
09 — English Test Results
10 — Scholarship Spreadsheet
This can significantly reduce the time required to apply for multiple opportunities.
Do Not Apply for Scholarships You Cannot Accept
Another important part of scholarship strategy is checking whether the award actually works for your situation.
Before applying, confirm:
- The scholarship accepts your nationality;
- Your degree level is eligible;
- Your intended course is eligible;
- Your preferred university is eligible;
- The scholarship covers enough of your costs;
- You can meet the visa requirements;
- You can satisfy any return-home obligations;
- You understand restrictions on other funding.
Some scholarships have specific rules about receiving other financial awards.
For example, Chevening generally does not permit scholars to have more than one sponsor without disclosure, and additional funding can affect the Chevening award.
Five Scholarships Can Be Better Than Twenty
There are situations where applying to only five scholarships is actually a smart decision.
For example, suppose you are applying for a highly specialised master’s programme and only five major scholarships match:
- Your nationality;
- Your academic background;
- Your field;
- Your age;
- Your work experience;
- Your preferred study destination.
Applying to five excellent opportunities is better than forcing yourself to submit applications to 20 unrelated programmes.
Relevance beats volume.
Twenty Scholarships Can Be Better Than Five
Conversely, students applying for undergraduate admission may find many university-specific scholarships.
In that case, applying to 15–20 opportunities can make sense.
For example, US universities can have separate scholarships and financial-aid opportunities for international students, and EducationUSA maintains a searchable financial-aid database.
The student’s strategy should therefore depend on the available scholarship ecosystem.
The Ideal Number Depends on Your Study Level
Undergraduate applicants
Recommended target: 10–20
Focus on:
- University scholarships;
- Merit awards;
- Need-based aid;
- Full-tuition scholarships;
- Government scholarships.
Master’s applicants
Recommended target: 8–15
Focus on:
- Government scholarships;
- University scholarships;
- Research funding;
- Graduate assistantships;
- Leadership scholarships.
PhD applicants
Recommended target: 5–15
For doctoral applicants, fewer highly targeted applications can be more effective because funding is often tied to:
- Research projects;
- Supervisors;
- Departments;
- Research grants;
- Specific academic positions.
The Biggest Scholarship Mistakes to Avoid
Applying without checking eligibility
Do not apply simply because the scholarship says “international students.”
International eligibility can be restricted by nationality, region or programme.
Applying after the deadline
Late applications are generally not accepted.
Using one generic essay everywhere
Customisation matters.
Applying only to famous scholarships
Prestigious scholarships are often extremely competitive.
Include less-publicised university awards.
Ignoring partial scholarships
A €10,000 award may not be fully funded, but it can significantly reduce the cost of studying abroad.
Paying agents to guarantee scholarships
No legitimate scholarship can be guaranteed simply because someone charges you a fee.
Applying to programmes that do not match your career
Your scholarship and degree choices should make sense as part of your long-term academic and professional plan.
The Best Strategy Is to Build a Scholarship Portfolio
Think of your applications like an investment portfolio.
You would not put all your money into one investment.
Similarly, you should not put your entire international-study plan into one scholarship.
A balanced portfolio might look like this:
3 dream scholarships
5 realistic scholarships
4 university scholarships
3 backup funding opportunities
= 15 targeted applications
This approach provides breadth without turning your scholarship search into an exhausting numbers competition.
How Much Time Should You Spend on Each Scholarship?
There is no fixed amount of time, because applications differ considerably.
A straightforward university scholarship may require only:
- Admission application;
- Transcript;
- CV;
- Short essay.
A major government scholarship may require:
- Multiple essays;
- Professional experience;
- References;
- Research proposal;
- Course selection;
- Detailed career plan;
- Additional documentation.
Therefore, your time should follow the scholarship’s complexity and potential value.
A practical approach is to give your highest-value and highest-fit scholarships the most attention.
A Monthly Scholarship Application Plan
Students can organise their year into phases.
Phase 1 — Research
Identify 30–50 possible opportunities.
Phase 2 — Screening
Reduce the list to approximately 15–25.
Phase 3 — Preparation
Prepare documents and essays.
Phase 4 — Applications
Submit your strongest 10–15 applications.
Phase 5 — Follow-up
Monitor:
- Emails;
- Interviews;
- Additional document requests;
- Admission decisions;
- Scholarship results.
Phase 6 — Decision
Compare the offers based on:
- Total funding;
- Tuition;
- Living costs;
- Visa conditions;
- University quality;
- Programme relevance;
- Career opportunities.
What an Average International Student Should Aim For
For most students, the following is a practical benchmark:
Minimum target
5–8 well-matched scholarships
This is better than relying on a single application.
Recommended target
10–15 scholarships
This provides a good balance between opportunity and application quality.
Aggressive target
15–25 scholarships
This can work for highly organised applicants who have several compatible opportunities and can customise each application.
Not recommended
30–50 rushed applications
Large numbers are not useful if most applications are weak or poorly matched.
The 10-Scholarship Challenge
Students who are overwhelmed by scholarship searches can start with a simple goal:
Find 10 scholarships that genuinely match your profile.
For each one, record:
- Scholarship name;
- Country;
- University;
- Degree level;
- Field;
- Eligibility;
- GPA requirement;
- Funding;
- Deadline;
- Official application link.
Then rank them from 1 to 10 according to how strongly you fit the requirements.
Start with the strongest matches.
A Smart Scholarship Application Formula
A successful scholarship strategy can be summarised as:
Research → Filter → Prioritise → Customise → Submit → Track → Repeat
Do not start by asking:
“How many scholarships can I apply for?”
Start by asking:
“How many scholarships genuinely match my profile?”
That change in thinking can save enormous amounts of time.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many scholarships should an international student apply for?
There is no official number, but 10–15 well-matched scholarships per application cycle is a reasonable target for many students.
Is applying for 20 scholarships too many?
Not necessarily. It can be a good strategy if the scholarships are relevant and you can submit quality applications.
Is applying for only one scholarship enough?
It is possible, but risky. Scholarship competitions can be unpredictable, so having several suitable options is generally safer.
Should I apply for 50 scholarships?
Only if you can genuinely meet the eligibility requirements and maintain application quality. For most students, 50 applications would be unnecessary.
Should undergraduate students apply for more scholarships?
Often, yes. Undergraduate students can benefit from applying to multiple university-specific awards because funding availability varies significantly between institutions.
Should master’s students apply for fewer scholarships?
Not necessarily, but master’s applicants should focus heavily on programme fit, leadership, work experience and academic/professional background.
Can I apply for several scholarships at the same time?
Generally, yes, unless a particular scholarship’s rules prohibit it. However, always check the terms. For example, Chevening permits only one Chevening Scholarship application in an application cycle, although some applicants may have separate fellowship options depending on their country.
Can I receive two scholarships at once?
Not always. Some scholarships restrict additional sponsorship or require disclosure. Chevening, for example, has specific rules concerning additional funding.
Final Advice for International Students
The goal should not be to become the student who applies for the most scholarships.
The goal is to become the student who builds the strongest scholarship portfolio.
For an average international student, 10–15 carefully selected applications is a strong starting point.
If you are applying for undergraduate study, you can reasonably expand that target to 15–20, particularly when universities offer separate international scholarships.
For master’s applicants, 8–15 highly relevant opportunities may be more productive than dozens of poorly matched applications.
The most successful approach is to combine:
Strong academic results + relevant scholarships + customised applications + early preparation + multiple funding options.
Remember that a scholarship is not won simply because you submitted an application. It is won because your application demonstrates that you meet the requirements, understand the scholarship’s purpose and can show why investing in you makes sense.
So, rather than asking:
“How many scholarships should I apply for?”
A better question is:
“How many scholarships can I apply for well?”
For most international students, the answer is likely to be somewhere between 10 and 15.
Applicants can take a look at “10 Scholarships Every International Student Should Apply For” follow-up guide.
A Travel Consultant dedicated to helping students, job seekers, and professionals discover life-changing opportunities around the world. He holds a Diploma in Human Resource Management, Project Management & Ticketing, Degree in Microbiology, and Master’s in Public Health.