How students can finance a graduate degree in development

Having spent the last 17 years running a master’s program in international development, I’ve seen bright, driven, passionate people put their graduate education on hold because of a lack of funding. These applicants were no less impressive than others who were winning scholarships and attending the programs of their choice.

So what was the difference? Often it came down to one thing: They had not done the necessary planning in advance. Applying for funding can be as involved and complex a process as applying for graduate school.

Over the years, I’ve found that following these basic steps can make the difference between “Congratulations” and “Better luck next year.”

1. Start early.

Students often come to me late in the game looking for funding. By that time, many opportunities — even ones for which they are well qualified — have already passed. You should start looking for funding opportunities at the same time you start looking for graduate programs, at least one year in advance. Some scholarship deadlines even happen before graduate school deadlines!

2. Tap into your networks.

Online scholarship searches are necessary, but you already have a strong resource available to you — your network. Tapping into network-based scholarships, including alumni affiliations and service organizations, will strengthen your professional ties and increase the number of people invested in your success.

Alumni scholarships are available from many organizations such as the U.S. Peace Corps’ Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program for returned volunteers, for example. Service clubs are another option. Rotary International, for example, provides generous support for those working in peace and conflict resolution through the Rotary World Peace Fellowships, and you don’t even need to be a member of the club to apply.

3. Do your research.

You’d be amazed at the variety of funding sources out there. In addition to the network-based scholarships described above, there are also country-specific, heritage-specific, gender-specific, faith-based, school-specific and general scholarships.

Start with your own country to see what country- and region-specific scholarships may be available. The small country of Kosovo has the Kosovo American Education Fund and the Kosovo Transformational Leadership Program; Colombia has COLFUTURO; Ghana, the Ghanaian Scholarship Secretariat; Kazakhstan, the Bolashak Scholars Program; and Japan, the Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship for Japanese nationals, to name a few. The African Development Bank, the Aga Khan Foundation, the Organization of American States and the Inter-American Development Bank all offer scholarship programs for citizens of select countries.

I suggest starting your own research by reviewing the financial aid pages of your top five universities or programs and scholarships for development.

4. Know what scholarship programs are looking for.

Each scholarship program has its own specific criteria. Read the materials carefully and target your application to the program. For example, many scholarship programs for development studies require that students return home after they complete their degree. When this is the case, you should demonstrate strong ties to your country and explain how the scholarship will help not only you, but your home country or community.

Other scholarships are sector-specific. For a scholarship in peace and conflict studies, for example, be sure that you have professional and/or volunteer experience that clearly demonstrates your commitment to this sector. And finally, choose your recommenders carefully. Professors and supervisors who know you well, are familiar with the quality of your work, and can write thoughtful recommendations with specific examples are best.

5. Treat it like a job and commit time every day.

Spend at least one hour per day on your graduate school and funding application and search.  Use a spreadsheet to help you keep track of who you’ve contacted and where you’ve applied. I know it sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised at how many people don’t take these basic steps.

And one more bonus tip: Be patient! Over the years I have worked with many strong, committed and passionate applicants who applied several years in a row before landing their dream scholarship — one that allowed them to continue their important work of bettering the human condition. Keep looking, find mentors, build your networks and don’t give up!

You know you need a postgraduate degree to advance in a global development career, but deciding on a program, degree, and specialization can be overwhelming. In partnership with the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (APSIA), Duke Center for International Development (DCID) at Duke University, Duke Kunshan University, the Online Master of Public Health (MPH) at George Washington University, and the MPA/ID Program at Harvard Kennedy School, we are digging into all things graduate school and global development in a weeklong series called Grad School Week. Join online events and read more advice on pursuing a postgraduate education here.