If you are from a low-income family or a poor background but want to attend college, there are NGO scholarships for poor people that you can apply for. I have curated the details of the scholarships here to help you find them with ease. Good luck applying for them.
Higher education is getting more and more expensive as the year goes by which has become a challenge for many students across the world who want to pursue a college degree. Financial constraints remain a major drawback for many aspiring and current college students. Some had to drop out of college because they could not afford the cost while some had to get student loans and spend many years of their life repaying this loan.
Without adequate funding, you cannot achieve your educational goals and this could affect one’s career in a bad way. It is even worse for students from poor homes or low-income families because most of them do not even qualify for student loans, in this case, how can they achieve their educational ambitions?
Fortunately, there are NGO scholarships for poor people, you already know what an NGO is and how they operate so there is no need to go into much detail about them.
There are different NGOs aimed at or committed to different causes such as human rights, voter’s rights, healthcare, or helping the poor. The NGOs that are offering scholarships for poor people can be categorized under the ones that help the poor but their sole focus is on helping poor people who want to go to college but cannot afford it to get an education through scholarships which are donations and grants from various channels including individuals.
There are certain requirements that applicants of NGO scholarships for poor students must meet to be awarded a scholarship. These requirements usually vary from one NGO to the other, but don’t worry, I didn’t just list out the NGO scholarships for poor students, I went further to explain each of them providing details on their requirements, eligibility, and the value of the scholarship.
Look here, if you want to pursue a college degree but cannot afford it and do not qualify for a student loan, the next option is to begin looking for scholarship opportunities and there are a ton of them, many of which we have published on this website. You would be surprised how many scholarships are out there that are scholarships left unclaimed annually just waiting to be applied for and won.
There are scholarships for tall people and even scholarships for first-generation students and so many others. So, don’t think that there isn’t anyone out there that you qualify for. Simply follow our scholarship updates diligently and, trust me, you might complete college without spending any of your money or taking out a student loan.
Are there 100% full NGO scholarships?
Yes. There are lots of fully funded NGO scholarships that are available to students to pursue any degree of their choice at institutions of higher learning all over the world. You can find some of the full NGO scholarships in this article.
How can I get an NGO scholarship?
Winning an NGO scholarship is similar to winning every other scholarship. All you have to do is meet the eligibility requirements of each of the NGO scholarships for poor students and send your applications before the deadline. The requirements vary from one scholarship to another but they require applicants to have excellent academic records and demonstrate financial need.
Afterward, you have to make sure that you check your emails and the scholarship website regularly to know when the names of the recipients will be published.
Top NGO Scholarships For Poor Students
Below are the top NGO scholarships for poor students all over the world:
- Wells Mountain Foundation Scholarship
- Google ICT Scholarship
- Erasmus Mundus Scholarships
- K.U.Leuven IRO Scholarship
- Global Health Scholarships
- Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship
- Forte Foundation Scholarship
- Alpha Delta Kappa Scholarships
- Anne van den Ban Fund Scholarship
- CANADA-HOPE Scholarship Program
- Christine Bolt Scholarship
- Eric Bleumink Fund Scholarship
- Honjo International Scholarship Foundation
- Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund Scholarship
- Mo Ibrahim GDAI Ph.D. Scholarship
1. Wells Mountain Foundation Scholarship
The Wells Mountain Foundation provides lots of scholarships for students to pursue undergraduate programs in medicine & health sciences, community development, law, education, social work, business, information technology, agriculture, and engineering.
This NGO scholarship for poor students is offered by the Wells Mountain Foundation through the Empowerment Through Education (ETE) program.
The average worth of the ETE scholarship is $1500 annually. It covers the cost of tuition and fees, books, food, and accommodation.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be students who have completed their secondary education and are pursuing a bachelor’s degree or a diploma.
- Candidates must be above 35 years of age
- Applicants must be studying in their home countries or another developing country
- Prospective beneficiaries will have to be enrolled in a program of study that is beneficial to their communities and/or home countries.
2. Google ICT Scholarship
The Google ICT Scholarship is available to women to encourage them to excel in computer and information technology and become active role models and leaders in society.
Recipients of this NGO scholarship for poor students will emerge based on their academic background and demonstrated leadership qualities.
The worth of the Google ICT Scholarship is $10,000. A sum of $1,000 will be given to each of the remaining finalists.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be in their senior year of undergraduate study or be enrolled in a graduate degree program at a university in the U.S.
- Candidates will have to major in Computer Science, Computer Engineering, or any related technical field.
- Prospective awardees should be enrolled in full-time study.
- Applicants should possess a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale or 4.5 on a 5.0 scale.
3. Erasmus Mundus Scholarships
The Erasmus Mundus Joint Scholarships are available to students coming from both EU and non-EU countries to pursue master’s degree programs. This NGO scholarship for poor students is funded by the European Union.
The worth of the EMJMD program includes a contribution to the student participation costs (including tuition fees and full insurance coverage), a contribution to student travel and installation costs, and a monthly allowance throughout the program.
Eligibility
- Candidates will have to be a student from any part of the world who wishes to pursue a master’s degree program
- Applicants must secure a place in the degree program before applying
4. K.U.Leuven IRO Scholarship
K.U.Leuven IRO offers scholarships annually to outstanding students from developing countries to pursue doctoral or pre-doctoral programs at L.U. Leuven, Belgium.
Recipients have a maximum of five (5) years to enjoy the scholarship; one (1) pre-doctoral year and four (4) doctoral years.
This NGO scholarship for poor students can be renewed every year depending on the assessment of the beneficiary’s supervisor.
Eligibility
- Candidates will have to be a citizen of a developing country recognized on the list of OECD-DAC.
- Applicants must not be more than 35 years of age.
- Prospective awardees should possess outstanding academic results.
5. Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship
The Aga Khan Foundation is an international organization that offers scholarships to students from developing countries to study at universities in Canada, the United States, France, and Portugal.
Beneficiaries can opt to pursue postgraduate studies in Architecture, Health, Civil Society, Planning and building, Culture, Rural Development, Economic Development, Humanitarian Assistance, Education, and Music.
The scholarship covers the cost of tuition and accommodation only.
Eligibility
- Applicants must come from a developing country
- Prospective recipients will have to show financial need and possess excellent academic records
- Candidates must not be over 30 years of age
6. Forte Foundation Scholarship
The Forté Foundation created a scholarship for females to encourage them to enroll in full-time, part-time, or executive MBA programs in a university abroad.
The benefits of the scholarship are numerous. Apart from the financial support given to recipients, there are other benefits that the Forté Foundation offers, and they include:
- Participation in the annual Forté MBA Women’s Leadership Conference and the Financial Services FAST Track Conference
- Access to exclusive networking groups of Forté Fellows, Forté Fellow Alumnae, and Forté Fellow LinkedIn group and Facebook groups
- Special e-introductions to Forté sponsor companies and inclusion in the Fellow résumé book, which is distributed to all sponsor companies
- Free lifetime Forté Foundation Premium Membership ($50 per year)
- Mentoring and opportunities to connect with other Fellows and Forté delegates at your institution
Eligibility
- Applicants must show strong leadership skills as team or community leaders and show a commitment to helping women achieve their career potential.
- Candidates must have a strong academic background and an excellent record of professional achievement
- Intending awardees will need to have at least a UK Second Class Honours or the international equivalent
- Candidates from elite institutions must possess a minimum overall average of 7/10 or 60%.
- Applicants from other recognized institutions must obtain a minimum overall average ranging from 7.5-8/10 or 65-70%.
- Prospective recipients should have at least three years of relevant postgraduate work experience.
7. Alpha Delta Kappa Scholarships
The Alpha Delta Kappa Scholarship is available to women who are interested in learning American educational techniques.
Recipients receive $10,000 which will cover the cost of their education at a college or university in the United States. The Alpha Delta Kappa Scholarship continues to be one of the top NGO scholarships for poor students worldwide.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be single women with no dependants and they should retain such status during the duration of the scholarship
- Candidates must be a non-U.S citizen living outside of the U.S and must maintain such status during the duration of the scholarship
- Applicants must be between the ages of 20 and 35 years before the application deadline of the year of study is to begin
8. Anne van den Ban Fund Scholarship
The scholarship was named after Dr. Anne van den Ban who was a professor at Wageningen University. It has a partnership with the Wageningen University.
Anne van den Ban Scholarship was established to help students from developing countries and Middle and Eastern European countries pursue a degree at Wageningen University.
This top NGO scholarship for poor students is available for them to study to acquire the knowledge and skills required to tackle the structural problems of their country in agricultural production, rural development, and the environment.
Eligibility
- Candidates will have to be accepted for their chosen study at Wageningen
- Applicants must possess excellent academic records from their home country
- Candidates should be willing to return to their home country after their degree
9. CANADA-HOPE Scholarship Program
The CANADA-HOPE scholarship is available to young and promising students who are scientists and clinicians from Low and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC), as specified by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and the United Nations (UN) to help them learn in some of the best science laboratories and training environments in Canada.
During the program, students will be mentored by renowned Canadian researchers so that they will gain the knowledge and hands-on experience to make significant contributions in their home countries after completing their studies in Canada.
Eligibility
- Prospective recipients should have a mentor in a related field at a recognized institution in Canada and the sponsorship of a recognized institution in sub-continental South Asia (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan) or Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Applicants who hold Canadian citizenship or who have applied for permanent residency in Canada will not be considered for the scholarship.
10. Christine Bolt Scholarship
The scholarship was established in memory of Christine Ian Bolt who was an Emeritus Professor of History at the University of Kent. It is funded by her husband Ian Bolt.
It is available for postgraduate students carrying out research of American history and/or where the center of the research or source of the material is situated in the U.S.A. In addition, the award will enable students to research their MPhil or Ph.D. thesis in the United States.
The value of the scholarship is £10,000 and it covers the cost of tuition and other expenses during the period of research in the U.S.
Eligibility
- Applicants must possess an excellent bachelor’s degree (preferably first class or second class upper honors) or a master’s degree (merit or distinction).
- Candidates should have excellent communication skills (written and oral) and must be ready to explain their project clearly without using complicated terms to non-experts.
Scholarship Portal
11. Eric Bleumink Fund Scholarship
The Eric Bleumink Fund scholarship is aimed at talented students and young scientists from developing nations to pursue a master’s degree program. It is only open to students who have gained a (conditional) admission to study a master’s program before the application deadline of the scholarship.
Additionally, it covers the cost of tuition, travel, subsistence, books, and health insurance.
Eligibility
- Candidates should show excellent academic performance and it must appear in their letters of recommendation
- Applicants must have gained conditional admission to the choice of master’s degree program
- Intending beneficiaries should possess excellent grades in their undergraduate studies
- Candidates must show evidence of proficiency in the English language based on the admission requirements of the program of choice
- Applicants must be available throughout the period of the program and undertake the studies
- Candidates should have no financial support for the program
12. Honjo International Scholarship Foundation
The Honjo International Scholarship is open to international students to study any graduate program of their choice in a Japanese institution of higher learning.
The value of the award depends on the duration of the program. For graduate programs ranging from 1 to 2 years, recipients will get 200,000 Yen monthly. Recipients studying graduate programs with durations of three (3) years and above will receive 180,000 yen per month.
For graduate programs of 4 years and above, beneficiaries will receive 150,000 yen every month.
Eligibility
- Applicants must have registered to study or have been offered admission to a graduate program after the 1st of April. They must also provide a certificate of enrollment or a letter of admission.
- Candidates enrolling for a master’s degree program must not be more than 30 years of age while those enrolling for a Ph.D. program must not be more than 35 years of age.
- Applicants must assure the committee that they will be able to secure jobs in their home countries upon completion of their graduate programs.
- Candidates should not hold Japanese citizenship.
- Applicants must show financial need.
13. Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund Scholarship
The Margaret McNamara Memorial Fund offers several scholarships every year to females from developing countries. The aim of MMMF is to promote the education of these female students so that they can have leadership skills to impact the lives of women and children in developing countries.
The scheme offers up to $15,000 in awards to women from developing and middle-income countries. Upon completion of their studies, these women will return to their home countries or another developing country so as to improve the lives of women and children there.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be citizens of a country listed on the MMMF Country Eligibility List
- Intending awardees should be 25 years of age and above before the application deadline
- Candidates should show a dedication to working to empower women and children in developing countries
- Applicants must be enrolled at a recognized institution before applying and plan to be enrolled for full-time studies upon receiving the award
- Candidates should never be a relative to a staff member or spouse working for any World Bank Group, International Monetary Fund, or Inter-American Development Bank
- Applicants must not be recipients of any MMMF grant in the past
14. Mo Ibrahim Foundation GDAI Ph.D. Scholarship
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation (MIF) offers students in Africa scholarships annually to study a full-time Ph.D. program in Governance for Development in Africa at the University of London in the U.K.
Successful candidates will receive £5,000 in years 2 and 3 of the program of study. The scholarship will cover the cost of tuition for three years and the cost of accommodation for the first and third year of the program only. Additionally, the award will cover two return flight tickets (one during the first year and one for the viva).
Eligibility
- Candidates must be permanent residents in an African country
- Applicants who are residents in Sub Saharan Africa will be given more preference
This information is very interesting. Many ideas are obtained from this information to conduct research.
This information is very interesting. Many ideas are obtained from this information to conduct research.
Good day everyone. Please l need this scholarship. Because, this is important for my study and help for my opportunity. Thankyou and godbless
You can apply