Benefits of mid-term scholarships

At 18, figuring out your future can be tough enough. Add the pressure of committing to a scholarship that locks you into a specific field or career path for the next decade, and it can feel overwhelming. Not to mention, the financial consequences of breaking the bond—if you later change your mind—can make it even harder to commit. So hyper-focused on applying for scholarships amidst deadlines, students often forget that the option of mid-term scholarships exists, offering a (second) chance to secure financial aid and career opportunities even after starting university.

What is a Mid-Term Scholarship?

Eligibility

Mid-term scholarships, as the name suggests, are for current undergraduates—students who are in the middle of their university term. Providers typically require applicants to have completed at least one academic semester but not be in their final year of study. Students must demonstrate that they are on track for graduation, and quite implied—with good results. In fact, some scholarships would state a grade requirement of second upper honours or above. It is unclear whether providers will also consider your junior college or polytechnic results, but other criteria such as an outstanding CCA track record, strong leadership qualities, and demonstrated interest in pursuing a career with the provider—akin to full-term scholarship requirements—would still very much apply.

Value of Award

The benefits of mid-term scholarships are equivalent to those of their full-term counterparts, covering tuition fees, allowances for accommodation and electronic devices, paid internships, overseas programmes, and guaranteed job placement with fast-track progression within the provider organisation.

Here’s where it gets interesting: Some mid-term scholarships offer the option of full sponsorship, which includes back payment of tuition fees and allowances for completed years of study. For others, the value of the award and bond period is pro-rated based on the academic years remaining from the point of your application.

Why is Mid-Term Scholarship a Great Resource to Keep in Your Back Pocket?

More Time to Decide
Committing to a scholarship is a big decision. The mad rush to apply after graduating from junior college or polytechnic often doesn’t give you the space to properly consider your options. So why not go through a couple of semesters in your selected field of study to help you decide if it is the right direction for you? Once you are sure, applying for a mid-term scholarship will give you the same or almost similar access to the benefits of full-term ones while mitigating the risk of committing too early.

A Second Chance
For those who were previously unsuccessful in their full-term scholarship attempts or fell short of the initial application requirements but have since been motivated to improve their academic performance, achieving outstanding results in their first few semesters in university—mid-term scholarships offer a fantastic redemption opportunity!

University life also brings abundant enriching CCA and personal development opportunities, allowing students to showcase leadership skills and gain valuable experiences. You might even end up excelling in some extracurricular activity, club, or committee, or representing your university in a sport. All these experiences can help you build a strong portfolio, perhaps even stronger than before, to strengthen your case for a successful scholarship application.

We Never Know What Will Happen, Do We?
Perhaps it never crossed your mind to consider a scholarship before. But through your first few semesters, speaking with peers, professors, or people in the field, you realise that the future you are seeking lies with the provider. When that happens, it would be great to have the chance to pursue it! Not to jinx it, but the extra financial help would also come in handy in the event your financial circumstances change after starting university.

Various Donated Scholarships
There are also mid-term scholarships that come in the form of donated scholarships at the various major universities. Some are even funded by anonymous donors. These scholarships reward undergraduates who demonstrate academic improvement or excellence during their studies, which can be a great motivation for students to maintain or improve their academic performance year after year. Not to mention, they are usually bond-free, adding an extra incentive. Check out the various donated scholarships at NUS, NTU, SIT, SMU, SUSS, and SUTD.

Shorter/Pro-Rated Bond Period
For those mid-term scholarships with an attached bond, you would likely have to serve only a shorter or pro-rated bond period. This shorter commitment gives you more flexibility to pursue other personal interests or even change your career path!

Find Your Perfect Scholarship Fit

In sum, mid-term scholarships help to keep your options open and give you the extra time and experience to make a well-informed decision about your future. But that doesn’t mean you should hold off on your scholarship decision until you have started university. The competition for mid-term scholarships is just as tough as full-term ones.

The advice here is to thoroughly consider your options but never feel compelled to decide just because of deadlines or because “everyone else has already applied.” If it doesn’t feel right, it’s okay to take your time and figure it out. And when you finally put your mind to applying, be it a full or mid-term scholarship, give it your best shot!

Mid-Term Scholarships Don’t Get Enough Attention

What is a Mid-Term Scholarship?

Eligibility

Value of Award

Why is Mid-Term Scholarship a Great Resource to Keep in Your Back Pocket?

Find Your Perfect Scholarship Fit

What’s Available?

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