What Are the Different Types of Scholarship Opportunities?

There are so many different types of scholarships available for students that an exhaustive listing often details hundreds of different scholarships. Most opportunities, however, can be categorized based on the requirements or reason for which a person receives the scholarship. Scholastic achievement scholarships are typically offered to students based on past performance in classes, sometimes based on overall grades or in a particular subject area, while athletic scholarships are offered to students who excel in a particular field of sports. There are also scholarship opportunities for students based on ethnicity, gender, religious, and cultural background, as well as scholarships for students with certain interests or who are planning on entering particular businesses or industries.

Most scholarship opportunities for students are based on particular aspects of a student’s background, interests, or personality. A scholarship is a form of financial assistance provided to students that is rewarded while a student is in school and does not have to be repaid. Scholarship opportunities are often available from schools, social organizations, and businesses looking to promote education.

Scholastic scholarship opportunities are those available to students based on their past performance in classrooms. This type of scholarship is usually achievement-based, so a student might receive a scholarship due to his or her grades in the past or where he or she placed among his or her graduating class. Someone can also receive a scholarship due to his or her interests in a particular field; his or her grades in certain classes, rather than overall performance, may be the determining factor for these scholarships.

There are also many scholarship opportunities available for students due to athletic activities and performance in sports. A school often provides such scholarships for students to encourage them to attend that particular school. This is usually done in an effort to improve that school’s athletic performance in a particular sport.

Other scholarship opportunities are often based on the background or ethnicity of a person. There are numerous social and cultural groups, both local and national groups, which frequently provide scholarships for members of a particular ethnic or cultural background. Membership in these groups is not always necessary, though it can be helpful in some instances.

Some scholarship opportunities can be found based on the professional field someone is interested in entering. Many businesses offer scholarships for students who pursue an education that could lead to them working for that company. These can be offered to students who have developed new innovations that make such companies take notice, or for employees of businesses looking to develop themselves further through continuing education. Such scholarships can also be provided as rewards for competitions, often based on demonstrating skills or knowledge that improve the field in which the company is based.