“I didn’t realise just how high the GPA cut-off was until I applied. I had great extracurriculars but my grades weren’t high enough to qualify,” Emmanuel Ssegawa, a graduate from Kyambogo University, shares his experience applying for scholarships.
He says since he graduated from the university in 2021, he has applied for numerous scholarships each year but he has not gotten any successful.
Ssegawa’s experience is not spared. Many students have found it hard to secure that scholarship. Samson Okello, a graduate who graduated from Makerere University in 2022 is another.
“This year all scholarships I applied for, I thought I would go through because I felt I was over qualified but I didn’t go through,” Okello says he has given up on pursuing them because convincing lecturers to provide recommendation letters is another challenging obstacle.
“You have to convince a lecturer to recommend you but some of them really show off. It’s really hard for us students pursuing fully funded scholarships outside the country,” he adds.
Securing a scholarship can be a life-changing opportunity however, many students struggle to achieve this goal despite their best efforts. Saim Rasheed, a scholarship advisor on LinkedIn says there are many reasons why many fail to secure that scholarship.
One common factor is poor application preparation. Rasheed says a lot of students don’t spend enough time tailoring their applications to the specific requirements of the scholarship.
He says often times, students submit generic essays that fail to address the unique criteria set by the awarding body.
“Scholarship committees are looking for applicants who stand out, and that means paying attention to the details,” he says.
The other challenge he says is insufficient academic performance. Many scholarships are highly competitive and require a strong academic record.
“Lack of clarity in goals also hinders many applicants. Scholarships often look for students with clear, well-defined goals. If you can’t articulate why you want this scholarship and how it will help you achieve your ambitions, it’s tough to convince a committee to choose you,” he adds.
Herbert Kibuuka, a PhD holder who secured three different scholarships during his time at university, emphasizes the importance of having a vision for your future and conveying that in your personal statement while applying for a scholarship.
Kibuuka says failing to follow instructions can also be a major barrier. He advises students to also send in many applications to different universities to increase their chances of being selected.
“It sounds simple, but a surprising number of students don’t follow the application guidelines. Whether it’s exceeding the word limit on essays, missing deadlines, or failing to provide required documents, these mistakes can lead to automatic disqualification. It’s not that the student isn’t capable, it’s often just a matter of oversight,” Kibuuka says.
“Many students focus on just one or two opportunities, instead of casting a wide net. The more scholarships you apply to, the better your chances. Some of the smaller scholarships don’t get as many applications, so don’t overlook them,” he adds.
Kibuuka further says acquiring a scholarship involves more than just good grades. It requires careful preparation, attention to detail and a clear vision of how the scholarship will support one’s future goals.
“The key is persistence. If you don’t succeed at first, learn from your mistakes and keep applying,” he advises.
