Developing countries are those with economies dependent heavily on agriculture, have a high population, modestly industrialized, and more to the point of this article, have a lack of adequate institutions of higher education. That is why many of the top nations provide Scholarships for Developing Countries which gives hope to individuals in poor, rural areas so they can make a difference in their country. If you live in a developing country, listed below are a few International Scholarships you may be interested in.

Oxford Reach Scholarship

Many people have heard of Oxford College in the UK. It’s a prestigious college known for it’s high standards in academic achievements. A lot of well-known people have graduated from Oxford University like Tony Blair, Stephen Hawking and Bill Clinton (who didn’t graduate, but left for Yale) to name a few. And many others have graduated to lead successful, lucrative careers across the world. Oxford University recognizes that there are people from developing countries that likewise achieve academic excellence, but are denied higher education because of the lack of funds and poor conditions in their part of the word. The Oxford Reach Scholarship aims to assist those from developing countries like Brazil, Bolivia, Laos, Haiti and many more by providing funds for an education from Oxford as well as return air fare back to their home country. As you can expect, this is a very competitive program, so you can imagine the celebration that goes in developing countries across the world for those that are chosen.

Australian Development Scholarships (ADS)

If you’re from a developing country and want to study in Australia, AusAid is a Scholarship that’ll fund either your undergraduate or postgraduate expenses for a number of universities across the nation. This Scholarship is only for participating universities in the country and here you can find a list of all the participating institutions. Not only will they pay for tuition and airfare, but will also cover medical needs, living expenses, provide $5,000 for accommodation; they’ll provide a 4-6 week program to get international students acquainted with living in Australia, and will give you tutorial assistance if needed. They only require that you go back to your home country to contribute to societal improvements for at least two years. Otherwise you’ll have to repay the loan.

Fulbright Foreign Student Program

This Scholarship is available to thousands of individuals from developing countries to pursue their masters or Ph.D at an American University. Eligibility varies from nation to nation, but the goal for this Scholarship is singular: to give the best possible education to individuals from foreign nations so they can go back and live successful lives; contributing positively to their nation in some way. For many, it’s a way to instill positive opinions of the United States to people across the world. Being able to escape impoverished areas where violence and disease run rampant, and receiving hope and a chance to improve your own country lead people to believe American can’t be all that bad. Some have even escaped genocide thanks to a Fulbright Scholarship.

Making Peace Through Education

Education is a powerful tool in uniting countries together and many of the world’s top nations see that. Most of these International Scholarships require that the recipient go back to their country for a time or repay the loan with interest. And of course many go back and live successful lives. You’ll also find many Scholarships for women in developing countries which many can take up if higher education opportunities are denied them at home. These are just a few of the Scholarships for developing countries; their are dozens more to be found with a little bit of research!