 |
| Interview Questions & Answers |
20 Common Scholarship Interview Questions and How to Answer Them with Examples
Are you looking for a guide to succeed in your scholarship interview to enable you to pursue your undergraduate, master's, or PhD programme? It is sometimes disheartening to go through all the application stages successfully, only for you to get to the interview stage and fail. As a result, it is very necessary to familiarize yourself with interview questions that are common and cut across most interviews.
In this article, scholarship180.com presents 20 common scholarship interview questions with answers and real-life examples that will help you excel in any scholarship interview. This will prepare you to answer interview questions confidently.
Below are sample questions and the best way to answer them:
1. Tell us about yourself.
There is a main reason why they ask this question in every interview, and that is to hear your story beyond your application. This is not an opportunity to tell the interviewer what is on your CV, is it a chance to tell them what they should know beyond your CV.
To answer this, it is advisable to share your background, where you're from, what you're studying, and what drives you. What is your motivation?
A Good Example is:
“I’m Kojo Emma, a recent graduate of Real Estate from KTU. I come from a rural town in the Western Region of Ghana, where access to education and opportunities are limited. That background has shaped my passion for making sustainable development more inclusive, especially in underserved communities. Right now, I’m focused on environmental policy and how it intersects with real estate and climate resilience.”
2. Why do you deserve this scholarship?
The second common interview question is 'Why do you deserve this scholarship?'. Before applying for any scholarship, you should know whether you are fit for it or not before applying.
Meanwhile, the reason why they ask this question is to know your value and also your humility.
To answer this, try and focus on your potential impact, dedication, and how the scholarship will empower you. Talk about the fact that getting the scholarship will help not only you, but it will also help you improve the lives of others and contribute to the development of your community.
Good Example:
“I’m not asking for the scholarship just for myself, I’m asking because I know the multiplier effect it will create. With this support, I’ll be able to pursue advanced training in sustainable urban development and return home to improve housing policy and community planning for thousands.”
3. What are your greatest strengths?
This question is purposely designed to assess what you’re good at and how self-aware you are. So, you have to tailor your answer to that side. To answer this question, be honest and link your strengths to past achievements. Do not forget to give relevant examples as well.
Good Example:
“I would say one of my greatest strengths is resilience. During my undergrad studies at UCC, I could not afford to pay for my hostel and had to miss five weeks of lectures to work on the streets of Cape Coast. With help and determination, I caught up, passed my exams, and graduated as the best student of my class.”
4. What is your biggest weakness?
Interviewers ask this question just to know if you are honest and working towards improving yourself. You should not tell the interviewer that you don't have any weaknesses. The fact is that every human being has a weakness at some point. It is not bad to mention your weakness, but let them know that you are working on improving it, and you will be able to conquer that.
To answer this, mention a real weakness and what you're doing to improve it. Be honest.
Good Example:
“I used to struggle with public speaking. I would get nervous before presentations. So, I joined the university’s debate club and started leading meetings. With time and practice, it’s now one of my strongest skills.”
5. What are your academic and career goals?
Interviewers are always interested in knowing your future plans. That is, whether you think and plan towards the future or not. As a result, they ask this question to see how focused and future-minded you are.
In answering, be specific and link your goals to community impact. You can link this to the career you want to want to find yourself in the short-term and long run, and also narrate how that will create an impact.
Good Example:
“I plan to pursue a master's in Environmental Policy and work as a policy analyst focused on climate adaptation in Africa. I want to influence the way governments and institutions respond to the climate crisis, especially in vulnerable rural communities like mine.”
Recommended:
1. How to Write an SOP that Makes Graduate Schools Say Yes
2. How to Write a Strong Research Proposal: Essential Components and Structure
3. Step-By-Step Guide to Writing a Personal Statement
6. How do you handle failure or setbacks?
This question is also to assess your mindset and growth. It is normal that everyone, in one way or the other, faces setbacks. But how you handle it really matters. With a relevant example, narrate your you faced a setback and how you took care of it. What lessons did you learn from it?
Good Example:
“When I failed my first data analytics assignment, I didn’t let it define me. I sought help from a teaching assistant, watched tutorials late into the night, and eventually became the class tutor. Failure taught me how to ask for help and bounce back stronger.”
7. Who is your role model and why?
This question is to understand your values. What are some of your values? Talk about your values, if possible, use examples to make it clear.
Example:
“My mother never went to school, but she made sure I did, even if it meant selling her only asset. Her sacrifice reminds me that education is a privilege, and I owe it to others to make it count.”
8. Describe a time you demonstrated leadership.
It is clear that almost every scholarship providers are often looking for leaders. They look for people who can lead to create a positive change in their communities. Scholarship providers are not ready to offer scholarships to people to just go and study and then go back and be sitting idle. Their sole aim is to help you to also give back to your people in diverse ways. In this question, talk about the leadership roles you have held and your contribution to the association or organization. What was your impact?
Good Example:
“As president of the Rotaract Club, I organized a one-week boot camp that empowered 200 students with skills in data science and social media marketing. It helped many discover careers they had never considered before.”
9. How do you plan to give back to your community?
As stated earlier, scholarship bodies are ready to offer scholarships to individuals who cannot take leadership initiatives to create a change. This question is to assess what you are prepared to do for your community when given the scholarship to pursue your selected programme. How will you give back? Explain this with clarity. Include statistics, that is, a measure of your impact. Scholarship providers want changemakers, not just high achievers, with higher grades.
Good Example:
“I plan to set up a nonprofit that mentors young people in Northern Ghana on green careers, scholarship opportunities, and digital skills. I’ve already started by mentoring three students through their university applications.”
10. What do you know about this scholarship program?
This is to know whether you really did your homework or not. To answer this, you should learn more about the scholarship provider, what they do, and the criteria. You can do this through their websites, social media handles, or through current or past scholars.
Good Example:
“I admire how the Mastercard Foundation doesn’t just fund education, it builds communities of transformational leaders. I’m drawn to the emphasis on return, reinvestment, and leadership in Africa.”
11. What makes you different from other candidates?
This is to find your unique edge against other applicants in the pool. What exactly is unique about you? Remember to tailor this to the selection criteria.
Good Example:
“I bring a combination of academic excellence, lived experience, and grassroots leadership. I have worked with over 200 young girls to improve menstrual hygiene and led climate action campaigns. I am not just interested in change, I live it.”
12. Tell us about a challenge you overcame.
This question also seeks to know how resilient you are. How you tackle a challenge.
Example:
“I was once displaced by tribal conflict in Mali and had to continue school from a new region at a refugee camp. That period taught me flexibility, empathy, and the importance of peacebuilding, values I now bring into my leadership work.”
13. What motivates you?
Talk about what motivates you to pursue the scholarship, how important it is and how it will go a long way to benefit others.
Example:
“Knowing that my journey can inspire someone from a forgotten village to believe in their own power. I want to be proof that where you come from doesn’t limit where you can go.”
14. What’s your proudest achievement?
This seeks to know the relevant achievements you have. Be it academic achievements or not.
Example:
“Graduating as the best student of my class, especially knowing the odds I had to beat, financial struggles, language barriers, and adjusting to city life. It reminded me that grit and grace can take you far.”
15. How do you spend your free time?
This is to know whether you use your time judiciously or not. Do you use your time for things that benefit others? Talk about your volunteer activities.
Example:
“I love volunteering. On weekends, I help with digital literacy programs for high school students and serve as a mentor on CV writing and scholarship prep. I also enjoy reading non-fiction books on development and leadership.”
16. What would you do if you don’t get this scholarship?
They ask this question to know your level of determination and backup plans. Let them know that you will keep doing what you were doing. Mentions things that are in line with scholarship criteria.
Example:
“I will be disappointed, but not defeated. I will keep applying, keep improving my skills, and continue to impact my community however I can. This scholarship would be a launchpad, not the only path forward.”
17. Describe a time you worked in a team.
This is to assess your teamwork skills to know if you can collaborate with others to create an impact.
Example:
“As the Organizer of the political science department, I helped coordinate a field trip for over 200 students. We faced transportation delays, but through good communication and teamwork, we ensured every student made it safely and had a great experience.”
18. How do you deal with stress or pressure?
This is to test your ability to handle pressure or stress. How do you handle difficult tasks?
Example:
“I break big tasks into small steps and prioritize what matters most. I also meditate, journal, and talk to mentors when things get overwhelming. Mental health is something I’ve learned to take seriously.”
19. What are you passionate about?
Talk about your passion, including examples.
Example:
“I am passionate about environmental sustainability, especially in how urban planning can protect natural resources. I have led clean-up campaigns and campus forums to raise awareness.”
20. Do you have any questions for us?
Never say no to this question. Try and say something, or otherwise you can ask a question.
Example:
“Yes! I would like to know more about how the scholarship alumni stay connected and support each other after the program.”
It is clear that preparing for scholarship interviews is not about getting the correct answer; it is also about being able to tell your story with clarity, honesty, and confidence. Also, remember that you are not only applying for funds, but you also seek to be part of a mission.