Scholarships for high school students: opportunities to study abroad at high school level and prepare for university

🔄 Cập nhật lần cuối: 08/10/26

Studying abroad from high school helps students get acquainted early with the international environment and prepare better for university. However, costs are often high, so scholarships for high school students are a top concern for many families. This article summarizes the main groups of opportunities, conditions, processes and special notes when children are under 18 years old.

Scholarship groups for high school students

• Government and organizational scholarships: small number, highly competitive, often full. Typical examples are the ASEAN Scholarship of the Singapore Ministry of Education and the scholarship of the UWC movement.
• Private and boarding school scholarships: popular in the US, UK, Australia, Canada; Usually partial scholarships are based on merit or need-based financial aid.
• Exchange program scholarship: one year of study at a foreign high school through cultural exchange organizations.
• University preparatory scholarships (Foundation, A-Level, IB): granted by the university or preparatory school, often partially reduced tuition fees.

To further understand the difference between full scholarship and semi-part, see article Types of study abroad scholarships.

Two scholarships for outstanding high school students

ASEAN Scholarship (Singapore)

According to the Singapore Ministry of Education (MOE) page for the latest admission period, scholarships are for Vietnamese students who are studying in grade 8, 9 or 10 (within the prescribed year of birth), have good English, stable academic results and participate in extracurricular activities. The scholarship lasts for 4 years, from Secondary 3 to Pre-University 2, renewed annually based on academic results. Benefits include:

• Tuition and O-Level and A-Level exam fees (one time, if any).
• Annual allowance with dormitory accommodation and initial stability allowance.
• Economy class round-trip airfare.
• Medical assistance and accident insurance.

The process usually includes online application (around January–February), selection test (around May, can be held in Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City), interview (around July), notification of results and going to Singapore at the end of the year. The timeline may change from year to year, please keep an eye on the MOE page and the Singapore Embassy in Hanoi.

UWC (United World Colleges)

UWC is an international school system that trains the International Baccalaureate (IB Diploma) program with the mission of education for peace and sustainable development. According to the UWC Vietnam National Committee, applicants are Vietnamese citizens living in Vietnam, studying in grade 10, 11 or 12 and between 16 and 18 years old when enrolling in September. About 80% of IB students selected by the national committee receive full or partial financial support.

Boarding and private school scholarships

Many private schools in the US, UK, and Australia consider scholarships based on academic performance, talent (sports, music) or financial need. Documents usually include transcripts, entrance tests (such as SSAT for American schools), essays, letters of recommendation from teachers and interviews. Note: in the US, F-1 visa students studying in public high schools are limited to a maximum of 12 months and must repay all expenses, so most international high school students choose private schools.

University preparation: a stepping stone after high school

For students who have graduated from high school in Vietnam, foundation programs in the UK, Australia, New Zealand or A-Level, IB are a bridge to university. Many schools offer scholarships that reduce preparatory tuition fees by 10–50% based on transcript and IELTS scores. Some programs have a commitment to transfer to university if the required scores are met, and can continue to be considered for first-year scholarships. See more Scholarships to study in Australia at high school and preparatory levels.

Note for students under 18 years old

• Guardian: Many countries require guardianship arrangements or school-approved housing arrangements for minor students. Details in the article Study abroad documents for students under 18 years old.
• Private visa: for example, the UK has a Child Student visa for students 4–17 years old attending private schools.
• Flying solo: Airlines have separate regulations for minor passengers traveling alone; Need to check when booking tickets - see Book air tickets for international students under 18 years old.
• Psychology and life skills: I need to prepare independent skills; Parents can read Letting your child study abroad early from high school: advantages and disadvantages.

Frequently asked questions

What grade should students start looking for high school scholarships?

Should start from grades 7–8 with ASEAN Scholarship, grades 9–10 with boarding school or UWC scholarships. Many scholarships consider transcripts from the most recent 2–3 years.

Do high school scholarships require IELTS?

Depends on the program. Some organize their own test, others require IELTS, TOEFL Junior or an English interview.

Does the ASEAN scholarship include airfare?

As announced by MOE Singapore, the scholarship includes round-trip economy class airfare. Other trips home for holidays are usually paid for by the family.

Can I work part-time while studying abroad in high school?

Most high school student visas limit or do not allow part-time work. Families need to prepare enough finances for the portion not covered by the scholarship.

Conclusion

Scholarships for high school students are not many, but they are of great value and open up early international study pathways. Preparing early, following the official site and carefully considering your child's readiness is key. When you need flight advice for your child, contact VeDuHoc via the page air tickets to study abroad or hotline/Zalo 090.1800.918.

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