There is a concept of God everywhere in the world. It is accepted in different ways, physically and spiritually. These beliefs created religions. Our beliefs about God determine the religion we follow. It teaches virtues and morality to continue living in a peaceful society. They also provide us with the funding we need to complete our higher education. Religious scholarship is a concept used for the scholarships provided on the basis of your religious choices. We are going to learn about them in this article. Let’s get started.
List of scholarships based on religious affiliation
As the chart below shows, the Presbyterian Church (USA) offers more scholarship funds than any other religious group with more than $3 million.
According to research, there are over 4,200 religions in the world. People around the world follow different faiths and worship the ultimate light that is God. There are 7 major religions or faiths, and they are as follows.
- Christianity
- Islamism
- Atheism
- Hinduism
- Buddhism
- Sikhism
- Judaism
Not following any of the religions is also considered a type of faith. These faiths relate to people’s perception of God and how to reach it. They follow different ideas of spirituality. Did you know these religions can help you with your education? Here are the religious scholarships from across the world.
Christianity
It is one of the most followed religions in the world. It consists of almost 31.2% of people out of the total population on earth. If you want to study more about Christianity and pursue a career in it, some institutes and churches provide religious scholarships.
No.
Religious scholarship
Amount in $
Description 1 Colorado Christian Scripture Memory Scholarship 1,300 to 4,800. It is given to the students who can memorize the book of the bible at Colorado Christian University. 2 Christian Ministries Dependent Grant 1,000 to 18,000. The Robert Wesleyan college provides this scholarship for students who have full-time working parents in Christian service. 3 Young Christian Leaders Scholarship 1,000 The high school seniors or college students who attend the church regularly can apply for this scholarship. You must acquire a 3-4 GPA in the previous semester. 4 Samuel Robinson Award 4,000 This is for the Presbyterian students attending the college of the same faith. Over 25 to 30 students get this scholarship every year.
Islamism
Islam is also one of the most followed religions in the world. It covers 24.1% of the total world population. Some institutions provide religious scholarships to pursue education in any field, and some give preference to students of Islamic studies. Let’s look at some of the top religious scholarships given by Islamic institutions.
No.
Religious scholarship
Amount in $
Description 1 AMANA Mutual Funds Scholarship 2,500 It is given to the students studying finance, mathematics, or economics with a 3 GPA. 2 Dr. Abdulmunim A. Shakir Scholarship 1,000 The students with a good academic score, leadership experience, and volunteer service in the freshman year. 3 Hajja Razia Sharif Sheikh Scholarship 1,500 Muslim students who are studying Islam or journalism with a 3.5 GPA are eligible for this. Read more: Scholarships in Ireland | Criteria, financial aid, and much more!
Hinduism
It is also one of the widely followed religions covering almost 15.1% of the total population. There are few scholarships that are offered to students who want to study the Hindu culture. Some of them are as follows-
No.
Religious scholarships
Amount in $
Description 1 SVS Temple of Greater Chicago 10,000 Only two students can get this scholarship with no criminal record and a minimum of a B grade at school. 2 The Hindu Temple Educational Program 1,000 The student must relate to a Hindu family associated with the temple. They must pursue education for 2 to 4 years and have a 3.5 GPA. 3 Science and Sanatan Dharma Scholarship Varies The Coalition of Hindu Youth provides this scholarship to only 4 students. Enrollment for the 2 to the 4-year educational course is a must for this.
Buddhism
This religion is mostly followed in Asian countries. 6.9% of people out of the total population follow Buddhism. Let’s look at the scholarships offered for this religion.
No.
Religious scholarship
Amount in $
Description 1 Naropa University 15,000 This university gives scholarships to students pursuing a Master’s degree in Buddhism. 2 Tzu-Chi Foundation 1,000 This non-profit organization provides scholarships for high school graduates with a 3.0 GPA. 3 San Jose Buddhist Church Betsuin 500 to 1,000 This church in California provides four scholarships for school and college education.
Sikhism
The Sikh community occupies 0.3% of the total population. There’s a scholarship for Sikh students in the United States. The Sikh Education Foundation provides Saanjh Sikh College Scholarship for undergraduate Sikh students.
The students must be entering the first year of community college and must be a resident of the United States. They must obtain a 3.0 GPA in their previous examination. It provides $2,000 for scholarships.
Judaism
It is also one of the major religions in the world. The Jewish people occupy over 0.2% of the total population. Let’s take a look at the religious scholarships for Jewish students.
No.
Religious scholarship
Amount in $
Description 1 Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Awards 36,000 15 students get this scholarship yearly. The applicant must be Jewish, a resident of the United States, and 13 to 19 years old to be eligible for this scholarship. 2 Bernard Heerey Foundation 2,000 The students who attend Urbana Campaign and are committed to daily Jewish learning are eligible for this scholarship. 3 Helyn B. Reich 750 to 1500 It is given to the students who prefer Israeli universities for higher studies.
Atheism
Atheist scholarships are available to international students studying or planning to study in the United States.
If you don’t believe in the concept of God or follow any religion, you can also get a scholarship for your education. Atheists cover over 16% of the total population. There are some atheist activist institutions that provide this religious scholarship. Let’s look at the top atheist scholarships in the world.
No.
Religious scholarships
Amount in $
Description 1 David Hudak Memorial Essay contest for freethinking students of color 3,500 This scholarship is given to high school students from age 17 to 21. They can be attending school or college in North American universities. 2 Rationalists of East Tennessee Secular scholarship 2,000 It is a scholarship for students in Tennessee who are studying in college or universities. 3 American Atheist scholarship 1,000 The American atheist community gives this scholarship to school students who follow atheism in the United States.
Key takeaways
- Religious scholarships can be beneficial if you want to pursue an education and a career in your religion.
- You can find a scholarship program for every major religion in the United States and the United Kingdom.
- The application process for each one of the above-mentioned scholarships is online. You just need to fill out the application form and attach the necessary documents.
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FAQs
Q1. Which religion has the most number of scholarships?
Answer: The Presbyterian Church provides more scholarship funds for Christian students.
Q2. What GPA do you need to be eligible for scholarships?
Answer: You need a GPA between 3 to 4.5 to be eligible for religious scholarships.
Q3. Which country provides the most scholarships?
Answer: Germany provides the most scholarships in the world.