FAQ

  • 1 What type of studies do you support?

    Our support is aimed at both undergraduate and graduate students. We try to assess these two groups of applicants separately, while keeping the funds allotted to each group roughly equal.

  • 2 Do you favor applicants in any particular field of study? Would my application automatically be excluded from consideration based on the subject I plan to study?

    We don’t discriminate among applications solely because of your field of interest. It is important to note, however, that we aim to support a wide breadth of interests and specializations. This means that subjects in which we receive a larger number of applicants – such as economics, mathematics, physics, and international relations – can be more competitive.


     

  • 3 I studied abroad in the past. Does that experience work to my advantage or disadvantage in the application process?

    Each student has a unique personal story. We take into account as many aspects as possible of the students’ individual experiences, both academic and otherwise, in order to make our decision. In some exceptional cases, however, we may decide not to support an accomplished applicant if we feel that our help is not necessary for that applicant to reach his or her goals.

    Neither. The Zdeněk Bakala Foundation has given scholarships to students who received scholarship to study abroad while in high school – before applying for financial support to attend university abroad. At the same time, we have given scholarships to many excellent students who came directly from Czech public high schools. 

    The same is true for college students. Some have already begun to study abroad with the help of other foundations, financial aid directly from the university, or family support; other applicants attend Czech universities.

     


  • 4 Should I apply for a scholarship from the Zdeněk Bakaly Foundation before completing my university applications, or do I have to wait until after I have been admitted?

    The application process is tailored for those of you who are starting to make your plans – who are about to start working on your applications, or who have just begun doing so. We want you to think big, and not to be deterred by the financial burden of a top education, so we will let you know whether you’ve been selected long before you file your applications with the universities. That way, you have the confidence that you will be able to afford the academic experience of your dreams throughout the university application and decision-making processes. 

    If you have already been accepted to your preferred program, you may still apply for our scholarship. Several past scholarship recipients already knew where they hoped to go, and had their admission letters in hand, when filling in their scholarship applications, for example because they had applied for early admission.

    If you are already at the university of your choice, but will need a scholarship next year, you are also eligible. For more information, refer also to question 5.

  • 5 I have already been accepted to a foreign university. I cannot finance my studies myself, and I have not received any of the aid for which I applied. Can I apply to the Zdeněk Bakala Foundation’s Scholarship Program?

     

    Yes, but it does make things more difficult. It is important that we give all applicants an equal opportunity; considering all applications under the same circumstances helps to ensure a level playing field. Second, there is the question of timing. Acceptance letters are sent in the spring. It is at the time that universities expect you to tell them how you plan to pay for your studies. We do not announce our decision, however, until the end of summer, so you would not be able to give a definitive answer. If you are in this situation, while you can apply for a grant from the Zdeněk Bakala Foundation, you may want to consider deferring your studies by one year and participating in next year’s application process.

     

     

  • 6 Can I apply for a scholarship from the Zdenek Bakala Foundation if I have already been awarded another scholarship?

    Yes, our scholarships can work in conjunction with other awards to cover the cost of your education. We have, for example, offered financial support to a Fulbright Scholar and to students partially supported by the Educa Foundation. For more information, please refer also to question 21.

  • 7 My goal is to apply to an undergraduate program abroad. When should I submit my application to the Zdenek Bakala Foundation?

    The ideal time to apply is the second semester of your third year of high school. The deadline for application is June 15th, 2012. Scholarships will be awarded in the early fall, so that, when you start preparing your university applications, you will already know whether you’ve been awarded a scholarship.

     

  • 8 How do you define "prestigious university?" Do you provide scholarship to universities that are not American or British?

    One resource that helps us to assess the quality of a university is the official list of university rankings, which analyze a broad range of factors, from class size to alumni given rates, in order to compare university experiences worldwide.

    But we certainly don’t rely exclusively on rankings; we understand that this is not the only way to measure the quality of the education a particular university can provide. Other factors that may affect your specific educational experience, such as research opportunities or the existence of a specialized program in your area of interest, will also be taken into account.

    Many prestigious universities are located in the United States and United Kingdom, so a high percentage of the students we choose will likely be heading to one of these two places. This does not mean, however, that we exclusively offer scholarships to universities in the US and UK. Again, it comes down to the particular program to which you are applying – and where you can make the most of your educational experience.

    Ultimately, our goal is simple: to help the most talented and ambitious students succeed. This requires hard work in a challenging environment that will foster both intellectual and personal growth, so that is what we look for.


     

  • 9 I would like to spend a year or a semester abroad instead of the full duration of my university education. Am I eligible for a scholarship from the Zdenek Bakala Foundation?

    To be selected, you must not only have a clear vision of your academic future, but also be able to present persuasively your individual goals. You may want to finish your four or three-year bachelor’s degree, or complete a master’s or PhD program; perhaps you are looking to spend a semester with a professor whose work is significant in your field of study. We don’t have a pre-defined set of “acceptable” objectives. Instead, we expect you to find the path that will best help you to reach your potential – and to convince our selection committee that it is the right one for you.

  • 10 I was not selected for an interview the first time I applied for a scholarship. Can I apply again? What if I had an interview but I did not ultimately receive a scholarship?

    You can apply for a scholarship even if you didn’t make it through the first time you tried. We cannot predict your chances the second time around, but we have had students reapply, and ultimately receive a scholarship. We have also invited some students to be interviewed more than once.


     

  • 11 I was offered a scholarship from the Zenek Bakala Foudation but was not accepted into the program on my application. Can I delay the scholarship to the following year or transfer it to a different program?

    No. The scholarship is only applicable to the program and academic period that was on your application.

     

  • 12 How important is grade point average to the selection committee? Is it necessary to include my grade point average from high school even if I am already at university?

    Your grade point average offers an objective assessment of your overall academic history, so it is a valuable part of your application – even if you are already at university – but it is not, of course, the only criteria we use in the selection process.

     

  • 13 How important is my letter of recommendation and what should it look like? Does it have to be written in English? What should I do if the teacher from whom I have requested a recommendation does not speak English?

     

    Your letter of recommendation is one of the most important parts of your application, since it is written by someone who knows both your academic achievements and your personality – which is why we generally expect it to give us a good idea of you both on an academic and personal level. Your letter of recommendation should be dated and addressed to the Foundation, and it should include the contact details of the person who wrote it, so that it can be verified if necessary.

     We strongly recommend that your letter of recommendation be written by someone who teaches you currently, or has taught you recently, or another person who knows you well enough to give us a glimpse into both your personal and academic qualities. If you’re already working, you may want to ask an immediate supervisor. In the past, we‘ve also received letters of recommendations from supervisors of academic projects that were undertaken outside of the school environment, such as with the Czech Academy of Science. Recommendations that we have not found helpful have come from language teachers or friends. If you’re already at university, it is not advisable to get a recommendation from one of your high school teachers. Finally, it is best to submit a letter of recommendation that was explicitly written for the scholarship program. In the past, letters of recommendation that were originally written for other purposes weren’t particularly helpful either.

    The entire application, including all letters of recommendation, should be submitted in English. If your teacher does not speak English, he or she must include a translated version along with the original.

    Each letter of recommendation should be sent to email address recommendatione2012@nadacezb.cz by the person who wrote it. Your application should include the name and position of the person submitting you recommendation.



     

  • 14 How important is my essay?

    Very important. Your essay sheds some light on who you really are, possibly revealing some of your original ideas, while showing us whether you can present your thoughts in a cohesive and convincing manner. This is why we require that your essay be written solely by you, and why it can’t be reviewed by anyone else before you submit your application to us. We don’t except your English to be flawless, but it must be 100% yours – an original essay written completely by you. If you choose to include citations, you must include the author and the source. We check for plagiarism, and your application will be disregarded if we find that your essay is even partially plagiarized.

  • 15 Where can I find information for the Student Expense Budget section of the scholarship application?

  • 16 Would submitting my application early increase my chances of being selected?

    Early submission does not technically affect your chances of receiving a scholarship, but it can be helpful in that it leaves time for the selection committee to evaluate your application thoroughly and request supplementary information if necessary. We do not advise you to wait until the last minute, thus hindering our ability to evaluate all aspects of your application.

  • 17 What does the first round of the selection process entail?

    In the first round of the selection process, the applications speak for themselves. The selection committee reads and evaluates all application materials and chooses a handful of applicants to invite for an interview. We try to invite as many applicants as possible, but the process is still highly competitive.

  • 18 What should I expect from the interview?

    Thi interview is an opportunity for you to show the selection committee why you should be selected over the other qualified appllicants. Through you application, they have already learned of you academic history, as well as your goals and aspirations, in the interview, they will learn more about who you are.

     

  • 19 In what language will the interview take place?

    Due to the international make-up of the selection committee, all or part of your interview will be conducted in english.

     

  • 20 Who makes up the selection committee?

    The selection committee has two parts. There is a core group of people who are closely associated with the Foundation. Members of this group can use their experience from previous years to inform their decisions.

    Additionally, each year we approach people whose integrity and credentials are evidence that they will make an independent and well-founded decision. The people we approach generally have relevant experience, such as a background in education or an academic experience abroad.

  • 21 Does the Zdeněk Bakala Foundation cover the entire cost of a recipient's education or do I need to continue looking for other types of financial support?

     

    Whether or not we cover the full expense of your education depends on your individual financial situation and the costs of the program to which you’re applying. Although we are dedicated to lessening the financial burden of your education, we encourage you to take responsibility for your own future. We expect students to make an effort to contribute something to the cost of their studies, or to secure additional financial aid through their university or other institutions. If you’re applying to a university in the UK, we encourage you to apply for government-sponsored student loans with delayed repayment so that you can cover at least a portion of your expenses. Other contributions, for example savings from your summer job or regular contributions from ongoing on-campus employment in the US, are also encouraged. 

    It is unlikely that you will be able to calculate accurately your financial need at the time of application. Our initial award is therefore based on a tentative assessment of your financial need, which takes into account the total cost of attending the selected university (for which we use the Student Expense Budget); an estimate of the financial support that the university itself will provide; student-loan options; and any other sources of financial support (from your family’s contribution to other scholarships).

    If after you receive your acceptance letter and the details of your financial aid package, you find that your total financial need is still not covered, contact us for further consideration. We may be able to offer you additional aid to ensure that you are able to pursue the education that you deserve.


     

  • 22 When will I be informed of the exact amount awarded?

    Your scholarship is contingent upon your being accepted to the university. The actual amount you receive depends both on the tuition at the time you begin your studies and all other financial aid you receive. Our decision regarding the reimbursement of further costs may be adjusted to your situation at the time you are accepted. 

  • 23 When will I receive the scholarship money?

    We pay all tuition fees directly to the university. Any portion of your scholarship that is intended to cover living expenses will be sent to your account at the beginning of the academic year.

  • 24 The program I have chosen has several years to complete. Can I count of the future support of the Foundation?

    We offer financial support for the entire duration of your selected program. Future assistance is contingent solely on your continued accomplishment. Your academic performance will be subject to review each year that you apply for further assistance. This doesn’t mean that you have to participate in another round of interviews. Instead, the assessment will be based on a new letter of recommendation, to be written by a current professor, and review of your transcripts. As long as you can demonstrate achievement, we will provide the support you need to finish your program.

    If, however, you want to continue your studies after the program for which you were initially granted a scholarship from the Foundation, you have to submit a new application with us.

     

  • 25 Are there any obligations tide to the scholarship?

    Our mission is to give intelligent, determined young people the opportunity to better themselves academically and, in turn, to achieve their goals, so we do not attach specific requirements to the support we give. However, because being actively engaged with the community reflects qualities we look for in our applicants, we do hope that scholarship recipients will choose to do charity work not only while at university, but for the rest of their lives. We also hope that past and current scholarship recipients keep in touch, sharing with us their experiences in the format of their choice, and possibly assisting those who come after them.