These are the 12 documents people usually prepare when applying for a scholarship. Check each item against the official instructions for your application.
Core documents
- Updated CVOne or two pages.
- Personal statement or essayFollow the word limit exactly.
- Academic transcript(s)Official, with stamp if requested.
- Degree and school certificatesScanned in colour at good quality.
- International passport data pageValid for at least six months beyond the programme.
Support documents
- Recommendation lettersOn official letterhead, signed. Ask early.
- English test resultIELTS, TOEFL or exemption letter, if required.
- Admission letterNeeded for many scholarships tied to a school.
- Proof of leadership or achievementsCertificates or letters.
- Research proposalFor research-based awards.
File preparation
- Files in the right format and sizeMost portals want PDF under a size limit. Use Compress PDF if needed.
- Passport photograph
Prepare your files
- Scan every page in colour at about 200 dpi and save as PDF.
- If a portal rejects a file for size, compress it to 200 KB or 500 KB.
- For photographs, resize the image to 50 KB or the limit the form states.
- Name files clearly, for example Surname-Certificate.pdf, and keep the originals safe.
Frequently asked questions
What documents do I need for a scholarship?
Usually: updated cv, personal statement or essay, academic transcript(s), degree and school certificates, and the other items on this list. Confirm the exact list with the organisation you are applying to.
Should I carry originals or copies?
Many places ask to see originals and keep photocopies. Bring both, and keep scanned copies on your phone or email in case a portal asks for uploads.
More checklists
Free tools you may need
Document Checklist
A tick-off list of the documents usually needed for admission, scholarships, visas, jobs and NYSC.
Personal Statement Helper
Step-by-step prompts for scholarship essays, statements of purpose and motivation letters, with word counts.
Scan to PDF
Scan paper with your camera or photos. Make a PDF, searchable PDF, Word file, text or JPG.
JPG to PDF
Combine multiple JPG or PNG images into a single PDF document.