How to Prepare for a Scholarship Interview: A Step-by-Step Guide

Scholarship interview invitations are a big deal. It means the panel has read your essays, gone through your CV, personal statement, maybe looked at your research proposal, and decided they want to hear from you. Out of hundreds or even thousands of applicants for a BSc, Master’s or PhD scholarship, you are now on a much shorter list. Well done, congratulations.

But the shortlist is not the finish line. The interview is where the panel decides who among the strong candidates they will actually invest in. Many good applicants lose out at this stage, not because they are not qualified, but because they memorised their answers, rambled about things that do not matter, or could not explain their own research in plain words. The good news is that a scholarship interview is something you can prepare for, step by step. This guide walks you through exactly how to do it, from the day your invitation lands to the thank-you email you send after.

If you are still at the application stage, start with our guide on How to Prepare a Strong Admission and Scholarship Application – A Step-by-Step Guide before you come back here.

Step 1: Read Your Interview Invitation Carefully

Before you start preparing answers, read the invitation email from top to bottom, twice. It tells you more than you think. Look out for:

• The format. Is it in person, on Zoom or Microsoft Teams, or a phone call? Each one needs different preparation.
• The date, time and time zone. Many international interviews are scheduled in GMT or another foreign time zone. Convert it to Nigerian time (WAT) and write it down so you don’t show up an hour early or late.
• The length. Some interviews take 15 minutes, others longer. A Chevening interview, for instance, lasts about 40 minutes.
• Who is on the panel. If names are given, look them up on the university website or LinkedIn. Knowing a panel member’s field helps you understand the kind of questions they may ask.
• Documents to bring or upload. Some panels ask for your passport, original certificates or a short presentation.

Reply to confirm your attendance promptly and professionally. If anything is unclear, it is fine to send a polite email asking for clarification.

Step 2: Go Back to Your Application

Most scholarship interview questions come straight from what you submitted. The panel has your personal statement, your academic CV, your essays and, for research degrees, your research proposal in front of them. If you wrote something in your application, expect to be asked about it.

Some months may have passed since you applied, so print or open every document and read it again slowly. As you read, note:

• Every claim you made that the panel could ask you to explain (“I led a team of 12 volunteers”).
• Any figures, project names or dates you mentioned.
• Anything that has changed since you applied, like a new job, a published paper or a completed project. These are good updates to share during the interview.

Step 3: Research the Scholarship, the University and the Course

You need to understand what the scholarship is trying to achieve. Every scholarship has a mission. Chevening, for example, looks for future leaders and is part of the UK government’s long-term foreign policy strategy. The Commonwealth Scholarships focus on development impact in your home country. A university research scholarship may care most about the quality of your research.

Go through the scholarship website, read its selection criteria, and if possible, watch interviews or read posts from past scholars. Read this scholarship success story: How Brighton Guvamombe Won the Chevening Scholarship on His First Try, and see how others prepared and what the panel asked them.

Then do the same for the university and your course. Know the modules you are excited about, the research groups or lecturers whose work connects to yours, and what makes this programme different from others. Also keep up with current news in your field and in your country, because panels sometimes ask about recent issues.

Step 4: Know Your Story, But Don’t Memorise It

This is where a lot of applicants get it wrong. After rereading their application, they go and memorise their personal statement, CV and proposal word for word, then try to recite them in the interview. Please don’t do that.

Memorised answers sound stiff and rehearsed. Worse, the moment a panel member asks a follow-up or phrases a question differently from what you practised, a memorised answer falls apart, and you start to panic. What the panel wants is a natural, authentic conversation. They want to see that you understand your application so well that you can discuss it the way you would discuss it with your friends.

So instead of memorising sentences, do this:

1. Pick the five or six big themes in your application. For most people these are: your academic background, your work or research experience, a leadership or teamwork experience, why this course, why this scholarship, and your future plans.
2. Under each theme, write three or four bullet points, not full sentences. These are the points you must not forget.
3. Attach one real example or story to each theme, with numbers where you can (“trained 40 teachers”, “cut processing time by half”).
4. Practise speaking from the bullet points, saying it a little differently each time.

A quick test: if someone woke you up from sleep and asked what you want to study and why, could you answer clearly in under a minute without thinking about “the script”? If yes, you are on the right track.

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Step 5: Prepare for the Questions That Matter Most

You can never predict every question a panel will ask. But some questions come up so often that walking in without preparing for them is a risk you should not take. Focus your energy on these three first.

“Tell me about yourself”

Some people say this question is old school, but panels still ask it, and it is often the very first one. The mistake is to start from your birth: “I was born in 1993 into a family of five. My father is this, my mother is that…” None of it is relevant.

Instead, give a clear academic and professional overview of yourself and connect it to the scholarship. Stick to that. Keep it between one and two minutes.

Sample answer (Master’s in Public Health applicant):

I hold a BSc in Microbiology from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. For the past three years, I have worked as a laboratory officer at a primary healthcare centre in Enugu State, where we test over 200 patients a month for malaria and typhoid. Seeing the same preventable cases week after week made me realise I want to work on the prevention side of health, not only testing. That is why I applied for an MSc in Public Health through this scholarship. Its focus on health systems in low-resource settings is exactly where I want to build my career.

“Why this scholarship?”

Please don’t say it is because you need funding. Every applicant on that shortlist needs funding, so it says nothing about you. Tell the panel why this particular scholarship fits your academic, research or career goals, using what you found in Step 3.

Weak answer:

I applied because I cannot afford the tuition on my own and this scholarship covers everything.

Stronger answer:

This scholarship is built around developing people who will drive change in their home countries, and that is my plan. After my Master’s, I want to work on maternal health policy in Nigeria. The scholarship also connects me to alumni working in health across Africa, and that network would help me build the partnerships I need for the work I want to do when I return.

“Why should we choose you?”

This is where you confidently communicate your strengths. Think of it the way the panel does: they are making an investment. Before the interview, write down what you have achieved, what skills you bring, and what makes you a strong investment. Then back each point with evidence from your CV. Don’t be shy and don’t be arrogant. State the facts and let your record speak.

Other questions to prepare for

Panels also commonly ask some version of these, so jot down your key points for each:

• Tell us about a challenge you faced and how you handled it.
• Describe a time you showed leadership.
• Why did you choose this course and this university?
• How does this degree connect to what you have done before?
• Is there anything else you would like the panel to know?

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Step 6: Structure Your Answers With the “STAR” Method

When a panel asks you to describe a time you led a team, solved a problem or made an impact, don’t just tell a long story and hope they see the point. Use the STAR method, which past Chevening scholars and the Chevening team themselves recommend:

• Situation: the background, in one or two sentences.
• Task: what you were responsible for.
• Action: what you did, the decisions you made and why.
• Result: what changed because of you, with numbers where possible.

Keep the Situation and Task short. Spend most of your time on the Action and especially the Result, because that is where the panel sees your impact. Some scholars also add an extra step at the end: what you learnt from the experience.

Sample STAR answer to “Describe a time you showed leadership”:

Situation: In 2023, the youth NGO I volunteer with in Abuja lost two of its three trainers just before a digital skills programme for 60 secondary school students. Task: As the programme coordinator, I had to make sure the training still went ahead. Action: I redesigned the curriculum into shorter modules, recruited four university students as volunteer trainers, and ran a two-day crash session to prepare them. I also set up a WhatsApp group so they could support each other during the programme. Result: We trained all 60 students on schedule, and 52 of them completed their final projects. Two of the volunteer trainers have since joined the NGO permanently. That experience taught me that leadership is often about building other people up quickly when things go wrong.

Prepare two or three STAR stories that show different strengths, such as leadership, problem-solving and community impact. That way you won’t keep repeating the same example for every question.

Step 7: If It Is a Research Scholarship, Learn to Explain Your Research Simply

For PhD and research Master’s scholarships, expect the panel to spend a good part of the interview on your research. The first request is usually simple: tell us about your research in plain terms.

This is where many applicants drown the panel in academic jargon. Big grammar does not impress anybody. The panel wants to see that you understand your research, and if you understand it, you should be able to explain it without hiding behind heavy terms. If you can’t, practise until you can.

Too much jargon:

My research employs a mixed-methods paradigm to interrogate the socio-economic determinants of digital financial inclusion among informal sector actors within peri-urban Nigerian contexts.

Simple and clear:

I want to find out why many small traders on the outskirts of Nigerian cities still don’t use mobile banking or POS, even when the services are available. I will survey traders and interview some of them to understand what is stopping them, whether it is cost, trust or something else.

Once you explain it, the panel will dig deeper. Use this: How to Identify a Research Gap for a PhD: A Step-by-Step Guide to prepare clear answers to these:

• What is the research gap? What has not been studied yet?
• Why does your research matter? Who benefits if you find the answer?
• What methodology will you use, and why?
• What challenges do you anticipate? Never say you don’t expect any. Every research project has challenges, and saying none tells the panel you have not thought it through. Name one or two real challenges and how you plan to handle them.

The uncomfortable question

There is one question that catches many people off guard: “What will you do if your research doesn’t produce the results you expect?” Don’t panic. The panel is not trying to trap you. They want to see that you understand research is about investigating questions, not proving what you already know or believe. If you already knew the answer, why would you need to do the research?

Sample answer:

If my results are different from what I expect, that is still a finding. Right now I think cost is the main reason traders avoid mobile banking. If the data shows that trust or poor network matters more, that tells banks and regulators to put their effort somewhere else. I would report the results honestly and use them to shape the next set of questions.

If your programme required you to secure a supervisor before applying, also be ready to explain why their work fits yours.

Step 8: Get Clear on Your Future Plans and Impact

Almost every scholarship panel wants to know what happens after the degree. If they give you this opportunity, what will you do with it? How will your knowledge, skills and research contribute beyond the certificate? After you finish and collect your degree, what next?

Prepare your answer in three parts:

1. Short-term plan (first one to two years after graduating): the role you will take up or return to, and what you will do in it.
2. Long-term goal (five to ten years): where you want to be and the bigger change you want to drive.
3. Wider impact: who benefits beyond you, whether your community, your field, your country or the scholarship’s own network.

Be specific. “I want to help my country” is too vague. “I want to pilot a mentorship programme for new primary school teachers in 20 schools in Kaduna State within two years of returning” shows the panel you have a real plan. Your answer should also match the goals you wrote in your application.

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Step 9: Prepare a Few Questions for the Panel

Most interviews end with “Do you have any questions for us?” Have two or three ready. A thoughtful question shows interest and curiosity. Just avoid questions whose answers are already on the scholarship website, because that shows you did not do your research.

Sample questions you can adapt:

• How do current scholars usually stay involved with the alumni network after they finish their studies?
• Are there opportunities during the programme to connect with organisations working on [your field] in [host country]?
• What qualities have you noticed in scholars who made the most of this opportunity?

If you really have nothing to ask, it is fine to politely say the interview has answered your questions and thank them.

Step 10: Practise, Practise, Practise

Knowing what to say is only half the work. The other half is practice, and this is the step most people rush. My biggest advice: don’t let the interview panel be the first people you practise your answers with.

Here is how to practise properly:

• Explain your work to someone who is not an academic. Pick a sibling, a parent or a friend who knows nothing about research or your field. If they understand you, the panel will too. If they look confused, simplify it.
• Do mock interviews. Ask a mentor, a past scholar or a friend to play the panel. Give them your application and the questions in this guide, and ask them to throw in follow-ups you have not prepared for. Several Chevening scholars say mock interviews showed them they were not as ready as they thought.
• Record yourself. Use your phone to record a practice session and watch it back. Are you rushing? Saying “umm” too often? Avoiding eye contact? Using big grammar where simple words would do?
• Practise out loud, not in your head. Answers that sound fine in your head often come out messy when spoken.
• Start early. Don’t wait until the night before. Give yourself at least one to two weeks of regular practice.

If you don’t have anyone around you who has gone through a scholarship interview, join the ScholarWaka Connect Community (SCC): A Community for Scholarships, Opportunities and Career Growth, where you can connect with past scholars and get guidance on your preparation.

Step 11: If Your Interview Is Online, Set Up Properly

Many scholarship interviews for Nigerian applicants now happen on Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Google Meet. The questions are the same as in person, but a technical problem can throw you off completely if you are not ready. A few days before:

• Test the platform. Install the app or open the link on the device you will use. Do a test call with a friend to check your camera, microphone and speakers.
• Use a laptop if you can. A laptop or tablet is more stable than a phone. If you must use a phone, put it on a stand, not in your hand.
• Plan for light and network. Charge your laptop fully, have a power bank ready, and if you depend on a generator or inverter, make sure fuel or battery is sorted for the full interview time. Buy enough data and have a second network (another SIM or a hotspot) as backup.
• Choose a quiet, well-lit spot. Sit facing a window or light, not with a window behind you. Make sure your background is neat, or use a simple blur.
• Use a professional display name. Not your nickname or old gaming username. Your full name is best.
• Tell everyone at home. Let family know the exact time so nobody walks in, plays loud music or calls you.
• Switch off notifications. Close other apps and put your phone on silent.
• Know your backup. Keep the organisers’ email or phone number handy in case you get disconnected. If it happens, don’t panic. Rejoin quickly and apologise briefly.

Step 12: Get the Interview Day Right

On the day itself, small things make a big difference:

• Dress professionally, whether the interview is in person or online. Dress fully, not just from the waist up.
• Be early. For in-person interviews, plan your route and leave room for traffic. Chevening, for instance, recommends arriving at least 30 minutes early. For online interviews, log in 10 to 15 minutes before time.
• Have your documents ready if you were asked to bring any, plus a copy of your application to glance at while you wait.
• Greet the panel warmly, smile, and if you know their names, use them.
• Take your time. Nervous people rush. Slow down, listen to the full question, and take a moment to organise your thoughts before you answer. It is fine to ask them to repeat or clarify a question.
• Be honest. If you don’t know something, say so and explain how you would find out. Don’t make things up. Panels respect honesty far more than a confident wrong answer.
• Close well. At the end, thank the panel for their time.

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Step 13: Follow Up After the Interview

Once the interview is over, you are not completely done. Within 24 hours, send a short thank-you email to the scholarship office or the contact who invited you. It is not compulsory, but it shows courtesy and leaves a good last impression.

Sample thank-you email:

Subject: Thank You for the Interview, [Your Full Name], [Scholarship Name]

Dear [Name of Contact or “Selection Committee”],

Thank you for the opportunity to interview for the [Scholarship Name] on [date]. I appreciated the panel’s time and the thoughtful questions, especially the discussion on [one topic from your interview].

The conversation strengthened my interest in [course] at [university] and my commitment to [your goal, e.g. improving maternal health policy in Nigeria].

Thank you once again for considering my application. I look forward to hearing from you.

Kind regards, [Your Full Name] [Phone number]

After that, take some time to write down the questions you were asked and how you answered them. Whether you win or not, those notes will help you in your next interview. Keep an eye on your inbox, and check your spam folder too, because results sometimes land there.

If the result does not go your way this time, don’t give up. Many scholars only won on their second or third attempt. Ask for feedback where possible, and keep checking our latest fully funded scholarships for your next opportunity.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should I prepare for a scholarship interview?

Start as soon as you get the invitation. One to two weeks of regular practice is a good minimum, with at least two or three mock interviews before the real one.

Should I memorise my answers?

No. Know your key points and examples well, but don’t memorise full sentences. Memorised answers sound stiff and fall apart when the panel asks a follow-up question.

Can I say I need the money when asked why I want the scholarship?

It is better not to. Every shortlisted applicant needs funding, so it does not set you apart. Focus on how the scholarship fits your academic, research or career goals.

What if I don’t know the answer to a question?

Stay calm and be honest. Take a moment to think, ask them to clarify the question, or explain how you would go about finding the answer. Never make something up.

Is an online scholarship interview easier than an in-person one?

The questions are usually the same, so prepare the same way. The main difference is that you also need to sort out your device, internet, power supply and a quiet space ahead of time.

Should I send a thank-you email after the interview?

It is not compulsory, but a short, polite email within 24 hours shows courtesy and leaves a good final impression.

Disclaimer: This guide reflects general best practice drawn from common scholarship interview advice. It does not represent official guidance from any specific university or scholarship body. Always confirm interview formats and requirements directly with your target universities and scholarship organisations.