What are the chances,criteria and how can i get a pilot training scholarship?

Question

I live in Kenya and currently in college studying for a diploma in aeronautical engineering(A&P).I have great passion and interest in aviation especially piloting.Due to the high cost of training in piloting especially in Kenya I opted to study aeronautical engineering which I also love dearly.But my passion for flying one day still burns in me.I have tried searching for piloting scholarships on the internet but most that I have come about require one to be a citizen of that country(USA&many Europe countries.Is there any institution that grants piloting scholarships to non-citizens and what criteria is used to select those qualified for the scholarships?is having done an aviation related course a booster in getting a piloting scholarship?

Answer 1

Hi Peter,

More scholarships that are available to foreign students are for post-graduate studies, but there are some institutions who have under-graduate programs for foreign students.  You may find nothing that includes flying, but if you were to get a scholarship to study in the USA in any discipline, you might also be able to do some flying in addition to your studies.

Try contacting the following  universities with aviation programs and see what they might offer: Embry-Riddle Aerospace University, University of North Dakota, Ohio State University, University of Illinois, Purdue University, Oklahoma State University, Kansas State University. There are also many other schools in the US with aviation programs. I cannot tell you who offers scholarships to foreign students, but they all strive for cultural diversity in the student population. You would be a good candidate because you obviously speak, read, and write English very well.  Embry-Riddle would be the first one I would contact.

I did an internet search and discovered this interesting link for aeronautical study in China: Check out this website:  

http://www.chinatefl.com/jiangsu/study/n... It is for study in China.  Also, contact your Embassy. They may know a good source of information since they at least have to be familiar with the procedures for obtaining student visas for your countrymen.

By the way, in the USA it is called Aircraft Maintenance Technology, not Aeronautical Engineering, which is the British term for it. In the US, an aeronautical engineer is someone who designs airplanes or aircraft components. Those of us who repair airplanes here are referred to as mechanics, a much less glamorous term.

Good Luck. Email me if you have further questions

Answer 2

People daont have that much scholarships and maybe you are the right one too get one. I believe in you 100 percent.

Answer 3

Get a copy of Flying Magazine, AOPA Magazine, Plane & Pilot Magazine, etc.....  Many organizations offer scholorships. Even "Women in Aviation" offers scholarships, and yes, they are open to males as well.

It is possible that you are a citizen of the wrong country.. no offense, but hey, Kenya is not exactly the Taj Majal of Africa....