The NomadMania Scholarship

In line with NomadMania’s belief that travel is an excellent way to learn about the world, and to ensure that recipients receive maximum benefit from the experience in terms of knowledge gained, all proposed trips must be associated with a mini research project, along with a report. Producing something tangible that documents their first experience abroad will enable participants to enjoy a sense of accomplishment alongside fond travel memories. This will also be a means for them to effectively share their experience and learnings with the wider community, as well as those who may want to follow in their footsteps.

In their application, candidates should submit a proposal for a research project that they will undertake in conjunction with their trip. They should specify a topic, how the trip will help them to learn further their knowledge, what they hope to gain from the experience, and how they plan to use it in their future.

Scholarship recipients will work together with NomadMania to create an approved itinerary which will fulfill the aims of their proposal. This might include visits to cultural, historical, or geographical sites of importance, or other relevant activities. NomadMania will advise regarding travel planning and work with the recipient to optimize the experience from start to finish. Participants may also be able to leverage NomadMania’s network of fixers and envoys.

Please note, however, that NomadMania cannot be held responsible for passports, visas or any other documents needed for travel. These are the sole responsibility of the scholarship recipient. If a recipient fails to obtain all necessary documents for international travel within three months of the announcement of the award the Scholarship will be considered null and void.

Qualifying Countries

We accept applications from students who are citizens of and living in countries officially classified by the World Bank as low income or low middle income.

Low income countries:
Afghanistan, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Central African Republic, Chad, DR Congo, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, North Korea, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, Togo, Uganda, Yemen.

Lower middle income countries:
Angola, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Cabo Verde, Cambodia, Cameroon, Comoros, Republic of Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Eswatini, Ghana, Guinea, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jordan, Kenya, Kiribati, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Lesotho, Mauritania, Micronesia, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Samoa, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Solomon Islands, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Timor-Leste, Tunisia, Uzbekistan, Vanuatu, Vietnam, West Bank and Gaza, Zambia, Zimbabwe.

Selection Criteria

The NomadMania Scholarship aims to give the opportunity to travel to those who are financially unable to do so and who have not previously had the chance to travel. Applicants should meet the following criteria in order to be considered:

• Be a first-time traveller between 19 and 30 years of age
• Be a citizen of a country that is low income or low middle income, as officially classified by the World Bank (See ‘Qualifying Countries’ section above)
• Be living in a qualifying country, and studying at an accredited university there
• Have a demonstrable low family income
• Be proficient in English
• Be in at least their 2nd year of university, with at least one year of academic transcripts available
• Be in good standing with their university
• Be in good standing with their workplace (if applicable)
• Have a desire to travel, explore new cultures, and positively share experiences with their home community and the NomadMania travel community
• Aspire to do things internationally, with an idea of how travel can help them achieve their goals
• Have demonstrated leadership skills, and a strong network or following in their local community
• Be a positive, likeable, well-respected role model who is able to motivate and inspire their peers

Scholarship Obligations / Terms of Acceptance

Scholarship recipients will become NomadMania content creators and members of our community. The scholarship programme and awardees will be featured on NomadMania’s website and social media.

NomadMania Scholarship Recipients will be expected to fulfil the following responsibilities:

• Create and update a NomadMania profile
• Complete and submit a report that aligns with the research topic and focus of their trip
• Submit at least 10 high-resolution photos or videos to NomadMania featuring their time abroad
• Write a blog post of at least 1,000 words about their programme and experience
• Complete an interview with NomadMania at the end of their travel experience
• Become “youth contacts” or “ambassadors” for NomadMania in their countries or communities
• Spearhead initiatives or organise activities within their universities or local communities to promote the educational benefits of travel, and raise awareness of NomadMania
• Recruit or recommend applicants from their academic institutions or local communities for future years of the scholarship programme
• Provide mentorship to future applicants and scholarship recipients
• Inform everyone they know about the benefits of joining NomadMania and travel in general

Application Information

Please read the following carefully before beginning your application:

• Only citizens of ‘Qualifying Countries’ who are also residing there are eligible.
• Applicants must be enrolled at an accredited university and have completed their 1st year of study.
• An official university/college transcript is required.
• Scholarship funds can only be used for expenses related to the recipient’s first trip abroad.
• Applicants should research potential costs and ensure suggestions are realistic and in line with the scholarship budget.
• All travel-related documents (passport, visa, etc.) are the responsibility of the scholarship recipient.
• All trips must be taken solo.
• Applications and supporting documentation must be submitted in PDF format to be considered.
• The deadline for application submissions is 31 January 2025, 11 pm GMT.

Required Documents

All scholarship applicants should submit the following:

1. NomadMania Scholarship Application Form (download file)
2. Scanned copy of a personal identification document (e.g. national ID card, school ID, passport, driver’s license, or other ID document)
3. Official university academic transcript showing at least one year of study completed
4. CV or Resume that includes contact information, education history, work experience, extra-curricular activities, leadership roles, skills & achievements, community service, references
5. Letter of recommendation from a professor, employer, or community leader familiar with you
6. Personal Statement – Who are you? Why should you be chosen for this scholarship? Why should we consider you a First-Time Traveller? What does travel mean to you? If you receive the scholarship, how will you use it? What are your future goals and what do you hope to achieve from the experience? How do you expect the travel experience to impact you? (500-750 words)
7. Research project proposal – What is the topic? Why is it of interest to you? How will the trip help you to expand your knowledge in this area? What kind of activities are you interested in doing on the trip? How do you plan to use the scholarship funds on the trip? (250 words).

Here are some examples of possible research topics to guide and inspire you:

• Comparing or contrasting your home country and Country X in terms of ______
• Conducting research on the lifestyle or habits of a particular tribe or community
• Vocational training (e.g. how artisans in Country X make _____, how farmers in Country X produce ____, etc)

Application Instructions

1. Prepare and complete all required documents.
2. Scan each document in the order listed above.
3. Save your application as ONE single PDF file.
4. Email the single PDF file to: scholarship@nomadmania.com by 31 January 2025, 11pm GMT.
   The subject of the email should be NomadMania Scholarship 2025

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a “First-Time Traveller”?
We define a “First-Time Traveller” as an individual who:
– has not had the experience of visiting a foreign country
– alone
– for the purpose of recreation or leisure
If you have had to go beyond the borders of your country due to being a refugee, or for the purposes of work, this is accepted. However, travel with family is not considered travelling abroad alone. Preference will be given to those with the least experience travelling.

What is a “Low-Income Traveller”?
This means a traveller from a low-income background by your country’s standards. Please explain your personal circumstances in your application. Preference will be given to those with little financial means.

What does it mean to “be in good standing” with my university or work?
We require a recommendation letter from a teacher/professor, guidance counselor, or employer/boss. Please have them explain why they think you would be a good candidate for the scholarship and why you would be a great promoter of travel and cultural exchange.

Should you have more questions please contact us at scholarship@nomadmania.com.

Application Deadline

Friday 31 January 2025, 11pm GMT. No late submissions will be accepted.

Only selected candidates will be contacted for subsequent rounds of the application process.

 

Next Steps

The NomadMania Scholarship Committee will review all applications and shortlist candidates for the second round of the application process. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to film a short 2-minute video presentation of themselves explaining why they believe they are the best candidate to receive the travel scholarship. Following this, finalists will be selected. The final round of the process involves a personal interview with a member of the NomadMania Scholarship Committee, after which up to three individuals will be selected to receive the NomadMania Scholarship 2025.

Good luck 🙂