Easiest Scholarships to Get: Quick Wins for Students in 2025

Ever wondered if there’s a shortcut to study funding? Everyone’s talking about scholarships all the time, like they’re this rare unicorn. But here’s something wild: thousands of scholarships sit unclaimed each year, simply because nobody applied or people assumed they had no shot. Most students get tripped up by assuming every scholarship is for geniuses, sports stars, or the desperately poor. That’s not the reality, not by a long shot. Whether you want to build a better future in Johannesburg or score a stacking opportunity in Berlin, the right (read: easiest) scholarship is just waiting for clever students to actually take a shot. So, which one really is the easiest? The answer might surprise you, and no, you don’t need a 90% average or Olympic medal to apply. Let’s break down where to look, what to avoid, and exactly how to win at this scholarship game. No secret handshake required.

What Makes a Scholarship 'Easy'?

People throw around 'easy' like it means the same thing to everyone. Some think “easy” is about simple paperwork, while others see it as lower competition. For most students, the real deal is a scholarship they stand a solid chance of landing, without losing sleep trying to fill out a stack of essays and forms. So, what shifts a scholarship from hard mode to easy mode?

First up, eligibility plays a massive role. If you fit the criteria snugly—think location, interests, background, or even hobbies—your odds skyrocket. Take, for instance, community or organisational scholarships tied to your parents’ workplace, your hometown, or specific ancestry. These aren’t hammered with ten thousand applicants, so you aren’t drowning in a sea of overachievers. Unclaimed scholarships are an open secret: a 2023 report from Scholarship America highlighted that about $100 million in private scholarship money in the US alone goes unused annually. Now add local awards and bursaries from city councils, religious groups, and quirky community clubs. There’s even a scholarship in South Africa for left-handed people. Think that’s common? Exactly—fewer applicants means you’re ahead.

Then comes the application process itself. 'Easy' can mean scholarships with no long-form essay, no complicated interviews, or fancy portfolios. These are often sweepstakes-style awards, automatically assigned for things like registering on a website, attending certain high schools, or joining specific volunteer activities. Examples include the so-called 'no-essay' scholarships popping up worldwide. Fastweb and Bold.org in the US, and platforms like StudyTrust and Funza Lushaka here in South Africa, host dozens of funding opportunities that won’t eat up your weekends with paperwork. Don’t ignore bursaries either—especially in the South African context. Bursaries like the NSFAS offer funding based on need, and they’re straightforward once you prove your background and academic history.

“Easy” is sometimes about timing, too. Wednesday deadines at 11:59PM? Crazy, but hardly anyone applies that late, so showing up with a completed application puts you miles ahead. Local companies sometimes roll out scholarships for specific fields like teaching or nursing—very focused, fewer applicants.

But the biggest secret: persistence. Most students apply to one or two scholarships and quit if they don’t win. The easiest scholarships might not be the biggest—sometimes, R2,500 from a local rotary club is way less work than R80,000 from big national funds. Don’t be shy. Try for local, small, and oddball awards—the competition is low, and the rules are usually a breeze.

The Types of Scholarships That Are Easiest to Get

If you’re picturing massive university or government scholarships when you hear “scholarship,” you’re missing out. The real low-hanging fruit is usually in the niche categories. So what are these?

Local scholarships will always top the charts. Most cities, municipalities, and schools team up with companies to give away small, targeted awards. Some are literally for students on certain streets or in set wards. I’ve seen Cape Town’s own Rotary Clubs giving travel bursaries to students who've shown energy in leadership or volunteered at beach cleanups.

Then you’ve got affiliation-based scholarships. These are for members of a particular club, religion, ethnicity, company, or even a worker’s union. For example, the South African Clothing and Textile Workers' Union runs scholarships for children of their members. Sometimes it’s your parent’s job that gets you in—not your grades. These awards barely get publicized, so super low competition is basically guaranteed.

The 'weird' scholarships are their own goldmine. International websites like Unigo list scholarships awarded for everything from having red hair to writing haikus. If there’s a scholarship for surviving a zombie apocalypse (no joke, in America there is), odds are the applicant list is tiny.

Automatic and no-essay scholarships are the ultimate ‘easy’ plays. Platforms like Capitec’s #MakeADifference Bursary, Chevening’s Early Bird Awards, or simple “sign up and win” schemes pop up every year. Here’s a tip: always check the requirements. If it sounds like you just need to be alive and breathing, that’s one to try. Same goes for employer scholarships. Large banks and retail chains in South Africa quietly support staff and their kids—these aren’t widely advertised but can be a financial lifesaver.

Let’s get into some numbers to hammer the point home. Here’s a table—a handful of popular easy-to-get scholarship types and their average number of annual applicants (based on known stats from South Africa and international sources):

Quick summary? The more local and niche, the easier. National awards sound great but are flooded with competitors. The smart money hunts smaller prizes, stacks them, and stays under the radar.

How to Find and Win the Easiest Scholarships

There’s no magic wand, but a few simple steps can boost your odds. For starters, look close to home. Ask at your school, church, parents’ workplace or even your city council’s Facebook page. Local scholarships may not appear on Google’s first page, but they’re hiding in the community noticeboard in your local library or community WhatsApp group.

Use dedicated scholarship search engines. In South Africa, websites like BursariesSA, GoStudy, and SAStudy serve up regular awards—most of which go unnoticed. Abroad, check Fastweb, Cappex, and Bold.org. Stay away from paid databases and agencies, though; legit scholarships never require up-front cash.

Look for scholarships tied to your *story* or your quirks. Are you the only person in your family going to college? Did you survive a rare illness? Do you plan to teach in rural Limpopo? These odd angles can open doors. Even being left-handed or loving chess can score you a funding boost if you hunt in the right places.

Be ruthless about deadlines. Set automatic reminders to check for new awards monthly, and when you’re ready to apply, never wait for the last minute. Early applicants sometimes get extra attention—or at least avoid being lost in the rush. Apply to as many as you can. It sounds cliche, but it’s the most-important tip for landing the easiest scholarship; if you don’t apply, you definitely won’t win.

For sweeping the no-essay scholarships category, sign up wherever you’re eligible but be wary of scams. Legit providers never ask for fees or sensitive banking info up front. If you land a shot at an interview, keep things authentic. Most scholarship panels just want to see signs of sincerity—real goals, a clear reason for your study choice, and a bit of local spirit. Copy-paste CVs or generic appeals end up in the trash.

Don’t neglect social media. Judges sometimes peek at your public profiles, so keep your digital footprint clean. And network—sometimes, a teacher or guidance counselor will tip you off to a closed scholarship if you just ask.

Common Myths and Real Talk: The Hidden Side of 'Easy'

Lots of rumors float around the scholarship world. “You need top marks.” “There’s no easy scholarship.” “Only rich universities give real funding.” Here’s the real story: some scholarships are designed to help specific kinds of students—often people who might have missed out on other support. Marks matter in some cases, sure, but there are awards out there for grit, creativity, and community spirit.

One big myth is that easy scholarships aren't legit or will only pay you peanuts. Small awards add up. A 2022 Moneyweb survey reported that the average first-year university student in South Africa needed R6,000 for books and registration alone. Even a small, 'easy' scholarship changes the game.

Another myth is about paperwork. Not all scholarships are daunting. The easiest ones usually stick to a one-page form and a quick motivation letter. And—plot twist—sometimes, the only reason you get chosen is because only five people bothered applying.

Also, scholarships are not only for undergrads. Postgraduate, technical, and even vocational awards fly under the radar. Looking at you, future welders and builders. Local sector training authorities (SETA) constantly drop bursaries for skills-based courses.

Keep your radar tuned to deadlines and eligibility, but don’t disqualify yourself before the race starts. Chat with people who've already won scholarships (your school’s alumni group is a goldmine for this). And yes, try even when you feel unqualified. Sometimes, the biggest barrier isn’t the application—it’s convincing yourself to apply in the first place.

Here’s a tip from Cape Town’s own high school teachers: apply early, ask for help with proofreading, and keep copies of everything. Keep a basic cover letter and motivation ready to tweak for each application. The trick isn’t being perfect—it’s being present and, above all, persistent.