Golden Rules for Writing Your Scholarship Application

Language Quality 

Language quality is an important factor. Take the time to review your texts to avoid spelling, grammar, or conjugation errors. Have them proofread to ensure the quality of the language. Evaluators who read your application may pay less attention to it if it is riddled with mistakes. Make sure your text is at a university level.

Level of Language

Avoid at all costs the use of language specific to a very narrow field of activity (jargon), and make sure that the summary of your research project remains understandable, as the evaluators reviewing your application are not necessarily specialists in your field.

Sentence Structure 

Short, concise sentences are the best understood. Remember that a paragraph should refer to only one idea, and that the sequence of paragraphs should form a coherent flow ensuring a smooth transition between each idea.

Keep in mind that a scholarship application will stand out through:

• its clarity: explain exactly what you mean;
• its conciseness: present your research project in as few words as possible;
• its coherence: organize your ideas and arguments in a systematic way.

A Few Writing Tips

Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Initialisms 

At their first mention in the text, you must spell out their full meaning. Afterwards, you may use only the abbreviation, acronym, or initialism.

Verbs 

Avoid the verbs to have, to be, and to do/make. For example:

• Have can be replaced by obtain, hold, possess
• Be can be replaced by consist of, aim to
• Do/Make can be replaced by carry out, perform

Favour action verbs:

• Do the analysis can be replaced by analyze

Avoid strings of multiple verbs:

• I was able to carry out can be replaced by I carried out
• To allow the analysis can be replaced by to analyze

Example of a sentence to avoid: I was led to supervise a team.

Suggested alternatives: I supervised a team, or I oversaw the supervision of a team.

Use of "I" 

Avoid overusing the first person "I." Instead, alternate between "I" and the impersonal form (e.g., it will be demonstrated…) or the passive voice (e.g., the proposed hypothesis consists of…).

To contact us: Info-ÉTS or Graduate Studies Office (A-1700)