How to Find Scholarships No One Is Applying For!

Let’s be honest—scholarship hunting can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. You spend hours filling out forms, tweaking your personal statement, and hitting submit—only to never hear back. Why? Because many scholarships receive thousands of applications, and the competition is fierce.

However, what if I told you there are scholarships that hardly anyone applies for?

Yes, they exist. The trick is knowing where and how to find them. These lesser-known scholarships can offer you a better chance of winning free money for your education. In this blog post, we’ll break down how you can uncover these hidden gems and stand out from the crowd.

Why Scholarships Go Unnoticed

Before we dive into the “how,” let’s understand the “why.” Here are some reasons scholarships receive fewer applications:

• They are very specific (e.g., for left-handed students or children of firefighters).

• They are regional or local, not widely promoted.

• They are offered by small organizations, not big brands.

• People assume they aren’t eligible and skip them altogether.

• They require extra effort like essays, portfolios, or videos.

These “niche” scholarships may seem like more work, but fewer applicants mean higher chances for you.

1. Start with Niche Scholarship Portals

Skip the giant search engines that everyone uses and go for niche websites focused on curated scholarships.

One such powerful platform is Scholarship Finder, where you can discover handpicked scholarships specifically for Indian students aiming to study in India or abroad. The platform features scholarships that often go unnoticed and provides:

• Weekly updates on new scholarships

• Eligibility filters to match your profile

• Direct links to application portals

👉 Pro tip: Bookmark www.scholarshipfinder.in and sign up for their newsletter to stay ahead of the crowd.

2. Look at Local Opportunities

Community foundations, Rotary clubs, city councils, local banks, and even your school PTA might offer scholarships that don’t make it to large portals.

How to find them:

• Check local news sites and community bulletin boards.

• Contact your district’s education office.

• Ask your school or college counselor for leads.

Local scholarships often have less competition since fewer students are even aware they exist.

3. Focus on Industry-Specific Scholarships

If you’re pursuing a particular field (like agriculture, music therapy, data science, or hospitality), search for scholarships from:

• Industry associations

• Niche organizations

• Professional societies

These may include requirements like attending a related conference or writing a field-specific essay—this effort reduces the applicant pool.

For example, if you're interested in public health or healthcare, check out sector-specific opportunities curated at Scholarship Finder, under their Field of Study filter.

4. Apply to Essay-Based and Creative Scholarships

Most students avoid scholarships that require more than just filling out a form. This is your moment to shine.

Why this helps:

• Many students skip essay-based scholarships out of laziness.

• If you enjoy writing, designing, or making videos, you already have an edge.

• Some scholarships don’t even require high grades—just a compelling story or idea.

Scholarship Finder regularly posts creative contests and essay-based grants. You’ll find them in their Opportunities & Competitions section here.

5. Check Lesser-Known Study Abroad Scholarships

The idea that “only the top 1% get international scholarships” is outdated.

Several universities abroad offer partial or full funding to Indian students—especially if you apply early, meet specific criteria, or choose less popular destinations (like Eastern Europe or Scandinavia).

You can explore international scholarships based on your destination country at www.scholarshipfinder.in. This is especially helpful for students aiming for May or September intakes, where lesser-known grants are still available.

6. Use the Power of LinkedIn and Reddit

It might sound strange, but Reddit and LinkedIn can be goldmines for scholarships no one’s talking about.

Search for:

• “Scholarships 2025” or “hidden scholarships” on Reddit communities like r/IndiaEducation or r/Scholarships.

• LinkedIn posts by university alumni or education counselors who often share updates about grants and deadlines.

If someone has won a niche scholarship, they might talk about it publicly. That’s your cue to take notes and apply.

7. Set Up Google Alerts

This hack works like a charm and takes less than a minute to set up.

How to do it:

• Go to Google Alerts

• Set alerts for:

  • "Scholarships for Indian students 2025"

  • "Less competitive scholarships"

  • "Private scholarships with low applications"

You’ll get notified whenever something new pops up, including blog posts and announcements not indexed on big platforms.

8. Sign Up for Specialized Newsletters

Newsletters can do the heavy lifting for you. The right newsletter brings new opportunities directly to your inbox so you don’t miss deadlines.

At Scholarship Finder, the newsletter subscription is free and includes:

• Freshly updated scholarships weekly

• Scholarships based on education level (UG/PG/PhD)

• Tips on how to write SOPs, LORs, and resumes

👉 Subscribe at the bottom of the homepage: www.scholarshipfinder.in

9. Talk to Past Scholarship Winners

Winners are your best mentors.

• Reach out on LinkedIn or Facebook.

• Ask what scholarships they applied to that no one knew about.

• Find out how they structured their essays and handled interviews.

If they’re generous, they might even send you their old SOPs or give feedback on yours.

10. Don’t Rely on One Big Shot—Apply to 10 or More

Here’s the truth: success with scholarships is a numbers game.

Some students win scholarships worth ₹5–15 lakhs simply because they applied to more than a dozen opportunities. The more you apply, the higher your odds.

Use a tracker (even a simple Excel sheet) to:

• Note deadlines

• Track document submissions

• Set reminders for follow-ups

Scholarship Finder also provides downloadable application trackers and SOP templates, especially curated for Indian students. You can explore these at their Resources Section here.

Final Thoughts

If you’re serious about funding your education, stop waiting for someone to hand you the perfect scholarship. Dig deeper, go niche, and be consistent.

The reality? There’s money out there that’s going unclaimed—sometimes because nobody knew it existed, or because it seemed too “boring” to apply to.

Let that not be your excuse.

Bookmark ScholarshipFinder.in, subscribe to their newsletter, and make scholarship applications part of your weekly routine. Your future self (and your bank account) will thank you.

💡 Ready to begin?

Head to www.scholarshipfinder.in and start exploring scholarships that others are overlooking. The earlier you start, the better your chances!