The Bosana Scholarship: Selection, Committee, and Student Expectations

HOW STUDENTS ARE SELECTED

We take our responsibility to donors, and to applicants, seriously. Our selection process is structured, consistent, and conducted by an independent committee.

Step 1: Applications open

Each year, the scholarship is advertised through the Bosana website, newsletter, social media, schools, and partner organizations across Bosnia and Herzegovina. Applications are accepted in the first two weeks of August.

Step 2: Eligibility review

The Bosana Program Director and staff verify that each application is complete and meets the program's eligibility requirements. Once the initial review is complete, complete list is passed to the Scholarship Selection Committee.

Step 3: Scoring

Eligible applications are scored across three categories:
• Academic achievement: grades, graduation results
• Leadership and engagement: essay, recommendation letters, community service, work experience, honors
• Financial need: household income, employment status, family composition, assets, and other support received

Step 4: Interview

Shortlisted applicants are interviewed by Bosana's in-country representative and, in many cases, former Bosana students. Their assessments are submitted to the Scholarship Selection Committee to inform the final selection.

Step 5: Awards announced

Scholarship recipients are announced in the third or fourth week of September, ahead of the new academic year.

THE SELECTION COMMITTEE

Final scholarship decisions are made by the Scholarship Selection Committee, a group of at least three individuals appointed each year by the Bosana President and Board of Directors.

Committee members are selected from outside Bosana's staff: Bosana board members, former students, community representatives, educators, prominent figures, and members of the broader donor and supporter community. They serve one-year renewable terms.

The Bosana President and Program Director participate as non-voting members and may bring forward candidates for the Committee's consideration, but do not hold a vote. This structure ensures that selection remains independent, transparent, and grounded in the criteria, not personal relationships.

Reviewing over 100 applications takes time, care, and genuine emotional investment, committee members should expect to dedicate a minimum of two weeks to the process.

If you are interested in joining the Selection Committee, we would love to hear from you. Please send your CV and a brief letter of intent explaining why you would like to be part of this work to ajlana@bosanafoundation.org.

A Bosana scholarship is not a one-time cheque. We maintain an ongoing relationship with every student we support. Recipients are expected to submit monthly volunteer reports (minimum 10 hours of community service), monthly academic progress updates, and end-of-semester transcripts.

Students must notify the Program Director of any changes to their enrolment or financial circumstances. Students who encounter academic difficulties are encouraged to reach out early, our team works with students before any scholarship decision is made. Scholarships renew automatically each academic year for students in good standing.

The program is reviewed annually to ensure our resources are reaching those who need them most.