Scholarship and Financial Aid
The scholarship and financial aid fund aims to make project management knowledge accessible for professionals without financial means to benefit from the courses provided by our online school.
The aim to support professionals on their journey was one of Ricardo Vargas's primary motivations for founding the Ricardo Vargas Online School.
However, given the world's vast inequality, providing access to courses and learning materials to professionals who couldn't afford them becomes critical.
In mid-2022, Ricardo created the scholarship and financial aid program by donating $10,000 to establish a fund to assist qualified students in pursuing the school's courses. In the future, this fund will include not only Ricardo's initial donation but also the voluntary donations of future students and contributions from companies and other enterprises.
In mid-2023, Ricardo donated part of the results of his work in the Artificial Intelligence for Project Management initiative and some of his speaking engagements to reinforce the fund with an additional $10,000.
In March 2024, Ricardo made another donation of $10,000 for the fund. So far, the donations for the fund have reached out $30,150 (April/24).
With the program's launch, Ricardo Vargas pledged to match every contribution to the school, doubling each donation to the fund. For each dollar of assistance, he will grant one additional dollar to the fund.
The available funds can be seen on this page and will be updated frequently.
Funds Stats
| Available | Allocated |
|---|---|
| US$4,786.00 | US$25,364.00 |
Updated on: 2024-10-09
How to Apply
Applications for scholarships and financial aid are open all year round. Click the button and fill up the form to apply.
Please read the FAQ on this page.
Go to the application formEligibility and Evaluation Criteria
The fund aims to support students that prove they do not have the financial capability to cover the online course investments.
The scholarship or financial aid decision is made at the discretion of the Scholarship and Financial Aid Committee, a group composed of internal staff and guests that will evaluate and decide on each application.
Students from war-torn areas, low-income countries and regions, unemployed, disabled, and other minority groups underrepresented are welcome to apply.
The committee meets periodically, usually every 30 days. As soon as the decision is made, all applicants will receive an email informing them about the committee's decision.
All decisions are final and not subject to appeal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. Is there a specific timeframe to apply for the scholarship or financial aid?
No. You can apply all year round.
2. How long does it take to receive a decision?
There is no specific time to receive a final decision. Usually, candidates wait from 30 to 45 days to receive an answer.
If you did not receive an answer after this timeframe, send a message to [email protected].
3. I am a professional from a war-torn area or a very low-income country. Do I automatically qualify for aid?
No. The committee decides based on several different criteria, including those you mentioned.
Other items are also considered in the decision of the committee.
It is essential to highlight that all decisions are final.
4. I am unemployed, disabled, or part of other minority groups. Does this automatically qualify me to receive aid?
No. The committee decides based on several different criteria, including those you mentioned.
Other items are also considered in the decision of the committee.
It is essential to highlight that all decisions are final.
5. Can I appeal the decision of the committee?
No. All decisions are final.
6. If I receive aid, do I need to return the financial support I received to the school in the future?
No. The aid is a grant and does not need to be returned. We expect that your return will be to society by becoming a better and more effective professional.
7. I donated funds to the scholarship and financial aid program during my registration. Can I choose who should be helped?
No. The decision on who receives the support is made by the Scholarship and Financial Aid Committee.
8. I am an organization and want to participate in providing funds to the scholarship and financial aid program. How do I engage?
Other organizations are very welcome to participate and collaborate in this initiative. Please reach out to us at [email protected] for more information.
Ricardo Vargas pledged to match every contribution to the school, doubling each donation to the fund. For each dollar of assistance, he will grant one additional dollar to the fund.
9. If I donate to the fund during my registration for a course, can I deduct the donation on my tax return documents?
Tax returns and deductions should not be expected due to the nature of the online school. Reach out to your tax advisor for more information.