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Reader Resource

Frequently Asked Questions

Direct answers to the questions our readers ask most often — about our editorial methodology, the scholarships we cover, and how we handle your data and consent.

Independent publication, AI-assisted and edited by its founder

About WikiCounsellor

What is WikiCounsellor?
WikiCounsellor is an independent publication about international graduate scholarships and student visas. We publish sourced scholarship summaries and long-form guides on applications and the immigration pathways that follow. We are an independent publication; we do not process applications, we do not represent any awarding body, and we do not earn referral fees from any institution we cover.
Who writes and edits the content?
WikiCounsellor is an independent publication founded and edited by Ali Sherazi. Scholarship pages are compiled with AI assistance from official programme pages and carry the date they were last compared with those pages. Each scholarship page states that it has not yet been reviewed by a named human editor; we will remove that notice only once a person has checked the record against its official sources. We do not publish biographies for staff who do not exist, and we do not claim a review team we do not have.
Is WikiCounsellor affiliated with DAAD, Chevening, Fulbright, or any other awarding body?
No. WikiCounsellor is editorially and commercially independent of every awarding body it covers. We do not receive payment, sponsorship, or in-kind support from DAAD, the British Council, the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, or any other organisation whose programs appear in our directory. We cite their official portals as primary sources, and we always direct readers there to file actual applications.

Editorial Methodology

How is scholarship data verified?
Each scholarship page lists the official pages it was compared with and the date of that comparison. If an official page could not be read, or we only saw a search summary, the page says so and does not present the fact as verified. Anything we could not confirm is listed under 'Not officially confirmed'. Statuses that depend on a deadline switch to 'check the official page' once that date passes. The full process is on our Methodology page.
What primary sources do you cite?
Scholarship pages link to the awarding body's own programme and application pages, for example DAAD, Chevening, the Vanier programme and the Gates Cambridge Trust. Funding amounts are shown in the currency the programme publishes them in and are not converted. For visa and immigration questions, always rely on the destination government's official pages; our articles are general background only.
Do you use AI tools?
Yes. Research, drafting and checking of this site are AI-assisted. That is why every scholarship entry shows its official sources and the date of comparison, and why unverified details are labelled rather than filled in. AI assistance does not replace the official page: if anything here differs from it, the official page is correct. Please report differences through the Contact form.
How do I report an inaccuracy?
Send a correction request through the Contact form with the URL of the page in question and the official source that contradicts it. We check it against that source and update the page and its 'last compared' date.

Scholarships & Applications

Can WikiCounsellor apply on my behalf?
No. WikiCounsellor is a publication, not an application agent. Every scholarship application must be filed by the candidate directly through the awarding body's official portal. We summarise eligibility, deadlines and application steps from official sources, and we link to the official portal. We do not handle, broker, or transmit applications, and any third party that claims otherwise on our behalf is misrepresenting us.
What does each scholarship actually cover?
Each page lists what the awarding body says the award covers, in its own wording and currency. We do not label programmes 'fully funded' ourselves and we do not convert amounts between currencies, because exchange rates and published rates change. Where the official page does not state an amount, we say it is not confirmed.
What GPA do I actually need?
We only show a grade requirement when the awarding body publishes one, in its own wording (for example a first-class or equivalent standard). Most programmes do not publish a minimum GPA, and we do not invent a number or predict shortlisting. Check the official eligibility page for your programme.
Do you charge for using the directory?
No. The scholarship directory, the editorial briefs, the visa-pathway explainers, and every article on this site are free to read. We do not run a paywall and we do not charge for access to the database. We have applied for Google AdSense to help cover running costs, but the application has not been approved and no ads are currently shown on the site.

Privacy, Cookies & Advertising

What data does WikiCounsellor collect?
We collect aggregate traffic analytics (Vercel Analytics) and the contents of any contact form you choose to submit. We do not require account registration to read content. The site also loads the Google AdSense script as part of an unapproved AdSense application, and that script may read or store identifiers on your device even though no ads are shown. The full breakdown is in our Privacy Policy.
Does this site show Google AdSense ads?
Not at present. The site has applied for Google AdSense and is awaiting approval, so no ads are shown. If ads are approved and added later, Google and its partners may use cookies (including the DART cookie) to serve ads, and you can opt out of personalised advertising at google.com/settings/ads. Our cookie banner is a basic preference notice, not a Google-certified consent management platform; Google requires one for ads shown to visitors in the EEA, UK and Switzerland, and we will add one before any ads appear. See the Privacy Policy for details.
How do I exercise my GDPR or CCPA rights?
Email editorial@wikicounsellor.com with the subject line Data Subject Request and the right you wish to exercise — access, rectification, erasure, restriction, portability, or objection. We respond within the time limits that applicable law requires. The full statutory basis and the procedure are documented under EEA Rights and CCPA Rights in our Privacy Policy.