Knowing the best Scholarships that accept video essays instead of written essays will help you, especially if you have applied to so many scholarship and have been denied. You can try out any of the ones listed on this page.
Most students want a scholarship to help them pay school fees. Long essay writing is stressful to many. Not everyone likes to sit down and type page after page of text. Some students are more good in discussing, presenting ideas or showing enthusiasm in another way.
That is why video essay scholarships are becoming a trend in 2025. Students will be able to create a short video narrating their story as opposed to writing an essay. This will give them the opportunity to express themselves, speak boldly and even add some spice.
In this article, we will look at the top 10 scholarships that will accept video essay instead of written essay in 2025. These are scholarships that will give the student a fair chance to shine without having to worry too much about grammar, spelling and structure of the essay.
Why Video Essays Are Better for Some Students
Video essays are not that demanding to most of us since:
- You can talk rather than write long sentences.
- The judges can read your personality and hear your voice.
- You can be musical, pictorial or a narrator.
- It’s more of a discussion and less of an examination.
These scholarships will be perfect for you if you are nervous about writing yet love to express your ideas out loud.
10 Best Scholarships That Accept Video Essays Instead of Written Essays (2025 List)
Below are some of the best scholarships that accept video essays instead of written essays.
1. Courage to Grow Scholarship
This scholarship is for students who want to tell their story in a simple way. You don’t have to write a long essay but you can make a short video talking about what you want to be and why education is important to you. It gives the weak writers an equal chance to compete.
2. Taco Bell Live Más Scholarship.
Millions of dollars are given away in scholarships every year by the Taco Bell Foundation. They don’t require grades or test scores. Instead, students make a video telling why they care about something and how they want to change something. The video doesn’t have to be fancy, it should be simple and to the point.
3. Unigo $10K Video Scholarship
Unigo is known for fun and quirky scholarships. Their $10,000 scholarship allows students to make a one-minute video answering a simple question of what they want to be. Instead of reading your writing skills, they want to read your personality.
4. Dr. Pepper Tuition Giveaway
Dr. Pepper is giving away big tuition grants to students in the U.S. every year. You make a video of your goals and why you need education to get in. First place winners get up to $100,000 in tuition.
5. Frame My Future Scholarship
This one is about ingenuity. Students are asked to create a video where they talk about their future. You don’t have to be a filmmaker – just tell your story in a way that makes sense to you.
6. Atlas Shrugged Video Contest.
This one is about your ideas about the book Atlas Shrugged. Instead of writing a text essay, students can create a video essay to describe what they think. It’s a good option because students like talking more than writing.
7. Create-A-Greeting-Card Scholarship
This one allows students to create and pitch their original idea of a card. You can record a video instead of writing about your design and what makes it special. It’s ideal when the student loves art and creative works.
8. Young Filmmaker Contest Scholarship.
Students who like making videos can get this scholarship. You produce a video or video essay on a relevant topic, like the environment or community change. It’s a good game to play to share your talent and also earn money to fund your education.
9. CollegeXpress 2,000 Video Essay Contest.
CollegeXpress also has scholarships that are easy to apply. In this one you just have to provide a 1-minute video essay about your ambitions, school ambitions or your story. It’s simple to enter and open to many students.
10. Video Contest World of 7 Billion.
In this scholarship students work on creating a short video on world problems such as climate change, population explosion or technology. It’s an opportunity to discuss big issues in the world and explain your thoughts on how to solve them. Scholarship money and recognition is given to winners.
How to Win a Video Essay Scholarship
Here are some easy ways to shine:
- Be yourself – Talk like you’re talking to a friend.
- Be simple – Stick to one big idea rather than many.
- Lighting- Use good lighting so people can see your face.
- Keep things within time frames – Most scholarships require short videos.
- Practice first – List a few of them down until you are sure.
FAQs
1. What is video essay scholarship?
A video essay scholarship is a scholarship where you make a video instead of writing an essay. You talk about your ideas, aspirations or visions in the video. Your video helps the judges to know more about you.
2. What is a video essay length?
Most scholarships require videos of up to 1 to 3 minutes. The rules of each scholarship always state the exact time limit.
3. Do I need to have professional equipment to record a video essay?
No. You don’t need to buy a expensive camera. Many students use their phone or laptop. Clear sound, good lighting and speaking with confidence is the most important thing.
4. So what to talk about in a video essay?
It depends on the question of the scholarship. The most popular are what you want to do with your career, why you are passionate, what you want to do to help people, or what education is important to you.
5. Can international students get video essay scholarships?
International students can also apply to some video essay scholarships. Always check the scholarship site to see who is eligible.
6. How to be different in my video essay?
Speak with power and tell your own story, be yourself. You can also include some cool details such as music or photos, but keep it simple and natural.
7. Are video essays accepted by all scholarships?
No, written essays are still required in most scholarships. But the list of scholarships that accept video essays is growing every year and more so in 2025.
Scholarship Guides:
- Best Scholarships for Hispanic Students in 2025 (With Deadlines)
- First-Generation College Student Scholarships in 2025: Full List
- 10 Free Undergraduate Scholarships for Disabled Students in Africa 2025
Conclusion
Video essay scholarships is a great opportunity for students who don’t write but enjoy speaking/sharing/creating. More than ever, in 2025, students have a chance to try this.
Here, don’t despair of your scholarship dreams if you are a student who gets nervous about the long essay. We recommend trying one of these 10 best scholarships that don’t require written essays and ask you to show your passion in a video.
You can use your voice, your story and your personality to get the support you need in your education.
