Frequently asked questions
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Is Ascenda a payment platform?
No. Ascenda tracks CSR fund commitments, allocations, and utilization as structured, auditable data — it does not process payments or move money between accounts. Companies and universities still handle actual fund disbursement through their own existing processes.
How are scholarships approved?
A university opens a scholarship with an amount and deadline. Students apply, and the university reviews and approves or rejects each application directly — Ascenda doesn't make the decision, it just makes the process visible and trackable for everyone involved.
What does an Agent do, and are Agent accounts vetted?
An Agent is an independent third party who onboards students onto the platform and tracks their scholarship status — they're not employed by or exclusive to any single company or university. In the current version, Company and University accounts go through admin verification before they can open funding programs or apply for funds; Agent and Student accounts do not currently require separate verification. This is worth knowing if you're a university deciding whether to trust an application referred by a given agent.
Is there a fee to use Ascenda?
Ascenda doesn't charge a fee to create an account or use the platform in its current form. If that changes, it'll be communicated clearly before it affects any existing account.
How long does a funding or scholarship decision take?
There's no platform-enforced deadline — a company decides on funding applications, and a university decides on scholarship applications, on their own timeline. What Ascenda guarantees is that you see the decision the moment it's made, without needing to follow up by email.
Are Company and University accounts reviewed before they can use the platform?
Yes. New Company and University accounts are reviewed by an Ascenda admin before they can open funding programs or apply for CSR funds. You can still sign in and explore your dashboard while verification is pending.
Can a student apply to more than one scholarship?
Yes — students can apply to as many open scholarships as they're eligible for, from any university on the platform.
Who can see my application details?
A funding application is visible to the company reviewing it, the applying university, and Ascenda admins. A scholarship application is visible to the applying student, the reviewing university, and admins. It isn't shown to any other role.
What happens if my Company or University account isn't verified?
You can still sign in and set up your profile, but you won't be able to open a funding program (Company) or apply for CSR funds / open a scholarship (University) until an admin verifies your account. If you believe this is taking longer than expected, reach out through our Contact page.