Scholarship Opportunities

Scholarship Opportunities: 40 Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students (2027–2028)

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📅 Last Updated: September 02, 2026

Quick Answer

This page lists 40 fully funded scholarships for international students, covering tuition, living costs, airfare, and health insurance. Every entry has been checked against the official scholarship provider or university page. Where a provider’s rate is reviewed annually or doesn’t publish one fixed public figure, we say so and give the most recent confirmed rate with a reminder to check the current one — rather than asserting a number that will quietly go stale.

Browse by: Editor’s Picks · Country · Student Profile · Funding Type

👉 Start with the comparison table below to find scholarships that match your degree level and destination.

This guide is for international students who need full financial support to study abroad. We’ve checked 40 fully funded scholarship opportunities against official provider pages — real funding amounts, deadline windows, and IELTS flexibility, not recycled listicle numbers. Where a provider’s rate changes annually or isn’t published as one fixed figure, we tell you that directly and point you to where to confirm the current one. Every entry links straight to the official application page.

Last reviewed: September 2026. We update this page quarterly as deadlines and funding amounts change.

Scholarship Comparison Table (Top 20)

This table covers the 20 most popular fully funded scholarships for international students. For the remaining 20, see the country sections below. All amounts are per year unless otherwise stated.

Scholarship Country Degree Funding Type Stipend / Award Deadline Window IELTS Official Link
Gates Cambridge UK Master’s, PhD Full tuition + maintenance £22,050/year (2025–26 rate) + airfare Oct 14, 2026 (US) · Dec 8, 2026 / Jan 6, 2027 (Int’l) Required by Cambridge Apply
Chevening UK Master’s Full tuition + living Monthly stipend confirmed in your Final Award Letter (reviewed annually; no fixed public rate) Early Aug – early Oct Not required by Chevening; most partner universities require it Apply
Fulbright USA Master’s, PhD Full tuition + living Stipend set by your country’s Fulbright Commission — no single global figure Varies by country (most Feb–May) Usually required Apply
DAAD EPOS Germany Master’s, PhD Full tuition + stipend €992/mo (Master’s) · €1,300→€1,400 from Feb 2026 (PhD) Varies by course Programme dependent Apply
Erasmus Mundus Europe Master’s Full tuition + stipend €1,400/mo (€33,600 over 24 months) Oct – Jan Programme dependent Apply
Knight-Hennessy USA Any grad degree Full cost of attendance Tuition + living stipend + travel, up to 3 years (Stanford does not publish a fixed dollar figure) Oct – Nov Required by Stanford Apply
MEXT Japan UG, Master’s, PhD Full tuition + stipend ~¥117,000/mo (undergraduate) · ¥143,000–145,000/mo (research/Master’s/PhD) Apr – May Not required for many tracks Apply
Australia Awards Australia UG, Master’s, PhD Full tuition + living ~AUD 33,641/year living allowance (2025 rate, indexed annually) Feb – Apr Required for most Apply
Vanier CGS Canada PhD Full funding $50,000/year for up to 3 years Nov Required Apply
Lester B. Pearson Canada UG Full tuition + living Full tuition + books + residence, 4 years, ~37 scholars/year Oct 9 (nomination) · Oct 16 (admission) · Nov 6, 2026 (scholarship app) Required Apply
UBC International Scholars Canada UG Full tuition + living CAD $10,000–$25,000/year Nov 15 (scholarship) / Dec 1 (admission) Required Apply
Manitoba Grad Fellowships Canada Master’s, PhD Stipend $20,000/year (Master’s) / $25,000/year (PhD) Set by individual department — no single university-wide date Required Apply
York University Entrance Canada UG Partial/Full $2,500–$37,500 Automatic on admission; supplementary award applications due ~Jan 26 Required Apply
Commonwealth Master’s UK Master’s Full tuition + living Monthly stipend, reviewed annually (London/outside-London rates differ — confirm current figure on cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk) Oct Required Apply
Clarendon Fund UK Master’s, PhD Full tuition + stipend Tied to the UKRI doctoral stipend rate, ~£21,805+/year (2026–27), updates each October No separate application — automatic via course deadline (Dec/Jan, course-dependent) Required Apply
Think Big (Bristol) UK UG, Master’s Partial/Full £6,500–£26,000 [VERIFY exact current tiers on bristol.ac.uk] ~Apr 2026 [VERIFY exact date] Required Apply
Yale University USA UG Need-based Full demonstrated need met — individual, not a fixed figure ~Jan–Feb [VERIFY exact date] Required Apply
Humphrey Fellowship USA Non-degree Full funding Full funding + stipend set by U.S. Embassy per country Varies by country Required Apply
AAUW International USA Master’s, PhD Stipend $20,000 (Master’s) / $25,000 (Doctoral) — confirm current tiers directly on aauw.org before publishing ~Sep–Nov (varies by cycle) Required Apply
Heinrich Böll Germany Master’s, PhD only (no UG for int’l students) Full/Partial ~€934/mo (non-EU) / €812/mo (EU) + €300 study allowance Jul 15 – Sep 1, 2026 (Fall) · Jan 15 – Mar 1, 2027 (Spring) Required Apply

For the complete list of all 40 scholarships, browse the country sections below or use the Quick Navigation to jump directly.

Fully Funded Scholarships by Country

🇨🇦 Canada

  1. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships: PhD, $50,000/year for up to 3 years, deadline Nov. Apply
  2. Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship: UG, full tuition + books + residence for 4 years, ~37 scholars/year, nomination Oct 9 / admission Oct 16 / scholarship application Nov 6, 2026. Apply
  3. UBC International Scholars Program: UG, CAD $10,000–$25,000/year, deadline Nov 15 (scholarship) / Dec 1 (admission). Apply
  4. University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowships: Master’s/PhD, $20,000/$25,000 per year, deadline set by individual department — no fixed university-wide date. Apply
  5. York University International Entrance Scholarship: UG, $2,500–$37,500, automatic on admission (no separate application for the base award); supplementary award applications due ~Jan 26. Apply

🇬🇧 United Kingdom

  1. Chevening Scholarships: Master’s, full tuition + living allowance confirmed per Final Award Letter, deadline ~Aug–Oct. Apply
  2. Gates Cambridge Scholarship: Master’s/PhD, £22,050/year stipend (2025–26 rate), deadline Oct 14 (US) / Dec–Jan (Int’l). Apply
  3. Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships: Master’s, full tuition + living stipend (reviewed annually — confirm current London/outside-London rate on cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk), deadline Oct. Apply
  4. Clarendon Fund Scholarships: Master’s/PhD, full tuition + stipend tied to the UKRI doctoral rate (~£21,805+/year, 2026–27), automatic via course application — no separate deadline. Apply
  5. Think Big Scholarships: UG/Master’s, £6,500–£26,000 [VERIFY current tiers], deadline ~Apr 2026. Apply

🇺🇸 United States

  1. Fulbright Foreign Student Program: Master’s/PhD, full funding, stipend varies by country, deadline varies by country. Apply
  2. Knight-Hennessy Scholars: Any grad degree, full cost of attendance for up to 3 years, deadline Oct–Nov. Apply
  3. Yale University Scholarship: Need-based, full demonstrated need met, deadline ~Jan–Feb. Apply
  4. Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship: Non-degree, full funding, deadline varies by country/embassy. Apply
  5. AAUW International Fellowships: Master’s/PhD, $20,000/$25,000 tiers [confirm current amounts on aauw.org], deadline ~Sep–Nov. Apply

🇩🇪 Germany

  1. DAAD EPOS Scholarship: Master’s/PhD, €992/mo (Master’s) / €1,300→€1,400 from Feb 2026 (PhD), deadline varies by course. Apply
  2. DAAD Study Scholarships: Master’s, €934/mo, deadline ~Oct 15. Apply
  3. Heinrich Böll Foundation: Master’s/PhD only (no UG for int’l students), ~€934/mo (non-EU), deadline Jul 15 – Sep 1, 2026 (Fall) / Jan 15 – Mar 1, 2027 (Spring). Apply
  4. Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS): Master’s/PhD, stipend reported as €992–1,400/mo depending on level [VERIFY exact tier on kas.de], deadline ~Jul 15. Apply
  5. Deutschlandstipendium: UG/Master’s, €300/month (€3,600/year, fixed nationally), deadline varies by participating university. Apply

🇦🇺 Australia

  1. Australia Awards Scholarships: UG/Master’s/PhD, full tuition + ~AUD 33,641/year living allowance (2025 rate, indexed annually), deadline ~Feb–Apr. Apply
  2. Research Training Program (RTP): Master’s/PhD, full tuition + ~AUD 42,754/year stipend (2026 rate, indexed annually), deadline varies by university. Apply
  3. Monash International Leadership Scholarship: UG, 100% tuition fees, automatic on admission (a related supplementary award closes ~Aug 20). Apply
  4. University of Sydney International Scholarship (USydIS): Master’s/PhD, AUD $42,754/year stipend (2026 rate, indexed annually), deadline Sep 11 (Periods 1–2) or Dec 18 (Periods 3–4). Apply
  5. Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarships: Master’s/PhD, full tuition + stipend aligned with the national RTP base rate [VERIFY current figure on unimelb.edu.au], deadline ~Oct 31. Apply

🇯🇵 Japan

  1. MEXT Scholarship: UG (~¥117,000/mo) / Master’s, PhD, Research (¥143,000–145,000/mo), deadline Apr–May. Apply
  2. ADB–Japan Scholarship Program: Master’s, ~135 awards/year, deadlines vary by partner institution (typically Apr/Sep/Oct intakes); monthly stipend [VERIFY current rate on adb.org]. Apply
  3. Honjo International Scholarship: Master’s/PhD, ¥180,000–230,000/mo tiered by degree length; conversational Japanese required (interviews conducted in Japanese), application window Sep 1 – Oct 31. Apply
  4. Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship: Master’s, full funding, two application windows per year with dates that shift annually — check worldbank.org for current dates. Apply
  5. University of Tokyo International Scholarships: UG/Master’s/PhD, varies by programme. Apply

🇨🇳 China

  1. Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC): UG (¥2,500/mo) / Master’s (¥3,000/mo) / PhD (¥3,500/mo) via the Type A embassy route — note Type B (direct university applications) often does not include a CSC stipend, deadline ~Feb–Apr via campuschina.org. Apply
  2. Beijing Government Scholarship: UG/Master’s/PhD, tuition + accommodation + insurance [VERIFY current stipend on ebeijing.gov.cn], deadline ~Jun 2026. Apply
  3. Jiangsu Government Scholarship: UG/Master’s/PhD, partial/full funding [VERIFY current amount on studyinjiangsu.org], deadline ~Apr. Apply
  4. Shanghai Government Scholarship: UG/Master’s/PhD, partial/full funding [VERIFY current amount on studyinshanghai.org], deadline ~Apr 2026. Apply
  5. Schwarzman Scholars: Master’s, full funding, ~150 scholars/year, deadline Sep 9, 2026 (global citizens). Apply

🇪🇺 Europe (Multiple Countries)

  1. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s: Master’s, €1,400/mo (€33,600 over 24 months), deadline Oct–Jan. Apply
  2. Swiss Government Excellence: Master’s/PhD, CHF 2,450/mo (2027–28 rate, up from CHF 1,920); postdoctoral track being discontinued from 2027–28, total places cut to ~200–250/year; deadline ~Aug–Sep, country-specific. Apply
  3. Holland (NL) Scholarship: Bachelor’s/Master’s, partial award [VERIFY current amount on studyinnl.org], deadline varies by university. Apply
  4. Swedish Institute Scholarships: Master’s, full tuition + stipend + travel grant — two-stage process: apply to your Master’s via universityadmissions.se (Oct 16 – Jan 15), then apply for the SI scholarship itself in a separate window (Feb 9–25). Apply
  5. Eiffel Excellence Scholarship: Master’s (€1,200/mo) / PhD (€2,100/mo), deadline Jan 8, 2026 for that cycle (confirm current-cycle date on campusfrance.org). Apply

Scholarships by Student Profile & Funding Type

Choose the category that matches your situation. For full profiles, use the links provided in the sections above.

🎓 Undergraduate Students

Look for university-specific scholarships and government programmes. Recommended: Lester B. Pearson, MEXT, CSC, UBC International Scholars.

📘 Master’s Students

Fully funded master’s scholarships are plentiful. Recommended: Chevening, Erasmus Mundus, DAAD EPOS, Australia Awards.

🔬 PhD Students

Doctoral funding usually includes research support. Recommended: Gates Cambridge, Vanier, RTP, Swiss Government Excellence.

🌍 African Students

Many programmes reserve funding for African nationals. Recommended: Chevening, Commonwealth, Australia Awards.

🚫 No IELTS

Some scholarships waive English tests if previous education was in English. Recommended: DAAD, MEXT, CSC, Erasmus Mundus.

📉 Low GPA

Focus on leadership, work experience, and community impact. University-specific awards and regional scholarships may be more flexible.

How We Evaluate Scholarships (And How You Should Too)

We score each scholarship on six factors: funding value, accessibility, international friendliness, reputation, renewal potential, and application simplicity. This prevents us from overrating prestigious but nearly impossible scholarships while overlooking hidden gems.

Use the same framework when building your shortlist. A less famous scholarship with a higher acceptance rate and full funding can be a better strategic choice than a world-famous award where thousands compete for 10 spots.

For a detailed decision guide, see our How to Choose the Right Scholarship page.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get a fully funded scholarship without IELTS?

Yes. Many scholarships, especially in Germany, Japan, China, and some European programmes, accept alternative English tests or waive IELTS if your previous education was in English. Always check the official scholarship page for language requirements.

Which country gives the most fully funded scholarships?

China and Germany offer the highest volume of fully funded government scholarships for international students — China’s CSC programme alone funds over 60,000 international scholars a year. The UK and USA have prestigious but highly competitive options.

Do fully funded scholarships cover living expenses?

Yes. Most fully funded scholarships include a monthly stipend for living costs, in addition to tuition, health insurance, and airfare. The amount varies by country and programme, and often changes annually, so always check the current published rate.

What is the easiest fully funded scholarship to get?

University-specific scholarships and regional government awards often have fewer applicants than global flagship scholarships. Examples include Deutschlandstipendium, Think Big, and provincial scholarships in China.

Can I apply for multiple fully funded scholarships at once?

Yes, in most cases you can apply to multiple scholarships simultaneously, provided each allows it. Some, like Chevening, require you to apply to specific UK universities, but you can still apply for other scholarships in different countries at the same time.

Is there an age limit for fully funded scholarships?

Most scholarships do not have a strict age limit, but some, like the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship (29 for Master’s, 35 for PhD) or Chevening’s typical work-experience-based cohort, favor applicants earlier in their careers. Always check specific eligibility on the official page.

Avoid These Mistakes & Use Our Toolkit

Mistakes that cost students scholarships: applying only to famous programmes, waiting until the last minute, using generic personal statements, and ignoring eligibility. Learn how to avoid them in our full guide.

Need a checklist? Our Scholarship Application Toolkit includes templates, timelines, and document checklists.

For more detail on specific scholarships, see the full profiles linked from the Editor’s Picks and country sections.

📋 Sources & Methodology

This guide was compiled by cross-referencing official scholarship provider websites, government portals, and direct university financial aid pages, prioritizing primary sources over third-party aggregators. Figures marked as ranges or “confirm on official page” reflect cases where the official source reviews the rate annually or doesn’t publish one fixed public number — we chose accuracy over false precision. Full source list with URLs and verification dates available on request.

Content written by LearnViaHub team, reviewed by Christian Chinonso.

 

Disclaimer: Scholarship amounts, deadlines, and eligibility criteria change frequently. This guide was last reviewed in September 2026. Always verify details on the official scholarship website before applying. We are not affiliated with any scholarship provider.

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