Scholarships for international students

The four kinds of scholarship for studying abroad

Government scholarships. Many countries pay international students to come and study, both to build ties abroad and to attract talent. The best known are DAAD scholarships in Germany, Chevening in the UK, Fulbright in the USA, MEXT in Japan, Türkiye Burslari and Stipendium Hungaricum. They are among the most generous and the most competitive: the larger programmes often cover tuition, a monthly allowance and travel. Some governments also fund their own citizens to study abroad, usually in fields the country needs, and may ask them to return and work at home afterwards.

University scholarships. Universities fund international students from their own budgets and from gifts by donors. Most of these awards are partial, such as a tuition reduction, and some are given automatically with the offer of a place. A few cover everything, like the Gates Cambridge Scholarship at the University of Cambridge or Knight-Hennessy Scholars at Stanford, and they are among the hardest to win. Our page on scholarships at named universities lists more.

Foundation and company scholarships. Private funders usually have a mission, so their scholarships are narrower: a field such as public health, a region, a background, or students who will work on a particular problem. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, for young Africans, is one example.

Programme scholarships. Some scholarships come with a specific degree. Erasmus Mundus joint master's degrees, run by groups of universities in at least three countries, award their own scholarships to students who study in at least two countries during the course. The European Commission publishes the rules for Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters.

Who can apply: the rules that decide

Before you read about what a scholarship pays, check whether you can apply. Most international scholarships filter on the same few things:

1. Nationality. Many programmes are open only to citizens of certain countries, and some also look at where you live now. Government programmes such as Fulbright are run country by country, with different rules depending on where you apply from.
2. Degree level. A scholarship usually funds one degree level: a bachelor's, a master's or a PhD. Large government programmes that fund all three have separate rules for each. See master's scholarships, PhD scholarships and undergraduate scholarships.
3. Field of study. Some fund any subject. Others fund only science and engineering, health, or subjects linked to development.
4. Experience and timing. Some ask for work experience, others only accept recent graduates, and a few set an age limit.

The search on this page works the same way: add your nationality, degree and field, and it leaves out the scholarships whose rules exclude you.

What "fully funded" means

A fully funded scholarship pays tuition and living costs, and often travel, health insurance and visa costs too. A partial scholarship pays one part, usually a tuition reduction or a fixed sum. Check what a scholarship covers before you count on it: tuition for international students can be several times the fee local students pay, and a "full tuition" award doesn't pay for rent. Our page on fully funded scholarships lists where full funding is most common.

Scholarships without IELTS

The English test is usually set by the university and the course, not by the scholarship. Many universities accept other tests, such as TOEFL or PTE, and some waive the test if your previous degree was taught in English, often only if you studied in a country where English is the main language. If you're looking for a scholarship without IELTS, check the language requirement of the university and of the scholarship separately: a few scholarships set their own minimum score.

Financial aid for international students

For international students in the USA, "financial aid" usually means the university's own grants, based on your family's income and savings, because federal student aid isn't open to students on a student visa. Most American universities offer international students little need-based aid, though a small number meet the full financial need of every student they admit, whatever their nationality. In much of Europe the picture is different: tuition at public universities is low, though some countries, such as Norway, charge students from outside the EU much higher fees. In Germany most public universities charge no tuition fees, only a semester contribution, though Baden-Württemberg and some universities in Bavaria charge students from outside the EU, so a scholarship there mainly has to cover living costs. Our study abroad pages compare costs and funding country by country, from the UK and the USA to Canada and Australia.

How to find the scholarships you can win

1. Start from your profile, not from a list of famous names. Your nationality, degree level and field rule out most scholarships, so filter first.
2. Shortlist five to ten. Mix one or two large government programmes with university scholarships and smaller, narrower awards, where fewer people apply.
3. Note each deadline as soon as you find it. Many of the large programmes close almost a year before the course starts, often before university applications do.
4. Prepare the documents early. Expect transcripts, a CV, an essay or statement of purpose and two or three references.

Our guide on how to get a scholarship goes through each step.

By profile and destination

Some scholarships are written for particular groups: see scholarships for Indian students and scholarships for African students. If you already know where you want to go, start from the destination pages. And if you're aiming for a PhD or research, look at fellowships too: research funding often goes by that name.

Frequently asked questions

Can international students get a full scholarship?

Yes. Full scholarships for international students come mostly from government programmes, a few large university awards and joint degrees such as Erasmus Mundus. They are competitive, so apply to several and add partial scholarships to your list.

Which scholarships are easiest to get?

None is easy, but the narrower ones get fewer applications: scholarships for one field, one region or one background, and the university's own awards. A scholarship with strict eligibility rules that you meet can be a better bet than a famous one open to everyone.

Do I need a university offer before applying for a scholarship?

It depends on the scholarship. University scholarships usually need an application or an offer from the university first. Some government programmes select you first and then help place you at a university; others ask you to hold an offer before the award starts.

How many scholarships should I apply for?

Most successful applicants apply to several. Five to ten well-matched applications is a reasonable target, and reusing one strong statement, adapted to each funder, keeps the work manageable.