Scholarship apps, websites and databases compared

A scholarship app or website gathers funding from many sources into one searchable list, so you don't have to visit every university, government and foundation site yourself. They range from official databases run by governments, such as the DAAD's for Germany, to independent search engines, sites that post new calls every day, and services that match scholarships to your profile. None of them lists everything, so most students end up using two or three. This page explains the kinds of scholarship finder, how to judge one, and how well-known services compare. The search below shows the scholarships and fellowships in the Scholarway database.

The kinds of scholarship websites

Official databases. Governments and their agencies list the funding for studying in their country, their own programmes and often others too. They are the most reliable source for that country, and the narrowest: the DAAD scholarship database covers Germany, EduCanada Canada, CampusBourses France, and Study in Japan, run by JASSO, Japan.

University funding searches. Many universities have a search of their own awards. The University of Cambridge's Postgraduate Funding Search, for example, lets you filter its funding by qualification, nationality and country of residence. Once you have a shortlist of universities, these are worth checking one by one.

Scholarship search engines. Independent databases that let you search funding from many sources, usually by destination, level or profile. Some cover study abroad, others mainly college scholarships for students already in their country.

Listing sites and newsletters. Websites that publish new calls as articles, often with an email newsletter or social media channels. They're good for discovering programmes you hadn't heard of, but each post is a summary: always open the official page before you apply.

Fellowship portals. Fellowships and research funding have their own finders, such as ProFellow for professional and academic fellowships and EURAXESS for research jobs and funding in Europe. See fellowships for how fellowships differ from scholarships.

Scholarship websites compared

What each service says it offers, from its own site. "Who it's for" is the audience the site names.

For Indian government scholarship schemes, the National Scholarships Portal is the platform where you apply, from school to postgraduate level. Our page of scholarships for Indian students covers funding for study abroad.

Scholarship apps on your phone

Most scholarship finders are websites that work on a phone browser. A few also have their own app: Fastweb has one for iPhone, and Scholarships.com and Bold.org have apps for iPhone and Android, according to their sites. They are built mainly around college scholarships. For study abroad, the official databases and the search engines above are websites. Whatever you use, set up alerts or a newsletter, because new calls appear all year.

How to choose a scholarship finder

1. Who it covers. A site built for college students in one country won't list funding for a master's abroad. Check the audience before you create an account.
2. Links to the official source. A good listing tells you who funds the scholarship and links to the funder's page, where the rules and the application are.
3. Up-to-date calls. Look for dates on each listing and whether closed calls are marked or removed.
4. Filters that fit you. Nationality, degree and field matter most, because those are the rules most scholarships set. A list you can't narrow down leaves the checking to you.
5. No fees to apply. The US Federal Trade Commission's advice on scholarship scams is clear: never pay to apply for a scholarship, and legitimate companies don't guarantee awards.

Where Scholarway fits

Scholarway is a scholarship search engine built around eligibility. It reads each opportunity's rules (nationality, degree, career stage and field) and, once you add your profile, shows the scholarships, fellowships and research funding you can apply for, from any country it covers. It doesn't list everything, and it doesn't apply for you or guarantee an award: it saves you from reading the small print of funding you were never eligible for. The scholarship eligibility checker page explains how the matching works, and the search opens soon.

To browse instead, start with scholarships for international students, undergraduate, master's or PhD scholarships, study abroad by destination, or scholarships open now. If you're looking for a programme rather than funding, see how to find a PhD or master's program.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best website for scholarships?

It depends on who you are and where you want to study. For one country, its official database is the most reliable. For study abroad in general, use a search engine that covers international students, and add a listing site or newsletter to hear about new calls.

Are scholarship apps free?

Many are: Fastweb, Scholarships.com, Bold.org and Scholly all say they're free for students. Never pay a fee to apply for a scholarship itself; the FTC lists it as a warning sign of a scam.

Is there a list of scholarships for international students?

No single list covers them all. Combine the official databases of the countries you're considering, the funding pages of your shortlisted universities and a search engine for international students. Our scholarships page covers the main programmes.

Where can I find fellowships?

Fellowship portals such as ProFellow and EURAXESS list professional and research fellowships, and universities' fellowship offices list their own. See our pages on fellowships and PhD and research fellowships.