60 Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students

Every entry below links either to an in-depth LicensureHub guide (where we’ve already broken down eligibility, benefits, and the application process step-by-step) or directly to the scholarship’s official page. We update this list annually as programs open, close, or change their funding structure, so bookmark it rather than searching for a “version” next year. Our full list of fully funded Master’s scholarships.

What Counts as a “Fully Funded” Scholarship?

Before diving into all 60 fully funded scholarships for international students, it helps to define the term, because scholarship providers use it loosely. A genuinely fully funded scholarship for international students typically covers:

• Full tuition fees (100%, not a partial-tuition waiver)
• A living stipend or monthly allowance to cover accommodation, food, and daily expenses
• Airfare to and from the host country (not universal, but common among government-funded awards)
• Health insurance for the duration of study
• Visa and settlement support, sometimes including a relocation or arrival allowance

Scholarships that cover tuition alone, without a stipend, are usually labeled “tuition waivers” rather than fully funded scholarships — we’ve flagged the few borderline cases below so you’re not caught off guard mid-application.

Quick-Answer Summary

There are 60 fully funded scholarships for international students on this list, spanning 25+ host countries, covering undergraduate, master’s, and PhD levels. The largest categories are government-funded national scholarships (18 programs — think Chevening, Fulbright, DAAD, MEXT) and university-funded graduate assistantships and fellowships (20 programs). Most have annual deadlines between October and March for the following academic year, so start preparing your documents 8–12 months ahead of your target intake.

How This List of 60 Fully Funded Scholarships Is Organized

We’ve grouped every fully funded scholarship for international students into four funding-source categories, because who funds a scholarship tells you a lot about what it will demand from you:

1. Government-funded scholarships usually prioritize diplomatic and development goals, so they favor applicants from specific developing regions and often require a return-home commitment.
2. University-funded scholarships and assistantships reward research fit and academic merit, and frequently involve part-time teaching or research duties.
3. Organization and foundation-funded scholarships tend to focus on leadership potential and a defined mission (public health, entrepreneurship, human rights, etc.).
4. Regional and multi-country schemes bundle several host universities under one umbrella application, which can save you significant application time.

Government-Funded Scholarships for International Students

Government-funded programs remain the backbone of any list of fully funded scholarships for international students, because they’re backed by national budgets and tend to be the most generous and the most stable year over year.

1. Chevening Scholarship (UK) — Fully funded one-year master’s degree at any UK university, open to applicants from 160+ countries with leadership potential.
2. Commonwealth Shared Scholarship (CSC/CSSS) (UK) — Full master’s funding for students from developing Commonwealth countries, jointly funded by UK universities and the UK government.
3. Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA) — The world’s most recognized fully funded scholarship for international students pursuing a master’s or PhD in the United States.
4. DAAD Scholarships (Germany) — Multiple fully funded tracks for master’s and PhD study across German universities, including EPOS scholarships for development-related programs.
5. MEXT Scholarship (Japan) — Japan’s Ministry of Education scholarship covering tuition, a monthly stipend, and airfare for undergraduate through PhD study.
6. Australia Awards Scholarships — Fully funded undergraduate and postgraduate study in Australia for applicants from eligible developing countries in the Indo-Pacific and Africa.
7. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships — Fully funded doctoral and postdoctoral research scholarships at Swiss universities.
8. Türkiye Bursları (Turkey Scholarships) — One of the broadest fully funded scholarship schemes globally, covering all degree levels plus Turkish language training.
9. Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) — Fully funded study at Chinese universities across all degree levels, administered by the China Scholarship Council.
10. Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) — Full tuition, flights, and a monthly stipend to study in South Korea. (Full LicensureHub breakdown available.)
11. Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary) — Fully funded scholarship covering tuition, accommodation, and a monthly stipend for all degree levels.
12. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships — Canada’s most prestigious fully funded doctoral scholarship, valued at CAD 50,000 per year.
13. Mitacs Globalink Internship (Canada) — A fully funded research internship pathway that frequently leads into funded graduate study in Canada. (Full LicensureHub breakdown available.)
14. Eiffel Excellence Scholarship (France) — Fully funded master’s and PhD scholarship for high-potential international students at top French institutions.
15. Italian Government Scholarships (MAECI) — Full tuition and monthly stipend for study at Italian universities and conservatories.
16. Orange Tulip Scholarship (Netherlands) — Country-specific fully funded and partially funded awards for study in the Netherlands.
17. NAWA Polish Government Scholarships — Fully funded study and research scholarships for international students and academics in Poland.
18. Brunei Darussalam Government Scholarship — Fully funded undergraduate and postgraduate study in Brunei, including flights and monthly allowance.

University-Funded Scholarships for International Students

University-funded scholarships are where individual institutions compete for top global talent — and where several of the most generous fully funded scholarships for international students actually live, because they aren’t capped by a national aid budget.

19. Gates Cambridge Scholarship (UK) — Fully funded postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge for outstanding applicants from outside the UK.
20. Rhodes Scholarship (UK) — The oldest international graduate scholarship, fully funding postgraduate study at the University of Oxford.
21. Clarendon Fund Scholarships (University of Oxford) — Full tuition and a generous grant for graduate study across all subject areas at Oxford.
22. Knight-Hennessy Scholars (Stanford University) — Fully funded graduate study at Stanford across any of its seven graduate schools.
23. Schwarzman Scholars (Tsinghua University, China) — A fully funded one-year master’s in global affairs, based in Beijing.
24. UCL Research Excellence Scholarship (RES) (UK) — Full-tuition PhD funding at University College London. (Full LicensureHub breakdown available.)
25. Bartlett Promise Scholarship (UCL, Sub-Saharan Africa track) — Fully funded master’s study at UCL’s Bartlett Faculty for applicants from Sub-Saharan Africa.
26. University of Sydney International Stipend Scholarship (Australia) — Full-tuition and stipend PhD funding at the University of Sydney. (Full LicensureHub breakdown available.)
27. ACU Research Scholarship (Australian Catholic University) — Multiple fully funded PhD funding pathways. (Full LicensureHub breakdown available.)
28. Wellington Doctoral Scholarship (Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand) — Fully funded PhD scholarship covering tuition and a living stipend. (Full LicensureHub breakdown available.)
29. Graduate Assistantships at University of Waterloo (Canada) — Funded master’s and PhD positions combining tuition support with paid teaching/research work. (Full LicensureHub breakdown available.)
30. Graduate Associateships at Ohio State University (USA) — Fully funded graduate funding combining a tuition waiver with a stipend. (Full LicensureHub breakdown available.)
31. Graduate Assistantships at University of Central Florida (USA) — Full-tuition graduate assistantships across UCF’s academic departments. (Full LicensureHub breakdown available.)
32. Graduate Assistantships at Babson College (USA) — Funded assistantship positions at one of the top US entrepreneurship-focused graduate schools. (Full LicensureHub breakdown available.)
33. ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship (Switzerland) — Fully funded master’s scholarship at one of Europe’s top-ranked technical universities.
34. KAUST Fellowship (Saudi Arabia) — Full tuition, a generous monthly living allowance, and housing for master’s and PhD students in STEM fields.
35. Nanyang President’s Graduate Scholarship (NTU, Singapore) — Fully funded PhD scholarship at one of Asia’s top-ranked universities.
36. Yenching Academy Scholarship (Peking University, China) — Fully funded interdisciplinary master’s program covering tuition, housing, flights, and a stipend.
37. University of Tokyo Fellowships (Japan) — Multiple internal fully funded scholarship tracks for international graduate researchers.
38. Li Ka Shing Foundation Scholarships (Hong Kong/China, multiple partner universities) — Fully funded scholarships supporting students across STEM, medicine, and public policy.

Organization & Foundation-Funded Scholarships

Independent organizations and private foundations fund some of the most mission-driven fully funded scholarships for international students — often built around leadership, public service, or a specific development goal rather than pure academic ranking.

39. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program — Fully funded undergraduate and graduate scholarships for African students at a global network of partner universities, including the University of Edinburgh.
40. Rotary Peace Fellowship — Fully funded master’s or professional development certificate in peace and conflict studies at designated Rotary Peace Centers.
41. Open Society Foundations Scholarships — Funding for students from underrepresented regions pursuing graduate study abroad, with a focus on social justice fields.
42. AAUW International Fellowships (American Association of University Women) — Fully funded fellowships for women pursuing full-time graduate or postdoctoral study in the US.
43. Islamic Development Bank Merit Scholarship — Fully funded scholarships for students from IsDB member countries across STEM and applied science fields.
44. Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme — A blend of scholarship and low-interest loan funding for graduate study, prioritizing students without other funding access.
45. OPEC Fund Scholarship — Fully funded master’s scholarships for students from OPEC Fund partner countries pursuing development-related fields.
46. Fundación Carolina Scholarships (Spain) — Fully funded postgraduate scholarships for Latin American and Caribbean students studying in Spain.
47. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees (European Union) — Fully funded, multi-country master’s programs delivered jointly by universities across at least two European countries.
48. Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program — Fully funded master’s scholarships for professionals from World Bank member developing countries.
49. UN Women Scholarship / UN-related Fellowships — Periodic fully funded fellowship opportunities tied to gender equality and development research (check current cycle listings).
50. Fondation Botnar Scholarships — Funded opportunities for students and researchers working on child and adolescent health innovation.
51. Ford Foundation Global Fellowships — Periodic fully funded graduate fellowships supporting social justice-oriented scholars (availability varies by cycle).
52. Rotary Foundation Global Grant Scholarships — District-level fully funded scholarships for graduate study tied to Rotary’s six areas of focus.

Regional & Multi-Country Scholarship Schemes

Regional schemes let you apply once and be considered across a pool of host universities — an efficient route if you’re comparing multiple fully funded scholarships for international students at once.

53. Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) — The umbrella scheme covering multiple Commonwealth Scholarship tracks for developing-country applicants.
54. Thailand International Postgraduate Programme (TIPP) — Fully funded postgraduate study across participating Thai universities.
55. Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Scholarships — Fully funded undergraduate and postgraduate study across a network of Indian universities.
56. Saudi Arabia King Abdullah Scholarship Program — Fully funded study across a global network of partner universities for eligible applicants.
57. Romanian Government Scholarships — Fully funded study across public Romanian universities for developing-country applicants.
58. Austrian OeAD Scholarships — Multiple fully funded scholarship tracks across Austrian public universities.
59. Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals — Fully funded master’s scholarships for students from a defined list of eligible countries.
60. Qatar Government/University Scholarships — Fully funded scholarships across Qatar Foundation’s partner universities, covering tuition, accommodation, and a stipend.

Full Comparison Table: All 60 Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students

Amounts and deadlines change annually — always confirm current figures on the official page linked above before applying.

How to Apply for Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students: A Step-by-Step Framework

Applying to multiple fully funded scholarships for international students at once is a numbers game, but a scattershot approach wastes time. Use this framework instead:

1. Build a master document bank 8–12 months out — CV, degree transcripts, two to three reference letters, and a base personal statement you can tailor per scholarship.
2. Match eligibility before writing anything — nationality restrictions, GPA cutoffs, and field-of-study requirements eliminate more applicants than weak essays do.
3. Customize your statement of purpose to each funder’s mission — a government scholarship wants public-service impact; a university scholarship wants research fit; a foundation wants alignment with its cause.
4. Track deadlines centrally — most fully funded scholarships for international students open applications 6–10 months before the intake and close without extensions.
5. Apply to a mix of government, university, and organization-funded programs — this spreads your risk across different selection committees and criteria.

People Also Ask

Which scholarship is 100% fully funded for international students?
Several programs on this list are genuinely 100% fully funded, including Chevening, Fulbright, MEXT, Gates Cambridge, and the Chinese Government Scholarship — each covers tuition, a living stipend, and typically flights and insurance.

What GPA do I need for a fully funded scholarship?
Most fully funded scholarships for international students expect a GPA equivalent to a strong upper-second-class or first-class degree (roughly 3.3–3.5+ on a 4.0 scale), though leadership, work experience, and essay quality often weigh as heavily as grades.

Can I apply for more than one fully funded scholarship at the same time?
Yes — applying to multiple fully funded scholarships for international students simultaneously is standard practice and recommended, as long as you can meet every documentation and interview deadline without compromising quality.

Do fully funded scholarships cover a spouse or family?
Some government scholarships (such as MEXT and several Gulf-region programs) offer limited dependent allowances, but most fully funded scholarships for international students fund the applicant only — check the specific program’s benefits page.

How early should I start applying for a fully funded scholarship?
Start 8–12 months before your intended intake, since reference letters, standardized test scores, and certified transcripts typically take the longest to secure.

Related Guides on LicensureHub

• Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students (Complete Hub Guide)
• Global Korea Scholarship (GKS): Fully Funded
• UCL Research Excellence Scholarship (RES)
• Wellington Doctoral Scholarship: 7 Fully Funded PhD Secrets
• University of Sydney International Stipend Scholarship
• ACU Research Scholarship: 5 Fully Funded Pathways to a PhD
• Mitacs Globalink Internship 2027 in Canada (Fully Funded)
• Browse All Master’s Degree Scholarships
• Browse All PhD Scholarships
• Browse All Undergraduate Scholarships

Final Thoughts

Sixty fully funded scholarships for international students is a lot of ground to cover, but you don’t need all 60 — you need the 3 to 5 that actually match your nationality, academic level, and field. Use the comparison table to shortlist, click through to the official page or the linked LicensureHub deep-dive for each one, and build your document bank early. We’ll keep updating this list of fully funded scholarships for international students as programs change, so check back before each application cycle instead of hunting for a new article.

For continuously updated deadlines and newly opened scholarships, see UNESCO’s international scholarships portal, and subscribe to the LicensureHub newsletter above so new opportunities land in your inbox as soon as we publish them.