Last verified: 13 August 2026
Finding the right scholarship for international students can feel overwhelming with hundreds of programs available worldwide. To make it easier, we’ve compiled the 15 best fully funded and partially funded scholarships for 2026–2027 — covering the USA, UK, Europe, Asia, and Australia — so you can compare options and pick the one that fits your goals.
Quick Comparison
| # | Scholarship | Country | Level | Next Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chevening Scholarship | UK | Master’s | 6 Oct 2026 |
| 2 | Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) | China | Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD | Dec 2026 – Mar 2027 (est.) |
| 3 | Stipendium Hungaricum | Hungary | Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD | ~15 Jan 2027 (est.) |
| 4 | Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters | EU (multi-country) | Master’s | Oct 2026 – Feb 2027 |
| 5 | Fulbright Foreign Student Program | USA | Master’s/PhD | Country-specific (typically Feb–Oct) |
| 6 | US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor | USA | PhD (Pakistani students) | Rolling, per HEC |
| 7 | Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships | Commonwealth countries | Master’s | ~May/Jun 2027 (est.) |
| 8 | MAECI Italian Government Scholarship | Italy | Master’s/PhD/Research | ~Mar 2027 (est.) |
| 9 | Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship | Multi-country | Master’s/PhD | 31 Mar 2027 (recurring annual date) |
| 10 | Australia Awards Scholarships | Australia | Master’s | ~30 Apr 2027 (est.) |
| 11 | DAAD Scholarship | Germany | Master’s/PhD | PhD: 31 Aug 2026 (open now); others vary through Oct |
| 12 | Gates Cambridge Scholarship | UK (Cambridge) | Master’s/PhD | US: mid-Oct 2026; Others: Dec 2026–Jan 2027 |
| 13 | MEXT Scholarship | Japan | Undergrad/Master’s/PhD | Embassy track opens ~Apr–Jun annually |
| 14 | Global Korea Scholarship (GKS/KGSP) | South Korea | Undergrad/Master’s/PhD | Feb–May 2027 |
| 15 | Rhodes Scholarship | UK (Oxford) | Postgraduate | Jul–Oct 2026 (country-specific) |
Dates marked “est.” are projected from the program’s recurring annual pattern and not yet officially confirmed for that cycle — always check the official site before applying.
1. Chevening Scholarship (UK)
Chevening is the UK government’s flagship scholarship for a one-year master’s degree at any UK university. It covers full tuition, a monthly stipend, return airfare, and visa costs. Applicants need at least two years of work experience and must apply to three eligible courses. The 2027/28 cycle is open now and closes 6 October 2026. 📖 Read our full Chevening Scholarship guide (insert your Chevening article link) 🔗 Official site: chevening.org
2. Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC)
One of the largest scholarship programs in the world, the CSC funds study at 280+ Chinese universities, covering tuition, a monthly stipend, housing, and health insurance. It’s offered through both a bilateral (Type A, via HEC for Pakistani students) and university-direct (Type B) route. The next intake is expected to open around December 2026, with various track deadlines running into March 2027. 📖 Read our full CSC Scholarship guide (insert your CSC article link) 🔗 Official site: campuschina.org
3. Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary)
Hungary’s government scholarship funds bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD study with free tuition, a monthly stipend, and accommodation support. It’s a strong, affordable entry point into EU-standard education. Based on the recurring annual pattern, the next cycle should open around November 2026 with a deadline near 15 January 2027. 📖 Read our full Stipendium Hungaricum guide 🔗 Official site: stipendiumhungaricum.hu
4. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EU)
This EU-funded program lets you study a joint master’s degree across 2–3 European countries, earning a joint or multiple degree. It covers full tuition, a ~€1,400/month stipend, and travel costs. There’s no central deadline — each consortium program sets its own, and for the next intake most open around October 2026 with deadlines running into January or February 2027. 📖 Read our full Erasmus Mundus guide 🔗 Official site: erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu
5. Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA)
Fulbright is the US government’s flagship exchange scholarship, funding around 4,000 international students annually for master’s, PhD, or research study at US institutions. It covers tuition, a living stipend, airfare, and health insurance. Deadlines are set locally by each country’s Fulbright Commission or US Embassy, typically falling between February and October — check yours directly for the exact date. 📖 Read our full Fulbright guide (insert your Fulbright article link) 🔗 Official site: foreign.fulbrightonline.org
6. US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor (USA)
A dedicated initiative offering 1,000 fully funded PhD scholarships to Pakistani nationals admitted to top 100 QS-ranked US universities, administered through Pakistan’s HEC. Applicants need a valid GRE or HAT score and admission secured before applying. Intake runs on a rolling basis tied to Fall and Spring/Summer admission cycles. 📖 Read our full US-Pakistan Knowledge Corridor guide 🔗 Official site: hec.gov.pk
7. Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships (QECS)
QECS funds two-year master’s degrees for students from Commonwealth countries, with a twist — you must study in a different Commonwealth country, often in the Global South rather than the UK. It covers tuition, a stipend, and airfare. The 2026 cycle closed on 3 June; the next round is expected around May or June 2027. 📖 Read our full QECS guide (insert your QECS article link) 🔗 Official site: acu.ac.uk
8. MAECI Italian Government Scholarship (Italy)
Italy’s MAECI scholarship supports master’s, PhD, and research study with a monthly stipend of around €900–1,000 and possible tuition waivers. It isn’t fully funded in the strictest sense, but it makes studying in Italy significantly more affordable. The 2026–27 deadline (26 March 2026) has closed; based on the consistent annual pattern, expect the next call around March 2027. 📖 Read our full MAECI Scholarship guide (insert your MAECI article link) 🔗 Official site: studyinitaly.esteri.it
9. Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship
Unlike most entries on this list, AKF ISP works on a 50% grant + 50% interest-bearing loan model, aimed at students from select South Asian, African, Central Asian, and Middle Eastern countries who genuinely can’t secure funding elsewhere. It’s a “resource of last resort,” with a recurring global deadline of 31 March each year — so the next round should fall on 31 March 2027. 📖 Read our full Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship guide (insert your Aga Khan article link) 🔗 Official site: akdn.org
10. Australia Awards Scholarships
Fully funded by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, this scholarship covers tuition, airfare, a living allowance, and health cover for master’s-level study at Australian universities. Applicants need five years of work experience and must commit to returning home for two years. The 2027 intake closed on 30 April 2026; following the usual annual cycle, the next intake should open around February 2027 with a deadline near 30 April 2027. 📖 Read our full Australia Awards guide 🔗 Official site: studyaustralia.gov.au
11. DAAD Scholarship (Germany)
Germany’s DAAD is the world’s largest academic exchange funder, offering master’s and PhD scholarships worth roughly €992/month for master’s students and €1,300–1,400/month for PhD candidates, plus travel and insurance. Since most German public universities charge no tuition, DAAD scholars keep almost the entire stipend for living costs. The PhD deadline for the current round is 31 August 2026 — open now — with other program deadlines running through October. 🔗 Official site: daad.de
12. Gates Cambridge Scholarship (UK)
Funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, this scholarship covers full tuition plus a maintenance allowance of roughly £20,000–21,000/year for postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge. It’s open to all nationalities outside the UK, with around 80 scholars selected each year. US applicants must apply by mid-October; other applicants follow course-specific deadlines in December or January. 🔗 Official site: gatescambridge.org
13. MEXT Scholarship (Japan)
Japan’s government scholarship covers full tuition, a monthly stipend, and round-trip airfare for undergraduate, master’s, and PhD study, applied for either through your local Japanese embassy or a university’s direct nomination. Embassy-track deadlines are set annually by each embassy, typically falling between April and June — contact your local Japanese embassy for the exact date. 🔗 Official site: studyinjapan.go.jp
14. Global Korea Scholarship (GKS/KGSP)
South Korea’s flagship scholarship — formerly KGSP — funds undergraduate, master’s, and PhD study with full tuition, a ₩1,000,000 monthly stipend, airfare, and a year of Korean language training. Around 1,500 students are selected annually via Embassy or University track. Graduate deadlines for the next intake typically run February–May 2027. 🔗 Official site: studyinkorea.go.kr
15. Rhodes Scholarship (UK)
The world’s oldest international scholarship, the Rhodes funds postgraduate study at the University of Oxford with a stipend of roughly £19,000–20,400/year, full fees, and airfare. It’s merit-based and looks for public-spirited leadership potential rather than academic results alone. Deadlines are set by country-specific constituencies, typically falling between July and October. 🔗 Official site: rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re aiming for a fully funded master’s in the UK, a research-focused PhD in Germany, or a leadership-driven scholarship like Chevening or Rhodes, there’s a strong option on this list for almost every academic goal and destination. Start early, match your field of study to each program’s priorities, and keep track of deadlines — most scholarship cycles open 6–12 months before the program start date, and dates shift slightly each year, so always confirm on the official site.
For more detailed, country-specific guides, browse our full scholarships archive.