The fully funded scholarships 2027 cycle is about to open — and every year, thousands of brilliant students miss out for one reason that has nothing to do with their grades: they find out too late. The portal opens, the deadline passes, and they’re still gathering documents. The students who actually win? They started months before anyone was watching.
You’re early. That’s the whole advantage. Between August 2026 and February 2027, six of the world’s most generous scholarships open one after another — all leading to a 2027 intake. Prepare from this week and you can realistically target three or four of them.
Here’s the real calendar, who each one is built for, and exactly what to do now.
TL;DR – the 30-second version
- 6 fully funded scholarships open between Aug 2026 and Feb 2027 for the 2027 intake.
- Earliest to act on: Chevening (UK) — opens early August 2026.
- We corrected two widespread myths: Stipendium Hungaricum does not open in summer (it’s ~November), and the Swedish Institute is a two-step process most people get wrong.
- No IELTS yet? GKS, Stipendium Hungaricum and Türkiye Burslari are your most flexible options.
- Start your prep this week: test score, draft SOP, two referees, documents, shortlist.
Fully funded scholarships 2027: the full calendar
A note on accuracy: these windows follow each programme’s most recent cycle. Some 2027 dates aren’t officially published yet, so always confirm on the official site before applying. We update this page as the real dates drop.
Want the bigger picture? Browse every live opportunity on the Scholarship Union homepage or jump to the master’s scholarship database.
1. Chevening Scholarship — United Kingdom
Opens early August 2026 · Closes early October 2026 · Fully funded
Chevening is the UK government’s flagship award — full tuition, a monthly living stipend, return flights, an arrival allowance and your visa cost, for a one-year master’s at any UK university.
The twist: Chevening isn’t looking for the highest GPA. It’s looking for future leaders. You’ll need around two years (2,800 hours) of work experience, you apply to three different UK courses, and you write four essays — leadership, networking, your study plan, and your career plan. Those essays decide everything.
Do this now: shortlist three UK programmes, lock in two referees, and start drafting your leadership and career essays. Generic, last-minute essays are rejected in minutes.
→ Official: chevening.org · Read the full Chevening guide
2. DAAD Scholarships — Germany
Deadlines cluster June–November 2026 · Fully funded · Master’s & PhD
DAAD is Germany’s academic exchange service, and its development-focused EPOS programme funds a master’s or PhD with a monthly stipend (around €992 for master’s, more for PhD), tuition waiver, health insurance, travel support and a German course.
The catch most people miss: with EPOS, you apply directly to the host university, not to DAAD, and every programme sets its own deadline. They’re scattered from June to November 2026 for a 2027 start, with some portals opening as early as spring. There’s no single deadline to memorise — you track each course.
Do this now: shortlist up to three EPOS courses, and if you’re aiming at research, start emailing potential supervisors early.
→ Official: daad.de/en · Read the full DAAD guide
3. Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) — South Korea
Opens around September 2026 · Fully funded · Master’s, PhD & Research
GKS (formerly KGSP) is one of the most complete packages anywhere: full tuition, monthly stipend, airfare, settlement allowance, medical insurance, and a full year of free Korean language training before your degree. No IELTS or TOEFL is required to apply.
You go through one of two tracks — the Embassy Track or the University Track — and recent cycles run almost entirely through the Study in Korea portal. Graduate applications usually open around September, with the embassy track closing first.
Do this now: follow your nearest Korean Embassy and the Study in Korea portal for the 2027 announcement, and start preparing notarised, translated documents — GKS is paperwork-heavy.
→ Official: studyinkorea.go.kr · Read the full GKS guide
4. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters — Europe
Calls open around October 2026 · Deadlines Dec 2026–Jan 2027 · Fully funded
Erasmus Mundus is unique: you study one master’s across two or more European universities in different countries and graduate with a joint degree. The scholarship covers tuition, a monthly allowance, and travel.
Because each programme is run by its own consortium, there’s no central application — every programme has its own portal, requirements and deadline. The catalogue lists 100+ programmes across nearly every field, most opening calls around October with scholarship deadlines around December–January. You can usually apply to up to three.
Do this now: search the official Erasmus+ catalogue, pick the consortia in your field, and write down each one’s individual deadline.
→ Official: erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu · Read the full Erasmus Mundus guide
5. Stipendium Hungaricum — Hungary
Opens around November 2026 · Deadline around 15 January 2027 · Fully funded
Myth-buster: Stipendium Hungaricum does not open in mid-2026, despite what a lot of posts claim. The Hungarian Government’s call for 2027/2028 is expected to open around November 2026 and close around 15 January 2027 — the same rhythm every year.
It covers bachelor’s, master’s and PhD with full tuition exemption, a monthly stipend, accommodation support and medical insurance. Many programmes accept a Medium of Instruction (MOI) certificate instead of IELTS. Note the two-step process many countries use: you apply through the Tempus portal and through your national sending partner.
Do this now: research programmes, ready your transcripts and MOI certificate, and check whether your country has a sending-partner step.
→ Official: stipendiumhungaricum.hu · Read the full Stipendium Hungaricum guide
6. Swedish Institute Scholarship (SISGP) — Sweden
University step ~Oct 2026–mid-Jan 2027 · Scholarship step ~Feb 2027 · Fully funded
The Swedish Institute scholarship is fully funded — full tuition, a SEK 12,000 monthly allowance, travel grant and insurance — but it runs on a two-step timeline that catches people out every year:
- University application on universityadmissions.se — opens around mid-October 2026, closes around mid-January 2027. This gives you an application number you’ll need next.
- SI scholarship application — the SI portal opens around February 2027 for a short, strict window. Miss step one and you can’t do step two.
It’s built for professionals with leadership experience (recent cycles wanted ~3,000 hours of work) and is open to citizens of around 34 eligible countries. Selection rewards a clear story about how your studies will drive development back home.
Do this now: find eligible English-taught programmes, document your work and leadership experience, and put both deadlines in your calendar.
→ Official: si.se/en/apply/scholarships · Read the full SI Scholarship guide
Which scholarship actually fits you?
- Strong work experience + leadership → Chevening, Swedish Institute, Australia Awards.
- Fresh graduate / limited experience → Stipendium Hungaricum, Türkiye Burslari, GKS.
- Research-heavy master’s or PhD → DAAD, Erasmus Mundus.
- No IELTS yet, but you have an MOI certificate → Stipendium Hungaricum and Türkiye Burslari are usually most flexible (confirm each programme’s exact rules).
Your head start: 6 things to do this week
- No English test score yet? Start IELTS prep today. Most of these need one, and a strong score takes weeks.
- Draft a rough Statement of Purpose now. You’ll reuse and sharpen it across every application.
- Confirm two referees early — strong letters take time, so give them notice.
- Get your documents ready: transcripts, certificates, passport, CV, and (if relevant) an MOI certificate.
- Build your programme shortlist before each portal opens — so day one is for applying, not researching.
- Track deadlines weekly via each official site and the Scholarship Union 2026 feed.
Frequently asked questions
Which fully funded scholarships open in 2026 for a 2027 intake?
Six major ones: Chevening (UK, ~August), DAAD (Germany, deadlines June–November), GKS (South Korea, ~September), Erasmus Mundus (Europe, ~October calls), Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary, ~November) and the Swedish Institute scholarship (Sweden, university step from ~October).
Can I apply to more than one scholarship at once?
Yes — and you should. Running three or more applications in parallel maximises your odds and forces your essays to get sharper. It’s exactly what most winners do.
Do I need IELTS for all of these?
No. GKS doesn’t require IELTS/TOEFL to apply, and Stipendium Hungaricum and Türkiye Burslari often accept an MOI certificate. Chevening, DAAD and most Erasmus Mundus programmes do require proof of English, so plan a test early to keep every door open.
What does “fully funded” actually mean?
Usually full tuition plus a monthly living stipend, with most programmes adding flights, insurance or accommodation. The exact package varies — each step-by-step guide breaks down what’s covered for that specific scholarship.
When should I start preparing?
Now. Winners typically start three to six months before the portal opens. Begin during this June–December window and you’re on schedule for the 2027 intake.
Start today — and don’t lose a year
Winning a fully funded scholarship isn’t luck. It’s patience, timing, and early preparation. These windows will open whether or not you’re ready — the only variable is you.
Pick one or two that fit your profile and open their full handbook this week:
👉 All step-by-step guides: guides.scholarshipunion.com 👉 Every fully funded opportunity: scholarshipunion.com
Save this page — we keep it updated as official 2027 dates are announced. Your 2027 journey starts the moment you begin. ✨
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