List of Fully Funded Global Scholarships to Study Abroad in 2026-2027

The desire for international higher education among students is growing rapidly worldwide. However, many miss out on their preferred universities or scholarship opportunities due to a lack of proper planning and information. While there are abundant scholarship options available for studying abroad, access to accurate information and timely applications are the key factors for success.

Various governmental and non-governmental organisations provide hundreds of thousands of scholarships each year. Below, we’ve compiled a comprehensive list of notable scholarship categories with examples to help you in your educational journey.

Fully Funded Scholarships

A fully-funded scholarship is a scholarship that provides enough money to cover the full cost of attendance, including tuition, room and board, books, and other associated expenses

These prestigious scholarships cover tuition, living expenses, travel, and sometimes more:

1. Fulbright Scholarship (USA)
2. Chevening Scholarship (UK)
3. Erasmus Mundus (Europe)
4. Australia Awards
5. Gates Cambridge Scholarship
6. Rhodes Scholarship (Oxford)
7. DAAD (Germany)
8. MEXT Scholarship (Japan)
9. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship
10. ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship
11. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
12. New Zealand International Scholarship
13. Singapore International Graduate Award
14. Southern Confederation Scholarship (France)
15. UN Development Program Fellowship
16. Commonwealth Masters Scholarship
17. Spain Government Scholarship
18. IFC Global Scholarship
19. Belgium Government Scholarship
20. IEFA Scholarship (USA)
21. Denmark Government Scholarship

University-Based Scholarships

University-based scholarships are financial awards given directly by a university or college to students, intended to help cover the costs of education. These scholarships can be awarded based on various factors like academic merit, financial need, or other specific criteria, and may cover tuition, fees, living expenses, or other related costs.

Many prestigious universities offer their scholarship programs:

1. Harvard University
2. Stanford Need-Based Aid
3. Oxford Clarendon Fund
4. MIT Scholarship
5. University of Melbourne
6. University of Toronto
7. National University of Singapore (NUS)
8. University of Edinburgh
9. University of Tokyo
10. University of California (Berkeley
11. Cambridge Trust Scholarship
12. University of Sydney
13. University of Manchester
14. University of British Columbia (UBC)
15. University of Copenhagen
16. University of Geneva
17. University of Washington
18. University of Auckland
19. University of Hong Kong
20. University of Amsterdam
21. University of Texas at Austin
22. University of Zurich
23. University of Southampton
24. University of Glasgow
25. University of Cape Town

Country-Specific Scholarships

Country-specific scholarships are financial aid opportunities designed to support students from a particular country or region to pursue higher education, often abroad.

Many countries offer dedicated scholarship programs for international students:

1. Germany (DAAD)
2. Japan (MEXT)
3. China (CSC Scholarship)
4. Korea (KGSP)
5. France (Eiffel Scholarship)
6. Netherlands (Orange Knowledge Program)
7. Sweden (Swedish Institute)
8. Taiwan (Taiwan Scholarship)
9. Italy (Italian Government)
10. Saudi Arabia (King Abdullah University)
11. Norway (Norwegian Government)
12. Finland (Government Scholarship)
13. Malaysia (MIS)
14. Russia (Russian Government)
15. Austria (Austrian Government)
16. Greece (Greek Government)
17. Vietnam (Vietnam Government)
18. Indonesia (Kemenkeu Scholarship)

Private Organisations and Foundations

Private foundations are charitable organizations funded by a single individual, family, or corporation, rather than the general public, and are managed by the donor or their representatives.

Many private organisations and foundations offer generous scholarship programs:

1. Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
2. Mastercard Foundation
3. Ford Foundation
4. Rotary Global Grant
5. UNESCO Fellowship
6. Google Lime Scholarship
7. Amazon Future Engineer Scholarship
8. Ada Lovelace Scholarship
9. Open Society Foundation
10. Aga Khan Foundation
11. Soros Foundation
12. Rockefeller Foundation
13. Hewlett-Packard Scholarship
14. Intel Science Talent Search
15. IBM Research Fellowship
16. Tesla Science Fellowship
17. ExxonMobil Scholarship
18. Samsung Global Research
19. Unilever Leadership Scholarship
20. Nestle Scholarship
21. Facebook Fellowship Program
22. Twitter Diversity Scholarship

Merit-Based Scholarships

Merit-based scholarships are financial awards given to students based on their achievements and abilities, rather than their financial need. These scholarships recognise a student’s talent in areas like academics, athletics, arts, or other specific interests. Unlike need-based aid, which considers a student’s family income and assets, merit scholarships focus on demonstrating excellence in a particular field.

These prestigious scholarships are awarded based on academic excellence and leadership potential:

1. Rhodes Scholarship
2. Schwarzman Scholars (China)
3. Knight-Hennessy Scholars (Stanford)
4. Marshall Scholarship (UK)
5. MIT Dean’s Scholarship
6. Trudeau Foundation (Canada)
7. Wellcome Trust Scholarship
8. University of Chicago Scholarship
9. University of Pennsylvania Scholarship
10. University of Michigan Scholarship
11. University of Virginia Scholarship
12. University of Notre Dame Scholarship
13. University of Wisconsin-Madison Scholarship
14. University of Illinois Scholarship
15. University of Georgia Scholarship
16. University of Florida Scholarship
17. University of Minnesota Scholarship
18. University of Colorado Scholarship
19. University of Utah Scholarship
20. University of Oregon Scholarship
21. University of Kansas Scholarship
22. University of Iowa Scholarship
23. University of Connecticut Scholarship
24. University of Nebraska Scholarship
25. University of Delaware Scholarship

Other Scholarship Opportunities

These scholarships cater to specific fields and interests:

1. NCAA Scholarships (USA)
2. FIFA Master Scholarships
3. Pratt Institute Art Scholarship
4. Berklee College of Music Scholarships

Final Thoughts

Remember that each scholarship has its own application requirements, deadlines, and eligibility criteria. Visit the official websites regularly and keep yourself updated. Starting your research early and having a strategic approach to applications can significantly increase your chances of success.

For those who are serious about pursuing international education, creating a personalised scholarship calendar with deadlines and requirements can be an excellent organisational tool. Additionally, prepare standard documents like transcripts, recommendation letters, and statements of purpose well in advance to streamline your application process.

The path to securing a scholarship requires persistence, thorough research, and attention to detail. With the right approach and information at hand, your dream of international education can become a reality.

📔 Note: This comprehensive guide was curated to help students navigate the complex world of international scholarships. For the most current information about application requirements, deadlines, and eligibility criteria, please visit the official websites of each scholarship program.