15 Graduate School Scholarships for International Students

Securing funding is often the biggest hurdle to pursuing an advanced degree abroad, but graduate school scholarships can bridge the financial gap. This guide lists 15 verified, fully funded or high-value graduate school scholarships open to international students for master’s and PhD study in 2026–2027. Each entry includes what it covers, eligibility, deadlines, and official application links so you can apply with confidence.

This article is for international students who have completed (or are completing) a bachelor’s degree and want financial support for graduate studies abroad. It covers master’s and PhD opportunities, fully funded and partial awards, and includes graduate school scholarships specifically tailored for students from Africa, Asia, and other developing regions.

You will learn:

• 15 legitimate graduate school scholarships open to international students
• What each scholarship covers (tuition, stipend, travel, insurance)
• Eligibility requirements and documents needed
• Official application links and confirmed deadlines
• How to compare opportunities and avoid expired or misleading listings

How to use this directory

Treat this as a verified scholarship directory and application guide. When exploring available graduate school scholarships, follow these steps:

• Check eligibility (nationality, degree level, work experience, age limits)
• Note the coverage (tuition, stipend, travel, insurance)
• Mark the deadline and application window
• Prepare required documents (transcripts, CV, motivation letter, recommendations, English test scores)
• Apply via the official link provided

Deadlines vary by programme and country. Always verify dates on the official website before applying.

Chevening Scholarships (UK)

Level: Master’s

Coverage: Full tuition, monthly living allowance, travel to/from the UK, visa costs, arrival allowance

Eligibility: Citizens of 160+ eligible countries; bachelor’s degree equivalent to UK 2:1; 2,800 hours of work experience; commit to return home for 2 years after study

Deadline: 6 October 2026 (11:00 UTC)

Apply: chevening.org

Notes: You must apply to three eligible UK master’s courses and secure at least one unconditional offer by July 2027. Interviews run March–April 2027; results mid-June 2027.

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EU)

Level: Master’s (joint degrees across 2–3 European universities)

Coverage: Full tuition, €1,400/month stipend (up to 24 months), travel and relocation costs, health insurance

Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree (or final-year students graduating before the programme starts); English proficiency; open to all nationalities

Deadline: Varies by programme; typically October 2026–January 2027 for 2027 intake

Apply: Erasmus+ Catalogue

Notes: Around 3,000 scholarships awarded annually across 160+ programmes. No application fee for most programmes.

DAAD Scholarships (Germany)

Level: Master’s and PhD

Coverage: Monthly stipend (€934 for master’s, €1,300+ for PhD), full tuition waiver, travel allowance, health insurance

Eligibility: Citizens of developing/newly industrialised countries; bachelor’s degree (4-year); 2+ years professional work experience for EPOS; language requirements (IELTS/TOEFL or German)

Deadline: Varies by course; typical windows fall between October and January for the next academic year (e.g., EPOS deadlines often close around October 15)

Apply: DAAD Scholarship Database

Notes: EPOS (Development-Related Postgraduate Courses) requires 2+ years of relevant professional experience. Applications must often be sent directly to the specific university degree coordinator rather than the DAAD central office.

Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA)

Level: Master’s and PhD

Coverage: Full tuition, living stipend, airfare, health insurance, J-1 visa support

Eligibility: Non-US citizens; bachelor’s degree with strong academic record; English proficiency (TOEFL 80+ or IELTS 6.5+); 2+ years professional experience preferred

Deadline: Varies by home country (typically February to October annually)

Apply: Fulbright Foreign Student Program

Notes: Applications are processed locally by bi-national Fulbright Commissions or US Embassies. Always check the specific timeline and internal deadlines for your country of citizenship.

Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship (JJ/WBGSP)

Level: Master’s (development-related fields)

Coverage: Full tuition, monthly living allowance, travel, health insurance

Eligibility: Citizens of World Bank-eligible developing countries; bachelor’s degree; admitted to a participating master’s programme; relevant work experience in development

Deadline: Two windows: 18 January–26 February 2027 (Window 1); 29 March–21 May 2027 (Window 2)

Apply: World Bank JJ/WBGSP

Notes: 44 participating master’s programmes at 24 universities in the US, Europe, Africa, Oceania, and Japan. Must be unconditionally admitted by the application deadline.

Rhodes Scholarship (University of Oxford, UK)

Level: Master’s or PhD at Oxford

Coverage: Full Oxford tuition, college fees, annual living stipend, travel to/from Oxford

Eligibility: Citizens of eligible constituencies (including West Africa, India, USA, Canada, etc.); age 18–24 (or up to 27 in certain cases); first-class honours or equivalent; leadership and character

Deadline: Varies by constituency; typically closes between July and October annually

Apply: Rhodes Trust

Notes: Highly competitive; requires strong academic record, leadership potential, and commitment to public service. Check constituency-specific application windows.

Clarendon Fund (University of Oxford, UK)

Level: Master’s and DPhil (PhD)

Coverage: Full tuition and college fees, plus an annual living stipend (at least £18,622)

Eligibility: Open to all nationalities and fee statuses; outstanding academic record and potential; apply to an eligible Oxford graduate programme by the course funding deadline

Deadline: December or January annually (varies by specific course)

Apply: Oxford Graduate Admissions

Notes: Automatic consideration when you apply to Oxford by the course funding deadline; no separate scholarship application form is required.

Gates Cambridge Scholarship (University of Cambridge, UK)

Level: Master’s (one-year), MLitt, PhD

Coverage: Full tuition, maintenance allowance, airfare, visa costs, academic development funds

Eligibility: Citizens of any country outside the UK; outstanding academic record; leadership potential; apply to a Cambridge graduate programme

Deadline: December or January annually (varies by course)

Apply: Gates Cambridge

Notes: Requires a separate scholarship application section within the Cambridge graduate admission portal, including an additional personal statement and reference.

Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) – Graduate

Level: Master’s and PhD

Coverage: Full tuition, monthly stipend, airfare, 1-year Korean language training, settlement allowance, health insurance

Eligibility: Non-Korean citizens; bachelor’s degree (for master’s) or master’s (for PhD); GPA ≥ 2.64/4.0 (or top 20%); under 40 years of age; English or Korean proficiency

Deadline: Embassy Track typically closes in February annually; University Track deadlines vary by institution (typically February–March)

Apply: Study in Korea

Notes: Offers two application tracks: Embassy Track (apply through the South Korean Embassy in your home country) and University Track (apply directly to participating universities).

Türkiye Scholarships (Türkiye Bursları)

Level: Master’s, PhD, Research (also includes Bachelor’s)

Coverage: Full tuition, monthly stipend, university placement, accommodation, health insurance, round-trip flight ticket, 1-year Turkish language course

Eligibility: Non-Turkish citizens; age limits (under 30 for master’s, under 35 for PhD); minimum GPA requirement of 2.5/4.0 (or 70%); strong academic record

Deadline: Typically opens in January and closes in February annually (e.g., January 10 to February 20)

Apply: Türkiye Scholarships

Notes: Applications are handled exclusively online through the official portal. Selection includes evaluation of academic credentials followed by interviews conducted globally.

Commonwealth PhD Scholarships (UK)

Level: PhD

Coverage: Full tuition, airfare, monthly stipend (£1,378), thesis grant, family allowances (if applicable)

Eligibility: Citizens of least developed Commonwealth countries or vulnerable Commonwealth states; nominated by home country’s Commonwealth Scholarship Commission; cannot afford UK study without support

Deadline: 20 October 2026 (16:00 BST)

Apply: Commonwealth Scholarship Commission

Notes: Applications must be submitted via the CSC online application system, and applicants must also meet the specific academic and admission requirements of their chosen UK university.

AAUW International Fellowships (USA)

Level: Master’s, Professional Degree, Doctoral, Postdoctoral

Coverage: $20,000 for master’s/professional degree; $25,000 for doctoral; $50,000 for postdoctoral

Eligibility: Women who are not US citizens or permanent residents; planning full-time study or research in the USA; bachelor’s degree equivalent to a US degree; proof of English proficiency

Deadline: 15 November annually (applications open August)

Apply: AAUW Fellowships

Notes: Exclusively for women dedicated to advancing women and girls through civic, community, or professional work in their home countries. Requires three recommendation letters, academic transcripts, a CV, and a detailed personal statement.

ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship (ESOP) (Switzerland)

Level: Master’s

Coverage: Full tuition waiver, CHF 12,000 per semester stipend, living allowance

Eligibility: Outstanding bachelor’s graduates from any country; admitted to an ETH Zurich master’s programme; top academic ranking in undergraduate studies

Deadline: 30 November 2026 (for the 2027–2028 intake)

Apply: ETH Zurich ESOP

Notes: Highly competitive; requires a separate scholarship application alongside your master’s admission application, including a pre-proposal for your master’s thesis.

University of Sydney Research Scholarships (Australia)

Level: Research Master’s and PhD (Higher Degree by Research)

Coverage: Full tuition fee waiver, annual living stipend (~AUD $42,754), overseas student health cover (OSHC), and research or conference travel support

Eligibility: International students; admitted to an HDR programme at the University of Sydney; exceptional academic record; approved research proposal and confirmed supervisor support

Deadline: Multiple rounds annually (e.g., September and December)

Apply: University of Sydney Scholarships

Notes: Exclusively for research degrees; applicants must secure supervisor endorsement and submit a detailed research proposal before applying for funding.

Massey University Doctoral Scholarship (New Zealand)

Level: PhD, DClinPsych, DSW

Coverage: Full tuition waiver, NZD $30,000/year stipend (up to 36 months; total ~NZD $90,000)

Eligibility: Domestic and international students; admitted to a doctoral programme or enrolled within the first 12 months; primary supervisor confirmed; approved research outline.

Deadline: Multiple rounds per year (e.g., typical deadlines fall on 1 October, 1 March, and 1 July)

Apply: Massey University Scholarships

Notes: Applications are submitted via the Massey student portal and require a supervisor support template and a research outline (200–1,000 words).

Comparison table: Master’s vs PhD scholarships

Master’s and PhD scholarships differ in their purpose, duration, eligibility requirements, and financial coverage. Master’s scholarships typically support shorter, coursework-based or research-focused programmes, while PhD scholarships fund advanced research over several years.

The comparison table below highlights the key differences to help international students identify the type of graduate scholarship that best matches their academic qualifications, research interests, career goals, and funding needs.

Graduate School Scholarships Application checklist

Before submitting your applications for graduate school scholarships, ensure you have completed the following preparation steps and avoided common pitfalls.

Application checklist

• Valid passport (with at least 6 months’ validity)
• Bachelor’s degree certificate and transcripts
• English proficiency test (IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent)
• CV/resumé (academic and professional)
• Motivation letter/statement of purpose tailored for graduate school scholarships
• 2–3 recommendation letters (academic or professional)
• Research proposal (for PhD programmes)
• Proof of admission or unconditional offer (where required by specific graduate school scholarships)
• English test scores sent directly to institutions (if required)

Common mistakes to avoid

• Missing deadlines for graduate school scholarships (set calendar reminders)
• Incomplete applications (check each requirement)
• Generic motivation letters (tailor your essays to each specific graduate school scholarship)
• Not securing supervisor support early (crucial for research-based graduate school scholarships)
• Applying to ineligible programmes (verify nationality and degree eligibility before starting your graduate school scholarship application)

In Conclusion

Securing financial backing for your advanced studies takes structured execution, but graduate school scholarships change the trajectory of your career. To turn your study abroad goals into reality, follow these final action steps:

• Shortlist 3–5 graduate school scholarships that match your nationality, degree level, and field of study
• Check eligibility criteria carefully (age limits, work experience, GPA minimums, and language requirements)
• Prepare your core application documents early (transcripts, recommendations, and tailored motivation letters)
• Apply to host universities first if required (e.g., Oxford, Cambridge, Sydney, Massey)
• Submit your graduate school scholarship applications well before the published deadlines
• Track your applications closely and prepare thoroughly for interviews if shortlisted

For more guidance, explore related articles on:

• How to write a winning graduate school scholarship motivation letter
• Securing strong recommendation letters for competitive graduate applications
• Preparing for rigorous graduate school scholarship interviews
• Studying abroad: essential visa, accommodation, and budgeting tips