Not all scholarships are created equal. Some merely alleviate tuition fees, some cater to living expenses, while others offer partial cash grants. Yet, there exist elite scholarship programs that encompass the entirety of financial needs, facilitating a comprehensive study abroad experience. These fully funded scholarships, often referred to as 'full scholarships', are the pinnacle of financial assistance, providing substantial support to pursue academic endeavors overseas.
Fully-funded Government Scholarships
1. Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA)
The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is a prestigious initiative for international students aspiring to pursue Master’s or PhD degrees in the United States. Typically, it covers tuition, airfare, living stipends, health insurance, and more, spanning the entirety of the academic journey.
2. British Chevening Scholarships (UK)
The Chevening Scholarships, a flagship program of the UK government, aim to nurture exceptional scholars with leadership potential. These scholarships, primarily for one-year Master’s programs, encompass tuition fees, living allowances, airfare to the UK, and supplementary grants for essential expenses.
3. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (Switzerland)
Graduates across disciplines can avail themselves of the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships to undertake doctoral or postdoctoral research at Swiss public universities or recognized institutions. This comprehensive scholarship covers monthly allowances, tuition fees, health insurance, lodging allowances, and more.
4. Swedish Scholarships for International Students (Sweden)
The Swedish Institute extends scholarships to highly qualified international students from developing nations, facilitating full-time Master’s studies at Swedish universities. These scholarships encompass tuition fees, living expenses, travel grants, and insurance, fostering a conducive academic environment.
5. VLIR-UOS Training and Masters Scholarships (Belgium)
VLIR-UOS awards scholarships to students from selected developing countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America, enabling them to pursue Training and Master’s Programs related to development at Belgian universities. These scholarships cover tuition fees, accommodation, allowances, travel costs, and other program-related expenses.
6. Gates Cambridge Scholarships (UK)
The Gates Cambridge Scholarships offer full-cost awards for graduate study and research across all subjects available at the University of Cambridge. Open to international students worldwide, these scholarships cover university fees, maintenance allowances, airfare, and dependent’s allowances.
7. Clarendon Scholarships at University of Oxford (UK)
The Clarendon Scholarship Fund, a prestigious graduate scholarship scheme, annually offers numerous scholarships to eligible graduate applicants at the University of Oxford. Awarded based on academic excellence and potential, these scholarships cover full tuition and college fees along with generous grants for living expenses.
8. Warwick Chancellor’s International Scholarships (UK)
The Warwick Graduate School extends Chancellor’s International Scholarships to outstanding international PhD applicants, irrespective of nationality or discipline. These scholarships encompass full payment of overseas tuition fees and maintenance allowances, fostering an inclusive academic environment.
9. University of Sydney International Scholarships (Australia)
Eligible candidates are invited to undertake Postgraduate Research Degrees or Master’s by Research programs at the University of Sydney, with the University of Sydney International Research Scholarship (USydIS) covering tuition fees and living allowances for up to three years.
10. University of Maastricht High Potential Scholarships (Netherlands)
The University of Maastricht High Potential Scholarships, facilitated by the UM Scholarship Fund, aim to attract talented students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) to pursue master’s programs at UM. These scholarships encompass tuition fees, living expenses, visa costs, and insurance, promoting diversity and academic excellence.
11.TU Delft Excellence Scholarships (Netherlands)
The Delft University of Technology offers various excellence scholarship programs for international students, including the Justus & Louise van Effen scholarship. This full scholarship covers tuition fees and monthly allowances for living expenses, empowering excellent international MSc students to pursue studies at TU Delft.
12. Erik Bleumink Scholarships at University of Groningen (Netherlands)
The Erik Bleumink Fund Scholarships are typically awarded for one or two-year Master’s degree programs at the University of Groningen. Covering tuition fees, international travel costs, subsistence, books, and health insurance, these scholarships alleviate financial burdens, enabling focused academic pursuits.
13. Amsterdam Excellence Scholarships (Netherlands)
The Amsterdam Excellence Scholarships (AES) cater to exceptionally talented students from outside the European Union (EU), facilitating eligible Master’s Programs at the University of Amsterdam. With a comprehensive award of €25,000, these scholarships cover tuition and living expenses, fostering an enriching academic experience.
14.ETH Zurich Excellence Masters Scholarship Program (Switzerland)
ETH Zurich supports outstanding international students pursuing Master’s degrees through the Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Program (ESOP). This grant covers living and study expenses, along with tuition fee waivers, empowering students to excel in their academic endeavors at ETH Zurich.
15. International Leader of Tomorrow Award at University of British Columbia (Canada)
The University of British Columbia (UBC) extends bachelor scholarships to talented international students worldwide. Recipients of the International Leader of Tomorrow Award receive awards commensurate with their financial needs, covering tuition, fees, and living costs, thereby facilitating a conducive learning environment.
By understanding the spectrum of scholarships, students can identify opportunities that best suit their academic aspirations and financial requirements, paving the way for a transformative educational journey abroad.