Government-funded scholarships can provide international students with valuable academic and professional opportunities while reducing the financial burden of studying abroad. Many programs also give recipients the opportunity to build international networks and experience a different culture.
Scholarships with full or partial tuition coverage, living allowances, and other benefits are available from governments in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Eligibility requirements, covered expenses, application procedures, and award amounts vary by program and may change from one application cycle to the next.
International scholarships offer more than financial assistance. They can also strengthen a student’s academic profile and provide access to professional development opportunities. This article highlights major government-funded scholarships available to international students.
Top Government Scholarships for International Students
GOVERNMENT
SCHOLARSHIP | LOCATION | ELIGIBLE DEGREE/S |
|---|
| Fulbright Scholarships | USA | Graduate study and research |
| DAAD Scholarships | Germany | Varies by DAAD program; includes master’s and Ph.D. study |
| Chevening Scholarships | UK | One-year taught master’s degrees |
| Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships | Switzerland | Research fellowships, Ph.D. programs, and art master’s degrees for eligible countries |
| Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program | France | Master’s and Ph.D. |
| Türkiye Scholarships | Turkey | Associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. |
| Romanian Government Scholarships | Romania | Bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. |
| Global Korea Scholarships | South Korea | Associate, bachelor’s, master’s, Ph.D., and research programs |
| MEXT Scholarships | Japan | Undergraduate, graduate, and other eligible categories |
| China Scholarship Council | China | Undergraduate, master’s, doctoral, and scholar categories |
| Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA) | Singapore | Ph.D. |
| Australia Awards Scholarships | Australia | Undergraduate or postgraduate study; availability varies by country |
| Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships | New Zealand | Undergraduate or postgraduate study; availability varies by country |
1. Fulbright Scholarships (USA)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Funding support; benefits vary by country and award
The Fulbright Foreign Student Program enables graduate students, young professionals, and artists from abroad to study and conduct research in the United States. The program operates in more than 160 countries, and approximately 4,000 foreign students receive Fulbright scholarships each year. The application and selection process is administered by binational Fulbright Commissions or Foundations and U.S. embassies.
Benefits and eligibility criteria vary by country. Depending on the award, benefits may include J-1 visa sponsorship, financial support, a health benefit plan, and enrichment activities. Applicants should review the instructions provided by the Fulbright office in their home country.
Read stories from Fulbright Scholarship recipients, including Ednilson Mburine, Mohamed Mahmoud, and Asad Ejaz Butt.
2. DAAD Scholarships (Germany)
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers multiple scholarship programs for international students and researchers who want to study or conduct research at German universities. Eligibility criteria, funding periods, and benefits vary by program.
DAAD states that students in master’s programs typically receive EUR 992 per month. Doctoral candidates and postdoctoral researchers typically receive EUR 1,400 per month as of February 2026. Other possible benefits depend on the scholarship program and may include insurance coverage and a travel allowance.
Some DAAD scholarships, such as the Development-Related Postgraduate Courses program, are intended for applicants from developing countries pursuing selected postgraduate courses. Applicants to that program generally need an appropriate bachelor’s degree and at least two years of professional experience. Applicants should review the requirements for the specific DAAD scholarship they want to pursue.
Read stories from DAAD Scholarship recipients, including Omobolanle Adegbola, Jayalakshmi, and Dhisa.
3. Chevening Scholarships (UK)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Fully funded for standard awards; terms may vary for some awards
The Chevening Scholarship enables emerging leaders from around the world to pursue a one-year master’s degree in the UK. Eligible courses must generally be full-time, taught master’s programs based in the UK and lasting between nine and twelve months.
Standard Chevening Scholarships are fully funded and generally include tuition fees, a monthly stipend, travel costs to and from the UK, an arrival allowance, a homeward departure allowance, the cost of one visa application, and a travel grant for Chevening events. Some part awards, partner awards, and MBA awards have different conditions.
Chevening is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and partner organizations. Scholars also receive opportunities to develop professionally, build networks, and experience UK culture.
Read stories from Chevening Scholarship recipients, including Luis Ayil, Mouhamadou Bamba Samb, and Sikandar Hemmat.
5. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (Switzerland)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: CHF 2,450 per month, plus eligible additional benefits
The Swiss Confederation offers Government Excellence Scholarships to promote international research cooperation. The program is open to applicants from 183 countries. The Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students is responsible for selecting scholarship recipients.
Research fellowships support a full-time research project in Switzerland as part of an applicant’s doctoral studies. Ph.D. scholarships support selected applicants pursuing a doctorate at a Swiss university or recognized research institute. Applicants need an academic supervisor in Switzerland who supports the proposed research project.
Research fellowship, Ph.D., and art scholarship recipients receive CHF 2,450 per month to cover basic living expenses for one person. Eligible additional benefits may include health insurance coverage for non-EU or non-EFTA recipients, a rental deposit grant, a public transportation discount card, and a return flight allowance for eligible recipients. The scholarship does not automatically cover tuition or semester fees.
Art scholarships are available to applicants from a limited number of countries who want to pursue their first master’s degree at a Swiss art school or conservatory. Participating institutions include Swiss universities, federal institutes of technology, recognized research institutes, and eligible universities of applied sciences.
5. Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program (France)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Partial funding; tuition is not covered by the Eiffel program
The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program was established by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to help French higher education institutions attract outstanding international students to master’s and Ph.D. programs at universities in France.
The program encourages applications from international candidates up to 29 years old at the master’s level and up to 35 years old at the Ph.D. level. Students cannot apply directly. Applications must be submitted by a French higher education institution.
As of January 2026, master’s scholarship recipients receive a monthly allowance of EUR 1,200, while Ph.D. scholarship recipients receive EUR 2,100 per month. The program also provides certain services and benefits, but it does not pay tuition fees.
6. Türkiye Scholarships (Turkey)
Türkiye Scholarships are government-funded scholarships for international students pursuing associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. programs in Turkey. The program includes university and department placement, tuition fees, a one-year Turkish language course, accommodation, health insurance, a monthly stipend, and a one-time flight ticket at the beginning of the program and after graduation.
The monthly stipend is TL 4,500 for undergraduate students, TL 6,500 for master’s students, and TL 9,000 for Ph.D. students.
Applicants for associate and bachelor’s programs generally need a minimum academic achievement score of 70%. Graduate applicants generally need at least 75%, while applicants in health sciences, including medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy, generally need at least 90%.
Read stories from Türkiye Scholarship recipients, including Maham Maqsood, Tosif Ghazi, and Olumide.
7. Romanian Government Scholarships (Romania)
Each year, the Romanian Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, offers Romanian Government Scholarships to citizens of non-EU countries. Applicants generally need an average score of at least 7 under the Romanian grading system or an equivalent “Good” score.
Applicants may select programs in most fields, except Medicine, Dental Medicine, and Pharmacy. Bachelor’s and master’s programs are available only in Romanian. At the Ph.D. level, applicants may also choose a program taught in English or another foreign language offered by the doctoral school.
Applicants who do not speak Romanian may receive a preparatory year of Romanian-language study before starting their selected program. Scholarship coverage and administrative requirements should be checked on the official application platform for the current cycle.
8. Global Korea Scholarships
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Scholarship support, including tuition and allowances
Global Korea Scholarships are Korean government scholarship programs for international students. The degree programs include associate and bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, doctoral degrees, and research programs. Applicants generally apply through a Korean embassy in their home country or through a GKS-designated university.
The program is operated through the National Institute for International Education. Benefits may include airfare, Korean-language training, tuition, and allowances. Applicants should review the current guidelines for their program and application track because award amounts and conditions can change.
Read stories from Global Korea Scholarship recipients, including Souljah, Ashim Kumar, and Olivia Ofni Tanisaputra.
9. MEXT Scholarships (Japan)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Tuition exemption, monthly allowance, and eligible airfare
International students planning to study or conduct research in Japan may apply for the Japanese Government’s MEXT Scholarships Program. MEXT offers several scholarship categories, including research students, teacher-training students, undergraduate students, Japanese studies students, college of technology students, specialized training college students, and Young Leaders’ Program students.
For regular graduate students under the research-student category, the 2027 guidelines list a monthly allowance of JPY 144,000 for master’s and professional degree students and JPY 145,000 for doctoral students. Tuition, entrance examination, and matriculation fees are waived, and eligible recipients receive airfare under the program conditions.
Applicants can apply through an embassy recommendation or a university recommendation, depending on the scholarship category and application route.
Read stories from MEXT Scholarship recipients, including Jillian Abigail Sutrisno, Jagreet Dasgupta, and Muhammad Abdullah.
10. China Scholarship Council (China)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Full or partial funding, depending on the award
The China Scholarship Council, entrusted by China’s Ministry of Education, is responsible for the admission, enrollment, and administration of Chinese Government Scholarship recipients. Chinese Government Scholarships support international students and scholars pursuing higher education or research in China.
Coverage depends on the scholarship category. Under a full Chinese Government Scholarship, benefits may include tuition fees, a university dormitory or accommodation subsidy, comprehensive medical insurance, and a monthly stipend. The monthly stipend is CNY 2,500 for undergraduate students, CNY 3,000 for master’s students and general scholars, and CNY 3,500 for doctoral students and senior scholars.
Applicants should review the current award category and application instructions because program duration, institutional options, and coverage conditions can vary.
Read stories from Chinese Government Scholarship recipients, including Eric Tianto, Chhoeurm Phearun, and Md Rabbi Al Islam.
11. Singapore Government Scholarships (Singapore)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Tuition support, monthly stipend, and other benefits; check the current call for amounts
The Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA) is a Ph.D. award for international students interested in research in Singapore. SINGA is a collaboration involving the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, Nanyang Technological University, the National University of Singapore, Singapore Management University, and the Singapore University of Technology and Design.
The program supports Ph.D. research in fields such as biomedical sciences, physical sciences, and engineering. Award benefits include tuition support, a monthly stipend, and other allowances. Applicants should review the current A*STAR call and the participating institution’s instructions for the latest award amounts, eligible research areas, and application deadlines.
12. Australia Awards Scholarships (Australia)
Australia Awards Scholarships are administered by Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. They provide opportunities for people from eligible partner countries to undertake full-time undergraduate or postgraduate study at participating Australian universities and technical and further education institutions.
Benefits generally include full tuition fees, return economy-class airfare, a one-time establishment allowance, a contribution toward living expenses, an introductory academic program, and overseas student health coverage. Additional benefits may be available in eligible circumstances.
Available study levels, priority fields, and eligibility requirements vary by country. Applicants should review the participating-country profile for their home country before applying.
Read stories from Australia Awards Scholarship recipients, including Reny Septiani, Hangbou Patrick Oeng, and Ainol Mardhiah.
13. Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships (New Zealand)
- Scholarship Page
- Scholarship Value: Full funding for eligible academic scholarships
Students from eligible partner countries may apply for Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships. The program is funded by the New Zealand Government and is intended to help build prosperity, security, and sustainable growth in partner countries.
Full academic scholarships may cover tuition fees, a living allowance, an establishment allowance, medical insurance, eligible travel costs, and other approved support. Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships are available for undergraduate and postgraduate study, while additional short-term training options are also available.
Eligible countries, study levels, and priority subject areas vary. Applicants should review the requirements for their citizenship and country before choosing a program.
Read stories from Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship recipients, including Nutnicha Limboonngam, Shirley Gabriella Achieng, and Reza Saputra.
Studying abroad can be challenging but rewarding for a student’s academic and professional development. Several countries offer scholarships and grants that cover tuition fees and provide additional allowances to help qualified students achieve their goals.
Make sure to review the official program requirements before applying, as eligibility criteria, deadlines, and award amounts can change. If you are interested, check out the available courses for international students as well as our Scholarships Page.
