Apart from being the largest continent in the world, do you know that Asian countries like Singapore, Japan, and South Korea have the highest average IQ worldwide? Additionally, Asia is home to global top-ranking universities like Tsinghua University, the National University of Singapore, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Korea Advanced Institute of Technology, and the University of Tokyo.

If you are an international student looking to further your educational dream in Asia, you’ve made a fantastic decision, and we can’t wait to help you get started. The first steps on the journey to studying abroad can be filled with uncertainty, especially if you’re unsure how to finance your education.

If you are looking for ways to finance your education in Asia, you are at the right place. With this guide, you will learn about the different scholarship opportunities in Asia, the scholarship amount, and what scholarships cater to. So buckle up and prepare as we explore some of the best scholarships available in Asia for international students.

Best Scholarships in Asia

1. Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA)

The Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA) is offered to international students interested in undertaking research at a university in Singapore leading to a Ph.D. in Science and Engineering. Students need to possess excellent academic undergraduate and/or graduate results.

The award is offered in collaboration with the Agency for Science, Technology, and Research, the Nanyang Technological University, the National University of Singapore, Singapore Management University, and the Singapore University of Technology and Design. It is a merit-based scholarship for outstanding students offered twice – during the August and January intakes.

The SINGA is a fully funded research scholarship that allows you to earn a Ph.D. degree in science or engineering. The scholarship is open to international students passionate about research in Science and Engineering. Additionally, they must possess excellent academic records, be fluent in English, and have good recommendations from their academic referees. It is a chance to take your research career to the next level and establish fundamental global links.

2. Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Scholarships

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: amount varies with the program
  • Eligible Degree: Undergraduate, Master’s, Ph.D., Post-Doctoral Fellows

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) scholarships are available to international students from India and other countries, who are citizens of Asia-Pacific countries, African countries, Latin American and Caribbean countries, and Middle East and North African nations. The scholarship covers tuition fees, airfare for the student and their spouse (if any), housing allowance, medical insurance coverage, textbooks allowance, and a living stipend.

Applications for the scholarship are made entirely online, and the decision for admission lies solely on the university you are applying to, depending on whether you meet the university’s entry requirements. The maximum period for the scholarship is 5 years, with an additional six months allowed for Ph.D. scholars to defend their thesis.

The scholarship lists specific eligibility requirements for students wishing to apply. For example, if you are planning to study for a Ph.D., ensure you submit a synopsis together with your scholarship application. You can check the general guidelines and the list of universities supported by the scholarship program before you start your scholarship application. The ICCR Scholarships provide an excellent opportunity for international students aspiring to further their educational dream in India.

3. MEXT Scholarships

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: ¥143,000~145,000 per month (Research and Teacher Training) and ¥117,000 per month for other eligible categories
  • Eligible Degree: Undergraduate, Research, Japanese Studies, Specialized Training, Teacher training

The MEXT Scholarships are available to international students in Japan and are funded by the government of Japan. There are various scholarships awarded to international undergraduate students, Japanese Studies students, Research students, and College of Technology students among others. You can apply for the MEXT scholarship through the university recommendation or embassy recommendation.

The MEXT Scholarship offers generous financial support, with full coverage of all tuition fees and round-trip travel expenses paid for successful applicants. This means that you can focus on studying without worrying about how much money you have to spend on school-related costs. To qualify for the scholarship, you have to qualify for the different exams set by the scholarship council.

The eligibility requirements for the MEXT Scholarship are relatively straightforward, making it easier to apply than some other scholarships. To be eligible, applicants must generally meet certain criteria like being less than 25 years old when applying for undergraduate studies and having an academic background in their chosen field of study.

4. Global Korea Scholarships

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: fully funded plus 100,000 KRW monthly allowance
  • Eligible Degree: Undergraduate, Master’s, Ph.D.

The Global Korea Scholarship is a Korean government scholarship that enables international students to pursue undergraduate and graduate-level degrees or do research in South Korea. It covers tuition, airfare, medical insurance, research support fees for graduate students, and a Korean Proficiency grant of 100,000 KRW monthly if you have a valid TOPIK level 5 or 6.

To take part in the scholarship program, you must meet certain eligibility requirements, like being a citizen of a NIIED-designated country allowed to participate in the GKS program. Other requirements include being under 25 years by the 1st of March of the inviting year for undergraduate applications and maintaining a cumulative grade point average equivalent to or higher than 80% in your previous degree program.

The scholarship allows undergraduate students to pursue an undergraduate degree in Korea for up to seven years, with the first year dedicated to learning the Korean language. The scholarship applications are submitted to the Korean Embassy in your country or Korean universities designated by NIIED.

5. Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship for Privately-Financed International Students

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: 48,000 yen per month (undergraduate/graduate) and 30,000 yen per month (Japanese language institutes)
  • Eligible Degree: Undergraduate, Master’s, College of Technology, Japanese Language Institute, Junior College

The Monbukagakusho Honors Scholarship program is for privately-financed international students in Japan who have demonstrated outstanding academic and character records. It s designed for students facing financial difficulties while enrolled full-time in Japan’s undergraduate schools, graduate schools, junior colleges, colleges of technology, and Japanese language institutes.

The scholarship runs for 12 months (From April to March) or 6 months (From October to March), with graduate and undergraduate students receiving a 48,000 yen monthly stipend and 30,000 yen per month for students in the Japanese Language Institutes.

To qualify for the scholarship, you must meet certain eligibility criteria, like having attained a GPA of 2.30 or more at the graduate or undergraduate level or the Japanese language institute in the previous academic year. Additionally, if you are not enrolled at a Japanese Language Institute, you must meet the Japanese and English Language proficiency, like scoring 200 points or more in the Japanese as a Foreign Language examination.

6. KNB Scholarship – Government of Indonesia

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: fully-Funded
  • Eligible Degree: Undergraduate, Master’s, Ph.D.

Beasiswa Kemitraan Negara Berkembang, or the KNB Scholarship, is offered by the government of the Republic of Indonesia to international students from developing countries. International students from 97 countries have benefited so far since its inception, with the number of scholarships awarded increasing every year.

International students can benefit from the scholarship program if enrolled full-time at leading Indonesian universities like Yogyakarta State University and IPB University, pursuing undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs. Successful international students receive a round-trip international fare, settlement allowance, living allowance, book allowance, health insurance, and research allowance for graduate studies.

To qualify for the KNB scholarship, international students must meet the eligibility criteria, like being under 25 years if applying for a Bachelor’s degree and a maximum of 40 years for the graduate degree programs. Additionally, you must obtain a recommendation letter from the Indonesian Embassy or consulate upon submitting the application documents. Graduate students have to get a recommendation letter from a potential research supervisor in their institution of interest.

Application takes place online on the KNB Scholarship website and the selection results are made available on the same website.

7. Shanghai Government Scholarship

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: fully-funded and partial scholarships
  • Eligible Degree: Undergraduate, Master’s, Ph.D.

The Shanghai Government Scholarship was established by the Shanghai Municipal Government and is offered to international students to pursue undergraduate, Master’s, and Ph.D. degree programs at universities across China. Some of the universities include East China Normal University and Donghua University.

The scholarship is awarded in two categories, with category A being a fully-funded scholarship and category B being a partial scholarship. The full scholarship takes care of tuition fees, accommodation, medical insurance, and a monthly stipend of CNY 2,500 for bachelor’s programs, CNY 3,000 for master’s programs, and CNY 3,500 for doctoral programs. The partial scholarship on the other hand takes care of tuition fees and medical insurance.

For a successful scholarship application, you must meet the eligibility requirements, like being under 25 years and having a high school diploma for bachelor’s degree applicants. Additionally, you must have exceptional academic and extra-curricular performance and have not previously received any scholarships from any Chinese organization, institute, or government. You can read more application guidelines on the Government of Shangai study website before embarking on your application.

8. City University of Hong Kong Scholarships for International Students

  • Scholarship Link
  • Scholarship Amount: up to USD 23,500
  • Eligible Degree: Undergraduate

The City University of Hong Kong has a Diversity Grant and an Entrance Scholarship Scheme offered to international students with excellent academic performance. You must be enrolled full-time in a government-funded bachelor’s degree program to be eligible for the scholarships.

The university offers three types of scholarships including the Top Scholarships with a funding amount of USD 23,000, which covers annual tuition fees, accommodation, and other living expenses. There is also a full tuition scholarship that is approximately USD 18,500 which covers annual tuition, and a half-tuition scholarship which is approximately USD 9,250 covering half of the annual tuition fees.

The Diversity Grant is offered to international students who do not receive the Top scholarships, with USD 15,400 offered for the 4-year undergraduate program. However, recipients of this grant have to participate in volunteer activities as designated by the university.

The scholarships are awarded based on merit, hence applicants do not necessarily have to apply for them. International students who receive the scholarship must attain a Cumulative GPA of 3.4 or above yearly to renew the scholarship.

9. Schwarzman Scholarship Program at Tsinghua University

The Schwarzman Scholarship Program is a one-year, fully-funded scholarship for international students to pursue a master’s program in Global Affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. The program is designed to meet 21st-century challenges by supporting up to 200 scholars annually to build a global community of future leaders.

The scholarship is fully funded and takes care of all living expenses during the Master’s program, including traveling around China for research purposes and getting a better understanding of Chinese culture. Furthermore, studying at Tsinghua University will give international students all the support and resources needed to complete their degree program. Tsinghua is the best University in China having produced notable alumni like the former President of China, Hu Jintao.

The application takes place online with all the required documentation submitted electronically and in English. Among the application documents needed include recommendation letters, essays, proof of English Language proficiency, your educational background, and of past or present leadership roles. You can find the application instructions on the scholarship website and see if you meet the eligibility requirements.

10. National University of Singapore – President’s Graduate Fellowship

The President’s Graduate Fellowship at the National University of Singapore is awarded to international students who exhibit exceptional potential or accomplishment in research. It is awarded to Ph.D. research students each semester if enrolled in a full-time Ph.D. program at NUS.

While the fellowship is initially offered for one year, depending on your faculty’s recommendation and academic progress, you can renew it every semester for up to four years. Successful applicants receive a S$ 3,100 monthly stipend, a one-way air ticket for overseas students, full tuition fees, and S$1,000 as a settling-in allowance.

 

Applying for scholarships to study in Asia can be an exciting time and a great way to explore a new part of the world. International students can take advantage of the many opportunities available in this part of the world, from competitive scholarships to immersive cultural experiences. Whether it’s an opportunity for a full ride or additional financial aid, you can make sure you have the resources to pursue the education you desire.

We hope this article has been helpful. Do visit the Asia Scholarships Page to find out more about universities and scholarships in Asia!

About the Author: Hyun Lee

Hyun is the founder at Global Scholarships. He has received a full-tuition scholarship at Birmingham-Southern College as well as $1,000 Burger King Scholarship for his undergraduate degree and has been offered a fully funded scholarship consisting of tuition, living stipend, and health insurance for computer science Ph.D. program at North Carolina State University. Read more about his scholarship journey here.

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