7 Best Scholarships in Asia for International Students

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 Korea Advanced Institute of Technology, the University of Tokyo, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong.

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.

Top Scholarships in Asia for International Students

1. Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA)

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Amount: Fully funded
• Eligible Degree/s: Ph.D.

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.

One scholar’s journey: Elif Esra Aydin, an architect from Türkiye, secured the Singapore International Graduate Award after contacting a prospective supervisor and defending the relevance of architecture to a scholarship largely associated with engineering research. Despite doubts about her field’s eligibility, she emphasized her interdisciplinary design and engineering experience during the application and interviews, ultimately completing a PhD in Architecture and Sustainable Design at the Singapore University of Technology and Design. Her experience shows why identifying a suitable supervisor early and clearly explaining your research fit can matter when applying for SINGA, while Diana Arredondo Bernal offers another example through her regenerative medicine research at Nanyang Technological University. View More Singapore International Graduate Award recipients →

2. MEXT Scholarships

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Amount: ¥143,000～145,000 per month (Research and Teacher Training) and ¥117,000 per month for other eligible categories
• Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, Research, Specialized and 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.

Ali Ahsan’s path to the MEXT Scholarship: Ali Ahsan, a Pakistani researcher with a master’s-level background in microbiology and molecular genetics, secured the Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship for doctoral research at Osaka Metropolitan University. He identified laboratories matching his structural biology interests, contacted prospective supervisors with a focused proposal, and worked with his host laboratory to refine testable research questions, experimental methods, and contingency plans. His research trajectory subsequently led to a secured JSPS postdoctoral fellowship at Nagoya University, scheduled to begin in March 2027. View More MEXT Scholarship recipients →

3. Global Korea Scholarships

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Amount: Fully funded plus 100,000 KRW monthly allowance
• Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D.
• Meet the GKS Scholars: Explore scholarship journeys including Islamuddin Alimurrijal from Indonesia and Deepak Kumar from India

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 an NIIED-designated country allowed to participate in the GKS program. Other requirements include being under 25 years old 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.

A recipient’s path: Namrah Siddiqua from Pakistan won the Global Korea Scholarship through the Embassy Track after preparing her documents months in advance, strengthening her personal statement with leadership and extracurricular experience, and passing an embassy interview. She received admission offers from all three universities she selected and chose Korea University for a master’s in Artificial Intelligence, building on her software engineering background. After completing her degree, she stayed in South Korea to work professionally, demonstrating a career pathway through the Global Korea Scholarship.View More Global Korea Scholarship recipients →

4. Shanghai Government Scholarship

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Amount: Fully funded and partial scholarships
• Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, 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 old 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.

5. Malaysia International Scholarship (Malaysian Government)

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: Full tuition fee coverage and a monthly living allowance of RM1,500
• Eligible Degree/s: Master’s and Ph.D.

The Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS) is a government-funded program administered by Malaysia’s Ministry of Higher Education to attract academically outstanding international students to pursue postgraduate studies in Malaysia. It is open to citizens of designated countries, including eligible ASEAN and Commonwealth nations, who intend to enroll in full-time master’s or doctoral programs or are already studying at participating Malaysian institutions with at least two semesters remaining. Students exploring other funding opportunities can also review the best scholarships in Malaysia for international students.

The scholarship covers tuition fees throughout the approved sponsorship period and provides a living allowance of RM1,500 per month, disbursed every four months following submission of academic progress reports. Master’s applicants must be no older than 40, while Ph.D. applicants must be no older than 45, with a minimum CGPA of 3.00 or equivalent academic qualifications. Applicants must demonstrate English proficiency through IELTS 6.0, an accepted TOEFL score, or proof of previous English-medium instruction. Master’s by Research and Ph.D. applicants must also submit a research proposal of at least 1,000 words. Applications for the 2026/2027 academic year are closed, and applicants should monitor the official portal for future application announcements.

5. Chinese Government Scholarship (Government of China)

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: Full or partial funding; full scholarships cover tuition, accommodation or an accommodation subsidy, a monthly living stipend, and comprehensive medical insurance
• Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D., and non-degree research programs

The Chinese Government Scholarship, administered by the China Scholarship Council under China’s Ministry of Education, supports international students pursuing higher education at designated Chinese universities. Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens in good health and meet the academic, age, and language requirements of their chosen programs. Bachelor’s applicants must generally be under 25, master’s applicants under 35, and doctoral applicants under 40. Students exploring other opportunities can also review the best scholarships in China for international students.

Full scholarships generally provide monthly stipends of CNY 2,500 for bachelor’s students, CNY 3,000 for master’s students, and CNY 3,500 for doctoral students, alongside tuition, accommodation support, and medical insurance. For the 2026/2027 academic year, bachelor’s applicants must submit a valid China Scholastic Competency Assessment (CSCA) score, while applicants must also satisfy their university’s admission and language requirements. Applications are submitted through the official Study in China portal, with pre-admission documentation required for relevant application routes. Deadlines vary by country, university, and scholarship category, so applicants should consult the appropriate official notice before applying.

One scholar’s journey: Iqra Tariq from Pakistan received the Chinese Government Scholarship to pursue a master’s in Journalism and Communication at Wuhan University after organizing scholarship requirements in spreadsheets and tailoring her motivation letter and research proposal to her chosen program. She emphasized her academic fit and research interests without taking a standardized language test for her CSC application. After completing her master’s, she secured several doctoral offers and chose to pursue a PhD in Digital Marketing and Analytics at the University of Eastern Finland. View More Chinese Government Scholarship recipients →

Outcomes of Students Who’ve Received Chinese Government Scholarships: Zahid Iqbal, who completed CSC-funded master’s and PhD degrees at Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications before becoming a postdoctoral researcher at Harbin Institute of Technology; Enes Karakaya, who completed his bachelor’s in Chinese Language at Shanghai Normal University and subsequently pursued a master’s in East Asian Studies at Leiden University; and Dr. Md. Nurul Islam, who completed his PhD at Nanjing University and subsequently undertook postdoctoral research in Malaysia.

7. TaiwanICDF International Higher Education Scholarship Program (TaiwanICDF)

• Scholarship Page
• Scholarship Value: Full funding covering round-trip airfare, tuition and credit fees, accommodation, insurance, textbooks, and a monthly allowance of NT$15,000 to NT$20,000
• Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Ph.D.

The TaiwanICDF International Higher Education Scholarship Program is a fully funded scholarship offered by the International Cooperation and Development Fund (TaiwanICDF) for international students from eligible partner countries. Through the Taiwan International Cooperation Alliance (TICA), the program supports studies at participating Taiwanese universities, including National Sun Yat-sen University. Applicants must meet their chosen university’s admission requirements, qualify for a Taiwanese resident visa and residence certificate, and satisfy the nationality requirements. Bachelor’s programs are restricted to applicants from countries maintaining diplomatic relations with Taiwan.

The scholarship provides monthly living allowances of NT$15,000 for bachelor’s students, NT$18,000 for master’s students, and NT$20,000 for doctoral students, with funding available for up to four, two, and four years, respectively. For the 2027 intake, applications are scheduled from December 1, 2026, to March 15, 2027. Applicants must complete the TaiwanICDF online application, apply separately to one participating university program, and submit additional documents to the relevant Taiwanese diplomatic office when required. Applicants cannot hold another Taiwan government-sponsored scholarship during the same academic year, and university admission alone does not guarantee TaiwanICDF scholarship approval.

Juan Fernando Herrera Ramos’s path to the Taiwan ICDF Scholarship: Juan Fernando Herrera Ramos from Honduras secured the Taiwan ICDF Scholarship for an MBA in International Human Resources Development at National Taiwan Normal University by connecting his legal background and career goals to the scholarship’s international development mission. He submitted recommendations from two university professors and achieved a TOEFL score of 99; his program manager later told him that his clear career plan, leadership, empathy, and English proficiency had strengthened his application. After completing his MBA, he continued building his professional career in Taiwan across international journalism, law, and project management. View More Taiwan ICDF Scholarship recipients →

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 and informative. If you are interested, explore Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees for International Students!