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When it comes to scholarships, not all are created equal. Some cover just tuition fees, others only provide for living expenses, and a few might offer partial grants. However, fully funded scholarships go a step further. They cover most, if not all, of the costs associated with studying abroad, including tuition, living expenses, travel, books, insurance, and more.
In this guide, we’ll focus on fully funded scholarships for international students, meaning scholarships that at least cover both tuition fees and living expenses.
Government-Funded Fully Funded Scholarships
Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA)
The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is one of the most prestigious fully funded scholarships available for international students pursuing a Master’s or Ph.D. degree in the United States. This scholarship covers tuition fees, airfare, living stipends, and health insurance, among other costs. The Fulbright program supports students for the entire duration of their studies in the U.S.
British Chevening Scholarships (UK)
The Chevening Scholarships are offered by the UK government to outstanding scholars with leadership potential. These fully funded scholarships are usually for a one-year Master’s degree. They cover tuition fees, a set living allowance, an economy class return airfare to the UK, and additional grants for essential expenses.
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (Switzerland)
The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships provide opportunities for graduates from various fields to pursue doctoral or postdoctoral research at public universities or recognized institutions in Switzerland. The scholarship includes a monthly allowance, tuition fees, health insurance, and accommodation support.
Swedish Scholarships for International Students (Sweden)
The Swedish Institute offers fully funded scholarships for highly qualified international students from developing countries who wish to pursue full-time Master’s studies at Swedish universities. The scholarship covers tuition fees, living expenses, some travel grants, and insurance.
VLIR-UOS Training and Masters Scholarships (Belgium)
The VLIR-UOS awards fully funded scholarships to students from select developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America. These scholarships support students in pursuing a Training and Master’s Program related to development at Belgian universities. They cover tuition fees, accommodation, travel costs, and other program-related expenses.
University-Funded Fully Funded Scholarships
Gates Cambridge Scholarships (UK)
The Gates Cambridge Scholarships offer full-cost awards for graduate study and research in any subject at the University of Cambridge. Open to international students worldwide, these scholarships cover university fees, maintenance allowances, airfare, and sometimes even dependent’s allowances.
Clarendon Scholarships at University of Oxford (UK)
The Clarendon Scholarship Fund is a prestigious scheme that awards about 140 new scholarships annually to eligible graduate applicants at the University of Oxford. These fully funded scholarships cover both tuition and college fees and provide a generous grant for living expenses.
Warwick Chancellor’s International Scholarships (UK)
The Warwick Graduate School awards around 25 Chancellor’s International Scholarships each year to outstanding international Ph.D. applicants. These scholarships cover the full payment of overseas tuition fees and include a maintenance allowance.
University of Sydney International Scholarships (Australia)
The University of Sydney International Research Scholarship (USydIS) is available for students who wish to undertake a Postgraduate Research Degree or Master’s by Research at the University of Sydney. This fully funded scholarship covers tuition fees and a living allowance for up to three years.
University of Maastricht High Potential Scholarships (Netherlands)
The University of Maastricht High Potential Scholarships are designed to encourage talented students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) to pursue a Master’s program at the university. The scholarships cover tuition fees, living expenses, visa costs, and insurance.
TU Delft Excellence Scholarships (Netherlands)
The Delft University of Technology offers several excellence scholarships for international students, including the Justus & Louise van Effen scholarship. This fully funded scholarship covers tuition fees and provides a monthly allowance for living expenses.
Erik Bleumink Scholarships at University of Groningen (Netherlands)
The Erik Bleumink Fund Scholarships are awarded for one or two-year Master’s degree programs at the University of Groningen. These fully funded scholarships cover tuition fees, international travel, subsistence, books, and health insurance.
Amsterdam Excellence Scholarships (Netherlands)
The Amsterdam Excellence Scholarships (AES) offer fully funded scholarships of €25,000 to exceptionally talented students from outside the EU for eligible Master’s programs at the University of Amsterdam. The scholarship covers both tuition fees and living expenses.
ETH Zurich Excellence Masters Scholarship Program (Switzerland)
The ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) supports excellent international students who wish to pursue a Master’s degree at ETH. The scholarship includes a grant covering living and study expenses (CHF 11,000 per semester) and a tuition fee waiver.
Fully Funded Scholarships in Canada
International Leader of Tomorrow Award at University of British Columbia (Canada)
The University of British Columbia (UBC) offers the International Leader of Tomorrow Award for talented international students from around the world. The award is based on financial need and covers the costs of tuition, fees, and living expenses, minus the financial contribution that the student and their family can make annually.
Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship Program at University of Toronto (Canada)
The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship Program at the University of Toronto is aimed at recognizing international students who demonstrate exceptional academic achievement and creativity and who are recognized as leaders in their schools. The scholarship covers tuition, books, incidental fees, and full residence support for four years.
Fully Funded Scholarships Offered by Organizations
Joint Japan World Bank Scholarships
The Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program offers fully funded scholarships to students from World Bank member countries who wish to pursue development-related studies at selected universities worldwide. The scholarship covers travel costs, tuition, medical insurance, and a monthly subsistence allowance for living expenses.
ADB Japan Scholarship Program
The Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP) provides fully funded scholarships for well-qualified citizens of ADB’s developing member countries. The scholarship supports postgraduate studies in fields like economics, management, science, and technology at participating institutions in the Asia-Pacific region. It covers full tuition fees, a monthly subsistence and housing allowance, books, medical insurance, and travel expenses.
Rotary Foundation Global Study Grants
The Rotary Foundation offers Global Grant scholarships for graduate-level coursework or research for one to four academic years. The fully funded scholarship has a minimum budget of $30,000, covering passport/visa costs, travel expenses, school supplies, tuition, room and board, and more.
OFID Scholarship Award
The OPEC Fund for International Development (OFID) offers fully funded scholarships to qualified applicants who wish to study for a Master’s degree at an accredited university worldwide. The scholarship covers up to $50,000, which includes tuition fees, a monthly allowance for living expenses, accommodation, insurance, books, relocation grants, and travel costs.
FAQs About Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students
1. What is a fully funded scholarship?
A fully funded scholarship is one that covers all the costs associated with studying, including tuition, living expenses, travel, books, and insurance.
2. How can I apply for a fully funded scholarship?
To apply for a fully funded scholarship, research the scholarships available for your desired country and program, ensure you meet the eligibility criteria, and submit the required application materials by the deadline.
3. Are fully funded scholarships only for graduate programs?
No, fully funded scholarships are available for both undergraduate and graduate programs. However, they are more commonly found at the graduate level.
4. Do fully funded scholarships cover travel expenses?
Yes, many fully funded scholarships also cover travel expenses, such as airfare, to and from the host country.
5. What are the chances of getting a fully funded scholarship?
The chances of receiving a fully funded scholarship depend on several factors, including your academic achievements, leadership potential, and the specific requirements of the scholarship.
6. Can I apply for multiple fully funded scholarships at the same time?
Yes, you can apply for multiple scholarships simultaneously, but make sure to meet the deadlines and application requirements for each one.
7. Do I need to repay a fully funded scholarship?
No, fully funded scholarships do not need to be repaid as they are not loans. However, some scholarships may require you to return to your home country after your studies.
Fully funded scholarships for international students offer incredible opportunities to study abroad without the financial burden. By understanding the options available and carefully preparing your application, you can increase your chances of securing one of these prestigious awards.
