Scholarships for International Students
Browse scholarships and fellowships for international students — fully funded and partial awards for study abroad at every degree level.
Scholarships for international students come from four main sources, and each behaves differently: host-country governments funding inbound students, home-country governments funding citizens to study abroad, universities discounting or covering their own tuition, and private foundations backing particular fields or regions. Government schemes are usually the largest and most competitive, often carry service or return-home conditions, and are administered through embassies or national agencies. University awards are the most numerous and are frequently granted automatically with admission, which makes the admissions application itself your most important scholarship application.
Sequencing is the trap in this category. Some awards require an unconditional offer before you can apply; others must be applied for a full academic year before enrollment; some can only be applied for from your home country. Build a timeline backwards from your intended start date, and expect the whole process — tests, admission, scholarship, visa — to span twelve months or more for major awards.
Be precise about what “fully funded” means for each award: tuition, stipend, housing, health insurance, travel, and dependents are covered in some combinations and not others, and partial awards can still leave a gap larger than your budget. Also check duration against your program length, since an award covering one year of a two-year degree needs a plan for year two.
The most common mistakes are applying only to famous flagship schemes while ignoring university and departmental awards with far better odds, and trusting third-party sites over official sources. No legitimate scholarship charges an application fee to the award itself. Browse current opportunities below, then verify every detail on the funder’s or university’s official page.
Current matching opportunities
These listings are limited to open, rolling, or upcoming opportunities that match this guide. Check the official source before applying.
PM-USP Central Sector Scholarship 2026–27: ₹12,000–₹20,000 a Year for Indian College Students
The Government of India's PM-USP Central Sector Scheme provides merit-cum-means support to eligible Indian students in regular college and university courses, with 2026–27 renewal applications currently open through 31 October 2026.
RMIT Research Funded Scholarships 2027: PhD and Research Master's Stipend, Tuition Support and Relocation Allowance
RMIT University is accepting applications for its 2027 central research scholarship round, which can combine a living stipend, tuition-fee support and relocation assistance for competitive PhD and research master's applicants.
Saïd Foundation Scholarships 2027/28: Fully Funded UK Master's Study for Applicants From Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine
The Saïd Foundation's 2027/28 scholarship round will fund approximately 20–30 one-year UK master's students from Syria, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine, with applications opening 1 September and closing 30 October 2026.
KAUST Global Fellowship Program Call 2027: $75,000 Annual Stipend and Research Funding for Early-Career Researchers
KAUST's 2027 Global Fellowship supports internationally mobile early-career researchers with a three-year, fellow-led research project, a US$75,000 annual stipend, research funding, and family benefits.
AWWA Water Equation Scholarships 2027–2028: $5,000–$30,000 Awards for Water-Sector Students
The American Water Works Association's 2027–2028 Water Equation Scholarship Program is open through November 6, 2026, with awards for undergraduate, graduate, doctoral, and water-operator education.
University of Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarships 2027: Full Fee Offset and AUD $39,500 Stipend for Masters and PhD Students
The University of Melbourne's Graduate Research Scholarships provide eligible domestic and international research students with a full fee offset and, for competitive stipend awards, a living allowance of AUD $39,500 per year pro rata at the 2026 full-time rate for 2027 graduate research study.
Commonwealth Startup Fellowship 2026–2027: Fully Funded Accelerator Support and Up to £2,000 for High-Potential Commonwealth Startups
The Commonwealth Startup Fellowship is a six-month, fully supported growth programme for legally registered startups in eligible low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries, with covered travel and participation costs plus an equity-free grant of up to £2,000.
Prognica Research Fellows Program 2026–2027: Fully Funded Computational Biology Fellowship
Prognica Labs offers ten researchers a six-month, no-fee fellowship with platform access, training, research-methodology support and optional funded wet-laboratory validation for computational biology projects.
WAI2027 Scholarships: Aviation and Aerospace Education Funding for WAI Members
Women in Aviation International's WAI2027 scholarship cycle supports members pursuing aviation and aerospace education, training, and career development through multiple award-specific scholarships with a shared online application window.
South Africa National Treasury Bursary 2027: Study Support for Accounting, Economics, Finance and Law Students
South Africa's National Treasury Bursary Scheme supports strong-performing citizens entering third-year undergraduate, Honours or Master's study in accounting, economics, finance or law at an accredited local higher education institution.
ICCROM Fellowships 2027: 3–6 Month Cultural Heritage Research Fellowship in Rome, Deadline 15 September 2026
ICCROM offers eligible senior cultural-heritage professionals a three- to six-month 2027 research fellowship with access to its staff, library, archives, workspace and documentation services; applications open 15 August and close 15 September 2026.
Global Young Academy Membership 2027: Five-Year International Science Leadership Opportunity for Early-Career Scholars
The Global Young Academy is accepting applications for its 2027 cohort of early- to mid-career scholars who want to contribute to international science policy, education, outreach, and interdisciplinary collaboration through a five-year membership.
Application guidance
Use the listings above as a shortlist, then build your application from the official instructions. Save the source page, deadline, eligibility rules, required documents, contact details, and any program-specific scoring criteria. If the deadline is rolling, apply early enough for review queues and budget limits. If the deadline is fixed, work backward from the closing date and leave time for recommendations, institutional approvals, financial documents, and portal errors.
Popular funding types
Scholarships for International Students FAQ
What does "fully funded" actually mean?
Definitions vary: some awards cover tuition, living costs, and travel, while others cover tuition only. Read the official award terms to see exactly which costs are included and for how many years.
Do scholarships help with student visas?
A scholarship can strengthen the financial evidence a visa requires, but it does not guarantee a visa, and some government-funded awards carry conditions such as returning home after study. Check both the award terms and official immigration guidance.
Should I apply for the scholarship or university admission first?
It depends on the scheme: some require admission before you apply, others run a combined process, and some must be applied for from your home country before departure. The official scholarship page states the required order.