Top 15 Scholarships 2026 for International Students — Fully Funded & How to Apply
Dear reader — in this article I will answer your question: which scholarships should you apply to for 2026? Below you’ll find 15 high-value opportunities from around the world, with clear details: country, field, benefits, who should apply, typical 2026 deadlines, and direct official links so you can act now.
Before you apply — quick preparation
Preparing applications for major scholarships takes time. Use this checklist to get ready while you read the scholarship profiles.
Must-have documents
- Passport scan (ID page)
- Academic transcripts and degree certificates
- CV or resume (academic format)
- Motivation/personal statement tailored to each award
- Two or three references (academic/professional)
- Language test results if required (IELTS, TOEFL)
Application tips
- Start early: some scholarships require university nomination.
- Follow file format and size rules strictly.
- Personalize your statements to the scholarship objectives.
- Get referees briefed about deadlines and selection criteria.
Timing
Deadlines vary. Many top scholarships for 2026 have application steps that run in 2025. Read the official pages and national calls for exact closing dates.
15 Best Scholarships for 2026 — detailed profiles
Chevening Scholarships — United Kingdom
Field: Any eligible master's subject. Benefits: Full tuition fees, monthly stipend, return economy flights, visa support, and alumni networking. Chevening is funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and aims to develop future leaders.
Who should apply
Emerging leaders with strong academic backgrounds, work experience, and a clear plan to return home to contribute to development. Applicants must be citizens of a Chevening-eligible country and demonstrate leadership and networking potential.
Deadline & 2026 notes
Applications typically open in August and close in early November. For the 2026 intake, expect the same schedule—confirm on Chevening.org.
Fulbright Foreign Student Program — United States
Field: Wide range; research, masters, PhD. Benefits: Tuition or support for study, living stipend, travel allowance, and health benefits depending on the country and program.
Who should apply
Strong academic applicants with a clear research/study plan and leadership qualities. Fulbright is administered by national commissions or U.S. embassies — requirements and deadlines vary by country.
Deadline & 2026 notes
Deadlines vary by country and typically fall between March and October for the next academic year. Check the national Fulbright webpage: foreign.fulbrightonline.org.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees (EMJMD) — European Union
Field: Varies per programme — engineering, environment, social sciences, IT, and more. Benefits: Tuition, allowance, travel and insurance for selected students. Programmes are run by consortia of European universities and offer study across multiple countries.
Who should apply
High-achieving graduates who want a multi-country European master's and strong international exposure. Selection is competitive, based on merit and motivation.
Deadlines & 2026 notes
Deadlines vary by the specific EMJMD; many programs accept applications in late 2025 or early 2026. Check the Erasmus+ pages and individual programme websites for exact dates.
Commonwealth Scholarships — United Kingdom
Field: Subjects linked to development. Benefits: Tuition fees, living allowance, travel, and study-related expenses for scholars from Commonwealth countries.
Who should apply
Students from Commonwealth nations with academic merit and plans to contribute to development in their home country. National nominating agencies typically manage selections.
Deadlines & 2026 notes
Deadlines vary; many calls for 2026 opened in 2025. Verify on the ACU/Commonwealth pages.
France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship — France
Field: Priority areas — engineering, law, economics, political science. Benefits: Monthly allowance, travel contributions, and health insurance contributions for Masters (M2) and PhD candidates nominated by French institutions.
Who should apply
Top international students nominated by French institutions. You cannot self-nominate; your chosen French university must nominate you to be considered.
Deadlines & 2026 notes
Nomination windows typically run from October to January. For full details and timeline, see Campus France: Campus France - Eiffel. (Also listed on MigrationVis Portal guide.)
Lund University Global Scholarship — Sweden
Field: Many master’s programmes. Benefits: Tuition fee waiver for high-achieving non-EU/EEA applicants; partial living cost support for selected students.
Who should apply
Non-EU/EEA students who have applied and are admitted to eligible Lund programmes. Scholarships are competitive and merit-based.
Deadlines & 2026 notes
Awards follow Lund’s admission rounds; for 2026, watch Lund’s scholarship page early in the admissions cycle. See: Lund University Global Scholarship.
See guide: Lund scholarship — MigrationVis Portal
DAAD Scholarships — Germany
Field: Broad range: engineering, humanities, sciences, arts, development studies. Benefits: Monthly stipends, travel allowances, health insurance contributions, and support for research costs depending on the programme.
Who should apply
International graduates and researchers with strong academic records and clear study/research plans. DAAD’s programmes include study scholarships, research grants and doctoral support.
Deadlines & 2026 notes
Deadlines vary by programme; many calls open in mid-to-late 2025 for 2026 placement. Check DAAD.de for current deadlines.
Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) — China
Field: Wide range including engineering, medicine, sciences, humanities. Benefits: Tuition waiver, monthly stipend, and sometimes accommodation allowance or travel support depending on the university and scholarship type.
Who should apply
International students seeking full degree programmes in China, or exchange/research placements. Some awards require home-country nomination.
Deadlines & 2026 notes
CSC application windows typically run in late 2025 and early 2026 for autumn 2026 enrolment. Always confirm dates on the official CSC site or the host university pages: Chinese CSC.
MEXT Scholarship — Japan
Field: Science, engineering, humanities, agriculture, research. Benefits: Tuition exemption, monthly stipend, travel to and from Japan and research support for some programmes.
Who should apply
High-achieving students and researchers. MEXT selection often runs through Japanese embassies or direct university application routes.
Deadlines & 2026 notes
National embassy or university deadlines vary; many selections for 2026 intake happen through late 2024 to early 2026 windows. Check Study in Japan (MEXT).
Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) — South Korea
Field: Many subjects at undergraduate and graduate levels. Benefits: Tuition, monthly stipend, language training, and return airfare in many cases.
Who should apply
International students meeting academic requirements. GKS is run by Korea’s NIIED and has embassy and university nomination routes.
Deadlines & 2026 notes
GKS nomination windows and deadlines vary by year; watch Study in Korea for the 2026 cycle details.
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships — Switzerland
Field: Research, arts, PhD and postdoctoral projects. Benefits: Monthly stipend, possible tuition coverage, and research grants depending on the award.
Who should apply
Researchers and artists with strong proposals and excellent academic records. Applications often coordinate with host institutions or Swiss embassies.
Deadlines & 2026 notes
Deadlines vary by country but many national selections for 2026 open in mid-to-late 2025. See Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship — University of Cambridge, UK
Field: Any postgraduate subject at Cambridge. Benefits: Full tuition, maintenance allowance, and funds for academic development. Gates scholars join a strong community of academic leaders.
Who should apply
Exceptional international applicants with outstanding academic records and leadership qualities. Applications run alongside Cambridge admissions.
Deadlines & 2026 notes
Deadlines align with Cambridge departmental deadlines; many are in late 2025 for 2026 entry. Check Gates Cambridge and the Cambridge graduate admissions pages.
Rhodes Scholarship — University of Oxford, UK
Field: Most graduate subjects at Oxford. Benefits: University and living costs, generous stipend, and the Rhodes community network. The award emphasizes academic excellence, leadership and public service.
Who should apply
Outstanding students with exceptional academic and leadership records. Candidates are nominated through national/regional selection processes.
Deadlines & 2026 notes
Nomination windows vary; many region nominations occur in the year prior to entry (e.g., mid-2025 for 2026). See the Rhodes Trust for precise national deadlines: Rhodes Trust.
Australia Awards Scholarships — Australia
Field: Development-focused fields aligned with partner country priorities. Benefits: Tuition, living allowance, return air travel, and health cover. Australia Awards focus on building leadership skills for development.
Who should apply
Applicants from eligible countries nominated through national selection agencies; applicants should show potential for leadership and clear development impact at home.
Deadlines & 2026 notes
Deadlines vary by partner country; many applications for the 2026 intake were processed in 2025. Check the Australia Awards country pages for your specific deadline: Australia Awards.
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships — Canada
Field: Health, natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities. Benefits: Generous doctoral stipend intended to attract top international doctoral students to Canada. This is for PhD-level research excellence.
Who should apply
Outstanding doctoral candidates with strong leadership and academic records. Institutions nominate candidates — contact your graduate admissions office early for internal nomination procedures.
Deadlines & 2026 notes
Institutional nominations are typically due in autumn for national submission; consult your institution and the Vanier CGS pages for 2026 timelines: Vanier CGS.
Authoritative resources
For policy-level guidance and scholarship searches, use these trusted sites:
- UNESCO Scholarships and Education Guidance — policy and research on international education. unesco.org
- ScholarshipPortal (EU) — searchable directory for scholarships in Europe and official funding opportunities. scholarshipportal.com
Next steps — how to choose & apply
Follow these steps to convert interest into real applications.
- Shortlist 3–5 scholarships that match your field, level and country preferences.
- Check eligibility & deadlines on the official scholarship pages; national agencies can have separate windows.
- Prepare documents — get transcripts, references and test scores ready at least 6–8 weeks before deadlines.
- Tailor statements — explain why you are a fit for the scholarship’s mission and how you will use the award to contribute at home.
- Submit before the deadline and keep proof of submission and confirmation emails.
Frequently asked questions
Are these scholarships fully funded?
Many of the scholarships listed provide full funding (tuition plus living stipend). Some offer partial funding. Always confirm the exact inclusions on the official page.
Can I apply to multiple scholarships?
Yes — you can apply to several scholarships if eligibility allows. Prioritize those that best match your profile and remit, and tailor each application individually.
What if a scholarship requires nomination?
For nomination-based awards (e.g., Eiffel, Vanier, Rhodes), liaise with your university’s international office or the relevant national agency early to meet internal nomination deadlines.