Top Government Scholarships for International Students

Looking for government scholarships? You’ve come to the right place!

One of the best ways to study for free as a foreign student in another country is to apply for international scholarships offered by the government of that country.

Students who can’t afford quality education don’t need to worry anymore. There are many Scholarships that provide financial support to meritorious and needy students.

So if you are someone who thinks they deserve to have the best education and are not afraid to prove it or know someone who can use such scholarships.

United States Government Scholarships

Fulbright Foreign Student Program: The Fulbright Programs are full scholarships for international students from 155 countries around the world who want to pursue a Master’s or Ph.D. degree in the US.  The scholarships can also be awarded for non-degree postgraduate studies.  The grant covers tuition fees, textbooks, airfare, a living stipend, and health insurance.  Approximately 1,800 scholarships are awarded annually.

Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program: The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program provides a year of professional enrichment in the United States for experienced professionals from designated countries throughout the world. The fellowship provides tuition fees, allowance, accident and health insurance, travel expenses, etc.   Approximately 200 Fellowships are awarded annually.

UK & British Commonwealth Government Scholarships

British Chevening Scholarships: Chevening Scholarships, the UK government’s global scholarship program, are awarded to outstanding scholars from Chevening-eligible countries around the world. Awards are typically for a one-year Master’s degree. Most Chevening Scholarships cover tuition fees, a living allowance at a set rate (for one individual), an economy class return airfare to the UK, and additional grants to cover essential expenditure.  Around 1500 scholarships globally are being offered.

UK Commonwealth Scholarships for Developing Commonwealth Countries: The Commonwealth Scholarships are intended for students from developing Commonwealth countries who want to pursue Masters and Ph.D. study in the UK. Each scholarship provides airfare to and from the United Kingdom, tuition and examination fees, personal maintaining allowance, thesis grant (if applicable), an initial arrival allowance, among others.  Approximately 300 of these scholarships are awarded each year.

European Government Scholarships

The Netherlands:

• Orange Knowledge Programme: The Orange Knowledge Programme Scholarships are available for a selection of short courses (duration 2 weeks to 12 months) and master’s programs (duration 12 – 24 months).  An OKP scholarship is intended to supplement the salary that you should continue to receive during the study period in the Netherlands. The allowance is a contribution towards your costs of living such as tuition fees, visas, travel, insurance, etc.
• Holland Scholarships for Non-EU/EEA Students: The Holland Scholarship, financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science, is meant for international students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who want to do their bachelor’s or master’s at one of the Dutch research universities and universities of applied sciences in Holland.  The scholarship amounts to €5,000.

Belgium

• Government of Flanders Master Mind Scholarships for International Students: The Government of Flanders launches a new scholarship program, Master Mind Scholarships that aims to promote the internationalization of the Flemish Higher Education.  It awards up to 45 scholarships to outstanding Master students from all countries. The incoming student is awarded a scholarship of maximum €8,000 per academic year. The Flemish Host Institution can ask the applicant for a tuition fee of a maximum of €109 per year.
• VLIR-UOS Scholarship Program: VLIR-UOS awards scholarships to students from 31 developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America to pursue an English Taught Training or Master’s Programme related to development at Universities in Belgium. The scholarships cover tuition fees, accommodation, allowance, travel costs,  and other program-related costs.

Germany

• DAAD Scholarships for Development-Related Postgraduate Courses: The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) provides scholarships for a range of postgraduate courses with special relevance to developing countries at German Universities. The scholarships are specifically targeted to international students and young professionals from developing countries in Africa, Asia, Pacific Islands, Central and South America and Central and Eastern Europe.  DAAD scholarship supports selected programs with a variety of full or partial scholarships.

Switzerland

• Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships: The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships provide graduates from around 180 countries with the opportunity to pursue doctoral or postdoctoral research in any academic field at one of the public-funded university or recognized institution in Switzerland.  The scholarship covers a monthly allowance, tuition fees, health insurance, lodging allowance, etc.

Sweden

• Swedish Institute Study Scholarships: The Swedish Institute provides scholarships in Sweden to highly-qualified international students from developing countries who want to pursue full-time Masters studies at Swedish Universities. The scholarship covers tuition fees, living expenses, some travel grants, and insurance. About 335 scholarships are offered.

Denmark

• Danish Government Scholarships for Non-EU/EEA Students: A number of scholarships are being offered each year by the Danish Ministry of Education to fund highly qualified and motivated international students from outside the EU/EEA who wish to pursue full degree higher education program at participating Danish Universities. The scholarship can be given as full or partial tuition fee waivers and/or grants towards covering your living costs.

Italy

• Italian Government Scholarships for Foreign Students: The Italian Government awards scholarships for studying in Italy both to foreign citizens and Italian citizens resident abroad. The scholarships are towards University degree courses, Advanced vocational training, art and music courses, Masters Degree courses, PhD Courses, etc.  It is only possible to apply for three, six, or nine-month scholarships.

France

• Eiffel Excellence Scholarships: The Eiffel scholarship program was developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as a tool to allow French higher education institutions to attract the best foreign students for masters and Ph.D. degree programs.  Eiffel scholarship-holders receive a monthly allowance and other expenses such as return trips, health insurance, and cultural activities. It does not cover tuition fees.

Australia and New Zealand Government Scholarships

• Australian Awards Scholarships: Australia Awards Scholarships, formerly known as Australia Development Scholarships (ADS) are scholarships for international students from selected countries in Asia, Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East who wants to study at Australian Universities.  The scholarships are towards vocational education and training courses, undergraduate degrees, postgraduate degrees, and PhD degrees at participating Australian universities and Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutions. The scholarship benefits generally include full tuition fees, return air travel, establishment allowance, contribution to living expenses (CLE), Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC),  etc.
• Endeavour Postgraduate Awards: The Endeavour Postgraduate Awards provide full financial support for international students from around the world to undertake a postgraduate qualification at a Masters or Ph.D. level either by coursework or research in any field of study in Australia.  The scholarships include tuition fees, travel allowance, establishment allowance, monthly stipend, health & travel insurance. See also Endeavor VET Scholarships and Endeavour Executive Fellowships
• Australia International Postgraduate Research Scholarships: The IPRS program enables international students to undertake a postgraduate research qualification in Australia and gain experience with leading Australian researchers.  The scholarships are available for a period of two years for a Masters by research degree or three years for a Doctorate by research degree.  The scholarship covers tuition fees and health cover costs.  Around 330 scholarships are awarded annually.
• New Zealand International Tertiary Scholarships: The Scholarships offers the opportunity for international students from selected developing countries in Pacific Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean as well as the Commonwealth to study in New Zealand to gain knowledge and skills through post-graduate study in specific subject areas that will assist in the development of their home country.  The scholarships include tuition fees, travel costs, living allowance, and insurance.

Asia Government Scholarships

Japan

• Japanese Government Scholarships: The  Japanese Government offers scholarships in Japan to international students who wish to study at Japanese universities as undergraduate and research students under the Japanese Government Scholarship Program.  The scholarships cover allowance, traveling costs, and school fees.

China

• Chinese Government Scholarships for International Students: Chinese Government Scholarship—Bilateral Program includes a full or partial scholarship established by MOE in accordance with educational exchange agreements or MOUs between the Chinese government and governments of other countries, institutions, universities, and international organizations.  It supports undergraduate programs, master’s programs, doctoral programs, general scholar programs, and senior scholar programs.  The Bilateral Program provides both full scholarships and partial scholarships.

Taiwan

• Taiwan Scholarships for International Students: The Taiwan Government through the Ministry of Education (MOE) offers Bachelors’s, Masters’s, and PhD scholarships for international students who want to study in Taiwan Colleges and Universities through Taiwan Scholarship Program.  The scholarships cover tuition and payment of academic fees and subsistence allowance. See also Taiwan Higher Education Scholarship Program

Turkey

• Turkey Graduate Scholarships for International Students: Türkiye Graduate Scholarship Programme is intended for successful international students from all over the world who wish to pursue postgraduate studies in Turkey.  The scholarship includes a monthly stipend, full tuition fee, free 1-year Turkish language course, free state-run dormitory accommodation, round-trip air ticket, and health insurance.

Singapore

• Singapore International Graduate Award: Singapore International Graduate Awards are given to international students with excellent academic undergraduate and/or master’s results, and a strong interest in doing research leading to a doctorate (PhD) in Science and Engineering at a Singapore University.  The award provides financial support for up to 4 years of PhD studies including full tuition fees, monthly stipend, settlement allowance, and airfare grant.

Hong Kong

• Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme: Established in 2009 by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC), the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme aims to attract outstanding students in the world to pursue their PhD degree programs in Hong Kong’s institutions.  The Fellowship provides a monthly stipend and a conference and research-related travel allowance per year for a maximum period of three years.

Korea

• Korean Government Scholarships: The Korean Government Scholarship Program is designed to provide international students with an opportunity to conduct advanced studies at higher educational institutions in Korea and to develop global leaders and strengthen Korea-friendly networks worldwide.  The scholarships cover tuition, allowance, travel, airfare, medical insurance, etc.