Scholarships for International Students: The Major Programmes and How to Apply

Study abroad · By the Open Quad editorial team · Published 2026-10-17

University students sitting in a circle on chairs, listening to a young woman speaking with a microphone — Students at a public talk on higher education in Vietnam, 2012. Photo: USAID Vietnam, public domain (US government work).

Fully funded scholarships are competitive, but they exist in every major destination country, and many are designed for students from developing countries. Most are run by governments, which use them to build long-term ties. This guide describes the best-known programmes, how they choose, and the practical steps that make an application credible.

The major government programmes

Programme	Funded by	Level	Notes
Fulbright Foreign Student Program	US Department of State, with partner governments	Master's and doctoral study in the US	Applications through the Fulbright commission or US embassy in your country; the programme says about 4,000 foreign students receive awards each year
Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship	US Department of State	Non-degree year for mid-career professionals	For professionals with public-service experience
Chevening Scholarships	UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office	One-year master's in the UK	Applicants usually need work experience and must return home afterwards
Commonwealth Scholarships	UK government (Commonwealth Scholarship Commission)	Master's and PhD in the UK	For citizens of eligible low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries
DAAD scholarships	German Academic Exchange Service	Master's, PhD, research stays	Many programmes, some aimed at development-related subjects
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters	European Union	Master's in two or more European countries	Apply directly to each joint programme
MEXT scholarships	Government of Japan	Undergraduate to research	Through Japanese embassies or universities

Many other governments offer similar awards, for example Türkiye's Türkiye Burslari, the Chinese Government Scholarship and Korea's Global Korea Scholarship. Foundations also fund large programmes; the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, for example, supports students from Africa at partner universities in Africa and elsewhere.

A note on the US in 2025–2026

US government exchange programmes were affected by the 2025 reorganisation of foreign assistance and public diplomacy. In June 2025 the members of the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, which supervises the programme, resigned in protest at what they described as interference in selection. The Fulbright Program continued to operate, but if you are applying for a US government scholarship, check the current call and timeline on the official site and with your local Fulbright commission or US embassy.

How selection usually works

Eligibility screening. Nationality, degree level, years of work experience, language scores and sometimes an age limit.
Written application. Essays on your goals, leadership and how the study fits your country's needs; a study plan; references.
Interview. Usually with a panel in your country, sometimes online.
Placement. Some programmes place you at a university; others expect you to obtain admission yourself.

Panels look for a clear, specific plan. "I want to study public health" is weak; "I manage vaccine logistics for a district health office and want to study supply-chain management to improve cold-chain coverage" is strong. Your references should be able to confirm what you claim.

Conditions to read carefully

Return requirements. Chevening requires scholars to return to their home country for at least two years after the award. US government-funded J-1 visa holders may be subject to a two-year home-country physical presence requirement (see our visa guide).
What is covered. Fully funded usually means tuition, a living stipend, travel and health insurance, but check whether dependants, books and visa fees are included.
Bonding. Some employer- or government-sponsored awards require you to work for the sponsor for a period after you return.

Timing

Most government scholarships open applications nine to fifteen months before the course starts. Fulbright competitions in many countries close in the spring or summer of the year before; Chevening applications typically open in August and close in the autumn for the following academic year. Build in time for language tests (see English language tests), transcripts and credential evaluation.

Scholarship scams

Real scholarships do not charge an application fee to "guarantee" or "release" an award.
Be wary of unsolicited messages announcing you have won a scholarship you did not apply for.
Check that the website address belongs to the government, university or foundation named. The US Federal Trade Commission publishes advice on scholarship scams.

Where to find more

University international offices list scholarships for their own students. EducationUSA advisers can explain US funding, and the British Council, DAAD, Campus France and Study in Japan offices do the same for their countries. Searching from the official programme websites listed below, rather than from aggregator sites, avoids out-of-date information.

Writing a strong application

Selection panels read hundreds of essays, and the ones that stand out are specific. Describe a real problem you have worked on, what you did, what you learned and what you could not solve without further study. Explain why this programme, in this country, is the right next step, and what you will do with it afterwards, in concrete terms. Keep claims verifiable: panels check references and may ask you to expand on any line at interview. Ask referees early, give them your essay and a list of what you would like them to confirm, and choose people who know your work rather than the most senior names you can find. Finally, follow the instructions exactly: word limits, formats and document lists are often used to screen out applications before anyone reads the content.

Sources

Fulbright Program: Foreign Student Program; fulbrightprogram.org.
Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship: humphreyfellowship.org.
Chevening: chevening.org; Commonwealth Scholarship Commission: cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk.
DAAD: daad.de; European Commission, Erasmus Mundus.
Study in Japan (MEXT): studyinjapan.go.jp.
Mastercard Foundation: mastercardfdn.org.
US Federal Trade Commission, scholarship and financial aid scams.