Government scholarships open to international students

Updated November 14, 2026

This guide lists scholarships that international students can apply to. Each section gives the facts we have about the programme and links to the official page.

Some programmes are limited to certain nationalities. We say so in each section.

United Kingdom: Chevening

Chevening is a UK government scholarship programme.

Level: one-year master’s degrees only.
What you get: you live and study in the UK for one year.
Who it is for: applicants with the passion and influence to tackle local, national or global challenges.
Nationality: check the official page for the list of eligible countries.
Dates: check the official page for the opening date.

United Kingdom: Commonwealth Scholarships

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) UK runs several awards.

Master’s scholarships: only for candidates from eligible lower and upper middle income Commonwealth countries.
Commonwealth Startup Fellowships: these run for six months.
Dates: check the official page for each award.

Germany: DAAD

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) lists many programmes in its scholarship database. Four of them:

Research grants: 2 to 12 months for doctoral students, and 2 to 6 months for early postdocs.
EPOS: postgraduate or master’s study in Germany for graduates from development and newly industrialised countries.
Helmut-Schmidt-Programme: master’s degrees that matter for development in your home country.
Evangelisches Studienwerk refugee scholarship: up to 855 EUR a month plus a 300 EUR flat rate.

Open the database entry for the one you want to see its rules and dates.

Japan: MEXT Scholarship

The Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship comes from Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology.

What you get: round-trip airfare is provided.
How to apply: through a Japanese embassy recommendation or a university recommendation.
Research students: you must be under 35 and eligible for a master’s or doctoral program in Japan.
Undergraduate students: you must be under 25 and have completed 12 years of school education.
Dates: check the official page.

South Korea: Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)

The Global Korea Scholarship is run by NIIED, the National Institute for International Education.

What you get: airfare, Korean language training, tuition and a monthly allowance.
Places: about 280 undergraduate and 1,600 graduate places.
Undergraduate: one year of Korean language training, then an associate degree (2 to 3 years) or a bachelor’s degree (4 to 6 years).
Graduate: 2 years for a master’s and 3 years for a doctorate.
Nationality: you and both your parents must hold non-Korean citizenship.
Age and grades, undergraduate: under 25, with 80% or higher or a place in the top 20% of your class.
Grades, graduate: an average GPA of at least 80% in your most recent program.
Embassy track: the R-GKS track is for students from developing countries who apply through Korean embassies and consulates.
Dates: check the official page.

Türkiye: Türkiye Scholarships

Türkiye Scholarships (Türkiye Bursları) has an undergraduate scholarship, a graduate scholarship and a research scholarship.

Undergraduate: for bachelor’s applicants in designated courses, from engineering to health sciences and humanities to social sciences.
Graduate: master’s and PhD programs in social sciences, humanities, natural sciences and engineering.
Research: for international researchers and academics who do collaborative research at Turkish universities.
Dates: check the official page.

Sweden: Swedish Institute scholarships

The Swedish Institute (SI) offers fully funded scholarships for master’s study in Sweden.

Who it is for: SI looks for ambitious professionals who want to make a difference.
Nationality: check the official page for eligible countries.
Dates: check the official page.

Netherlands: NL Scholarship

The NL Scholarship is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and several Dutch universities.

What you get: €5,000, paid in your first year of study. It does not cover full tuition.
Level: a full-time bachelor’s or master’s programme at a participating Dutch institution.
Nationality: only students with non-EEA nationality can apply.
You cannot apply if you already have a degree from a Dutch institution.
Key dates: applications for 2027-2028 are open now. Deadlines differ by institution, so check your institution’s website.
Next step: the list of participating universities changes every year. Check it before you choose a programme.

France: Eiffel Excellence Scholarship

The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs set up the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program. Campus France handles applications.

Level: master’s and PhD programs.
Age: up to 29 for a master’s, up to 35 for a PhD.
How to apply: you cannot apply directly. Only French higher education institutions can submit applications, so ask your institution in France.
Key dates: Campus France must receive applications by 6 January 2027. Results are published from 12 April 2027.

Switzerland: Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

The Swiss Confederation awards the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships each year. The Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS, also called ESKAS) selects the recipients.

Nationality: the programme is open to applicants from 183 countries. Check that yours is on the list.
What you get: CHF 2450 per month.
Age: up to 35.
Research scholarships: you need an academic supervisor in Switzerland who backs your application.
Key dates: scholarships for 2028-2029 will be advertised from August 2027. Decisions come by the end of May for the following academic year.

Hungary: Stipendium Hungaricum

Stipendium Hungaricum is a Hungarian Government programme.

What you get: all tuition fees are covered and accommodation costs are supported.
What it expects: graduates return to their home countries after studying.
Key dates: applications for 2026/27 are closed. Check the official page again later.

New Zealand: Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships

Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships aim to build prosperity, security and sustainable growth in partner countries.

What you get: a globally recognised education and a New Zealand experience.
Nationality: the programme works with partner countries. Check the official page for yours.
Dates: check the official page.

Malaysia: Malaysia International Scholarship

The Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS) is an initiative of the Malaysian Government, run by the Ministry of Higher Education.

Level: postgraduate study in Malaysia.
Key dates: the status checking period runs from 8 October 2026 to 31 December 2026.

India: ICCR scholarships

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) runs a scholarship portal.

PhD: you can apply for PhD study through the portal.
Diploma and certificate: open only in languages and performing arts.
Dates: check the portal.

Ireland: Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship

The Government of Ireland funds the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (GOI-IES) with Irish universities and colleges. The Higher Education Authority manages it.

What you get: a €10,000 stipend for one year of full-time study. Your Irish host institution must give you a full fee waiver for that year.
Level: master’s, postgraduate diploma or PhD in Ireland.
Places: 60 scholarships each year.
Nationality: only applicants from outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and the UK can apply.
How to apply: apply for admission to an eligible Irish institution first. You must hold a conditional or final offer when you apply for the scholarship.
Dates: check the official page.

Before you plan

Open the official page for each programme you like and read the eligibility rules.
Check that your nationality and age fit.
Write down the deadline for the current round. Dates change every year.
Where the programme says “not announced”, check the official page again later.
Where you must apply to a university first, contact the university early.
List the documents you need, such as transcripts, offer letters and language certificates.
Submit a few days before the deadline.

Dates and rules can change from one round to the next. Check each official page before you apply.

Checked against official pages on 2026-11-14.