Top 10 fully funded master’s scholarships for international students

A master’s degree abroad is often the moment a career changes direction, and the moment the costs become real. Tuition is only the start. Rent, flights, visas and insurance can add up to as much again.

The ten scholarships below cover a master’s degree in full, or as close to it as their official pages describe: tuition (or no fees at all) plus money to live on. We checked every detail against the official page on October 30, 2026. Deadlines move each year, so confirm them on the official page before you start.

The list at a glance

#	Programme	Where	Next deadline
1	Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters	Several countries	Set by each programme
2	Chevening Scholarships	United Kingdom	Not announced yet
3	Gates Cambridge Scholarship	United Kingdom	December 8, 2026
4	MBZUAI Fully Funded MSc in AI	United Arab Emirates	December 15, 2026
5	KAUST Fellowship (MS in Computer Science)	Saudi Arabia	January 3, 2027
6	ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship (ESOP)	Switzerland	November 30, 2026
7	Knight-Hennessy Scholars	United States	Not announced yet
8	Schwarzman Scholars	China	Not announced yet
9	Türkiye Scholarships	Turkey	Not announced yet
10	Yenching Academy of Peking University	China	November 30, 2026

1. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters

EU-funded full scholarships for joint master’s programmes run by university groups in several countries. Holders pay no tuition or other mandatory participation fees and receive EUR 1,400 a month plus support for travel, visa and installation costs.

• Who can apply: Full-time students from any country with a first higher education degree (or finishing one before the programme starts) who have not had an Erasmus Mundus scholarship before. Apply directly to the chosen programme.
• Deadline: Each programme sets its own deadline; most take applications between October and January for the following academic year.
• Why it is on the list: It is open to students from any country, needs no work experience, and lets you study in more than one country, with a fixed monthly allowance.

Read the full Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters listing

2. Chevening Scholarships

UK government award for a one-year master’s at a UK university. It pays tuition fees, economy return travel, the visa application cost, arrival and departure allowances and a monthly living stipend.

• Who can apply: Citizens of Chevening-eligible countries with an undergraduate degree, at least two years (2,800 hours) of work experience, and three eligible UK course applications. You must return home for at least two years after the award.
• Deadline: The official timeline shows the 2027/28 round opened in August 2026 and closed in October 2026 (11:00 UTC, exact date on each country page). Dates for the next round are not yet published.
• Why it is on the list: It pays for a full one-year UK master’s and travel, but you need two years of work experience and must return home afterwards.

Read the full Chevening Scholarships listing

3. Gates Cambridge Scholarship

Postgraduate scholarship at the University of Cambridge paying the full composition fee, a maintenance allowance (GBP 23,152 a year at the 2026/27 rate), one economy airfare at the start and end of the course, visa costs and the Immigration Health Surcharge.

• Who can apply: Applicants from any country outside the UK applying for a full-time postgraduate degree in any subject at Cambridge. Selection looks at intellect, choice of course, commitment to improving others’ lives and leadership.
• Deadline: For applicants outside the US round, the deadline is 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, depending on the Course Funding Deadline shown for your course in the University Course Directory. The US-resident round closed on 14 October 2026.
• Why it is on the list: It covers the full cost of a Cambridge postgraduate degree for applicants from any country outside the UK.

Read the full Gates Cambridge Scholarship listing

4. MBZUAI Fully Funded MSc in AI

Funded students at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence get free tuition, a monthly stipend, a yearly return flight home, health insurance and a sponsored UAE visa. The page lists AED 15,500 (MSc) and AED 17,500 (PhD) for international students.

• Who can apply: Applicants need a STEM degree with a minimum CGPA of 3.0 or 3.5 out of 4.0 depending on the programme, and must pass a screening exam. MSc funding is not automatic, and the fee-based Master in Applied AI is not funded.
• Deadline: Final deadline for Fall 2027 is 15 December 2026 at 5 p.m. GST. Decisions are sent by 31 March 2027.
• Why it is on the list: One of the few fully funded master’s programmes dedicated to artificial intelligence, with a published monthly stipend.

Read the full MBZUAI Fully Funded MSc in AI listing

5. KAUST Fellowship (MS in Computer Science)

Admitted students get the KAUST Fellowship, which covers full tuition, a living stipend, accommodation, health insurance and relocation support. Computer Science is offered at MS, MS/PhD and PhD level for Fall 2027; the stipend amount is not stated.

• Who can apply: KAUST accepts applications from around the world. English test requirements apply, with some exemptions.
• Deadline: Round 2 for Fall 2027 runs from 28 September 2026 to 3 January 2027 (no time zone given, dates marked tentative). Decisions are released 25 February 2027.
• Why it is on the list: Full tuition, a stipend and accommodation for admitted students, with applications accepted from around the world.

Read the full KAUST Fellowship (MS in Computer Science) listing

6. ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship (ESOP)

ETH Zurich scholarship covering living and study costs (CHF 13,500 per semester from autumn 2027) plus a tuition fee waiver for the full Master’s.

• Who can apply: Top-performing bachelor’s graduates (about top 10%) applying for an ETH Master’s, with a thesis pre-proposal and professor references.
• Deadline: Application window 1 to 30 November 2026 (11:59 CET) for a Master’s start in autumn 2027.
• Why it is on the list: Generous support at one of the world’s leading technical universities, but only for about the top 10% of graduates.

Read the full ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship (ESOP) listing

7. Knight-Hennessy Scholars

Stanford University graduate scholarship providing up to three years of tuition, a stipend for living and academic expenses, and a travel stipend for one trip a year to and from Stanford.

• Who can apply: Citizens and residents of any country applying to a full-time Stanford graduate degree. For the 2027 cohort you needed a first bachelor’s degree earned in January 2020 or later; rules may change for later cohorts.
• Deadline: The application for the 2027 cohort closed on 6 October 2026. The official page says the application for the 2028 cohort opens in summer 2027.
• Why it is on the list: Open to every nationality for any Stanford graduate degree, but the application window is in summer and autumn.

Read the full Knight-Hennessy Scholars listing

8. Schwarzman Scholars

One-year Master of Global Affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing. The programme covers tuition, fees, room and board, travel to and from Beijing, study tours, course books, health insurance and a personal stipend.

• Who can apply: Applicants aged at least 18 and under 29 on 1 August of the enrolment year who hold or will finish an undergraduate degree by then. Non-native English speakers need an accepted test score such as IELTS 7 unless they studied in English for two years.
• Deadline: For the class of 2028 to 2029, applications run April to September 2027 for U.S. and global applicants, and March to May 2027 for Chinese citizens. The exact closing date is not yet published.
• Why it is on the list: A fully funded one-year master’s in Beijing that covers almost every cost, for applicants under 29.

Read the full Schwarzman Scholars listing

9. Türkiye Scholarships

Turkish government scholarship that places students at a Turkish university and covers tuition, a monthly stipend, health insurance, accommodation, a Turkish language course and a one-time flight ticket.

• Who can apply: Citizens of any country except Turkey, under 21 for bachelor’s, under 30 for master’s and under 35 for PhD. Minimum grades are 70% for bachelor’s, 75% for graduate study and 90% for medicine, dentistry and pharmacy.
• Deadline: The official calendar gives the general application period as 10 January to 20 February without a year. The 2027 call has not been announced yet.
• Why it is on the list: A government scholarship open to every country except Turkey, which also includes a Turkish language course.

Read the full Türkiye Scholarships listing

10. Yenching Academy of Peking University

A two-year interdisciplinary China studies programme at Peking University where every admitted scholar receives a fellowship. The first-year fellowship covers tuition, housing in Yenching Academy House, a monthly stipend, basic medical insurance, research costs and one round trip to Beijing.

• Who can apply: Open to non-Chinese citizens and applicants from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan with a bachelor’s degree in any field (or finishing one by August of the entry year) and English proficiency such as IELTS 7.0 or TOEFL iBT 100. There is no strict age limit, but the Academy says no one over 29 has been admitted outside its Zhuoyue Scholarship.
• Deadline: For the 2027 cohort, applications opened on 1 September 2026 and close on 30 November 2026 at 9:00 am Beijing time (international and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan applicants).
• Why it is on the list: Every admitted scholar receives a fellowship, and the deadline is soon.

Read the full Yenching Academy of Peking University listing

How we ranked them

This is an editorial ranking, not a formula. We weighed how open each scholarship is (which nationalities can apply, and whether work experience, age limits or nominations apply), how complete the funding is (tuition, living costs and travel) and how useful it is for a master’s degree specifically. No scholarship or university paid to be included or to rank higher.

Other fully funded master’s options worth knowing: the Rhodes Scholarship (only for specific constituencies), Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships (Commonwealth countries only) and the Rotary Peace Fellowship (for people with work experience in peace or development).

Frequently asked questions

Which fully funded master’s scholarship is easiest to get?

None of them is easy: all are competitive. Your best chance is the one whose eligibility rules you meet comfortably and whose goals match yours.

Can I apply for several at once?

Often yes, but some programmes have rules about holding other awards. Read each official page before you apply.

Do I need IELTS or TOEFL?

Usually, unless you studied in English. Schwarzman and Yenching, for example, mention IELTS 7 on their official pages. See IELTS vs TOEFL vs Duolingo.

Before you apply

Read how to write a scholarship motivation letter, check the scholarship deadline calendar, and compare what each award pays in how much scholarships pay.