Fully Funded Scholarships 2027 for International Students

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September 11, 2026
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Looking for fully funded scholarships in 2027? This guide brings together major scholarship opportunities for international students seeking Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD study abroad, with funding information, eligibility requirements, application timelines and official application sources.

A fully funded scholarship can dramatically reduce the cost of studying overseas by covering some combination of tuition fees, living expenses, accommodation, health insurance, travel and research costs.

However, not every scholarship described online as “fully funded” provides the same benefits. Some cover tuition and living expenses, while others may cover tuition only or provide a fixed contribution.

This guide focuses on established scholarship programmes and clearly distinguishes the level of funding available.

Important: Scholarship dates and eligibility can change. Always verify the current information on the official scholarship website before applying.

Best Fully Funded Scholarships 2027

The following opportunities are among the major programmes international students should monitor for the 2027 academic year.

Scholarship	Destination	Study level	Funding
Chevening Scholarships	UK	Master’s	Fully funded
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships	UK	Master’s	Fully funded
Commonwealth PhD Scholarships	UK	PhD	Fully funded
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters	Europe	Master’s	Fully funded for selected scholars
Fulbright Foreign Student Program	USA	Master’s/PhD	Generally fully funded, country-specific
DAAD Scholarships	Germany	Master’s/PhD/research	Varies by programme
Türkiye Scholarships	Türkiye	Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD	Fully funded
Open Doors Scholarship	Russia	Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD/Postdoc	Tuition-free; additional support may apply
JJ/WBGSP	Multiple countries	Master’s	Fully funded
University-funded scholarships	Worldwide	Bachelor’s/Master’s/PhD	Varies

Always check the individual programme rules. A scholarship’s funding package can vary by country, degree, university or programme.

What Is a Fully Funded Scholarship?

A fully funded scholarship generally means that the scholarship provider covers most of the major costs associated with studying abroad.

Depending on the programme, this may include:

Full tuition fees
Monthly living allowance
Accommodation
Return international airfare
Health insurance
Research or study allowances
Books and educational materials
Visa-related support
Family or dependent allowances in some cases
Travel grants
Fieldwork funding

But “fully funded” does not necessarily mean every personal expense is paid.

Students should therefore read the official funding terms carefully before accepting an award.

1. Chevening Scholarships 2027/28 – United Kingdom

Chevening

Chevening is one of the UK’s best-known government-funded scholarship programmes for international students pursuing a one-year Master’s degree.

The programme is designed for individuals with leadership potential who want to develop their careers and contribute to positive change.

Typical benefits

Depending on the official award terms, Chevening generally includes:

University tuition fees
Monthly living allowance
Return travel to the UK
Arrival allowance
Departure allowance
Visa application cost
Travel support for attending Chevening events

Study level

Master’s degree

Important

Applicants normally need to meet Chevening’s work-experience and leadership requirements and apply to eligible UK Master’s programmes.

👉 Always use the official Chevening website for the current application cycle and deadlines.

Apply here – Link

2. Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships 2027/28 – UK

The Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship is designed for talented candidates from eligible Commonwealth countries who could not otherwise afford postgraduate study in the UK.

The 2027/28 cycle has an official CSC application deadline of 20 October 2026 at 16:00 BST. Applicants also need to follow the process of their relevant nominating agency.

Funding can include

Approved tuition fees
Return airfare
Monthly living allowance
Study travel grant
Other approved allowances

The programme focuses on development-related study and research.

Key development themes

Science and technology for development
Strengthening health systems and capacity
Promoting global prosperity
Strengthening global peace, security and governance
Strengthening resilience and response to crises
Access, inclusion and opportunity

Study level

One-year taught Master’s

Apply here – Link

3. Commonwealth PhD Scholarships 2027/28 – UK

The Commonwealth PhD Scholarship provides an opportunity for eligible Commonwealth applicants to undertake doctoral study in the United Kingdom.

The current 2027/28 application cycle opened in September 2026, with the CSC deadline of 20 October 2026 at 16:00 BST.

Funding includes

Full approved tuition fees
Return airfare
Monthly living allowance
Approved study travel
Approved fieldwork support
Other allowances under the official terms

Applicants should demonstrate how their proposed research can contribute to development.

Study level

PhD

👉 Read the complete Commonwealth PhD Scholarships 2027/28 guide on Global Youth Opportunities.

Apply here – Link

4. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters 2027 – Europe

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are international Master’s programmes delivered by partnerships of universities and institutions.

Students can study in multiple European countries as part of a single joint Master’s programme.

Why Erasmus Mundus is attractive

Depending on the individual programme and scholarship:

Tuition-related costs may be covered
Students can receive a monthly scholarship
Travel support may be provided
Insurance may be included
Students can study across multiple countries

There is no single universal deadline for every Erasmus Mundus programme.

Each Joint Master’s programme has its own application process and deadline.

Study level

Master’s

👉 Applicants should search the official Erasmus Mundus catalogue and apply directly to the relevant programme.

Apply here – Link

5. Fulbright Foreign Student Program – USA

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is one of the major international educational exchange programmes supported by the U.S. government.

It provides opportunities for international students to pursue graduate-level study and research in the United States.

Funding and eligibility requirements can differ by country.

Potential benefits

Depending on the country programme, funding can include:

Tuition support
Living stipend
Health insurance
Airfare
Other approved allowances

Study level

Usually:

Master’s
PhD
Research

Important: Applicants should use the Fulbright programme office in their country of citizenship/residence because application procedures and deadlines vary.

6. DAAD Scholarships – Germany

The German Academic Exchange Service, commonly known as DAAD, offers numerous scholarships for international students and researchers.

Unlike a single scholarship programme, DAAD is a large portfolio of different funding opportunities.

Possible opportunities include funding for:

Master’s study
Doctoral research
Research stays
University academics
Development-related postgraduate courses

Funding

Benefits vary considerably by programme and can include:

Monthly scholarship payments
Travel allowance
Insurance
Research allowance
Tuition support in specific cases

Because DAAD has many programmes, applicants should search the official DAAD scholarship database rather than relying on a generic list.

Apply here – Link

7. Türkiye Scholarships 2027

Türkiye Scholarships is the Turkish government’s international scholarship programme.

It supports international students at multiple academic levels.

Study levels

Bachelor’s
Master’s
PhD

Typical benefits

The programme can include:

University and programme placement
Tuition fees
Monthly stipend
Accommodation
Health insurance
One-time flight ticket
Turkish language education

The programme is highly competitive, so applicants should prepare academic records, motivation materials and supporting documents early.

8. Open Doors Russian Scholarship

The Open Doors International Olympiad provides international applicants with an alternative route to tuition-free study in Russia.

The competition includes tracks for:

Bachelor’s
Master’s
Doctoral
Postdoctoral applicants

Subject areas include fields such as:

Artificial intelligence
Computer and data science
Engineering
Environmental sciences
Business and management
Economics
Politics and international studies
Medicine and public health
Education and psychology

Important funding distinction

Open Doors should not automatically be described as a conventional “fully funded scholarship.”

Winners can receive the right to study tuition-free under the relevant Russian government quota. Additional government grant support may be available to eligible winners/runners-up under specific conditions.

👉 Read the full Open Doors Russian Scholarship 2026–27 guide on GYO.

9. Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program 2027

The JJ/WBGSP is designed for citizens of certain developing countries who have relevant professional experience and are applying for participating development-related Master’s programmes.

The World Bank has already published the 2027 application schedule.

2027 application windows

Window 1: January 18–February 26, 2027

Window 2: March 29–May 21, 2027

The programme currently lists 44 participating Master’s programmes at 24 universities across several regions.

Applicants must first be admitted to an eligible participating Master’s programme before becoming eligible to apply for the scholarship.

Study level

Master’s

Ideal for

Applicants interested in:

Development
Economics
Public policy
Infrastructure
Tax policy
Economic policy management
Related development fields

10. University Scholarships in the USA

Not all fully funded opportunities come from governments.

Many US universities provide substantial financial aid or graduate funding to international students.

At graduate level, funding can come through:

Research assistantships
Teaching assistantships
Graduate assistantships
Fellowships
Departmental awards
Tuition waivers
Research grants

For PhD applicants, funding packages can sometimes combine tuition coverage with a stipend.

👉 See our dedicated GYO guide to Fully Funded PhD Programs in USA 2027.

Fully Funded Master’s Scholarships 2027

Students seeking a Master’s degree should particularly investigate:

UK

Chevening
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships

Europe

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters
DAAD programmes

USA

Fulbright
University fellowships
Graduate assistantships

Asia

Türkiye Scholarships
Government and university scholarship programmes

The best strategy is to apply across several funding routes rather than relying on one scholarship.

Fully Funded PhD Scholarships 2027

PhD funding works differently from Bachelor’s and Master’s scholarships.

Instead of only searching for “scholarships”, applicants should also search for:

Fully funded PhD positions
Research assistantships
Doctoral fellowships
Graduate research assistantships
University-funded PhD programmes
Supervisor-funded research projects

Potential sources include:

Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
Fulbright
DAAD
University PhD funding
Research council funding
Government scholarship programmes

Key advice

For PhD applicants, the research fit between your proposed topic, supervisor and institution can be more important than simply finding a famous university.

Fully Funded Undergraduate Scholarships 2027

Undergraduate scholarships are generally more competitive for international students because fewer universities provide comprehensive funding to international Bachelor’s applicants.

Students should search for:

Full-ride scholarships
Need-based financial aid
Full tuition scholarships
Government scholarships
University merit scholarships
International student scholarships

Don’t search only for the phrase “fully funded.”

A university providing 100% demonstrated financial need may offer a stronger funding package than a scholarship advertised with a fixed monetary amount.

👉 See GYO’s guide to Undergraduate Scholarships in USA for International Students 2027.

Scholarships to Study in the USA

The United States offers several different funding models.

Undergraduate

Look for:

Need-based financial aid
Full-ride scholarships
Merit scholarships

Master’s

Look for:

Fulbright
Graduate assistantships
Departmental scholarships
University fellowships

PhD

Look for:

Fully funded doctoral programmes
Research assistantships
Teaching assistantships
Fellowships

👉 Read our guides to Fully Funded PhD Programs in USA 2027 and Graduate Assistantships in USA for International Students 2027.

Scholarships to Study in the UK

The UK remains one of the strongest destinations for internationally funded postgraduate study.

Major programmes include:

Chevening
Commonwealth Master’s
Commonwealth PhD
GREAT Scholarships
University-specific awards

However, these programmes are not identical.

For example, GREAT Scholarships currently provide a tuition contribution rather than automatically covering the full cost of study.

Always check the individual award before describing it as fully funded.

Scholarships in Europe

Europe has a wide range of government, university and multi-country scholarship programmes.

Important options include:

Erasmus Mundus
DAAD
Government scholarships
University scholarships
Research fellowships

One advantage of Europe is that some scholarship programmes allow students to study across multiple countries.

Scholarships Without IELTS

One of the most searched scholarship topics is “fully funded scholarships without IELTS.”

But applicants should be careful.

A scholarship may not itself require IELTS while the university still requires proof of English proficiency.

Possible alternatives can include:

Previous degree taught in English
Medium-of-instruction certificate
TOEFL
PTE
Duolingo English Test
University-specific English assessment

Requirements vary by university and programme.

Never assume “No IELTS” means “No English-language requirement.”

How to Apply for Fully Funded Scholarships

A strong scholarship application usually requires much more than completing an online form.

Step 1: Identify suitable scholarships

Filter opportunities according to:

Degree level
Academic background
Nationality
Field of study
Work experience
Age requirements
Funding level
Deadline

Step 2: Check the official eligibility criteria

Do this before spending significant time on the application.

Step 3: Prepare your documents

Common documents include:

Academic transcripts
Degree certificates
CV
Personal statement
Motivation letter
Research proposal
Recommendation letters
Passport
Proof of English proficiency
Employment documents
Publications or awards where relevant

Step 4: Build a strong personal statement

Your statement should explain:

Who you are → what you have achieved → what you want to study → why this programme → what you will do afterwards.

Step 5: Demonstrate impact

For major international scholarships, don’t simply say:

“I want to study at a top university.”

Explain what you intend to do with the education afterwards.

Step 6: Apply early

Don’t wait until the final 24–48 hours.

Some programmes require multiple applications, such as:

Scholarship application + university application + nominating agency application.

The Commonwealth programme is a good example of why applicants need to understand the complete process.

Documents Required for Scholarships

Create a dedicated scholarship folder containing:

📄 Passport
📄 Degree certificates
📄 Academic transcripts
📄 Updated CV
📄 Personal statement
📄 Motivation letter
📄 Research proposal
📄 Recommendation letters
📄 English-language certificate
📄 Employment certificates
📄 Publications
📄 Awards and certificates

Keep both editable and PDF versions.

How to Increase Your Chances of Winning

1. Apply strategically

Ten highly relevant applications are usually more valuable than fifty applications for programmes you barely qualify for.

2. Don’t copy generic essays

Scholarship committees can distinguish between a specific application and a generic statement.

3. Connect your goals to the scholarship

Show why this scholarship makes sense for your academic and professional plans.

4. Demonstrate evidence

Instead of writing:

“I am a leader.”

Show the committee what you actually led, achieved or changed.

5. Build a coherent profile

Your:

education → experience → proposed study → future career → development impact

should tell one convincing story.

6. Check every requirement

A brilliant application can still be rejected because of an eligibility or documentation error.

Fully Funded vs Tuition-Free vs Partial Scholarships

These terms are often confused.

Funding type	What it generally means
Fully funded	Major study and living costs are covered
Tuition-free	Tuition is waived, but other costs may remain
Full tuition	Tuition is fully covered
Full ride	Usually tuition + major living/other costs
Partial scholarship	Only part of the cost is covered
Stipend	A payment toward living/study expenses

Always read the official funding package.

Scholarship Application Timeline for 2027

A useful strategy is to begin preparing months before the deadline.

September–October 2026

Focus on major UK and other early-cycle scholarships.

For example, the current Commonwealth 2027/28 cycle has an October 20, 2026 CSC deadline.

November–December 2026

Monitor:

University scholarships
European programmes
Government scholarships
Early 2027 programmes

January–February 2027

This is an important period for many international scholarship applications.

The JJ/WBGSP 2027 first application window runs from January 18 to February 26.

March–May 2027

Continue monitoring:

University funding
Research scholarships
Government programmes
Second-round opportunities

Throughout the year

Don’t assume every scholarship follows an annual September–October cycle.

Some programmes operate according to university admission calendars.

Common Scholarship Application Mistakes

Avoid these mistakes:

❌ Applying without checking eligibility
❌ Using outdated information
❌ Missing a nominating agency deadline
❌ Calling a partial scholarship “fully funded”
❌ Copying personal statements
❌ Ignoring university admission requirements
❌ Submitting incomplete documents
❌ Waiting until the deadline
❌ Using unofficial application websites
❌ Paying someone who claims they can guarantee selection

Remember

No legitimate consultant can guarantee a scholarship, university admission or visa.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best fully funded scholarships for 2027?

Major programmes include Chevening, Commonwealth Scholarships, Erasmus Mundus, Fulbright, DAAD programmes, Türkiye Scholarships and other government and university-funded opportunities.

The best scholarship depends on your degree level, nationality, field and academic profile.

Can international students get fully funded scholarships?

Yes. Many government, university and international scholarship programmes are specifically designed for international students.

Can I study abroad without paying tuition?

Yes. Some scholarships cover full tuition, while others provide tuition waivers or substantial financial aid.

However, you should always check whether living expenses are also covered.

Are there fully funded scholarships without IELTS?

Some programmes or universities may accept alternatives to IELTS, but this varies. A scholarship not requiring IELTS does not necessarily mean the university has no English-language requirement.

Can I apply for several scholarships at the same time?

Generally, yes, provided each programme allows it and you meet the eligibility criteria.

Applying strategically to multiple suitable opportunities can improve your overall chances.

Do fully funded scholarships cover living expenses?

Many do, but the amount and conditions vary significantly.

Some provide a monthly stipend; others provide accommodation or a combination of allowances.

When should I start applying for 2027 scholarships?

Start as early as possible.

For competitive scholarships, preparing your CV, references, personal statement, academic documents and research proposal several months before the deadline is highly recommended.

Final Advice

Finding a fully funded scholarship is not simply about searching Google for the words “fully funded.”

The strongest strategy is to build a scholarship portfolio.

Look at:

Government scholarships + university funding + assistantships + fellowships + international scholarship programmes.

Then compare:

Eligibility → Funding → Degree → Field → Deadline → Application process.

Most importantly, verify every opportunity through its official website before applying.

Scholarship information changes frequently, and official sources should always take priority over social media posts, blogs or third-party lists.

Official Scholarship Sources

Applicants should verify current information through official programme websites.

Chevening: Official UK government scholarship programme
Commonwealth Scholarship Commission: Official UK Commonwealth scholarship information
Erasmus+: Official European Union programme information
Fulbright: Official country-specific Fulbright programme
DAAD: Official German Academic Exchange Service scholarship database
Türkiye Scholarships: Official Turkish government scholarship portal
Open Doors: Official Russian scholarship competition
World Bank: Official JJ/WBGSP information