Fully Funded Scholarships Opening in September 2025

This guide will provide a comprehensive overview of the most promising scholarships opening this fall. We’ll break down the eligibility criteria, application process, and key deadlines so you can prepare to submit a winning application. Don’t let financial constraints hold you back, the journey to your international education starts here!

Fully Funded Scholarships Opening in September 2025

This guide outlines 15 top-tier, fully funded scholarships across the UK, USA, Europe, and the Middle East, detailing their key features to help you prepare your application.

1. Chevening Scholarships

• Location: UK
• Level of Study: Master’s
• Scholarship Reward: Covers full tuition fees, a monthly living allowance (stipend), a return economy-class airfare to the UK, and additional grants to cover essential expenditure.
• Eligibility: Must be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country, have at least two years of work experience, meet the academic requirements of your chosen UK university, and commit to returning to your home country for at least two years after the scholarship.
• Application Process: The application is entirely online via the Chevening website. You must submit your application, including essays and references, and also apply for at least three different UK university courses.
• Deadline: Typically opens in early August and closes in early November. For the 2026/2027 academic year, the deadline is often in October 2025.

2. Fulbright Foreign Student Program

• Location: USA
• Level of Study: Master’s and PhD
• Scholarship Reward: Provides full funding, including tuition fees, a living stipend, health insurance, and airfare.
• Eligibility: Varies by country, but generally requires a bachelor’s degree, a strong academic record, and leadership potential. The program is for non-U.S. citizens seeking to study in the U.S.
• Application Process: The application is submitted through the U.S. Embassy or Fulbright Commission in your home country.
• Deadline: Varies by country, but is typically in the period of September to November.

3. Gates Cambridge Scholarship

• Location: UK (University of Cambridge)
• Level of Study: Master’s (MPhil, MSt), PhD, and some one-year postgraduate courses.
• Scholarship Reward: Covers the full cost of studying at Cambridge, including university composition fees, a maintenance allowance, and discretionary funding for academic development.
• Eligibility: Open to non-UK citizens, with a strong emphasis on academic excellence, leadership potential, and a commitment to improving the lives of others. You must also gain admission to a full-time residential course at the University of Cambridge.
• Application Process: You apply for the scholarship at the same time as your application for admission to the University of Cambridge via the university’s online portal.
• Deadline: Usually in early December for U.S. citizens and in early January for all other international applicants.

4. The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

• Location: Switzerland
• Level of Study: PhD and Postdoctoral Research
• Scholarship Reward: A monthly stipend, tuition fees, health insurance, a lump sum for airfare, and a housing allowance.
• Eligibility: Must hold a Master’s degree, be no older than 35, and be a citizen of a country with diplomatic relations with Switzerland. The scholarship is highly competitive and based on academic and research merit.
• Application Process: Applications are submitted to the Swiss Embassy or Consulate in your home country.
• Deadline: Varies by country, but typically falls between September and December.

5. Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP)

• Location: Sweden
• Level of Study: Master’s
• Scholarship Reward: Covers full tuition fees, a monthly living allowance, a travel grant, and health insurance.
• Eligibility: Open to citizens of a select list of countries, with a minimum of 3,000 hours of documented work or leadership experience. You must also have applied to an eligible Master’s program in Sweden.
• Application Process: A two-step process: first, you apply for a Master’s program, and then you apply for the scholarship itself.
• Deadline: The application for the scholarship typically opens in February, with university applications due in January.

6. DAAD Scholarships

• Location: Germany
• Level of Study: Master’s, PhD, and Postdoctoral
• Scholarship Reward: A monthly stipend, health, accident, and personal liability insurance, a travel allowance, and a one-time study allowance.
• Eligibility: Varies by program, but generally requires a degree, a good academic record, and a strong motivation for studying in Germany.
• Application Process: You apply directly to DAAD or through your home university. Specific requirements and application portals vary.
• Deadline: Varies widely by program and institution, with many deadlines in the autumn months for the following academic year.

7. Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program

• Location: USA (Stanford University)
• Level of Study: Master’s, PhD, MD, and JD degrees at Stanford.
• Scholarship Reward: Covers full tuition and associated fees, a stipend for living and academic expenses, and a travel grant.
• Eligibility: Open to citizens of all countries. Applicants must be accepted into a graduate program at Stanford University and demonstrate independence of thought, purposeful leadership, and a civic mindset.
• Application Process: A highly competitive two-part application: you apply to your Stanford graduate program of choice, and separately to the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program.
• Deadline: Typically in early October.

8. Chinese Government Scholarship (CGS)

• Location: China
• Level of Study: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD, and non-degree studies.
• Scholarship Reward: A full tuition waiver, free on-campus accommodation, a monthly stipend, and comprehensive medical insurance.
• Eligibility: Varies by program, but generally requires a good academic record and a healthy status. Specific age requirements and other criteria apply.
• Application Process: You can apply through the Chinese Embassy in your country or directly to a specific university.
• Deadline: Typically opens in September and closes in March of the following year.

9. Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP)

• Location: Primarily in the USA, Europe, and Japan.
• Level of Study: Master’s
• Scholarship Reward: Covers full tuition, a monthly living stipend, a travel allowance, and health insurance.
• Eligibility: Citizens of developing countries with at least three years of professional experience and a strong commitment to their home country’s development.
• Application Process: The application is submitted online and requires a statement of purpose and strong letters of recommendation.
• Deadline: Typically has two application windows, with one opening in September and the other in January.

10. ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarships

• Location: Switzerland
• Level of Study: Master’s
• Scholarship Reward: A full grant covering living and study expenses (for ETH) and a full tuition fee waiver.
• Eligibility: Highly motivated students with a strong academic record from their undergraduate studies.
• Application Process: You must apply for a Master’s program at ETH Zurich and submit a separate application for the scholarship.
• Deadline: The application period is typically from mid-November to mid-December.

11. Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) Scholarship

• Location: UAE (Abu Dhabi)
• Level of Study: Master’s and PhD
• Scholarship Reward: A full tuition fee waiver, a monthly stipend, accommodation, health insurance, and travel expenses.
• Eligibility: Open to all nationalities. Applicants must have a strong academic background in a related field.
• Application Process: The application is submitted directly to the university’s online portal.
• Deadline: The application period typically opens in September and closes in April.

12. Maastricht University High Potential Scholarship

• Location: The Netherlands
• Level of Study: Master’s
• Scholarship Reward: Covers tuition fees, a monthly living allowance, visa costs, and health insurance.
• Eligibility: Open to students from non-EU/EEA countries who have been admitted to a Master’s program at Maastricht University and have an excellent academic record (GPA of 7.5/10 or higher).
• Application Process: Apply for a Master’s program first, and then submit a separate application for the scholarship.
• Deadline: Typically has an application deadline in December.

13. Rhodes Scholarship

• Location: UK (University of Oxford)
• Level of Study: Master’s and PhD
• Scholarship Reward: Covers all University and College fees, a monthly stipend, and a flight to and from your home country.
• Eligibility: Open to citizens of eligible countries. You must meet the specific academic and personal criteria of the scholarship and also gain admission to a University of Oxford graduate program.
• Application Process: The application is submitted through the Rhodes Trust. The process is highly rigorous and includes interviews.
• Deadline: Varies by constituency (country or region), but is typically between July and October.

14. GREAT Scholarships

• Location: UK
• Level of Study: Master’s
• Scholarship Reward: Offers a minimum of £10,000 towards tuition fees, with some being fully funded.
• Eligibility: Open to citizens of specific countries. You must have an offer to study at one of the participating UK universities and meet the scholarship’s criteria.
• Application Process: You apply directly to the participating university.
• Deadline: Deadlines vary by university, with many opening in the autumn and closing between December and April.

15. The Melbourne Research Scholarship (MRS)

• Location: Australia
• Level of Study: Master’s and PhD by research
• Scholarship Reward: A full tuition fee offset, a living allowance, and a relocation grant.
• Eligibility: Open to domestic and international students. Awarded based on academic merit and research potential.
• Application Process: You are automatically considered for the MRS when you apply for a graduate research program at the University of Melbourne.
• Deadline: Applications for the university’s graduate programs are typically open throughout the year, but the main consideration periods are in October and April.

Disclaimer: All the scholarship deadlines are subject to change. Please always make sure to visit each scholarship official website for more info.

Conclusion 

Embarking on the journey to secure a fully funded scholarship can feel like a monumental task, but it is an achievable goal with the right preparation and persistence. The scholarships listed here, which open for applications in September 2025, represent some of the most generous and prestigious opportunities available for international students. 

Your strategy should be clear and proactive: start researching now, identify which scholarships align with your academic profile and career aspirations, and begin preparing your application materials well in advance. Pay close attention to eligibility criteria, application processes, and, most importantly, the specific deadlines for each program.