Every year, dozens of international scholarship programs open their applications, giving students the opportunity to pursue higher education abroad. These range from fully funded government schemes to university-based awards and grants offered by international organizations. The opportunities are numerous—but often scattered and difficult to track down.
To help you navigate this landscape, this article brings together the best scholarships currently open to international applicants. The programs listed cover various levels of study and are offered by governments, public and private universities, as well as foundations and international organizations.
This roundup of currently available scholarships includes:
- International government scholarships
- Awards from public universities
- Grants offered by private universities
- Programs funded by private foundations or organizations
- Scholarships supported by international organizations and NGOs
Whether you are looking for a scholarship to study abroad or simply want to stay informed, this selection will help you quickly identify programs that are still accepting applications—and those opening soon.
Here is an overview of the main scholarships currently open:
1. Youth of Excellence Scheme – YES China
The Youth of Excellence Scheme (YES China) 2026 targets international professionals who wish to pursue a Master’s degree taught in English at a Chinese university. The program aims to develop talent committed to global governance, with an emphasis on international perspective and leadership skills. Approximately 200 fully funded scholarships will be awarded, covering both tuition fees and living expenses in China.
Deadline: 31 March 2026.
2. Master Mind Scholarships in Flanders
The Master Mind scholarships in Belgium (Flanders and Brussels) are open to high-achieving international students who wish to enroll in a Master’s programme (60 or 120 ECTS) at a Flemish university. Funded by the Flemish Ministry of Education and Training, the award provides an annual allowance of €10,225 and a full tuition fee waiver. All nationalities are eligible (except Russian nationals), with certain places reserved for students from priority countries.
Deadline: varies by university.
3. MAECI Scholarships – Italian Government
The Italian Government MAECI scholarships support international students wishing to study in Italy across various levels and disciplines. The program is administered by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and covers a range of academic and research programs.
Deadline: 26 March 2026.
4. UAE University Scholarships
The United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) scholarships are aimed at international students seeking to pursue Master’s, PharmD, DBA, or doctoral programs starting in autumn 2026. Depending on the program and funding type—full scholarship, partial award, merit-based grant, or assistantship — financial support may cover all or part of tuition fees and include monthly stipends. Applications opened on 1 February 2026, with a deadline of 31 March 2026 for DBA and doctoral programs and 30 April 2026 for Master’s and PharmD programs.
Deadline: 30 April 2026.
5. African Excellence Scholarships – University of Glasgow
The African Excellence Scholarship at the University of Glasgow, in the United Kingdom, is open to students from Africa who wish to pursue a one-year Master’s degree for the 2026–2027 academic year. The program offers up to 16 scholarships covering full tuition fees across all disciplines. It targets candidates with a strong academic record (equivalent to a first-class degree, around 70% or above) and a clear professional project aimed at applying their skills in their home country.
Deadline: 31 March 2026, at 23:59.
6. Paris-Saclay International Master’s Scholarships
The University of Paris-Saclay international Master’s scholarship, in France, is open to foreign students admitted to a Master’s program (M1 or M2) who have never previously studied in France. The award covers any discipline offered by the university and provides an annual allowance of €10,000 plus a travel and visa contribution of up to €900. Applications must be submitted by 31 March 2026 at 23:59 (Paris time) and are only accessible after admission to the master’s program and upon invitation from the institution.
Deadline: 31 March 2026, at 23:59 (Paris time).
7. SGS/SJTU Scholarships – Shanghai Jiao Tong University
The Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) scholarships, in China, are open to international students wishing to pursue Bachelor’s, Master’s, or doctoral studies in fields such as engineering, science, economics, medicine, law, or management. Awards can cover the full standard duration of the program—four years for a Bachelor’s degree, two to three years for Master’s or doctoral programs. The deadline for Master’s applicants is 31 March 2026, while Bachelor’s applicants face the following deadlines: 10 March 2026 (Chinese-language programs), 31 March 2026 (engineering in English), and 30 April 2026 (engineering in French).
Deadline: 31 March 2026 (Beijing time).
8. Rotary Peace Fellowships
The Rotary Peace Fellowships are an international program for professionals and young leaders committed to peace and conflict resolution, open to all nationalities. The program offers up to 50 fellowships for Master’s degrees (15 to 24 months) and 120 fellowships for one-year professional certificates, with full funding covering tuition, accommodation, flights, and field placements. The application deadline is 15 May 2026 for the 2027–2028 academic year.
Deadline: 15 May 2026.
9. Politecnico di Milano International Scholarships
The Politecnico di Milano scholarships, in Italy, target international students holding a secondary school leaving certificate who wish to pursue an English-taught Bachelor of Science in Engineering starting in 2026–2027. The program offers 14 excellence scholarships, each comprising an annual allowance of €5,000 and a full tuition fee waiver, renewable for up to three years subject to academic performance. Applications must be submitted online by 4 June 2026 at 12:00 (Italian time).
Deadline: 4 June 2026.
10. Mauritian Government Scholarships for Africa
The Mauritian Government MASS scholarships, based in Mauritius, are open to students residing in African countries that are members of the African Union or the African Commonwealth, who wish to pursue higher education at Mauritian public universities (primarily Bachelor’s, Master’s, or doctoral programs). The program promotes academic mobility towards a university system modeled on the British framework and delivered in English. It is a Mauritian government funding initiative covering higher education in the country for the 2026 intake.
Deadline: 27 March 2026.
11. Romanian Government Scholarships
The Romanian Government scholarships, in Romania, are open to foreign students who are not citizens of the European Union and wish to pursue Bachelor’s, Master’s, or doctoral studies for the 2026–2027 academic year. The program provides funding covering tuition fees, a monthly allowance, subsidized accommodation, and an exemption from certain administrative charges. Applications are open from 16 February to 31 March 2026 through the official platform. Bachelor’s and master’s programs are taught in Romanian (with a preparatory year available), while doctoral programs may be conducted in Romanian or another language depending on the course.
Deadline: 31 March 2026.
12. KNB Scholarships – Indonesian Government
The 2026–2027 Indonesian Government KNB scholarships in Indonesia are open to international students from developing countries who wish to pursue Bachelor’s, Master’s, or doctoral studies at one of 47 partner universities. The program offers full funding, including tuition fees, a monthly allowance, health insurance, a settling-in allowance, and return airfare. Applications are open from 2 February to 31 March 2026, with approximately 200 scholarships available across various fields of study.
Deadline: 31 March 2026.
13. Australia Awards Scholarships
The Australia Awards, in Australia, are open to students and professionals from developing countries who wish to pursue Master’s or doctoral studies at Australian universities and TAFE institutions for 2027–2028. The program offers full funding covering tuition fees, return flights, a settling-in allowance of A$5,000, and an annual living allowance of approximately A$36,230, along with health insurance and academic support. The scholarships are administered by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) with the aim of developing future leaders in partner countries.
Deadline: 30 April 2026 (14:00 AEST).
14. Heydar Aliyev Scholarships – Azerbaijani Government
The Heydar Aliyev International Scholarships, in Azerbaijan, are open to international students who wish to pursue Bachelor’s, Master’s, doctoral, medical, or preparatory programs at Azerbaijani universities for 2026–2027. The program offers approximately 100 fully funded scholarships each year, covering tuition fees and the majority of study-related expenses. Established by the Azerbaijani government in honor of Heydar Aliyev, the scheme aims to strengthen international academic cooperation.
Deadline: 15 April 2026.
15. Hyundai Motor Group Scholarships at SOAS, London
The Hyundai Motor Group scholarships at SOAS University of London, in the United Kingdom, are aimed at African students wishing to pursue Master’s or doctoral studies in sustainable development for 2026–2027. The program offers 7 scholarships (6 for Master’s and 1 for a doctorate), with funding of up to £27,730 for Master’s students and an annual stipend of £22,780 for doctoral candidates, in addition to full tuition fee coverage. Recipients also take part in seminars, networking activities, and a junior internship program.
Deadline: 25 April 2026.
16. Excellence Scholarships – University of Padua
The University of Padua international excellence scholarship, in Italy, targets high-achieving international students who wish to pursue English-taught Bachelor’s or Master’s programs for the 2026–2027 academic year. The program provides financial support designed to attract talented students across a wide range of disciplines. Applications are open from 2 March to 2 May 2026 for unrestricted-access programs and from 10 March to 10 April 2026 for restricted-access programs.
Deadline: 2 May 2026.
17. Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS)
The Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS), in Malaysia, is open to academically strong international students who wish to pursue Master’s or doctoral studies at public or private Malaysian universities for 2026–2027. Funded by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education, the program provides financial support for postgraduate studies in fields related to technological and societal development. Applications are open from 4 March to 3 April 2026, with selection based on academic excellence and English language proficiency.
Deadline: 3 April 2026.





