International students looking to pursue a master’s degree face immense financial barriers, with tuition fees often running over $30,000 per year. Scholarships provide a valuable avenue to fund further education, but only a small subset offer full financial coverage. This article explores 23 of the most prestigious fully funded masters scholarships available globally in 2024. We analyze eligibility, coverage details, host countries, and application tips for each.
Yale University Scholarships USA
Yale University, located in New Haven, Connecticut, is one of the top ranked universities globally. Its Fully Funded Scholarships for international students offer full tuition plus health insurance, living stipend, and other benefits. Applicants need superb academics and evidence of leadership or social commitment. Competition is extremely high given Yale’s prestige.
Turkey Government Scholarship
The Turkey scholarships cover full tuition, health insurance, monthly stipend, and more for over 95 masters programs at Turkish universities. Eligible regions include Africa, Asia, and eastern Europe, with quotas per country. Strong academics and English proficiency are expected. The application is online via the Turkish embassies in one’s home country.
Government of Brunei Darussalam Scholarship
This scholarship provides full financial coverage for masters studies in Brunei plus air tickets, allowances, medical, and more. It develops talent in Brunei’s economic sectors. Applicants from Asia Pacific regions are prioritized, though all nationalities may apply. An online application and strong grades are required.
Chinese Government Scholarships
Chinese Government Scholarships offer full masters funding for over 289 designated Chinese universities. Coverage includes tuition, accommodation, living allowance, and more. Applicants need a bachelor’s degree and HSK test score. Online China Scholarship Council portals facilitate application submission before the early April deadline.
DAAD Scholarship Germany
Germany’s DAAD scholarships provide all-inclusive, fully funded support for masters study at German universities, prioritizing development-focused programs. Applicants from developing countries are thus preferred, though all global students may apply. Criteria include strong grades and a convincing personal statement. Apply well in advance of the October to November deadlines.
MEXT Scholarship Japan
The MEXT scholarship covers full masters tuition, airfares, living costs and more in Japan. Applicants must apply via Japanese embassies in their home countries before the early June deadline, with eligibility varying by country. Strong grades, exam scores, proposal documents and references are required. Competition is high.
Fulbright Scholarships USA
Fulbright scholarships facilitate cultural exchange and full masters funding in the USA. They cover tuition, airfare, health insurance and living stipends for over 155 countries. Applicants should possess strong academics, leadership skills and a commitment to fostering bilateral understanding between nations. Apply one year in advance via specified deadlines.
ETH Zurich Excellence Masters Scholarships Switzerland
Top-ranked ETH Zurich offers excellence masters scholarships covering full tuition, living expenses and more. Eligible programs span engineering, science, math, robotics and other specialized fields. While open globally, around 95 percent of recipients are international students. Apply online well before the April deadline given immense competition.
Ton Duc Thang University Graduate Scholarship Vietnam
This Vietnam scholarship offers full tuition coverage plus monthly stipends, healthcare and more across over 20 graduate programs. Applicants from over 13 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas are eligible. Admission and scholarships are awarded based on academic merit. Apply online before June.
Bangkok Government Scholarship
Thailand Bangkok government scholarships provide full Thai university tuition coverage for masters students plus round trip airfare, living/book stipends for 2 years and more. Applicants from 17 developing countries are eligible, with quotas per nationality. Application involves submitting forms, records and a proposal to relevant authorities.
Netherlands Government Scholarship
Dutch Holland scholarships offer full coverage for international students including tuition, visa, airfare, living expenses and more. Eligible masters programs span peace, justice, agriculture, engineering and beyond. Candidates should be highly motivated to contribute to development. Apply online by February deadlines.
Gates Cambridge Scholarship
This prestigious UK scholarship offers full financial support including tuition, living expenses, airfares, dependant costs and more for masters study at Cambridge University. Applicants from any country require academic excellence plus a commitment to social change. Competition is intense with under 1% admission rates.
Stanford University Scholarships
USA Stanford University provides all-inclusive funding for masters students covering full tuition plus living costs, airfares, healthcare and more. While open to global applicants, admission rates range from just 1-5%. Beyond superb academics, passion and fit with Stanford are essential. Apply one year in advance.
Chevening Scholarship UK (Fully Funded)
The UK government’s prestigious Chevening Scholarship Scheme funds masters students from over 160 countries to study at any UK university. It covers all tuition, living expenses, airfare and more. Applicants should display strong leadership traits and potential. Deadlines are in early November, requiring detailed application preparation.
Muhammad Bin Zaid University Scholarships
UAE Named after the founding father of the UAE, this university offers competitive graduate funding covering full tuition, healthcare, monthly stipends, accommodation and more. Applicants are assessed based on CV, references, research proposals and interviews. Admitted students receive ongoing research mentorship support.
Melbourne Research Scholarships, Australia
The University of Melbourne provides prestigious scholarships to high achieving international research students. Full tuition coverage, living costs, healthcare, travel and more are included. Applicants need outstanding academic credentials, references and admission to the University of Melbourne. Apply for admission and scholarships simultaneously.
Hungary Government Scholarship
The Hungarian government offers masters scholarships for 12-36 months including tuition-free education, monthly stipends, medical insurance and campus accommodation. Numerous programs are taught in English. Applicants are assessed based on academic merit – additional artistic or sports talents offer a competitive edge.
Beijing Government Scholarship
China This government scholarship by the Beijing Municipal Commission of Education offers funding packages covering tuition, accommodation fees and living stipends across 6 universities in Beijing, China. Applicants should hold high academic credentials, display financial need and contribute to Beijing’s development.
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship
The Vanier Scholarship represents Canada’s most prestigious funding for PhD students, also open to international master’s applicants planning to continue doctoral studies. It provides $50,000 annually for 3 years to high caliber research students at Canadian universities. April deadlines require detailed preparation given high competition.
Danish Government Scholarship
Administered through the Danish Ministry of Higher Education and Science, this scheme offers talented international students full masters funding including tuition, living costs, insurance, visa costs and more. Applicants must document academic excellence. Different Danish universities manage applications – explore individual deadlines.
Government of Ireland Scholarship
Ireland’s government scholarships offer non-EU students complete funding packages for masters study, aiming to grow global talent in Irish universities. Full tuition plus living expenses, health insurance, visa/travel are covered for up to one year. October application deadlines require detailed preparation.
Geneva Academy Scholarship
Switzerland This specialized academy focusing on international disputes and armed conflicts provides masters scholarships covering full tuition, travel, living expenses and health insurance. Applicants should showcase interest in human rights and international humanitarian law. Strict February 1 deadlines apply.
NCTU International Scholarship
Taiwan Taiwan’s National Chiao Tung University (NCTU) offers around 30 full masters scholarships annually covering tuition, living stipends, accommodation and more. Recipients commit 20 hours per week researching under professors. Strong academics and English ability are required. Apply by January 20.
Shanghai Government Scholarship
China The Shanghai Fully Funded Scholarships aims to attract global talent, providing funding for masters students at 8 universities in Shanghai. Full tuition coverage plus stipends, accommodation and insurance are included. Applicants are assessed based on past academic performance, awards and passion for their major.
Conclusion
This article explored 23 fully funded masters scholarships for international students in 2024 spanning countries like the USA, UK, China, Japan, Switzerland, Australia and more. Full financial coverage removes immense barriers for accessing top global universities. Students should identify best fit scholarships based on location, subject interests and individual eligibility. Given intense competition, applicants should meticulously prepare quality applications demonstrating academic excellence, leadership credentials and social commitment. Securing funding can open life-changing opportunities to access world-class education and career prospects after graduation.
