Government and university funding programmes — DAAD, MEXT, CSC, GKS, Fulbright, Knight-Hennessy and more — with coverage, deadlines and official portals.
German Academic Exchange Service
The DAAD is the world's largest funding organisation for international academic exchange, financed largely by the German Federal Foreign Office. Its study scholarships fund postgraduate degrees at German universities.
Coverage: Monthly stipend (€934+), travel, health insurance, study allowance
Deadline: Varies by programme (typically Oct–Dec)
Official portalMinistry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Japan)
Offered by the Japanese government since 1954 through embassies and universities, MEXT funds undergraduate, research and specialised training students with full tuition and a living allowance.
Coverage: Full tuition, monthly stipend, round-trip airfare
Deadline: Embassy track: April–May annually
Official portalChina Scholarship Council
Administered by the China Scholarship Council, the CSC supports international students at designated Chinese universities across bachelor, master and doctoral levels.
Coverage: Tuition, campus accommodation, monthly stipend, medical insurance
Deadline: January–April annually
Official portalU.S. Department of State
Established in 1946 under legislation introduced by Senator J. William Fulbright, this flagship exchange programme funds graduate study and research in the United States for students from over 155 countries.
Coverage: Tuition, living stipend, airfare, accident & sickness benefit
Deadline: Country-specific, typically Feb–Oct
Official portalStanford University
Launched in 2018 with a founding gift from Phil Knight and led initially by John Hennessy, this programme funds up to 100 graduate students per year across every Stanford school.
Coverage: Full tuition, living and academic stipend, travel allowance
Deadline: October annually
Official portalUK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
The UK government's international awards programme, running since 1983, funds one-year master's degrees for emerging leaders at any UK university.
Coverage: Full tuition for a one-year master's, living stipend, flights
Deadline: Early November annually
Official portalEuropean Commission
EU-funded integrated master's programmes delivered by consortia of European universities, with mobility across at least two countries and full scholarship packages.
Coverage: Tuition, monthly allowance, travel and installation costs
Deadline: Programme-specific, typically Dec–Jan
Official portalNational Institute for International Education, Korea
Formerly the Korean Government Scholarship Program, GKS funds undergraduate and graduate study in Korea including a preparatory year of language training.
Coverage: Tuition, Korean language training, monthly allowance, airfare
Deadline: February–March annually
Official portalUniversity of Toronto
Toronto's flagship award for exceptional international students, covering the entire cost of four years of undergraduate study.
Coverage: Full tuition, books, incidental fees and residence for four years
Deadline: November (school nomination) / January
Official portalAustralian Government (DFAT)
Long-term development awards funded by Australia's foreign affairs department for students from partner countries across Asia, the Pacific and Africa.
Coverage: Full tuition, return air travel, establishment allowance, living stipend
Deadline: February–April annually
Official portal