Looking for fully funded scholarships in 2026? . Education is one of the most powerful investments a person can make — but for millions of talented students around the world, the barrier isn’t ability, it’s cost. The good news? Fully funded scholarships in 2026 have never been more plentiful, more accessible, or more generous. Governments, universities, foundations, and international organizations are actively searching for brilliant, motivated students from every corner of the globe to fund — completely — through their academic journeys.
“Fully funded” isn’t just a marketing phrase. It means these scholarships cover everything: tuition fees, accommodation, health insurance, monthly living stipends, round-trip airfare, and sometimes even research allowances and conference travel. You focus entirely on your studies and your future. They handle the finances.
This comprehensive guide covers the top 20 fully funded scholarships for 2026, including what they cover, who is eligible, and exactly how to apply. Whether you’re a high school student dreaming of an undergraduate degree abroad, or a professional aiming for a master’s or PhD, there is a scholarship on this list for you.
What Does “Fully Funded” Really Mean?
Before diving in, let’s clarify what fully funded scholarships typically cover in 2026:
- Full tuition — All academic fees covered completely
- Monthly living stipend — Regular payments to cover food, transport, and personal expenses
- Accommodation — Either on-campus housing or a housing allowance
- Round-trip airfare — Flights to and from your home country covered
- Health insurance — Medical coverage for the duration of your studies
- Research and conference allowances — Particularly common in PhD programs
- Laptop or technology allowances — Increasingly common in top programs
Some scholarships add visa fee reimbursements, language training, and settlement allowances for new arrivals. When you add it all up, fully funded scholarships represent a financial package worth $30,000 to $80,000 or more per year.
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1. Chevening Scholarship 2026 (UK Government)
The Chevening Scholarship is the UK government’s prestigious international award program, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). It supports outstanding emerging leaders from around the world to pursue a one-year master’s degree at any UK university, including Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, and Imperial College London.
What it covers: Full tuition, monthly living stipend, round-trip economy airfare, UK visa fee reimbursement, and a travel grant for attending Chevening events.
Eligibility: Citizens of Chevening-eligible countries (over 160 countries), with at least 2 years of professional work experience, a strong academic record, and demonstrable leadership potential.
Deadline 2026: Applications typically open in August and close in November. Check the official Chevening website for 2026 cycle dates.
Fields: All fields of study at the master’s level.
How to apply: Visit chevening.org, complete the online application, write four required essays on leadership, studying in the UK, career plans, and networking, and secure two professional references.
Pro tip: Chevening is extremely competitive. The essay writing stage separates successful applicants from the thousands who don’t make it. Dedicate significant time to crafting compelling, evidence-based personal narratives.
2. Commonwealth Scholarship 2026 (UK)
The Commonwealth Scholarship is funded by the UK government and targets students from Commonwealth countries. Unlike Chevening, it prioritizes development-focused fields and candidates who demonstrate how their studies will benefit their home country.
What it covers: Full tuition, living stipend, airfare, warm clothing allowance, and study travel grant.
Eligibility: Citizens of qualifying Commonwealth countries, typically with a first-class undergraduate degree.
Levels offered: Master’s and PhD programs at UK universities.
Deadline 2026: Generally December for the following academic year. Verify on cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk.
3. Fulbright Scholarship 2026 (USA)
The Fulbright Program is one of the most prestigious and globally recognized scholarship programs in the world, funded by the U.S. government. It operates in over 160 countries and supports international students seeking graduate degrees (master’s or PhD) at universities across the United States.
What it covers: Full tuition, monthly living allowance, health insurance, round-trip airfare, and an enrichment program.
Eligibility: Non-U.S. citizens with a strong academic record, leadership experience, and a clear plan for contributing to their home country after graduation.
Deadline 2026: Varies by country — check through your country’s Fulbright Commission. Applications typically open 6-12 months before the program start date.
Fields: All fields, but STEM, public policy, and social sciences are particularly well represented.
Application tip: Fulbright looks heavily at your “Ambassador potential” — they want students who will represent their home culture while in the U.S. and return to make an impact. Your personal statement must address this directly.
4. DAAD Scholarship 2026 (Germany)
The DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst) scholarship is Germany’s premier international scholarship program, offering thousands of scholarships annually for studies in Germany — a country that is home to some of the world’s leading research universities, and where many programs are taught entirely in English.
What it covers: Monthly stipend (approximately €850-€1,200), health insurance, travel allowance, and tuition waiver.
Eligibility: Available to bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral students from all countries. Requirements vary by specific program.
Why Germany? Many German public universities charge zero tuition even without a scholarship. With the DAAD covering your living costs, studying in Germany is one of the most financially accessible premium education options in the world.
Deadline 2026: Varies by program, typically October-November for the following year. Visit daad.de for the full scholarship database.
5. Australia Awards Scholarship 2026
The Australia Awards scholarship program is funded by the Australian government and aims to develop the leadership capacity of partner countries in the Indo-Pacific region. It is one of the most comprehensive scholarships available, covering virtually every conceivable cost.
What it covers: Full tuition, return airfare, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), establishment allowance, monthly living stipend, and supplementary academic support.
Eligibility: Citizens of eligible countries (primarily in Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East), with relevant work experience, typically for master’s and short-course programs.
Deadline 2026: Applications typically open in February and close in April-May. Check australiaawardscholarships.dfat.gov.au for the 2026 cycle.
6. Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2026 (UK)
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is one of the most competitive and prestigious scholarships in the world, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It supports outstanding applicants from outside the UK to pursue full-time postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge.
What it covers: Full tuition, maintenance allowance (approximately £18,000 per year), airfare, and additional funding for academic development.
Eligibility: Any citizen of any country outside the UK, applying for graduate admission to Cambridge. The selection process is extraordinarily rigorous — approximately 80 scholarships are awarded per year globally from thousands of applicants.
Fields: All fields. Cambridge is particularly renowned for its programs in mathematics, natural sciences, medicine, law, and economics.
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7. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree 2026 (Europe)
The Erasmus Mundus program, funded by the European Union, offers joint master’s degrees across multiple European universities. Students spend time studying in 2 or 3 different European countries, gaining exposure to diverse academic cultures and building an international network.
What it covers: Full tuition, monthly stipend of €1,400 for “partner country” students, travel allowances, and installation costs.
Eligibility: Both EU and non-EU citizens may apply. Non-EU students typically receive a more generous scholarship package.
Unique feature: These are genuinely collaborative degrees co-awarded by multiple universities — your diploma will bear the names of all partner institutions.
Deadline 2026: Varies by program, typically October-January. Find all programs at erasmus-mundus.eu.
8. Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP) 2026
South Korea has rapidly emerged as one of the world’s top study destinations, and the KGSP (also known as GKS — Global Korea Scholarship) is the Korean government’s flagship fully funded program for international students.
What it covers: Full tuition, monthly living allowance (approximately 900,000 KRW), airfare, Korean language training (1 year), medical insurance, and settlement allowance.
Levels: Bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programs at top Korean universities including Seoul National University, KAIST, POSTECH, and Yonsei.
Eligibility: Citizens of KGSP-eligible countries, under 25 years (undergraduate) or under 40 years (graduate), with strong academic records.
Deadline 2026: Applications typically open in February-March. Apply through your home country’s Korean embassy.
9. Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship 2026
Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) offers one of the most comprehensive government scholarship programs in the world, covering bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral, and research programs at Japanese universities.
What it covers: Full tuition, monthly stipend (approximately ¥117,000-¥144,000), travel expenses, and Japanese language training if needed.
Eligibility: Citizens of countries that have diplomatic relations with Japan, meeting specific age and academic requirements.
Deadline 2026: Applications open around May-June. Apply through your nearest Japanese embassy.
10. Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) 2026
China has invested massively in its international scholarship programs, and the Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) program is now one of the largest in the world, offering thousands of positions annually.
What it covers: Full tuition, free on-campus accommodation, monthly living stipend (CNY 2,500-3,500), comprehensive medical insurance, and one-time travel subsidy.
Eligibility: Non-Chinese citizens, in good health, with strong academic records. Age limits apply: typically under 35 for master’s, under 40 for PhD.
Universities: Peking University, Tsinghua University, Fudan University, Zhejiang University, and hundreds of other Chinese institutions.
Deadline 2026: Typically January to April. Apply through chinesestudy.gov.cn or through your home country’s Chinese embassy.
11. Turkish Government Scholarship (Türkiye Bursları) 2026
The Türkiye Bursları scholarship is Turkey’s prestigious government scholarship program, and it has grown dramatically in recent years, now attracting applicants from over 180 countries.
What it covers: Full tuition, monthly stipend, free accommodation in university dormitories, round-trip airfare, health insurance, and one year of Turkish language training.
Levels: Bachelor’s, master’s, PhD, and research scholarships.
Deadline 2026: Applications typically open in February and close in March. Apply at turkiyeburslari.gov.tr.
12. New Zealand Excellence Awards 2026
New Zealand offers several fully funded scholarship pathways for international students, including the New Zealand Excellence Awards and the New Zealand Development Scholarships for students from Pacific and developing nations.
What it covers: Full tuition, living allowance, health insurance, travel costs, and establishment grant.
Eligibility: Varies by specific award. Primarily targets master’s and PhD students from eligible countries.
13. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2026
Switzerland offers fully funded excellence scholarships to international researchers and artists for postgraduate study at Swiss public universities including ETH Zurich and EPFL — two of the world’s top engineering and technology universities.
What it covers: Monthly stipend (approximately CHF 1,920), tuition waiver, health insurance, and dormitory accommodation.
Eligibility: Citizens of eligible partner countries, for research scholarships (PhD and postdoctoral level).
14. Swedish Institute Scholarships 2026
The Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professionals (SISGP) offers fully funded scholarships for master’s programs at Swedish universities.
What it covers: Monthly grant of SEK 11,000, travel grant, insurance, and participation in the Swedish Institute Network for Future Global Leaders.
Deadline 2026: Applications typically open in November and close in February.
15. Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship 2026
The Aga Khan Foundation provides scholarships to outstanding students from developing countries who have no other means of financing their education. This scholarship is unique in that it is structured as a 50% grant and 50% interest-free loan, repayable after graduation.
What it covers: Full tuition, living expenses, books and supplies, travel.
Eligibility: Citizens of specific developing countries (check eligibility list), for postgraduate studies at top international universities.
16–20: Additional Fully Funded Scholarships to Explore in 2026
16. Rotary Peace Fellowship — Fully funded master’s or certificate programs in peace and conflict resolution. Only 130 fellowships awarded annually worldwide. rotary.org/en/our-programs/peace-fellowships
17. Orange Knowledge Programme (Netherlands) — Dutch government scholarship for mid-career professionals from eligible countries for master’s and short courses at Dutch institutions.
18. VLIR-UOS Scholarships (Belgium) — Belgian government scholarships for students from the Global South to study master’s programs at Flemish universities.
19. Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarships (Germany) — Politically progressive scholarship with a focus on sustainability, democracy, and gender equality, open to international students studying in Germany.
20. Humphrey Fellowship Program (USA) — A Fulbright-related program for experienced professionals from eligible countries to spend one year in the U.S. for professional development (non-degree).
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How to Write a Winning Scholarship Application in 2026
Getting a fully funded scholarship requires more than good grades. Here’s how top applicants distinguish themselves:
Start early. Most scholarship applications require extensive documentation — transcripts, recommendation letters, language test scores, and personal statements. Begin your preparation at least 6-12 months before the deadline.
Tailor your personal statement. Generic personal statements fail. Research the specific scholarship’s values, goals, and priorities, and write an essay that explicitly connects your background, goals, and the scholarship’s mission.
Get strong recommendation letters. Approach professors, supervisors, or community leaders who know your work deeply and can write specific, enthusiastic letters. Brief them thoroughly on the scholarship’s priorities so their letters align.
Demonstrate impact, not just achievement. Scholarships in 2026 want to fund future change-makers, not just smart students. Show clearly how your education will benefit your community, your country, or the world.
Apply to multiple scholarships. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Apply to 5-10 relevant scholarships simultaneously to maximize your chances.
Final Thoughts: Your Scholarship Journey Starts Now
The fully funded scholarships of 2026 represent an extraordinary window of opportunity — but they require preparation, effort, and perseverance to access. The students who secure these awards are not always the most academically perfect candidates. They are the most prepared, the most purposeful, and the most compelling storytellers about who they are and where they are going.
Your dream of studying abroad, debt-free, at a world-class institution is not out of reach. It begins with understanding your options, choosing the right targets, and committing to building an application that stands out.
Start today. Your future self will thank you.
For more resources on education opportunities, scholarships, and career development, visit FoodsUse.com and explore our growing library of opportunity guides.
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