There are numerous fully funded scholarships for students from developing countries, most of which are open to all study levels and programme categories – undergraduate, master’s, PhD, and research training courses. These scholarships allow students to get a world-class education at top universities in the world. It also opens doors for networking and job placements at international organizations.
Let’s take a look at some of the most popular of these scholarships, specifically and mostly structured to benefit students from the developing countries.
List of Fully Funded Scholarships for Developing Countries
1.) Chevening Scholarship
The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office scholarship funds postgraduate studies of students from developing countries in the UK. The scholarship covers:
- UK university tuition fees,
- Monthly living stipends,
- Visa costs,
- Travel costs.
A list of eligible countries can be found here. Applicants must upload their CV, copy of international passport, university transcript, degree certificate, and recommendation letters from employers or academic tutors. Click here for Details | Deadline: November 1, yearly.
2.) Commonwealth Scholarship
The commonwealth shared and commonwealth scholarships are fully funded scholarships sponsored by the UK Government. It is awarded to study postgraduate courses and professional fellowships in the UK. The scholarship covers tuition fees, travel costs, and a monthly living allowance. Click here for Details | Deadline: Varies.
3.) MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program
Students from sub-Saharan Africa who are talented academically can apply for Mastercard Scholarship to study master’s programs at affiliated universities such as the University of Edinburgh and the University of California, Berkeley. The scholarship covers full tuition, accommodation, health insurance, academic support, monthly stipends, a grant for visa applications, and travel costs. Click here for Details | Deadline: Varies.
4.) Erasmus Mundus Scholarship
This is a prestigious fully funded master’s and doctoral scholarship by the European Union for various academic programs. Students from developing countries are eligible to apply for this scholarship. The scholarship covers
- Monthly stipends,
- Tuition fees,
- Visa fees,
- Traveling costs
- Medical insurance
The application for the 2024/2025 scholarship round opens in October 2023. Click here for Details | Deadline: To be Updated.
5.) ADB Japan Scholarship
The Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program awards 135 total scholarships each year to high-achieving individuals from developing countries who have at least two years of working experience. This prestigious scholarship covers full tuition fees, medical insurance, monthly expenses, books, and travel allowance. Applicants must be willing to study postgraduate programs in the following academic areas:
- Science and Technology
- Economics, Business, and Management
- Development Studies
- Law and Public Policy
Click here for Details | Deadline: updated annually
6.) Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded to individuals from developing countries to study a master’s program at top universities in Asia, North America, Europe, and other continents. The scholarship covers:
- Full tuition
- Travel allowance,
- Monthly stipends to cover living costs (the amount varies depending on the country).
Applicants are required to be in good health, hold a bachelor’s degree, be citizens of a developing country, and have at least 3 years of work experience in a development-related area. Click here for Details | Deadline: Around May, Annually.
7.) DAAD EPOS Scholarship
This is a prestigious scholarship fully funded by the German government. It is awarded to applicants from developing countries to study master’s and PhD programs at top universities in Germany. The list of eligible countries can be found here. The scholarship covers the following:
- travel costs,
- medical insurance,
- study allowance, and monthly allowance (861 euros for master’s students and 1200 euros for PhD students).
Click here for Details | Deadline: Varies.
8.) The Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP)
The Swedish ministry of foreign affairs sponsors master’s degree studies of students from developing countries to study at top Swedish universities. The scholarship covers the following:
- A monthly allowance of SEK 11,000
- Health insurance
- Full tuition
- Travel grant (SEK 15,000)
Click here for Details | Deadline: Varies
9.) New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarship
This scholarship is for students from Commonwealth countries including developing countries to study master’s and PhD programs at top New Zealand universities. The scholarship covers full tuition, monthly stipends, and airfare tickets. The spouses of students who are granted this award are given a work visa to work while their partner studies. The next application phase for the opens soon. Click here for Details | Deadline: Varies.
10.) Rotary Foundation Global Study Grants
The Rotary Foundation generously funds master’s and doctoral level coursework or research in any country where the rotary club is located and in selected areas of research. The grants can be used to cover travel expenses, tuition, passport/visa, living allowance, or language training courses. Applications for this scholarship are accepted on a rolling basis. Click here for Details | Deadline: Varies
11.) Fulbright Foreign Student Program
Each year, about 4000 plus Fulbright scholarships are awarded to students from developing countries to fund their postgraduate studies in the US. The scholarship covers the full tuition fees, a monthly stipend, accommodation fee, travel costs, and medical insurance. Click here for Details | Deadline: Varies.
Also Check: Fulbright FLTA Program for Foreign Graduates [Fully Funded]
12.) Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme
Students from developing countries can apply to study postgraduate programs at top Universities in France under this scholarship. The scholarship covers the following:
- Monthly allowance (€1,181 per month for master’s students, and €1,700 per month for PhD students)
- Medical insurance
- Travel costs.
Click here for Details | Deadline: Around January, Annually.
13.) The University of Oxford Fully Funded Scholarships
Oxford University gives numerous scholarships to students from developing countries to study undergraduate, master’s, and Ph.D. programs. Some of these scholarships include the Rhodes scholarship, Clarendon Scholarship, Reach Oxford Scholarship, and many more. These prestigious scholarships cover full tuition, monthly stipends, and airfare ticket. Click here for Details | Deadline: Around January, Annually.
14.) Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship
The Canadian government offers this scholarship to doctoral students and students who are doing a joint master’s and PhD degrees in Canada. The scholarship is worth $50,000 per year for three years. Students from developing countries do not need IELTS to apply for this scholarship. The scholarship is open to any discipline and irrespective of nationality. Click here for Details | Deadline: Around January, Annually.
15.) Australia Awards Scholarships
The Australia Awards is one of the most prestigious scholarship programs around the world funded by the Australian Government to supports students from developing countries to study a two-year masters programme or short course in Australian Universities. It is a fully funded programme which covers
- Tuition fees
- One-time allowance to be spent on books, accommodation, and study materials
- Travel costs
- Medical expenses
- Academic support.
Click here for Details | Deadline: Varies by Country.
Also Check: Australia Awards Africa Scholarships (Fully-Funded)
16.) Hungarium Stipendium Scholarship
The Hungarian Government funds undergraduate, master’s and PhD scholarships for students from developing countries to study at top universities in Hungary. It covers the following:
- Full tuition waiver
- Monthly stipends
- Accommodation fees
- Health insurance
Click here for Details | Deadline: Updated Annually.
17.) Holland Orange Knowledge Programme
The Netherlands Government scholarship referred to as the Orange Knowledge Programme funds masters and short courses for students from developing countries. The scholarship covers the following:
- Monthly stipends
- Full tuition fees
- Visa fees
- Airfare tickets
- Medical insurance
- Thesis Research Grant
Click here for Details | Deadline: Updated Annually.
18.) Knight Hennessy Scholarship
This is one of the best scholarships for students from developing countries to study postgraduate and dual degree graduate programs at Stanford University. The scholarship is worth $400 million. It covers full tuition, $33,000 for accommodation and living expenses, travel and airfare costs, supplemental grants to attend conferences, mentoring opportunities, and financial support for non-profits or startups for recipients of the award after graduation.
Click here for Details | Deadline: Updated Annually.
19.) Gates Cambridge Scholarship
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation provides scholarships for students from developing countries to pursue masters and PhD degrees at Cambridge University. This scholarship provides £17,848 stipend per annum, health insurance, academic development funding up to £2,000 and family allowance up to £10,120.
Click here for Details | Deadline: Updated Annually.
Also Check: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Scholarships [Fully Funded]
20.) Italian Government Scholarships
The Italian government offers students from developing countries the opportunity to study master’s, PhD or research at top Italian universities. This scholarship covers full tuition fees, monthly stipends, research grants and health insurance. Click here for Details | Deadline: Updated Yearly.
21.) Turkiye Burslari Scholarship
The Turkish Government Scholarship funds undergraduate, master’s and PhD programs for students from all developing countries at top Turkish universities. Turkiye Burslari Scholarship covers monthly stipend up to full tuition fees, monthly stipends, airfare ticket, medical insurance and accommodation. The next round of applications will commence in January. Click here for Details | Deadline: Updated yearly.
22.) Japanese Government MEXT Scholarship
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) of Japan funds undergraduate, master’s, PhD and training programs in Japan. Students from all developing countries enjoy the following benefits of the scholarship: full tuition fee coverage, accommodation, monthly stipends, grant for travel expenses from your country to Japan. Click here for Details | Deadline: Varies.
23.) Chinese Government scholarship
This scholarship is for students from developing countries who wish to study undergraduate, master’s and PhD programs at 280 available universities in China. The scholarship covers full tuition, accommodation, monthly allowance and medical insurance. Click here for Details | Deadline: Updated yearly.
24.) KAIST International Scholarship
The Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) scholarship funds undergraduate and graduate study in Korea. Students from developing countries who wish to apply for this scholarship can be sure of full funding which covers the following: full tuition fee coverage, monthly stipends and health insurance fees. Click here for Details | Deadline: February, annually.
25.) Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship
The Switzerland Government scholarship for 2023/2024 offers outstanding master’s degree holders the opportunity to carry out PhD research in Switzerland. It also offers bachelor’s degree holders from developing countries the opportunity to study Master’s of art degree in Switzerland. This fully funded scholarship covers the following:
- Accommodation allowance (CHF 300 housing allowance).
- Full tuition fees.
- Medical insurance.
- Monthly stipends (CHF 1,920).
- Airfare allowance.
- Research funds.
Click here for Details | Deadline: February, annually.
Students from developing countries can consider applying for these scholarships irrespective their previous academic performance. Top universities around the world are willing to accept applications from developing countries.