Pursuing higher education abroad can be a transformative experience, offering exposure to diverse cultures, advanced research opportunities, and global networks. However, the financial burden often associated with international studies can be a significant barrier for many students. To alleviate this challenge, numerous organizations and institutions offer scholarships specifically designed for international students. Below is a curated list of some prominent scholarships to consider:
1. Distance Learning Scholarships
- Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships: These scholarships support candidates from developing countries to pursue Master's degree courses offered in partnership with UK universities. They cover tuition fees and study grants.
- Edinburgh Global Distance Learning Scholarships: The University of Edinburgh offers scholarships for select distance learning Master's programs, covering full tuition fees over three years.
- University of the People Tuition-Free Degrees: University of the People provides online Associate and Bachelor Degree Programs in Business Administration and Computer Science. While tuition is free, students pay minimal processing fees, with scholarships available to cover these costs.
2. Short Courses/Training Scholarships
- Hubert Humphrey Fellowships (USA): This program offers a year of professional enrichment in the U.S. for experienced professionals from designated countries, covering tuition, maintenance allowance, insurance, and travel costs.
- Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (UGRAD) (USA): Provides one-semester scholarships to outstanding undergraduate students worldwide for non-degree full-time study, including community service and cultural enrichment. The scholarship covers international travel, tuition, room and board, insurance, and a monthly stipend.
3. Bachelor's Scholarships
- American University Emerging Global Leader Scholarship (USA): Targeted at high-achieving international students dedicated to positive civic and social change, this scholarship covers full tuition, room, and board.
- International Scholars Program at University of British Columbia (Canada): Offers need-and-merit-based scholarships for talented international students, covering up to full tuition and living expenses.
- Reach Oxford Scholarships (UK): Available to students from developing countries who cannot study in their own countries due to political or financial reasons. The scholarship covers university and college fees, a grant for living expenses, and one return airfare per year.
- UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarships (UK): Aims to enable international students from low-income backgrounds to pursue full-time undergraduate studies at UCL, offering full tuition fees and maintenance grants.
- Warwick Undergraduate Global Excellence Scholarships (UK): Offers scholarships for gifted international students, including full-fee and half-fee scholarships, as well as ￡2,000 awards.
4. Master's and PhD Scholarships
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA): Provides scholarships for international students pursuing Master's or PhD degrees in the U.S., covering tuition, airfare, living stipend, and health insurance.
- British Chevening Scholarships (UK): Awarded to outstanding scholars with leadership potential, typically for one-year Master's degrees, covering tuition fees, living allowance, airfare, and additional grants.
- Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (Switzerland): Offers graduates the opportunity to pursue doctoral or postdoctoral research at public-funded universities in Switzerland, covering a monthly allowance, tuition fees, health insurance, and lodging allowance.
- Swedish Scholarships for International Students (Sweden): Provides scholarships to highly-qualified international students from developing countries for full-time Master's studies, covering tuition fees, living expenses, travel grants, and insurance.
- VLIR-UOS Training and Masters Scholarships (Belgium): Awards scholarships to students from selected developing countries to pursue training and Master's programs related to development at Belgian universities, covering tuition fees, accommodation, allowance, travel costs, and other program-related expenses.
- Clarendon Scholarships at University of Oxford (UK): Offers around 140 new scholarships annually to eligible graduate applicants, covering tuition and college fees in full, along with a generous grant for living expenses.
These scholarships represent a fraction of the opportunities available to international students seeking to further their education abroad. Prospective applicants are encouraged to visit the official websites of these scholarship programs for detailed information on eligibility criteria, application procedures, and deadlines. Embarking on an international academic journey is a significant commitment, and securing the right financial support can make this endeavor both attainable and rewarding.
