39 Fully Funded Scholarships to Apply to From January to December for international students

Planning to study abroad can be exciting, but it also takes careful preparation, especially when it comes to scholarships. Most major scholarships only open once a year, and missing the application window could mean waiting another 12 months for the next chance.

The good news is, if you plan ahead, you can be ready with your documents, essays, and references before the deadlines arrive. 

This guide walks you through the year, month by month, highlighting some of the biggest scholarships for international students, along with tips and what you will need to apply. Think of this as your scholarship calendar for 2025. In this guide, we will walk through the whole year, month by month, with 39 scholarships you can apply for. You’ll also see the application window and a quick tip for each.

January – February

1. Gates Cambridge Scholarship (UK) 

For students who want to study a master’s degree in the UK. Covers tuition, flights, and living costs. Start preparing your leadership story and work experience proof early. Apply here

2. Türkiye Bursları Scholarship (Turkey) 

For bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD. Includes free language training and fully funded. Prepare a good motivation letter explaining why you want to study in Turkey. Apply here

3. Lester B. Pearson Scholarship (Canada) 

For exceptional high school students wanting to study in Canada for their undergraduate studies. Covers full tuition, books, and living allowance. Apply through your chosen canadian university. Apply here

4. Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships (UK) 

For students from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries. Covers tuition, flights, and allowance. Apply through your chosen UK university. Apply here

5. Hungary Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship (Hungary) 

Fully Funded For bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programs. Apply early, as the process can take months. Apply here

March – April

6. DAAD (Germany)

For master’s in public policy and good governance. Emphasize leadership in community service. Apply here

7. Chevening Scholarship (UK)

Master’s in any field. Strong networking and leadership skills matter.  Apply here

8. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarships (Europe)

A program where you study in 2–3 countries in Europe with all costs covered. Needs a strong academic background. Prepare a strong motivation letter. Apply here

9. Holland Government Scholarship (Netherlands)

For non-EEA students wanting to study in the Netherlands. Gives €5,000 towards tuition. Need an admission offer first. Apply here

Get Scholarship eBook – with Letters of Motivation from Successful Scholars

May – June

10. Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA)

For master’s and PhD. Covers full tuition, flights, living allowance, and health insurance. For master’s or PhD in the USA. Very competitive, prepare essays early. Apply here.

11. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (Switzerland)

For master’s, PhD, and research in Switzerland. Covers tuition, monthly stipend, and health insurance. Good for students with strong research proposals. Apply here

12. Korean Government Scholarship Program (South Korea)

For all levels. Strong grades and health records are required. Apply here

13. Rotary Peace Fellowship (Global)

Covers master’s programs in peace and conflict studies in different countries. Tuition, living costs, and travel are fully covered. Needs work experience in peace-related fields. Apply here

July – August

14. Australia Awards Scholarships (Australia)

For students from developing countries to study in Australia. Fully funded with tuition, travel, and a living allowance. Make sure you have academic transcripts ready.  Apply here

15. Mandela Rhodes Scholarship (Africa)

For postgraduate study in South Africa. Show leadership potential. Apply here

16. Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship

For students from certain developing countries. Covers tuition and living costs with a partial loan element. Needs proof of financial need. Apply here

17. ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship (Switzerland)

For master’s students. High academic scores are important. Apply here

18. University of Geneva Excellence Masters Fellowships (Switzerland)

For master’s in science fields. Be ready to explain your career path. Apply here

19. University of Sydney International Scholarship (Australia)

Partially Funded Covers tuition and stipend for PhD or master’s research programs. Apply here

September – October

20. Rhodes Scholarship (UK)

For Oxford University master’s and PhD. For exceptional students worldwide to study at Oxford. Covers all costs. Leadership and service are key.  Apply here

21. Knight-Hennessy Scholars (USA)

For graduate study at Stanford University. Fully funded for tuition and living. Requires strong leadership and innovation potential. Apply here

22. University of Edinburgh Global Scholarships (UK)

For postgraduate programs. Fully Funded. Apply here

23. University of Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarships

 Fully funded master’s and PhD scholarships. Covers tuition, living allowance, and relocation grant. Apply here.

24. Singapore Government Scholarship

 For undergraduate and postgraduate study in Singapore. Covers tuition, living costs, and flights. Apply here.

November – December

25. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Canada)

For PhD students in Canada. Covers $50,000 per year for three years. You need strong research proposal. Apply here

26. University of Auckland International Student Excellence Scholarship (New Zealand)

For undergrad and postgraduate. Apply here

27. DAAD Research Grants (Germany)

For future leaders in politics, law, and development. Covers full tuition, monthly allowance, and flights. Good for social science graduates.  Apply here

28. Cambridge International Scholarships (UK)

For PhD students. Submit a strong research proposal. Apply here

29. Yenching Academy Scholarship (China)

Covers tuition, accommodation, and living allowance for master’s at Peking University. Apply here 

30. Monash University Scholarships (Australia)

Fully funded for graduate research. Covers tuition and living allowance. Apply here.

31. ADB-Japan Scholarship Program

For master’s students from developing countries in Asia and the Pacific. Covers tuition, living, and travel. Apply here 

32. Scotland Saltire Scholarships

For students from certain countries to study in Scotland. Gives up to £8,000 for tuition. Needs an offer from a Scottish university. Apply here.

33. World Bank Scholarships

For students from developing countries to study development-related programs. Covers tuition, living allowance, and flights. Requires work experience. World bank.

34. Eiffel Excellence Scholarship (France)

 For master’s and PhD students in France. Covers living allowance and travel. Must apply through your chosen institution. Apply here.

35. KAIST International Student Scholarship (South Korea)

For undergraduate and graduate students. Covers tuition, living allowance, and health insurance. Apply here.

36 University of British Columbia International Leader of Tomorrow Award (Canada)

 For outstanding undergraduates with financial need. Covers full tuition and living expenses. Apply here.

37. Clarendon Scholarships (Oxford, UK)
Covers tuition and generous living allowance for graduate study. Automatically considered when applying to Oxford. Apply here.

38. Australia National University Scholarships
For high-achieving students worldwide. Covers tuition and living allowance. Apply directly to ANU. Apply here.

39. Japanese Government MEXT Scholarship
Covers tuition, monthly stipend, and flights. For undergraduate, master’s, or research study in Japan. Apply via the embassy. 

Conclusion 

With determination, preparation, and timely applications, these scholarships can open doors to world-class education, international experiences, and life-changing opportunities. Start your scholarship journey today and make 2025 the year you turn your study abroad dreams into reality.