Top 10 Postgraduate Scholarships for International Students

Top 10 Postgraduate Scholarships for International Students: Studying abroad is a very tasking thing to do, considering the financial aspects of tuition and other living expenses. There are various study-abroad destinations that offer a wide range of degrees and courses for international students from all around the world. Masters and other postgraduate studies are a substantial educational feat and seeking a good institution to get a good degree is very paramount in this level of education and that is why most postgraduate students go abroad to further their studies.

Finance can be an important tool in the realization of your studies. That is why there are different scholarships and student grants by the government, the Ministry of Education, or individuals. These scholarships support the students in the payment of tuition fees or other general living expenses. In this article, we have compiled a list of 10 postgraduate scholarships for international students to study abroad.

International Postgraduate Scholarships

There are different types of scholarships for international postgraduate students in various study abroad destinations, some are to support the students’ tuition or other living expenses. Some of the common international postgraduate scholarships include the following:

• University awards: International students get this from specific countries and they are only to masters or postgraduate students who get admission to study at any of the universities abroad. The host university may be in charge of offering the awards to qualified students.
• National scholarships: These types of scholarships are usually offered by the government or the Ministry of Education to support students studying abroad in another country. Examples of such scholarship awards include DAAD from Germany, Commonwealth scholarships, and Swedish institute awards.
• Exchange schemes: This type of award is usually between two or more countries to help their students study in each other’s countries. A vivid example of this type of exchange scheme is the US-UK Fulbright Commission.
• International scholarships: These types of scholarships are for qualified students and are either fully funded or partially funded. These scholarships provide support for tuition and other living expenses.

Top 10 Postgraduate Scholarships for International Students

Most postgraduate students have a dream of furthering their studies abroad but cannot due to financial instability. Postgraduate degrees such as PhDs and Masters are some of the highest levels of education and may require more funding than an undergraduate degree would entail. That is why some government bodies and organizations set aside funds to support students with exceptional abilities to study and further their education abroad. Nowadays, there are different scholarships and student grants where foreign students are also eligible to apply for support to further their education. Here is the top 10 list of postgraduate scholarships for international students.

1. DAAD Scholarship Programs:

DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst) is a German Academic Exchange Service in partnership with Germany’s higher education institutions. The major function of this organization is to provide scholarships and promote international academic relations. The DAAD scholarships are for to qualified students who want to pursue full-time study in any postgraduate course. The scholarship program awards 850€ monthly for postgraduate students and 1,200€ monthly for PhD students.

Eligibility

• The students must have completed their bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in the case of a Ph.D. degree.
• Applicants must be international students from accepted countries
• Students must also have completed the bachelor’s degrees not more than in the last 6 years and must have at least two years of proven work experience in a related field.

2. Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarships:

The Heinrich Böll Foundation awards about 1,200 scholarships a year to students studying undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees in different courses from all around the world. International students in their Masters studies are awarded about 850€ each month, while EU students of the same level of study will be awarded 949€ per month. PhD students from countries outside of the EU will receive 1,200€ per month. PhD students coming from the EU will receive 1,350€ per month. The scholarship is usually for a duration of two years with the possibility of extension twice by half a year.

Eligibility

• International students pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate degrees in Germany.
• Students should be admitted to study for a degree in any state-recognized university in Germany.
• Awarded students must already have an outstanding academic record and a political and social profile.

3. Fulbright Scholarships (USA):

The Fulbright Scholarship Program is one of the international exchange scholarship programs made between the U.S. Government and some other countries around the world. Every year, about 1,800 Fulbright scholarships are awarded to outstanding international students to study postgraduate courses in the USA. The Fulbright Scholarship Program provides fully-funded scholarships for students for the duration of the study and these may include; tuition, textbooks, airfare, a living stipend, and health insurance.

Eligibility

• Foreign students who wish to pursue a Masters or Ph.D. Degree in the United States.
• Students must have been accepted in any university for study in the USA
• Students with outstanding academic performances.

4. Chevening Scholarships (UK):

The Chevening Scholarships is the scholarship program of the British Government. Every year, the scholarship scheme awards about 1000 outstanding students from over 130 different countries of the world who wish to pursue postgraduate study in UK universities.  Chevening Scholarships are usually full scholarships that often cover tuition fees, monthly stipends, and monthly allowances as well as international travel to the UK from their home countries.

Eligibility

• Foreign students who wish to pursue a Masters or Ph.D. Degree in any university in the United Kingdom.
• Students must have been accepted in any university for study in the UK
• Students with outstanding academic performances.

5. Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program: 

France sponsors the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program. The scholarship aims to attract and award the best postgraduate international students who wish to study for their master’s and Ph.D. degree programs at any French University.  The Eiffel scholarship-holders receive only monthly allowances but it does not cover tuition fees. In addition to the monthly stipends, the scholarship also covers various other expenses which may include; return trips, health insurance, and cultural activities.

Eligibility

• International postgraduate students from accepted countries.
• Students must be willing to study in any French university once awarded the scholarship
• Students with high academic performance get it.

6. Gates Cambridge Scholarships (UK):

The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is a very prestigious international scholarship that is available to all international students from all over the world.  The scholarships are fully-funded awards for postgraduate study and research in any course available only at the University of Cambridge.  The scholarship award covers the university tuition fees, maintenance allowances and airfare.

Eligibility

• International students from around the world who want to study for a postgraduate degree in the Gates Cambridge University.
• Outstanding academic performance is a must.
• Students must be ready to study the courses available at the university.

7. Clarendon Scholarships at the University of Oxford (UK):

The Clarendon Scholarship Fund is a prestigious graduate scholarship scheme offering around 140 new scholarships every year to eligible graduate international students only at the University of Oxford. The Scholarship is on the basis of academic excellence at the graduate level at the University of Oxford.  The scholarship award covers tuition fees in full and students get generous grants for living expenses.

Eligibility

• Foreign students who wish to pursue a Masters or Ph.D. Degree in the University Of Oxford, United Kingdom.
• Students must have been accepted into the university for study in the UK
• Students with outstanding academic performances get it.

8. Taiwan ICDF Scholarships: 

International education and training has long been one of the TaiwanICDF’s core operations, among many others. Human resources development programs play a vital role in assisting partner countries to achieve sustainable development, and education is a crucial mechanism for training workforces in developing countries.

The TaiwanICDF provides scholarships for higher education and has developed undergraduate, graduate, and Ph.D. programs in cooperation with renowned partner universities in Taiwan.

Eligibility

• Be a citizen of the List of Countries Eligible (including select African countries) for the TaiwanICDF Scholarship, and satisfy any specific criteria established by his or her country and/or government of citizenship.
• Satisfy the admission requirements of the partner university to which he or she has applied to study under a TaiwanICDF scholarship.
• Students with outstanding academic performances.

9. MBZUAI Scholarship:

The Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI) Scholarship is available in the United Arab Emirates for students to study for their master’s or Ph.D. degree on a full scholarship. The scholarship welcomes both national and international students alike.

Eligibility

• Foreign students who wish to pursue a Masters or Ph.D. Degree in any university in the UAE.
• Students must have been accepted or are in the process of applying for postgraduate study in any university in the UAE
• Students must have outstanding academic performances to get it.

10. GIST Scholarship in South Korea:

The Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) Scholarship in South Korea offers Masters, Ph.D., integrated MS, and Ph.D. Students scholarship to study at GIST. The scholarship is fully funded for 2 years of master’s program and 4 years of Ph.D.

Eligibility

• Foreign students who wish to pursue a Masters or PhD Degree at Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology
• Students must have been accepted for study in South Korea.
• Students with outstanding academic performances get it.

Recommended: Top 10 Fully Funded Scholarships in UK for International Students

General Requirements for International Postgraduate Students

To study a postgraduate degree abroad, there are different requirements that the student is expected to provide before they can study. Depending on the course of study, the requirements are usually different but below are the general requirements for most international postgraduate courses abroad.

• Student visa, this is very important for the student to possess a valid student visa before they can enter any country abroad for studies.
• A study permit, in some countries abroad, requires international students to have a study permit which may be granted at the point of entry into the country or gotten from the host institution.
• Proof of adequate finances: This is very important for any study abroad program and it is one of the requirements to study abroad. Most countries request this proof of funds that would put the students through their studies and duration of stay in the country.
• Academic transcript: to study for a postgraduate degree abroad, you need to submit copies of your academic transcripts or certificate during the application process.
• Work experience: postgraduate students sometimes need to submit their work experiences during the application.
• Copies of Curriculum Vitae

There are numerous top scholarships around the world for students in various educational levels such as; undergraduate, masters, and Ph.D. programs. Opportunities are always available for students who do not have the means of completing their education and these scholarships are awarded to students to support their education and living expenses while they study and live abroad. Aside from government funding, other universities, charities, and individuals support and provide scholarship awards to students so if you want to get a scholarship, it is important to start the search early and get information on the various types of scholarships available to international students in your preferred institution.

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Do you want to study abroad? Note that obtaining a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree in this field helps to improve your chances in the labor market. Studying abroad is no joke for international students due to the cost. However, you can achieve your dreams without breaking the bank by applying for student loans, which you can pay for as long as 10 years. 

MPower Finance and Prodigy Finance are some of the best student loan providers for international students. They also do not require a cosigner or collateral before an application. Reach out to us today, and let’s help you get started. 

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