The United States of America is one of the best study destinations for international students because it has most of the world’s top-ranking universities. Studying in the US comes with lots of fun & excitement, and the degrees awarded are accepted and recognized worldwide.
However, studying in the US or any other foreign country can be money consuming if you don’t have any form of scholarship or sponsorship. In this post, we’ve compiled some of the top fully funded scholarships for international students.
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1. Foreign Fulbright Student Program
The Fulbright Student Program is one of the best fully funded scholarships for international students who wish to pursue a Master’s or Ph.D. degree. The scholarship can also be awarded to undergraduate students. It covers full tuition fees, airfare, health insurance, living stipend, and textbooks. The program operates in over 160 countries globally. And approximately 4000 international students receive the Fulbright scholarship annually. Go to the official website for more details about the scholarship.
2. AAUW International Fellowships and Development Grants for Women
The AAUW International Fellowship and Development Grant is a full-time Grant awarded to outstanding women who are non-US citizens or permanent residents. All applicants must possess a minimum of a US equivalent degree and must have applied to a designated learning institution in the US by the time of the application.
The grant is worth $18,000 for Master’s program, $20,000 for PhD programs and $30,000 for Postdoctoral programs.
3. The Humphrey Fellowship Program
The Humphrey Fellowship Program is a non-degree grant open to experienced professionals. The goal of the scholarship is to help prospective fellows develop leadership skills through a mixture of different concerns that affect fellows in their home country and the US. Every year about 200 fully funded fellowships are awarded to qualified fellows from the Pacific, East Asia, Eurasia, Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Western Hemisphere, and Central, and South Asia.
4. 7UP Harvard Business School Scholarship for Nigerian Students
The 7UP Harvard Business School Scholarship is a special, fully funded scholarship for Nigerian students created by the 7UP bottling company in commemoration of their 50th year anniversary. The scholarship award is in line with the company’s vision of creating a greener future for passionate, talented, and excellent Nigerians. The scholarship award is open to Nigerians admitted to the Harvard Business School MBA of the next year.
5. Bell Fellowship for International Scholars
The Bell Fellowship is a full-tuition for international students. The award offers fellows leadership and research opportunities in a two-year non-degree program in the field of development and population. The key areas of interest are Family Demography, Wellbeing, Workplace, Aging Societies, Social and Environmental Determinants of Population Health.
The Bells Fellowship is a postdoctoral fellowship program, and the criteria for selection is as follows:
- Prospective applicants must be an erudite international scholar with a strong track record of research and academic training.
- Applicants must demonstrate strong leadership potential.
- Applicants must be willing to carry out research in development and population work.
- The applicant must possess a Ph.D. degree at the time of the application.
6. Harvard University Environmental Fellows Program
The Harvard University Environmental Fellows Program is a fully-funded fellows program sponsored by Harvard University’s Center for Environment for doctorate holders. The fellows are to work for two years with faculty members from the University to use Harvard’s resources to tackle complex environmental challenges.
To qualify for this offer, applicants must possess the following:
- Prospective applicants must be holders of a doctorate degree at the time of the application.
- Applicants must possess prior professional and academic success to practice or scholarship.
- Applicants must write a proposal in line with the vision of the Harvard Center for Environment and must show how the proposed project will address environmental issues.
7. IBM Postgraduate Student Fellowship Awards Program
The IBM postgraduate Student Fellowship Awards Program is a two-year full-tuition program for post-doctorate students. Students from all countries of the world are welcomed to apply. However, the selection process is highly competitive, but Ph.D. students who display outstanding qualities and are ready to make an impact on promising and disruptive technologies get selected. The focal areas for this fellowship award include:
- AI / Cognitive Computing
- Data science
- Security / Cyber Security
- Quantum Computing
- Internet of Things
- Cloud / Open Source
Since the inception of this program, over 700 international students have benefitted from it globally.
Successful applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Applicants must be undergoing a Ph.D. program at the time of the application.
- The applicant must be nominated by a current doctoral faculty member.
- Undergraduate students nominated for the fellowship must be in their second year at the time of application.
Check: APPLY: Amazon AWS AI & ML Scholarship Program for Students Globally
8. Microsoft Research Graduate Women’s Scholarships, USA
The Microsoft Research Graduate Women’s Scholarship is a one-year, fully funded scholarship for excellent program women graduate students. It is an initiative set up by Microsoft to help increase the number of female scholars pursuing Ph.D. degrees across the globe.
9. New York University Wagner Scholarships
The New York University Wagner Scholarship is awarded to a limited number of international students each admission year for all Wagner degree programs. The scholarship award is strictly based on the strength of the application and the contributions the Admissions committee believes the prospective applicant can make to the New York University Wagner Community.
All International Postgraduate students and applicants at the NYU Wager automatically receive a merit-based scholarship. The scholarship award is fully funded and includes a $20,000 annual stipend.
10. Illinois Wesleyan University International Student Scholarships
The Illinois Wesleyan University International Student Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship open to outstanding international students with excellent academic performance and test scores during the entrance exams. The worth of the scholarship for Undergraduate programs ranges from $10,000 to $30,000 annually and is renewable for up to four years. There are some other additional packages like campus employment and student loans that accompany the offer.
In addition to the scholarship award, a two-year fully funded President’s International Student Scholarships are also offered. The scholarship is awarded annually to two highly qualified international students in assessing their academic achievements, interests, and talents. Each award received is renewable for up to four years at the Illinois Wesleyan University.
11. The Gates Scholarship
The Bill Gates Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship open to outstanding international students with excellent academic records and aims to sponsor eligible student’s full tuition fees as specified by their University or College.
The Gates Scholarship (TGS) is highly competitive and target International students from low-income households. Every year the scholarship is awarded to 300 successful applicants with the goal of helping them achieve their academic goals and realize their maximum potential.
12. International Merit Scholarships at Iowa State University
The International Merit Scholarship is a fully-funded scholarship award sponsored by Iowa State. Iowa state has the vision to help outstanding students achieve their academic goals. The scholarship seeks to award exceptional students students who have a sound academic achievement and outstanding talent in one or more of the following areas: Sciences, Math, Arts, community service, extracurricular activities, leadership, entrepreneurship, or Innovation.
13. American University Emerging Global Leader Scholarship (AU EGLS)
The American University – AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship is a fully-funded scholarship, which is targeted at promoting educational access and opportunity while enhancing international diversity. The AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship (AU EGLS) is offered for International Undergraduate Students.
Preference for the AU EGL scholarship will be given to international students who have overcome various obstacles and challenges, as well as those from diverse and underrepresented global and socioeconomic backgrounds.
The award seeks to ensure positive civic and social change in the lives of the successful applicants who will, in turn, return to their home countries to improve underserved communities. The scholarship covers all billable American University expenses for international students to study in the designated learning institutions in the United States. The AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship is renewable for a total of four years of undergraduate study, based on continued academic performance.
14. Harvard University Postdoctoral Academy Scholars Program
The Harvard University [Postdoctoral Academy Scholars program is a fully-funded scholarship award for international students. The program seeks to provide support for outstanding scholars at the beginning of their careers to attain the highest level of academic excellence as they advance in their pursuit. Eligible applicants are selected for a two-year in-residence, postdoctoral fellowship at the Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA.
The Scholarship program is only open to all doctoral candidates and Ph.D. recipients in law or social sciences. Applicants must be passionate about making a difference in their various fields of endeavor.
Check: WAAW Foundation Undergraduate STEM Scholarships 2025 for Young African Women
15. EDSF Scholarship Program
The Electronic Document Scholarship Foundation (EDSF) scholarship program was set up in 1999 to identify and support the future generation of professionals in the Document Management and Graphic Communication industry. The scholarship is for full-time students who are passionate about pursuing a career in the Document Management and Graphic Communications marketplace.
16. AAHPM Scholarship in the USA for Physicians from Developing Countries
The American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine Scholarship is a fully-funded scholarship program established to provide access to quality education for physicians who reside in developing countries to attend the HPNA and AAHPM assembly in Vancouver. The Developing Countries Scholarship Fund seeks to provide access to quality education for physicians who reside in developing countries to attend the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM) and HPNA Annual Assembly in Vancouver.
The scholarship provides financial support worth $5,000 to successful applicants to cover all costs associated with attending the Annual Assembly registration and travel expenses (including airfare, taxi fare, lodging, and meals). At the Annual Assembly, all scholarship beneficiaries will gain access to the latest clinical research updates in hospice and palliative care from professionals in the field.
This scholarship is available and open to physicians who work in hospice and palliative medicine. The applicants must reside in low-income countries.
17. The Campbell Foundation Fellowship Program
The Campbell Foundation Fellowship Program is a two-year, fully paid Chesapeake fellowship program that helps beneficiaries gain professional hands-on experience in the field of environmental grant making. Every year, one fellowship is awarded in each Chesapeake initiative program (Agriculture, Civic Engagement). The scholarship offer is worth $40,000 per annum and comes with other additional opportunities like a medical, retirement plan, vision, dental, and access to state of the art technological tools.
As a fellow, you will receive mentorship and coaching from the Foundation staff who are leaders in their respective fields. You will also identify, research, and have access to major water-quality, improving opportunities across the grant making industry.
18. Zawadi Africa Education Fund Undergraduate Scholarship for Women– in Partnership with Google
The Zawadi Africa Education Fund is a full-tuition scholarship that seeks to provide scholarship opportunities to academically sound girls/women from low-income backgrounds across Africa. This scholarship opportunity will help them to pursue their undergraduate studies in any university of their choice in the United States.
19. Harambe Fletcher Scholarships for African Students USA
The Harambe Fletcher Scholarship is a full-tuition scholarship opportunity for young African entrepreneurial leaders to pursue a master’s degree at the Fletcher School at Tufts University. The eligible field of study includes the Master of International Business (MIB) and Masters of Art in Law and Diplomacy (MALD).
20. The Boustany MBA Harvard Scholarship
The Boustany MBA Harvard Scholarship is a two-year full-tuition scholarship for international students to study a two-year course at the Harvard Business School. The scholarship offers the following: financial support of up to US$47,500 per year for tuition fees, travel, and accommodation expenses related to the internship and scholarship offers.
Watch: 25 Best Full Scholarships You Should Know – If you want to Study Abroad
How to Apply to Full-Tuition Scholarships
Every year, different universities, governments, and organizations around the world offer scholarship opportunities worth millions of dollars to African students to study for bachelor’s degrees, masters, or Ph.D. You can updates these scholarship opportunities through afterschoolAfrica.com. All you need to do I subscribed to be notified of every new scholarship opportunities and how to apply.
Students need to understand how to apply for these scholarships and maximize opportunities. In this section, you’ll learn the general guidelines for applying for full-tuition scholarships for international students.
Check: Apply For The Fully Funded Harvard University MBA Scholarship 2025 in The USAÂ
1. Start Early
As a passionate student looking for opportunities to study outside your home country, your first step is to decide which country or region you wish to study. Are you considering Australia, Asia, the USA, or the UK? At least a few months before you intend to gain admission, narrow down all your scholarship research to the country or region you want to study. This will give you enough time to prepare and know if you meet all the requirements for the scholarship opportunity.
2. Look for scholarships within your region
Quite a number of scholarships originate locally. Most students looking for scholarship opportunities focus on looking for external opportunities without maximizing home-based opportunities. There are many companies and government scholarships for citizens to study abroad. Ask and find out about these scholarship opportunities from your friends and colleagues.
Cynthia learnt about the 7UP Harvard Business School Scholarship for Nigerian Students from a colleague at her place of work. She ended up getting a scholarship to study at Harvard Business School. These days things have become a lot easier; you can easily search for these scholarship opportunities on Google or any of the search engines.Â
3. Get the required documents ready and take the required tests
Most internal scholarship programs require the students to meet certain test scores like TOEFL, SAT, GRE, GMAT, or IELTS. For some scholarships, if you don’t pass the required test, you’ll not be eligible to apply. Therefore if you’re looking for scholarship opportunities, you need to register and take the required test and get your scores ready beforehand. Furthermore, start gathering other relevant documents such as certificates, transcripts, identification letters, national ids, international passport, etc.
4. Know if you’re eligible for a scholarship
At this point, you must note that when it comes to scholarship opportunities, there’re no general rules for eligibility. However, each scholarship program has a unique application requirement. Some scholarship programs may require the students to have a specific IELTS or TOEFL score, that you have a certain Grade Point Average or that you’re from a certain country.
Once you locate a scholarship opportunity, ensure you go through the guidelines to see if you meet all the requirements before applying.
5. Be in the process of admission
Most scholarship providers require that prospective beneficiaries must have admission or be in the admission process before they are eligible. Therefore your scholarship application will be irrelevant if you don’t have conditional or unconditional admission at the learning institute. However, some scholarships require that you apply for the scholarship and admission at the same time.
6. Know what scholarship providers want and be willing to give them
Additionally, scholarship opportunities often contain the selection criteria, but you must be willing to go the extra mile if you want the offer. Research, the scholarship providers on the net. Get to know about the organization’s vision and mission statement from the “About Us” section of its website. Take the pain to discover what they are looking for in a scholarship awardee. Position yourself in that regard and watch yourself getting the offer.
7. Apply for all eligible scholarships
This is one of our best guidelines for all international students looking for scholarship opportunities. As much as possible, try to apply for all eligible scholarships you come across. The truth is that many scholarship opportunities go un-awarded each year. Therefore, you should apply for all scholarships you’re eligible for; you never can tell which one will be successful.
8. Applying Write award-winning essay if required
Applying for scholarship opportunities that require you to submit essays can increase your chances of success if you go the extra mile to come up with an award-winning essay. Allow your passion to resonate with the scholarship committee members. Be personal; tell them who you are and why you think you deserve to the scholarship more than everyone else applying for the scholarship.
Sound confident and not pitiful. Emphasize your areas of strength and things that constitute an advantage to you. You can also emphasize your skills, narrate how you solved a problem or overcame a challenge in life. And how you believe the scholarship will help you pursue your dreams.
Check: OPENING SOON: Utrecht Excellence Masters Scholarships 2025 In The Netherlands
9. Follow Guidelines and attend to details
Furthermore, most scholarship providers require attention to detail. They take this seriously when considering the most suitable applicant for every scholarship opportunity. How you position yourself and prepare your application speaks volumes about how detail-oriented you are. One of the reasons for scholarship rejection is that applications don’t follow the guidelines. The target is to stand out in your application process go the extra mile to submit a robust application.
10. Search for and contact past scholarship awardees
A number of scholarship providers publish the names and press releases of awardees. Find a way to reach out to those awardees and connect with them. You can search for them on social media. Contact them for guidance and advice. You can never tell what you will learn from their experience that will help you in your application process.
11. Submit your application early
Most scholarship programs just require you to complete an application form either online or offline. Whichever is the case, ensure that you submit the application and make the required documents available before the deadline.
Finally, getting a full-tuition scholarship is one of the best things that can happen to you in your academic pursuit. A full-tuition scholarship covers all your tuition expenses, depending on the worth of the scholarship. These scholarship awards are not easy to come by, but we believe that with the information we have provided in this post, you’ll easily get a full-tuition scholarship to study abroad. Cheers to your continued success.
Start With Us
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 begin the process.
