List of Fully-Funded Scholarships for Developing Countries 2024

Looking for fully funded Masters Scholarships for international students? You just found it. There are thousands of scholarship opportunities out there for international students to study for masters around the world. But we’ve drilled it down to the most prestigious and fully funded masters scholarships. 1. Rotary Peace Fellowship for Masters and Professional Programs Each year, Rotary selects individuals from around the world to receive fully funded academic fellowships at one of its peace centers. These fellowships cover tuition and fees, room and board, round-trip transportation, and all internship and field-study expenses. Up to 50 master’s degree fellowships are awarded at Duke University and the University of North Carolina in the US and other non-US institutions. The program duration is between 15 to 24 months. 2. Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship by the Government of Hungary The Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Programme offers international students the opportunity to undergo study of all types in Hungary for free. Thousands of students from all around the world apply for higher educational studies in Hungary each year. The number of Stipendium Hungaricum applicants is continuously increasing, as is the number of available scholarship positions. The program is based on cooperation and agreement between the other countries and Hungary. Currently more than 50 countries from 4 different continents are in this program. 3. ARES Masters and Training Scholarships ARES, by the Belgium government, grants 150 spots for master degree scholarships and 70 for participation in the training programs. You must mainly be from a developing country to be awarded this scholarship, and your career goal must show openness towards development issues. If you meet all of the criteria for the ARES scholarship, you will be provided with travel, a monthly living allowance, all assignment costs, installation costs, tuition fees, registration fees, insurance, housing, allowances for dependents, return fees, and a completion bonus. 4. Rhodes Trust Scholarships at University of Oxford Established through the Will of Cecil John Rhodes in 1902, the Rhodes Scholarships are the oldest and perhaps most prestigious international scholarship program in the world, enabling outstanding young people from around the world to undertake full-time postgraduate study at the University of Oxford. The fellowship of Rhodes Scholars, worldwide and across generations, is active and over 7,000 strong. Each year, 95 Rhodes Scholars are selected from 20 Rhodes constituencies (64 countries) worldwide. 5. Cambridge Trust International Scholarships The Cambridge Commonwealth, European & International Trust was established on 1 August 2013 from the merger of the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust and the Cambridge Overseas Trust. The Trust awards approximately 500 scholarships annually and supports between 1,100 and 1,400 students in residence each year from 85 countries across the world. The Trust has awarded a total of nearly 19,000 scholarships to international students. Awards are offered to selected students at the PhD, Masters, and undergraduate levels in all subjects. 6. VLIR-UOS Masters & Training Scholarships VLIR-UOS funds and facilitates engagements between higher education institutions in Flanders in Belgium and those in developing countries. So students from developing countries can accept this scholarship in mostly development courses. Up to 250 students every year are awarded scholarships. To get this scholarship, the maximum age is 35 years for an initial masters and 40 years for an advanced masters. For the training short course, the maximum age is 45 years. The scholarship covers ALL related expenses that you can think of. 7. Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP) The Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP) program is part of the Swedish government’s international awards scheme aimed at developing global leaders who will contribute to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The scholarship pays tuition fees, living expenses, travel, insurance and alumni membership fees of up to 300 young professionals interested in Master degrees in Sweden. 8. Joint Japan World Bank Group Scholarship Program The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program is open to women and men from developing countries with relevant professional experience who are applying to a master degree program in a development-related topic. Several scholarships are offered each year. The scholarship covers the cost of completing a master’s degree: return air travel, $500 travel allowance, tuition, and the cost of basic medical and accident insurance; a monthly allowance to cover living expenses. A scholarship is for a maximum duration of two years. 9. MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program Started in 2012, the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program allows students whose talent and promise exceed their financial resources to complete their education. The program provides financial, social, and academic support to scholars. Financial support includes tuition fees, accommodation, books, and other scholastic materials. The scholarship program is anticipated to benefit 15,000 young people for secondary, undergraduate, and masters levels within 8 to 10 years. The University of Michigan, the University of California, Arizona State University, Wellesley University, and Duke University are some of the participating higher institutions in the scholars program. 10. New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships (on hold) Financial support opportunities for students in developing countries are just not as common in New Zealand compared to countries like the UK and even our sister country, Australia. However, there are scholarship programs international students can partake in. One of them is the New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarship. Do you want to study for a Masters or PhD in New Zealand? Then take advantage of this opportunity. The scholarship provides students from Commonwealth countries financial support for tuition, living costs while in New Zealand, and airfares. The partners of students are eligible for a work visa that allows them to live and work in New Zealand for the duration of their partner’s study. 11. New Zealand Development Scholarships (on hold) This is much like the New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarship, only that the New Zealand Development Scholarships (NZDS) pick candidates from other countries—mostly developing countries—and give them the opportunity to gain knowledge and skills in specific subject areas that will assist in the development of their home country. The scholarships include financial support for tuition, living costs while in New Zealand, and airfares. The partners of students are also eligible for a work visa that allows them to live and work in New Zealand for the duration of their partner’s study. 12. The Schwarzman Scholars Program Every year, up to 200 Schwarzman Scholars will represent the world’s next generation of leaders. Schwarzman Scholars will be selected based on not only their academic aptitude and intellectual ability but also their leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, ability to anticipate and act on emerging trends and opportunities, exemplary character, and desire to understand other cultures, perspectives, and positions. All qualified candidates will have completed their undergraduate degrees before enrollment and must be proficient in English. We selected this scholarship as number one because it is a scholar's program with a clearly defined goal for what it intends to achieve in the lives of its participants. Scholars will also become part of solid alumni for future benefits. Expenses for successful Schwarzman Scholars are FULLY covered by the program, including tuition and fees, room and board, travel to and from Beijing, an in-country study tour, required course books and supplies, a Lenovo laptop and smartphone, health insurance, and a modest personal stipend. 13. Australia Awards Scholarships (on hold for African Students) Every year, the Australian government offers up to 1,000 Australia Awards Scholarships to students from developing countries. This is honestly the best scholarship you can apply for because it prioritizes work experience instead of your academic grades and qualifications. A second-class pass academic performance can get you this full government-sponsored scholarship... (Pause) only if you’re well prepared. 14. German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) Scholarships If you are knowledgeable about scholarships, you must have seen this scholarship a lot. Our list today could have been made up of the top 10 DAAD scholarships because each year, from among the thousands of postgraduate courses offered by German institutions, DAAD supports up to 80% of degree programs of particular interest to students from developing countries. DAAD scholarships range from bachelor's, master's, and doctorate to research as well as group and faculty visits. The scholarships could also be either full or partial scholarships, depending on your chosen course of study. 15. Fulbright Foreign Scholarships The Fulbright Foreign Student Program enables graduate students, young professionals, and artists from abroad to study and conduct research in the United States. The scholarships are for study towards a Master’s or PhD degree and can also be awarded for non-degree postgraduate studies. The number of awards varies per country, but approximately 4,000 foreign students receive Fulbright scholarships each year. The grant funds tuition, textbooks, airfare, a living stipend, and health insurance for the duration of study. 16. Chinese Government Scholarships The Chinese government, plus its provincial governments, in addition to its universities and its industry bigwigs as well as its various foundations, are the biggest scholarship providers in the world, both to international students and Chinese citizens. The scholarships offered by the Government of China are too numerous to mention. However, if you want to study an English degree program in China, then be sure to apply between March and April for any of the Chinese government scholarships. 17. Chinese university scholarship. 18. Bilateral Scholarship Program 19. MOFCOM Scholarship 20. Great Wall Scholarship Program 21. EU Scholarship Program for European Union member countries 22. AUN Scholarship Program for Asian countries 23. Marine Scholarship of China 24. World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Scholarship 25. PIF Program for Pacific Island countries. 26. Commonwealth Scholarships and Fellowships The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) offers around 800 awards for postgraduate study and professional development each year. Over 27,500 Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows have been funded by the UK government through the CSC since 1959. The CSC offers the following scholarships and fellowships each year: 27. Commonwealth Master’s & PhD Scholarships 28. Commonwealth Shared Scholarships 29. Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships 30. Commonwealth Rutherford Fellowships 31. Commonwealth Medical Fellowships and 32. Commonwealth Professional Fellowships 33. Commonwealth Split-site PhD Scholarship 34. Chevening Scholarships Chevening is the UK government’s international awards program aimed at developing global leaders since 1983. Funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and partner organizations, Chevening offers two types of awards: Chevening Scholarships and Chevening Fellowships. The recipients are personally selected by British embassies and high commissions throughout the world. Chevening Scholarships are awarded to approximately 1,500 individuals every year. The scholarship offers full financial support to study for a Master’s degree at any of the UK’s leading universities and the opportunity to become part of an influential global network of 44,000 alumni. 35. Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees, Intra-Africa, and Intra-ACP Academic Mobility Schemes are the programs managed by EACEA that currently offer scholarship opportunities. Students from all over the world can apply for a full-degree scholarship through an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree (EMJMD). Besides, students (at masters and doctoral level) and staff (administrative and academic) from an African country can apply for Intra-Africa academic mobility scheme scholarships.

Scholarships for Developing Countries

Top 30+ Masters Scholarships in the World for International Students (Fully Funded)

Top 90 Annual Scholarships to Study Abroad for African Students (& Developing Countries)

DAAD Tropical Forestry Masters Scholarships 2025/2026 at TU Dresden (TUD) for Developing Countries

Lutheran World Federation Scholarships in Theology, Diaconal and Development 2025 for Developing Countries

DAAD MIPLC Scholarships 2025/2026 for Students from Developing Countries – Germany

Georg Forster Research Award for Developing and Transition Countries 2025 – Germany