Did you know that there quite a number of  international scholarships aimed at students from developing countries?

As part of their commitment to international development cooperation and to promoting the internationalization of their education systems, the governments of developed countries such as the USA, Great Britain, Australia, Japan and many countries in Europe award state-funded scholarships to outstanding international students from all over the world.

Government-funded Scholarships »

United States Government Scholarships »

Fulbright Foreign Student Program

The Fulbright Program are full scholarships for international students from 155 countries around the world who wants to pursue a Master’s or PhD degree in the US.  The scholarships can also be awarded for non-degree postgraduate studies.  The grant covers tuition fee, textbooks, airfare, a living stipend, and health insurance.  Approximately 1,800 scholarships are awarded annually.

Fulbright Foreign Student Program
The Fulbright program is a full scholarship for international students from 155 countries worldwide pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree in the United States. Scholarships may also be awarded for non-degree graduate studies. livelihood and health insurance. Around 1,800 scholarships are awarded annually.

Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program
The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program offers experienced professionals from specific countries around the world a year of professional enrichment in the United States. The scholarship includes tuition fees, pocket money, health and accident insurance, travel expenses, etc. Around 200 scholarships are awarded each year.

Australian Awards Scholarships (Australia)
Australia Awards Scholarships, formerly known as Australia Development Scholarships (ADS) are scholarships available to international students from selected countries in Asia, Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East who wish to study at Australian Universities.  The scholarships are for vocational courses, undergraduate degrees, postgraduate degrees, and PhD degrees at participating Australian universities and Technical and Further Education (TAFE) institutions.  The scholarship benefits generally include full tuition fees, round-trip airfare, establishment allowance, contribution to the cost of living, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC),  etc.

DAAD Scholarships for  Development Related Postgraduate Courses (Germany)
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) provides scholarships for a range of postgraduate courses with special relevance to developing countries at German Universities. The scholarships are specifically targeted to international students and young professionals from developing countries in Africa, Asia, Pacific Islands, Central and South America and Central and Eastern Europe.  DAAD scholarship supports selected programmes with a variety of full or partial scholarships.

Swedish Institute Study Scholarships (Sweden)
The Swedish Institute provides scholarships in Sweden to highly-qualified international students from developing countries who wants to pursue full-time Masters studies at Swedish Universities.  The scholarship covers tuition fee, living expenses, some travel grant, and insurance. About 550 scholarships are offered.

VLIR-UOS Scholarships (Belgium)
VLIR-UOS awards scholarships to students from 54 developing countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America to pursue an English Taught Training or Master’s Programme related to development at Universities in Belgium. The scholarships cover tuition fee, accomodation, allowance, travel costs,  and other program related costs.

New Zealand International Scholarships (New Zealand)
The New Zealand International Scholarships offers the opportunity for international students from selected developing countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean to study in New Zealand to gain knowledge and skills through post-graduate study in specific subject areas that will assist in the development of their home country.  The scholarships include tuition fees, travel costs, living allowance, and insurance.

Institution-funded Scholarships »

Joint Japan World Bank Scholarships (specified countries)
The Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program provides scholarships to students from developing countries to pursue development-related studies at selected Universities around the world.  The program provides annual awards to cover the cost of completing a master’s degree or its equivalent including tuition, subsistence allowance, travel costs.

See also ADB-Japan Scholarships

OFID Scholarships (any approved country)
OFID (The OPEC Fund for International Development) offers a fully-funded scholarship to qualified applicants from developing countries who wish to study for a Master’s degree in an accredited University around the world subject to approval.   The winner of the OFID Scholarship Award will receive a tuition support of up to US$50,000 plus a a monthly allowance to cover living expenses, books and accommodation.

Aga Khan Foundation Scholarships (any country)
The Aga Khan Foundation provides a limited number of scholarships each year for postgraduate studies to outstanding students from selected developing countries who have no other means of financing their studies.  Scholarships are awarded on a 50% grant : 50% loan basis through a competitive application process once a year.  The Foundation assists students with tuition fees and living expenses only.  Generally, the scholar is allowed to choose a reputable University of his/her choice subject to approval.

Wells Mountain Foundation Scholarships for Developing Countries (any country)
The Wells Mountain Foundation, a public charitable foundation based in Bristol, Vermont, USA, funds the Empowerment through Education scholarships for individuals in developing nations or other situations of extreme poverty. You can study in a university of your choice in your home country or in another developing country. The average scholarship amount awarded is $1400 which may be used for tuition and fees, books and materials, and other approved costs.

University-funded Scholarships »

UK University Scholarships »

Do you want to study in the UK for free? The British Government and UK Universities provide a large number of scholarships for international students who wants to study in United Kingdom

Gates Cambridge Scholarships
Gates Cambridge Scholarships are awarded to outstanding applicants from any country outside the UK to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge. A Gates Cambridge Scholarship covers the full cost of studying at Cambridge. It also provides additional, discretionary funding.

See also Cambridge International Scholarship Scheme

Clarendon Scholarships at University of Oxford (UK)
The Clarendon Scholarship Fund is a prestigious graduate scholarship scheme offering around 140 new scholarships every year to eligible graduate applicants (including international students) at the University of Oxford. Clarendon Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic excellence and potential across all degree-bearing subjects at graduate level at the University of Oxford.  The scholarships cover tuition and college fees in full and a generous grant for living expenses.

See also Reach Oxford Scholarships and  Weidenfeld Hoffman Scholarship and Leadership Programme

Edinburgh Global Research Scholarships
The University of Edinburgh will offer 30 scholarships to outstanding overseas students who intends to pursue a PhD Research Programme in any field of study offered by the University. Each scholarship covers the difference between the tuition fee for a UK/EU graduate student and that chargeable to an overseas graduate student. The awards do not cover maintenance expenses.

See also Edinburgh Global Online Distance Learning Scholarships

University of Sussex Chancellor’s International Scholarships
University of Sussex Chancellor’s International Scholarships are available in the majority of Sussex Schools, and are awarded on the basis of academic performance and potential to non-EU international students who have applied for and been offered a place for eligible full-time Postgraduate Taught degrees at the University of Sussex.  The scholarship is 50% off international student tuition fee and is offered for one year.

Bristol University Think Big Scholarships
In 2020, Bristol University is investing £500,000 to help the brightest and best international students come to the University of Bristol. Think Big Undergraduate scholarships and Think Big Postgraduate scholarships are available for courses starting in 2020. The tuition fee awards range from £5,000 to £20,000.

University of West London International Ambassador Scholarships
The International Ambassador Scholarship recognizes and provides financial support for outstanding students who wish to pursue a full time undergraduate or postgraduate degree at University of West London. The scholars will act as international ambassadors for the University of West London.  Up to 50 scholarships worth up to £5,000 are available.

University of West England Chancellor’s Scholarships
The University of the West of England, Bristol offers more than £100,000 worth of scholarships for international students each year.  This includes the Chancellor’s Scholarship wherein the recipient will be required to undertake an internship working within the International Development Office and other departments. The scholarship covers the full tuition fees for one academic year.

See also: UWE Millennium Development Scholarships

Sheffield Hallam University Transform Together Scholarships
Transform Together scholarships are open to international and European Union (non UK) students applying to study a full-time postgraduate or undergraduate taught course at Sheffield Hallam University. A half fee waiver (50% discount) is available for undergraduate and postgraduate taught courses for the first year of study.

Warwick Chancellor’s International Scholarships
The Warwick Graduate School awards up to 42 Chancellor’s International Scholarships to the most outstanding PhD applicants yearly. The scholarships are open to international and EU students in any discipline offered at Warwick.  The scholarships include the full payment of overseas tuition fee and a maintenance stipend.

Developing Solutions Scholarships at University of Nottingham (UK)
The Developing Solutions Scholarships are designed for international students from Africa, India or one of the developing countries of the Commonwealth who want to study a Masters Degree at the University of Nottingham and make a difference to the development of their home country. Each year,  105 scholarships  are awarded– 30 scholarships will cover the full tuition fee while 75 will cover 50% of the tuition fee.

See also Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarships at University of Nottingham

Louis Dreyfus-Weidenfeld Scholarship and Leadership Programme (UK)
The Louis Dreyfus-Weidenfeld Scholarship and Leadership Programme supports outstanding students from transition and emerging economies throughout Africa, Asia and South America to pursue a graduate degree at Oxford University. Eligible graduate programmes are related to agriculture, health care, environmental and water management, economics, public and foreign policy. The scholarship will cover 100% of University and college fees and a grant for living costs.

See also Reach Oxford Scholarships

Erik Bleumink Scholarships for Developing Countries at University of Groningen (Netherlands)
The Erik Bleumink Fund Scholarships are usually awarded  to talented students and young researchers from developing countries to pursue any 1 year or 2 years Master’s degree programme or a 4-year Ph.D programme offered at the University of Groningen.  The grant covers the tuition fees plus the costs of international travel, subsistence, books, and health insurance.

American University Emerging Global Leader Scholarship (USA)
The AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship is targeted to high-achieving international students who are dedicated to positive civic and social change and who wish to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree offered at the American University. It is intended for students who will be to returning home to improve under-resourced, under-served communities in his/her home country.  The AU EGL scholarship covers full tuition and room & board.

See the List of International Scholarships for Development-related Studies

Australian University Scholarships »

The Australian Government and Australian Universities provide a large number of scholarships for international students wanting to study in Australia. Here are list of the top Australia Scholarships for study at Australian Universities for international students.

University of Sydney International Scholarships

The University of Sydney invites candidates who are eligible to undertake a Postgraduate Research Degree or Master’s by Research program at this University to apply for the University of Sydney International Scholarship (USydIS). The USydIS will cover tuition fees and living allowance for up to three years with a possibility of one semester’s extension for PhD students.

Macquarie University International Scholarships

The Macquarie University Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship provides a partial tuition fee scholarship for outstanding students to study an undergraduate or postgraduate degree at Macquarie University North Ryde campus. The scholarship amount is varied up to AUD$10,000.

Griffith Remarkable Scholarships

Griffith University is making available the Griffith Remarkable Scholarship for exceptional students applying for undergraduate and postgraduate coursework studies at Griffith University. The scholarship covers 50% of tuition fees that will be deducted from the tuition fees for the duration of the program.

University of Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarships

The Graduate Research Scholarship was established by the University of Melbourne and is awarded to high achieving domestic and international research students.  The scholarship benefits include tuition fee waiver, living allowance, relocation grant, and overseas student health cover.

Also see Melbourne International Undergraduate Scholarships

Adelaide Global Excellence Scholarships for International Students
The University of Adelaide Global Academic Excellence International Scholarship is a highly competitive award that rewards commencing undergraduate and postgraduate coursework international students who have demonstrated academic excellence in previous studies. The scholarship covers 50% of the tuition fees.

Flinders International Postgraduate Scholarships
Flinders International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (FIPRS) are awarded to  suitably qualified applicants to pursue a full-time research higher degree at Flinders University – up to two years for a Research Masters degree and up to three years for a Research Doctorate degree.  The scholarship covers the international student tuition fees, living allowance, establishment allowance, relocation costs and airfares.

Charles Darwin University Vice-Chancellor’s International High Achievers Scholarships
Charles Darwin University offers a limited number of 25-50% tuition fee scholarships to international students who have a record of academic excellence and high achievement and who are seeking to commence an Undergraduate or Postgraduate coursework degree at CDU.

UNSW International Scholarships
UNSW offers a wide range of Scholarships and Awards to support International undergraduate and postgraduate coursework students commencing full-time study at UNSW. The scholarships may provide full or partial tuition fee payment, while others provide a stipend to assist with the costs associated with your studies.