30 Merit-Based Scholarships For International Students – Education Bloger

You should not miss these top 30 Merit-based scholarships if you are a brilliant, talented, and motivated student.

The world’s governments and universities are on the hunt for highly qualified and talented students. You can attract them best by offering them a fully funded merit-based scholarship.

Scholarships on the merit-based system are available to financially disadvantaged international students who will be able to forge a great career and higher education path.

In this list, there are :

• Bachelor’s merit-based scholarships.
• Master merit-based scholarships.
• Ph.D. merit-based scholarships.
• Summer school merit-based scholarships.

The following are the 30 best merit-based scholarships in the world. Please bookmark this post so you can add them to your checklist.

See the call for applications for any scholarship by clicking on its name (eligibility criteria, list of eligible countries, amount…).

Government merit-based scholarships :

#1.Chevening (UK)

The Chevening Awards program is an international awards program run by the UK government aimed at developing global leaders. It allows outstanding emerging leaders from around the world to earn one-year master’s degrees in the UK. Chevening applicants must have at least two years of work experience (equivalent to 2,800 hours).

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: August of each year.
• STUDY LEVEL: Master.
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: All nationalities.

#2. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (Switzerland)

Government Excellence Scholarships are awarded every year by the Swiss Confederation in order to promote international exchange and research cooperation between Switzerland and other countries.

Researchers from abroad who hold a master’s degree or PhD, as well as foreign artists holding a bachelor’s degree, are eligible for Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships.

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: Early August of each year.
• STUDY LEVEL: Postgraduate, Bachelor of art.
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: 180 countries.

#3. France’s Eiffel scholarships (France)

In order to attract top foreign students to French higher education institutions to enroll in their master’s and PhD programs, the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs created the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program.

Those interested are future foreign decision-makers in the private and public sectors, and applicants up to 25 years old from developing countries at the master’s level and applicants up to 30 years old from developing and industrialized countries at the Ph.D. level.

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: the week of September 27 of each year.
• STUDY LEVEL: Master, Ph.D.
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: All countries.

#4. Fulbright (USA)

International educational and cultural exchange is at the heart of the Fulbright Program, the government’s flagship program. Fulbright scholarships include Master’s, Training, Teacher Training, and Research.

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: May of each year.
• STUDY LEVEL: Master, Research, Training.
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: All countries.

#5. Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship (USA)

Humphrey Program grants are funded by the U.S. Institute of International Education and administered by the Department of State.

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship program is designed to provide selected applicants with an experiential learning opportunity that broadens their perspectives, enhances their ability to take on greater responsibilities, and provides them with the opportunity to establish useful professional contacts.

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: May of each year.
• STUDY LEVEL: Traineeship (10 months).
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: Specific countries.

#6. GREAT scholarships (UK)

GREAT Scholarships offers scholarships from UK universities, across a variety of subjects for students from 18 countries. Each scholarship is worth a minimum of £10,000 towards tuition fees for a one-year taught postgraduate course.

Each scholarship is jointly funded by the UK government’s GREAT Britain Campaign and the British Council with participating UK higher education institutions.

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: November of each year.
• STUDY LEVEL: Master.
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: Specific countries.

#7. Government of Ireland scholarships (Ireland)

The government of Ireland’s International Education Scholarships Program is awarded to high caliber students from non-EEA countries to study in Ireland for a period of one year.

Applicants are required to be in possession of a conditional or final offer for admission at the time of application for the scholarship and will be required to submit a copy of the same.

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: December of each year.
• STUDY LEVEL: Master.
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: All countries except the EU.

#8. Scotland’s Saltire Scholarships (Scotland)

Scotland’s Saltire Scholarships is a program of scholarships offered by the Scottish Government with Scottish universities and colleges.

The scheme offers up to 50 awards, each worth £8000, towards tuition fees for any one year of full-time study on a postgraduate Masters’s program at any of Scotland’s higher education institutions.

Scholarships are available to citizens of the following countries: Canada, China (including Hong Kong), India, Japan, Pakistan and USA.

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: April of each year.
• STUDY LEVEL: Master.
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: Canada, China (including Hong Kong), India, Japan, Pakistan, and the USA.

#9. VLIR-UOS’s ICP Connect (Belgium)

The ICP Connect awards scholarships to applicants from 29 eligible countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America to attend one of the selected training or master’s programs taught in English at a Flemish university or University of Applied Sciences and Arts.

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: February of each year
• STUDY LEVEL: Master, training.
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: 29 countries.

#10. Master Mind scholarships (Belgium)

The Flemish Ministry of Education and Training awards scholarships for master’s programs in Flanders and Brussels to outstanding students from around the world.

A Master Mind Scholarship includes a grant of €8 400 + a tuition fee waiver per academic year (60 ECTS). The grant is paid in installments and covers accommodation costs, insurance, and a significant amount of their living expenses.

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: December of each year.
• STUDY LEVEL: Master.
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: All countries.

#11. Holland scholarships (Netherlands)

The Holland Scholarship is meant for international students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who want to do their bachelor’s or master’s in the Netherlands.

The Holland scholarship amounts to €5,000.

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: November (annual)
• STUDY LEVEL: Bachelor, Master.
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: All counties except EEA.

#12. Italy Government scholarships (Italy)

This scholarship program is meant for international students and living aboard Italian citizens who want to do their bachelor’s, master’s, or Ph.D. in Italy.

The program is offered too to students who wish to do a language or research stay in Italy.

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: April-May (annual).
• STUDY LEVEL: Bachelor, Master, Ph.D., Language, and Research stay.
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: More than 100 countries.

#13. Swedish Government scholarships (Sweden)

The SI Scholarship for Global Professionals aims to develop future global leaders that will contribute to the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to sustainable development.

, the Swedish Institute granted about 350 scholarships for master’s degree studies in Sweden.

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: October (annual).
• STUDY LEVEL: Master.
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: 43 countries.

#13. New Zealand International Scholarships (New Zealand)

New Zealand offers scholarships to eligible citizens from developing countries to study abroad at a New Zealand education institution or university or at a Pacific university.

This program is a fully-funded scholarship offered to undertake a Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D. degree.

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: February (annual).
• STUDY LEVEL: Bachelor, Master, Ph.D., Training.
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: Developing countries.

14. Türkiye merit-based scholarships (Turkiye)

Türkiye, previously called Turkey, Scholarships is a government-funded, competitive scholarship program, awarded to outstanding students and researchers to pursue full-time or short-term programs at the top universities in Turkey.

What makes Türkiye Scholarships unique is that it’s not only inclusive of financial support, tuition fee, accommodation and health insurance but also provides university placement and academic, social, and cultural facilities to its awardees at all levels of higher education.

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: January (annual)
• STUDY LEVEL: Bachelor, Master, Ph.D., Training.
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: All countries.

#15. DAAD EPOS scholarships (Germany)

The EPOS program offers individual fully funded scholarships to participants from developing countries so that they may study development-related postgraduate courses at selected universities in Germany.

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: Always open.
• STUDY LEVEL: Master, Ph.D.
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: Developing countries.

#16. Australian Awards (Australia)

Australia Awards are prestigious, transformational scholarships and short courses offered to emerge leaders from developing countries. It is offered for study, research, and professional development in Australia.

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: February of each year.
• STUDY LEVEL: Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Short course.
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: More than 30 countries.

#17. China CSC scholarships (China)

Students can get a full scholarship and study for free or get a partial scholarship where the government takes the majority of their educational expenses. The students who successfully qualify for the undergraduate, master’s, or doctoral programs under the scholarship will receive a monthly stipend in addition to free accommodation and free tuition.

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: December of each year.
• STUDY LEVEL: Undergraduate, Master, Ph.D.
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: All countries

#18. Study in Canada Scholarships (Canada)

The Study in Canada Scholarships provide students from post-secondary institutions located in the new eligible countries/territories with short-term exchange opportunities for study or research in Canadian post-secondary institutions at the college, undergraduate and graduate levels.

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: Depends on your country.
• STUDY LEVEL: Undergraduate.
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: 21 countries.

Read more: Montréal University Scholarships in Canada 2024 | Funded

#19. Canada-ASEAN Scholarships (Canada)

The Canada-ASEAN Scholarships and Educational Exchanges for Development (SEED) program provide students, from member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), with short-term exchange opportunities for study or research in Canadian post-secondary institutions at the college, undergraduate, and graduate levels.

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: Depends on your country.
• STUDY LEVEL: Undergraduate, Master, and Ph.D.
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: 10 countries.

#20. Canada-CARICOM Skills Training (Canada)

The Canada-CARICOM Skills Training for the Green Economy Scholarships provides students from the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states with short-term exchange opportunities at publicly funded Canadian colleges and institutes.

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: Depends on your country.
• STUDY LEVEL: Training.
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: 15 countries.

#21. Invest Your Talents in Italy (Italy)

The “Invest Your Talents In Italy” Scholarships are awarded for courses of Master’s degree at Italian Higher Education Institutes. The program also includes a mandatory internship at selected Italian companies, which are partners of the initiative.

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: January (annual)
• STUDY LEVEL: Master.
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: 17 countries.

#23. Kazakh scholarships (Kazakhstan)

A total of 490 scholarships will be offered for the undergraduate degree, 50 scholarships for the master’s degree, and 10 for the doctoral level. The Ministry of Education and Science manages the Kazakh Scholarships Program.

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: April (annual).
• STUDY LEVEL: Undergraduate, Master, Ph.D.
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: All countries.

Foundation and University merit-based scholarship :

#24. Rhodes (UK)

The Rhodes Scholarship is a fully funded, full-time, postgraduate award that enables talented young people from around the world to study at the University of Oxford.

Rhodes Scholars come to the UK for two or more years and can apply to study most full-time postgraduate courses offered by Oxford University.

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: June (annual).
• STUDY LEVEL: Master.
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: All nationalities.

#25. Bill & Melinda Gates scholarships (USA)

The Gates Scholarship (TGS) is a highly selective, last-dollar scholarship for outstanding, minority, high school seniors from low-income households. Each year, the scholarship is awarded to 300 of these student leaders, with the intent of helping them realize their maximum potential.

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: July (annual)
• STUDY LEVEL: Bachelor.
• FINANCING: Last dollar scholarship.
• OPEN TO: US citizen, national, or permanent resident.

#26. Gates Cambridge merit-based scholarships(USA)

Each year, Gates Cambridge offers 80 full-cost scholarships to outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge.

Approximately two-thirds of these awards will be offered to Ph.D. students, with approximately 25 awards available in the US round and 55 available in the International round.

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: September (annual).
• STUDY LEVEL: Master, Ph.D.
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: All countries.

#27. World Bank scholarships (Anywhere)

The World Bank scholarship program provides funding for international students to continue their studies in one of the many participating programs at universities in the United States, Canada, UK, Netherlands, Australia, Japan, and France in key development areas.

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: January (annual)
• STUDY LEVEL: Master
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: WB members (more than 120 countries).

#28. Japan Africa Dream Scholarship (Africa)

The core areas of study of the Japan Africa Dream Scholarship include energy, agriculture, health, environmental sustainability, and engineering.

The JADS Program is open to applicants from regional member countries of the African Development Bank. The scholarship program provides tuition, a monthly stipend, round-trip airfare, health insurance, and travel allowance.

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: February-March (annual).
• STUDY LEVEL: Master.
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: African countries.

Also See: MEXT Japanese Government Scholarship 2024

#29. Stanford Knight-Hennesy Scholars (USA)

The Knight-Hennessy scholarship program will annually admit 100 high-achieving students with demonstrated leadership and civic commitment.

Scholars will receive funding for three years to pursue master‘s or doctorate level degrees, or professional programs along with education in leadership, innovation, and other curricula designed to develop scholars’ capacity to lead ambitious change in a complex world.

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: August (annual).
• STUDY LEVEL: Master, Ph.D.
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: All countries.

#30. Schwarzman Scholars Program (China)

Schwarzman is a merit-based scholarship program. It supports up to 200 students annually from around the world for a one-year master’s in global affairs at Beijing’s Tsinghua University.

Expenses for Schwarzman scholars are  fully covered by the program

• EXPECTED OPENING DATE: April (annual).
• STUDY LEVEL: Master.
• FINANCING: Fully funded.
• OPEN TO: All countries.

Also check: Fully Funded: South Korea Scholarships Without IELTS