Tuition fees for a Data Science/AI master’s are very expensive. You may pay over EUR 9,000 per year at some institutions. Plus rent, flights, and visa fees.
Your time is limited! ETH Zurich is due on 30th November 2026. After this, we have Gates Cambridge and EPFL, both in December. Then we have Eiffel, Erasmus Mundus, and Sweden due in January. Chevening is closed.
I have listed the deadlines in November 2026. Always double-check the official page for all the deadlines.
Usually Include:
- Tuition
- Monthly living stipend
- Airfare/travel funding
- Visa and health costs
- Accommodation
However, many of these are not fully funded. EPFL is offered as a set amount per semester. You still pay for your tuition and rent. Eiffel does not include tuition. Vector is only available for one year. Erasmus Mundus is only offered to the highest-ranked applicants.
Few Data Science/AI scholarships will include ‘AI’ in the title. Most will just be for any subject or all science/tech subjects. Choose any AI/Data Science programme and apply.
Key Deadlines
- ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship – 30th November 2026 (some sources say 15th December; double-check).
- Gates Cambridge – 8th December 2026 or 6th January 2027, depending on the course. (Some sources say 2nd or 3rd December; double-check).
- EPFL Master Excellence Fellowships – 15th December 2026. The second round is on 31st March 2027. (This is only on guide pages.) Double-check the official page.
- Eiffel Excellence Scholarship – 6th January 2027. However, the deadline to apply at your school will be earlier. (One source says 8th January; double-check the official page).
- Erasmus Mundus DEAI – 11th January 2027. (Double-check the official page).
- Swedish Institute Scholarships – 15th January 2027 for the master’s programme. Scholarship form due between 8th February 2027 and 24th February 2027.
- Vector Scholarship in AI (Ontario) – TBA. Nomination by programme.
- Chevening – Closed 6th October 2026.
Scholarships Currently Open or About to Open
1. ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme
Only available to master’s students. Apply alongside your master’s application at ETH. Computer Science is included in the list of fields.
Deadline – 30th November 2026 at 11:59 p.m. CET. Application opens on 1st November. A few sources say 15th December. (Double-check the official page.)
Includes a full tuition waiver and a stipend of 12,000 CHF per semester. You can only apply if you’re not currently doing a master’s at ETH or do not have a master’s degree. You will have to write your own thesis pre-proposal. Usually, winners will be in the top few percent of their class. Decisions are made around mid-March.
2. Gates Cambridge Scholarship
This covers your master’s or PhD at the University of Cambridge. Available to all nationalities except British citizens. Data Science and Computer Science are included.
Deadline – 8th December 2026 or 6th January 2027 at 11:59 p.m. UK time, depending on your course. Some sources say 2nd or 3rd December. (Double-check the official page.) The earlier deadline for US citizens living in the USA was 14th October 2026.
Includes free fees and a stipend of GBP 23,152 per year. Airfare, visa, and health surcharge are also covered. The amount varies, so check the official page.
Only 75 scholarships are awarded per year. (One guide.) If you want to do a PhD, you must contact a potential supervisor first. Some courses can fill up early, so do not leave it until the last minute. Ensure your course is eligible.
3. EPFL Master Excellence Fellowships
Only available to master’s students. Fields available at EPFL Switzerland: Computer Science, Data Science, Cybersecurity, and Communication Systems.
Deadline – 15th December 2026. You will have to pay to apply, and this must be validated by the deadline. References are due 31st January. (The second round is on 31st March 2027.) (One source says this; however, the official page I saw only lists 15th December.) Double-check the official page.
Includes a stipend of 10,000 CHF per semester. Total of 40,000 CHF. Accommodation is reserved. One guide says up to 32,000 CHF. (Double-check the official page.) Tuition and rent still have to be paid. Not fully funded.
You will have to tick a box on your master’s application. If you don’t pay your application fee, you won’t be able to apply. You do not automatically get into year 2. This will depend on your grades and credits.
4. Eiffel Excellence Scholarship
Available to master’s and PhD students in France. Fields include mathematics and digital sciences, engineering sciences. (Campus France.)
Deadline – Applications are submitted by French schools to Campus France by 6th January 2027. (One guide says 8th January.) Internal deadlines will vary per school. ENS Lyon has an internal deadline of 20th November 2026.
Includes 1,181 EUR per month for master’s students and 1,700 EUR for PhD students. Travel and insurance are included. No tuition fees. Partially funded.
Applications cannot be submitted individually. You must be chosen by a French school. Age restrictions vary. Master’s students must be under 25 and PhD students must be under 30. (Campus France.) Older sources say 30 and 35. (Double-check the official page.)
5. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters in AI and Data
Only available to master’s students. This involves studying at two or more universities in different countries in Europe. There are two programmes that fit this criterion: DEAI – Data Engineering & AI and EMAI – Artificial Intelligence.
Deadline – DEAI opens on 20th October 2026 and closes on 11th January 2027. References are due on 18th January. The last round of DEAI closed on 13th January 2026 at 12:00 GMT. (Double-check the official DEAI page.) Could not find any information for EMAI in 2027. (Double-check the official page.)
Includes a stipend of up to 1,400 EUR per month for 24 months. Tuition fees are covered. (Double-check the official page.)
DEAI requires a bachelor’s degree of 180 ECTS, ideally in computer science. EMAI required a minimum of 12 ECTS in mathematics and 12 ECTS in computer science. (Older guide.) You cannot apply if you have already won an Erasmus Mundus scholarship. Only those with the highest rankings will get the full scholarship.
6. Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals
Only available to master’s students. Covers selected English-taught STEM and other courses.
Two stages. Apply to your master’s programme via University Admissions by 15th January 2027. Complete the scholarship form between 8th February 2027 and 24th February 2027. (Closes at 2:59 p.m. CET.) (One guide says 9th–25th February.) (Double-check the official page.)
Fully funded. Includes a travel grant of 15,000 SEK. The monthly amount varies. (Double-check the official page.)
Only available to citizens from selected countries. Work experience is counted. Only specific programmes are eligible. Ensure your AI/Data Science master’s is eligible. If you don’t complete the first stage, you won’t be able to complete the second.
7. Vector Scholarship in Artificial Intelligence (Ontario)
Only available to master’s students. This is an entrance scholarship for one year at AI master’s programmes in Ontario universities.
No deadline announced. Vector states they will announce the nomination dates for 2027–28 in fall 2026. (One guide says it should open in January 2027.) This is likely. Dates vary per programme. (Double-check the programme page.)
Provides CAD 17,500 for one year of full-time study. Partially funded. Tuition and living costs will be higher.
You cannot apply directly. You will have to be nominated by your programme. International students can be nominated. However, your programme must be recognised by Vector, or you must have an AI study plan. You must have high grades. (Guide says first class.)
Scholarships to Consider for Next Year
8. Chevening Scholarships
Only available to master’s students. Covers one year of study at a UK university. Any subject, including Data Science and AI.
Closed 6th October 2026 at 11:00 UTC. Opened 4th August 2026. Likely to open in early August and close in early October next year.
Includes tuition fees, return flights, monthly living expenses, and some settling-in costs.
Must be a citizen of an eligible country. Apply to UK universities separately. An unconditional offer must be received by a certain date. This year, it was 8th July 2027. (Double-check the official page.) Work experience must be completed. Check what you must do after your course.
Choosing the Right Scholarship for You
Consider Your Profile
Choose based on level. Gates Cambridge and Eiffel provide funding for PhDs. Most are for master’s students only.
Consider your bachelor’s subject. Erasmus Mundus programmes have their own rules for courses.
Consider your grades. ETH, EPFL, and Vector all reward top grades.
Consider Your Country
Chevening and Swedish Institute are only for certain countries.
Gates Cambridge is closed to British citizens.
Erasmus Mundus will not award a second full scholarship to previous winners.
Consider the Deadlines
ETH is due in around 3 weeks. Then Gates Cambridge in December.
EPFL must be paid for by 15th December.
Eiffel and Vector require your school/programme to act on your behalf.
3 Common Mistakes
Not Paying Your Fee
EPFL will only count students who have paid and been validated by 15th December. Pay early.
Not Being Nominated
You cannot apply for Vector. Eiffel requires your school to apply. Contact programmes now.
Assuming It Is Fully Funded
EPFL provides a set amount per semester. Vector provides a one-off amount of CAD 17,500. Be aware of what is covered.
Summary
The closest deadlines are ETH Zurich – 30th November 2026, Gates Cambridge – 8th December 2026 or 6th January 2027, and EPFL – 15th December. Some Eiffel school deadlines are earlier, for example, ENS Lyon – 20th November. Erasmus Mundus DEAI, Eiffel, and Sweden all close in January. Vector has not posted any dates. Chevening is closed.
Tonight, open the official ETH scholarship page and note the exact deadline and time.