A master’s in Europe costs a lot. Tuition, rent, flights, and visa fees add up fast. A full award can pay most of that, but only a few do.
Timing matters right now. Today is November 6, 2026. Several big deadlines land in the next two months. A few awards already closed, and one call isn’t official yet.
I checked these dates in November 2026. Confirm every date on the official site before you apply.
What ‘Fully Funded’ Usually Covers
- Tuition, or a tuition waiver from the university.
- A monthly living allowance. The amount changes a lot from one country to the next.
- Help with flights, usually one trip each way.
- Health insurance, or money toward it.
- Visa costs, which only a few awards pay.
Many awards in Europe pay only part of the cost, so read what each one covers.
Deadlines at a Glance
- France Excellence Eiffel (France): January 6, 2027 for universities. Your university sets an earlier date, like November 20, 2026 at ENS Lyon.
- Clarendon (Oxford, UK): December 2026 or January 2027, depending on your course.
- Gates Cambridge (UK): December 8, 2026 or January 6, 2027, depending on your course.
- Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (several countries): Each programme sets its own date. Most fall from October to January.
- SI Scholarship for Global Professionals (Sweden): January 15, 2027 for the university application. The scholarship form comes in February.
- Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary): Not official yet. Last year it closed January 15, so mid-January is likely, not official.
- Chevening (UK): Closed October 6, 2026.
- DAAD EPOS (Germany): Dates vary by course. The ones I could confirm have passed.
Open Now or Opening Soon
1. France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship (France)
This award is for graduate study only, at master’s and PhD level. You can’t apply yourself, because only French universities send in the files.
- Deadline: Universities must reach Campus France by January 6, 2027. Your university sets an earlier date, and ENS Lyon’s is November 20, 2026.
- What it covers: Partial. It pays EUR 1,200 a month, part of your airfare, and insurance. The program doesn’t pay tuition, but French government scholars at public universities are exempt from fees for national degrees.
- Watch-out: Master’s applicants must be 29 or younger. Only seven fields qualify, like engineering, law, and economics. Email the program head at your target university now, because they have to pick you first.
2. Clarendon Scholarships (University of Oxford, UK)
This one is for graduate study only, at master’s and DPhil level. It’s open to all nationalities, and there’s no separate form.
- Deadline: The December or January date shown on your course page. Some courses close in early December. One guide lists January 31, 2027, which doesn’t match, so check the official page.
- What it covers: Guide sites list full course fees plus a living grant. I couldn’t find the 2027/28 living amount, so check Oxford’s page.
- Watch-out: You must apply for a new master’s or DPhil by your course deadline to be considered. Over 200 awards go out each year, and the pool is large.
3. Gates Cambridge Scholarship (University of Cambridge, UK)
This award is for postgraduate study only. Citizens of any country outside the UK can apply for a PhD, an MLitt, or a one-year full-time course.
- Deadline: December 8, 2026 or January 6, 2027, depending on your course. Find yours in Cambridge’s course directory. Everything is due by 11:59 p.m. UK time.
- What it covers: Full cost. It pays the university fee, GBP 23,152 for 12 months of living costs, one flight each way, visa costs, and the health surcharge.
- Watch-out: Many master’s courses don’t count, like MASt, MBA, and Master of Finance. About two-thirds of the roughly 70 awards go to PhD students. The earlier round for US citizens living in the US closed October 14, 2026.
4. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (several European countries)
This award is for master’s study only. You study at several universities in different countries, and you apply straight to the programme.
- Deadline: Each programme sets its own date. The EU says most fall between October and January.
- What it covers: Scholarships go to the best-ranked students. They cover your participation costs, plus money toward travel, visa, and living costs. Guide sites say about EUR 1,400 a month, so check each programme.
- Watch-out: There’s no central form. The EU added 37 new programmes for the 2027 intake, and some may not have their application pages up yet. You need a bachelor’s degree, or you must be in your final year. Guide sites say you can apply to up to three programmes per round and can’t have held an Erasmus Mundus scholarship before.
5. SI Scholarship for Global Professionals (Sweden)
This award is for master’s study only. It’s for working professionals from a list of eligible countries. Sources say 33 or 34, so check the official page.
- Deadline: First apply for a master’s at UniversityAdmissions.se, from October 16, 2026 to January 15, 2027. The scholarship form comes after. Most sources say February 8 to 24, 2027. One says February 9 to 25, so check the official page.
- What it covers: Fully funded. SI pays tuition straight to your university. You also get SEK 12,000 a month, a one-time travel grant of SEK 15,000 for most scholars, and insurance.
- Watch-out: SI posts its list of eligible programmes on November 13, 2026, so pick from that list. Last year’s call asked for 3,000 hours of work experience for most countries. You must owe tuition, so EU and EEA citizens usually can’t apply. You can’t hold a degree from a Swedish university.
6. Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary)
This program covers bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD study, so pick a master’s course. I found only last year’s call on official pages.
- Deadline: Not official yet. Last year the portal opened November 17, 2025 and closed January 15, 2026 at 2 p.m. CET. A similar window is likely this year, but that’s likely, not official.
- What it covers: Free tuition, a monthly stipend of HUF 43,700 for master’s students (about EUR 110), housing help, and health insurance. The stipend won’t cover your full living costs.
- Watch-out: There are two steps. You apply online, and your country’s sending partner must nominate you. The partner’s deadline can come first. Only citizens of partner countries can apply, and many universities add an entrance exam.
Closed for 2027: Plan for Next Year
7. Chevening Scholarships (UK)
This award is for graduate study only, a one-year master’s at a UK university.
- Deadline: Closed on October 6, 2026 at 11:00 UTC. The next round will likely open in early August 2027 and close in early October, likely, not official.
- What it covers: Chevening calls it fully funded for one-year master’s study. Check chevening.org for the exact list of what it pays.
- Watch-out: Only citizens of Chevening-eligible countries can apply, and you need work experience. Selected scholars needed an unconditional UK university offer by July 8, 2027 in this round.
8. DAAD EPOS (Germany)
This award is for postgraduate study only, at master’s and PhD level, in development-related courses. Deadlines vary by course, and I couldn’t confirm any course that’s still open.
- Deadline: Varies by course. I confirmed October 15, 2026 for Environmental Governance at Freiburg. Guide sites list other courses from August to October 31. Check DAAD’s course list in case a late course is open.
- What it covers: EUR 992 a month for master’s students, insurance payments, and a travel allowance. Guide sites say holders don’t pay tuition, which matters in German states that charge it.
- Watch-out: You must be a citizen of an eligible developing country and have at least two years of work experience. You can only use it for listed courses. DAAD says awards depend on funds from the German government.
How to Choose the Right Scholarship
Match it to your profile
- If you have work experience, look at SI and DAAD EPOS. Both want it.
- If you have top grades and a clear plan, look at Gates Cambridge, Clarendon, and Eiffel.
Check your country first
- Stipendium Hungaricum, SI, EPOS, and Chevening all use country lists. Find yours before you write a word.
- Erasmus Mundus, Clarendon, and Gates Cambridge take students from many countries.
Watch the deadline rush
- Oxford and Cambridge deadlines land in December and January. Both need references, and referees are slow.
- Many awards need a university application first. The scholarship step comes second.
Three Mistakes That Sink Good Applications
Waiting for the scholarship page
Many awards run through the university application. Miss the course deadline and you miss the scholarship.
Reading “fully funded” and stopping
Eiffel doesn’t pay tuition itself. The Hungarian stipend is small. Read what each award pays.
Missing the second step
Eiffel needs your university to send your file. Hungary needs your sending partner. Sweden needs a separate scholarship form.
Conclusion
The nearest deadlines are close. ENS Lyon’s Eiffel date is November 20, 2026. Some Oxford courses close in early December, and many Cambridge courses close for Gates Cambridge on December 8. Then comes January 6, 2027 for Eiffel at Campus France and for other Cambridge and Oxford courses. Swedish admissions close January 15, 2027.
Tonight, open the course pages for your top two courses at Oxford and Cambridge. Copy each funding deadline into your phone calendar, with a reminder two weeks before.