Scholarship searches can be difficult. There are hundreds of sites to look up, and many are very similar. This can cause issues with scholarship dates being outdated. Also, the term “Fully Funded” can be misleading, as scholarships are often only partially funded.
The best way to find scholarships is to check each source. Governments, universities, and programmes will all have separate scholarships. I’ve included where to find each below, along with real examples of scholarships currently opening or closing. The dates vary; ETH Zurich is closing on 30th November 2026, followed by Gates Cambridge in December. A number close in January. However, Chevening has now closed.
The dates were checked in November 2026. Always double-check the dates on the official site.
What Is Usually Covered by a Fully Funded Scholarship?
- Tuition fees (or waived completely)
- Monthly stipend
- Airfare
- Travel costs
- Visa and health costs
- Accommodation
Not many scholarships will cover all these costs, and many will only be partially funded. For example, the Eiffel Scholarship does not cover tuition. The Stipendium Hungaricum covers tuition but not all accommodation costs. Erasmus Mundus only offers completely funded scholarships to the top-ranked applicants.
Always check what the scholarships actually cover.
Quick Overview of Dates
- ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship – 30th November 2026. Some sources say 15th December. Double-check the official site.
- Gates Cambridge – 8th December 2026 or 6th January 2027, depending on your course. Some sources say 2nd or 3rd December. Double-check the official site.
- Eiffel Excellence Scholarship – 6th January 2027 for schools. Earlier deadlines apply at your school. Some sources say 8th January. Double-check the official site.
- Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters – Varies. Most close between October and January.
- Swedish Institute Scholarships – 15th January 2027 for master’s programmes. Scholarship form between 8th and 24th February 2027.
- DAAD EPOS – Varies. Dates depend on your course.
- Stipendium Hungaricum – TBC. Last round closed on 15th January 2026.
- Türkiye Burslari – TBC. Last round closed on 20th February 2026.
- Chevening – Closed 6th October 2026.
Scholarships Currently Open or Soon to Open
1. ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme
University scholarship for master’s students. Apply with your ETH master’s application.
Deadline: 30th November 2026 (11:59 p.m. CET). Application opened on 1st November. Some sources say 15th December. Double-check the official site.
Coverage: Fully funded scholarships with full tuition waivers and a stipend of CHF 12,000 per semester (3–4 semesters). This information can be found on guide sites.
Notes: You cannot apply if you are currently enrolled in an ETH master’s programme or already have a master’s degree. You will have to write your own thesis proposal. Usually, only the top few percent of the class win.
2. Gates Cambridge Scholarship
University scholarship for master’s and PhD students. Open to all nationalities except British citizens. Apply with your course application at Cambridge.
Deadline: 8th December 2026 (11:59 p.m. UK time) or 6th January 2027, depending on your course. Some sources say 2nd or 3rd December. Double-check the official site. Earlier deadline for US citizens living in the US was 14th October 2026.
Coverage: Fees, stipend of GBP 23,152 per year, airfare, visa costs, and health surcharge. Double-check the official site for current amounts.
Notes: Only around 75 scholarships are given out each year. PhD applicants must contact a potential supervisor first. Some courses close early once all places are filled. Ensure your course is eligible.
3. Eiffel Excellence Scholarship
Government scholarship for master’s and PhD students in France. Apply via your school.
Deadline: Schools in France apply to Campus France by 6th January 2027. Some guides say 8th January. Double-check the official site. Internal deadlines are set by schools. For example, at ENS Lyon, the deadline is 20th November 2026.
Coverage: Master’s students receive EUR 1,181 per month and PhD students EUR 1,700 (Campus France page). Travel and insurance costs are covered. No tuition fees are covered, so this is a partially funded scholarship.
Notes: You cannot apply yourself. You must be chosen by a French school. Age restrictions vary. The Campus France page states that master’s students must be aged 25 and PhD students 30. Some older sources state ages of 30 and 35. Double-check the official site.
4. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters
Programme scholarship for master’s students. Study at two or more universities across Europe. Apply directly to each programme.
Deadline: Varies. Most close between October 2026 and January 2027. In July 2026, the EU announced 37 new programmes for the 2027 intake. Not all have updated their student pages.
Coverage: Fully funded scholarships with EUR 1,400 per month (12–24 months). Tuition fees, some travel, and visa costs are covered. Double-check each programme.
Notes: Only top-ranked students will receive fully funded scholarships. You cannot apply if you have won an Erasmus Mundus scholarship before. Rules vary for bachelor’s subjects. The full catalogue can be found on the Erasmus+ site.
5. Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals
Agency scholarship for master’s students. Only specific English-taught programmes are eligible.
Deadline: Two stages. First, apply to your master’s programme via University Admissions by 15th January 2027. Then complete the scholarship form between 8th and 24th February 2027 (2:59 p.m. CET). Some guides say 9th–25th February. Double-check the official site.
Coverage: Fully funded scholarships. Travel grant of SEK 15,000. Double-check the official site for the monthly amount.
Notes: Only applicants from specific countries can apply. Work experience is considered. Only eligible programmes qualify. If you do not complete the first stage, you cannot complete the second.
6. DAAD EPOS Scholarships (Germany)
Agency scholarship for master’s students and a few PhD programmes. For professionals from developing countries. Choose from a list of courses on the DAAD course finder.
Deadline: Varies. Some courses have already closed in October 2026. Double-check each course.
Coverage: Fully funded scholarships. Some show EUR 1,400 per month. Double-check each course.
Notes: Only eligible countries can apply. Work experience and development focus are required. A maximum of 3 courses can be applied for in one cycle (according to one guide). Double-check the official DAAD site.
7. Stipendium Hungaricum
Government scholarship for bachelor’s, master’s, 1st master’s, and PhD students in Hungary.
Deadline: TBC. A Hungarian Embassy page states that the 2027/2028 call has not been published, so there is nothing to apply for yet. The last round opened on 17th November 2025 and closed on 15th January 2026 (2:00 p.m. CET). Likely to open in mid-November and close in mid-January.
Coverage: Fully funded scholarships with full tuition, stipend, and accommodation. Note that the stipend does not cover all living costs (according to one guide). This can be seen as fully funded tuition with some living costs.
Notes: Only students from partner countries can apply. You must also be nominated by your country’s sending partner. Entrance exams may be required by universities. A university application fee may apply.
8. Türkiye Burslari
Government scholarship for associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD students in Türkiye.
Deadline: TBC. The official site listed the 2026 round as running from 10th January to 20th February. As of early November 2026, there is no official announcement (according to one guide). Likely to run between 10th January and 20th February 2027.
Coverage: Fully funded. Tuition fees, monthly stipend, accommodation, health insurance, return flights, and one year of Turkish classes if required.
Notes: You cannot apply if you are a Turkish citizen. Some courses are taught in Turkish. An interview is required. Final placements are not entirely your choice.
Scholarships Closed for 2026 – Plan for Next Year
9. Chevening Scholarships
Government scholarship for master’s students. Fully funds one year of study at a UK university. Any subject.
Deadline: Closed 6th October 2026 (11:00 UTC). The 2026 round opened on 4th August. Likely to open in early August next year and close in early October.
Coverage: Tuition fees, return flights, monthly living costs, and some settling-in costs.
Notes: Must be a citizen of an eligible country. Apply to UK universities separately. You must have an unconditional offer by a specific date. For this round, it was 8th July 2027. Double-check the official site for work experience requirements and what you must do after completing your course.
How to Choose the Right Scholarship for You
Matching Your Profile
First, decide what level you want. Most scholarships listed are only for master’s students. Gates Cambridge and Eiffel offer PhD funding. Hungary and Türkiye also accept bachelor’s students.
Look in three places. First, look at the government scholarships of the country you want to study in. Then look at the university’s funding page. Finally, look at programme catalogues, for example, Erasmus+ or the DAAD course finder.
Use guide sites as a last resort. They can help you find names, but do not be misled by the dates.
Country-Specific Requirements
Some scholarships only accept applicants from specific countries: Chevening, DAAD EPOS, and Swedish Institute. Double-check the list on the official site.
Hungary requires you to be nominated by your country’s sending partner.
Gates Cambridge is not open to British citizens. Türkiye is not open to Turkish citizens.
Be Aware of Deadlines
Write all dates in one calendar. Include the time zone.
Look for any dates relating to your school or programme. Eiffel is a clear example.
Find the first stage. Sweden requires you to apply for your master’s programme before you can apply for the scholarship.
Common Mistakes
Only Looking at One Site for Dates
ETH has two dates listed. Always check the official site of the funder. Also include the time zone.
Assuming All Scholarships Are Fully Funded
Eiffel does not cover tuition. The Hungary stipend does not cover everything. Always check the coverage details.
Starting with the Deadline
Many scholarships require you to have a school, nominator, or reference. These can take weeks to complete, so start early.
Conclusion
The closest dates are ETH Zurich (30th November 2026) and Gates Cambridge (8th December 2026 or 6th January 2027, depending on your course). Some schools have earlier deadlines for Eiffel, such as ENS Lyon (20th November). Applications close at Campus France on 6th January. The Swedish master’s stage closes on 15th January. Erasmus Mundus programmes close throughout January. Hungary and Türkiye have no new dates. Chevening has closed.
Tonight, write down the dates of all the scholarships you want in one calendar. Highlight those that require a school or nominator.