Major scholarship programs
German Academic Exchange Service DAAD
DAAD is an association that provides grants and scholarships. Founded in Heidelberg in 1925 on the initiative of one student, DAAD has since become one of the largest funding organizations worldwide for the international exchange of students and researchers. The organization promotes the training of:
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Young German scientists in the best universities in the world;
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Outstanding international students, doctoral students, and researchers in Germany.
DAAD offers the following funding opportunities for students:
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Language programs;
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Master's degree programs of general and creative specialization;
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Programs for PhD candidates and scientists;
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Special programs (for certain regions of some countries, professions, fields of study).
All scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis. The selection takes into account academic performance, exam results, quality and relevance of the scientific project, motivation, knowledge of German or English (depending on the program). A big plus will be the presence of contacts with a higher educational institution in Germany. A student can discuss future scientific work with a professor of interest in advance and receive an invitation from him.
Updated and detailed information can be found on the DAAD website. You can view all funding opportunities from DAAD and other organizations in the database.
Chevening
Chevening is a UK government program. Grants are awarded to distinguished professionals from around the world to pursue a one-year master's degree in any subject at any UK university.
Chevening provides full scholarships. The main criteria for receiving funding are ambition, leadership potential, and strong academic preparation. You can read more about the program here.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree (EMJMD)
Master’s programs offered by a consortium of European higher education institutions. Each year scholarships are awarded to talented students.
EMJMD programs consist of 60, 90, or 120 ECTS credits, i.e. last from 1 to 2 years. To receive financial support, you must enroll in the program and apply for the competition. Grants can be partial or full. The latter cover tuition fees, health insurance, accommodation and flights to the host country. Additionally, a monthly scholarship is issued. The total sum depends on the duration of the program and the nationality of the applicant. Non-EU citizens receive larger scholarships. Current programs can be viewed in this catalog.
Stipendium Hungaricum
State Grant, founded on a bilateral partnership between the Hungarian Ministry of Education and other countries. To participate, you must prepare the following documents:
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Online application form filled out in English;
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Copy of the passport;
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Motivation letter in Hungarian or the program’s language of instruction;
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Transcript with grades;
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Certificate of secondary education, bachelor's / master's degree;
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Language certificate (depends on the program);
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Medical certificate.
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Additionally for PhD candidates:
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Research plan or description (min. 2 pages in the language of the program);
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Letters of recommendation and a statement from the supervisor.
All documents must be translated into English or Hungarian.
The program fully covers tuition fees, dormitory cost, and health insurance, and provides a monthly scholarship of 112 USD (135 USD). However, students need to have their own money to cover the rest of the living expenses in Hungary. More information is available on the Study in Hungary website.
Global Korea Scholarship
Global Korea Scholarship is a free education program for international students at universities in South Korea. Issued for studies for associate, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. The grant covers travel, accommodation, tuition, medical insurance, study materials and other needs.
Before studying, all visitors must take one-year language courses, except for students with level 5 of the TOPIK exam. 170 undergraduate (bachelor's, associate's) and 700 graduate (master's, doctoral) fellows are selected annually.
The main criteria are age (up to 25 and 40, respectively) and a high GPA at the previous stage of education (more than 75% for associate's and more than 80% for other degrees).
Turkiye Burslari
Turkey scholarships is a government scholarship program in Turkey. It is allocated for the study of foreign students in bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral studies. Before studying, 1-year Turkish language courses should be taken. The scholarship covers tuition, accommodation, insurance, and travel. Additionally, a monthly scholarship is issued in the amount of 22-45 USD. The selection criteria are academic performance (70-75%) and age (under 21 for a bachelor's degree, under 30 for a master's degree, under 35 for a PhD).
VLIR-UOS Scholarships in Belgium
Organization allocates scholarships for students from 31 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America to study in Flanders or university colleges in Belgium, as well as grants for European students to do internship/fieldwork in those 31 countries. Scholars coming to Belgium should attend training or Master’s degree programs in English language. Scholarships are provided for the full duration of the programs.
Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan
Program allocates 750 scholarships for postgraduate studies and professional development. Its official site offers opportunities for citizens of Commonwealth countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Singapore, Malaysia, etc.
UniPage assistance in applying for grants and scholarships
UniPage specialists provide full supervision when applying for the following grant programs:
Name | Degree | Countries | Submission deadline | Cost of service |
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DAAD | Master, PhD, language courses | Germany | October — November | From 1,123 USD |
Chevening | Master’s | Great Britain | August — November | 1,327 USD |
Erasmus Mundus | Master’s | Europe | October — December | 970 USD |
Grant from the Government of China | Bachelor's, language courses, Master's, PhD | China | February — March | |
Grant from the Government of France | Master's | France | December — February | 980 USD |
Global Professionals scholarship | Master | Sweden | February | 919 USD |
Stipendium Hungaricum | Bachelor, Master, PhD | Hungary | November-January | 1,327 USD |
It is necessary to carefully study the description and criteria for applying for scholarships. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee a grant. To increase the chances, you must have an excellent diploma, a language level above the specified requirements, outstanding achievements, and a strong motivation letter. Furthermore, it is important to submit documents as early as possible, preferably immediately after the opening of the admissions campaign.
The stories of students who have won grants to Harvard and other universities can be read here.