The most prestigious scholarships around the world fund thousands of students from different countries to study at top universities in the world. These are either government-funded or institution-funded scholarships. Some of these scholarships fund undergraduate and postgraduate studies while others fund only postgraduate studies.
While these scholarships are mostly available to all race, gender and nationalities; women and other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply for these scholarships. Applicants are selected based on the quality of their essays, academic excellence, leadership skills, and the impact of their studies on their home country.
The Most Prestigious Scholarships Around the World: A Gateway to Top Universities
Education is a fundamental right that everyone should have access to. Fortunately, there are various scholarship programs available around the world, funded either by the government or institutions, that can provide financial assistance to students who want to pursue higher education. These scholarships are designed to help students achieve their academic goals, regardless of their race, gender, or nationality.
The most prestigious scholarships around the world are highly sought after by students who want to study at top universities. These scholarships are not only financially rewarding but also provide students with opportunities to study in a diverse and multicultural environment. With the increasing competition in the job market, obtaining a scholarship from a prestigious institution can help students gain an edge over their peers.
The scholarships available worldwide vary in their eligibility criteria, some of which fund undergraduate and postgraduate studies, while others fund only postgraduate studies. Some of the most notable scholarships include the Rhodes Scholarship, the Fulbright Scholarship, and the Chevening Scholarship.
The Rhodes Scholarship, established in 1902, is one of the most prestigious scholarships in the world, funded by the Rhodes Trust. This scholarship supports students from around the world to study at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. The scholarship is awarded based on academic excellence, leadership skills, and a commitment to making a positive impact in the world.
The Fulbright Scholarship, founded in 1946, is funded by the U.S. government and is designed to support students from around the world to study in the United States. This scholarship is awarded based on academic merit, leadership potential, and the ability to contribute to promoting mutual understanding between the United States and other countries.
The Chevening Scholarship, established in 1983, is funded by the UK government and supports students from around the world to study in the United Kingdom. This scholarship is awarded based on academic excellence, leadership skills, and a commitment to making a positive impact in the world.
While these scholarships are available to all, women and other underrepresented groups are strongly encouraged to apply. These scholarships play a vital role in promoting diversity and inclusivity in the academic world. The selection process for these scholarships is highly competitive, and applicants are evaluated based on the quality of their essays, academic excellence, leadership skills, and the impact of their studies on their home country.
In conclusion, obtaining a scholarship from a prestigious institution can be a life-changing experience for students. It not only provides financial assistance but also opens doors to diverse and multicultural learning environments. These scholarships are designed to support and recognize academic excellence, leadership skills, and a commitment to making a positive impact in the world. Students who are interested in applying for these scholarships should start preparing well in advance to increase their chances of success.
10 Most Prestigious Scholarship Programs
1.) Fulbright Scholarships (USA)
More than 1800 students are awarded the Fulbright scholarship each year by the US Department of State to study postgraduate courses in the US. This scholarship covers the full tuition fees, a monthly stipend, accommodation fee, travel costs, and medical insurance. Applications are encouraged from underrepresented groups, minorities, and economically disadvantaged people. The Fulbright scholarship operates in more than 160 countries. Non-US citizens from all over the world who wish to come to the US for educational, cultural, or professional exchange can apply for any Fulbright scholarship that matches their purpose. US citizens who wish to study abroad or do a professional exchange can apply for the US citizens Fulbright program.
Some Fulbright scholarship programs include:
- Fulbright Foreign Student Programme
- Fulbright Arctic Initiative
- Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Programme
- Fulbright EUSIR Programme
- Fulbright Visiting Scholar Programme
Other available fellowship, exchange, and scholarships for both US citizens and non-US citizens and their application procedure can be found on their official website
2.) Chevening Scholarships (UK)
Every year, Chevening provides about 1000 scholarships to students to pursue their postgraduate degrees in the UK. Applicants must have an undergraduate degree at the time of application. The British Foreign and Commonwealth Office funds this scholarship scheme. The scholarship covers UK university tuition fees, a monthly living stipend, visa costs, and travel costs. Applicants must have at least two years of work experience and come from an eligible country that the scholarship is willing to sponsor. Selection of candidates are usually based on the quality of their essays and leadership skills. Candidates must be willing to go back to their home country after the scholarship ends.
The application for the 2023 academic session is November 1, 2022. | A list of eligible countries can be found here.
3.) Australia Awards Scholarships (Australia)
This prestigious scholarship is for postgraduate (masters) and short course (diploma) study programmes in Australian Universities
This scholarship covers tuition fees, a one-time allowance to be spent on books, accommodation and study materials, travel costs, medical expenses, and academic support. Major courses covered by this scholarship include medical sciences, health sciences, arts, design, nursing and midwifery, engineering, and many more. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and must be ready to fulfill the requirements set by their Australian university. Applications for this scholarship vary by country. Applicants need to confirm their eligibility on the application portal before they are given instructions on how to apply for this scholarship. More information available on the official website.
4.) Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme (France)
This is a prestigious scholarship fully funded by the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs to attract international students to study postgraduate programs at top Universities in France. The scholarship covers a monthly allowance (€1,181 per month for masters students, and €1,700 per month for PhD students) medical insurance, and travel costs.
Major fields of study include engineering, health sciences, mathematics, law, political science, and many others official website.
5.) Commonwealth Scholarships (UK)
This prestigious scholarship is awarded to high achieving, low-income individuals from commonwealth countries to study masters or doctoral programs at top universities in the UK. The commonwealth shared and commonwealth scholarships are fully funded scholarships sponsored by the UK Government. The scholarship covers tuition fees, travel costs, and a monthly living allowance. Commonwealth scholarship is categorized into:
- Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
- Commonwealth Split-site Scholarships
- Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships
- Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
- Commonwealth Distance learning Scholarships
- Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
- Commonwealth Professional Fellowships
During the application, applicants choose courses that fall under any of the following themes:
- Science and technology for development
- Strengthening health systems and capacity
- Promoting global prosperity
- Strengthening global peace, security, and governance
- Strengthening resilience and response to crises
- Access, inclusion, and opportunity.
Select Commonwealth Scholarship to Apply
6.) DAAD EPOS Scholarship (Germany)
The DAAD Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) Scholarships are fully funded by the German government for applicants from developing countries to study masters and PhD programs in top universities in Germany. The scholarship covers travel costs, medical insurance, study allowance, and monthly allowance( 861 euros for masters students and 1200 euros for PhD students). Applicants are required to have at least two years of working experience before applying for this scholarship.
The scholarship is offered to study courses related to the subject areas below.
- Economic Sciences/Business Administration/ Political Economics
- Development Cooperation
- Engineering and Related Sciences
- Regional and Urban Planning
- Agricultural and Forest Sciences
- Natural and Environmental Sciences
- Medicine/Public Health
- Social Sciences, Education and Law
- Media Studies
The list of eligible courses for 2022-2024 and the application deadlines can be found on their official website.
How to Find Visa Sponsorship Jobs: A Comprehensive Guide
Agricultural Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Germany 2023
How to Future-Proof Your Career: 10 In-Demand Skills for 2023 and Beyond
8.) Joint Japan-World Bank Scholarships
This scholarship is awarded to individuals from developing countries to study a masters program at top universities in Asia, North America, Europe, and other continents. The scholarship covers full tuition, travel allowance, and living costs (the amount varies depending on the country). Applicants are required to be in good health, hold a bachelor’s degree, be citizens of a developing country, and have at least 3 years of work experience in a development-related area. Applicants are requested to upload the following documents:
- Official university transcript
- Degree certificate
- Curriculum Vitae
- Evidence of development-related employment
- Proof of citizenship
- A copy of International Passport
The list of eligible courses can be found on their official website.
9.) Erasmus Mundus Scholarships (Europe)
The Erasmus Mundus Scholarships are fully funded masters and doctoral scholarships by the European Union for various academic programs. Europeans and Non-Europeans from any country are eligible to apply for this scholarship. The scholarship covers the living costs (€1100-€1200 per month), tuition fees, visa fees, traveling, and insurance costs of the students. Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree to be eligible for this scholarship. There is no need to have work experience before applying for this scholarship. Students with low CGPA are encouraged to apply. Students who are awarded the scholarship will study for a joint masters degree for 1-2 academic years in two countries that are different from the student’s country of residence. The scholarship is awarded to more than 120 fields of study.
The application for 2023/2024 scholarship round opens in October 2022. More information about this scholarship and the host countries where scholars will be studying can be found on their official website.
9.) ADB Japan Scholarship Program
The Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program awards 135 total scholarships each year to high achieving individuals from developing countries who have at least two years working experience. This prestigious scholarship covers full tuition fees, medical insurance, monthly expenses, books and travel allowance. Applicants must be willing to study postgraduate programs in the following academic areas:
- Science and Technology
- Economics, Business and Management
- Development Studies
- Law and Public Policy
For applicants to be eligible for this scholarship they must not be over 35 years old and must come from a developing country. Host countries where candidates will be studying include Japan, New Zealand, USA, Hong Kong, China, India, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand. official website.
10.) Rotary Foundation Global Study Grants
The Rotary foundation generously funds masters and doctoral level coursework or research in any country where the rotary club is located. The Rotary Foundation Scholarships are usually awarded for research or coursework in the following areas
- Maternal and child health
- Disease prevention and treatment
- Economic and community development
- Peace and conflict resolution
- Water sanitation
- Basic education and literacy
The scholarship is worth more than $30,000 per individual which can be used to cover travel expenses, tuition, passport/visa, living allowance or language training courses. Applicants from all countries are welcome to apply for this prestigious scholarship.
Applicants are selected based on their leadership skills, academic excellence and willingness to maintain a long-term relationship with Rotary club. Applications for this scholarship are accepted on a rolling basis. However, the applicants have to apply 3 months before their departure date. More information regarding the Rotary Foundation Global Study Grants scholarship can be found on their official website.
