Scholarship deadlines move fast, and the fully funded ones — the kind that cover tuition, living costs, flights, and insurance — tend to get the most competitive. The good news is that several major programs still have open or upcoming application windows later in 2026. Here are ten worth your attention, along with what each one actually covers and when to apply. As always, confirm exact dates on the official program page before you start, since timelines can shift slightly from year to year.
Chevening Scholarship (United Kingdom)
The UK government's flagship scholarship funds a one-year master's degree at any UK university, plus a monthly stipend, travel costs, an arrival allowance, and your visa fee. The 2027–28 cycle is expected to open in August 2026, with the deadline typically falling in early October. You'll need at least two years of work experience and a commitment to return to your home country for two years after graduating.
Commonwealth Scholarship (United Kingdom)
Aimed at talented students from Commonwealth countries who couldn't otherwise afford to study in the UK, this scholarship covers full tuition, a monthly living allowance, and return airfare for master's and PhD study. The 2027–28 round is expected to open around October or November 2026, following the same annual pattern as previous years.
Schwarzman Scholars (China)
This one-year master's in Global Affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing is fully funded — tuition, accommodation, travel, health insurance, and a stipend are all included. The application for the 2027–28 cohort is open now, running from April through September 9, 2026, for U.S. and global applicants.DAAD Scholarships (Germany)
Germany's DAAD program remains one of the most accessible fully funded routes for postgraduate study, offering tuition-free education plus a monthly stipend. Several DAAD programs still have application windows open into the second half of 2026, though exact deadlines vary by specific scholarship and field of study, so it's worth checking the relevant program page directly.
KAUST Merit Scholarship (Saudi Arabia)
If a STEM-focused master's or PhD is on your radar, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology offers full tuition, an annual stipend in the $20,000–30,000 range (tax-free), free housing, and health insurance to every admitted student — there's no separate scholarship application to complete. Admission itself comes with full funding, making this one of the more straightforward routes on this list.
ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme
For master's applicants aiming at one of the world's top-ranked universities, this scholarship covers full tuition plus CHF 12,000 per semester in living costs. It's highly competitive, but the payoff is significant. The deadline for autumn 2027 entry falls in December 2026.
Knight-Hennessy Scholars (Stanford University)
This program fully funds any graduate degree at Stanford — master's, MBA, JD, MD, or PhD — covering tuition, a living stipend, and travel, and it's open to applicants from any country. Applications typically open in the spring and close in early autumn each year, so check the official site for the confirmed 2026 deadline as soon as you're ready to apply.
Rhodes Scholarship (University of Oxford)
One of the oldest and most prestigious scholarships in the world, the Rhodes fully funds a postgraduate degree at Oxford. Deadlines vary depending on your country or constituency, generally falling between August and October 2026, so check your specific country's Rhodes page for the exact date.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master's Scholarships (European Union)
These EU-funded joint degree programs are delivered across multiple European universities and come with full financial support, making them a strong option if you want a genuinely international degree experience rather than studying in just one country. The next application round typically opens later in 2026, with deadlines usually falling between December 2026 and January 2027 for September 2027 entry.
Duke University Karsh International Scholars Program (United States)
For undergraduate applicants, this program offers comprehensive funding for selected international first-year students at Duke. The Early Decision deadline falls on November 3, 2026, with the Regular Decision deadline on January 5, 2027.
Before You Apply
A few of these have deadlines that are months away, and a few are open right now — either way, the strongest applications come from people who start early rather than scrambling in the final weeks. If you'd like help figuring out which of these you're genuinely eligible for, or want a second opinion on your personal statement before you submit, our advisors are happy to walk through your options with you.
