10 Fully Funded Scholarships for International Students in 2025 — From Undergraduate to Postgraduate

The high cost of studying abroad can be a serious financial barrier for many prospective students. At ED-EX.com, we've compiled a list of the best scholarships for international students that fully cover tuition fees (and other essential expenses), making quality education abroad more accessible.

Contents:

Undergraduate Scholarships:

1. Yale University — Yale Young Global Scholars + Undergraduate Financial Aid (USA)
2. University of Toronto — Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship (Canada)
3. KAIST International Student Scholarship (South Korea)
4. Asian University for Women (AUW) Full Scholarships (Bangladesh)
5. Harvard College Financial Aid (USA)

Graduate and Research Scholarships:

1. Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA)
2. Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program (USA, Stanford)
3. Chevening Scholarships (UK)
4. DAAD Scholarships (Germany)
5. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees (EU)

Let’s begin with an overview of undergraduate scholarship programs:

1. Yale University — Yale Young Global Scholars + Undergraduate Financial Aid (USA)

Yale University offers a fully funded financial aid package for international students applying to undergraduate programs. This means that, upon admission and demonstrated financial need, Yale covers 100% of the student's education-related expenses.

• What it covers: tuition, housing, meals, insurance
• Requirement: admission to Yale undergraduate program and application for financial aid
• Who can apply: international students applying to undergraduate studies (regardless of academic or other achievements)

To apply, students must complete the CSS Profile via College Board and submit parental tax returns or equivalent financial documentation.

Key principles of Yale’s financial aid:

• Need-blind admissions: Yale reviews applications without considering an applicant’s financial situation — including for international students.
• Need-based aid: Financial assistance is awarded based solely on demonstrated financial need, not academic merit.
• Full need met: Yale guarantees to meet 100% of each student’s demonstrated financial need — including for international students — for all four years of undergraduate study.
• No loans required: Financial aid is awarded in the form of grants and scholarships — not student loans.

Additional details:

• Families with an annual income below $75,000 and typical assets are not expected to make any financial contribution toward their child’s education.
• Financial aid may also include additional grants to cover certain costs such as health insurance and travel expenses.

2. University of Toronto — Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship (Canada)

• What it covers: tuition, accommodation, meals, books and learning materials, additional fees
• Duration: 4 years
• Number of scholarships: approximately 37 per year
• Requirement: admission to the University of Toronto; strong academic performance
• Who can apply: outstanding international high school students applying for undergraduate study

This is one of the most prestigious scholarships in Canada for international students. The total value of the financial support over 4 years ranges from CAD $200,000 to $240,000.

Selection criteria

Applicants for the 2025 scholarship must:

• Be international students (non-Canadian citizens)
• Be in their final year of high school or have graduated no earlier than June 2024
• Begin their studies at the University of Toronto in September 2025
• Demonstrate outstanding academic achievement, creativity, leadership, and involvement in school or community activities
• Provide proof of English language proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL iBT, Duolingo, or other accepted tests)

The application process includes a nomination by the student’s school, an application to the University of Toronto, and then a separate application for the scholarship itself. Full details are available on the official Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship website.

3. KAIST International Student Scholarship (South Korea)

• What it covers: full tuition, monthly living stipend, health insurance
• Duration: 4 years (8 semesters)
• Who can apply: students applying for undergraduate programs in STEM fields

KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) is one of Asia’s top science and technology universities, located in Daejeon, South Korea. The scholarship aims to attract talented international students to study in English across various engineering, science, and business disciplines.

In addition to 100% tuition coverage and health insurance, students receive a monthly stipend of 350,000 KRW (approximately USD $260). Travel and visa costs must be covered by the student.

Selection criteria

Applicants for the 2025 scholarship must:

• Hold foreign citizenship (both parents must be non-Korean citizens)
• Have completed secondary education: by February 28, 2025 (for spring intake) or by August 31, 2025 (for fall intake)
• Not hold dual citizenship with Korea
• Maintain academic performance: GPA of at least 2.7 out of 4.3 after the first year

Details about application procedures and deadlines are available on the official KAIST Admissions website.

4. Asian University for Women (AUW) Full Scholarships (Bangladesh)

• What it covers: full tuition, housing, meals, academic materials and supplies, basic healthcare, visa fees, one round-trip flight to and from Chittagong*
• Duration: 3 years (plus preparatory programs if needed)
• Who can apply: women from developing countries applying for undergraduate study

* Return trips home during academic breaks are not covered. However, students can participate in the Work-Study program to earn money for such expenses.

Asian University for Women (AUW) is an international university located in Chittagong, Bangladesh, focused on empowering women from various countries across Asia and the Middle East. Programs are taught in English and span both the humanities and sciences.

Selection criteria

Applicants must:

• Be women and hold non-Bangladeshi citizenship
• Have completed secondary education (12 years of schooling)
• Demonstrate financial need
• Show leadership potential and motivation for higher education

Note: AUW gives priority to candidates who are the first in their families to attend university, as well as to those facing social or economic barriers.

5. Harvard College Financial Aid (USA)

• What it covers: up to 100% of all costs (including tuition, housing, meals)
• Duration: 4 years
• Who can apply: undergraduate students, regardless of citizenship

Harvard College Financial Aid is one of the most generous financial aid programs available to international undergraduate students in the United States. Technically, it is not a separate scholarship, but a policy of meeting full demonstrated financial need.

Harvard guarantees to cover 100% of each admitted student’s demonstrated need. Financial aid may include:

• Full tuition coverage
• Housing and meals
• Academic materials and supplies
• Health insurance
• Travel expenses (flight to and from campus)
• Additional costs such as winter clothing, student activities, and other needs
• A $2,000 start-up grant for first-year students
• A $2,000 transition grant for juniors preparing for graduation

Note: Families earning less than $100,000 per year are not expected to contribute financially. For families earning up to $200,000, financial aid will generally cover at least the full cost of tuition, and may also include additional support depending on the specific circumstances.

Selection criteria

Applicants must:

• Be admitted to Harvard College
• Demonstrate financial need
• Provide the required financial documentation, including family income statements

Note: Harvard follows a need-blind admissions policy for all applicants, including international students. This means that a candidate’s financial situation does not affect the admission decision.

Now let’s take a look at five of the most prestigious fully funded scholarships available to international students pursuing graduate or research-level studies.

1. Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA)

• Organizer: U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA)
• What it covers: tuition, housing and meals, health insurance, visa fees, and travel expenses (round-trip airfare)
• Duration: from 6 months to 1 year or more
• Who can apply: candidates from countries participating in the Fulbright Program

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program provides international students, young professionals, and artists with opportunities to study or conduct research at universities and other accredited institutions in the United States. The program operates in over 160 countries and awards approximately 4,000 grants annually.

Selection criteria

Applicants must:

• Be citizens of a country participating in the Fulbright Program
• Hold at least a bachelor's degree (or equivalent) by the start of the program
• Demonstrate strong academic performance
• Have sufficient English language proficiency for study in the U.S. (e.g., TOEFL 79–80 iBT or IELTS 6.5)
• Not hold U.S. citizenship or permanent residency

Note: Additional eligibility requirements may vary by country. Applicants are encouraged to review the specific criteria for their home country on the official Fulbright website.

2. Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program (USA, Stanford)

• Organizer: Stanford University
• Level and fields of study: Master’s (MA, MS, MBA, etc.), Doctoral (PhD, JD, MD, etc.), interdisciplinary programs
• What it covers: full tuition, housing and personal expenses (monthly stipend), relocation and travel costs, health insurance
• Duration: up to 3 years (funding may be extended for longer programs)
• Who can apply: citizens of all countries with a bachelor’s degree, admitted to a Stanford graduate program

The Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program is a fully funded scholarship offered by Stanford University to attract outstanding students from around the world. The program focuses on leadership development and interdisciplinary learning, and includes a wide range of academic fields — from engineering and natural sciences to humanities and social sciences.

The scholarship is funded by the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Foundation, established by Phil Knight (co-founder of Nike) and John Hennessy (former president of Stanford).

Selection criteria

Applicants must:

• Be admitted to a full-time graduate program at Stanford
• Demonstrate a high level of academic achievement
• Show leadership potential and independent thinking

Note: There are no age, nationality, or academic discipline restrictions — the program is open to students from all fields of study.

3. Chevening Scholarships (United Kingdom)

• Organizer: UK Government (Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office — FCDO)
• Level of study: Master’s degree
• What it covers: tuition, housing (monthly stipend), airfare, visa and medical fees, additional expenses
• Duration: one academic year (typically 9–12 months)
• Who can apply: students from countries participating in the Chevening Program

Chevening Scholarships are a prestigious international scholarship program funded by the UK government. It supports talented future leaders who wish to pursue a master’s degree at a UK university. The program funds one-year master's programs from a wide selection of accredited courses in the UK.

Selection criteria

Applicants must:

• Be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country
• Hold a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent)
• Have at least two years (2,800 hours) of professional work experience
• Plan to enroll in a full-time, one-year master's program in the UK
• Meet the required level of English language proficiency
• Demonstrate leadership potential and a commitment to making a positive impact

More details about the eligibility criteria and application process are available on the official Chevening Scholarships website.

4. DAAD Scholarships (Germany)

• Organizer: German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
• Level and fields of study: Master’s, PhD, and research programs (all academic disciplines)
• What it covers: full or partial tuition (depending on the university), monthly stipend*, health and personal insurance, relocation expenses (airfare, initial costs), housing assistance, German language courses
• Duration: from 1 to 3 years, depending on the program
• Who can apply: international applicants with a bachelor’s or master’s degree

* Monthly stipend ranges from €934 for Master’s students to €1,200 for researchers.

Most popular DAAD programs:

1. EPOS — Development-Related Postgraduate Courses

• For professionals from developing and emerging countries
• Requires at least 2 years of work experience
• Programs taught in English

2. Study Scholarships — Master Studies for All Academic Disciplines

• For bachelor’s graduates pursuing a Master’s degree in Germany
• No restrictions by subject or country

3. Research Grants — One-Year Grants

• For PhD candidates and young researchers
• Support for individual research projects
• Possibility to work at a university or research institute in Germany

Selection criteria

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree (depending on the program level)
• Strong academic record
• Clear academic and professional motivation
• Proficiency in the language of instruction (English or German)
• Work experience required for some programs

5. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees (EU)

• Organizer: European Commission (under the Erasmus+ program)
• Level of study: Master’s degree
• What it covers: tuition and mandatory fees, housing and meals (monthly stipend of €1,400), relocation expenses, health insurance
• Duration: 1–2 years (60–120 ECTS credits)
• Who can apply: students from around the world with a completed bachelor’s degree (or equivalent), who meet the specific program’s criteria

Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees are international scholarship programs funded by the European Union to support students wishing to study in a Master’s program jointly organized by multiple European universities. Students typically study in 2–3 different EU countries and receive multiple diplomas (double or joint degrees) from the participating institutions.

Selection criteria

• Completed higher education (bachelor’s degree)
• Excellent academic performance
• Motivation letter and recommendation letters
• English language proficiency (typically IELTS 6.5+); some programs may also require a second European language
• Some programs may require relevant work experience

Specific requirements and deadlines vary depending on the program. It is recommended to consult the official Erasmus Mundus website for the most current information.