Fully Funded Scholarship: A Guide for International Students

Fully funded scholarship is a financial aid program that takes all of the financial burden of your education onto itself, hence supporting foreign students with a pleasant educational environment. The schemes cover tuition and living expenses, often including travel expenses, textbook allowances, insurance, etc.

If you are passionate about getting the scholarship to pay for the expenses of either your Bachelor’s degree or Master’s degree, then you can apply for these scholarships now. Before applying for one, learn how fully funded scholarships work and some other relevant information regarding the scheme through this well-compiled list of fully funded scholarships frequently asked questions.

Fully Funded Scholarship
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Are fully funded scholarships rare?

Yes. They are very rare, and are fiercely competitive as expected. Still, there are also a few ways to increase the probability that a fully funded scholarship can be won.

How do you get a fully funded scholarship?

The following are some tips about how you can get a fully funded scholarship, which can help you make sure your future will be better than yesterday:

  1. Ask any professor you know for advice. You may be acquainted with a university professor where you wish to study at college. It will be better if you speak to him or her and figure out whether a fully funded scholarship is offered by the school where he or she is working.
  2. Ask for recommendations. If it comes to having a fully funded scholarship, it is never wrong to ask for advice from the people you know.
  3. Visit universities and colleges nearby. You can do the work offline as well. It will be better to visit the schools and ask about their scholarship programs in the reception desk.
  4. Gather the key information. Trying to gather all the information you need about the scholarship is very crucial.
  5. Check out all of the available choices before making a decision.
  6. Compare the choices you have for a fully funded one, pick the one that fits all your needs.
  7. Give more time in doing your research.

Which countries offer fully funded scholarships?

Below are top five countries in which tuition is either paid by fully funded government scholarships or university prizes. Even still, these countries are perfect for students searching for fully funded scholarships, and others who can’t go to college without financial assistance.

1. Austria

Austria is one of the best countries that international students can choose because students’ living costs are relatively modest. The explanation behind this is that the government of Austria aims to target the best international students to study in the country. Even so, Austria fees all non-EU / EEA students who enroll to federal / public universities between EUR 363 to EUR 726 per semester for school fees plus EUR 19.20 for the “ÖH-Beitrag” student union membership fee and the student accident insurance monthly fee. ÖH-Beitrag is an Austrian Students’ Union.

2. Finland

As with Austria, the Finnish government is conscious that higher education is an significant step in the road to prosperity for everyone, and that is why tuition for non-EU / EEA students has been implemented since autumn 2017. Fully funded scholarships are offered by all Finnish universities and UAS to excellent non-EU / EEA students to receive their Bachelor and Master degrees free of charge. Not only that, the EDUFI Fellowships will also cover the cost of living for Doctoral students.

3. Germany

Germany, as everybody certainly knows, is a developed country offering lots of scholarships to foreign students seeking to move there to follow their educational goals. However, not everyone can earn an excellence scholarship and that is why not all universities in Germany except Baden-Wurrtenberg will charge no tuition fees for all graduates, including foreign students, for Bachelor’s and sequential Master’s degree programs. In certain Federal States, though, students may be asked to pay an EUR 50 semester fee and an EUR 50 processing fee.

4. Norway

All students, particularly international students, are not issued for tuition fees by the norwegian state universities and university colleges. This maxim extends to all stages of education, including undergraduate studies, Master’s programs and even Ph.D. programs, to make things even better. On the disadvantages of it, students are expected to pay semi-annual fees per semester ranging from NOK 300 to 600.

5. Switzerland

Application and tuition fees in Switzerland shall apply only to students who are not residents of an EU / EEA / Nordic country or Switzerland. This law is valid for Bachelor and Master level programs. In addition, the Swedish Institute and a large number of universities grant partial and fully funded scholarships which are offered in the form of tuition waivers and can be applied to by all overseas students.

Which organizations offer fully funded scholarships to international students?

Fully funded scholarships in this section include scholarships that at least cover both the tuition fee and the costs of living.

  1. Adelaide Scholarships International: University of Adelaide provides the Adelaide Scholarships International (ASI) program to draw high quality foreign postgraduate students to the University of Adelaide’s research intensity areas to support its research program. The scholarships offer tuition fees for the course, annual living allowance and health insurance.
  2. British Chevening Scholarships: Chevening Scholarships, the global scholarship initiative of the UK government, is awarded to exceptional students with the potential for leadership. Prizes are usually for the degree of a one year Master. Most Chevening Scholarships include: tuition fees; a living allowance at a fixed rate (for one person); an economy class return flights to the UK; additional grants to support necessary expenses.
  3. Clarendon Scholarships at University of Oxford: The Clarendon Scholarship Fund is a renowned graduate scheme at the University of Oxford offering about 140 new scholarships annually to qualifying graduation applicants (including international students). Clarendon Scholarships are given on a graduate level at the University of Oxford based on academic achievement and ability in all degree-bearing subjects. The scholarships fully cover tuition costs and college expenses, and a valuable living expense allowance.
  4. Fullbright Foreign Student Program: The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is lucrative scholarships for international students interested in pursuing a Master’s or PhD degree in the US. The grant funds usually include tuition, plane tickets, a living allowance, and medical insurance, etc. For the duration of the study the Fulbright program offers support.
  5. Gates Cambridge Scholarships: Gates Cambridge Scholarships are fully funded Graduate Study and Research awards in every subject available at Cambridge University. The Scholarships are available to all students from all around the globe. The entire expense of studying at Cambridge is borne by a Gates Cambridge Scholarship: tuition fees, insurance expenses, airline tickets and other contingent benefit.

How many people get fully funded scholarships?

Less than 20,000 students can receive a fully funded private scholarship award each year. While that might sound like a big deal, note that this semester more than 20 million students are expected to attend college (so only 0.1 percent of students, or one in 1000, obtain a scholarship).

What GPA do you need for a fully funded scholarship?

The GPA you need to secure a fully funded scholarship differs from university to university. Some scholarship donors could be searching for a certain GPA on a scale of 4.0, like 3.5-3.7. Or they can determine your class rank (e.g. top 5%, or 10% in your class). Others consider the results for ACT or SAT.

How much SAT score is needed for a fully funded scholarship?

In particular, attempt to earn 1400/1600 on SAT or 33/36 on ACT and if you’ve done your college hunt well enough you might end up finding a lot of choices where you can seriously consider qualifying for at least one fully funded scholarship that fits your needs.