Top Universities in Asia and the Scholarships that Will Get You There

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Studying abroad can be an opportunity that changes our lives. One of the many top universities in Asia will be a wonderful choice to make if you are looking for a study location that is both exciting and demanding. Studying in Asia will help create significant skills in life and improve your understanding of other cultures. You’ll also find yourself curious about the Asian way of life and opening your eyes to the world around us, maybe.

Top Universities in Asia
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There are a number of factors that contribute to your decision when thinking about university, such as the programs on offer, rankings, and events on campus. There are different goals for everyone, so the choice of which university to attend is special to you. A better way to integrate travel into your university experience is to study abroad. If you have ever considered applying to Asian universities, find some of the top universities in Asia below, along with the scholarships that will help you get there!

1. Tsinghua University (China)

Students searching for great programs in engineering and computer science need to look no further than Beijing’s Tsinghua University, which has been ranked for both disciplines as one of the best in the world since 2015 and one of the top universities in Asia. One of the top public universities in Beijing, China, is Tsinghua University. In the QS Global World University Rankings 2021, it is ranked #15.

Tsinghua University provides several scholarships for international students who are interested in studying there, such as:

1. Chinese Government Scholarship

The Chinese Government Scholarship (CGS) is open to both degree program students (undergraduate and graduate) and non-degree (visiting/exchange) students. The CGS can be categorized into two types: a full CGS scholarship and a partial CGS scholarship. The full CGS covers tuition fees, on-campus accommodation, and provides a monthly stipend and medical insurance. The partial CGS covers one or several of these aspects.

2. Siemens China Scholarship

The Siemens China Scholarship at Tsinghua University provides about €25,000 full scholarships every year for global talents to support their Ph.D. studies. With high standard financial support, the scholarship recipients will receive opportunities to participate not only in academic research but also in cutting-edge industrial research projects.

3. Tuition Scholarships

The university offers competitive tuition scholarships to qualified applicants. Three Tuition Scholarships are available:

  • Beijing Government Scholarship
  • Tsinghua University Tuition Scholarship
  • Beijing Government “The Belt and Road” Scholarship
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2. National University of Singapore (Singapore)

The National University of Singapore (NUS), one of the top universities in Asia, is the flagship university of Singapore, which provides a global approach to education and research with an emphasis on Asian perspectives and expertise. A broad-based curriculum underscored by multi-disciplinary courses and cross-faculty enrichment constitutes the transformative education.

NUS provides several scholarships for international students who are interested in studying there, such as:

1. ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship (AUS)

The ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship is a freshmen scholarship offered to support outstanding students from ASEAN member countries (excluding Singapore). The scholarship is offered to a full-time undergraduate course at NUS. The scholarship also covers students in Double Degree and Joint Degree Programs and covers only the undergraduate course for students in Concurrent Degree Programs.

2. Science & Technology (S&T) Undergraduate Scholarship

The Science & Technology Undergraduate Scholarship is a freshmen scholarship offered to support outstanding students from Asian countries (excluding Singapore). The scholarship is offered to read a full-time undergraduate course at NUS in Computing, Engineering, Science (excluding Pharmacy), and Environmental Studies (Environmental Biology specialization only).

3. Nanyang Technological University (Singapore)

Young and research-intensive, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) is ranked 11th worldwide and 1st for five consecutive years among the world’s best young universities and one of the top universities in Asia (QS university rankings). Home to 33,000 students, NTU provides engineering, technology, business, humanities, arts, social sciences, and education, and Imperial College London, has a joint medical school.

NTU Singapore provides several scholarships for international students who are interested in studying there, such as:

  • NTU-University Scholars Programme (NTU-USP) Scholarship
  • Nanyang Scholarship (CN Yang Scholars Programme)
  • Nanyang Scholarship
  • College Scholarship
  • School Scholarship
  • Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences Scholarship ​
  • ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship
  • NTU Science and Engineering Undergraduate Scholarship

We previously have discussed the many NTU scholarships in a separate article. You can refer to it for more complete information.

4. King Abdulaziz University (Saudi Arabia)

This year, King Abdul Aziz University is officially the top university in the Arab region (KAU). For all but three of the indicators, KAU ranks in the list of top universities in Asia, ranking especially well for academic reputation, citations per paper, and international research network. It represents the strength of the academic performance of the university.

KAU provides several scholarships for international students who are interested in studying there, such as:

1. Arabic Language Diploma

The Arabic Language Diploma is intended for speakers of other languages and aims to teach them the Arabic language and its culture.

2. Undergraduate Program

The undergraduate program is a bachelor’s degree program for a number of specializations.

3. Graduate Programs

The graduate programs are an advanced stage of study either in scientific or humanitarian specializations. These studies include higher diploma, master’s, and Ph.D. degrees. It is worth mentioning that the Faculty of Graduate Studies requires that the applicant obtains a bachelor’s degree. KAU offers a diversity of Masters and Ph.D. programs.

We previously have discussed the many King Abdulaziz University scholarships in a separate article. You can refer to it for more complete information.

5. Peking University (China)

Peking University, China’s oldest higher education institution and one of the top universities in Asia, was established in 1898 as a replacement for the ancient Guozijian university (Imperial College). Peking University has consistently been ranked as China’s most renowned academic institution. It is well-known for its beautiful campus grounds and for the elegance of its traditional Chinese architecture, as well as being renowned academically.

Peking University provides Peking University Scholarship (PKUS) for international students who are interested in studying there. The details are explained as follows:

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Peking University Scholarship (PKUS)

PKU Scholarship for International Students is offered by Peking University to outstanding international students who pursue degrees at PKU. The full scholarship covers tuition, living stipend (including accommodation subsidy), and Comprehensive Medical Insurance for International Students, while the partial scholarship covers tuition only. This scholarship is open to undergraduate, master, Ph.D., and Master-to-Ph.D students.

6. University of Tokyo (Japan)

Founded as the first imperial university in 1877, the University of Tokyo is one of the most historic and prestigious establishments of higher education in Japan. In 2011, for the number of graduates in CEO roles at Fortune 500 firms, the university, which is called Todai, was ranked second in the world behind Harvard. No wonder that it is appointed as one of the top universities in Asia.

Todai provides several scholarships for international students who are interested in studying there, such as:

1. Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho: MEXT) Scholarship

This is a program through which students are able to study at a Japanese university with a scholarship from the Japanese government, specifically the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (Monbukagakusho (MEXT)). Through this program, Todai only accepts students as research students and undergraduate students. You can read more about the scholarship in detail here.

2. The University of Tokyo Special Scholarship for International Students (University of Tokyo Fellowship)

This scholarship was established in 2004. It aims at providing a research grant to high-achieving, postgraduate international students who are privately-funded to assist their academic pursuits at the university and at promoting a greater acceptance of excellent students from overseas. Recipients will receive a monthly research grant of ¥200,000 or ¥150,000 during the standard period of their program (up to one year for research students).

3. University Scholarship for PEAK Students

This scholarship is offered to students of exceptional merit. It is a four-year scholarship that covers the admission fee, tuition, and living expenses for up to ¥126,000 a month. Up to ten students may be offered this scholarship.

7. University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong)

In Hong Kong, to be exact, the University of Hong Kong is one of the top universities in Asia. In the QS Global World University Rankings 2021, it is ranked #22 as one of the top universities in Asia. The versatile cross-discipline learning method of HKU enables students to tailor programs to suit their own interests. They can select their own unique combination of the ten faculties that offer majors, minors, and electives.

The University of Hong Kong provides several scholarships for international students who are interested in studying there, such as:

1. Scholarships for Undergraduate Studies at HKU

The university offers merit-based entrance scholarships for top-ranking students who are admitted to our undergraduate programs. The entrance scholarships may go up to a value equivalent to a full tuition fee waiver plus accommodation and general living allowance per year and are renewable to cover students’ entire undergraduate study at HKU. These include:

  • HKU-SCF Scholarship in Financial Technology
  • HKU Foundation Entrance Scholarships
  • HKU Foundation Scholarships for Students with International Baccalaureate Diploma
  • HKU Foundation Scholarships for Students with GCE A-Level/ International A-Level Qualifications
  • HKU Foundation Scholarships for Students Taking Indian Board Examinations
  • HeForShe IMPACT Champion Scholarships
  • Hon Ping Entrance Scholarships for Nigerian Students
  • Hong Kong Scholarship for “Belt and Road” Students
  • Future Leaders of the Year (FLY) Scholarships for BASc Students

2. Scholarships for Postgraduate Studies at HKU

Entrance scholarships are available for students to pursue research postgraduate studies, and prospective students can contact HKU’s Graduate School for details. Some taught postgraduate programs also offer entrance scholarships and more information can be obtained from the relevant faculty/department. These include:

  • HKU Presidential Ph.D. Scholarship (HKU-PS)
  • Hong Kong Ph.D. Fellowships (HKPF)
  • University Postgraduate Fellowships (UPF)
  • Postgraduate Scholarship (PGS)
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8. Chinese University of Hong Kong (Hong Kong)

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) was founded in 1963 and is a comprehensive research university with a global vision and a mission to merge tradition with modernity and to bring China and the West together. In Hong Kong, CUHK is the only university offering a collegiate system, making it one of the top universities in Asia.

CUHK provides several scholarships for international students who are interested in studying there, such as:

1. Admission Scholarships

CUHK offers admission scholarships to both local and non-local new undergraduate students on the basis of their excellent academic or non-academic performance. The value of each Admission Scholarship ranges from HK$5,000 to a full-tuition coverage. Many of the Admission Scholarships are renewable for the normative period of study program subject to satisfactory academic progress. Some of the Admission Scholarships will also include an allowance of up to HK$45,000 per year.

2. Hong Kong Ph.D. Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS)

The scheme aims to attract the best and brightest students in the world to pursue their Ph.D. programs in Hong Kong’s universities. It provides a monthly stipend of HK$26,600 and a conference travel allowance of HK$13,300 per year during the normative study period for up to three years.

3. CUHK Vice-Chancellor HKPFS Scholarship

The scholarship offers HKPFS awardees a tuition fee waiver for their whole normative study period. It provides an award of HK$40,000 for lodging in the first year of study and HK$20,000 in the subsequent years within the normative study period.

9. Weizmann Institute of Science (Israel)

The Weizmann Institute of Science is shaping renowned scientists who are hard at work uncovering the seeds of tomorrow’s truth, from genetic engineering at the molecular level, to extreme miniaturization in development, to medical advances, and biological computers.

Weizmann Institute of Science provides several scholarships for international students who are interested in studying there, such as:

1. MSc Fellowships

Full-time MSc students at the Feinberg Graduate School are entitled to a monthly fellowship for 24 months. During their MSc studies, all students are entitled to a fellowship in the amount of NIS 6,049.

2. Ph.D. Fellowships

Full-time Ph.D. students at the Feinberg Graduate School are entitled to a monthly fellowship for 4.5 years. As of October 2020, all Ph.D. students are entitled to a fellowship in the amount of NIS 7,997.

3. Postdoctoral Fellowships

International postdoctoral fellows are entitled to receive the following supports:

  • Relocation expenses
  • Reimbursement of airfare
  • Reimbursement of medical insurance
  • Family assistance
  • Medical insurance

10. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Hong Kong)

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) was founded in 1991 and is an international research university devoted to top-notch education and research. As one of the top universities in Asia, the university has gone beyond the wildest expectations of many, climbing high in international respect and reaping numerous honors and accolades, focused on its mission to advance learning and knowledge by teaching and assisting in the socio-economic development of Hong Kong.

HKUST provides several scholarships for international students who are interested in studying there, such as:

1. University Admissions Scholarship Scheme for IB Diploma Holders

IB Diploma candidates/holders who have completed the IB Diploma requirements before the specified time will be considered for the scholarship. All IB Diploma candidates/holders are automatically considered for the awards based on their verified IB Total Points.

2. University Admissions Scholarship Scheme for GCEAL/ International AL Qualification Holders

Candidates who are admitted with GCEAL/ International AL qualifications and attained A in at least 3 AL subjects will be considered for the scholarship. All GCEAL/International AL qualification holders will be automatically considered for the awards based on their verified examination results.

3. Scholarship Scheme for International/Asian Olympiad Gold Medalists

The university sets up the Scholarship Scheme to honor outstanding International/Asian Olympiad Gold Medalists. The university will select qualified students based on the Schools’ or Program Office’s nominations and inform the selected students of the scholarship awards in due course.

4. University Admissions Scholarship Scheme for Non-Local Students

Scholarships are awarded to top students from all backgrounds based on academic merit. Students do not have to apply for the scholarship. Every non-local student who applies for admission to HKUST during the specified period is eligible for consideration for the scholarship. In general, the university will select qualified students and grant the scholarship awards together with admission offers.

5. Mainland JEE Top Scorer Scheme

Top scorers in Joint Entrance Examination for Universities in PRC (JEE) will be considered for the scholarship. Each scholarship is equivalent to a full tuition fee plus an allowance of HKD55,000 per academic year, renewable for the normal duration of study subject to satisfactory academic performance.

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