Quick answer: Almost every fully-funded scholarship targets students from specific regions or countries. Knowing your nationality’s strongest options saves months of wasted applications. This guide groups the biggest 2026 scholarships by passport, so students from Nigeria, India, Brazil, Egypt, Vietnam or Mexico can see at a glance which awards are open to them.
Africa — Mastercard, Commonwealth, MEXT, DAAD
Students from sub-Saharan Africa have unusually rich options. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program funds undergraduate and master’s study at partner universities (UC Berkeley, McGill, KNUST and 30+ others). Commonwealth Scholarships fund master’s and PhD study in the UK for citizens of low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries. DAAD’s EPOS programme funds development-relevant master’s in Germany. Japan’s MEXT is open to most African nations. Africa-specific awards include the African Union Scholarship and the Pan-African University programme.
South Asia — India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal
Indian students are eligible for Chevening (UK), Fulbright-Nehru (US), Inlaks Shivdasani, the Tata Scholarship, Rhodes Scholarship and the Erasmus+ Joint Master’s. Pakistani students access HEC overseas scholarships, Fulbright Pakistan and Commonwealth. Bangladesh has the Australia Awards and the Government of Bangladesh’s overseas study programme. Most South Asian nations also qualify for KGSP (Korea), MEXT (Japan) and the Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC).
Southeast Asia — Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia
Australia Awards and New Zealand’s Manaaki Scholarships specifically prioritise ASEAN nations. The ADB-Japan Scholarship Program funds master’s degrees in Asia for citizens of ADB borrowing countries. Endeavour Leadership Programme (Australia), MEXT (Japan), Korean Government Scholarship Program, and the ASEAN Scholarship offered by Singapore are core targets. The Chevening cohort always includes generous Southeast Asia allocations.
Middle East and North Africa
Egyptian, Moroccan, Tunisian and Jordanian students can apply for Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s, DAAD, Chevening, Fulbright, the French Eiffel Excellence Scholarship and the Türkiye Bursları (which is open to most MENA nationalities). Saudi and Emirati students primarily access government-sponsored programmes (KASP, UAE Ministry of Higher Education sponsorship) rather than international scholarships.
Latin America
Brazilian students benefit from Capes/CNPq partnerships, Chevening, Fulbright, DAAD and Erasmus+. Mexican students have access to CONAHCYT scholarships abroad, Chevening Mexico, Fulbright-García Robles and the Becas Santander. Colombian, Peruvian and Argentine students should look at OAS scholarships, the Carolina Foundation (Spain), and the Pan-American Health Organisation fellowships for health-sciences students.
Europe — Erasmus+, country-specific
EU/EEA students rarely need separate scholarships within Europe because tuition is low or zero in many countries. Erasmus+ Mobility funds semester exchanges. Outside the EU, European students apply for Fulbright, Chevening (non-UK Europeans), MEXT and Australia Awards on roughly the same terms as other regions, sometimes with smaller quotas.
How to choose a scholarship to apply for
Eligibility first, prestige second. Read the fine print: many awards require return-home commitments, specific career fields, or prior work experience. Build a shortlist of 6–10 scholarships you genuinely qualify for, draft your study plan and personal statement once, and customise lightly per application. Trying to apply to 30 awards usually means none get the attention they need.
FAQ
Do I need an admission letter to apply? Some scholarships require admission first (Chevening, Fulbright); others nominate you to a partner university (DAAD EPOS, MEXT). Check each scheme.
Can I apply to multiple scholarships? Yes, but never accept two fully-funded awards simultaneously — declare other applications honestly.
Are partial scholarships worth it? Often yes, especially in countries with low public-university tuition. A 50% award plus a tuition-free public university can equal a fully-funded experience.
More scholarship & funding guides
Continue exploring related guides on Studies Multiverse:
- Top 15 fully-funded scholarships 2026
- Scholarships for international students: full guide
- How to get a fully-funded PhD abroad
- Cheapest universities in Europe 2026
- Free vs paid universities abroad
- Study in Germany (DAAD funding)
- Study in Japan (MEXT scholarship)
- Study in Turkiye (Turkiye Burslari)
- Study in China (CSC scholarship)
Related guides on Studies Multiverse — free for international students.