Last updated: August 2026
Europe remains one of the most generous regions in the world for international students chasing a fully funded degree. Between EU-wide programs and individual national governments, the European Commission estimates that roughly 100,000 scholarships are available across the continent in any given cycle — covering tuition, living costs, travel, and health insurance for students who qualify.
The catch: every program has its own eligibility rules, funding structure, and application window, and those details shift from year to year. Below is an updated rundown of 15 of the strongest fully funded options for 2026, what each one actually pays for, and where to go to confirm current deadlines before you apply.
A quick but important note on deadlines: scholarship deadlines below are described in general terms (the typical months programs tend to open and close) rather than exact fixed dates, because most of these programs set deadlines per country, per university, or per individual master’s program — and they change annually. Always confirm the exact date on the official program page before you start your application.
France Excellence Europa Scholarship 2026: Full Guide to a Fully Funded Master’s in France
1. DAAD Scholarships (Germany)
Germany’s DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) runs one of the largest scholarship portfolios in the world, funding well over 100,000 students and researchers annually across undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral levels. Its flagship master’s scholarships (Studienstipendien) typically pay a monthly stipend in the €900+ range, plus travel and health insurance allowances, and cover the full length of the degree — usually 12 to 24 months depending on the program. Deadlines vary widely by specific scholarship and course, but most master’s-level applications close between October and December for programs starting the following autumn, so it pays to start researching around a year ahead.
2. Netherlands Government Scholarships
The Netherlands funds international students at bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral level through a mix of national and university-specific awards bundled under the “NL Scholarship” umbrella. Funding levels and eligible nationalities vary by scholarship and host university, so check both the national portal and your target university’s scholarship office — some Dutch universities run their own generous supplementary awards on top of the national programs.
3. Eiffel Excellence Scholarship (France)
Run by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs, the Eiffel scholarship funds master’s and PhD students at French institutions, covering a monthly living allowance, health insurance, and international airfare. Unlike many scholarships, applications aren’t submitted by the student directly — French higher education institutions nominate the candidates they want to sponsor, so the first step is securing interest from a French university’s international office well before the institutional application deadline (typically in the winter, for a start the following autumn).
4. ARES Scholarships (Belgium)
Belgium’s ARES (Académie de Recherche et d’Enseignement Supérieur) scholarship program funds international students across a range of academic levels and fields, primarily channeled through specific master’s programs and training courses tied to development cooperation themes. Funding and eligibility depend heavily on the specific program you’re applying to, so start from the ARES course catalogue rather than a general application.
5. Danish Government Scholarships
Denmark offers scholarships to highly qualified international students for bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD study, generally administered through individual Danish universities rather than a single central portal. Awards typically combine a tuition waiver with a living-cost contribution, and — because they’re managed per institution — deadlines usually align with each university’s own admission cycle.
6. NAWA Scholarships (Poland)
Poland’s National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) runs multiple scholarship and exchange programs for international students and researchers at different academic levels. Coverage and stipend amounts vary by specific NAWA program, so check the current NAWA program list for the one matching your academic level and field before applying.
7. Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary)
Hungary’s flagship international scholarship, Stipendium Hungaricum, funds full bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral studies and typically covers tuition, a monthly stipend, dormitory accommodation (or a housing contribution), and health insurance. It’s administered through a centralized online application system with country-specific bilateral quotas, so availability depends partly on your home country’s allocation for that cycle — check whether your country participates before applying.
8. Swedish Institute Scholarships (Sweden)
Sweden funds international master’s students primarily through the Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals, aimed at students from a defined list of eligible countries who show leadership potential alongside strong academics. The award typically covers full tuition, a monthly living allowance, and travel and insurance costs, with applications generally opening in the winter for the following autumn intake.
9. Ireland Government International Scholarships
Ireland’s government scholarship program is aimed at non-EU/EEA students at both undergraduate and postgraduate level, typically providing a tuition contribution and a living-cost stipend for one academic year. Numbers awarded are relatively small compared to some other national programs, making it competitive — a strong academic record and a clear study plan matter a lot here.
10. Italy Government Scholarships
Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs runs an annual scholarship program for international students across various academic fields and levels, generally covering a monthly stipend, in some cases with additional support for tuition or Italian language courses. Applications are typically coordinated through Italian embassies and consulates in the applicant’s home country, so start there rather than a central Italian portal.
11. Finland Government Scholarships
Finland offers government scholarships for international students in bachelor’s and master’s programs, usually structured as partial or full tuition waivers combined with a living-cost grant, and typically tied to specific Finnish universities rather than a single centralized fund. Since Finland charges tuition fees to non-EU/EEA students at public universities, this kind of funding is particularly valuable if Finland is on your shortlist.
12. Romania Government Scholarships (MOFA)
Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs offers scholarships to foreign citizens covering tuition, accommodation, and a monthly stipend across different academic levels. Applications are generally submitted through Romanian diplomatic missions abroad, and availability can depend on bilateral agreements between Romania and the applicant’s home country.
13. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships
Switzerland’s Excellence Scholarships, administered by the Federal Commission for Scholarships (FCS/ESKAS), are aimed primarily at postgraduate researchers, PhD candidates, postdoctoral researchers, and — separately — art students, rather than standard taught master’s applicants. For the current cycle, monthly stipends run roughly CHF 1,920–3,500 depending on the award level, plus a housing allowance, mandatory health insurance, and (for research/PhD awards) a half-fare Swiss public transport card. Because this program is research- and supervisor-driven, you’ll generally need to secure a Swiss academic supervisor’s support before applying, and deadlines are set individually for each applicant’s country of origin — so check the country-specific list on the Swiss federal scholarship portal rather than assuming a single global date.
14. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarships (EU-wide)
Erasmus Mundus is arguably the most prestigious fully funded master’s track in Europe — and structurally different from a national scholarship. Instead of one university, you study at two or more institutions across at least two different countries as part of a joint or multiple degree, chosen from a catalogue of well over 100 active programs spanning nearly every discipline. Scholarships typically cover full tuition, a monthly stipend in the roughly €1,000–1,400 range, and a travel/installation contribution that can run up to several thousand euros depending on your home country. Because each program is run independently by its own university consortium, deadlines vary by program — but for intakes starting the following autumn, most application windows fall between October and January, so aim to have your shortlist and documents ready well before that.
15. Master Mind Scholarships (Belgium — Flanders)
Flanders’ Master Mind Scholarships support outstanding international students enrolling in select master’s programs at Flemish universities, generally covering tuition and a living-cost contribution for the scholarship’s duration. Eligible programs and available slots are set by each participating university, so check directly with your target Flemish institution’s international office for current-year availability.
How to Choose the Right Scholarship for You
With 15 programs on the table, the practical filter isn’t “which is most prestigious” — it’s fit:
- Your nationality and home country rule several of these in or out immediately (bilateral quotas, eligible-country lists, and non-EU/EEA restrictions all apply differently).
- Your academic level matters — some of these (like Swiss Excellence Scholarships) are effectively closed to standard taught master’s applicants and aimed at research-track students instead.
- Whether you already have a university offer — some programs (like Eiffel) require institutional nomination rather than a direct student application, so the university relationship comes first.
- How many countries you’re willing to study in — Erasmus Mundus requires mobility across at least two countries during the degree; most national scholarships don’t.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are these scholarships really fully funded? Coverage varies. Programs like Stipendium Hungaricum, Erasmus Mundus, and DAAD’s flagship awards are typically full scholarships (tuition plus living costs). Others — including several national government scholarships on this list — are partial, covering either tuition or a living stipend but not always both. Always check the specific funding breakdown for the exact program you’re applying to.
Can I apply to more than one of these at the same time? In most cases, yes — these are independently run programs with separate application systems, so there’s no rule against applying to several in parallel. Erasmus Mundus specifically allows applications to up to three different joint master’s programs within the same intake.
Do I need to already have a university admission offer to apply? It depends on the program. Some (like France’s Eiffel scholarship) require institutional nomination, meaning the university applies on your behalf after admitting you. Others require you to secure admission first and then apply for funding separately. A few — including most Erasmus Mundus programs — combine the program application and the scholarship application into a single step.
When should I start preparing? As a rule of thumb, start 12–18 months before your intended start date. Many of these programs require language test scores, letters of recommendation, and sometimes a research proposal or motivation letter — all of which take time to put together properly, especially if you need translated transcripts or diploma certification.
This guide summarizes publicly available information on national and EU-funded scholarship programs. Eligibility rules, funding amounts, and deadlines change between cycles and often vary by applicant nationality — always confirm current details on each program’s official website before applying.