©iStock.com/GlobalStock Do you want to study at one of the world’s top universities? There are around 21,000 universities and other higher education institutions in the world, according to the World Higher Education Database, so the 250 highest-ranked in the QS World University Rankings 2027 are roughly the top 1%. Many of these universities offer scholarships to attract outstanding international students. scholars4dev.com lists 45 scholarships at these universities, from Bachelor’s to PhD level. Many cover full tuition, and some also pay living costs. Bachelor’s Scholarships at Top Universities »   International Scholars Program at University of British Columbia (Canada) The University of British Columbia’s International Scholars Program, which includes the Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award, gives need-based awards to international students with top grades and leadership who are entering a first undergraduate degree straight from secondary school. Awards can cover full tuition and living costs; applicants need a nomination, and the deadline for September 2027 entry is 2 December 2026. The scholarships cover most undergraduate degrees at UBC’s Vancouver and Okanagan campuses. See also Donald A. Wehrung International Student Award Reach Oxford Scholarships (UK) Several Oxford colleges offer Reach Oxford Scholarships to students from developing countries who cannot study for a degree at home for political or financial reasons, or because suitable courses do not exist. Each scholarship covers tuition and college fees, a living grant and one return flight a year; applicants need an offer from Oxford and must apply by 26 January 2027. The scholarships cover undergraduate courses in all subjects at Oxford except medicine. UCL Global Undergraduate Scholarships (UK) University College London’s Global Undergraduate Scholarship helps international students from lower-income backgrounds take a full-time Bachelor’s degree, and awards are based on financial need. In the latest round, 10 scholars received full tuition plus a maintenance allowance and 23 received full tuition, each for the normal length of the degree; the deadline is usually in late April. The scholarships cover all UCL undergraduate degrees, from arts and humanities, laws and the built environment to engineering, the life, medical and physical sciences, and the social and historical sciences. Lester B. Pearson International Scholarships at University of Toronto (Canada) The University of Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship is for international students with exceptional grades and creativity who are recognised as leaders in their school. About 37 scholars are chosen each year, and each award covers tuition, books, incidental fees and full residence support for four years; students must be nominated by their school, and the deadlines for September 2027 entry have passed. The scholarships cover direct-entry undergraduate programmes at the University of Toronto. Karsh International Scholarships at Duke University (USA) Duke University’s Karsh International Scholarship is for international first-year applicants with financial need who are committed to research and service. It covers four years of tuition, room and board and mandatory fees, plus three summers of funding for research or internships; the Regular Decision deadline is 4 January 2027. The scholarships cover undergraduate degrees in Duke’s Trinity College of Arts & Sciences (the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences and public policy) and the Pratt School of Engineering. HKUST Global Learners Scholarship (Hong Kong) The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology gives the Global Learners Scholarship to undergraduate applicants from nationalities that are underrepresented at HKUST. It is a full tuition waiver (non-local tuition is HK$260,000 a year in 2027/28), renewable for the normal length of study, and applicants are considered automatically; the priority round deadline is 25 November 2026. The scholarships cover all HKUST undergraduate programmes in science, engineering, business and management, humanities and social science, and interdisciplinary studies. Sydney International Undergraduate Academic Excellence Scholarship (Australia) The University of Sydney’s International Undergraduate Academic Excellence Scholarship pays 100% of tuition fees for a Bachelor’s degree of up to four years, with about 20 awarded each year. Applications for Semester 2, 2027 are open and assessed as they arrive. The scholarships cover single undergraduate degrees in fields such as arts and social sciences, business, engineering, science, health, music, and architecture, design and planning.   Bachelor’s and Master’s Scholarships at Top Universities »   Bristol University Think Big Scholarships (UK) Think Big is the University of Bristol’s main scholarship scheme for students who pay overseas fees. For 2027 entry, postgraduate awards of £3,000 to £26,000 go towards a one-year Master’s, and undergraduate awards of £6,500 or £13,000 a year last for up to four years; the deadline is 19 March 2027. The scholarships cover eligible courses in arts, engineering, health and life sciences, science, and social sciences and law. Lund University Global Scholarships (Sweden) Lund University Global Scholarships reward top students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland who choose a Lund Master’s programme, or one of the selected Bachelor’s programmes, as their first choice. The scholarships cover part or all of the tuition fee but not living costs; apply for your programme by 15 January 2027. The scholarships cover programmes in all of Lund’s faculties, including engineering, science, medicine, law, social sciences, economics and management, and the humanities. UNSW International Scientia Coursework Scholarship (Australia) UNSW Sydney’s International Scientia Coursework Scholarship is for high-achieving international students starting a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree. It pays either full tuition fees or AUD 20,000 a year for the minimum length of the degree; the next round opens on 1 December 2026 and closes on 26 February 2027. The scholarships cover coursework degrees in arts, design and architecture, business, engineering, law and justice, medicine and health, and science. Adelaide Academic Excellence Scholarships (Australia) Adelaide University gives Academic Excellence Scholarships worth 50% of tuition fees to high-achieving international students for the full length of their degree. Applications for 2027 entry are reviewed on a rolling basis until places run out. The scholarships cover Bachelor’s and Master’s coursework degrees in most fields at Adelaide University. Padua International Excellence Scholarships (Italy) The University of Padua gives International Excellence Scholarships to highly talented international students applying to its English-taught degrees, with up to 69 offered in the 2026/27 call. Each is worth €8,000 gross a year plus exemption from tuition fees, for up to three years of a Bachelor’s or two years of a Master’s; there is no separate application, and the first application window closes on 15 November 2026 for most programmes. The scholarships cover English-taught Bachelor’s, single-cycle and Master’s degrees at the University of Padua. Griffith Vice Chancellor’s International Scholarship (Australia) Griffith University gives the Vice Chancellor’s International Scholarship to exceptional international students with a GPA of at least 6 out of 7 who are starting a full-time undergraduate or postgraduate coursework degree. It covers 50% of tuition fees for the whole degree; apply after you receive your offer, by 28 November 2026 for March 2027 or 10 April 2027 for July 2027. The scholarships cover coursework degrees in fields such as business, engineering and IT, health, nursing, law, education, environment, criminology, arts and music. La Trobe Vice Chancellor Scholarship (Australia) La Trobe University’s Vice Chancellor Scholarship is its most prestigious award for international students, taking 50% or 100% off tuition for the whole course, and recipients join the student ambassador programme. Applicants need an average (WAM) of at least 80 and an offer; the deadlines for applicants outside Australia are 14 December 2026 for Semester 1 and 17 May 2027 for Semester 2, 2027. The scholarships cover eligible Bachelor’s and Master’s coursework degrees in fields such as agriculture, arts, business, computing, education, engineering, health, law, nursing and science.   Master’s and PhD Scholarships at Top Universities »   Clarendon Scholarships at University of Oxford (UK) The Clarendon Fund is the University of Oxford’s flagship graduate scholarship scheme, with over 200 new scholarships a year for graduate applicants of all nationalities, chosen on academic excellence and potential. Each scholarship pays course fees in full and a grant for living costs, and you are considered automatically if you apply by your course’s admissions deadline in December 2026 or January 2027. The scholarships cover Master’s and doctoral courses in the humanities, social sciences, medical sciences, and mathematical, physical and life sciences. See also Rhodes Scholarships at University of Oxford Gates Cambridge Scholarships (UK) Gates Cambridge Scholarships are full-cost awards for outstanding applicants from outside the UK, with around 70 given each year. They cover tuition fees and a maintenance allowance (£23,152 for 2026-27), with extra discretionary funding; the deadline is 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027 depending on the course, or 14 October 2026 for US citizens living in the USA. The scholarships cover full-time Master’s and PhD degrees in any subject at the University of Cambridge. Knight-Hennessy Scholars at Stanford University (USA) Knight-Hennessy Scholars gives students from any country full funding for a graduate degree at Stanford University, together with a leadership development programme. The deadline for autumn 2027 entry was 6 October 2026, so the next chance is the round for autumn 2028. The scholarships cover Master’s, PhD and professional degrees in any subject at Stanford. University of Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarships (Australia) The University of Melbourne automatically considers international applicants for research Master’s and PhD degrees for its Graduate Research Scholarships, with more than 300 offered to international students each year. They include a full fee offset, a living allowance of AUD 41,100 a year (2027 rate) and a relocation grant for students moving from overseas; deadlines vary by faculty. The scholarships cover research degrees in all faculties, including arts, business and economics, education, engineering and IT, law, medicine and health, science, architecture, and fine arts and music. University of Sydney International Stipend Scholarship (Australia) The University of Sydney International Stipend Scholarship supports international students in a research Master’s or PhD with a living stipend of AUD 44,293 a year (2027 rate) and a scholarship covering 100% of tuition fees. The next deadlines are 18 December 2026 and 10 September 2027. The scholarships cover research degrees in all faculties, including arts and social sciences, business, engineering, law, medicine and health, science, music, and architecture, design and planning.   (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});   Master’s Scholarships at Top Universities »   ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (Switzerland) ETH Zurich’s Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) supports outstanding students of any nationality in the top 10% of their Bachelor’s programme. About 60 scholars a year receive CHF 13,500 a semester plus a full tuition fee waiver; apply with your Master’s application between 1 and 30 November 2026. The scholarships cover Master’s programmes in architecture and civil engineering, engineering sciences, natural sciences and mathematics, environmental and earth sciences, and management and social sciences. EPFL Master Excellence Fellowships (Switzerland) EPFL’s Master Excellence Fellowships go to outstanding students of any nationality starting a Master’s at the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne. Each pays CHF 10,000 a semester for up to four semesters, and candidates from other universities are also offered a room in a student residence; your Master’s application must be validated by 15 December 2026. The fellowships cover Master’s programmes in engineering, computer and communication sciences, the basic and life sciences, architecture, civil and environmental engineering, and management of technology. Schwarzman Scholars at Tsinghua University (China) Schwarzman Scholars is a fully funded one-year Master’s at Tsinghua University in Beijing for students from any country, covering tuition and fees, room and board, travel, health insurance and a personal stipend. Applicants from outside mainland China, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan apply from April to September 2027 for the course starting in August 2028. The scholarship covers a Master’s in Global Affairs. ENS International Selection Scholarships (France) Each year the École Normale Supérieure, part of Université PSL in Paris, chooses outstanding international students in its International Selection: 10 in the sciences and 10 in the arts and humanities. Selected students receive €1,000 a month for three years and a room on an ENS campus while they study for a Master’s; the deadline is 15 December 2026. The scholarships cover sciences such as biology, chemistry, computer science, mathematics and physics, and arts and humanities fields such as economics, history, literature, philosophy and sociology. Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships at TU Delft (Netherlands) TU Delft gives Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships to excellent international applicants, as a guide in the top 10% of their class, for its two-year MSc programmes, with at least 16 awarded a year. Each covers full tuition fees and a monthly contribution to living costs for 24 months, and the deadline is 1 December 2026. The scholarships cover MSc programmes in TU Delft’s eight faculties, including aerospace, civil, mechanical and electrical engineering, computer science, applied sciences, architecture and industrial design. Amsterdam Merit Scholarships (Netherlands) The University of Amsterdam’s Amsterdam Merit Scholarships are for outstanding students from outside the EU/EEA, and each faculty runs its own awards. Amounts vary by faculty; for example, the Faculty of Science offers awards of €26,125 for September 2027, and most deadlines are on 15 January 2027. The scholarships cover Master’s programmes at participating faculties, such as science, economics and business, law and the humanities. Université Paris-Saclay International Master’s Scholarships (France) Université Paris-Saclay gives International Master’s Scholarships of €10,000 a year, plus up to €900 for travel and visa costs, to outstanding international students under 30 who are new to French higher education. Course coordinators nominate candidates from the students they admit; the 2027-28 call has not been published yet, and last year’s deadline was 31 March 2026. The scholarships cover Master’s programmes in all fields at Paris-Saclay and its member institutions, except apprenticeship programmes. KTH Scholarships (Sweden) KTH Royal Institute of Technology awards KTH Scholarships, based on academic excellence, to students from outside the EU/EEA who pay tuition fees and apply for a KTH Master’s programme as their first priority. The scholarship covers tuition for both years but not living costs; applications open on 1 December 2026, and the programme deadline is 15 January 2027. The scholarships cover most of KTH’s two-year Master’s programmes in engineering, science, technology and architecture. Uppsala University Global Scholarships (Sweden) Uppsala University Global Scholarships cover the full tuition fee of an international Master’s programme for citizens of countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland who rank the programme first. They do not cover living costs; apply for your programme by 15 January 2027 and for the scholarship by 1 February 2027. The scholarships cover international Master’s programmes in the humanities and social sciences (including law, economics and theology), medicine and pharmacy, and science and technology. Danish Government Scholarships at University of Copenhagen (Denmark) The University of Copenhagen awards Danish Government Scholarships to highly talented Master’s applicants from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland, based only on academic results. Depending on the faculty, a scholarship is a full or partial tuition fee waiver and may include a grant for basic living costs; all eligible applicants are considered automatically when they apply for admission between 15 November 2026 and 15 January 2027. The scholarships cover Master’s programmes in faculties such as health and medical sciences, the humanities, science and theology. Developing Solutions Scholarships at University of Nottingham (UK) The University of Nottingham’s Developing Solutions Scholarships are for students from Africa, South Asia and selected Commonwealth countries who want to help develop their home countries. They cover 50% or 100% of tuition fees for a Master’s degree starting in September 2027, and the deadline is usually in spring. The scholarships cover Master’s degrees in most fields at the University of Nottingham. Leiden University Excellence Scholarships (Netherlands) The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS) is for outstanding non-EEA students starting a full-time Master’s programme at Leiden University. It takes €10,000 to €19,000 a year off the tuition fee, against non-EU fees of around €23,000, and the deadline is 1 December 2026. The scholarships cover Master’s programmes in archaeology, governance and global affairs, the humanities, science, medicine, and the social and behavioural sciences, plus the Advanced LLM programmes. University of Helsinki Tuition Fee Waivers (Finland) The University of Helsinki gives tuition fee waivers to students from outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland who are admitted to its international Master’s programmes. Each waiver covers 50% or 100% of a tuition fee of €13,000 to €18,000 a year (most are 50%), but not living costs; apply for your programme and the waiver together between 5 and 19 January 2027. The waivers cover nearly 40 English-taught Master’s programmes in fields such as science, the biological and environmental sciences, agriculture and forestry, medicine, the social sciences, law, education, theology and the arts. International Talents @Unibo at University of Bologna (Italy) The University of Bologna’s International Talents @Unibo scholarships are for international students whose qualifications come from outside the Italian education system and who enrol in a second-cycle (Master’s) degree. The latest call we have confirmed, for 2025/26, offered 30 scholarships worth €6,500 gross each plus full exemption from tuition fees. The scholarships cover second-cycle degree programmes in all fields at the University of Bologna. Eric Bleumink Scholarships at University of Groningen (Netherlands) The Eric Bleumink Fund at the University of Groningen gives full scholarships to students from the least developed countries. Apply for your Master’s by 1 December 2026 to be considered for courses starting September 2027. The scholarships cover one- and two-year Master’s degrees in any field at the University of Groningen. University of Geneva Excellence Master Fellowships (Switzerland) The University of Geneva’s Faculty of Science offers Excellence Master Fellowships to outstanding students from any university. Each fellowship is worth CHF 10,000 to CHF 15,000 a year; applications open in early January, with a deadline usually on 28 February. The fellowships cover Master of Science programmes in the Faculty of Science’s disciplines, such as mathematics, computer science, physics, chemistry, biology and earth sciences. VU Amsterdam Fellowship Programme (Netherlands) The VU Fellowship Programme (VUFP) is a merit award for non-EU/EEA students with excellent grades who are admitted to a full-time English-taught Master’s at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. It waives the full tuition fee, for both years of a two-year programme if first-year credits are passed, but does not pay living costs; the scholarship deadline is 1 February 2027. The scholarships cover English-taught Master’s programmes in fields such as business and economics, law, science, the humanities, the social sciences and health. University of Twente Scholarships (Netherlands) The University of Twente Scholarship (UTS) is for excellent students from both EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA countries in the top 5 to 10% of their class. It is worth €3,000 to €22,000 for one year, against non-EU fees of about €18,700 to €22,300 in 2027-28, and the deadline is 1 April 2027. The scholarships cover Master’s programmes in engineering technology, electrical engineering and computer science, science and technology, and behavioural, management and social sciences. UNIL Master’s Grants for Foreign Students (Switzerland) The University of Lausanne gives around 10 Master’s Grants a year to graduates of foreign universities with very high results. Each grant pays CHF 1,600 a month for 10 months a year, and grant holders pay no course fees apart from CHF 80 a semester; the 2027-28 deadline was 1 November 2026, and the next round usually opens in early autumn. The scholarships cover Master’s programmes in law, economics and business, social and political sciences, the humanities, biology, and geosciences and the environment, but not medicine.   PhD Scholarships at Top Universities »   President’s PhD Scholarships at Imperial College London (UK) Imperial College London gives 50 President’s PhD Scholarships a year to high-achieving applicants of any nationality with a first-class degree or a Master’s distinction. Each covers full tuition fees, a stipend of £27,036 (2027-28 rate) for 3.5 years and £2,000 a year for research costs; the remaining rounds close on 11 January and 1 March 2027. The scholarships cover PhD research in engineering, the natural sciences, medicine and business. Cambridge International Scholarships (UK) The Cambridge Trust’s Cambridge International Scholarships go to the highest-ranked international applicants for a PhD at the University of Cambridge, chosen from a single ranked list across all subjects. Each pays the University Composition Fee and a maintenance allowance, and there is no separate application: you complete the funding section of your Cambridge application by your course’s funding deadline. The scholarships cover PhD research in the arts and humanities, social sciences, biological and physical sciences, clinical medicine and technology. Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (Hong Kong) The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme is open to students of any nationality and pays a stipend of HK$344,400 a year for a PhD at one of eight UGC-funded universities, including the University of Hong Kong, CUHK, HKUST and PolyU. The deadline for initial applications is 1 December 2026 for PhDs starting around September 2027. The fellowships cover PhD research in all areas. Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA) (Singapore) SINGA funds international students for a PhD at A*STAR research institutes and partner universities, including the National University of Singapore and Nanyang Technological University. It covers full tuition, a monthly stipend, a settling-in allowance and an airfare grant; the next deadline is 1 December 2026 for the August 2027 intake. The awards cover PhD research in science and engineering. KU Leuven PhD Scholarships for Developing Countries (Belgium) KU Leuven offers PhD scholarships every year to excellent researchers from low-income countries for research relevant to development. The PhD Scholarships for Researchers from the South fund up to four years in Leuven, with a tuition fee waiver, a bench fee for research costs and travel, while the Global Minds scholarships fund a sandwich PhD split between Leuven and the home university; supervisors submit applications by 4 February 2027. The scholarships cover PhD research in all fields at KU Leuven. University of Otago Doctoral Scholarships (New Zealand) The University of Otago Doctoral Scholarship is Otago’s main doctoral award, open to domestic and international students, with up to 153 offered each year. It pays a stipend of NZ$34,128 a year and a domestic tuition fee waiver for three years, which covers the full PhD fees of international students because they pay domestic fees in New Zealand; you usually apply when you apply for admission. The scholarships cover PhD study in any field at Otago, across the humanities, commerce, health sciences and sciences. Warwick Chancellor’s International Scholarships (UK) The University of Warwick awards Chancellor’s International Scholarships to its most outstanding PhD applicants of any nationality who pay overseas fees. Each covers tuition fees at the overseas rate and a stipend at the UKRI rate for up to 3.5 years, and the deadline is 7 December 2026. The scholarships cover PhD study in all of Warwick’s faculties: arts; science, engineering and medicine; and social sciences, including Warwick Business School. See also the lists of Top 30 University-wide Scholarships for International Students and Top 15+ Scholarships in Europe for Non-EU International Students The post Top 45 International Scholarships at the World’s Top 250 Universities first appeared on Scholars4DeV.