Top 13 Scholarships to Study in Europe for International Students (2027 Update)

Europe is one of the most affordable places to study abroad, but the funding landscape is fragmented: there is one EU-wide scholarship, and almost every country runs its own government programme with its own rules, nationality lists and deadlines. This guide brings together 13 of the most important scholarships for international students, with eligibility, what each one pays for, the next deadline and the official page to apply.

Last updated: October 23, 2026. Everything below was checked against official and published sources for the 2027–28 intake. Several rounds have already closed and others close within weeks, so use the comparison table to see what is still open, and always confirm on the official page before you apply.

Quick comparison

Scholarship	Country	Level	What it provides	Next deadline
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters	EU (multi-country)	Master’s	Full funding (amounts set by each programme)	Mostly Dec 2026 – Feb 2027
Chevening	United Kingdom	Master’s (1 year)	Tuition, living costs, flights	Closed Oct 6, 2026; next ~Aug–Oct 2027 (expected)
Gates Cambridge	United Kingdom	Master’s / PhD	Full cost of study	Dec 8, 2026 or Jan 6, 2027 (by course)
DAAD	Germany	Master’s / PhD / research	Monthly stipend, insurance, travel	Varies; many close Aug–Nov 2026
Eiffel Excellence Scholarship	France	Master’s / PhD	Monthly allowance + services	Institutions submit by Jan 6, 2027
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships	Switzerland	PhD / postdoctoral research / art master’s	CHF 2,450 per month	By country: Oct 31 – Nov 30, 2026
Swedish Institute Global Professionals	Sweden	Master’s	Tuition, SEK 12,000/month, travel grant	Scholarship portal Feb 2027
NL Scholarship	Netherlands	Bachelor’s / master’s	€5,000 (first year only)	Set by each university (Feb–May 2027)
Government of Ireland Scholarship	Ireland	Master’s / PhD	Fee waiver + €10,000	Expected mid-March 2027
Italian Government scholarships	Italy	Master’s / PhD / research	Monthly allowance (varies by call)	2027–28 calls expected early 2027
NAWA Poland scholarships	Poland	Master’s	Tuition-free + PLN 2,000–2,500/month	2027 calls expected spring 2027
Stipendium Hungaricum	Hungary	Bachelor’s / master’s / PhD	Tuition waiver, stipend, accommodation	Expected ~Jan 15, 2027
Türkiye Scholarships	Türkiye	Bachelor’s / master’s / PhD	Tuition, stipend, housing, insurance, flight	Expected Jan 10 – Feb 20, 2027

EU-wide scholarship

1. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM)

Overview: The European Union’s flagship scholarship for international students. Each Joint Master’s is run by a consortium of universities in at least three countries, and you study in two or more of them. There are around 200 programmes across all disciplines, and the European Commission selected 37 new ones for the 2027 intake in July 2026.
Eligibility: Open to students worldwide with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent, plus any programme-specific requirements. There is no age limit and no single central application: you apply directly to each programme, and can apply to up to three programmes per year. Past EMJM scholarship holders cannot receive a second one.
Benefits: Scholarship holders have their participation costs covered, plus travel and installation support and a monthly allowance. Erasmus+ information lists a living allowance of €1,400 per month for up to 24 months, but check the exact terms of each programme.
Deadline: Each programme sets its own deadline. For September 2027 entry, most calls open in October–November 2026 and close between December 2026 and February 2027, with many clustering around mid-January. A few close earlier, so check the catalogue now.
Official information

National government scholarships in Europe

2. Chevening Scholarships (United Kingdom)

Overview: The UK Government’s global scholarship programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and partners. Awards are for one-year master’s degrees at UK universities, and recipients join a network of more than 60,000 alumni.
Eligibility: Citizens of Chevening-eligible countries who intend to return home for at least two years after the award. You choose three eligible UK courses when you apply, and you must hold an unconditional offer from one of them to receive the award. Check the Chevening country page for work-experience and nationality rules.
Benefits: Tuition fees, a living allowance, return flights and other grants, including visa application fee coverage.
Deadline: The 2027–28 round opened on August 4, 2026 and closed on October 6, 2026 (11:00 UTC). Interviews run from March to April 2027, results arrive from mid-June, and the deadline to submit an unconditional offer is July 8, 2027. The next round is expected to open in early August 2027.
Official information

3. Gates Cambridge Scholarship (University of Cambridge)

Overview: Full-cost scholarships for outstanding postgraduate students from outside the UK who show leadership potential and a commitment to improving the lives of others. About 70 to 80 awards are made each year, and roughly two-thirds go to PhD students.
Eligibility: Citizens of any country outside the UK applying to a full-time PhD, MLitt or eligible one-year postgraduate course at Cambridge. You apply for admission and funding through the same Cambridge postgraduate application. A separate earlier round exists for U.S. citizens living in the U.S.
Benefits: The full University Composition Fee, a maintenance allowance (£22,000 for 12 months at the 2025–26 rate), one economy flight each way, and inbound visa and Immigration Health Surcharge costs.
Deadline: The funding deadline depends on your course: December 8, 2026 or January 6, 2027. The U.S. round closed on October 14, 2026. Confirm your course’s date in Cambridge’s Course Directory.
Official information

4. DAAD Scholarships (Germany)

Overview: The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is Germany’s main scholarship funder. Its study scholarships support international graduates of all disciplines (art and architecture have separate programmes) to complete a full master’s or a postgraduate study year in Germany. DAAD also funds doctoral, research and development-related (EPOS) programmes.
Eligibility: International graduates with a clear study plan that makes studying in Germany necessary. You cannot apply if you are already studying for a master’s or doctorate in Germany, or if you have lived there for more than 15 months at the deadline. Eligibility and deadlines depend on your country, so use DAAD’s scholarship database.
Benefits: A 2026 call listing gives a monthly stipend of €992 for master’s students, plus a travel allowance, health insurance and a one-off study allowance. This scholarship does not pay tuition fees.
Deadline: Set by programme and country. Many calls for 2027 close between late August and mid-November 2026 (one national call closed on November 16, 2026), and some programmes also take applications in spring. Check DAAD’s scholarship database for your country.
Official information

5. Eiffel Excellence Scholarship (France)

Overview: A French government scholarship, run by Campus France, that helps French institutions attract top international students to master’s and doctoral programmes in selected fields. You cannot apply directly: a French higher-education institution nominates you.
Eligibility: Non-French citizens aged 29 or under for a master’s and 35 or under for a PhD. Master’s applicants must not already be studying in France. You must be applying for an Eiffel scholarship for the first time, and it cannot be combined with another French government scholarship.
Benefits: A monthly allowance of €1,200 for master’s students and €2,100 for PhD students (rates from January 2026), plus international and national travel, insurance, housing search help and cultural activities. Awards last 12 to 36 months from September 1. Tuition is not covered by the scholarship, though nominating institutions often waive it.
Deadline: The national deadline for institutions to submit to Campus France is January 6, 2027, and institutions set earlier internal deadlines (for example, ENS Lyon on November 20, 2026 and Université Paris Cité on November 2, 2026 for PhD applicants). Results come from April 2027. Apply to your chosen institution well before January.
Official information

6. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (Switzerland)

Overview: Scholarships from the Swiss Confederation for foreign researchers to pursue doctoral studies or research in Switzerland, and for foreign artists to start a master’s degree at a Swiss art university or conservatory. They are not for general master’s degrees.
Eligibility: Research Fellowship and PhD applicants need a master’s degree or equivalent by July 31, 2027 (June 30, 2027 for ETH Zurich) and a letter of support from a Swiss academic supervisor. Art scholarships need a bachelor’s degree and are open only to certain countries. Eligibility depends on your nationality.
Benefits: A monthly allowance of CHF 2,450 to cover basic living costs for one person for 12 months (PhD awards can be extended to up to 36 months), plus a return flight allowance for scholars from non-EU/EFTA countries. Awards start on September 1, 2027.
Deadline: Deadlines are set by country. Examples for 2027–28: Pakistan October 31, 2026; India November 10, 2026; Vietnam November 24, 2026; Japan November 30, 2026. Check the Swiss embassy page or ESKAS for your country.
Official information

7. Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (Sweden)

Overview: A fully funded scholarship for master’s studies in Sweden, offered by the Swedish Institute to future leaders from selected countries. Scholars choose from more than 400 eligible English-taught programmes and join the SI Network for Global Professionals.
Eligibility: Citizens of the countries on the Swedish Institute’s eligibility list, with leadership and work experience. You must first apply to an eligible master’s programme through University Admissions, then submit the SI application using your admissions application number.
Benefits: Tuition fees paid directly to the university, a monthly allowance of SEK 12,000, a one-off travel grant of SEK 15,000 for scholars not already living in Sweden, insurance, and coverage of the residence permit fee. The scholarship does not cover family members.
Deadline: Apply to master’s programmes through University Admissions between October 16, 2026 and January 15, 2027. The SI scholarship portal then opens for about two weeks in February 2027 (listed as February 8–24 or 9–25, so confirm the exact dates). Results are due on April 22, 2027.
Official information

8. NL Scholarship (Netherlands, formerly Holland Scholarship)

Overview: A partial scholarship funded by the Dutch Ministry of Education and participating Dutch universities for non-EEA students who start a degree in the Netherlands. The Holland Scholarship was renamed the NL Scholarship in June 2023.
Eligibility: Non-EEA nationals applying for a full-time bachelor’s or master’s programme at a participating research university or university of applied sciences. You must not have studied in the Netherlands before or hold a Dutch degree. Each institution adds its own requirements.
Benefits: A one-time €5,000 grant paid in the first year of study. It is not renewable and does not cover full tuition.
Deadline: There is no central portal. Each university sets its own application process and deadline, usually between February 1 and May 1 for September entry. Some institutions run deadlines as late as April 1, 2027. Check your university’s NL Scholarship page.
Official information

9. Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship (Ireland)

Overview: A prestigious Irish government scholarship, managed by the Higher Education Authority, awarded to 60 high-calibre international students each year for one year of postgraduate study.
Eligibility: Students whose domicile of origin is outside the EU/EEA, Switzerland and the UK, applying for postgraduate study at NFQ level 9 or 10 (taught master’s, postgraduate diploma or PhD). You must already hold a conditional or final offer from an eligible Irish institution, and previous recipients cannot apply again.
Benefits: A €10,000 stipend for one year, plus a full waiver of tuition and registration fees by your host institution. Housing, travel, health insurance and books are not covered, and the award is not extendable.
Deadline: The 2027 call has not yet been published. Applications are expected to open in January 2027, with a deadline in mid-March (March 12 in 2026). Apply for admission to your Irish institution first.
Official information

10. Italian Government scholarships: MAECI and Invest Your Talent in Italy

Overview: Italy’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAECI) funds study, training and research at Italian institutions for foreign citizens, with separate lists of eligible countries. “Invest Your Talent in Italy” is a joint MAECI and Uni-Italia programme for master’s students from partner countries. Income-based regional “DSU” grants are a third route.
Eligibility: MAECI scholarships cover master’s degrees, PhDs, AFAM courses, research projects and advanced Italian language and culture courses, for citizens of countries listed in each year’s call. Invest Your Talent in Italy requires two applications: one for the scholarship through the Italian foreign ministry and one for admission to a listed programme. It cannot be combined with other Italian public scholarships.
Benefits: Amounts and coverage vary by programme and year (for Invest Your Talent in Italy, a stipend plus a tuition waiver). Read the current call for exact figures.
Deadline: The 2026–27 MAECI call closed on March 26, 2026 (apply only through the Study in Italy portal). The 2027–28 call is expected to open in early 2027. Invest Your Talent in Italy dates change each year: the 2025/26 window ran from January 23 to February 24, 2025, and the 2026/27 call opened on April 30, 2026.
Official information

11. NAWA Scholarships: Banach and Poland My First Choice (Poland)

Overview: The Polish National Agency for Academic Exchange (NAWA) runs two master’s scholarship programmes for international students. The Banach Programme serves citizens of selected developing countries (36 countries in 2026/27), and Poland My First Choice serves citizens of countries with a high level of socio-economic development.
Eligibility: Full-time second-cycle (master’s) study at Polish institutions that have a framework agreement with NAWA. You choose your university and field and apply to the university yourself, because NAWA does not arrange admission. Banach and Poland My First Choice cover different lists of countries.
Benefits: Banach: a monthly scholarship of PLN 2,500, tuition-free study at public universities and a PLN 2,500 travel allowance. Poland My First Choice: a monthly scholarship of PLN 2,000 (about €460), a one-off travel allowance and tuition exemption at public institutions.
Deadline: For 2026/27, the Banach call opened on April 20, 2026 and the Poland My First Choice deadline was May 29, 2026 (3:00 p.m. Warsaw time). The 2027/28 calls are expected to follow a similar spring schedule, but NAWA has not announced dates.
Official information

12. Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary)

Overview: Hungary’s flagship government scholarship for students from more than 80 partner countries, managed by the Tempus Public Foundation. It covers bachelor’s, master’s, one-tier master’s, non-degree and PhD study at around 30 Hungarian universities, with close to 900 English-taught courses.
Eligibility: Citizens of a partner country with a secondary-school diploma (bachelor’s), a bachelor’s degree (master’s) or a master’s degree (PhD). In many countries you must also be nominated by the national sending partner, so check your country’s process. Bachelor’s and master’s students take a free Hungarian language course.
Benefits: Tuition is waived, and the programme pays a monthly stipend (HUF 43,700 for bachelor’s and master’s students, and a higher amount for PhD students), plus accommodation support and health insurance. There is no application fee.
Deadline: The 2026/27 deadline was January 15, 2026. The 2027/28 call is expected to open in November 2026, with a deadline around January 15, 2027, but it has not been officially published. Nominating bodies may set earlier deadlines.
Official information

13. Türkiye Scholarships (Türkiye Bursları)

Overview: The Turkish government’s fully funded programme for international students at associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral levels, plus research scholarships. Türkiye spans Europe and Asia, so we have included it for readers considering study there. Scholars begin with a Turkish-language year.
Eligibility: Minimum academic average of 70% for undergraduate applicants (90% for medicine, dentistry and pharmacy) and 75% for master’s and PhD applicants. Age limits are under 21 for undergraduate, under 30 for master’s and under 35 for PhD. You can list up to 12 university and programme preferences.
Benefits: Tuition, a monthly stipend, dormitory accommodation, health insurance, a return flight and the language year. Published stipend rates differ by source and are changed periodically, so check the current figure.
Deadline: The 2026 window ran from January 10 to February 20. The 2027 window is expected to be similar, but official dates had not been confirmed in the sources reviewed. Applications are free and online only.
Official information

How to choose and apply

Start with your nationality. Many national schemes (Swedish Institute, Poland’s NAWA, Italy’s MAECI, Hungary’s Stipendium Hungaricum) only accept citizens of listed countries. Check the eligibility list before you invest time.
Apply for admission and funding in parallel. For Sweden, Gates Cambridge, Ireland and others, you need a university application as well as the scholarship application, and the two have different deadlines.
Check what “fully funded” covers. Some awards pay tuition but not living costs, and others (like DAAD) pay a stipend but not tuition. Compare the total cost, not the headline.
Apply to several programmes. Erasmus Mundus allows up to three applications per year, and combining an EU award with a national award or a university scholarship improves your chances.
Plan around the calendar. Most 2027–28 deadlines fall between October 2026 and March 2027, so shortlist now and prepare references, transcripts and motivation letters early.

Conclusion

Europe offers a wide range of funding for international students, from the EU’s Erasmus Mundus programme to government-backed awards in Germany, France, the UK, Switzerland, Sweden, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Hungary and the Netherlands. Each scholarship has its own criteria, benefits and deadlines, so read each programme’s official page carefully, apply early and keep a backup plan. Good luck!