Though it can be expensive to live in Europe, many fully funded scholarships are available to help finance study abroad programs in major European cities such as London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, and Madrid.
The list below features 10 fully funded scholarships that cover 100% of program costs for the 2024-2025 school year.
1. The Erasmus+ Programme
The EU’s Erasmus+ Programme includes fully-funded Master's Degree scholarships for young graduates who want to explore more of Europe. These grants are available for study periods between 3 months and 1 year.
Applicants must be citizens of a country within the EU or one of its associated countries, such as Norway or Iceland. They must also have completed at least one year of tertiary education.
Note: You can only apply for a scholarship if you are planning to spend your whole degree period abroad. If you plan on returning home after studying abroad, you should not apply for these scholarships; instead, see our list of grants below.
2. The Emile Boutmy Scholarship in France
This program is offered to students who wish to study at a French university. Students must be between 18 and 25 years old with a minimum of two years of higher education under their belt. The scholarship covers tuition, board, and lodging while abroad.
Deadline for undergraduate programme (applicants from foreign secondary schools): 21 February 2024
Deadline for undergraduate programme (applicants from French secondary schools): 9 June 2024
Deadline for master programme: 3 December 2023
More information on how to apply can be found here. Learn more about Emile Boutmy here.
The scholarship provides funding for tuition and living expenses for one academic year. To qualify, applicants must have completed one year of college or have been accepted into an undergraduate or graduate degree program at a German university or research institute.
3. The Fulbright Commission
The program has been around since 1948, making it one of America’s oldest international exchange programs, and offers opportunities for citizens of all countries to study or teach at some 1,400 participating institutions in more than 135 countries around the world.
There are no specific subject requirements. It’s open to graduate students as well as undergraduates, and applicants can pursue any field of study they choose—though they must be proficient in English.
Students also need a minimum GPA of 3.0 on a 4-point scale (or its equivalent) and must have completed two years of college before applying.
In addition to providing financial support for tuition fees, room and board, books and travel expenses, recipients receive an allowance that covers incidentals such as laundry service or entertainment during their stay abroad.
4. International Research & Studies Initiative (IRSI)
The International Research & Studies Initiative (IRSI) provides scholarships for university students from less-developed countries who are attending a recognized international university of excellence.
The program supports high-achieving, well-motivated students with an interest in working to create a better future for underprivileged populations after graduation.
The scholarship is awarded annually and covers full tuition fees and living expenses for one year. Students will be based at one of our partner universities, which are located across seven European countries: France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and the United Kingdom.
Students will be expected to work on projects that contribute towards improving health care systems or education in their home country upon completion of their studies.
Successful candidates are therefore those who are passionate about development and public service, with a strong academic record, and excellent communication skills.
IRSI is open to applicants from all over the world, but priority is given to students from less-developed countries and disadvantaged backgrounds.
5. The British Council
Students who have financial needs are often awarded scholarships covering tuition fees, airfare, and accommodation. It is important to note that funding varies from country to country and that it may be necessary for students to apply for multiple grants.
For example, if you want to study in Italy or France, you should apply for both a UK scholarship and an Italian or French scholarship.
Please note that although there is no guarantee of receiving funding through any of these sources, all applications are free.
6. ASEM Association
Full scholarships (up to £9,000) are available for EU students wishing to study a Master's course in European Studies at one of their partner universities (Hannover, Groningen, Reading, Caen, and Paris Ouest Nanterre La Défense).
Scholarship holders will also receive an all-inclusive living cost package. Please note that you must have a strong academic record and fluency in English. The deadline is May 15th.
Students from non-EU countries can apply for EUROPA’s scholarship programme. If successful, they will be awarded up to €3,500 towards tuition fees per year (depending on their level of education), plus a monthly stipend during their stay.
There are various funding opportunities open to postgraduate students with a minimum 2:1 degree; you should submit your application by January 1st each year.
7. The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship in Switzerland.
Find out about the types of scholarships available, eligibility criteria, and application deadlines for your country here.
8. The Erasmus Mundus Scholarship Programme in Italy
9. The Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship.
This scholarship is funded by Ireland's Department of Education and Skills and is offered to applicants from any country. If you are eligible, you will receive up to 15,000 Euros a year for tuition fees at any recognized Irish university.
To be considered, you must apply for admission through your relevant education institution between October 1st and December 31st each year.
The application process includes an online application form, academic transcript(s), reference letters, and a personal statement. Students who already have an undergraduate degree can apply for additional funding of 10,000 Euros per year (for study at master’s level) or 20,000 Euros per year (for study at doctoral level).
10. The European Commission Jean Monnet Scholarship Programme
These scholarships are awarded by European Union institutions to students from countries that do not participate in other EU exchange programmes. The scholarship covers all expenses associated with studying at a university of choice anywhere within the EU. You may also use it to fund research at an EU institution or another organization with which it has signed agreements on mobility and cooperation.
11. NWO PhD scholarship program
As a PhD student you will receive a monthly stipend of approximately €1,828, regardless of your family situation. In addition, you may be eligible for an annual taxable supplement of €4,000 for dissertation research or teaching practice.
A living allowance subsidy (currently about €700 per month) is also available to cover housing and living expenses.
The maximum duration of a PhD grant is four years. If necessary, extensions are possible.
12. The Belgium Government Scholarships.
Therefore, it promotes scholarship programs for international students and academic staff coming from developing countries.
These scholarships are fully funded by the Belgian government and do not require repayment of any kind.
The scholarships awarded are usually for one academic year or one semester only.
In most cases, a renewal is possible if a very good academic record has been maintained. However, no guarantee can be given that all applicants will be granted a renewal of their scholarship.
13. The DAAD Scholarship in Germany.
The scholarship covers tuition fees, a monthly stipend, and a travel allowance. The number of scholarships is limited; more information can be found on their website.
Candidates must have excellent academic records and fluent German language skills.
This scholarship is open to candidates from all over the world, with no restrictions on nationality or citizenship.
Applicants will need to provide evidence of proficiency in German by providing copies of diplomas or certificates such as TOEFL/IELTS/DALF exam results etc.
All applications should be submitted online via DAAD’s online application portal before 31 August 2023.
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