Fully Funded Scholarships in Europe for International Students 2027/2028

Europe remains one of the best regions in the world for international students looking for fully funded scholarships. The reason is simple: Europe has a mix of European Union scholarships, national government scholarships, university scholarships, regional aid, research funding, and tuition-free or low-tuition public universities. For international students from Asia, Africa, the Middle East, Latin America and Eastern Europe, Europe can be more affordable than the United States, Canada, Australia or the United Kingdom, especially if the student targets the right scholarship at the right time. However, students should be careful with the phrase “fully funded.” Some scholarships cover tuition, monthly living allowance, travel, insurance and visa-related costs. Others only cover tuition fees, or give a partial contribution to living expenses. Before applying, always check what the scholarship actually pays for, whether tuition is covered, whether accommodation is included, and whether the stipend is enough for the city where you will live. For the 2027/2028 intake, most major scholarship calls will open between August 2026 and April 2027, depending on the programme. As of 3 July 2026, many 2027/2028 calls are not yet open, so students should use the latest available 2026/2027 calls as a planning reference and then verify the new call once it is published.

Best fully funded scholarships in Europe

1. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are among the strongest fully funded scholarships in Europe. They are international master’s programmes delivered by a consortium of universities, usually in at least two different countries. This means a student may study in France and Spain, Germany and Italy, Portugal and Sweden, or another combination depending on the programme. The European Commission explains that Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters may offer full scholarships to the best-ranked students worldwide. These scholarships cover participation costs and contribute to travel, visa and living allowance. The master’s duration is normally one to two academic years, equal to 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits. This scholarship is best for students applying for a master’s degree. It is usually not for bachelor’s students. It is highly competitive, but it is open to excellent students worldwide. Applicants normally need a bachelor’s degree, academic transcripts, CV, motivation letter, recommendation letters, proof of English, and sometimes field-specific documents such as a portfolio, research statement or proof of work experience. The typical Erasmus Mundus timeline is:

The best strategy is to apply to several programmes, but only if each application is carefully tailored. A generic motivation letter rarely works.

2. Stipendium Hungaricum, Hungary

Stipendium Hungaricum is one of the best fully funded scholarships in Europe for bachelor’s, master’s, one-tier master’s, doctoral and non-degree programmes. The scholarship is managed by Tempus Public Foundation and is based on cooperation agreements between Hungary and Sending Partners. For the 2026/2027 call, the programme covered bachelor’s, master’s, one-tier master’s and non-degree programmes, with a separate doctoral call. The official page also included annexes with Sending Partners and eligible programmes. The 2026/2027 deadline was 15 January 2026 at 2 p.m. Central European Time, and the official announcement listed benefits including tuition-free education, monthly stipend, accommodation contribution, medical insurance and student ID. For 2027/2028, students should expect a similar pattern: the call is likely to open around autumn 2026, with a deadline around January 2027, but the official call must be checked once published.

3. DAAD scholarships, Germany

Germany is already affordable because many public universities have low or no tuition fees, but living costs still need to be covered. DAAD is the main scholarship organisation for international students who want to study or research in Germany. DAAD scholarships vary by country, level and field. Some are for master’s degrees, some for PhD research, some for architecture, arts, music or STEM, and others for development-related fields. DAAD explains that scholarship applicants generally need to prove language skills in the language of instruction, such as English or German, depending on the programme. One of the strongest routes is DAAD EPOS, which supports development-related postgraduate courses. DAAD states that EPOS scholarships are for graduates from developing and newly industrialised countries with at least two years of professional experience, and can fund a postgraduate or master’s degree in Germany, with doctoral funding in exceptional cases. Germany is especially strong for engineering, climate, sustainability, public policy, development, economics, water, urban planning, public health and environmental management.

4. France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship

The Eiffel Scholarship is one of France’s most prestigious scholarships for international students. It is for master’s and doctoral levels, not bachelor’s. The important detail is that students do not apply directly to Campus France. A French higher education institution must select and submit the candidate. For the 2026 campaign, Campus France listed the call opening on 1 October 2025, the institutional submission deadline on 8 January 2026, and results from 30 March 2026. Eiffel covers a monthly allowance and services such as international transport, national transport, insurance, housing search support and cultural activities. For 2026, Campus France listed the monthly allowance as €1,200 for master’s students and €2,100 for doctoral students, but tuition fees are not covered by Eiffel. This scholarship is best for strong students applying to French master’s or PhD programmes in priority fields such as engineering, ecological transition, law, political science, economics, management, digital, mathematics, biology and health.

5. Italy MAECI scholarships and regional aid

Italy has several scholarship routes. The MAECI scholarship is offered by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. For 2026/2027, applications had to be submitted online through the Study in Italy portal by 26 March 2026 at 14:00 Italian time. MAECI can support master’s degrees, PhD programmes, higher education in arts, music and dance, research under academic supervision, and Italian language and culture courses, depending on the annual call. Italy also has regional scholarships such as DSU, which can be very valuable for students with low family income, but these require careful preparation of legalised and translated financial documents.

6. Spain AECID and Erasmus routes

Spain has government and institutional scholarships, but eligibility depends heavily on nationality and programme. AECID scholarships often target specific regions, including Africa, the Middle East and Latin America, depending on the call. Spain is also a strong destination through Erasmus Mundus because many Erasmus programmes include Spanish universities. Students interested in Spain should not rely on only one scholarship. They should search AECID, Erasmus Mundus, university scholarships, regional scholarships and foundation scholarships.

7. Finland tuition waivers

Finland is excellent academically, but for bachelor’s and master’s students, funding is often not a classic fully funded government scholarship. Study in Finland explains that students should check whether their programme offers a scholarship, tuition fee waiver or early-bird tuition fee option, and that scholarship information is usually found alongside the programme application details. Finland is a good choice for students who can combine a tuition waiver with savings, part-time work and external funding.

Documents usually required

Most European scholarships require:

• Passport
• Academic transcripts
• Degree certificate or expected graduation certificate
• CV
• Motivation letter or statement of purpose
• Recommendation letters
• English test or language proof
• Research proposal for PhD or research-based master’s
• Work certificates for experience-based scholarships
• Proof of nationality or residence
• Programme-specific documents

Best application strategy

Do not apply randomly. Build a scholarship calendar. For 2027/2028, start preparing in August 2026. Prepare one strong CV, one academic motivation letter base, one professional motivation letter base, and one document checklist. Then adapt each application. A realistic plan is:

Final advice

The best scholarship is not always the most famous one. For some students, Erasmus Mundus is ideal. For others, DAAD EPOS, Stipendium Hungaricum, Eiffel, MAECI, DSU Italy or a university waiver may be more realistic. Need help applying? We can help you choose the right scholarships, prepare your CV, write your motivation letter, review your documents, and build a full application calendar for the 2027/2028 intake. ---