Top 15 Research Scholarships for International Students: Government and University Funding

Research scholarships are among the most generously funded awards for international students. Governments set them up to build their countries as global research centres, and universities create their own programmes to draw strong researchers. Most of these awards support a Master's by Research or Thesis, or a PhD.

The list below is split into two groups: government-funded schemes and university-funded schemes. Each entry names the host country and what the award covers, so you can compare them quickly.

Government-funded International Research Scholarships »

Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA)
The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is a prestigious award for international students who want to study a Master's or PhD in the United States. Funding runs for the whole study period and includes tuition, textbooks, airfare, a living stipend and health insurance.

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Canada)
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) were set up to bring world-class doctoral students to Canada and to strengthen the country as a centre for research and higher learning. The award supports a doctoral degree, or a combined MA/PhD or MD/PhD. It is worth $50,000 per year for three years.

Australia Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships (Australia)
The Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarships are open to both domestic and overseas students doing a Research Doctorate or Research Masters, known as higher degrees by research (HDRs). The award provides one or more of the following: tuition fees, living costs and ancillary costs such as health insurance, relocation costs and publication costs.

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (Switzerland)
The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships let graduates from all fields carry out doctoral or postdoctoral research at a publicly funded university or recognised institution in Switzerland. The scholarship covers a monthly allowance, tuition fees, health insurance, a lodging allowance and more.

CIMO Doctoral Fellowships (Finland)
The CIMO Fellowships programme is open to young doctoral students and researchers from all countries and all academic fields who want to complete a Doctorate (or Double Doctorate) at a Finnish university. The scholarship period ranges from 3 to 12 months and includes a monthly allowance.

New Zealand International Doctoral Research Scholarships (New Zealand)
The NZIDRS lets international students do PhD study in any discipline at a New Zealand university. It covers university tuition fees and associated student levies for 3 years, an annual living stipend and medical insurance.

University-Funded International Research Scholarships »

Adelaide Scholarships International (Australia)
The University of Adelaide runs the Adelaide Scholarships International (ASI) programme to bring high quality international postgraduate students to its research strength areas. The scholarship includes course tuition fees, an annual living allowance and health insurance.

Melbourne Research Scholarships (Australia)
The Melbourne Research Scholarship (MRS) was created by the University of Melbourne for high achieving domestic and international research students. Benefits depend on your circumstances and may include one or more of the following: a fortnightly living allowance, a relocation allowance, paid sick, maternity and parenting leave, full fee remission (international students only) and Overseas Student Health Cover (international students only).

University of Sydney International Scholarships (Australia)
The University of Sydney invites candidates who are eligible for a Postgraduate Research Degree or a Master's by Research to apply for the University of Sydney International Research Scholarship (USydIS). The USydIS covers tuition fees and a living allowance for up to three years.

Cambridge International Scholarship Scheme (UK)
Through the Cambridge Trusts, the University of Cambridge offers approximately 80 Cambridge International Scholarships to overseas students starting a research course that leads to a PhD. Each award covers the full cost of fees and maintenance for the length of the course.

Warwick Chancellor's International Scholarships (UK)
The Warwick Graduate School awards around 25 Chancellor's International Scholarships each year to the most outstanding international PhD applicants. They are open to students of any nationality and to any discipline offered at Warwick. The award includes full payment of the overseas tuition fee and a maintenance stipend.

Edinburgh Global Research Scholarships (UK)
The Edinburgh Global Research Scholarships are designed to attract high quality overseas research students to the University of Edinburgh. Each award pays the difference between the tuition fee for a UK/EU graduate student and the fee charged to an overseas graduate student. The awards do not cover maintenance expenses.

Nottingham Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarship for Research Excellence (UK)
The University of Nottingham offers these scholarships to international students who want to pursue a PhD or MPhil research programme at the University. The scholarship covers full tuition fees.

Sussex Chancellor's International Research Scholarships (UK)
The University of Sussex seeks to attract international research scholars for full-time doctoral studies in eligible fields of study. The scholarship covers international fees and a stipend.

Global Mind Doctoral Scholarship Programme at K.U. Leuven (Belgium)
K.U. Leuven offers IRO (Interfaculty Council for Development Co-operation) scholarships to deserving students from developing countries to do their PhD at the largest university in Flanders, Belgium. The scholarship includes a living allowance, tuition fee, health insurance, accident insurance and return tickets.