Mirella Pandjaitan
Mar 12, 2026
The dream of pursuing higher education abroad, from bachelor’s to doctoral degrees, is becoming increasingly attainable. Each year, a new wave of international scholarships opens applications, providing students the chance to study across Europe, Asia, and Oceania.
Even more appealing is that several programs don’t require TOEFL or IELTS certificates, removing one of the biggest hurdles for many applicants. Beyond covering tuition fees, many scholarships also include living allowances, accommodation, and travel support, making studying overseas more accessible than ever.
If studying abroad is part of your long-term goals, now is the perfect time to start preparing. Below are some of the most notable international scholarships.
Australia Awards Scholarship
Funded by the government of Australia, this program supports Master’s and PhD studies and usually opens for applications between February and April. Applicants must choose study programs aligned with the priority development sectors of the Australia Awards.
Required documents include academic transcripts, birth certificates, CVs, and academic referee reports. English language requirements vary by program and level of study.
What it features: Full tuition coverage, round-trip airfare, monthly living allowance, pre-departure orientation, and arrival and academic support.
Eiffel Excellence Scholarship
Backed by the French government, this scholarship is designed to attract outstanding international students to top French universities, particularly in fields such as science, engineering, economics, and law. Language requirements vary by university, and some institutions may accept language certificates or the Medium of Instruction documentation instead of standardised tests.
What it features: Living allowances and academic support during the study period.
Erasmus Mundus Scholarship
Funded by the European Union, this prestigious program allows students to pursue a joint degree across multiple universities and countries within Europe.
Students typically move between two or three universities during their program, gaining academic and cultural experience across different countries. Some programs accept a Medium of Instruction (MoI) certificate from a previous university instead of TOEFL or IELTS.
What it features: Full tuition coverage, living allowance, and travel expenses.
Government of Ireland International Education Scholarship
Designed for Master’s and PhD students, this scholarship supports international scholars pursuing postgraduate studies at universities across Ireland. Applicants must first secure a conditional or unconditional offer from their chosen university and demonstrate both academic excellence and meaningful extracurricular involvement, such as volunteer work or humanitarian initiatives.
Applicants are typically required to submit academic transcripts, a personal statement, a letter of acceptance, and references, along with documentation of achievements and awards. English proficiency is required, with a minimum IELTS score of 6.0, depending on the chosen program.
What it features: Full tuition coverage, living allowance, and additional student support costs. Funding is usually provided for one academic year for Master’s programs.
Invest Your Talent in Italy Scholarship
This Master’s-level scholarship in Italy opens annually between January and March, designed for international applicants born on or after 1st January 1998, who have completed their undergraduate studies and aren’t graduates of Italian universities.
Applicants must apply to a participating Italian university and meet the institution’s admission criteria. Required documents include academic transcripts, a CV, a motivation video, and supporting documents. English proficiency is typically required at B2 CEFR level (approximately IELTS 5.5).
What it features: Tuition fee coverage, monthly living allowance, Italian language courses, and internship opportunities with Italian companies.
Korean Government Scholarship Program
Also known as the KGSP, this scholarship aims to strengthen international academic exchange while supporting talented global students. While TOEFL or IELTS may not always be mandatory, English proficiency or a TOPIK certificate can strengthen an application.
What it features: Full tuition coverage, round-trip airfare, a monthly stipend, and Korean language training before the academic program begins.
Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship
This scholarship supports Master’s and PhD studies in New Zealand, with applications typically opening in February. Applicants must be between 18 and 40 years old and demonstrate relevant work experience, which may include paid employment, internships, or volunteer work.
Applicants must prepare identification documents, academic transcripts translated into English, and research proposals for doctoral candidates. English proficiency (usually IELTS 6.5) may be required during the later stages of selection.
What it features: Tuition coverage, weekly living allowance of around NZ$531, initial establishment allowance of NZ$3,000, study support allowance, round-trip airfare, and health insurance.
Mitsui Bussan Scholarship
This scholarship supports undergraduate study in Japan and is intended for students under 20 who have completed high school with a strong academic record, typically a minimum average score of 80.
Applicants must submit documents, including academic transcripts, recommendation letters, essays, and parental consent statements, along with language certification where required. Successful candidates will also undertake Japanese language training before beginning their studies.
What it features: Full tuition coverage, a monthly stipend of approximately ¥145,000, round-trip airfare, arrival allowance, accommodation, meals, local transportation, and health insurance.
Top Universities in Japan
Romanian Government Scholarship
This scholarship is open to non-EU international students pursuing degrees in fields including engineering, social sciences, arts, agriculture, and political science. However, medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy are excluded. Undergraduate and master’s programs are generally taught in Romanian, with a one-year preparatory language course provided for students who do not yet speak the language.
The program typically lasts three to six years for undergraduate degrees, 1.5 to two years for master’s degrees, and three to four years for doctoral studies.
What it features: Full tuition waivers, dormitory accommodation (subject to availability), and monthly stipends.
Russian Government Scholarship
This program is open to international students for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs. Applicants may select up to six universities, with limits on the number of institutions in cities, such as Moscow and Saint Petersburg.
Applicants must demonstrate strong academic performance, typically with a minimum grade equivalent to 85 out of 100 or a GPA of 3.5. They must also provide identification documents, academic transcripts, a motivation letter, and a research proposal for research-based programs. Applicants of English-taught programs may submit B1-level language certification, meaning TOEFL or IELTS may not be required.
What it features: Full tuition coverage, monthly stipends, dormitory accommodation, and a one-year Russian language preparatory course.
Stipendium Hungaricum
Funded by the government of Hungary, this scholarship supports international students studying at Hungarian universities in English or Hungarian. Many universities accept MoI certificates or internal language assessments as alternatives to TOEFL or IELTS.
What it features: Full tuition coverage, a monthly stipend, and dormitory accommodation or housing allowance.
Türkiye Burslari Scholarship
Among the most comprehensive government-funded scholarships, this program from Turkey is open to bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral applicants worldwide. Applications generally run between January and February each year.
Eligibility requirements include strong academic performance, with a minimum average of 70 percent for undergraduate applicants and 75 percent for postgraduate applicants. Required documents typically include a passport or ID, academic transcripts, exam results, certificates of achievement, and language test results if required by the program.
What it features: Full tuition coverage, a monthly stipend, accommodation, health insurance, round-trip airfare, and a one-year Turkish language course.