Securing fully funded government scholarships in 2025 can be life-changing for students seeking quality education abroad.
Many governments offer generous scholarships covering tuition, living expenses, and other benefits.
Here are the top 10 government scholarships available to international students worldwide in 2025:
Government scholarships for students to study abroad in 2025
10. Japanese Government Scholarships (MEXT): The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology (MEXT) offers fully funded scholarships for international students pursuing studies in Japan. It covers tuition, a monthly allowance (143,000–148,000 yen), and additional scholarships for teacher training and technical colleges
9. Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP): This Swedish government initiative supports future global leaders committed to the UN’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It covers tuition, living costs, travel, insurance, and alumni membership fees for up to 300 students pursuing master’s degrees in Sweden.
8. New Zealand Development Scholarships (NZDS): NZDS supports students from developing countries in fields that contribute to their home country’s development. The scholarship covers tuition, living expenses, and airfare. Spouses of recipients are eligible for work visas.
7. Korean Government Scholarships: South Korea offers numerous undergraduate and graduate scholarships to internationalise education. This fully funded program covers tuition, living expenses, and flights for students from over 155 countries.
6. Chevening Scholarships (UK): The UK government offers up to 1,500 scholarships annually to international students for master’s degrees. This fully funded program requires applicants to have at least two years of work experience.
5. Australia Awards Scholarship: This program offers up to 3,000 scholarships annually, including 1,000 for African students. It prioritises work experience over academic grades and offers fully funded master’s degrees.
4. Fulbright Student Program (USA): This prestigious U.S. scholarship supports international students in pursuing master’s or PhD degrees, with around 4,000 recipients annually. It covers tuition, living expenses, and research opportunities.
3. DAAD Scholarship (Germany): Germany’s DAAD program funds thousands of students from developing countries yearly, offering scholarships for undergraduate to faculty-level studies, often including internships.
2. Commonwealth Scholarship Scheme (UK): This UK government scholarship offers multiple opportunities for full-time master’s and PhD students from Commonwealth countries, including professional fellowships and distance learning programs.
1. Chinese Government Scholarships: China provides the most significant scholarships globally through its government, provincial authorities, universities, and industries. Scholarships cover tuition, accommodation, and living expenses. Applications typically open between March and April.