1) Fulbright Foreign Student Program

What it funds: Master’s or PhD study (or research) at U.S. universities with J‑1 visa sponsorship, program funding, a health benefits plan, and enrichment activities. The program is administered by national Fulbright Commissions or U.S. Embassies, so each country runs its own competition and deadlines—there is no single global date.

https://foreign.fulbrightonline.org/apply

Source: Fulbright official portal (How to Apply & benefits). Fulbright

2) Chevening Scholarships (UK Government, FCDO)

What it funds: Fully funded one‑year Master’s degree in the UK (tuition, monthly stipend, travel, visa, arrival/departure allowances). Chevening prioritises leadership potential, networking, and a clear return‑to‑impact plan in your home country.

Timeline: For the 2026/27 intake, the application window ran from 5 Aug to 7 Oct 2025; future cycles typically follow similar months. Always verify the current cycle on the official site.

https://www.chevening.org/apply/

Sources: Chevening Scholarships & UK Gov news about opening dates. Chevening • Gov.UK

3) Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM)

What it funds: Prestigious joint Master’s delivered by a consortium of European universities. Scholarships typically cover participation costs, contribute to travel and provide a monthly allowance. You apply to each EMJM program directly.

Timeline: Most EMJM programs accept applications during Oct–Jan for courses starting the following academic year. Check each program page via the official catalogue.

https://erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu/…/erasmus-mundus-joint-masters

Source: European Commission Erasmus+ page for students. Erasmus+

4) DAAD Scholarships

What it funds: Dozens of scholarship lines for Master’s, PhD, research and short courses. Benefits commonly include a monthly stipend, insurance and travel allowance—but exact amounts and add‑ons depend on the specific DAAD program you choose.

How to apply: Use DAAD’s official funding database to find programs, check eligibility and confirm deadlines (they vary widely by program).

https://www.daad.de/en/studying-in-germany/scholarships/daad-scholarships/

Source: DAAD “Scholarships – An Overview”. DAAD

5) Australia Awards Scholarships (AAS)

What it funds: Full tuition, return air travel, Contribution to Living Expenses, establishment allowance, OSHC health cover, preparatory academic support, with a two‑year home return requirement after completion.

Timeline: The 2026 round was announced in 2025; specific application windows are set by country—use DFAT’s official pages to check yours.

https://www.dfat.gov.au/…/australia-awards-scholarships

Sources: DFAT official page & Study Australia news item. DFAT • Study Australia

6) MEXT Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho) Scholarship

What it funds: Undergraduate, graduate (Master’s/PhD), Teacher Training, and Japanese Studies categories. Funding typically includes tuition, monthly stipend and round‑trip airfare. Routes include Embassy Recommendation and University Recommendation.

Timeline: Deadlines differ by country and category. Embassy pages publish local calls (e.g., “Japanese Studies Scholarship 2026”).

https://www.studyinjapan.go.jp/…/mext-scholarships/

Sources: Study in Japan (MEXT overview) and sample embassy notices. Study in Japan (MEXT) • Embassy example

7) Commonwealth Scholarships (CSC)

What it funds: Fully funded Master’s and PhD awards (plus other streams in some cycles) for citizens of eligible Commonwealth countries. You must apply via CSC Central and also through a national nominating agency.

Timeline: Nominating agencies set their own closing dates and submit nominations to CSC (typically by late year).

https://cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk/scholarships/commonwealth-masters-scholarships/

Sources: CSC Master’s page & Study UK Commonwealth overview. CSC • Study UK

8) Gates Cambridge Scholarships

What it funds: Full‑cost scholarships for postgraduate degrees at Cambridge—University Composition Fee, a maintenance allowance for single students (~£21,000 for 12 months at 2024–25 rate), one economy airfare at start/end, inbound visa & IHS, plus discretionary funding (academic development, family support, fieldwork for PhD).

Timeline: Two rounds (US and International). Deadlines vary by course and round—check the official page for your program.

https://www.gatescambridge.org/apply/

Source: Gates Cambridge – The Scholarship & Apply pages. Gates Cambridge

9) Rotary Peace Fellowships

What it funds: Up to 130 fully funded fellowships each year for Master’s degrees (15–24 months) or a Professional Development Certificate (one‑year blended). Coverage includes tuition/fees, room & board, round‑trip transport, and field‑study expenses.

https://www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/peace-fellowships

Source: Rotary International – Peace Fellowships. Rotary

Also worth your shortlist

Knight‑Hennessy Scholars (Stanford University, USA) Graduate

Fully funded leadership program across Stanford’s graduate schools. For the 2026 cohort, the KHS deadline was 8 Oct 2025 and degree program deadlines varied (often by early Dec). Future cycles will publish fresh dates.

Dates & Deadlines (Official)
https://knight-hennessy.stanford.edu/…/dates-and-deadlines

Source: KHS official dates page.

AAUW International Fellowships (Women, USA) Partial funding

Supports non‑U.S. citizens pursuing Master’s/Doctorate/postdoc in the U.S. Typical stipends: $20k (Master’s) / $25k (Doctorate); check the current cycle for dates.

Official AAUW Page
https://www.aauw.org/resources/programs/international-fellowships/

Source: AAUW International Fellowships.

Rhodes Scholarships (University of Oxford, UK) Fully funded

Highly competitive postgraduate awards with constituency‑specific eligibility and windows. The 2026 cycle is closed; the eligibility checker updates in spring 2026 for the next round.

Applications Hub (Official)
https://www.rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk/scholarships/applications/

Source: Rhodes Trust – Applications.

How to choose the right scholarship (and not miss deadlines)

Destination
Study level
Impact/Leadership fit
Funding details
Timeline

1) Pick destination & level: USA (Fulbright, Knight‑Hennessy), UK (Chevening, Commonwealth, Gates, Rhodes), EU mobility (Erasmus Mundus), Germany (DAAD), Australia (AAS), Japan (MEXT). Confirm your level (UG/PG/PhD/Research) is supported.

2) Match program values: Leadership & networks (Chevening, Rotary), development impact (Commonwealth, AAS), research & academic fit (Fulbright, Gates Cambridge), intercultural mobility (EMJM). Align your personal story to their mission.

3) Build a timeline backwards: If a round closes in Oct–Jan, you’ll need 4–8 weeks earlier for tests (where required), sealed transcripts, and strong references. Country programs (Fulbright, MEXT, CSC, AAS) may open much earlier—monitor their portals or embassy pages.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a single global deadline for Fulbright, Erasmus Mundus or MEXT?
No. These schemes run through country or program portals with different dates. Always check the official page for your country/program. (Sources: Fulbright • Erasmus+ • MEXT)

What does “fully funded” really cover?
Typically: tuition/fees, a stipend, travel, and basic health insurance (plus visa/arrival allowances in some programs). Family/dependent support varies—check each scheme’s benefits page. (Examples: Gates Cambridge • Australia Awards)

Can I apply to multiple programs in the same year?
Yes—and you should, provided you tailor each application to the program’s selection criteria and timeline. Never recycle the same essay; selection panels can tell.

How do I strengthen my application quickly?
Quantify outcomes (numbers, % improvements), showcase leadership moments, secure referees who can verify results, and present a credible post‑study plan linked to your home country’s needs (especially for Chevening, Commonwealth, AAS). (Sources: Chevening • CSC)

Primary Sources (Official)

• Fulbright Foreign Student Program – https://foreign.fulbrightonline.org/apply
• Chevening Scholarships – https://www.chevening.org/scholarships/ • Opening dates news: Gov.UK
• Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters – Official catalogue
• DAAD Scholarships – Overview & database
• Australia Awards (DFAT) – Official page • 2026 round news: Study Australia
• MEXT Scholarships – Study in Japan (official)
• Commonwealth (CSC) – Master’s page • Study UK overview
• Gates Cambridge – The Scholarship • Apply
• Rotary Peace Fellowships – Official page
• Knight‑Hennessy Scholars – Dates & Deadlines
• AAUW International Fellowships – Official page
• Rhodes Scholarships – Applications hub