Annually, lots of universities, foundations, and the European government invest millions of Euros to attract excellent international students to their countries. And this has actually worked because more than 1.4 million international students study across the EU annually.
The number also means that any scholarship provided by these people will be very competitive, so you need to be on your top game to be eligible. Most of these scholarships for international students in Europe are merit-based, so you don’t necessarily need to apply for them to be eligible, your admission application mostly covers your scholarship application, but you still need to apply to some.
The same strategy might be applicable when getting a government scholarship, or even an undergraduate scholarship to study abroad, the area of good grades can’t be overlooked.
Let’s go straight ahead to list these scholarships.
Table of Contents
Scholarships for International Students in Europe
We went for the best of the best, which means most of the scholarships we have provided here are fully-funded scholarships.
1. ETH Zürich Excellence Scholarship (Switzerland)
The Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme is one of the scholarships for international students in Europe provided by ETH Zürich, and it covers the full study and living costs during the Master’s degree course.
2. Sciences Po: The Émile Boutmy Scholarship (France)
The Émile Boutmy Scholarship is a merit-based scholarship awarded to top students whose admission profile matches the requirements of Sciences Po. The scholarship is awarded to new undergraduate or master’s students from a non-European Union state, whose household does not file taxes within the European Union.
3. British Chevening Scholarships
This is one of the fully-funded scholarships for international students in Europe offered to study 1-year master’s degree at any UK University. The scholarship will also pay the awardees’ flights, accommodation, and course fees, and it’s available for students all over the world.
4. University of Tasmania International Scholarships
The University of Tasmania provides lots of scholarships to international students, their scholarships can help you pay for your fees, or they can even help you to move to Tasmania. Their scholarships are available when you’ve completed 100% enrolment load.
5. STEM Scholarships for Southeast Asia
This is one of the international scholarships available for the first year commencing students from the Southeast Asia region that are pursuing a degree at RMIT STEM College. The scholarship is worth AU$10,000 and there are only 15 Scholarships available for semester 1 or 2 making it very competitive.
6. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters scholarships
As the name suggests, the scholarship is available for students undertaking their master’s degree, and it covers the cost of a student’s participation in the program, travel, and a living allowance.
7. DAAD One-Year Grants for Doctoral Candidates (Germany)
This is one of the international scholarships for Postgraduate students in Europe to be able to carry out research primarily as part of doctoral projects in Germany. The scholarship is awarded for a research project or continuing academic training at a state or state-recognized institution of higher education in Germany or a non-university research institute.
8. DAAD Scholarships for Master Studies for All Academic Disciplines (Germany)
This is another scholarship for international students in Europe provided by DAAD for students to continue their academic education in Germany with a postgraduate course of study. Their scholarship pays the awardees €861 per month, it also pays their health, accident, and personal liability insurance, covers part of their accommodation, and many other advantages.
9. Amsterdam Merit Scholarships
This is one of the scholarships for international students in Europe provided by the University of Amsterdam, and it aims to attract the world’s brightest students to its international classrooms. This is a merit-based scholarship that students outside the EU/EEA can apply for.
10. Danish Government Scholarships for Non-EU/EEA Students (Denmark)
Danish Universities don’t get a lot of scholarships annually for international students making the few they provide very competitive. So students must be on their very top games before they can be awarded one of these scholarships.
11. Eiffel Scholarship Program OF Excellence (France)
This scholarship was established by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to help French higher education institutions to attract top foreign students to enroll in their master’s and Ph.D. programs. Since this is a merit-based scholarship, you don’t need to apply to be eligible, your school will submit your application if they find you worthy.
12. Radboud Scholarship Programme (Netherlands)
The Radboud Scholarship Programme is a partial scholarship awarded to master’s degree students. There are more than 25 Radboud scholarships annually.
13. EPFL Excellence and Diversity Scholarship (Switzerland)
This is one of the scholarships for international students in Europe that is worth CHF 10,000 per semester, and they are exclusively for students that have obtained their bachelor’s degree at EPFL and those who have begun their university studies at another institution.
14. Holland Scholarship
The Holland Scholarship is worth € 5,000 and it’s awarded to bachelor’s or master’s students in their first year of study, and it’s a partial scholarship. Participants must be enrolled at one of the participating Dutch higher education institutions.
15. Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professionals (Sweden)
This scholarship is available for 41 countries who are admitted for a master’s degree in Sweden. The Swedish Institute provides approximately 350 full-time scholarships for one or two-year master’s programmes, and it’s awarded annually.
16. The University of Newcastle – Africa Excellence Scholarship
This is one of the international merit-based scholarships for students in Europe that is worth $50,000 and they provide 100 scholarships available. Since it’s a merit-based scholarship, you don’t need to apply to be eligible, once the school finds you eligible during your admission you’ll be awarded.
17. University of Geneva – Excellence Master Fellowships (Switzerland)
This Scholarship is worth CHF 10’000 to CHF 15’000 per year and it’s awarded for one year and extended for the regular duration of the chosen Master’s program.
18. Gates Cambridge Scholarship (England, UK)
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is funded by Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to the University of Cambridge, and it is the largest ever single donation to a UK university. Annually, 80 full-cost scholarships are awarded to outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK to pursue a postgraduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge.
19. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (Switzerland)
Each year the Swiss Confederation awards Government Excellence Scholarships to promote international exchange and research cooperation between Switzerland and over 180 other countries. The Swiss Government Scholarship is focused on young international researchers that have completed a master’s degree or Ph.D.
20. Boustany MBA Cambridge Scholarship
This is one of the scholarships for international students in Europe awarded once every two years for a one-year course at Cambridge University. The scholarship pays 75% tuition fee of the awardees, and it also covers travel and accommodation expenses related to the internship.
21. University of Bologna Study Grants (Italy)
The University of Bologna provides study grants that can waive your tuition fee, and it’s available for Italian and international students enrolling in the first year of a second-cycle degree program or the fourth year of a single-cycle degree program.
22. the University of Nottingham – Developing Solutions Masters Scholarship (UK)
The University of Nottingham provides partial to a fully-funded scholarship for innovative and passionate students who can propose development solutions for their home countries within African, South Asian, and selected Commonwealth countries.
23. University of Twente Scholarships (Netherlands)
The University of Twente provides annual Scholarships for outstanding students from countries outside the EU/EEA who have applied for a graduate programme (MSc). The scholarship is worth €3,000 – €22,000 annually, and there are approximately 50 scholarships to give out.
24. Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships (Netherlands)
This scholarship is provided to International Students that have proven to be excellent in their academics and that have been admitted to one of the 2-year Regular TU Delft MSc programmes. The Scholarship cover the full tuition of awardees, and part of their living expenses.
25. VLIR-UOS Scholarships Awards
The VLIR-UOS Scholarship is awarded to students and professionals from Africa, Asia, or Latin America to study in Flanders. They also provide travel grants to Flemish/European students to do fieldwork/internships in Africa, Asia, or Latin America.
26. Leiden University Excellence Scholarship (LExS)
Leiden University provides scholarships to Master’s Degree students that intend to join their university, the application for the scholarship usually begins in November.
27. Utah Academic Scholarship
This is one of the scholarships for international students in Europe that awards $10,000 per academic year ($5,000 per semester for fall and spring semesters). The Scholarship can cover part or all students’ tuition plus mandatory fees.
28. LUT Bachelor’s Scholarships
The LUT Bachelor’s Scholarships start from the second year of study and run through the 3rd year, and it covers 50% of the awardees’ tuition fee.
29. Ghent University Special Research Fund – Doctoral Scholarship
Annually, Ghent University awards about 50 Ph.D. grants to predoctoral researchers, who intend to get their doctoral degree within 4 years. The Scholarship is worth approximately €2.225 per month.
30. the University of Bristol Think Big postgraduate scholarships (UK)
The University of Bristol provides £5,000, £10,000, and £20,000 worth of scholarships to postgraduate students that have been found excellent in their studies.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are lots of scholarships for international students in Europe, you just need to know the country you want to study in, and choose the scholarship that you are eligible for. Also, you don’t need to apply for most merit-based scholarships, the school will enroll you on any scholarship when they find you eligible.