Top 10 Master’s Scholarships in Europe
Europe is a dream study destination for international students. But this dream requires a hefty amount of money. This is where many students quit.
Many universities offer fully or partially funded scholarships for international and local students. Winning scholarships can be a gateway to Europe without any financial burden.
Here are the details of the top 10 scholarships to fund your master’s degree in Europe.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Scholarship
It is a prestigious scholarship for a joint Master's degree offered by a group of higher education institutions. You can study in more than one country on a fully funded scholarship.
Eligibility
- You are in your last year of your Bachelor’s degree or have graduated
Required documents
- Passport/ID
- CV
- Motivation letter
- Recommendation letter
- Official transcripts
- Language certificates
Scholarship Coverage
- Visa
- Travelling expenses
- Educational expenses
- Living allowance
Application timeline
Every program has its own application timeline and requirements, but in general, the period between October and January is crucial.
You can find out your desired degree by looking at the Erasmus Mundus catalogue.
France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship
The France Excellence Eiffel scholarship is mutually offered by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs for master's and Phd programs.
Eligibility
- Must be a non-French national
- Must be under 29 years old
Required documents
- CV
- Research project
- Motivation letter
- Official transcripts
- Passport/ID
- Language certificates, if required
Scholarship Coverage
- Living allowance of €1200 for master's students and €2,100 for doctoral students
- Tuition fee
- Airfare
- Health insurance
- Housing
Application timeline
The scholarship opens for application submission in October and ends at the start of January.
For further information, visit the official website.
Chevening Scholarship
The Chevening scholarship offers a fully funded opportunity to complete a one-year master's program in the UK. The scholarship committee prefers international students with leadership qualities and an ability to bring positive change in their home countries.
Eligibility
- Must have 2800 hours/2 years of work experience after graduation
- Must be a citizen of Chevening-eligible countries
- Must commit to return to the home country for two years after the scholarship ends
- Must have an undergraduate degree
Required documents
- Undergraduate degree
- Two reference letters
Scholarship Coverage
- Tuition fee
- Airfare
- An arrival and departure allowance
- up to £75 for TB testing, where required
- Monthly stipend
Application timeline
Application submission for the Chevening scholarship starts in August and ends in the start of October.
Official website for the Chevening scholarship.
Danish Government Scholarship
The government of Denmark provides a limited number of scholarships to sponsor the education of students from outside of Europe and Switzerland.
Eligibility
- Must be a foreign national
- Must be enrolled in a full degree program
- Must have a time-limited resident purpose to stay in Denmark for education
Required Documents
- Application form
- Proof of English language proficiency
- Motivation letter
- CV
- Recommendation letters
- Passport/ID
Scholarship Coverage
- Full or partial tuition fee waiver
- Monthly stipend of DKK 3000 before taxes
- Insurance coverage
Application timeline
The application deadline for the February intake is 15th October, and for the September intake is 1st of February.
For further information, you can visit the official website.
DAAD Scholarship
The German Federal Foreign Office offers the DAAD scholarship for graduates to pursue a postgraduate course.
Eligibility
- Must have completed your Bachelor’s degree at the time funding begins.
- Must have 2 years of work experience
Required Documents
- Official transcripts
- Valid passport
- Motivation Letter
- Relevant practical experience (Internships / Jobs)
- Study project
- Language certificates
Scholarship Coverage
- 992 euros a month
- Health insurance
- Travel allowance
- € 460 annual study allowance
In certain cases, you can also get
- Monthly rent subsidy
- Monthly allowance for accompanying family members
- Subsidy for chronic illness or disability
Application Timeline
For the summer semester, the application period begins in December and ends in mid-January.
For the winter semester, the application period begins in May and ends in mid-July.
For more details, check the official website.
Swedish Institute (SI) Scholarship
The Swedish Institute (SI) offers a fully funded scholarship for international students to complete their master's in Sweden. There are two kinds of scholarship programs available. One is for leading professionals working for sustainable development goals. The other one is for pioneering women in STEM fields.
Eligibility
- Must be a member of an eligible country for this scholarship
- Must get enrolled in an English-taught master’s degree program at a Swedish institute
- Must have demonstrated previous work experience in the relevant field
- Must not have resided in Sweden for two years before the scholarship application begins
Required documents
- CV
- Reference letter
- Proof of work experience
- Passport/ID
- Motivation letter
Scholarship coverage
- Tuition fee
- 12,000 SEK monthly stipend
- 15,000 SEK travel grant
- Membership for NFGP (SI network for future global professionals)
Application timeline
You can apply for a master’s program from Oct 15th to Jan 15th.
For further information, visit the official website.
Holland Scholarship
The Holland scholarship, also known as the NL scholarship, offers a scholarship for international students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) to pursue a master’s or bachelor’s degree in the Netherlands.
Eligibilty
- Must be a non-EEA national
- Must not have a degree from a Dutch higher education institute
- Must be applying to the master’s program in an eligible educational institution in the Netherlands
- Must fulfill the specific requirements for the degree program
Required Documents
- Official transcript
- CV
- Motivation letter
- Reference letter
- Language certificates
- Proof of admission to a Dutch university
Scholarship coverage
- € 5,000 for the first year of study
Application timeline
The application timeline varies for each institution. You can check the official website for eligible universities, their application deadlines, and specific admission requirements.
ICP Connect Scholarship
The ICP Connect scholarship is offered to international students from 30 eligible countries across Asia, Africa, and Latin America to pursue a graduate or post-graduate course in one of the Flemish universities.
Eligibility
- Must be a national and resident of one of the 30 eligible countries
- Must not be older than 35 years
- The working professionals in civil society, higher education, and the government sector will be preferred
- Must not be a recipient of the ICP Connect scholarship before
Required Documents
- Two recommendation letters
- The ICP Connect scholarship form
- Official transcripts
- Passport/ID
Scholarship coverage
- Tuition fees
- Travelling costs
- Insurance
- €1,400 monthly allowance
Application timeline
The application submission starts on 1st September and ends on 1st February. For further information, please visit the official website.
ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship and Opportunity Program (ESOP)
ETH Zurich offers a fully-funded scholarship to exceptional master’s students through the Excellence Scholarship and Opportunity Program (ESOP).
Eligibility
- Exceptional grades in a Bachelor’s degree
- Must be reachable via the telephone number provided on the CV for the Interview and other communication
Scholarship coverage
- Tuition fee waiver
- Study and living allowance of CHF 12,000 per semester
Application timeline
The application timeline for ESOP is Nov 1 to Nov 30. For more details, visit the official website.
Italian Government scholarship
The Italian Government offers scholarships to outstanding international students to pursue their master's or phd in top Italian universities.
Eligibility
- Must be a member of an eligible country
- Must not be residing in Italy
Required Documents
- Language certificates
- Official transcript
- Motivation letter
- CV
Scholarship Coverage
- €900 Monthly allowance
- Tuition fee
- Health and medical insurance
Application timeline
The application submission period for the Italian Government scholarship ends in May. For more details, visit the official website.
We have listed the top 10 master’s scholarships in Europe; however, all these scholarships are highly competitive. Make sure to prepare your documents carefully and start your application early to increase your chances of success.