Fully funded scholarships that explicitly offer visa sponsorship for international students in 2025 are rare, as most scholarships focus on covering tuition, living expenses, and other costs but don’t always guarantee visa sponsorship. However, some prestigious programs provide comprehensive support, including assistance with visa processes, which can be critical for international students. Below is a curated list of top scholarships for 2025-2026 that either explicitly or implicitly support visa-related costs (e.g., visa fees, travel allowances) or are associated with programs at institutions that facilitate visa processes for admitted students. These scholarships are drawn from reliable sources and focus on opportunities for international students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, or PhD studies.
1. Fulbright Foreign Student Program (United States)
Description: One of the most prestigious U.S. government-funded scholarships, the Fulbright Program supports international students from 155 countries for master’s or PhD studies (excluding medicine). It covers full tuition, living stipend, accommodation, airfare, health insurance, and visa-related costs (e.g., J-1 visa sponsorship through the program’s administration).
Eligibility: Open to graduate students, young professionals, and artists with strong academic records and leadership potential. Applicants must meet country-specific requirements and apply through Fulbright Commissions or U.S. Embassies.
Benefits:
– Full tuition coverage
– Monthly living stipend
– Accommodation and airfare
– Health insurance
– Visa sponsorship (J-1 visa support, including DS-2019 form issuance)
Application Process: Varies by country, with deadlines typically between February and October 2025. Check with your local Fulbright Commission or U.S. Embassy.
Visa Support: The program provides a DS-2019 form for J-1 visas and covers visa fees, ensuring smooth visa processing for awardees.
2. Chevening Scholarships (United Kingdom)
Description: Funded by the UK government, Chevening offers fully funded master’s degrees at UK universities for students from eligible countries. It includes visa support as part of its comprehensive funding package.
Eligibility: Open to students with at least two years of work experience, a bachelor’s degree, and leadership potential. Applicants must apply to a UK university and meet Chevening’s criteria.
Benefits:
– Full tuition fees
– Monthly stipend for living expenses
– Travel costs (flights to and from the UK)
– Visa application fees (Tier 4 student visa)
– Additional allowances for study-related expenses
Application Process: Applications for 2025-2026 are typically open from August to November 2025. Apply via the Chevening website.
Visa Support: Covers Tier 4 visa fees and provides guidance on the visa application process, ensuring students can secure the necessary visa to study in the UK.
3. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (Switzerland)
Description: This fully funded scholarship supports international students for PhD and postdoctoral studies at Swiss universities. It includes visa-related support through travel allowances and institutional assistance.
Eligibility: Open to students from over 180 countries with a master’s degree (for PhD applicants) or PhD (for postdoctoral applicants). Strong academic records and research proposals are required.
Benefits:
– Monthly stipend
– Tuition fee exemption
– Health insurance
– Airfare and housing allowance
– Visa fee coverage (implicit through travel allowances)
Application Process: Deadlines vary by country, typically between September and December 2025. Apply through Swiss embassies or consulates.
Visa Support: The scholarship covers travel costs, which can include visa fees, and Swiss universities often assist with visa applications for enrolled students.
4. Chinese Government Scholarship (China)
Description: Administered by the China Scholarship Council, this scholarship supports international students for undergraduate, master’s, and PhD programs at over 280 Chinese universities. It includes visa-related support through travel allowances.
Eligibility: Open to students from all countries with academic qualifications matching the degree level (e.g., high school diploma for undergraduate, bachelor’s for master’s). Language proficiency (Chinese or English) may be required.
Benefits:
– Full tuition coverage
– Monthly allowance (up to 3,500 Yuan)
– Accommodation and health insurance
– Round-trip airfare (covers visa-related travel)
Application Process: Apply through the Chinese Embassy or designated universities by early 2025 (deadlines vary, typically January to April).
Visa Support: The scholarship provides airfare and institutional support for visa applications (X1/X2 student visas), with universities issuing JW201/JW202 forms.
5. Australia Awards Scholarships (Australia)
Description: Funded by the Australian government, these scholarships support students from developing countries in Asia, the Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East for undergraduate or postgraduate studies at Australian universities.
Eligibility: Open to citizens of eligible countries (e.g., India, Nigeria, Indonesia) with strong academic records and leadership potential. Applicants must meet Australian student visa requirements.
Benefits:
– Full tuition fees
– Living expenses and accommodation
– Return airfare
– Health insurance (Overseas Student Health Cover)
– Visa application fees and support
Application Process: Applications typically open in early 2025 and close by April or May. Apply via the Australia Awards website or local Australian embassies.
Visa Support: Covers visa fees for the Subclass 500 student visa and provides guidance through the application process.
6. Turkish Government Scholarships (Türkiye Burslari) (Turkey)
Description: Fully funded scholarships for undergraduate, master’s, and PhD studies at Turkish universities, open to students from all countries except Turkish citizens.
Eligibility: Academic excellence, age limits (e.g., under 21 for undergraduate, under 30 for master’s), and language proficiency (Turkish, English, or others depending on the program).
Benefits:
– Full tuition fees
– Monthly stipend (up to 1,600 TL)
– Accommodation and health insurance
– Return flight ticket and visa support
Application Process: Applications for 2025-2026 typically open in January and close by February or March. Apply via the Türkiye Burslari website.
Visa Support: Covers visa fees and provides institutional support for student visa applications.
7. DAAD Scholarships (Germany)
Description: The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers fully funded scholarships for master’s and PhD studies at top German universities, targeting students from developing countries.
Eligibility: Applicants need a bachelor’s degree (for master’s) or master’s degree (for PhD), good academic performance, and relevant work experience. German or English proficiency may be required.
Benefits:
– Monthly stipend (€934 for graduates, €1,300 for doctoral candidates)
– Travel allowance
– Health insurance
– Visa fee coverage (implicit through travel support)
Application Process: Deadlines vary by program, typically between October 2025 and January 2026. Apply via the DAAD portal or partner universities.
Visa Support: DAAD provides travel allowances that can cover visa fees, and German universities assist with student visa applications.
8. Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship (Canada)
Description: Offered by the University of Toronto, this fully funded undergraduate scholarship targets exceptional international students with leadership and academic excellence.
Eligibility: Non-Canadian students in their final year of secondary school, nominated by their school, and applying to the University of Toronto as their first choice.
Benefits:
– Full tuition and living expenses for four years
– Books and incidental fees
– Travel support (implicit visa fee coverage)
Application Process: School nomination required by November 2025, with student applications due by January 2026. Apply through the University of Toronto.
Visa Support: The university provides guidance for Canadian study permit applications, and travel support may cover visa-related costs.
9. Gates Cambridge Scholarship (United Kingdom)
Description: Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, this scholarship supports international students for master’s and PhD studies at the University of Cambridge.
Eligibility: Open to students from any country outside the UK with outstanding academic records and leadership potential.
Benefits:
– Full tuition and maintenance allowance (£17,500 per year)
– Airfare and visa costs
– Health insurance and academic development funding
Application Process: Apply by December 2025 or January 2026 (course-specific deadlines) via the University of Cambridge’s graduate application portal.
Visa Support: Covers Tier 4 visa fees and provides immigration support through the university.
10. MEXT Scholarships (Japan)
Description: Funded by the Japanese government, MEXT scholarships support international students for undergraduate, master’s, PhD, or research studies at Japanese universities.
Eligibility: Varies by program level; requires academic excellence and language proficiency (Japanese or English). Applicants apply through Japanese embassies or universities.
Benefits:
– Full tuition fees
– Monthly stipend and accommodation
– Round-trip airfare
– Visa fee support
Application Process: Deadlines typically between July and September 2025. Apply via Japanese embassies or designated universities.
Visa Support: Covers visa fees and provides institutional support for student visa applications.