Get Paid to Study in 50 Countries
International education guide • 2027–2028 planning • Scholarships, living allowances and tuition support
What if you could earn a degree abroad without paying the full cost yourself — and, in some cases, receive a monthly allowance to help cover your living expenses?
Across the world, governments, universities, research institutions and international organisations offer scholarships that can cover tuition fees, accommodation, travel, health insurance and everyday living costs. Some funded research positions also pay students a salary.
However, getting paid to study does not mean every student receives money simply for enrolling. Most opportunities are competitive, have eligibility requirements and depend on your nationality, academic results, chosen subject and level of study.
This guide explores 50 countries where international students can investigate funding opportunities, with useful starting points for finding legitimate programmes.
What does “get paid to study” actually mean
The 50 countries where you can look for funded study opportunities
The countries below are organised by region. Each entry identifies a scholarship, funding route or education system worth investigating. Some offer government-funded awards; others are better known for university scholarships, research funding or reduced tuition.
Europe: 1–15
Europe is a useful starting point for tuition support, research funding and international scholarship programmes.
1. Germany
Explore DAAD scholarships, university awards and funded doctoral positions. Many public universities have low tuition costs, although exceptions apply.
Official resource: DAAD scholarship database
2. France
Investigate Eiffel Excellence scholarships and university funding, particularly for master's and doctoral study. Funding eligibility and living allowances depend on the programme.
3. Switzerland
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships are particularly relevant to researchers and some postgraduate applicants. The government advertises its 2027–2028 scheme for international research cooperation.
4. United Kingdom
Explore Chevening, Commonwealth scholarships, GREAT Scholarships and university awards. GREAT offers eligible students from selected countries £10,000 towards tuition for certain one-year postgraduate courses in 2026–2027.
5. Italy
Look at Italian government scholarships, regional student grants and university fee waivers. Eligibility can depend on nationality, academic merit and household finances.
6. Sweden
Investigate university scholarships and the Swedish Institute's scholarship opportunities for eligible international master's students.
7. Finland
Universities may provide tuition waivers for eligible fee-paying international students. Do not assume a waiver covers living expenses: Finland confirms that it has no general government scholarship for bachelor's or master's study.
8. Denmark
Search for Danish government scholarships and university awards for eligible non-EU/EEA students. Certain awards include tuition support and may include living assistance.
9. Norway
Investigate university funding, research jobs and eligible exchange grants. Do not assume that all international students can study tuition-free or receive a living stipend.
10. Netherlands
Search university awards and the NL Scholarship, which provides a contribution towards costs for eligible international students at participating institutions.
11. Belgium
Explore master's scholarships, research fellowships and regional funding such as awards offered through the Flemish and French-speaking higher education systems.
12. Austria
Search grants through Austria's national scholarship database and university research programmes.
13. Czechia
Consider government scholarships for eligible nationalities and tuition-free public programmes taught in Czech. English-language programmes may charge fees.
14. Hungary
Explore Stipendium Hungaricum for eligible partner-country applicants. Benefits can include tuition support, a stipend and accommodation assistance under programme rules.
15. Serbia
The government-backed World in Serbia initiative offers eligible international students support that can include tuition-free education, accommodation, food and a monthly allowance. Nationality and programme restrictions apply.
Asia: 16–27
Asia has several prominent government scholarship schemes offering international students the opportunity to study with financial support. Always check whether your country is eligible and whether the award covers living costs as well as tuition.
16. Japan
The MEXT scholarship programme offers eligible students opportunities for undergraduate, postgraduate and research study. Benefits depend on the scholarship category and can include tuition, a monthly stipend and airfare.
17. South Korea
The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) can cover tuition, language training, airfare and monthly allowances for eligible international students.
18. China
Explore Chinese Government Scholarships, including programmes administered through the China Scholarship Council. Selected awards can cover tuition, accommodation, medical insurance and a stipend.
19. Taiwan
Investigate the Taiwan Scholarship and university awards. Some schemes provide tuition assistance and a monthly allowance.
20. Hong Kong
The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme is worth investigating for research-oriented doctoral applicants. University entrance scholarships may also be available.
21. Singapore
Explore university scholarships, research assistantships and competitive postgraduate awards. Some research programmes fund doctoral study, but funding conditions vary.
22. Malaysia
Look for Malaysian government-sponsored international scholarships, university awards and funded postgraduate research opportunities. Eligibility varies by programme and nationality.
23. Thailand
Investigate university-funded international master's and PhD scholarships, including awards at major research universities.
24. Indonesia
The Indonesian government’s KNB scholarship is a route for eligible international students to investigate. Awards have historically supported degree study with tuition and living assistance.
25. Brunei
Government scholarships for eligible foreign students may provide tuition, travel and living support. Check the current call and participating institutions.
26. India
Explore government-funded cultural exchange scholarships, ICCR programmes and university research funding. Availability depends on nationality, course and bilateral agreements.
27. Türkiye
Türkiye Scholarships offers awards at associate, bachelor's, master's and PhD levels. Benefits can include university placement, tuition, a stipend, accommodation, health insurance and a flight ticket.
North America: 28–31
28. United States
Explore Fulbright awards, university financial aid, graduate assistantships and funded doctoral programmes. Funding for international undergraduates is available at some institutions but is highly competitive.
29. Canada
Look into university scholarships, doctoral funding, research assistantships and selected government-funded exchange programmes. Full funding is not automatic, and many public schemes have specific eligibility restrictions.
30. Mexico
Investigate university awards, research grants and Mexican government or bilateral academic cooperation programmes for eligible international applicants.
31. Costa Rica
Search university-based funding and regional academic exchange opportunities. Scholarships can be subject-specific, and full living-cost support is not guaranteed.
Oceania: 32–33
32. Australia
Australia Awards Scholarships are a major funding route for eligible citizens of participating countries. University awards and research training scholarships provide additional opportunities.
33. New Zealand
Investigate New Zealand Scholarships for eligible nationalities, alongside university and doctoral funding schemes.
Middle East and Eurasia: 34–40
34. United Arab Emirates
Explore university merit scholarships, funded research positions and postgraduate awards at participating institutions. Some offer substantial tuition support, while living allowances depend on the award.
35. Saudi Arabia
Research-led institutions offer funded postgraduate opportunities in engineering, computing, energy and science. Check whether the programme provides tuition, accommodation, insurance and a stipend.
36. Qatar
Investigate university scholarships, financial aid and funded postgraduate research opportunities. Awards may be competitive and subject to academic and nationality requirements.
37. Kazakhstan
Look into government scholarships for international students and university awards. The programme, language of instruction and eligible degree level will determine the funding available.
38. Azerbaijan
Explore government-funded international study programmes, bilateral scholarships and university-specific awards. Check the current call for eligible nationalities and supported courses.
39. Georgia
Investigate university tuition waivers, merit awards and funded research projects. Confirm whether the award covers only fees or provides additional living support.
40. Romania
Romanian government scholarships for eligible non-EU citizens can provide a route to supported degree study. Benefits and language requirements depend on the scheme and course.
Africa: 41–45
41. South Africa
Look for university merit scholarships, postgraduate research funding and awards from foundations. Funding availability differs by institution and subject.
42. Kenya
Investigate university bursaries, postgraduate research grants and regional or international scholarship programmes available to eligible students.
43. Ghana
Explore university scholarships, development-focused funding and postgraduate awards. International applicants should confirm eligibility and whether support includes accommodation and living costs.
44. Egypt
Search government cooperation schemes, university scholarships and research funding. Awards may be limited to particular nationalities, courses or partner institutions.
45. Mauritius
Check government scholarships, university awards and regional education programmes. Some schemes target students from eligible African or Commonwealth countries.
Latin America: 46–50
46. Brazil
Explore university research grants, postgraduate funding and national or international academic cooperation programmes. Portuguese language requirements are important for many courses.
47. Chile
Investigate ANID scholarships and university postgraduate funding. Some awards target international doctoral candidates or researchers, with eligibility varying by call.
48. Argentina
Look into university scholarships, research grants and bilateral academic programmes. Confirm whether international students qualify for the specific funding opportunity.
49. Colombia
Explore university financial support, postgraduate research awards and programmes administered through ICETEX. Eligibility and funding levels depend on the particular call.
50. Costa Rica
Investigate university-based financial assistance, research opportunities and regional academic exchanges. Full scholarships for foreign students are not guaranteed, so confirm funding before applying.
50. Ukraine
Ukraine's Ministry of Education and Science offers state scholarships to eligible foreign nationals from countries with relevant educational agreements. Support may include free education and, where provided by the applicable agreement, a monthly allowance and dormitory accommodation.
Check current programme availability, official travel advice and safety conditions before considering study in Ukraine.
Which scholarship programmes should you prioritise?
If your main objective is to study abroad with minimal personal expense, start with these established programmes.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters
For eligible master's applicants, scholarships can contribute to participation costs, travel and living expenses. Courses are delivered by international university partnerships.
MEXT — Japan
A government scholarship route worth investigating for eligible undergraduate and postgraduate applicants. Review the current application process through the Japanese embassy or university.
Global Korea Scholarship — South Korea
Offers eligible international students funded degree pathways with benefits that can include tuition, airfare and monthly allowances.
Türkiye Scholarships
A comprehensive programme offering eligible students degree placement and financial support, potentially including tuition, accommodation, health insurance and a stipend.
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships
Particularly relevant to eligible researchers and doctoral applicants with a suitable academic background. Some research awards provide a monthly stipend.
How to apply successfully
Check eligibility first. Some scholarships are only open to citizens of specific countries.
Choose your study level. Undergraduate, master's, PhD and research funding can have very different requirements.
Prepare your documents. Common requirements include academic transcripts, references, a personal statement, a CV and proof of language proficiency.
Check exactly what is funded. A full tuition waiver is not the same as a fully funded scholarship covering accommodation and living costs.
Apply through official portals. Avoid agents who guarantee scholarships or request suspicious advance payments.
Final note: This is a guide to countries where students can investigate funding, not a claim that all 50 countries pay every international student. Confirm eligibility, application deadlines and the precise funding package through official scholarship providers before making plans.