Scholarships & Funding

Margaret McNamara Education Grants (World Bank Family Network) · United States

A one-off grant towards the costs of graduate study, for women from developing countries already enrolled at an accredited institution. It supplements existing funding rather than replacing it.

MASTERS, PHDDeadline: One annual round per region, with the US and Canada round usually closing in the winter.

JICA / Government of Japan · Japan

Tuition, monthly allowance, airfare, and accommodation support for a Masters (and a small number of PhDs) at a partner Japanese university.

MASTERS, PHDDeadline: The call for Bangladesh usually opens around September–October; check the JDS Bangladesh site each year.

Korea International Cooperation Agency · South Korea

Tuition, airfare, living allowance and accommodation for a 1–2 year Masters at a Korean partner university.

MASTERSDeadline: Calls are announced through the Korean Embassy and Bangladesh's Economic Relations Division, usually in the first half of the year.

Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK · United Kingdom

Up to 12 months at a UK university during a PhD registered at a Bangladeshi university: airfare, stipend and UK fees.

PHDDeadline: Usually opens around August–September with a deadline in October.

British Council and UK universities · United Kingdom

At least £10,000 towards tuition for a one-year taught Masters at a participating UK university.

MASTERSDeadline: Most universities close between March and May for September entry.

University of Oxford · United Kingdom

Full tuition and a living stipend for a graduate course at Oxford, plus a leadership development programme.

MASTERSDeadline: Apply by the Oxford course's December or January admission deadline.

Imperial College London · United Kingdom

Full tuition, a generous stipend and research costs for a PhD at Imperial.

PHDDeadline: Usually one round with a deadline around January.

Cambridge Commonwealth, European & International Trust · United Kingdom

Full or part-cost awards for Masters and PhD study at Cambridge, often co-funded with colleges.

MASTERS, PHDDeadline: Apply for the course by the December or January funding deadline.

Higher Education Authority, Ireland · Ireland

€10,000 stipend and a full fee waiver for one year of study at an Irish higher education institution.

MASTERS, PHDDeadline: Usually opens in January with a deadline in March.

Flemish Government · Belgium

Up to about €8,000+ a year and a reduced tuition fee for a Masters in Flanders.

MASTERSDeadline: Applications go through your chosen Flemish university, usually by early spring.

Italian regional right-to-study agencies · Italy

Tuition exemption, a yearly cash grant, and often free meals and accommodation, based on family income.

MASTERSDeadline: Deadlines are usually July–September for the year starting that autumn.

Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs · Italy

A monthly allowance of about €900 for study or research at an Italian university, and usually a tuition exemption.

MASTERS, PHDDeadline: The call usually opens around April–May.

Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung · Germany

Monthly stipend (about €992 for Masters, €1,450 for PhD) plus allowances for study in Germany.

MASTERS, PHDDeadline: Two rounds a year, usually 1 March and 1 September.

Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung · Germany

Monthly stipend and health insurance support for Masters or PhD study in Germany.

MASTERS, PHDDeadline: Deadlines are usually 15 January and 15 July.

Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung · Germany

Monthly stipend and allowances for international students at German universities.

MASTERS, PHDDeadline: Rolling rounds; check the site for the next selection date.

German Federal Government and private sponsors · Germany

€300 a month for at least two semesters, regardless of nationality or income.

MASTERSDeadline: Set by each university, often in spring or summer.

Max Planck Society · Germany

Fully funded PhD positions (contract or stipend) at Max Planck Institutes.

PHDDeadline: Each school runs its own call, most in autumn and winter.

European Commission · Europe (multiple countries)

Fully paid 3–4 year doctoral contracts across European labs, with mobility and family allowances.

PHDDeadline: Positions are advertised all year on EURAXESS.

"la Caixa" Foundation · Spain

Three-year PhD contracts at top Spanish and Portuguese research centres, with training.

PHDDeadline: Usually opens in autumn with a deadline around January–February.

ETH Zurich · Switzerland

Living and study costs of CHF 12,000 per semester plus a tuition waiver for a Masters at ETH Zurich.

MASTERSDeadline: Apply with the Masters application, usually by mid-December.

EPFL · Switzerland

CHF 10,000 per semester for a Masters at EPFL, plus an optional research internship.

MASTERSDeadline: Apply with the Masters application, usually by mid-December.

University of Amsterdam · Netherlands

€25,000 for one year covering tuition and living costs.

MASTERSDeadline: Usually a January deadline.

Leiden University · Netherlands

A tuition reduction of €10,000, €15,000 or full tuition minus the statutory fee.

MASTERSDeadline: Usually 1 February (some programmes earlier).

Lund University · Sweden

Covers 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of tuition for a Masters at Lund.

MASTERSDeadline: Usually February, after the University Admissions round.

Uppsala University · Sweden

Tuition waiver for the first year of a Masters at Uppsala.

MASTERSDeadline: Usually 1 February.

A*STAR, NUS, NTU and SUTD · Singapore

Full tuition, a monthly stipend of about S$2,700 and a settling-in allowance for a 4-year PhD.

PHDDeadline: Twice a year: usually 1 June and 1 December.

Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence · United Arab Emirates

Every admitted student receives full tuition, a monthly stipend, accommodation and health insurance.

MASTERS, PHDDeadline: Usually rounds from autumn to mid-December for the following August.

AIT · Thailand

Full or partial tuition waivers and fellowships from AIT and donors for Masters and PhD in Bangkok.

MASTERS, PHDDeadline: Several intakes a year (January and August).

Indian Council for Cultural Relations · India

Tuition, a monthly stipend and accommodation support for study at an Indian university.

MASTERS, PHDDeadline: Usually opens around February–April each year through the A2A portal.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Brunei · Brunei

Tuition, accommodation, monthly allowance, books and airfare.

MASTERS, PHDDeadline: Usually January–March, through the Brunei High Commission.