Top 25 Europe Scholarships for International Students

European colleges and universities award millions of Euros in scholarships to international students every year. The European Union and European governments also fund EU scholarships to draw international students to Europe. On top of that, some countries in Europe offer free tuition to international students.

Below you will find two groups of awards. The first group is government-funded scholarships run by European states. The second group is scholarships offered by individual European universities. Each entry names the host country, the degree level it targets, and what the award covers, so you can judge quickly whether it fits your plans.

European Government Scholarships for Foreign Students

• British Chevening Scholarships (UK): the UK government's global scholarship programme, given to outstanding scholars from Chevening-eligible countries worldwide. Awards are usually for a one-year Master's degree. Most cover tuition fees, a living allowance at a set rate for one person, an economy class return airfare to the UK, and extra grants for essential costs. See also UK Commonwealth Scholarships for Developing Commonwealth Countries.
• DAAD Scholarships with Relevance to Developing Countries (Germany): the German Academic Exchange Service funds a range of postgraduate courses at German universities that have special relevance to developing countries. The target group is international students and young professionals from developing countries in Africa, Asia, Pacific Islands, Central and South America and Central and Eastern Europe. Selected programmes receive a mix of full or partial scholarships.
• NL Scholarships (Netherlands): for international students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who want to take a Bachelor's or Master's degree at participating Dutch universities. The award is € 5,000, paid in the first year of study.
• Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (Sweden): for highly qualified international students from developing countries who want to study at Swedish universities. The focus is mainly on master's level. The award covers tuition fees, living expenses, some travel grant, and insurance.
• ICP Connect Scholarships (Belgium): VLIR-UOS awards these Master's scholarships to students from 3o eligible countries in Africa, Asia and Latin-America. Students attend one of the English-taught programmes at one or more Flemish universities or universities of applied sciences and arts. The award covers tuition fees, travel, insurance and living expenses (board and lodging).
• Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme (France): set up by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs so French higher education institutions can attract the best foreign students to master's and PhD programmes. Holders get a monthly allowance plus other expenses such as return trip, health insurance and cultural activities. Tuition fees are not covered.
• Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Students (Switzerland): open to graduates from around 180 countries for doctoral or postdoctoral research in any academic field at a publicly funded university or recognised institution in Switzerland. The award covers a monthly allowance, tuition fees, health insurance, lodging allowance and more.
• Danish Government Scholarships for Non-EU/EEA Students (Denmark): the Danish Ministry of Education offers a number of these each year to highly qualified and motivated international students from outside the EU/EEA. They fund a full degree higher education programme at participating Danish universities. Support comes as full or partial tuition fee waivers and/or grants towards living costs.
• Italian Government Bursaries for Foreign Students (Italy): awarded for study in Italy to foreign citizens and to Italian citizens resident abroad. They cover university degree courses, advanced vocational training, art and music courses, Masters Degree courses, PhD Courses and others. You can only apply for three, six, or nine month scholarships.

European Colleges and Universities that offer Scholarships for Foreign Students

• Gates Cambridge Scholarships (UK): for outstanding applicants from outside the UK to take a full-time postgraduate degree in any subject at the University of Cambridge. The award covers the full cost of study: the University Composition Fee and College fees at the appropriate rate, a maintenance allowance for a single student, one economy single airfare at the start and end of the course, and inbound visa costs. See also Cambridge International Scholarships.
• Rhodes Scholarships at University of Oxford (UK): postgraduate awards for exceptional international students from selected countries at the University of Oxford. A Rhodes Scholarship covers all university fees, a personal stipend, health insurance, and airfare to and from the student's home country. See also Oxford's Clarendon Scholarships.
• ENS International Selection Scholarships (France): each year ENS runs an international selection for promising international students in Science or Humanities to follow a two or three-year course at ENS. Scholars receive a monthly stipend of approximately 1,000 Euros and a room on one of the ENS campuses.
• Developing Solutions Scholarships at University of Nottingham (UK): for international students from Africa, India or one of the developing countries of the Commonwealth who want a Masters Degree at the University of Nottingham and to make a difference to development in their home country. Each year 105 scholarships are awarded: 30 cover the full tuition fee while 75 cover 50% of the tuition fee.
• Leiden University Excellence Scholarships (Netherlands): open to outstanding Non-EU/EEA students enrolling in a master's degree programme at Leiden University. Awards take one of three forms: €10,000 of the tuition fee, €15,000 of the tuition fee, or total tuition fee minus the home fee.
• University of Maastricht High Potential Scholarships (Netherlands): funded by the UM Scholarship Fund to help talented students from outside the EEA follow a master's programme at UM. The award includes tuition fee, living expenses, visa costs, and insurance.
• Radboud University Scholarship Programme (Netherlands): a selected number of talented prospective non-EEA students receive a full or partial scholarship for a complete English-taught Master's degree programme at Radboud University Nijmegen. Full scholarships consist of tuition fees and living costs; partial scholarships reduce tuition to the level an EEA student pays. The Radboud Scholarship also covers costs such as visa, residence permit, health insurance and liability insurance.
• Amsterdam Excellence Scholarships (Netherlands): awarded to exceptionally talented students from outside the EU for eligible Master's Programmes at the University of Amsterdam. The AES is a full scholarship of €25,000 covering tuition and living expenses.
• University of Twente Scholarships (Netherlands): for excellent students from both EU/EEA and non-EU/EEA countries applying for a graduate programme (MSc) at the University of Twente. The amount is from € 6,000 to € 25,000 for one year.
• Utrecht University Excellence Scholarships (Netherlands): offered to outstanding prospective students for a Master's degree in a selected number of fields at Utrecht University. The award is either tuition fees OR tuition fees plus 11.000 euro living expenses.
• Erik Bleumink Scholarships at University of Groningen (Netherlands): usually awarded for any 1 year or 2 years Master's degree programme at the University of Groningen. The grant covers tuition fees plus the costs of international travel, subsistence, books, and health insurance.
• ETH Excellence Scholarships (Switzerland): ETH Zurich supports excellent students for a Master's degree through two programmes, the Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) and the Master Scholarship Programme (MSP). ESOP gives a grant for living and study expenses (CHF 11,000 per semester) plus a tuition fee waiver. MSP gives a partial stipend for living and study expenses (CHF 6,000 per semester) plus a tuition fee waiver.
• University of Lausanne Master's Grant for Foreign Students (Switzerland): the UNIL Master's Grants are for international students who want a Masters Degree at the University of Lausanne. The grant is CHF 1,600.- per month from 15 September to 15 July, for a duration not exceeding the regulation minimum period of the programme.
• Lund University Global Scholarships for Non-EU/EEA Students (Sweden): aimed at top academic students who are citizens of countries outside the European Union/European Economic Area (and Switzerland) and want to pursue Bachelor's or Masters Degree studies at Lund University. Scholarships may cover 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of the tuition fee.