List of Masters Scholarships for International Students

Education is a global industry. If you ever wanted to imagine a cross cultural mixture of young individuals, worthy of a UN level diversity picture, all you have to do is visit a university campus. You will be greeted with students flocking into classrooms from all over the world. Some even fresh off the airplane tarmac, ready to partake in knowledge intake.

Take for instance, India, which along with advancing in many areas, including its population, has nearly 2 lakh students enrolled in US universities as of 2021-22. This is 21% of the total international student population in the US. Of this rather formidable number, more than a lakh are enrolled in some kind of graduate level Master’s program.

For a student with a graduate degree abroad, the temptations include world class education, international exposure, networking opportunities, and the ability to convert ones’ student visa to some form of work visa/permit, a facility normally unavailable to job seekers from outside the host country.

For these reasons and the overall independence in academic pursuits, students are often willing to incur the rather hefty costs of international education that include not only the tuition but the cost of living in a foreign country as well.

While some graduate students manage to secure graduate assistantships – teaching or research – others hunt the fields for a scholarship that can not only help to ease the finances but also work as an embellishment for ones resume.

In this article, we explore the typically pursued scholarship options in graduate level international degrees. If you begin to investigate such scholarships, we suggest you address the task strategically.

Scholarships are typically of two varieties – university granted or government/independent agency granted external scholarships for international students. A further drilling exposes the fact that not all scholarships are meant for everyone. They are often targeted to a certain race, gender, minority or even area of study.

Knowing where you will be applying for your Master’s degree and how you can capitalise your ethnicity or other details of your background can help you get a leg above the other applicants.

So, we have divided our selection of scholarships here for you to get your homework started. Check these out, divided out based on selected categories – by university, external scholarship – for US and European programs.

List of University Scholarships for Master’s Degrees

Most universities have in an in-house merit based graduate fellowship available. However, there are those that have university collaborations with certain donor organisations to provide scholarships to either general or niche applicants in graduate schools.

Here is a list of top universities in a few selected fields of study for Master’s education, with their scholarship offers.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• Design Fellowship by MIT Morningside Academy for Design is offered to 10 graduate students engaged in MAD activities with a project proposal. Current Master’s and PhD students are eligible.
• National Institute of Health (NIH) Individual Fellowships administered by MIT’s Research and Administration Services (RAS) to undergraduates, graduates, and postdoctoral students.
• The Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) supports graduate students in basic and applied research in Earth science and space science. It is given out for three years with an amount of $45,000 per year.
• Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship Program is given to graduate students studying toward a PhD in physical, engineering, computer, mathematical, or life sciences with computing.
• Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration offers fellowship to students interested in certain areas in physics.
• The Dolores Zohrab Liebmann Fund Fellowship given to one selected student from each graduate program in humanities, social sciences or natural sciences.
• National Defence Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Program (NDSEG) is for students in mathematics, physical, biological or engineering sciences.
• The National Consortium for Graduate Degrees for Minorities in Engineering and Science, Inc. (GEM) provides financial support to MS Engineering students.
• Fannie and John Hertz Foundation Graduate Fellowship Program is eligible for American students of applied physical, biological and engineering sciences.
• Rajiv V. Tahil Fellowship awarded to MIT graduate students researching improvement in environment through scientific, engineering or public policy solutions.
• Elie Shaio Memorial Award to MIT graduates from Israel in any department.
• NEEKEYFAR Fund Award to MIT Graduate students from Iran.
• Robert B. Guenassia Award to MIT graduates from Ecole Centrale or Lycée Louis le Grand in France.
• Ho-Ching and Han-Ching Fund awarded to enrolled or incoming graduate students from Shanghai Jiao Tong University in China. It is also open to students from Chinese engineering universities.
• The Brazil Fellowship Program offers financial assistance to MIT grad students from Brazil enrolled in MIT School of Science or the MIT School of Engineering.
• The China Scholarship Council Graduate Fellowship gives first year MIT grad students from China support for 12 months.

California Institute of Technology

Caltech offers a number of endowed fellowships, according to their graduate studies page. They are typically offered to first year students based on merit. Students are encourage to enquire at the Graduate Studies Office.

• ARCS Scholarship is given to four students based on accomplishments for a maximum of three years. However, it is only available to US citizens.
• The J. Yang Scholarship is awarded to two Taiwanese students each year based on merit. It covers tuition and fees in addition to a stipend.
• The John and Ursula Kane Charitable Trust Scholarship provides stipend to two American scholars every year.
• Ministry of Education Taiwan-Caltech Scholarship is awarded to two Taiwanese students.
• The Parent Support Program Scholarship provides financial support to graduate students with a need for financial assistance.

Harvard University

Scholarship from the university are sourced from endowment funds, gifts from alumni and other revenues. It is mainly targeted at students in need of financial assistance and who have demonstrated excellence in academia.

The RCC Harvard University Graduate Degree Student Scholarships are available to enrolling students in graduate programs at Harvard, with a preference to those from partner universities like the Technical University of Madrid, University of Alkala, University of Valencia, University of Seville and University of Oviedo.

Stanford University

The Dean’s Fellowship for Master’s students from a diverse background with excellent academic record.

The Graduate School of Education has the Caludio X. Gonzalez Graduate Student Aid Fund for Mexican applicants and the Lemann Foundation has the full tuition fellowship for Brazilian students for ICE/IEPA, LDT and joint MA/MBA programs.

The Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program provides assistance to 100 students each year. The GEM Fellowship Award for engineering graduate students, the Wade Scholarship Program provides scholarships to African students in STEM fields, and others.

University of California Berkeley

The Graduate Office for Diversity provides a dozen Diversity and Community Fellowships. The Jim Fahey Safe Homes for Women Fellowship is given to graduate students with financial need and strong aptitude in their fields of study.

The Philip Brett LGBT Studies are given to students with interest and contributions to LGBT-related issues. The Davide N Keightley Fellowship is awarded to high achieving students from China at the College of Letters and Science at Berkeley. Paul J. Alexander Memorial Fellowship is given to advanced graduate students in History. The Dr. And Mrs. James C.Y.

Song Fellowship provides financial support for students from Taiwan. The Guru Gobind Singh Fellowship is given to Sikh Indian students currently pursuing a graduate degree.

The University of California Berkeley also gives Parent Grant Funding to students who have dependent children while the Caregiver Grant is given to students who happen to be the primary caregiver to an adult individual.

The Dolores Zohrab Liebman Fellowship are given to Berkeley graduate students with outstanding undergraduate records.

Here are few more organised by UC Berkeley:

• Chowdhury Fellowships worth $7500 are given to two Bangladeshi graduate students in any field.
• Edward E. Hildebrand Research Fellowship is given to Berkeley graduates with research on Canada.
• Mildred E. Mathias Graduate Student Research Grants are given to University of California students.
• Art Rosenfeld Award for Energy Efficiency to one UC Berkeley student focused on energy efficiency.
• Institute of East Asian Studies Fellowships for graduate students in East Asian studies.
• Global International and Area Studies Grants is given to students in international studies.
• International Need-Based Tuition Awards and Graduate Student Family Grants are given to international students and graduate student families.

Business School Masters Degree Scholarships

University of Chicago (Booth)

Merit Based MBA Scholarship is offered by Booth, considering all applicants to the MBA program. Awards are communicated at the time of admission offer. The specific amount is not disclosed on the website.

• Global Innovator Fellowships are awarded to MBA students with a goal to make an impactful change in the world with their innovation. All applicants are considered during the admission process.
• Civic Scholars Program offers a full tuition waiver to MBA students who work in certain designated non-profit organisations or the government.
• Siebel Scholars Program and the University of Chicago Obama Foundation Scholars Program recognises meritorious MBA students in the second year with a one-year scholarship funding.

Northwestern Kellogg

Merit based scholarships are offered to outstanding MBA applicants. The Finance Fellows is a full-tuition scholarship offered to MBA graduates committed to making a positive impact in the finance world.

Kellogg also partners with certain outside agencies for scholarships. These include the Diversity Scholarship, the Kellogg Finance Network (KFN) Scholarship to outstanding students in Finance, the Kellogg Scholarship awarded to Master’s students with outstanding achievements.

There are also the McGowan Fellows Program for second-year MBA students with outstanding performance.

University of Pennsylvania (Wharton)

All admitted students are considered for Wharton Fellowship, for two years, based on merit. Wharton also offers the Joseph Wharton Fellowship to student with outstanding academic and professional record.

Students can also avail other scholarships/fellowships offered in collaboration with Wharton:

• Ford Fellowship, Academic Excellence Fellowship, Inselbag Fellowship, and McGowan Fellowship to best students in the first year.
• Director’s List Fellowship offered each semester
• Dr. Bruce I. Jacobs Scholars in Quantitative Finance for second year students excelling in Quantitative Finance Major

Besides these, there are Entrepreneurial and Leadership Fellowships as well as specialised scholarships like the Real Estate Fellowship for students in the field. The Whitney M Young Fellowship is given to students from the AAMBAA community with academic excellence. The Toigo Fellowship provides MBA students from minority communities to enhance their career in finance.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Sloan)

Apart from the usual merit based scholarship, there are others in collaboration with outside organisations. The Aker Scholarship is awarded to Norwegian students pursuing either the MIT Sloan MBA or MFin.

For Spanish students there is the Foundation Gandra Barandiaran for full tuition. The Kennedy Scholarship is given to British students given to a variety of graduate level degree programs at MIT and Harvard.

For those looking to make a social impact through an entrepreneurial venture in a low-income country, the Legatum Fellowship helps fulfil those dreams.

The Mckinsey Award is given to three MBA students based on merit while the MIT-China Scholarship Council Fellowship is given to Chinese students.

Other business scholarships include the The Zuckerman Fellowship and the MIT Sloan Social Impact Fellowship offered to MBA grads looking to make a positive impact on society.

Harvard University Business School

HBS also provides need based scholarships and certain complimentary fellowships awarded to students with certain exceptional qualities. These include the Summer Venture in Management Program Fellowship for MBA grads who participate in the residential program for increasing diversity in business education.

The RISE Fellowship is awarded to students who have committed their efforts to serve marginalised communities. The John C Phelan Forward Fellowship is awarded to students from the lower income group.

Other complimentary fellowships include the George Leadership Fellow program, Horace W Goldsmith Fellowship, the Junior Achievement Fellowship, the Robert S Kaplan Life Sciences Fellowship, John H McArthur Canadian Fellowship, the Black Family Fellowship and Harvard University’s General Scholarships.

Also read our article on MBA Scholarships

External Scholarships For Masters Degree in the US

Besides the university associated scholarships that you can get access through either your application to graduate school or after being enrolled, there are scholarships are available to students through external sources.

• The Echoing Green Fellowship is a two-year program providing seed funding to promising social entrepreneurs. The recipients will be given $80,000 for in stipend, health insurance, professional development stipend, access to experts, technical support, and networking circle of entrepreneurs are all part of the fellowship.
• Fulbright Program is available for international students to study Master’s or PhD in US universities.
• Air and Waste Management Association (A&WMA) Graduate Scholarships provide scholarships to students in the field of air quality, waste management, environmental management/ policy/ law and sustainability.
• AISES A.T. Anderson Memorial Scholarship is open to students in Mathematics, Medical Sciences, Physical Science, Technology, Science, Engineering or Natural Resources.
• AISES Chevron Corporation Scholarship is given to students pursuing a field useful to Chevron business. This includes STEM and business related studies.
• NASA Space Technology Graduate Research Opportunities (NSTGRO) is available for American MS or PhD at accredited US universities.
• AISES Intel Growing the Legacy Scholarship Program is available to students in Computer Science, Computer, Electrical, and Chemical Engineering, and Material Science.
• Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing Scholarship is for full-time students who have hearing loss.
• American Association of Petroleum Geologists (AAPG) Foundation Grants are given based on merit to geology graduate students in Masters or equivalent degrees.
• Google Lime Scholarship for Students with Disabilities supports students with disabilities into advanced degrees in computer science.
• ProNet David W. Lakamp AIA Scholarship is awarded to two students with strong interest in risk management studies.
• Aga Khan Scholarship  provides outstanding candidates from developing countries the opportunity to finance their postgraduate studies.
• Arab Student Aid International provides interest free student loans to any international applicant.

External Scholarships for Women pursuing Masters Degree in USA

• American Association of University Women International Fellowships are awarded to women studying full-time in the US.
• Women from developing countries studying in US and Canada can apply for Margaret McNamara Education Grants.
• Women applicants who are non-US or non-Canadian citizens working towards a graduate degree in US or Canada can apply for the P.E.O International Peace Scholarship with the promise to return to their home country upon completion of the degree.
• The Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future Fellowships are available to women academics in Science and Engineering.
• Indian women between the age of 21 and 31 years can receive the American India Foundation’s William J. Clinton Fellowship.

Also read MBA Scholarships for Women

External Scholarships by Race/Ethnicity for Masters Degree in USA

• Hillel Graduate Student Award for Jewish students studying in US and Canada, of the amount of $5,000.
• Citizens of Scandinavian countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway or Sweden) can avail the American-Scandinavian Foundation scholarship for study in any field.
• The Asian Cultural Council gives individual fellowship grants to artists, scholars, and students from Asia for study, research, travel, etc in the US.
• Belgian American Educational Embassy provides a fellowship grant of $45,000, a stipend of $15,000, plus $30,000 for tuition and health insurance fr study in the US to Belgian students from a recognised Belgian institution.
• The Iraqi Scholarship are given to Iraqi students with the stipulation that they have to return to their home country upon completion of their degree.
• British students are eligible to apply for the Kennedy Scholarship for studying MS or PhD at MIT and Harvard.
• The Victor Pinchuk Foundation World Wide Studies (WWS) Scholarships give up to 30 scholarships to students starting their Master’s program at leading international university in the fall semester. The students have to be Ukrainian citizens no older than 35 years old.
• The Young Future Energy Leaders (YFEL) offers funding to students, from UAE, in the field of renewable energy and sustainability.
• Aker Scholarship is for Norwegian students pursuing degrees at Caltech, MIT, Harvard, Stanford, University of Pennsylvania, Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial College London and National University of Singapore.
• Alberta Scholarships Program is available for Canadian students enrolled in full-time graduate programs outside Alberta Canada.
• The American-Scandinavian Foundation offers over $500,000 to Scandinavian students enrolling in research programs in the US for one year.
• Irish students can avail funding opportunities from the Arts Council of Ireland.
• The Rotary Foundation also offers various funding opportunities to graduate students from all areas of discipline.

Also read,
– MBA Scholarships for African Students
– MBA Scholarships for Indian Students

We have also assimilated a few popular scholarship resources for pursuing Masters degree in the UK and Europe.

Scholarships to study in Europe

• The Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters provides one to two years of Masters education for a joint degree or multiple degrees in Europe at selected institutes.
• France offers the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship to international students who want to pursue Master level courses in France.
• The Quad d’Orsay/Enterprises is designed to encourage foreign students in France and thus helps in their funding opportunities.
• If you are looking to study in the UK and belong to a Commonwealth country, you can apply for the Commonwealth Scholarship schemes. 
• UK also provides the Chevening Scholarships for Masters level degrees to international students.
• The DAAD Scholarship Programs is responsible for promoting international students in Germany and provides various funding schemes.
• Students interested in Germany’s higher education can also look into the Heinrich Boll Foundation Scholarships based on merit, political and social engagement.
• Germany’s DeutschlandStipendium National Scholarship Program sponsors students with a fixed stipend per month.

Clearly, there is an almost endless bounty of scholarship funding opportunities that are available. It is near impossible to list an exhaustive compilation here but this should help you get your imagination running for a more targeted search catering to your profile – country, race, gender, school, program, etc.

We wish you luck on your hunt for scholarship and other graduate school funding endeavors. If you need professional help, drop us a line at info[at]mbacrystalball[dot]com. We also encourage you to read our scholarship success stories for further insight.