Studying abroad can be expensive, but fully funded and partially funded scholarships can make international education much more affordable. Every year, universities and governments around the world offer scholarships to talented international students pursuing undergraduate, master’s, PhD, and research degrees.
If you are planning to study abroad in 2027, now is an excellent time to start preparing your applications. Some major scholarship programs have already announced their 2027 application schedules, while others are expected to open during late 2026 or early 2027.
In this guide, we have highlighted the Top Scholarships for International Students with Upcoming Deadlines in 2027, including opportunities in the UK, Europe, Japan, Australia, and other popular study destinations.
Important: Scholarship deadlines can change, and some programs have different deadlines depending on nationality, university, or degree program. Always check the official scholarship website before submitting an application.
Scholarship Study Destination Degree Level Deadline/Expected Period
Chevening Scholarship 2027-28 UK Master’s 6 October 2026
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship 2027-28 UK Master’s 20 October 2026
Commonwealth Shared Scholarship 2027-28 UK Master’s Expected mid-December 2026
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Europe Master’s Usually October-January
MEXT Scholarship 2027 Japan Undergraduate, Master’s & PhD Usually April-May for embassy route
Clarendon Scholarship UK Master’s & DPhil December/January course deadline
Australia Awards Scholarships Australia Undergraduate & Postgraduate Varies by country
Gates Cambridge Scholarship UK Postgraduate Varies by course and applicant type
1. Chevening Scholarship 2027-28
The Chevening Scholarship is one of the UK’s best-known fully funded scholarship opportunities for international students. It is funded by the UK Government and supports outstanding future leaders who want to pursue a one-year master’s degree in the United Kingdom.
For the 2027-28 academic year, applications opened on 4 August 2026 and close on 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC.
Key Benefits
Chevening generally provides financial support covering major study-related costs, including:
- University tuition fees
- Monthly living allowance
- Travel to and from the UK
- Visa-related costs
- Additional allowances in certain circumstances
The scholarship is particularly attractive to students who can demonstrate leadership, networking ability, academic potential, and a clear plan for creating positive change after their studies.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must meet Chevening’s eligibility requirements and apply from an eligible country or territory. Candidates normally need an undergraduate degree and must satisfy the program’s work-experience requirements.
Deadline
6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC
This deadline is for the 2027-28 Chevening Scholarship cycle, meaning successful applicants will begin their studies in the UK in 2027.
2. Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship 2027-28
The Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship is another excellent opportunity for students from eligible Commonwealth countries who want to study a full-time master’s degree in the UK.
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission has confirmed that applications for the 2027/28 academic year will open on 8 September 2026 and close at 16:00 BST on 20 October 2026.
The scholarships are intended for talented candidates from eligible low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK.
Key Features
Depending on the scholarship terms, students can receive support toward:
- Tuition fees
- Living expenses
- Approved travel expenses
- Other scholarship-related costs
Applicants should carefully check the eligible countries, participating universities, development themes, and nomination requirements.
An important point is that candidates generally apply through an eligible nominator rather than simply sending a direct application to the CSC.
Deadline
20 October 2026 at 16:00 BST
Although the deadline falls in 2026, this scholarship is for students beginning their UK studies in September/October 2027.
3. Commonwealth Shared Scholarship 2027-28
The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship is designed for students from eligible Commonwealth countries who need financial assistance to study a selected master’s course at a participating UK university.
For the 2027/28 academic year, candidate applications are scheduled to open in early November 2026 and close in mid-December 2026. The exact candidate deadline is expected to be announced closer to the opening of the application period.
The CSC currently expects around 180 new Commonwealth Shared Scholarships for 2027/28.
Who Should Consider This Scholarship?
This opportunity can be particularly useful for students interested in development-related fields and who want to gain advanced skills that can contribute to development in their home countries.
Applicants should remember that participating universities conduct their own recruitment and may have individual requirements and deadlines.
Expected Deadline
Mid-December 2026
Because the scholarship supports study beginning in 2027, students should start preparing their documents well before the application opens.
4. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarships 2027
The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s is among the most attractive scholarship opportunities for international students who want to study in Europe.
These master’s programs are jointly delivered by international university consortia. Students may study in more than one country during their degree.
According to the European Commission, students from around the world can apply, and selected master’s programs offer full scholarships. These scholarships can contribute toward participation costs, travel, visa expenses, and living expenses.
For most Erasmus Mundus programs, student applications are submitted directly to the consortium offering the selected master’s degree.
Application Period
There is no single deadline for every Erasmus Mundus program. In most cases, applications are submitted between October and January for courses beginning the following academic year.
The European Commission also reported in July 2026 that 37 new Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters were selected and would open for student applications in autumn 2026 for programs beginning in September 2027.
Benefits
Depending on the specific master’s program, a scholarship may provide:
- Tuition/participation-cost support
- Travel contribution
- Visa-related support
- Living allowance
- International study experience
5. MEXT Scholarship 2027 – Japan
The Japanese Government MEXT Scholarship is a major scholarship opportunity for international students who want to study in Japan.
MEXT offers several categories, including:
- Undergraduate students
- Research students
- Teacher training students
- Japanese studies students
- College of Technology students
- Specialized training college students
The official Study in Japan website confirms that applications can be made through embassy recommendation or university recommendation, depending on the scholarship category.
For the 2027 embassy-recommendation cycle, official application materials are already available for several categories. For research students, recruitment for applicants arriving in Japan in 2027 generally takes place around April-May of the previous year, although exact dates depend on the applicant’s country.
Important for International Students
MEXT deadlines are not necessarily identical worldwide. Applicants should check the Japanese embassy or consulate in their home country for the exact application schedule.
Benefits
MEXT is widely regarded as a highly competitive government scholarship and can provide substantial financial support for successful candidates.
6. Clarendon Scholarship at the University of Oxford
The Clarendon Scholarship is one of the most prestigious graduate scholarship opportunities at the University of Oxford.
It is available to outstanding international students applying for eligible master’s and DPhil programs.
One of the major advantages of Clarendon is that there is no separate scholarship application. Students who apply for an eligible graduate course by the relevant December or January admissions deadline are automatically considered for the scholarship.
What Does Clarendon Cover?
Clarendon scholarships provide funding toward:
- Full tuition and college fees
- A living grant
- Access to the Clarendon scholar community
Deadline
There is no single scholarship deadline for every Oxford course. Applicants must meet the December or January graduate course deadline applicable to their chosen program.
Therefore, students interested in starting at Oxford in 2027 should identify their course and check its exact application deadline as early as possible.
7. Australia Awards Scholarships 2027
The Australia Awards Scholarships are long-term scholarships funded by the Australian Government for students from participating developing countries.
They provide opportunities to undertake undergraduate or postgraduate study at participating Australian institutions.
For the 2027 intake, many country application periods opened on 1 February 2026 and closed on 30 April 2026. However, deadlines differ by country.
For example, the official schedule lists Pakistan’s 2027 intake as opening on 1 February 2026 and closing on 30 April 2026.
Important Update
Because many applications for the 2027 intake have already closed, students planning for 2028 should begin monitoring the next application cycle.
Eligibility, priority fields, available courses, and application procedures are country-specific.
8. Gates Cambridge Scholarship
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is another highly competitive opportunity for international students seeking postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge.
The scholarship is designed for outstanding applicants who can demonstrate academic excellence, a strong reason for their chosen course, and leadership or potential to make a significant contribution to society.
What Students Should Know
The application deadline is not necessarily the same for every applicant. It can depend on the course and whether the applicant is a UK or international candidate.
Students planning to apply for 2027 entry should therefore check the official Cambridge course deadline and scholarship instructions before preparing their application.
Typical Benefits
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is known for comprehensive financial support that can include:
- University composition fee
- Maintenance allowance
- Airfare
- Visa-related costs
- Additional funding in certain circumstances
Because of the scholarship’s competitiveness, applicants should begin preparing their academic documents, references, personal statements, and course applications early.
How to Prepare:-
Winning a scholarship requires more than simply submitting an application before the deadline. International students should prepare their applications several months in advance.
1. Check Your Eligibility
Before spending time on an application, confirm:
- Your nationality
- Degree requirements
- Academic qualifications
- English-language requirements
- Work experience requirements
- Age requirements, if applicable
- Course-specific conditions
Eligibility requirements vary significantly between scholarship programs.
2. Prepare Your Academic Documents
Most international scholarship applications require some combination of:
- Academic transcripts
- Degree certificates
- CV or résumé
- Personal statement
- Study plan
- Research proposal for PhD applications
- Letters of recommendation
- Passport or identification documents
- English-language test results where required
Start collecting these documents early.
3. Write a Strong Personal Statement
Your personal statement should clearly explain:
- Why you selected the course
- Why you want to study abroad
- Your academic achievements
- Your career objectives
- How the scholarship supports your goals
- What contribution you hope to make after graduation
Avoid using generic statements. A strong application should clearly connect your academic background with your future plans.
4. Apply Before the Deadline
Do not wait until the final day.
Scholarship websites can become busy near closing dates, and missing a required document can result in your application being rejected or considered incomplete.
5. Check Official Websites
Scholarship information changes regularly. Always confirm the latest deadline and eligibility requirements on the official scholarship website before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best scholarships for international students in 2027?
Some of the major opportunities include Chevening, Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships, Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters, MEXT, Clarendon, Gates Cambridge, and Australia Awards.
Which scholarships are fully funded?
Several of the scholarships listed above can provide extensive funding, but the exact benefits differ by program. Students should read the official funding terms for their specific scholarship and course.
Can Pakistani students apply for these scholarships?
Yes. Pakistani students are eligible for several major international scholarship programs, subject to the individual program’s eligibility requirements. For example, Pakistan is included among the eligible countries for Commonwealth scholarships, and Australia Awards has a country-specific Pakistan intake.
When should I start preparing for 2027 scholarships?
The best time to start is several months before the application deadline. Students should ideally begin researching programs, preparing documents, contacting referees, and improving their personal statements well before applications open.
Do all scholarships have deadlines in 2027?
No. Some scholarships for programs starting in 2027 have application deadlines in 2026. For example, Chevening 2027-28 closes in October 2026, while Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships for study beginning in 2027 also close in October 2026.
Conclusion:-
The Top Scholarships for International Students with Upcoming Deadlines in 2027 offer excellent opportunities to study at leading universities without carrying the full financial burden of international education.
Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships are strong options for students targeting the UK, while Erasmus Mundus is ideal for those interested in studying across Europe. MEXT provides opportunities in Japan across several education levels, and Clarendon offers outstanding graduate applicants the chance to study at Oxford.
The most important step is to start early. Scholarship applications can require academic documents, recommendation letters, personal statements, research proposals, and other supporting materials. By preparing before the deadline, you can submit a stronger and more complete application.
Always verify the latest deadline, eligibility criteria, and funding details on the official scholarship website before applying, because dates and requirements can change.
Good luck with your 2027 scholarship journey!
