In 2026, “fully funded” means that the scholarship pays for your tuition, travel, and insurance, and it gives you a monthly stipend (which is often called a salary) so you don’t have to work part-time. The following awards are the most financially generous for the 2026/2027 academic cycle.
1. The KAUST Fellowship in Saudi Arabia
Many people think that King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) gives the best monthly stipend for STEM students in the world.
- Monthly Salary: About $1,660 to $2,500 USD (€1,530 to €2,300) depending on whether you are a Master’s or PhD student.
- Extra benefits include full tuition, free housing on campus, medical and dental insurance, and help with moving.
- 2026 Status: Students who are accepted are automatically considered. Most of the time, applications for the Spring 2027 intake open in September 2026.
2. The Gates Cambridge Scholarship in the UK
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation pays for this award, which is the most prestigious all-inclusive award for international students at the University of Cambridge.
- Monthly Salary: A maintenance allowance of about £1,750 per month, or £21,000 per year, for 2026/2027.
- Extra benefits include covering the full cost of tuition, economy airfare, visa fees, and a discretionary fund for family or academic development.
- 2027 Intake Status: Applications will be accepted starting in September 2026 for students who want to start school in October 2027.
3. Scholarships for Excellence from the Swiss Government
The Swiss Federal Commission for Scholarships (FCS) gives these scholarships to researchers and artists.
- PhD and Research Fellows get CHF 1,920 (about $2,100 USD) a month, and Postdoctoral Researchers get CHF 3,500 (about $3,850 USD).
- Health insurance (for students from outside the EU), a one-time CHF 300 housing deposit grant, and a return flight allowance are other benefits.
- 2027 Intake Status: Most deadlines are between September and December 2026 and can be found at the Swiss Embassy in your home country.
4. The ADB-Japan Scholarship Programme (Japan and Asia)
This programme helps students from Asian Development Bank (ADB) member countries study in Japan, Singapore, and Australia.
- Monthly pay is about 147,000 JPY (about $970 USD).
- Other benefits include full tuition, a $1,000 book allowance, a thesis allowance, and round-trip airfare.
- 2026 Status: Most universities will stop taking applications for the 2027 intake between January and April 2027.
5. Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary)
One of the easiest “salary-paying” scholarships in Europe is offered by the Hungarian government. Students from partner countries have a high success rate.
- Monthly pay is HUF 43,700 for a master’s degree and up to HUF 180,000 (about $500) for the last phase of a PhD programme.
- More benefits include free tuition, free housing (or a monthly housing allowance), and health insurance.
- The portal for 2027 intake opens in November 2026 and closes on January 15, 2027.
6. Scholarships for the Commonwealth (UK)
For students from developing Commonwealth countries who can’t afford to study in the UK.
- Monthly Pay: £1,347 a month (or £1,652 if the university is in London).
- Extra benefits include full tuition, airfare, and money for warm clothes.
- 2027 Intake Status: Applications usually open in October or November of 2026.
7. The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)
This award, which used to be called KGSP, is different because it pays you to learn Korean.
- For a master’s degree, the monthly salary is 1,000,000 KRW (about $750 USD). For researchers, it’s 1,500,000 KRW.
- More Benefits: Full tuition, a one-way plane ticket, health insurance, and a completion grant of 100,000 KRW.
- The graduate application cycle usually starts in February 2027, so the 2027 intake status is as follows:
A summary of the stipend amounts (2026 estimates)
- KAUST (PhD): about $2,500 a month
- Swiss Government (Postdoc): about $3,850 a month
- Gates Cambridge: about £1,750 a month
- Chevening/Commonwealth: about £1,350 a month
- ADB-Japan: about $970 a month
Final Thoughts
If you want to get a scholarship that pays you a monthly salary in 2026, you need to apply before the “Priority Deadlines,” which are usually 6 to 9 months before classes start. Your research proposal and history of leadership are very important for the KAUST Fellowship and Gates Cambridge. Your grades and a strong “Statement of Purpose” are the most important things for the GKS and Stipendium Hungaricum.
