Software engineering is still a “priority sector” in high demand around the world in 2026. More and more money is going towards cloud computing, cybersecurity, and AI-driven development. This guide lists the best fully funded and high-value scholarships for students starting in 2026/2027.
1. Best “Full-Ride” and Elite Tech Scholarships
These awards are the best because they pay for all of your tuition, travel abroad, and give you a monthly living stipend.
Google PhD Fellowship for 2026
- The Prize: Up to $85,000 USD per year for the US and Canada, or a different amount each year for other parts of the world. It pays for travel, living expenses, and tuition.
- Deadline: Applications opened on March 5, 2026, and will close on April 30, 2026.
- Selection: Aimed at PhD students who are doing outstanding research in software engineering, machine learning, and systems.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme
- Target: African students who do well in school and have the potential to be leaders.
- Carnegie Mellon University Africa (Kigali), McGill University, and Makerere University are all eligible schools.
- Deadlines for 2026/2027: Different for each school. The last day to apply for Makerere University for the 2026/2027 school year is June 5, 2026.
- The benefit is that you get full tuition, housing, a stipend, and a laptop.
Chevening Scholarships in the UK
- The prize is full funding for a one-year master’s degree in software engineering or advanced computer science.
- Applications for the 2027 intake usually open in August 2026 and close in November 2026.
- Requirement: You must have worked for at least two years and then gone back to your home country for two years after graduation.
2. Global Excellence and Regional Awards (2026/2027)
DAAD Scholarships for Students in Sub-Saharan Africa
- Target: African students who are working on their master’s or PhD degrees in their home country or in Africa.
- 2027 Cycle: Right now, we are giving out scholarships for students who want to start between January and July 2027.
- The benefit is that you get research grants, a monthly allowance, and tuition money.
Japan’s MEXT Scholarship
- The prize includes full tuition, a round-trip plane ticket, and a monthly stipend of about 144,000 yen.
- Intake for 2027: You can usually apply for the 2027 research track at Japanese embassies between April and June 2026.
- Waiver: If you have an English degree, many software engineering labs in Japan will let you skip the IELTS.
KAIST University Scholarships in South Korea
- The prize includes a full tuition fee waiver, a monthly allowance of up to 400,000 KRW, and health insurance.
- Strategy: KAIST is a wonderful school for students who want to study high-performance computing and AI. Applications for Spring 2027 usually open at the end of 2026.
3. Grants for Targeted Software Engineering (2026)
The Google Generation Scholarship
- The prize is $10,000 USD (USA) or $5,000 CAD (Canada).
- The 2026 cycle usually starts in early 2026 for students in North America. (Note: The deadline for the 2025–2026 cycle in the APAC region was August 2025.)
- Requirements: Must be working towards a degree in computer science or software engineering and show that you care about diversity.
Erasmus Mundus: SECCLO (Cloud Computing and Security)
- The Award: A €1,400 monthly scholarship, free tuition, and travel costs.
- Status: Some Erasmus programmes won’t have enough money for 2026, but new cycles for the 2027–2029 intake should start in late 2026.
4. How to Avoid Taking the IELTS for Software Engineering in 2026
In the field of software engineering, “Code is the language.” Many programmes for 2026 and 2027 let you skip English:
- Medium of Instruction (MOI): If you got your bachelor’s degree in English, MEXT (Japan), KAIST (Korea), and many German universities will not require the IELTS.
- Carnegie Mellon University Africa and the University of Toronto both accept the Duolingo English Test (DET) as a faster, $59 option.
- Technical Interview Waiver: For research-based PhDs, a strong technical interview with a supervisor often makes it unnecessary to take a formal English test.
5. Important Timeline for 2026 and 2027
- The Google PhD Fellowship is due on April 30, 2026.
- June 5, 2026: Deadline for the Mastercard Foundation (Makerere).
- From August to October 2026, you can apply for the Chevening (UK) and DAAD (Germany) programmes for the 2027 intake.
- January 2027: Deadline for the Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary) and Türkiye Bursları (Turkey).
Final Thoughts
The Google Fellowship is the most important thing for PhD candidates in 2026. The Mastercard Foundation (Makerere/CMU Africa) offers the most complete financial security for African master’s students. If you are an independent applicant, the best way to get a fully funded software engineering career is to apply to Japan (MEXT) or South Korea (KAIST) in the middle of 2026.
