As housing costs around the world keep going up, it will be important to find a scholarship that pays for rent in 2026. Most “Full-Ride” scholarships do this job by giving you a monthly stipend, which is also called a maintenance allowance. You put these funds directly into your bank account and use them to pay your landlord or the university housing office.
Here are the best scholarships for the 2026/2027 school year that will pay for your monthly rent.
1. DAAD EPOS Scholarship (in Germany)
The DAAD scholarship from Germany is one of the few that includes a Rent Subsidy in addition to the normal monthly stipend if your housing costs are more than a certain percentage of your income.
- Standard Stipend (2026): * Master’s: €992 a month.
- PhD: €1,300 a month, going up to €1,400 in February 2026.
- Rent Benefit: In some cases, students get an extra monthly rent subsidy to help with the high cost of living in cities like Munich or Berlin.
- Extras: Health insurance and a family allowance for spouses and children who travel with you.
2. The Gates Cambridge Scholarship in the UK
This is probably the most generous scholarship in the UK. It pays for all of your costs at the University of Cambridge, including a very high living allowance.
- The maintenance allowance for 2025/2026 is about £22,050 a year, or about £1,837 a month.
- The Dependent Children Allowance is unique because it gives up to £12,184 per year for one child and up to £17,375 for two or more children. This money can be used to buy bigger, family-friendly homes.
- The Catch: It only gives money to children, not to a partner or spouse.
3. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (in Europe)
The Erasmus Mundus scholarship is for students who will study in two to four different European countries over the course of two years. The stipend is pretty high because you have to find new housing every semester.
- Monthly Stipend: A set amount of €1,400 every month for the full 24 months.
- The installation allowance is a one-time payment of €500 to €1,000 to help with “moving-in” costs like housing deposits and agency fees.
- Warning for 2026: In “expensive” cities like Amsterdam or Paris, the €1,400 might not be enough to cover rent. This amount lets you live very comfortably in Eastern Europe (like Warsaw or Budapest), with a lot of extra money left over.
4. The MEXT Scholarship in Japan
The Japanese Government’s (MEXT) scholarship is very organised and often gives students access to “International Houses” at universities that are subsidised.
- Monthly Stipend (2026): * Research/Master’s: About 144,000 JPY a month.
- PhD: About 145,000 yen a month.
- Regional Bonus: Students in certain “expensive” cities get an extra 2,000 to 3,000 JPY per month to help pay for higher rent in places like Tokyo.
5. Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary)
This scholarship has a lower monthly stipend than those in the UK or Germany, but it has a specific housing allowance that makes it effortless to get.
- The Benefit: Scholars can either get a free place to stay in a dorm or get HUF 40,000 a month to help pay for private housing.
- Stipend: This amount is on top of a monthly stipend for living expenses (about HUF 43,790 for a Master’s degree and up to HUF 180,000 for a PhD).
- 2026/2027 Due date: The application for the next cycle is due on January 15, 2027.
6. How to Use a Scholarship to Pay Your Rent
- The “Lump Sum” Strategy: Chevening and other scholarships pay you a set amount each month. When you move into a new flat, you might need to save two months’ worth of your stipend to pay the “Security Deposit” (Caution Fee). The scholarship board doesn’t usually pay the fee up front.
- University-managed housing: Always check to see if your scholarship covers dorms at the university. These often let you “postpone” paying your rent until you get your first scholarship check.
- Location Matters: If you choose a university in a smaller, “student-friendly” city for the DAAD or Chevening, your fixed stipend will pay for a much better flat than if you choose a university in a capital city.
Final Thoughts
For hibestcontent, the best scholarship for paying rent in 2026 is either the Gates Cambridge (for the most money each month) or the DAAD EPOS (for its specific extra rent subsidies). The Stipendium Hungaricum or Turkey Burslari are the best options if you want a “worry-free” housing experience where the room is already set up for you.
