Short course scholarships are for professionals and students who want to get a lot of training in a short amount of time (usually 2 weeks to 6 months) without having to get a full degree. Several government-backed and institutional programmes are now accepting applications for the 2026/2027 cycle.
1. Top Active Short Course Awards (Apply Now)
- Short Courses for Australia Awards Africa
- Due date: April 30, 2026.
- The deal is that you can take fully paid professional development courses in Australia or online. These are for professionals in fields like agriculture, climate change, health, and mining who are at the mid- to senior level.
- Value: Covers full tuition, airfare, lodging, and a daily allowance.
- Note: You need to be working in a field that is relevant and have at least five years of work experience after college.
- Short Courses at IHE Delft in the Netherlands
- Different courses have different deadlines. For example, May 28, 2026, is the deadline for June sessions.
- The Deal: 1 to 3 weeks of intensive courses on environmental science, climate adaptation, and water management.
- Status: You can now sign up for many courses for 2026. The big “OKP” government grant is over, but IHE Delft still offers partial scholarships (up to 50% off) for self-paying professionals through its “Delft Blue” programme.
- The Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP)
- Deadline: Rolling. (New students can start every month in 2026 and 2027.)
- The Deal: Teach government workers about public administration, technology, and long-term growth.
- Value: All expenses paid, including airfare and lodging in Singapore.
- Eligibility: Usually, you need to be nominated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or another government body in your home country.
- Professional Courses from MASHAV (Israel)
- Innovation and entrepreneurship, subtropical fruit production, and social entrepreneurship are the three main areas of focus for 2026.
- The deal is that you get fully paid short-term training (2–4 weeks) at Israeli training centres.
- How to Apply: The nearest Israeli embassy handles applications.
2. Short stays that are specialised and based on research
- The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) Exchange Programme
- Time: 4 months (one semester).
- The Deal: A short-term exchange for international students who are now studying at universities outside of Korea.
- Value: About KRW 630,000 a month, plus round-trip airfare.
- Cycle: Partner universities usually start accepting applications in the first quarter of the year.
- Fellowships for the Great Wall of China from UNESCO
- Length: 1 year (as a visiting scholar).
- The deal is that students and researchers from developing countries can stay at Chinese universities for a long time to do research.
- Cycle: The main deadline for 2026 passed in February, but calls for specialised technical training often come up in late 2026 for the 2027 cycle.
3. Important updates on the status for 2026
- The Orange Knowledge Programme officially ended in 2024 in the Netherlands (OKP). Be careful if you come across websites that say they offer “OKP 2026” scholarships. Instead, look for the MENA Scholarship Program’s (MSP) or “Excellence” awards from individual universities.
- DAAD Germany: The main deadline for short-term research grants (1–6 months) for 2026 is usually in March. However, some “reinvitation” programs for alumni stay open all year.
- British Council (Hornby Trust): These short-term professional awards are only for English teachers and usually open in late 2026 for training sessions in 2027.
4. Professional Plan for 2026 Applications
- The “Nomination” Rule: Many short-course scholarships (like SCP or MASHAV) need a letter of nomination from your employer or a government ministry, but not master’s degrees. Please ensure you obtain this assistance before the portal opens.
- English Waivers: Because these classes are short, providers will often accept a letter of English proficiency from your old school instead of a new IELTS or TOEFL score. Such a waiver can save you a lot of money.
- Plan for After the Course: These awards are very challenging to get. Your application needs to clearly explain how you will use the two-week training in your current job within six months of returning.
Final Thoughts
If you want a job right away, the Australia Awards (due April 30) or the Singapore SCP (if you work for the government) should be your top choices. IHE Delft is still the most active institution for technical water or environmental training as of mid-2026.
