In 2026, a number of important scholarship programs have maintained or increased their support for families. These awards show that the “cost of living” includes what your spouse and kids need, and they provide you specific allowances to help your family move with you.
1. Scholarships from the Commonwealth (UK)
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) gives some of the most detailed and organised family allowances to students from eligible Commonwealth countries.
The Benefits for the Family:
- Spouse Allowance: If you and your spouse live together at the same address in the UK, you can get about £290 a month for up to nine months.
- Child Allowance: £290 a month for the first child and £143 a month for the second and third child (under 16).
- Single Parent Support: If you are a single parent, divorced, or widowed, the allowance for your first child goes up to about £590 a month.
Important Note: The CSC makes it clear that these are payments towards costs. You need to be ready to add to these funds to cover the real cost of living for a family in the UK.
2. DAAD EPOS Scholarships (Germany)
Germany’s DAAD (Development-Related Postgraduate Courses) program is very helpful for professionals who want to move with their families and study for a long time.
The Benefits for the Family:
- Spouse Allowance: If your spouse comes to Germany with you for more than three months, you will get a monthly allowance.
- Child Allowance: For each child who travels with you, you get an extra monthly payment.
- Insurance Coverage: The scholarship often pays for or helps pay for health, accident, and personal liability insurance for family members who are travelling with you.
As of 2026, the monthly stipends for PhD students have gone up to €1,400–€1,500, giving people who have dependents a better starting point.
3. Scholarships for Australia Awards
Families love going to Australia, and the Australia Awards give you the legal and financial support you need to bring your dependents with you.
The Benefits for the Family:
- Visa Help: The scholarship helps you get the Student Visa (Subclass 500), which lets your spouse and children join you.
- OSHC for Families: The scholarship pays for your own Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), but you can upgrade to a “Family Cover” to make sure your dependents are also covered.
- Work Rights: If the Australia Awards scholar is in a Master’s by Research or PhD programme, their spouse usually has unlimited work rights.
The deadline for applications for the 2027 intake is April 30, 2026.
4. The Fulbright Programme for Foreign Students in the US
“J-2 dependents,” which include spouses and unmarried children under 21, can go to the United States with the scholar through the Fulbright program.
The Benefits for the Family:
- J-2 Visa Sponsorship: Fulbright takes care of getting your family members a J-2 visa.
- Health Insurance: Fulbright gives the scholar a basic health benefit (ASPE), but you are responsible for getting and paying for health insurance for your dependents that meets US Department of State standards.
- Spouses on a J-2 visa can apply to USCIS for an Employment Authorisation Document (EAD) that lets them work in the US.
5. Stanford, USA: Knight-Hennessy Scholars
Stanford’s Knight-Hennessy Program for graduate students has a flexible funding model that can help people with families.
The Benefits for the Family:
- Stipend Flexibility: The high annual stipend (around $35,000–$40,000) and extra money for school expenses give scholars with dependents a more comfortable safety net.
- Family Housing: Stanford has special Graduate Family Housing (apartments on campus) for students who live with their partners and kids.
6. Scholarships from Chevening in the UK
Chevening is a “leadership” scholarship that lets your dependents join you, but it doesn’t give them any money directly.
The Policy:
- No Extra Allowance: Your stipend is based on one person. Before the UK Home Office will give you visas, you must show that you have enough money (about £600–£800 per month for each dependent) to support your family.
- Visa Help: Chevening gives you the sponsorship letter you need to prove your status, which helps your family get their “Dependent” visas.
Final Thoughts
The Commonwealth Scholarship is the best scholarship for families in 2026 because it is the only big one that gives a direct, monthly cash allowance to both a spouse and several children. If your spouse wants to work to support the family, Australia is the best choice because partners of postgraduate researchers can work without any restrictions.
