International development still puts a lot of money into public health in 2026. Many universities and global organisations have added health security, climate resilience, and infectious disease control to their “Future Health Leaders” programs. There are a number of important fully funded opportunities available for the 2026/2027 school year.
1. The best fully funded government and multilateral awards
These programmes pay for all of your tuition, travel abroad, and health insurance and give you a monthly living stipend.
The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship (JJ/WBGSP)
- The Award: Covers all tuition, a monthly living allowance, medical insurance, and economy airfare (plus a $600 travel allowance).
- The Master of Public Health (International) programme at top schools like Johns Hopkins, Harvard (Kennedy School), and the University of Leeds is one of the participating programmes.
- Deadline for Window 2: Applications are open until noon Washington time on May 29, 2026.
- Target: professionals in the middle of their careers from developing countries who have a history of helping their country grow.
DAAD EPOS Scholarships in Germany
- The Prize: Fully funded master’s and PhD programmes in fields related to development.
- Master of Science in International Health (Berlin/Heidelberg/Munich) is one of the courses we offer.
- Monthly Stipend: As of February 2026, PhD students get €1,400 a month, and master’s students get €934.
- 2026 Status: A lot of public health programmes in Germany have deadlines in October and November 2026 for people to apply for the 2027 intake. To be eligible, you need to have worked in your field for at least two years.
Commonwealth Shared and Master’s Scholarships in the UK
- The award pays for full tuition, a monthly stipend of about £1,347 (or £1,652 in London), and the cost of a round-trip flight.
- Eligible Fields: Concentrates on “Enhancing Health Systems and Capacity”.
- 2027 Intake: Applications usually open in September 2026 and close in October 2026.
2. Global Health Awards for Specific Universities (Deadline: 2026)
GSK Scholarships for Future Health Leaders at LSHTM
- The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (UK) is the host.
- The prize: three full scholarships that cover tuition and a tax-free stipend of £22,000.
- Target: People from sub-Saharan African countries who want to go back to the area.
- The deadline for applications is March 4, 2026, for the 2026 intake. The 2027 cycle starts in late 2026 if you miss it.
Imperial College London offers master’s scholarships for the School of Public Health.
- The Prize: Full tuition for both on-campus and online master’s programmes.
- 2026/2027 Due date: April 30, 2026.
- Criteria: Based on both academic potential and financial need. First, you need to apply for the MPH or MSc in Epidemiology.
Mastercard Foundation Doctor of Public Health from the University of Toronto
- The prize is full funding for a four-year DrPH program, which includes tuition, travel, housing, and books.
- Target: Recent graduates and alumni from partner universities of the Africa Health Collaborative.
- Due date: The deadline for the 2027 intake cycle is usually in October 2026.
3. Erasmus Mundus: Update on Europubhealth+
The Europubhealth+ (European Master in Public Health) is a unique two-year double master’s degree that necessitates studying in at least two different European countries.
- For the 2026/2027 intake, the “Scholarship” deadline was January 8, 2026. You can still apply as a “self-financed” applicant until May 2026 if you missed it. You can also wait for the 2027/2028 scholarship cycle to open in late 2026.
- The Stipend: Gives you up to €1,400 a month for two years, plus full insurance.
4. How to Avoid IELTS for Public Health in 2026
Because testing is so expensive, many public health departments now offer other options:
- The University of Toronto (Dalla Lana School) and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health now accept the Duolingo English Test (DET) as a $59 alternative.
- Medium of Instruction (MOI): For the Commonwealth and World Bank scholarships, you can usually send a letter from your last university saying that your degree was taught in English.
- Professional Experience Waiver: If you’ve worked for an English-speaking health organisation (like WHO or NGOs) for more than three years, some UK and US universities will let you skip the English tests.
5. Important Application Timeline (2026–2027)
- April to May 2026: Finish filling out applications for the World Bank (JJ/WBGSP) and Imperial College scholarships.
- Apply for the 2027 Chevening and Mastercard Foundation’s DrPH programmes between August and October 2026.
- Please submit your applications for the 2027 intake for Erasmus Mundus (Europubhealth+) and DAAD EPOS between November and December 2026.
Final Thoughts
The Joint Japan/World Bank scholarship is the most important thing for a master’s to do right now because it has a deadline of May 29, 2026. The Mastercard Foundation at U of T offers the best financial security for Sub-Saharan African professionals who want to get a PhD. This year, funders are focusing on “key impact” areas like health equity and global health security. So, make sure your motivation letters are about these topics.
