Economics is still a “High-Impact” field for global funding in 2026, but the focus is shifting to Sustainable Development, Economic Policy Management, and Data-Driven Economics. There are currently or soon to be several top fully funded opportunities for the 2026/2027 intake.
1. The best fully funded government and multilateral awards
These packages are the most complete because they cover all of the tuition, international flights, and monthly living expenses.
The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship (JJ/WBGSP)
- The prize is full tuition, round-trip airfare, medical insurance, and a monthly living allowance.
- Focus on Economics: Specifically, it focuses on Master’s degrees in Economic Policy Management, Taxation, and Infrastructure Management.
- Columbia University (MPA in Economic Policy Management), LSE (MSc Economics/Development Economics), and the University of Tokyo are all participating programmes in 2026.
- Window 2 in 2026 The deadline is May 29, 2026.
- Requirement: Must be a mid-career professional from a developing country that is eligible and has at least three years of experience.
Chevening Scholarships in the UK
- The prize: full funding for a one-year Master’s degree in economics or a related policy field.
- Goal: Leaders of the future who have worked for more than 2,800 hours.
- Applications for the 2027 intake usually open in August 2026 and close in November 2026.
DAAD EPOS Scholarships in Germany
- The Prize: €992 a month for a Master’s degree or €1,300 a month for a PhD, plus insurance and travel.
- The Hochschule Rhein-Waal offers a Master’s degree in Sustainable Development Management.
- The deadline to apply for the 2027 start is between May 1 and June 1, 2026.
- You need to have at least two years of relevant work experience since you got your Bachelor’s degree.
2. Awards for specific universities and regions
University of Bristol: Have Big Ideas About Economics (UK)
- The Prize: £6,500 and £13,000 scholarships for international students in the School of Economics.
- Status for 2026/2027: The deadline for applications for the 2026/2027 intake is April 10, 2026.
- Economics students may also be able to get the Think Big Career Accelerator (£3,000 extra).
Stipendium Hungaricum (in Hungary)
- The prize is full tuition, free housing, health insurance, and a monthly payment.
- Economics Focus: You can get a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in Economics or Econometrics.
- Intake for 2027: You can apply for the 2027–2028 cycle from November 2026 to January 2027.
Yale University: Grants Based on Need (USA)
- The Award: Yale gives a lot of need-based financial aid to international students. Most scholarships are worth more than $50,000.
- Economics Focus: Yale’s International & Development Economics (IDE) programme is a top-notch one-year master’s programme.
- 2027 Cycle: Applications for the 2027–2028 school year usually close in January 2027.
3. Erasmus Mundus: An Important Update for 2026
The Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters in Economics (like GLOCAL) is currently going through a change.
- 2026-2027 Status: Many important Erasmus programmes, such as Euroculture, have said that there won’t be any Erasmus Mundus scholarships available for the 2026-2027 intake while they wait to be re-selected.
- 2027 Outlook: Full scholarships (about €1,400/month) are expected to come back for the September 2027 intake. In late 2026, keep an eye on the official catalogue.
4. How to Not Take the IELTS for Economics in 2026
Some economics departments are flexible about English testing, but economics is a math-heavy field.
- Medium of Instruction (MOI): If you got your Bachelor’s degree in English, many UK universities and the DAAD will accept a MOI letter from your Registrar.
- The Duolingo English Test (DET) is now accepted by Yale and the University of Bristol as a faster, $59 alternative to the IELTS.
- Quantitative Waiver: If you get very high grades in advanced maths and statistics taught in English, some European universities may not require you to speak English.
5. Important Timeline for 2026 and 2027
- The Think Big (Bristol) scholarship is due on April 10, 2026.
- The World Bank (JJ/WBGSP) Window 2 is due on May 29, 2026.
- The deadline for the DAAD EPOS (Sustainable Development Management) for the 2027 intake is June 1, 2026.
- Apply for Chevening (UK) and Fulbright (USA) for the 2027 intake between August and October 2026.
Final Thoughts
The World Bank and Think Big (Bristol) scholarships are your top priorities right now for Master’s move in 2026. If you work, the DAAD EPOS window opening in May 2026 is the best way to get to Germany in 2027. The 2027 committees are looking for candidates who can use data to solve development problems, so make sure your application focuses on Quantitative Research and Policy Impact.
