In 2026, anthropology scholarships are more and more focused on medical anthropology, climate adaptation, and cultural preservation. Major government awards and specialised research fellowships are getting ready for their next application cycles in the 2027 intake.
1. Fully Funded Top “Full-Ride” Prizes
These are the best programmes because they pay for all of your tuition, let you travel abroad, and give you a monthly living allowance.
Chevening Scholarships in the UK
- The Prize: Full funding for a one-year master’s degree in anthropology or a related social science.
- 2027 Intake: Applications for the 2027/2028 school year will likely open in August 2026 and close in October 2026.
- You need to have worked for at least two years (2,800 hours). People strongly value volunteering for community development or heritage projects.
Fulbright Programme for Foreign Students in the US
- The prize: full funding for a master’s or PhD in anthropology at one of the best U.S. schools, like Columbia, Chicago, or Berkeley.
- Cycle 2027–2028: As of April 2026, the competition is open in many areas.
- The national deadline is Tuesday, October 6, 2026.
- Strategic Tip: Write your research proposal as if you were an ethnographer studying cultural exchange or a global problem.
DAAD: Scholarships for Graduates to Study in Germany
- The prize is a monthly payment of €992 for a master’s degree or €1,300 or more for a PhD, as well as health insurance and travel.
- Anthropology Focus: Germany is a hub for social and cultural anthropology. Look for “International Master’s” in the DAAD database.
- 2027 Cycle: Applications usually open in June 2026 and close in September or October 2026.
2. Fellowships in Specialised Anthropology and Research
Wadsworth International Fellowships from the Wenner-Gren Foundation
- The Award: Helping students from countries where anthropology is not very popular get a PhD abroad.
- The application portal usually opens in January 2027 for the 2027 cycle.
- Due date: March 1, 2027.
- Requirement: You must be a citizen of a country that is eligible and doesn’t have a lot of money for advanced anthropology training.
CAMHRA Masters Scholarships from SOAS University of London
- The Award: Full tuition waivers for master’s programmes that focus on the anthropology of mental health.
- 2026/2027 Status: The deadline to apply for the September 2026 intake is April 30, 2026.
- MA Medical Anthropology and Mental Health, or MRes Social Anthropology, are the programmes that one can apply to.
3. Grants for institutions and merit (2026/2027)
GREAT Scholarships in the UK
- The prize is a £10,000 tuition fee waiver for one-year taught master’s courses.
- 2026/2027 Status: Students from Nigeria, Pakistan, and other countries can now apply.
- Schools that are taking part include UCL, Brunel, and the University of Kent, all of which have strong anthropology departments.
University of Reading Excellence Scholarships in the UK
- The Prize: Automatic cuts to tuition fees of between £2,000 and £7,000.
- 2026/2027 Status: No separate application is needed. Eligible international students will be automatically considered based on their admission application for the September 2026 and February 2027 intakes.
4. How to Avoid IELTS for Anthropology in 2026
Anthropology has a lot of reading, but you can skip formal tests by:
- Medium of Instruction (MOI): If you got your bachelor’s degree in English, many German (DAAD) and UK (Commonwealth) universities will accept an MOI letter from your registrar.
- The Duolingo English Test (DET) is now accepted by SOAS, UCL, and many US schools as a faster, $59 alternative to IELTS.
- Professional Waiver: If you have worked for an international NGO or heritage organisation for more than three years and English is the main language, some UK Master’s programmes may not require the test.
5. Important Timeline for 2026 and 2027
- The last day to apply for the CAMHRA (SOAS) medical anthropology scholarships is April 30, 2026.
- From June to August 2026, finish your fieldwork proposal or research statement for funding applications for 2027.
- The Chevening (UK) portal will open in August 2026 for the 2027 intake.
- October 6, 2026, is the national deadline for many Fulbright (USA) 2027 programmes.
- The Wadsworth International Fellowships (PhD) are due between January and March 2027.
Final Thoughts
The SOAS CAMHRA scholarship is your top priority right now because it has a deadline of April 30. The Fulbright and Chevening programmes are the best options for starting in 2027. Focus your application on climate displacement or public health. Committees in 2027 are looking for researchers who can use ethnographic data to solve global problems.
