International Development Scholarships

©iStock.com/loops7 Many scholarships support development-related studies such as agriculture, education, global health, the environment, public policy, peace, and water and sanitation. They are offered by universities, foreign governments and international organisations, and some also fund study in any field that will help the scholar’s home country develop. Below, scholars4dev.com lists the top 20+ scholarships for development-related studies. Each one covers at least half of the costs, and most are fully funded. Scholarships for Development-Related Studies » Rotary Foundation Global Grant Scholarships (Any country) The Rotary Foundation’s global grants fund graduate study or research abroad for one to four academic years, with a minimum budget of US$30,000 that can pay tuition, room and board, travel and other study costs. You need to be sponsored by a Rotary club or district, so contact your local club first; applications are accepted all year, but each club or district may set its own timeline. The scholarships cover graduate coursework or research in Rotary’s seven areas of focus: peacebuilding and conflict prevention, disease prevention and treatment, water, sanitation and hygiene, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, community economic development, and the environment. See also Rotary Peace Fellowships for fully funded Master’s and certificate programmes in peace and development (the 2028-29 application opens in February 2027) and Rotary Scholarships for Water and Sanitation Professionals at IHE Delft Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (Worldwide) The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) funds mid-career professionals from developing countries who have at least three years of development-related work experience. It pays tuition, a monthly living stipend, round-trip airfare, health insurance and a travel allowance. Participating programmes are at universities in the USA, Europe, Africa, Japan and Australia; you must first be admitted to and shortlisted by one of them, then apply between 18 January and 26 February 2027 or between 29 March and 21 May 2027, depending on the programme. The scholarships cover development-related Master’s programmes in fields such as economic policy, public policy, public health, sustainability, financial stability and international policy. See also ADB-Japan Scholarship Program for development-related Master’s study at partner institutions in Asia and the Pacific DAAD Scholarships for Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (Germany) The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) funds graduates from developing and newly industrialised countries to take selected development-related postgraduate courses at German universities. Applicants need a very good first degree and at least two years of related work experience, and they apply directly to the course, which sets its own deadline (mostly between August and October each year). Scholars receive a monthly payment of 992 euros for Master’s study, health insurance and a travel allowance, and German-taught courses include up to six months of language preparation. The scholarships cover Master’s (and in some cases PhD) courses in economics, development cooperation, engineering, mathematics, urban and regional planning, agriculture and forestry, natural and environmental sciences, public health, social sciences, education, law and media studies. See also DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Masters Scholarships for Public Policy and Good Governance KAAD Scholarships for Developing Countries (Germany) KAAD, the Catholic Academic Exchange Service, funds graduates and academics from developing and emerging countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America for postgraduate study or research in Germany. The scholarships pay for living and study costs, and applications go through KAAD’s partner committees in each country, which set their own deadlines. The scholarships cover Master’s study, PhDs and research stays in any subject, with a preference for development-oriented studies that will matter for the applicant’s home country. VLIR-UOS ICP Connect Scholarships (Belgium) VLIR-UOS, the main Flemish funder of university cooperation for development, gives full ICP Connect scholarships to nationals of 25 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America for English-taught programmes at Flemish universities. The scholarships cover tuition, travel, insurance and living costs for the whole programme. You apply through your chosen programme, which sets its own deadline (the latest is 28 February 2027), for study starting in September 2027. The scholarships cover selected Bachelor’s, initial Master’s and advanced Master’s programmes in fields such as aquaculture, food technology, nutrition, marine and lake science, road safety, sustainable land management, biodiversity, hotel management, computer science, and development and governance. See also ARES Scholarships for development-related Bachelor’s, Master’s and short training courses in French-speaking Belgium (the last round closed on 18 September 2026) Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (Sweden) The Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professionals funds Master’s study in Sweden for future leaders from 34 countries who want to contribute to sustainable development at home. It covers full tuition, SEK 12,000 a month for living costs, a SEK 15,000 travel grant and insurance, and 189 scholarships were awarded for 2026/27. Applicants need work and leadership experience; they apply for their Master’s at universityadmissions.se by 15 January 2027, then for the scholarship between 8 and 24 February 2027. The scholarships cover SI-eligible Master’s programmes in the social sciences, engineering and technology, medicine and health, natural sciences, agriculture and the humanities. Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program (USA) The Humphrey Fellowship Program gives mid-career professionals from designated countries ten months of non-degree graduate study and professional development at a US university. Applicants need at least five years of full-time professional experience and apply through the Fulbright Commission or US Embassy in their country, which sets its own deadline. The fellowship pays tuition and fees, a living allowance with a settling-in allowance, accident and sickness cover, books, a computer subsidy, air travel and a professional development allowance. The fellowships cover fields such as economic development, finance and banking, public policy and administration, technology policy, public health policy, substance abuse prevention and educational administration. Applications are currently closed. Commonwealth Master’s and PhD Scholarships (UK) The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK, funded by the UK government, offers Master’s and PhD scholarships to talented students from developing Commonwealth countries who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK. The scholarships pay return airfare, tuition fees and a monthly living allowance at participating UK universities. Candidates apply through a nominating agency in their home country, and the deadline for courses starting in September 2027 was 20 October 2026. The scholarships cover Master’s and PhD study under six development themes: science and technology for development, health systems, global prosperity, peace, security and governance, resilience and response to crises, and access, inclusion and opportunity. Applications are currently closed. See also Commonwealth Shared Scholarships for development-related Master’s study at participating UK universities (deadline 8 December 2026) Oxford-Weidenfeld and Hoffmann Scholarship and Leadership Programme (UK) The Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarships and Leadership Programme supports outstanding graduates from transition and emerging economies in Africa, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and Eastern Europe who want to improve public life in their home countries. It covers 100% of university and college fees and a grant for living costs, along with a leadership development programme. You apply by choosing the scholarship on your Oxford graduate application and uploading a scholarship statement by your course’s December 2026 or January 2027 deadline. The scholarships cover selected Master’s courses in fields such as public policy, economics for development, global health, law, education, environmental change, energy systems, water management and area studies. Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust Masters Scholarships at University of Sheffield (UK) The University of Sheffield, with the Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust and the Sheffield Institute for International Development, offers three Master’s scholarships to students from developing countries starting in September 2027. Each pays a full tuition fee waiver and a maintenance stipend. You need an offer for an eligible course by 7 May 2027; shortlisted applicants are invited to apply on 14 May 2027 and must apply by 1 June 2027. The scholarships cover Master’s courses linked to the Sheffield Institute for International Development, such as international development, environmental change and international development, international law and global justice, and public health. Scholarships for Specific Development Courses » JFUNU Scholarships for MSc in Sustainability (Japan) The Japan Foundation for UNU (JFUNU) Scholarship is for students from developing countries who need financial help and are admitted to the two-year, English-taught Master of Science in Sustainability at the United Nations University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS) in Tokyo. It pays ¥120,000 a month for up to 24 months, and tuition may also be waived; through the same application, UNU-IAS also considers students for its UNU Rector’s and Resona Bank scholarships, which pay full tuition and a monthly allowance. Applications for September 2027 entry open in November 2026. The scholarships cover the MSc in Sustainability. See also JFUNU Scholarships for PhD in Sustainability Science Marshal Papworth Scholarships in Agriculture (UK) The Marshal Papworth Fund, managed by the East of England Agricultural Society, gives scholarships to students from developing countries for one-year Master’s courses at partner UK agricultural universities, such as Harper Adams, Cranfield, Aberystwyth and the Royal Agricultural University. Awards usually pay full tuition fees and a living allowance, but scholars pay their own visa, airfare and arrival costs. You first apply to a partner university, which handles the scholarship application, with deadlines usually in February or March. The scholarships cover Master’s courses in agriculture, horticulture and related fields such as entomology, animal science and agricultural technology. IOE Centenary Masters Scholarships (UK) UCL’s Institute of Education (IOE) offers Centenary Master’s Scholarships to students from low and lower-middle income countries who plan to improve the lives of disadvantaged, excluded or underachieving people at home or elsewhere. The scholarship pays full tuition fees and accommodation in London. Once you hold an unconditional offer, you can apply for the scholarship when applications open in January 2027. The scholarships cover full-time, on-campus Master’s degrees in education and related social sciences at IOE (except the MA Educational Neuroscience). See also IOE Centenary Doctoral Scholarships Glenmore Medical Postgraduate Scholarship at the University of Edinburgh (UK) The University of Edinburgh offers Glenmore Medical Postgraduate Scholarships to students from eligible low and middle-income countries, and it particularly welcomes applicants from Africa. Each scholarship pays full tuition fees for the length of the programme; three were offered for 2026-27, with a deadline of 28 May 2026. You must first apply for admission, then apply for the scholarship online. The scholarships cover eligible postgraduate programmes in human medicine and health, both on campus and online. Scholarships in Any Field that Help Develop Your Home Country » Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme (Worldwide) The Aga Khan Foundation offers a limited number of scholarships each year to outstanding students from selected developing countries who have no other way to fund postgraduate study at a reputable university of their choice. Awards are 50% grant and 50% loan, help with tuition and living costs but not travel, and are only for students entering the first year of their programme. The next application cycle opens in early 2027, with applications handled by AKF offices in each eligible country. The scholarships cover Master’s degrees in eligible fields and the first two years of a PhD. Applications are currently closed. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program (Africa and worldwide) The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program supports talented young people, mainly from Africa, who face financial and social barriers to higher education and want to give back to their communities; it especially recruits young women, people with disabilities and forcibly displaced youth. Scholars receive tuition, accommodation, books and other materials, along with mentoring, leadership training and help moving into work. You apply directly to a partner university in Africa, Europe, North America, Lebanon or Costa Rica, and each one sets its own deadline: for example, Sciences Po closes on 23 November 2026 and Carnegie Mellon University Africa on 15 January 2027. The scholarships cover Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in fields that vary by partner, including engineering, computing, agriculture, health, business, public policy, and climate and sustainability. Australia Awards Scholarships (Australia) Australia Awards Scholarships are long-term awards from the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for emerging leaders from participating developing countries in the Indo-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East, who must return home for two years after their studies. They pay full tuition, return airfare, an establishment allowance, a contribution to living expenses and health cover for full-time study at participating Australian universities and TAFE institutes. The round for study starting in 2027 closed on 30 April 2026, and the dates for the next round have not been announced. The scholarships cover undergraduate and postgraduate study (including PhD in some countries) in each country’s priority development areas, such as agriculture and food security, climate change, gender equality and social inclusion, and mining and energy. Applications are currently closed. Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships (New Zealand) The New Zealand Government’s Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships fund full-time tertiary study in New Zealand for citizens of selected developing countries in the Pacific and Asia (such as Cambodia, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, Viet Nam, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga). They pay full tuition, a weekly living allowance, an establishment allowance, insurance and travel, and applicants need relevant work experience. The 2027 application round opens on 1 March 2027 and closes on 31 March 2027. The scholarships cover undergraduate and postgraduate study in subjects linked to each country’s development needs, such as renewable energy, agriculture, disaster risk management, and private and public sector development. Applications are currently closed. Developing Solutions Scholarships at University of Nottingham (UK) Developing Solutions, the University of Nottingham’s flagship Master’s scholarship since 2001, is for students from Africa, South Asia and selected Commonwealth countries who want to make a difference in their home countries. It pays 50% or 100% of tuition fees for one year and, unlike most Nottingham awards, can be held with external sponsorship. You need an offer for a full-time Master’s starting in September 2027 and then apply through NottinghamHub; the deadline is usually in spring (15 April for 2026/27 entry), and the 2027/28 date has not been announced yet. The scholarships cover full-time Master’s degrees (including MRes) in engineering, medicine and health sciences, science and the social sciences. Reach Oxford Scholarships (UK) Several Oxford colleges offer two to three Reach Oxford Scholarships a year to students from developing countries who cannot study for a degree at home for political or financial reasons, or because the right courses do not exist there. The scholarship pays tuition and college fees, a living grant and one return airfare a year for the length of the course, and scholars are expected to return home afterwards. Applicants for 2027 entry had to apply to Oxford through UCAS by 15 October 2026; those who receive an offer can complete the scholarship form between early January and 26 January 2027. The scholarships cover undergraduate courses in all subjects except medicine. Applications are currently closed. AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship (USA) American University’s Emerging Global Leader Scholarship is for high-achieving international students who are committed to civic and social change in under-resourced communities at home. Two full scholarships cover all billable AU costs (tuition, room and board), and up to eight partial scholarships are worth up to US$40,000 a year, all renewable for four years. Applicants submit the Common Application and the AU EGLS application by 15 January 2027. The scholarships cover all undergraduate majors at American University, including international service, business, communication, public affairs, education, and arts and sciences. See also the list of Top 15+ International Scholarships for Developing Country Students The post Top 20+ International Scholarships for Development-Related Studies first appeared on Scholars4DeV.