10 fully-funded postgraduate scholarships in Europe for 2021

Europe is a popular choice among students for many reasons. Apart from its great reputation in terms of its way of life, a vast array of options, and opportunities for global exposure amidst cultural diversity, it is also known for its high standards of education. “European programmes tend to be more diverse than US courses and therefore draw more students from emerging economies,” says Brandon Kirby from the Rotterdam School of Management in the Netherlands.

In the 2017 rankings released by Study.Eu, Germany’s score of 83.2 out of 100 put it at the top of the list as the most attractive option for foreign students among 30 European countries ranked in three categories: education (50 points), cost (30 points), and life and career (20 points). Behind Germany, with scores from 60 to 70 points were the Netherlands, France, Sweden and the UK. Here are some of the fully-funded scholarships that are available for international applicants:

The Emile Boutmy Scholarship in France

This scholarship is for those looking to undertake a bachelor’s, master’s or PhD degree from the Science Po University in Paris, which hosts 14,000 students – half of which are international. The deadline to apply is Dec. 6, 2020.

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• Erasmus+ (@EUErasmusPlus) October 12, 2020

The Erasmus+ Scholarship Programme

The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Degree (EMJMD) is a prestigious, integrated and international study programme, jointly delivered by an international consortium of higher education institutions. This programme awards EU-funded scholarships to the best candidates applying under annual selection rounds.

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship in Switzerland

This fully-funded scholarship is open for students from over 180 different countries looking to pursue a master’s or PhD degree. Last year, 381 students were awarded the opportunity, and this year they are aiming for 500. The deadline to apply is Nov. 2020.

Among Ireland’s top draws are intriguing medieval architecture as well as vast green fields and mountains. Source: Hans Hansen/Pixabay

The Government of Ireland Postgraduate Scholarship

This programme is an established national initiative funded by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science. A total of 60 scholarships will be awarded this year, funded by the Government of Ireland’s International Education Scholarships programme. The deadline to apply is Oct. 29, 2020.

The Belgium Government Scholarships

220 fully-funded scholarships are now available for international students looking to study a full-time master’s degree in Belgium or to take up a training course. For master’s programmes, 150 scholarships will be granted, while 70 will be granted for short training courses. The deadline to apply is Feb. 5, 2021.

The DAAD Scholarship in Germany

This scholarship is fully-funded by the Government of Germany, for all international students looking to pursue a postgraduate degree. The DAAD currently supports the education of 100,000 German and international students.

The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme in France

This scholarship programme was established by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to enable higher education institutions to attract top foreign students to enrol in their postgraduate programmes. The deadline to apply is Jan. 8, 2021.

What’s better than a table in the sun with a cup of black coffee in Paris’s famous terraces? Source: Miguel Medina/AFP

The Padua International Excellence Scholarship Programme in Italy

The University of Padua annually offers up to 43 scholarships to highly talented students wishing to pursue a bachelor’s or master’s degree completely held in English in Padua, Italy.

The Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarship in Germany

The Heinrich Böll Foundation grants scholarships to approximately 1,200 undergraduates, graduates, and doctoral students of all subjects and nationalities per year, who are pursuing their degree at universities, universities of applied sciences, or universities of the arts. The deadline to apply is Mar. 1, 2021 and only those with proficiency in the German language are eligible.

The Friedrich Ebert Foundation Scholarship in Germany

This scholarship is funded by the DAAD scholarship for international students looking to pursue diplomas, bachelor’s or master’s degrees. Students in any subject area are eligible to apply if they demonstrate excellent school or academic merit and wish to study in Germany.

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