5 best fully funded scholarships for undergraduates in 2024

You’re almost done with your pre-university or preparatory course, which means you’re about to embark on the next chapter in your life: university!

As exciting as this is, the time to begin the dreaded university applications is fast approaching.

While it may seem scary or hard, it’ll definitely be worth it, especially when all the work you’re about to put in leads you to one of your dream universities.

You might be deciding between studying locally or travelling overseas to experience life as an international student.

While studying locally may gain you an advantage in being familiar with your culture, knowing the spoken language, and having a better understanding of the local economy, studying overseas gives you the experience of a lifetime.

Just ask any international student, and they’ll tell you that they’ve gone through an academic experience like no other.

They’ve gained lifelong friendships with students from all around the world, immersed themselves in a different culture, networked with many professionals, and learned a new language.

More importantly, many of them have even secured a promising and secure job there.

If financial constraints are causing you to think twice about becoming an international student, we’re here to tell you that you can still realise your dream can still be a reality in many different ways.

One of them is with the help of a fully funded scholarship, which will grant you a free ticket to your university or degree of choice.

A fully funded scholarship covers all your expenses, including full tuition fees, accommodation, travel, visa and living costs throughout your degree, but of course this is provided that you meet the prerequisites.

While applications for a few fully funded scholarships have closed, there are still a number out there that you can apply for, so it’s still not too late!

Top tips on how to apply for a fully funded scholarship

To apply for a fully funded scholarship, you will need good grades, leadership skills, a track record of extracurricular activities, and community service.

The application process varies depending on the university or programme, but it generally requires you to submit academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, essays, personal statements, and other supporting documents.

While competitive, it’s not impossible to obtain a fully funded scholarship.

If you’re worried, here are some tips to help you score that much-desired scholarship:

Craft a compelling personal statement

You’ll want to write a strong personal statement or essay explaining your goals, achievements, and why you deserve the scholarship. And instead of using the same personal statement all the time, make sure to tailor it to each application.

Show what you’ve done

Some scholarships will want to see that you’ve had some relevant experience for the course that you intend to pursue. For example, you did a one-month internship at a legal firm because you intend to pursue a law degree or you’re a budding artiste who has submitted an artwork in a drawing competition.

Convince that you need financial support

Some fully funded scholarships are need-based. You’ll need to clearly articulate your financial situation and how the scholarship will make a significant impact on your education.

Seek advice

Always make sure to consult with mentors, teachers, or professionals who have experience with scholarship applications. They can provide valuable advice and feedback that will help you greatly.

Prepare for interviews

Some scholarships require interviews. Practise answering common questions and be ready to discuss your goals, experiences, and why you’re a suitable candidate.

5 best fully funded scholarships for 2024 undergraduate intake

Now that you’ve gained some tips and insights, here are five fully funded scholarships you should consider applying for the 2024 intake:

1. Chinese Government Scholarship

The Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC) awards international students with a fully funded scholarship to study at any Chinese university affiliated with CSC.

The application process usually starts from December to April of the following year, but the last date to apply differs for each university.

The great part about this scholarship is that there are 274 Chinese universities affiliated with CSC, so you’ll definitely be able to find one that offers your desired course.

CSC offers three types of scholarships — Type A, B, and C.

You’ll want to opt for the Type A scholarship, which covers registration fees, housing, basic medical insurance, and a monthly allowance for personal expenses, or the Type B scholarship, which offers similar benefits to Type A, except that there is no monthly allowance.

The Type C scholarship, on the other, is a partial scholarship with few benefits.

To apply, you’ll need to complete your CSC scholarship application online. You can apply to three universities with your CSC account.

You’ll then have to choose which type of scholarship you’ll want to apply for, before being presented with a list of documents you must provide.

Explore your options in the full university list.

Deadline: April 30, 2024

Level of study: Bachelor’s

Eligible countries: All international students

3. NTHU International Student Scholarship 

Offered by National Tsing Hua University (NTHU), this fully funded scholarship offers international students the opportunity to study at one of the best universities in Taiwan.

The scholarship waives tuition and credit fees, in addition to providing a monthly allowance of 5,000 New Taiwan Dollars (US$160).

However, to qualify for the scholarship, you must be an admitted student at NTHU, which means you have to apply and get into a programme first.

When filling out the application form, you’ll have to check the box “Apply for NTHU International Student Scholarship” in the NTHU International Student Online Application System under the “Personal Information” section.

Learn more on NTHU’s website.

Deadline: March 19, 2024

Level of study: Undergraduate, Master’s, PhD

Eligible countries: All international students

3. Annual Scholarship Programme by Romania

Every year, the Romanian government provides several scholarships to citizens from non-EU countries with the condition that they achieve good results that correspond to the scoring system in Romania.

Scholarship recipients are free to pursue any course except courses in medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy.

One of the prerequisites for applying for the scholarship is that you’ll need to speak Romanian. If you do not speak Romanian, a preparatory year will be granted to study the Romanian language before you begin your university studies.

But if you’re applying for a PhD that offers a foreign language by the school, you will not have to sit for the preparatory year.

The fully funded scholarship covers tuition fees, accommodation expenses, and a monthly allowance of 65 euros (US$70) for undergraduate students (higher for masters and PhD students).

Learn more about the scholarship and application process.

Deadline: March 16, 2024

Level of study: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD

Eligible countries: All except EU countries

4. Türkiye Scholarships 2024

Türkiye extends 5,000 fully funded scholarships to international students, enabling them to study at a university of their choice in the country.

It’s easy to understand why it’s highly competitive — not only do you get to live and learn in a country that millions want to holiday in, but you also get a very generous package as a scholar.

The scholarship is not only inclusive of financial support, tuition fees, accommodation, and health insurance, but also provides university placement and academic, social and cultural facilities to its awardees at all levels of higher education.

Learn more about Türkiye Scholarships 2024.

Deadline: February 20, 2024

Level of study: Bachelor’s, Master’s

Eligible countries: All international students

5. Taiwan MOE Scholarship 2024

As part of the government’s efforts to promote closer rations between Taiwan and the rest of the world, as well as achieve sustainable development, the Ministry of Education (MOE) in Taiwan has come up with its own Taiwan Scholarship Programme, which awards fully funded scholarships to international students.

The programme provides tuition and miscellaneous expenses of up to NTD40,000 (US$1,275) each semester and a monthly living allowance of NTD15,000 (US$478) or NTD20,000 (US$637).

What you’ll have to do is maintain a good academic record and character, as well as get admitted to any of the partner universities in Taiwan for this scholarship programme.

You do not need to be able to speak in Mandarin if your course is taught in English.

Check out more info and list of partner universities.

Deadline: March 31, 2024

Level of study: Bachelor’s, Master’s

Eligible countries: All countries except Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau