Top 20 Fully Funded Scholarships in Asia for International Students 2027

Asia’s fully funded scholarships are funded differently from Europe’s — and for many students from South and Southeast Asia, Africa and the Middle East, they are closer, cheaper to reach, and just as valuable. Japan, South Korea and China each run large government programmes that pay tuition, a monthly stipend and, in Japan’s and Korea’s cases, your flights. Singapore funds doctoral researchers at stipend levels that rival Western Europe. Hong Kong pays one of the most generous PhD stipends anywhere on earth. Saudi Arabia’s KAUST funds every admitted graduate student as a matter of policy. And multilateral schemes such as the ADB–Japan Scholarship Program let you carry funding to universities across the whole Asia-Pacific region.

This ranked Top 20 is built for the 2027 intake and verified in October 2026. Ranking weighs completeness of the package (tuition, stipend, travel, insurance), stipend value against local living costs, openness to international applicants, and clarity of the official route. Where a scheme is generous but narrow — a PhD-only fellowship, a single-university award — we say so in its profile rather than letting a big stipend figure mislead master’s or bachelor’s applicants. Where figures vary by institution or year, we give the official range or tell you to check the official site; we never invent a precise amount. If 2027-cycle dates were not yet published at verification time, we cite the last cycle’s pattern and label it as such.

Use this list alongside our country and programme guides in the scholarships directory, compare universities in the university directory and rankings pages, and read our dedicated profiles of the MEXT Scholarship and other flagship schemes as you shortlist. Students weighing Asia against Europe should also read our Top 30 fully funded scholarships in Europe — the two regions reward different profiles, and applying to both in one season is a legitimate strategy.

At a Glance: The Top 20 Compared

*Deadlines marked as patterns follow the last published cycle because 2027-cycle dates had not all been published when this guide was verified in October 2026.

The Ranked List: Mini-Profiles

1. MEXT Scholarship — Japan

Japan’s Ministry of Education (MEXT) runs Asia’s most established government scholarship, in seven categories from undergraduate to research students and the Young Leaders Program. The package is genuinely complete: tuition, matriculation and entrance-exam fees waived, round-trip economy airfare, and monthly stipends of ¥117,000 for undergraduate, Japanese studies, college of technology and specialised training students; ¥143,000 for research students in preparatory or non-regular status, ¥144,000 in a master’s course and ¥145,000 in a doctoral course; ¥143,000 for teacher training; and ¥242,000 for YLP students, with a small regional supplement of ¥2,000–¥3,000 in designated areas. You apply either through your Japanese embassy (typically April–June, with written exams and interviews) or through a Japanese university’s recommendation route (typically autumn). No Japanese is required to apply for most research routes, and preparatory language education is built into several categories. Start with the official Study in Japan portal linked from our Sources section and your embassy’s exact category dates — they differ by country.

2. Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) — South Korea

Korea’s flagship, administered by NIIED, funds undergraduate, master’s and doctoral study plus a funded year of Korean language training. Benefits combine full tuition support (capped per semester in the guidelines, with admission fees waived by host universities), round-trip airfare, settlement support, health insurance arrangements and a monthly allowance — the 2027 undergraduate guidelines express this as an annual allowance of KRW 13,560,000 during the language programme and KRW 14,400,000 during the degree programme, with an additional KRW 100,000 per month for scholars reaching TOPIK level 5 or 6. Graduate figures are set in the separate GKS-G guidelines each cycle, so verify the current graduate rates on the official Study in Korea scholarship page rather than relying on older summaries quoting a single monthly number. You choose one route only — Embassy Track (up to three university preferences) or University Track (one university) — and applying through both disqualifies you. Undergraduate applications for 2027 ran 15–30 September 2026 via embassies; graduate rounds have typically opened in February.

3. Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) — China

The China Scholarship Council’s programme is the largest on this list by volume, spanning bachelor’s, master’s, doctoral and scholar programmes at 280-plus designated universities. A full award covers tuition, a free university dormitory place or an accommodation subsidy, comprehensive medical insurance (CNY 800 per person per year in the standard guidance) and a monthly stipend of CNY 2,500 (undergraduate), CNY 3,000 (master’s and general scholars) or CNY 3,500 (doctoral and senior scholars). Two things applicants routinely miss: international airfare is not included — you fund your own flights — and the route matters. Type A (bilateral, through your embassy or national agency, e.g. HEC in Pakistan) and Type B (directly through universities, including the high-level postgraduate programme) have different deadlines, agency numbers and competitiveness; many students apply to both routes where the rules allow. Chinese-taught programmes require HSK levels (typically HSK 4 for postgraduate study); English-taught programmes follow the university’s own language rules. Applications run through the official Campus China system — the coverage and eligibility model is summarised in official guidance such as the Chinese government scholarship application guide in our Sources.

4. Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) — Hong Kong

If you are a doctoral candidate with an outstanding record, this is Asia’s most generous single fellowship: an annual stipend of HK$344,400 (about US$44,150) plus a conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$14,400 per year for up to three years, with universities often adding tuition waivers, cash awards and a fourth year of support — Hong Kong Polytechnic University’s package, for example, adds a tuition-fee-waiver Research Excellence Scholarship and cash awards on top of the RGC fellowship. The Research Grants Council will award 400 fellowships for 2027/28 across eight UGC-funded universities. Selection weighs academic excellence first, then research ability and potential, communication and interpersonal skills, and leadership. The process is two-step and unforgiving: obtain an HKPFS reference number through the RGC system and submit your university application, both by 1 December 2026 (Hong Kong time). Full details are on the official RGC Hong Kong PhD Fellowship page.

5. Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA) — Singapore

SINGA is a bond-free PhD and EngD award run by A*STAR with NUS, NTU, SUTD, SMU and SIT, for international graduates who have not previously studied in Singapore. It covers tuition for up to four years, pays a monthly stipend of S$2,700 rising to S$3,200 after you pass the qualifying examination, and adds a one-time airfare grant of up to S$1,500 and a settling-in allowance of S$1,000. Research areas span biomedical sciences, physical sciences, computing and engineering. You apply by project: browse A*STAR and university projects, nominate up to three, and secure two referee reports before the deadline — 1 December 2026 for the August 2027 intake. Health insurance and dependant support are not included, so budget for them explicitly in expensive Singapore. Apply through the official A*STAR SINGA page.

6. KAUST Fellowship — Saudi Arabia

King Abdullah University of Science and Technology funds every admitted master’s and PhD student through the KAUST Fellowship — admission is the scholarship application. The package covers full tuition and bench fees (valued at up to US$35,000 per year in KAUST’s own summaries), an annual stipend of about US$20,000 for master’s students and US$25,000–US$30,000 for PhD students depending on qualifications and progress, free single-student housing, health insurance and relocation support, within a campus built exclusively for graduate research in science and technology. KAUST is STEM-only and highly selective, with English as the language of instruction. Do not confuse the student fellowship with the separate KAUST Global Fellowship for postdocs (US$75,000 per year), which is a different programme entirely. Check current admission rounds on KAUST’s official admissions site before planning around a specific intake.

7. ADB–Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP) — Asia-Pacific

Funded by the Government of Japan and administered by the Asian Development Bank, ADB-JSP supports nationals of ADB borrowing member countries — including Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan and many others — for master’s study at designated institutions across Asia and the Pacific, in economics, management, science and technology and other development-related fields. It covers full tuition, a monthly subsistence allowance including housing, books and instructional materials, medical insurance and travel, with a possible thesis-preparation grant for research scholars. Institution-level examples in Japan put the monthly subsistence and housing allowance at ¥147,000, but amounts vary by institution and country — your designated institution’s figures govern. You must be 35 or under (45 for senior-official programmes), hold a bachelor’s degree with a superior record, have at least two years of post-degree work experience, already have admission to an approved course, and commit to returning home afterwards. You apply to the institution, not to ADB. The programme’s scope is set out on the official ADB Japan Scholarship Program page.

8. Schwarzman Scholars — Tsinghua University, China

A one-year, fully funded master’s in global affairs at Tsinghua University’s Schwarzman College, modelled on the Rhodes Scholarship and taught in English. The award covers tuition, room and board, a personal laptop, books, required travel to and from Beijing, and a stipend. Selection hunts for leadership potential and entrepreneurial or public-service drive in applicants aged 18–28 with an undergraduate degree, from all countries, with a separate application timeline historically for passport holders from China. If your ambition is a career operating between China and the rest of the world, no other Asian award is built so specifically for it — and none rejects so many academically strong applicants for insufficient leadership evidence.

9. Yenching Academy — Peking University, China

Yenching funds an interdisciplinary master’s in China Studies at Peking University for international and Chinese scholars together: tuition, on-campus accommodation, a monthly stipend, and a round-trip travel grant in the Academy’s published package. Scholars design concentrations across fields from economics and history to law and society, with Chinese language study built in. It suits recent graduates with outstanding academics and demonstrated leadership who want academic depth on China rather than a professional degree. Cohort size is small and global competition intense; verify the current cycle’s deadline and package on the Academy’s official site, as dates follow an early-December pattern in recent cycles.

10. CAS-ANSO Scholarship — China

The Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO) scholarship, hosted through the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ universities (UCAS and USTC), funds master’s and doctoral study in science and engineering for international students, with particular support for scholars from developing countries and Belt and Road partner states. Packages have combined tuition support, a monthly stipend, insurance and travel-subsidy elements, with doctoral awards the most complete — the exact composition is set in each year’s call, so read the current ANSO/UCAS notice rather than summaries. If your field is laboratory science and your goal is a research career, CAS institutes offer facilities few universities match.

11. TaiwanICDF International Higher Education Scholarship — Taiwan

Taiwan’s development agency funds citizens of partner countries for bachelor’s, master’s and PhD programmes at partner Taiwanese universities, covering airfare, housing, tuition and credit fees, insurance, textbook costs and a monthly allowance that varies by level. Programmes are English-taught and development-oriented — agriculture, public health, engineering, ICT and business feature heavily. Eligibility is nationality-bound to TaiwanICDF partner countries, which is the first check; application runs through Taiwanese embassies and missions (TECO offices) with a December–March pattern in recent cycles.

12. MOE Taiwan Scholarship — Taiwan

The Ministry of Education Taiwan Scholarship supports degree study (bachelor’s through PhD) with a tuition waiver up to a capped amount per semester plus a monthly stipend — NT$15,000 for undergraduate and NT$20,000 for postgraduate students in recent published terms, with recipients covering any tuition above the cap. A separate Huayu Enrichment Scholarship funds Mandarin study and pairs well as a pre-degree year. Apply through the TECO office serving your country, typically February–March. Because the tuition element is capped rather than open-ended, cost your specific programme: at many public universities the cap covers fees in full; at pricier private programmes it may not.

13. KNB Scholarship (Kemitraan Negara Berkembang) — Indonesia

Indonesia’s KNB programme funds students from developing partner countries for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral study at selected Indonesian universities, combining tuition coverage, a living allowance, health insurance, a settlement allowance, Indonesian language training (BIPA) and international travel support under the terms of each call. Awardees study across Indonesian cities from Jakarta and Bandung to Surabaya and Bali, in fields from engineering and medicine to Indonesian studies. Partner-country eligibility and the university list change per call — confirm both on the official KNB site before assuming your country and programme are covered for 2027.

14. Government of Brunei Darussalam Scholarship — Brunei

Brunei’s foreign-ministry scholarship funds diploma, bachelor’s and master’s study at Brunei’s public universities (UBD, UNISSA, UTB and Politeknik Brunei) for citizens of OIC, ASEAN, Commonwealth and other eligible countries in recent calls. The published package has covered tuition, return economy airfare, monthly personal and accommodation allowances, annual book allowance and meals allowances in defined components — one of the most complete undergraduate packages in Southeast Asia. The window is short (a February pattern in recent cycles) and places are limited; prepare transcripts and medical documentation before the call opens.

15. Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) Scholarship — Malaysia

MTCP, run by Malaysia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, funds master’s study at Malaysian universities for citizens of MTCP recipient countries — a long list across Asia, Africa, the Pacific and beyond. Recent calls have covered tuition plus monthly living and other allowances for the programme duration, prioritising fields such as public policy, engineering, agriculture, economics and social sciences. It is a development-cooperation award: expect your study plan to be read for home-country relevance, and expect the call mid-year with a short window.

16. Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS) — Malaysia

MIS is the Malaysian government’s graduate scholarship for talented international students at public and selected private universities, covering tuition and a monthly living allowance for master’s and PhD study in recent calls. It rewards strong academics and a clear study plan at a Malaysian institution — secure your university place or offer first, as the scholarship process assumes an institutional anchor. Malaysia’s low living costs make a modest allowance go further than equivalent figures in Singapore or Hong Kong; verify your country’s eligibility and the current allowance on the official MIS portal each cycle.

17. ICCR Scholarships — India

India’s Indian Council for Cultural Relations administers government scholarships for foreign nationals across bachelor’s, master’s, PhD and cultural study (including dance, music and yoga) at Indian universities, through the Admission2Alumni (A2A) portal and Indian missions. Awards have covered tuition plus monthly living, house-rent and annual grant components under the scheme rules for each country. India’s enormous university system means quality and costs vary widely by institution — research your specific university as carefully as the scholarship. ICCR is one of the few schemes in Asia funding undergraduate study at real scale for students from Africa and South Asia.

18. Asian Institute of Technology Scholarships — Thailand

AIT in Bangkok funds graduate students through a portfolio rather than one scheme: Royal Thai Government scholarships, named donor fellowships and AIT’s own fellowships range from partial tuition support to full packages with stipends, depending on the award, your nationality and your programme (engineering, environment, management). We rank AIT with that honest label: some AIT awards are fully funded, many are not, and the only safe method is to open the specific fellowship’s terms for your intake (January and August patterns) and add up tuition, stipend and duration yourself. AIT’s regional alumni network across Asia is a genuine career asset beyond the money.

19. KAIST International Scholarship — South Korea

KAIST — Korea’s science and technology flagship — funds admitted international students directly: full tuition plus a monthly stipend whose amount is set by level (with additional support possible through research assistantships), for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral study in Daejeon’s research campus. Like KAUST, admission and scholarship consideration are intertwined, and the model suits STEM applicants who want a university decision rather than a government competition. If GKS’s embassy/university track structure does not fit your timeline, KAIST’s rolling rounds are the pragmatic Korean alternative — confirm the current stipend for your level on KAIST’s official admissions site.

20. Bolashak International Scholarship — Kazakhstan (for Kazakh citizens)

We include Bolashak with an explicit restriction label: it is Kazakhstan’s state programme funding Kazakh citizens for master’s, doctoral, residency and research study, largely at universities abroad, covering tuition, living, travel and insurance under a return-and-work obligation in Kazakhstan. For Kazakh readers it is the single most important scholarship in this list; for everyone else it is not available, and we list it so Central Asian applicants can place it correctly rather than discovering the nationality rule after investing in an application. Kazakh students should start with the Center for International Programs’ current rules, which set university lists, language requirements and work-obligation terms per call.

Eligibility: Patterns Across Asian Schemes

Five patterns repeat. Age caps are stricter than in Europe: MEXT undergraduate applicants are typically under 25; ADB-JSP caps at 35; CSC caps bachelor’s at 25, master’s at 35 and PhD at 40 in standard guidance; Schwarzman requires ages 18–28. Return obligations are common: ADB-JSP, Bolashak and several bilateral schemes (CSC Type A in some countries, TaiwanICDF, MTCP) are development instruments that expect you to go home. Language years are funded, not penalised: GKS and MEXT build Korean and Japanese training into the award; CSC expects HSK for Chinese-taught study but funds preparatory routes in some programmes. Embassy routes dominate: MEXT, CSC Type A, GKS Embassy Track, Brunei and TaiwanICDF all run through diplomatic missions or national agencies — your country’s quota and your nominating agency’s internal deadline matter as much as the global one. Admission-first schemes are growing: KAUST, KAIST and SINGA decide funding with admission, which rewards applicants who target supervisors and programmes early.

How to Apply: Step by Step for 2027 Entry

1. Fix your level and window. Bachelor’s applicants: MEXT, GKS-U (September window), CSC, Brunei and ICCR are your realistic core. Master’s: add ADB-JSP, Schwarzman, Yenching, Taiwan and Malaysia schemes. PhD: prioritise HKPFS (1 December 2026), SINGA (1 December 2026), MEXT and CSC.
2. Choose your route per country. For Japan and Korea, decide embassy versus university track early — GKS forbids applying through both tracks, and MEXT’s routes have different exams and timetables.
3. Build the document set once. Passport, transcripts and certificates (with apostille or embassy legalisation where required), language scores, study/research plan, two references, medical forms in the scheme’s own format (MEXT and Brunei are particular), and police clearance where requested.
4. Anchor the academic side. Secure admissions (ADB-JSP requires an offer at a designated institution), supervisor support (HKPFS, SINGA projects, KAUST/KAIST programmes) and, for CSC Type B, the university’s pre-admission notice where the university requires one.
5. Submit through the official system only. Campus China for CSC, Study in Korea for GKS embassy track, the RGC system plus university portal for HKPFS, A*STAR’s portal for SINGA, your embassy for MEXT embassy track. Screenshot confirmations and keep application numbers.
6. Prepare for exams and interviews. MEXT embassy routes include written subject exams (past papers are published on Study in Japan); GKS and CSC routes may include interviews at embassy or agency level. Budget travel to your capital if your mission requires in-person steps.

Required Documents (Typical Set)

• Application form from the official portal, plus passport copies and photographs in the specified format
• Degree certificates and transcripts, with certified translations and legalisation/apostille where the scheme requires
• Language certificates: IELTS/TOEFL for English-taught study; HSK for Chinese-taught CSC programmes; TOPIK is a bonus, not a requirement, for GKS
• Study plan or research proposal, personal statement, and CV
• Two recommendation letters (academic referees for research awards; MEXT and HKPFS specify formats)
• Medical examination form completed exactly as the scheme prescribes, and a foreigner physical examination form for China
• Proof of citizenship and, for embassy routes, any nomination or agency forms your country adds (e.g. HEC for Pakistan CSC Type A)
• Admission or pre-admission documents where the scheme is admission-first (ADB-JSP, KAUST, KAIST, MIS)

Deadlines and Timeline Table

How to Improve Your Chances

Respect the quota reality. Embassy-route schemes allocate places by country; a well-prepared application in a smaller-quota country can face different odds than the global headline suggests — and your nominating agency’s internal shortlisting (HEC tests for Pakistan, for example) is a real selection stage, so prepare for it, not just for the final form. Write the study plan each funder wants: development return for ADB-JSP, MTCP and ICCR; research specificity for HKPFS, SINGA and ANSO; leadership trajectory for Schwarzman and GKS. Use published preparation materials: MEXT past papers on Study in Japan are the single highest-value preparation resource in Asian scholarships. Mind the stipend-versus-city maths: CSC’s CNY 3,000 goes far in Wuhan or Chengdu and is tight in central Beijing or Shanghai; SINGA’s S$2,700 is comfortable only with university housing secured. Price your actual city using StudyGraduate’s student tools and country coverage in our guides before ranking offers by headline stipend alone.

Common Mistakes

• Applying to both GKS tracks. Embassy Track and University Track in the same cycle means disqualification — choose deliberately.
• Assuming CSC pays flights. It does not; tuition, dormitory or subsidy, stipend and insurance are covered, international airfare is yours.
• Missing that HKPFS and SINGA share a deadline. Both close 1 December 2026; referees cannot write two strong, tailored letters in the final week.
• Quoting outdated stipends. MEXT, GKS and CSC figures are revised by fiscal year and guideline; the numbers in this article are the verified 2026/2027-cycle figures — recheck the guideline for your cycle.
• Ignoring nationality rules. Bolashak is for Kazakh citizens; TaiwanICDF and KNB use partner-country lists; ADB-JSP requires an ADB borrowing-member nationality plus two years of work experience and an existing admission offer.
• Treating every AIT or university award as fully funded. AIT’s portfolio ranges from partial to full; KAIST and KAUST are admission-linked. Read the specific award’s terms, not the institution’s marketing page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Asian scholarship pays the highest stipend?

By headline monthly value, the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship — HK$344,400 per year (about HK$28,700 per month) plus travel allowance — leads this list for doctoral students, followed by KAUST’s overall package value and SINGA’s S$2,700–S$3,200. For master’s students, MEXT’s ¥143,000–¥144,000 plus tuition and flights is among the most complete packages relative to living costs outside Tokyo’s centre.

MEXT or GKS — which should I choose?

Both fund tuition, living costs and flights with a language year. Choose by destination and route: MEXT’s embassy route includes written exams and offers seven categories including undergraduate and teacher training; GKS offers embassy and university tracks but forbids applying to both, and rewards TOPIK achievement with extra monthly support. Many students apply to both in the same year — their calendars do not clash.

Does the CSC scholarship cover everything?

Almost — tuition, dormitory or accommodation subsidy, medical insurance and a monthly stipend (CNY 2,500/3,000/3,500 by level). It does not cover international airfare, visa and legalisation costs, or living costs above the stipend in expensive cities. Type A and Type B routes differ in process and competitiveness, not in the core package.

Can I apply for fully funded scholarships in Asia without IELTS?

In several cases, yes at scholarship level: MEXT and GKS do not themselves require IELTS, and many Chinese universities accept other English evidence for English-taught CSC programmes. But universities can and do set their own language conditions for admission — the scholarship waiving a test does not waive the university’s requirement. Confirm both layers.

Are there fully funded bachelor’s scholarships in Asia?

Yes: MEXT (undergraduate), GKS-U, CSC, Brunei Darussalam, ICCR and Taiwan schemes all fund bachelor’s degrees, and KAIST funds admitted undergraduates. They are more age-restricted (often under 25) and more exam-driven than postgraduate awards.

Is KAUST open to all nationalities and subjects?

All nationalities, but not all subjects: KAUST is a graduate-only science and technology university. Every admitted MS and PhD student receives the KAUST Fellowship (tuition, stipend, housing, insurance, relocation), so your task is admission itself — research fit with KAUST faculty is decisive.

When do 2027 applications open for Japan?

MEXT’s embassy track typically opens April–June 2027 in most countries for 2028 arrival, while the current cycle’s university-recommendation route runs in autumn 2026 for 2027 arrival — Japan operates on an April academic year with October entry for many graduate programmes, so read your embassy’s category page carefully rather than assuming a single “2027 deadline”.

Can I hold an ADB-JSP award at any Asian university?

No — only at ADB-JSP designated institutions and approved master’s courses, and only if you are a national of an ADB borrowing member country, aged 35 or under, with a bachelor’s degree, at least two years of post-degree work experience and an admission offer. You apply to the institution, which nominates to ADB.

Sources & Verification

Verified in October 2026 against official sources: Study in Japan / MEXT 2027 guidelines (stipends ¥117,000 undergraduate; ¥143,000–¥145,000 research; ¥242,000 YLP; tuition and airfare covered); NIIED / Study in Korea GKS 2027 undergraduate guidelines (annual allowances KRW 13,560,000 language year and KRW 14,400,000 degree programme; TOPIK bonus; track rules) via the official Study in Korea scholarship page; China Scholarship Council guidance (stipends CNY 2,500 / 3,000 / 3,500; insurance CNY 800/year; tuition and dormitory/subsidy; airfare excluded); Research Grants Council Hong Kong (HKPFS — HK$344,400/year plus HK$14,400/year, 400 awards for 2027/28, deadline 1 December 2026); A*STAR (SINGA — S$2,700 rising to S$3,200, tuition for four years, S$1,500 airfare grant, S$1,000 settling-in); Asian Development Bank (ADB-JSP scope — tuition, subsistence including housing, books, insurance, travel; eligibility and return commitment); Türkiye and European scheme sources as cited in companion guides. KAUST student fellowship figures are given as KAUST’s published ranges (MS about US$20,000/year; PhD US$25,000–30,000/year) — confirm your offer letter, which governs your individual package.

Disclaimer: Scholarship amounts, eligible countries and deadlines change every cycle, and several 2027-cycle dates in this guide are given as the last cycle’s pattern where the new call had not been published at verification time. Always confirm deadlines and amounts on the official website before applying. StudyGraduate is an information portal, not an agency — we cannot promise selection, admission or visa approval, and no one can guarantee you a scholarship.