This article is a compilation of the Top 10 Excellence Scholarships for Skillful International Students. While not all scholarship programs follow the same criteria, many are merit-based, meaning scholars are selected based on their academic achievements or other merits, such as leadership, athletics, or artistic abilities.

These scholarships are often called excellence, as they aim to recognize and support the most talented and promising students.

Below are scholarships based on merit offered by Foreign Governments.

1. Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA)
2. Chevening Scholarships (U.K.)
3. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Canada)
4. Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme (France)
5. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (Switzerland)
Global Universities offer merit-based Scholarships.

1. Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA)

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program allows graduate students, young professionals, and artists from other countries to research and study in the United States for a year or more at U.S. universities or other suitable institutions. The Fulbright program provides financial support during the study, including tuition fees, textbooks, air travel, a living allowance, and health insurance.

2. Chevening Scholarships (U.K.)

The Chevening Scholarships is a worldwide scholarship program initiated by the U.K. government that aims to provide opportunities to exceptional scholars with leadership potential from different parts of the world to pursue postgraduate studies at universities in the U.K. Most Chevening Scholarships cover tuition fees, a living allowance for one person, an economy class round-trip flight to the U.K., and additional grants to cover essential expenses. However, some scholarships only cover partial costs, such as tuition fees or allowances.

3. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Canada)

The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (Vanier CGS) aim to draw and maintain exceptional doctoral students and establish Canada as a leading hub for research and advanced education. The scholarships cover postgraduate degrees, including combined M.A./Ph.D. or M.D./Ph.D. programs, at participating universities in Canada. Each scholarship is valued at $50,000 per year for three years.

4. Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme (France)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs created the Eiffel Scholarship program to help French universities attract top international students for Master’s and Ph.D. programs. Eiffel scholarship recipients receive a monthly stipend and funds for travel expenses, social security coverage, and cultural activities. However, tuition fees are not covered by the scholarship.

5. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (Switzerland)

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships offer graduates from any field the chance to conduct doctoral or postdoctoral research at a Swiss public university or recognized institution. This scholarship includes a monthly allowance, tuition fees, health insurance, a lodging allowance, and more.

Global Universities offer merit-based Scholarships.

6. Gates Cambridge Scholarships (U.K.)

Gates Cambridge Scholarships are awarded to outstanding applicants from countries outside the U.K. to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge. The scholarship covers the total cost of studying at Cambridge, namely the University Composition Fee and College fees at the appropriate rate, a maintenance allowance for a single student, one economy single airfare at the beginning and end of the course, and inbound visa costs.

7. Rhodes Scholarships (U.K.)

Established in the will of Cecil Rhodes in 1902, Rhodes is the oldest and perhaps the most prestigious international scholarship program in the world. The Rhodes Scholarships are postgraduate awards that support exceptional international students from selected countries at the University of Oxford. A Rhodes Scholarship covers all university fees, personal stipend, health insurance, and airfare to and from the student’s home country.

8. Clarendon Scholarships at the University of Oxford (U.K.)

The Clarendon Fund is a major graduate scholarship scheme at the University of Oxford. It is awarded based on academic excellence and potential across all degree-bearing subjects at the graduate level at the University of Oxford. The scholarships cover tuition and college fees in full and a generous grant for living expenses.

9. Macquarie University Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarships (Australia)

The Macquarie University Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship provides a partial tuition fee for outstanding students to study for an undergraduate or postgraduate degree at the Macquarie University North Ryde campus. The scholarship amount is varied up to AUD$10,000.

READ: Government of Canada International Scholarships

10. University of Maastricht Scholarships for High Potential International Students (Netherlands)

University of Maastricht, High Potential Scholarships are made available to talented students from outside the EU/EEA to follow a Master’s program at Maastricht University. The scholarships cover tuition fees, monthly living expenses, insurance, and visa costs.

11. Leiden University Excellence Scholarships for International Students (Netherlands)

The Leiden University Excellence Scholarship Programme (LExS) is open to outstanding non-EU/EEA students enrolling in a master’s degree program offered at Leiden University. The scholarships come in the form of the following: €10,000 of the tuition fee, €15,000 of the tuition fee, or the total tuition fee minus the home fee.

12. Utrecht University Excellence Scholarships (Netherlands)

The Utrecht Excellence Scholarship offers several outstanding prospective students the opportunity to pursue a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in a selected number of fields at Utrecht University. The scholarship can be awarded as tuition fees or plus 11,000 euros for living expenses.

13. Amsterdam Excellence Scholarships (Netherlands)

The Amsterdam Excellence Scholarships (AES) awards scholarships to exceptionally talented students outside the E.U. to pursue eligible Master’s Programmes offered at the University of Amsterdam. The AES is a full scholarship of €25,000 covering tuition and living expenses.

14. T.U. Delft Excellence Scholarships (Netherlands)

The Delft University of Technology offers the Justus & Louise van Effen scholarship, which aims to financially support excellent international MSc students wishing to study at T.U. Delft. The scholarship covers the tuition fees and monthly allowance for living expenses.

SEE: KPMG Canada Internship 2024 for International Students

15. ENS International Selection Scholarships (France)

Each year, the ENS organizes an international selection, allowing the most promising international students in Science or Humanities to follow a two- or three-year course at the ENS. Scholars receive a monthly stipend of approximately 1,000 Euros and a room on one of the ENS campuses.

16. ETH Excellence Scholarships (Switzerland)

ETH Zurich supports excellent students wishing to pursue a Master’s degree at ETH with two scholarship programs: the Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) and the Master Scholarship Programme (MSP). The Excellence Scholarship includes a grant covering living and study expenses (CHF 11,000 per semester) and a tuition fee waiver. The Master Scholarship Programme includes a partial stipend for living and study expenses (CHF 6,000 per semester) and a tuition fee waiver.

17. University of Geneva Excellence Master Fellowships (Switzerland)

The Faculty of Science of the University of Geneva offers scholarships for outstanding students from any university who wish to pursue a Master of Science Programme offered by the Faculty of Science. The Excellence Fellowship consists of a yearly grant from CHF 10,000 to CHF 15,000.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is the most famous scholarship?

What defines a prestigious scholarship may vary but a few are generally recognized as being quite prestigious, They include the Rhodes Scholarship, the Fullbright Scholarship, the Marshall Scholarship, the Gates Cambridge Scholarship, and the Truman Scholarship.

Which country offers the best scholarship?

Germany, Greece, Japan, China, Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Korea, are among the nations that offer full scholarships to international students. Make sure the scholarship is accepted at the school you want to attend.

What is the most considerable scholarship you can get?

The Davidson Fellows Scholarship is among the most prestigious scholarships, awarding up to $50,000 to students who show academic excellence. Students interested in pursuing a career in a STEM field should look into this scholarship.

Can I study in the USA for free?

The USA is home to several public and private universities that offer tuition-free education. Obtaining admission to such tuition-free universities is a sure-shot way to study in the USA for free. Students must create a list of all these universities and courses and apply to the ones that match their field of interest.

What grades do you need to get a scholarship in the UK?

Academic excellence scholarships: Many universities offer scholarships to students who achieve specified grades in their A Levels to encourage the higher achieving students to choose their university. They are not all asking for A*AA, some are offering money for ABB or less.