Guidelines & Resources

🎓 Top 10 Fully Funded Scholarships in Asia 2027 — Complete List for International Students

Gradualin

May 24, 2026
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Asia is quietly becoming the world’s most exciting destination for international students — and the best part is that several of its most powerful governments are paying top dollar to bring talented scholars from every corner of the globe to study and research within their borders. From Japan’s legendary MEXT scholarship to South Korea’s GKS programme, from China’s enormous CSC grant to Taiwan’s prestigious MOFA Fellowship, the fully funded scholarships available in Asia in 2027 are genuinely life-changing — covering tuition, monthly stipends, airfare, accommodation, and health insurance all at once. This Gradualin pillar guide compiles the 10 best fully funded scholarships in Asia for 2027, with amounts, deadlines, eligibility, and direct links — everything you need in one place to start planning your future today.

📋 Quick Comparison Table

#	Scholarship	Country	Level	Monthly Stipend	Deadline
1	MEXT Scholarship	🇯🇵 Japan	UG / Master’s / PhD	¥117,000–¥145,000	Varies by embassy
2	Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)	🇰🇷 South Korea	UG / Master’s / PhD	KRW 900,000–1,500,000	Feb–April (verify)
3	Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC)	🇨🇳 China	UG / Master’s / PhD	CNY 2,500–3,500	Dec–April annually
4	MOFA Taiwan Fellowship	🇹🇼 Taiwan	Research / PhD	NT$50,000–60,000	June 30, 2026
5	Singapore SINGA Scholarship	🇸🇬 Singapore	PhD only	SGD 2,200/month	Bi-annual
6	ADB–Japan Scholarship	🇯🇵 Japan / Asia	Master’s only	Full coverage	Varies
7	KAIST International Scholarship	🇰🇷 South Korea	Master’s / PhD	KRW 350,000–400,000+	Rolling / Semester
8	Schwarzman Scholars	🇨🇳 China	Master’s (1 year)	Full + stipend	September annually
9	Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS)	🇲🇾 Malaysia	Master’s / PhD	MYR 3,000/month	April–May (verify)
10	MOE Taiwan Scholarship	🇹🇼 Taiwan	UG / Master’s / PhD	NT$15,000–25,000	March–April annually

🎓 Why Study in Asia? The Case for Going East

Before diving into the scholarships themselves, it is worth understanding why Asia has become such a powerful destination for international students in 2027.

Here is what makes the continent uniquely compelling right now:

🌏 Seven of the world’s top 100 universities are in Asia — including National University of Singapore, Peking University, Seoul National University, and the University of Tokyo
💰 Asian governments spend billions every year on scholarship programmes to attract global talent — far more aggressively than many Western counterparts
🔬 Research output is booming — Asia now produces more scientific publications than any other region globally
📉 Cost of living is lower in most Asian cities compared to London, New York, or Zurich — meaning your stipend goes further
🌐 Strategic career positioning — employers worldwide value Asian education credentials, especially in Engineering, Technology, Medicine, and Business
🤝 Cultural diversity — studying in Asia puts you at the intersection of ancient civilizations and hyper-modern innovation economies

For Gradualin readers from Pakistan, India, Nigeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, and across the developing world, these 10 scholarships represent the most achievable, highest-value routes to a fully funded international education in 2027.

🎓 1. MEXT Scholarship 2027 — Japan 🇯🇵

The most prestigious government scholarship in Asia — bar none.

The Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarship — offered by Japan’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology — is widely regarded as one of the most competitive and comprehensive scholarships in the entire world. It supports students at every level of higher education, from undergraduate through to PhD, at top Japanese national and private universities.

What it covers:

✅ Full tuition fees — entrance examination fees and all tuition at Japanese universities paid entirely by MEXT
✅ Monthly stipend:
- ¥143,000 for non-degree research students, ¥144,000 for Master’s students, and ¥145,000 for PhD students (~USD 955/month), with regional supplements for designated areas
- ¥117,000/month for undergraduate and vocational students
✅ Round-trip economy airfare from your home country to Japan
✅ Free six-month preparatory Japanese language course at a MEXT-designated institute
✅ University accommodation provided by host institution

Eligibility highlights:

Open to citizens of countries with diplomatic relations with Japan
Must hold (or be completing) the relevant prior degree
Age limit: generally under 35 for graduate applicants (verify per embassy)
Must have an undergraduate GPA at the upper end of your university’s grading scale — most successful applicants have GPAs equivalent to 3.0/4.0 or higher

Available levels: Undergraduate, Master’s, PhD, Research, Teacher Training, College of Technology

Application route: Via your local Japanese Embassy (Embassy Track) or directly through a Japanese university (University Track)

Deadline: Varies by country and embassy — the Embassy of Japan in India opened MEXT 2027 applications on April 20, 2026, with a research students’ track deadline of May 15, 2026. Check your nearest Japanese embassy immediately.

🔗 Official site: www.studyinjapan.go.jp

🎓 2. Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) 2027 — South Korea 🇰🇷

The most generous all-in-one scholarship in Asia for graduate students.

The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) — formerly known as the Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP) — is administered by South Korea’s National Institute for International Education (NIIED) and is one of the most comprehensive fully funded scholarships anywhere in the world. It covers literally every major cost category a student could face.

What it covers:

✅ Full tuition — up to 5 million KRW per semester; if tuition is higher, the host university covers the remaining amount
✅ Monthly living allowance:
- KRW 900,000 for degree programme students and KRW 1,500,000 for research programme students (~USD 650–1,100/month)
✅ Round-trip economy airfare
✅ One-year Korean language training programme (compulsory, fully funded)
✅ Medical insurance coverage throughout the programme
✅ Settlement allowance of KRW 200,000 upon arrival
✅ Research allowance per semester (amount varies by field)
✅ Korean language proficiency bonus — extra grant for passing TOPIK exam

Eligibility highlights:

Open to citizens of all GKS partner countries
Age limit: under 25 for undergraduate, under 40 for graduate applicants
Minimum 80% GPA (or equivalent) in the last degree
Must not currently be enrolled in a Korean university
TOPIK (Korean language test) not required at the time of application

Available levels: Undergraduate, Master’s, PhD

How to apply: Embassy Track (via Korean Embassy in your country) or University Track (directly to a GKS-designated university) — do NOT apply through both tracks simultaneously, as this can disqualify you

Number of awards: About 1,500 students are selected annually from over 150 countries

🔗 Official site: www.studyinkorea.go.kr

🎓 3. Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) 2027 — China 🇨🇳

The largest government scholarship programme in Asia by total numbers.

The Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) — offered by the China Scholarship Council under China’s Ministry of Education — is the most wide-reaching scholarship programme in all of Asia. It places tens of thousands of international students at over 290 Chinese universities every year, across almost every academic discipline imaginable.

What it covers:

✅ Full tuition waiver at designated Chinese universities
✅ Free on-campus accommodation (shared room in university residence)
✅ Monthly stipend:
- CNY 2,500/month for undergraduates, CNY 3,000/month for Master’s students, and CNY 3,500/month for PhD students (~USD 350–490/month)
✅ Comprehensive medical insurance
✅ Available in Chinese or English medium at many universities

Eligibility highlights:

Open to citizens of all countries in the world
Must not be a Chinese citizen or permanent resident
Academic requirements vary by programme and university
Age limits: generally under 25 (Bachelor’s), 35 (Master’s), 40 (PhD)
No mandatory IELTS for Chinese-taught programmes (HSK may be required); English-taught programmes may require IELTS/TOEFL

Available levels: Undergraduate, Master’s, PhD, Non-degree programmes

Number of universities: 290+ designated Chinese institutions across all provinces

Application deadline: Generally from December 15 to April 30 each year — check with your country’s Chinese embassy or your chosen university

🔗 Official site: www.studyinchina.csc.edu.cn

Also read: Henan Government Scholarship 2026 at Zhengzhou University — a provincial-level add-on scholarship available alongside the CSC.

🎓 4. MOFA Taiwan Fellowship 2027 — Taiwan 🇹🇼

The highest monthly stipend research fellowship in Asia — open NOW.

The MOFA Taiwan Fellowship is offered by Taiwan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and administered by the Center for Chinese Studies at the National Central Library. Unlike most scholarships on this list, it is specifically designed for academics and researchers — professors, postdocs, and PhD candidates — rather than fresh undergraduates. It is arguably the most financially generous fellowship per month of any Asian government programme.

What it covers:

✅ Monthly stipend:
- NT$60,000/month (~USD 1,870) for professors, associate professors, research fellows
- NT$50,000/month (~USD 1,560) for assistant professors, postdocs, doctoral candidates
✅ Round-trip economy airfare to Taiwan
✅ NT$1,000,000 accident and medical insurance coverage
✅ Flexible duration — 3 to 12 months of research in Taiwan

Eligibility highlights:

Open to all nationalities (non-Taiwan citizens)
Must be an academic or researcher affiliated with an institution outside Taiwan
Research topic must relate to Taiwan, cross-strait affairs, Sinology, or Asia-Pacific policy
Currently in Taiwan? Not eligible
No IELTS required

Special APEC track: 12 dedicated openings per year exclusively for scholars from developing APEC economies

Application deadline: June 30, 2026 — this is OPEN right now

🔗 Full Gradualin guide: MOFA Taiwan Fellowship 2027 — Complete Guide

🔗 Official site: taiwanfellowship.ncl.edu.tw

🎓 5. Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA) 2027 — Singapore 🇸🇬

The best fully funded PhD scholarship in Southeast Asia.

The Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA) is funded by the Singapore Government through A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research) and administered in partnership with Nanyang Technological University (NTU), National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore Management University (SMU), and Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). It is exclusively a PhD scholarship — and one of the most prestigious in the entire Asia-Pacific region.

What it covers:

✅ Full tuition fees for the entire PhD programme
✅ Monthly stipend of SGD 2,200/month (~USD 1,640/month) — making SINGA one of the highest-paid fully funded scholarships for international PhD students
✅ One-time airfare allowance to Singapore
✅ On-campus accommodation support
✅ Access to world-class research labs at Singapore’s top universities

Eligibility highlights:

Open to all international students (non-Singapore citizens/PRs)
Must hold (or be completing) a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Science or Engineering
Strong academic record required — competitive applicants typically have first-class honours or equivalent
Research must be in Science, Engineering, or Technology fields
IELTS/TOEFL may be required — verify by programme

Available level: PhD only

Intake: Twice per year (August and January intakes) — offered in collaboration with A*STAR, NTU, NUS, SMU, and SUTD

🔗 Official site: www.a-star.edu.sg/Scholarships/for-graduate-studies/singa-award

🎓 6. ADB–Japan Scholarship Program (ADB–JSP) — Japan / Asia 🇯🇵

The best fully funded Master’s scholarship specifically for developing Asian nations.

The Asian Development Bank–Japan Scholarship Program (ADB–JSP) is funded by the Government of Japan through the Asian Development Bank and targets students from developing ADB member countries who wish to pursue postgraduate studies at top universities across Asia and the Pacific.

What it covers:

✅ Full tuition fees at designated universities
✅ Monthly living allowance (amount varies by host country)
✅ Round-trip economy airfare
✅ Health insurance during the study period
✅ Housing allowance or on-campus accommodation
✅ Book and instructional materials allowance

Eligibility highlights:

Must be a citizen of an ADB developing member country (includes most of Asia, the Pacific, and Central Asia)
Must have at least two years of full-time professional work experience after your Bachelor’s degree
Must be under 35 years old at the time of application
Must return to your home country or ADB member country after completing studies
Strong English proficiency required (IELTS/TOEFL typically needed)

Available level: Master’s degree only

Host universities: Includes universities in Japan, Philippines, Thailand, India, and other ADB member countries

🔗 Official site: www.adb.org/work-with-us/careers/japan-scholarship-program

🎓 7. KAIST International Scholarship — South Korea 🇰🇷

South Korea’s elite science and technology university — with generous research funding.

Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) is one of Asia’s top-ranked technology universities — consistently placed among the world’s best in Engineering, Computer Science, and Natural Sciences. Its international scholarship programme provides significant financial support to Master’s and PhD students at one of the sharpest research institutions in the world.

What it covers:

✅ Full tuition waiver for the entire programme
✅ Monthly living allowance — KRW 350,000+ for Master’s students; higher for PhD students (verify on official site)
✅ Research funding — additional project-based stipends from supervisors are common
✅ Accommodation support — on-campus dormitories available

Eligibility highlights:

Open to all international students (non-Korean citizens)
Must be applying for a Master’s or PhD programme in STEM fields
Strong academic background and research experience preferred
English is the medium of instruction — IELTS/TOEFL or equivalent required
Applications assessed on a rolling/semester basis

Available levels: Master’s, PhD

Notable feature: KAIST supervisors often provide additional monthly stipends on top of the base scholarship through their research budgets — meaning actual monthly income is often significantly higher than the base amount

🔗 Official site: www.kaist.ac.kr/en

🎓 8. Schwarzman Scholars — China 🇨🇳

The most competitive and elite one-year Master’s fellowship in Asia.

Schwarzman Scholars is one of the world’s most selective and prestigious postgraduate fellowships — often compared to the Rhodes Scholarship. It offers a fully funded one-year Master’s degree in Global Affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China’s most elite research university.

What it covers:

✅ Full tuition fees at Tsinghua University
✅ Monthly living stipend for all personal expenses
✅ Round-trip airfare to and from China
✅ On-campus accommodation in the dedicated Schwarzman College
✅ Study trips, leadership programming, and cultural immersion experiences built into the programme
✅ Access to an elite global alumni network — the Schwarzman Scholar community spans government, business, and academia globally

Eligibility highlights:

Open to citizens of all countries (typically aged 18–28 at programme start)
Must hold a Bachelor’s degree (or expect to by programme start)
Extremely competitive — expects evidence of leadership potential and cross-cultural competency
English is the medium of instruction; Chinese language skills are not required
Typically 200 scholars selected from thousands of applicants globally each year

Available level: Master’s (1 year in Global Affairs only)

Application deadline: Typically September of the year prior to enrolment — check the official site for the 2027 cycle deadline

🔗 Official site: www.schwarzmanscholars.org

🎓 9. Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS) — Malaysia 🇲🇾

The most accessible fully funded scholarship for students from the Global South.

The Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS) is offered by the Malaysian Government through the Ministry of Higher Education and is designed to attract high-achieving international students to pursue postgraduate studies at leading Malaysian public universities. It is one of the most underrated scholarship opportunities in Asia — with relatively lower competition than MEXT or GKS — making it a strong option for students from developing countries.

What it covers:

✅ Full tuition fees at Malaysian public universities
✅ Monthly living allowance of approximately MYR 3,000/month (~USD 640/month)
✅ One-time airfare allowance to Malaysia
✅ Research grant for academic activities and fieldwork
✅ Health insurance coverage

Eligibility highlights:

Open to citizens of Commonwealth and developing countries (non-Malaysian citizens)
Must hold a Bachelor’s degree for Master’s applications; a Master’s degree for PhD
Strong academic record — typically minimum 3.5/4.0 GPA or equivalent
Age limit: generally under 45 for PhD, under 40 for Master’s
English proficiency: IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 550 minimum (verify on official site)
Research proposal required for PhD applicants

Available levels: Master’s, PhD

Application deadline: Typically April–May each year — verify for the 2027 cycle

🔗 Official site: biasiswa.mohe.gov.my

🎓 10. MOE Taiwan Scholarship 2027 — Taiwan 🇹🇼

Taiwan’s flagship government scholarship — open to ALL academic levels.

While the MOFA Fellowship (No. 4 on this list) targets researchers and academics, the Ministry of Education (MOE) Taiwan Scholarship is Taiwan’s main scholarship programme for undergraduate, Master’s, and PhD students from around the world. It is administered through Taiwan’s diplomatic missions globally and offers a comprehensive financial package at some of Taiwan’s best universities.

What it covers:

✅ Tuition coverage — a significant portion of annual tuition fees covered
✅ Monthly stipend:
- NT$25,000/month (~USD 780) for PhD students
- NT$20,000/month (~USD 625) for Master’s students
- NT$15,000/month (~USD 470) for undergraduate students
✅ Access to over 140 universities across Taiwan
✅ Programmes available in both English and Chinese

Eligibility highlights:

Open to citizens of countries with official or unofficial diplomatic relations with Taiwan
Must not currently be enrolled at a Taiwanese university
Strong academic record required
For English-taught programmes: English proficiency proof required (IELTS/TOEFL or university-certified equivalent)
For Chinese-taught programmes: Chinese language proficiency may be required
Taiwan is one of the most affordable places to study in Asia — the scholarship combined with low living costs makes this outstanding value

Available levels: Undergraduate, Master’s, PhD

Application deadline: Typically March–April each year through your nearest Taiwan Representative Office — verify for 2027

🔗 Official site: taiwanscholarship.moe.gov.tw

🎓 Bonus: Henan Government Scholarship — China 🇨🇳

If you are specifically interested in studying in China and want an additional provincial-level scholarship on top of the CSC, do not miss the Henan Provincial Government Scholarship at Zhengzhou University. It covers tuition for Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD students and runs alongside the national CSC framework.

🔗 Read the full Gradualin guide: Henan Government Scholarship 2026 — Zhengzhou University

🎓 Which Asian Scholarship Is Right for You?

Not sure where to start? Use this quick guide:

If you are…	Best fit
A PhD researcher in science/tech	SINGA (Singapore) or MEXT Research (Japan)
A Master’s student in any field	GKS (Korea) or ADB–JSP (if from developing Asia)
An undergraduate student	MEXT Undergraduate (Japan) or MOE Taiwan Scholarship
A professor or postdoc researcher	MOFA Taiwan Fellowship (highest monthly stipend)
Interested in China specifically	CSC Scholarship or Henan Government Scholarship
Looking for the most competitive / elite award	Schwarzman Scholars (China / Global Affairs)
From a developing APEC country	MOFA Taiwan APEC track or ADB–Japan Scholarship
Wanting lowest competition	Malaysia International Scholarship (MIS)

🎓 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Which Asian scholarship has the highest monthly stipend? A: For research fellows and academics, the MOFA Taiwan Fellowship offers the highest monthly amount at NT$60,000/month (~USD 1,870). For PhD students, SINGA (Singapore) offers SGD 2,200/month (~USD 1,640), making it the top stipend for doctoral students. MEXT Japan follows closely at ¥145,000/month for PhD students (~USD 955).

Q: Which of these Asian scholarships does NOT require IELTS? A: Several do not mandate a standardised test. The MOFA Taiwan Fellowship has no IELTS requirement. The MEXT Japan Scholarship and GKS Korea Scholarship also do not require IELTS at the point of application in most cases. The CSC China Scholarship does not require IELTS for Chinese-medium programmes. Always verify with the specific programme, as individual universities may add their own language requirements.

Q: Can I apply to multiple Asian scholarships at once? A: Yes — there is no rule against applying to multiple scholarships simultaneously. In fact, Gradualin strongly recommends applying to two to three scholarships at once to maximise your chances. Just make sure your research proposals and statements of purpose are tailored to each individual programme’s priorities.

Q: Which Asian scholarship accepts the most international students? A: The Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) is by far the largest, accepting tens of thousands of students annually from virtually every country in the world at 290+ universities. The GKS Korea scholarship selects around 1,500 students per year from 150+ countries.

Q: Are any of these scholarships available for undergraduate students? A: Yes — the MEXT Japan Scholarship (undergraduate track), the GKS Korea Scholarship (undergraduate track), the CSC China Scholarship (undergraduate track), and the MOE Taiwan Scholarship all support undergraduate-level applicants. SINGA and the MOFA Taiwan Fellowship are exclusively for PhD or research-level candidates.

🎓 Full Summary — All 10 Scholarships at a Glance

Scholarship	Country	Level	Key Benefit	Deadline
MEXT	🇯🇵 Japan	UG/MSc/PhD	¥145,000/month + tuition + flights	May–June (varies by embassy)
GKS (KGSP)	🇰🇷 S. Korea	UG/MSc/PhD	KRW 1.5M/month + tuition + flights	Feb–April
CSC	🇨🇳 China	UG/MSc/PhD	CNY 3,500/month + tuition + housing	Dec–April
MOFA Taiwan Fellowship	🇹🇼 Taiwan	Research/PhD	NT$60,000/month + flights + insurance	June 30, 2026
SINGA	🇸🇬 Singapore	PhD only	SGD 2,200/month + tuition	Bi-annual
ADB–Japan	🇯🇵 Asia-wide	Master’s only	Full tuition + stipend + flights	Varies
KAIST	🇰🇷 S. Korea	MSc/PhD	Tuition waiver + monthly allowance	Rolling
Schwarzman Scholars	🇨🇳 China	Master’s (1yr)	Full + stipend + global network	September
Malaysia MIS	🇲🇾 Malaysia	MSc/PhD	MYR 3,000/month + tuition	April–May
MOE Taiwan	🇹🇼 Taiwan	UG/MSc/PhD	NT$15,000–25,000/month + tuition	March–April