Scholarships to Study Abroad in the World’s Best Student Cities

Want to study abroad in one of the world’s best student cities? This year, the top 10 (technically 11, as two are joint) cities in the Best Student Cities ranking are London, Tokyo, Melbourne, Munich, Berlin, Montréal, Paris, Zurich, Sydney, Seoul and Hong Kong (SAR). 

If you’re hoping to study in any of these cities, but need funding to do so, look no further. Below is a select list of scholarships for international students in each of these cities, in reverse order (10-1) of how they ranked this year.

Requirements vary for all scholarships, so make sure to read through all information from each scholarship provider before applying.

=10. Scholarships to study in Hong Kong

Hong Kong (SAR) is up two places in this year's Best Student Cities, now sharing joint 10th place with fellow Asian megacity Seoul.

• HKSAR Government Scholarships Fund – Government scholarships for local and non-local students to gain funding to study in Hong Kong at selected institutions, such as the Belt and Road Scholarship for outstanding students from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam (it will be expanded in phases to students from other Belt and Road countries).
• Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) – PhD scholarships for international students to study in Hong Kong at a selected university.

Universities in Hong Kong offering international scholarships:

• City University of Hong Kong
• Hong Kong Baptist University
• Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)
• Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
• University of Hong Kong (HKU)

=10. Scholarships to study in Seoul, South Korea

Seoul, one of Asia’s most exciting student cities, shares joint 10th place with Hong Kong (SAR) this year. Seoul is home to 18 institutions ranked within the QS World University Rankings® 2020 as well as a large community of international students. See below for funding opportunities.

General scholarships for South Korea:

• KFAS International Scholar Exchange Fellowship (ISEF) – 50 graduate scholarships for students from Asia to study in South Korea at leading institutions.
• Korean Government Scholarship Program – Master’s and PhD scholarships for international students undertaking study in South Korea.

Scholarships to study in Seoul:

• Chung-Ang University Tuition Waiver Scholarships – Tuition waivers and dormitory fee reductions on offer to international students studying at Chung-Ang University.
• Seoul National University Exchange Program Scholarships – Various scholarships for international exchange students studying at Seoul National University.
• Sogang Global Scholarship – Scholarships for international students participating in the Sogang Exchange Program at Sogang University in Seoul.

Other universities in Seoul offering international scholarships:

• Hanyang University
• Kyung Hee University

9. Scholarships to study in Sydney, Australia

Also retaining its position in this year’s Best Student Cities ranking, Sydney is ranked second for both the desirability and student mix indicators, demonstrating that its diverse mix of students are certainly enjoying the city’s laid-back lifestyle. See what scholarships are on offer below.

General Australian scholarships:

• Australia Awards Scholarships and Fellowships – Australian government scholarships and fellowships for students from selected countries at any degree level (bachelor’s, master’s, PhD) to study in Australia.
• Destination Australia Scholarships for International Students – Over 1,000 scholarships of up to AU$15,000 per student per year are available to both domestic and international students to study at all study levels at universities in regional Australia.
• Australian Government Research Training Program (AGRTP) – Australian scholarships for graduate students from anywhere in the world to study towards a research degree at a participating Australian university.

Scholarships to study in Sydney:

• Macquarie University Vice-Chancellor’s International scholarship – Partial tuition fee scholarships available to ‘outstanding’ international students to study in Australia at Macquarie University in Sydney. Not open to Australians or New Zealanders.
• University of Technology Engineering and IT scholarships– Scholarships on offer to undergraduate and postgraduate engineering and IT students at the University of Technology, Sydney.

Other universities in Sydney offering international scholarships:

• University of New South Wales
• University of Sydney 
• Western Sydney University 

8. Scholarships to study in Zurich, Switzerland

Ranked eighth in the Best Student Cities index is Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city, which hosts some of the highest-ranked universities in Switzerland, including ETH Zurich (The Swiss Federal Institute of Technology), the sixth best university in the world.

Unfortunately, studying in Zurich doesn’t come cheap, but here are some scholarships that can help:

General Swiss scholarships:

• Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Scholars and Artists – Merit-based scholarship opportunities for international students undertaking postgraduate-level study in Switzerland at selected institutions.

Scholarships to study in Zurich:

• ETH Zurich Excellence Masters Scholarship Program – Merit-based scholarships are available to students who wish to pursue their master’s degree at ETH Zurich.
• UBS Center Scholarship @ Zurich Graduate School of Economics at the University of Zurich – Open to graduates from around the world who have received a place to study at the Zurich Graduate School of Economics.

7. Scholarships to study in Paris, France

Down two places to rank seventh in this year’s Best Student Cities, Paris is an iconic city packed with internationally ranked universities. See below for current scholarship opportunities to study in Paris.

General scholarships to study abroad in France:

• Erasmus+ – A Europe-wide program led by the European Commission offering funding to international students looking to study in Europe.
• Eiffel Scholarships in France for International Students – Master’s and PhD scholarships available to international graduate students looking to study in Paris (and the whole of France) at selected institutions.

Scholarships to study in Paris:

• HEC Paris – Various MBA scholarships for students to study in France at HEC Paris, including the Forté Foundation scholarships, for exceptional female students.
• Sciences Po Paris Emile Boutmy Scholarships in France for International Students – Opportunities for bachelor’s and master’s degree students from outside of the EU to gain funding to study in Paris at Sciences Po Paris.
• The International Selection at ENS Paris – Scholarships for graduate students to study at ENS Paris within the sciences or humanities departments.
• University of Kent Paris Scholarships – International scholarships for students looking to study in Paris at master’s degree level at the University of Kent’s Parisian campus.

Other universities in Paris offering international scholarships:

• Sciences Po Paris
• École Polytechnique (graduate scholarships)
• Université Paris-Saclay

6. Scholarships to study in Montréal, Canada

Montréal drops two places to rank sixth in this year’s city ranking, but is the second most popular city according to students themselves (based on our student view indicator). The city offers an eclectic cultural mix and three world-leading universities. For more Canadian scholarships, click here.

General scholarships to study abroad in Canada:

• Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships – Canadian government fellowships and scholarships for graduate students looking to study within natural and social sciences or health research subjects.
• IDRC Research Awards – Canadian government scholarships for graduate students from developing countries to undertake a postgraduate research degree at a selected Canadian university.
• Organization of American States (OAS) Academic Scholarship Program – Canadian government scholarships led by the Organization of American States (OAS), open to graduate students from any OAS member state.
• Trudeau Scholarships and Fellowships – Scholarships, fellowships and mentorships for international students undertaking doctoral-level study in Canada at selected institutions.

Scholarships to study in Montréal:

• HEC Montréal BBA Entrance Scholarships – Canadian scholarships for international students entering into the Bachelor of Business Administration program at HEC Montréal. (Page is in French).
• Université de Montréal Fondation Olivier et Yvonne Poirier – Merit-based scholarships for students from the Caribbean wishing to undertake study at the Université de Montréal.

Other universities in Montréal offering international scholarships:

• McGill University
• Concordia University

5. Scholarships to study in Berlin, Germany

Up two places in this year’s Best Student Cities index, Germany’s capital is one of the trendiest in Europe, as well as one of the most affordable, with free tuition at bachelor’s and PhD levels. However, there are still a number of scholarships available. Click here to see more scholarships to study in Germany.

General German scholarships:

• DAAD Scholarships – The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers many scholarships for international students to study in Germany at various degree levels.
• Erasmus+ – The largest provider of scholarships for study in the EU, Erasmus+ is led by the European Commission, funding international students to study in Europe. It provides grants towards living costs when participating in an exchange program to study in Europe.

Scholarships to study in Berlin:

• Einstein International Postdoctoral Fellowship – Fellowship sponsored by the Einstein Foundation for postdoctoral research at a university in Berlin.
• GeT MA Scholarships for International Students – Scholarships for non-German students to study at Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin on the German-Turkish master’s program in social sciences.

4. Scholarships to study in Munich, Germany

Up two places to rank fourth in this year’s Best Student Cities, Munich is ranked first according to the student view indicator and is known for its vibrant Bavarian culture and beer. Like Berlin, it receives a high score for affordability, but higher accommodation costs mean you may wish to look for financial aid.

General German scholarships:

• The Deutschland Stipendium – Merit-based scholarships of €300 a month to support highly talented students in Germany. Your personal income or nationality are not considered in your application.
• Heinrich Böll Scholarships for International Students  – Scholarships for international students at all levels, from both inside and outside Germany.

Scholarships to study in Munich:

• Technische Universität München – A range of funding opportunities to study at the university, including scholarships for international students.
• Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München – Scholarships and grants for international students to study at the university.

Other universities in Munich offering international scholarships:

• Munich Business School
• Munich Aerospace

3. Scholarships to study in Melbourne, Australia

Australia’s top study destination, Melbourne is home to seven world-leading institutions, as well as a vast array of cultural and natural delights. See below for various funding opportunities to study in Melbourne. For more scholarships to study in Australia, click here.

General Australian scholarships:

• Australia Awards Scholarships and Fellowships – Australian government scholarships and fellowships for students from selected countries at any degree level (bachelor’s, master’s, PhD) to study in Australia.
• Destination Australia Scholarships for International Students – Over 1,000 scholarships of up to AU$15,000 per student per year are available to both domestic and international students to study at all study levels at universities in regional Australia.
• Australian Government Research Training Program (AGRTP) – Australian scholarships for graduate students from anywhere in the world to study towards a research degree at a participating Australian university.

Scholarships to study in Melbourne:

• La Trobe College Excellence Scholarships – Merit-based scholarships for international students enrolled at La Trobe University in Melbourne on any taught undergraduate or postgraduate program.
• Melbourne Graduate Research Scholarships – Master’s and PhD scholarships for international students studying at the University of Melbourne.
• Monash University International Scholarships for Excellence – Merit-based scholarships for undergraduate and graduate international students to study in Australia at Monash University in Melbourne.

Other universities in Melbourne offering international scholarships:

• Deakin University
• RMIT University
• Swinburne University of Technology
• Victoria University

2. Scholarships to study in Tokyo, Japan

Continuing to claim second place in the Best Student Cities, Tokyo boasts 12 internationally ranked institutions and offers students the chance to explore one of the most iconic and exciting metropolises in the world.

General Japanese scholarships:

• Japanese Government MEXT Scholarships for International Research Students – Government scholarships for graduate students undertaking research programs in Japan.
• Otsuka Toshimi Scholarship Foundation – International scholarships for students of medicine, pharmacology, nutrition, physical education or business administration to study in Japan.

Scholarships to study in Tokyo:

• Keio University “Design the Future” Award for International Students – Full-tuition scholarship funds available to international students within any field at Keio University.
• University of Tokyo Graduate School of Science Scholarship for International Students – A range of scholarships for international graduate students to study a master’s at the University of Tokyo.

Other universities in Tokyo offering international scholarships:

• Aoyama Gakuin University
• Ochanomizu University
• Tokyo Metropolitan University
• Tokyo University of Science

1. Scholarships to study in London, UK

The UK’s cultural and economic hub, London has been crowned the best student city in the world for the second time in a row this year, and is home to 18 ranked institutions within the QS World University Rankings® 2020. For more scholarships to study in the UK, click here.

General UK scholarships:

• British Chevening Scholarships – Graduate scholarships to study in London and the rest of the UK, funded by the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Open to full- or part-time international students in any subject.
• Commonwealth Scholarships for Developing Commonwealth Countries – Master’s and PhD scholarships for students from developing commonwealth countries, funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID).
• Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme at UK Universities – Scholarships for graduate students undertaking taught master’s programs in the UK.
• Euraxess UK – Run by the British Council, Euraxess UK offers various scholarships for graduate students looking to study in the UK.

Scholarships to study in London:

• QMUL International Science and Engineering Excellence Awards – UK scholarships for international students to study engineering at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL) in the UK.
• University of West London International Ambassador Scholarships – Scholarships to study abroad at the University of West London for students of all levels. Students must also act as ambassadors for their home country.
• University of Westminster Scholarships – Various need-based and merit-based scholarships for students enrolled at all study levels at the University of Westminster in London. 

Other universities in London offering international scholarships:

• Goldsmiths, University of London
• Imperial College London
• King’s College London
• London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)
• UCL (University College London)

This article was originally published in November 2014. It is updated at the time of every Best Student Cities launch, most recently in August 2019.

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