Discover Scholarships You Didn’t Know Existed!

1. Australia Awards Scholarships (Fully Funded)

Australia Awards Scholarships are prestigious fully funded scholarships offered by the Australian Government (Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade) to students from eligible developing countries. These awards are designed to support long‑term study (undergraduate or postgraduate) in Australia and build skills to contribute to development in the recipients’ home countries.

What’s included:

  • Full tuition fees paid
  • Return economy‑class airfare
  • Living allowance (fortnightly stipend)
  • Establishment payment for accommodation/study materials
  • Health insurance (Overseas Student Health Cover)
  • Pre‑course English training (if needed)
  • Academic support & fieldwork assistance (for research students)

Application timeline:

2027 intake applications opened 1 Feb 2026 and close 30 April 2026 (check exact times for your country). Applicants must submit through the official Australia Awards portal (OASIS).

Who can apply:

Citizens of participating developing countries in the Indo‑Pacific region who want to pursue full‑time study in Australia in fields that support their country’s development goals.

Specific eligibility and deadlines vary by country.

Important: Visit the official page for the scholarship: Australia Awards Scholarships

2. Master Mind Scholarships (Flanders & Brussels, Belgium)

The Master Mind Scholarship is awarded by the Flemish Ministry of Education and Training to outstanding international students who want to pursue a master’s degree at a university or higher education institution in Flanders or Brussels (Belgium, part of Europe).

Scholarship Benefits

  • Grant of about €10,225 per academic year
  • Full tuition fee waiver at participating institutions
  • Scholarship supports one or two academic years depending on your master’s programme length (60 ECTS = 1 year; 120 ECTS = 2 years).

Who Can Apply (Eligibility)

  • You must be applying for a master’s programme at a Flemish higher education institution.
  • High academic performance, usually a GPA of around 3.5/4.0 or equivalent.
  • Proof of English proficiency (like IELTS or TOEFL) is required.
  • You must be accepted by the host university first to be considered for the scholarship.
  • All nationalities are eligible, including Sri Lankan students, but Russian citizens are excluded this year.
  • You cannot already be enrolled in a Flemish university (unless in a preparatory course).

Timeline & Process

  • The call for academic year 2026–2027 is now open.
  • You generally apply to your chosen university first before the institution nominates you for the scholarship.
  • Deadlines vary by university, often between Feb–Apr each year.

Important: Visit the official page for the scholarship: Master Mind Scholarship

3. Science@Leuven Scholarship (KU Leuven, Belgium)

The Science@Leuven Scholarship is a prestigious academic award offered by the Faculty of Science at KU Leuven to support outstanding international students who want to pursue a Master’s degree in selected science programmes at KU Leuven. It’s designed to attract top talent from around the world.

Who can apply:

International students of any nationality (including Sri Lankan students), you just need to meet the eligibility requirements and be applying for a qualifying Master’s programme at KU Leuven.

Eligible Master’s fields include:

  • Astronomy & Astrophysics
  • Biology
  • Biophysics, Biochemistry & Biotechnology
  • Chemistry
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Statistics & Data Science
  • Sustainable Development
  • (Some fields may have specific conditions.)

Scholarship benefits:

  • €12,000 allowance per academic year (up to two years) to help with living costs.
  • Partial tuition fee reduction – for non‑EEA students, the remaining tuition fee can be significantly reduced (e.g., around €3,252.72 in 2026–27).

Application timeline:

  • Applications open: typically 1 October 2025
  • Deadline: 15 February 2026
  • To apply for the scholarship, you first apply for the Master’s programme, then include your admissions confirmation when submitting the scholarship application.

Basic eligibility requirements:

  • A Bachelor’s degree from a non‑Belgian institution
  • High academic performance comparable to Distinction
  • Strong English proficiency (e.g., IELTS 7.0 / TOEFL iBT 94+)
  • Motivation and letters of recommendation from professors
  • No previous Master’s or study/work experience at KU Leuven

Important: Visit the official page for the scholarship: Science@Leuven Scholarships

4. International Master’s Scholarships – Université Paris‑Saclay (France)

The International Master’s Scholarships programme at Université Paris‑Saclay in France supports outstanding international students (including Sri Lankan citizens) who want to pursue a Master’s degree at one of the university’s member institutions. All academic fields are eligible, and the scholarship encourages highly‑qualified students to join research‑oriented or regular Master’s programmes.

Eligibility

  • You must be a foreign national (non‑French) admitted to a Master’s programme at Université Paris‑Saclay before the scholarship deadline.
  • You must be under 30 years old in the year of application.
  • You should be enrolling in France for the first time in higher education (exceptions exist for certain short stays, language courses, or mobility exchanges).
  • You must not receive other funding exceeding €600/month (including other scholarships like Erasmus Mundus or France Excellence).

Sri Lankan students qualify as international applicants as long as they meet the criteria above and are admitted to a Master’s programme.

Scholarship Benefits

  • €10,000 per year (paid monthly for ~10 months of the academic year) to support living costs.
  • Up to €900 travel and visa support depending on your country of origin.
  • Scholarships are awarded for 1 year (M2) or 2 years (M1 + M2 with continuation).

Application Timing (Academic Year 2026–2027)

  • The deadline to be selected by your Master’s programme coordinator is 25 March 2026.
  • After being selected by the programme, the deadline to submit the scholarship application is 31 March 2026.
  • Results are expected mid‑May 2026.

Important: Visit the official page for the scholarship: International Master’s Scholarships Program

5. World Bank – JJ/WBGSP Scholarship (Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program)

The JJ/WBGSP is a fully funded international scholarship for mid‑career professionals from developing countries who want to pursue a Master’s degree in development‑related fields at selected universities around the world.

Sri Lankan Eligibility

  • Sri Lanka is included on the list of eligible developing country nationals who can apply.
  • Applicants must not hold dual citizenship of any developed country.
  • You must be admitted unconditionally (except for funding) to one of the 44 participating master’s programmes before applying.
  • You must have at least 3 years of paid, development‑related work experience after your Bachelor’s degree, acquired within the past six years, and be currently employed full‑time in development‑related work.

This means recent graduates cannot apply immediately unless they have three years of relevant full‑time work experience.

Scholarship Benefits

JJ/WBGSP provides a strong financial package covering:

  • Full tuition fees for your master’s programme
  • Monthly living stipend to cover accommodation and daily costs
  • Round‑trip economy airfare between Sri Lanka and the host country
  • Health insurance through the university
  • Travel allowance (e.g., US $600 for departure and return)

These benefits typically cover up to 2 years of study or the duration of the programme, whichever is shorter.

Application Timelines (2026 Cycle)

There are two application windows for the 2026 cycle:

  • Window 1: January 15 – February 27, 2026
  • Window 2: March 30 – May 29, 2026

To apply, you must receive an unconditional admission offer to a participating master’s programme before submitting the scholarship application.

Post‑Study Commitment

If selected, scholars are expected to return to their home country after studies to use their skills toward national development.

Important: Visit the official page for the scholarship: World Bank Scholarships Program

Disclaimer / Note for Readers:

All scholarship details shared here are for informational purposes. Before applying, please visit the official scholarship websites to confirm eligibility, deadlines, and requirements. Links to official sources are included in each post. This ensures you have the most accurate and up-to-date information.