Below are significant number of scholarships that support development-related studies (such as agriculture, education, global health, environment, public policy, peace, water and sanitation etc.) offered by Universities, Foreign Governments, and International Organizations There are also those scholarships that support general fields of study that help in the development of one’s home country.
International Scholarships for Development-related Studies »
Rotary Foundation Global Scholarship Grants (Any Country)
The Rotary Foundation Global Grants can be used to fund scholarships with sustainable, high-impact outcomes in one of Rotary’s six areas of focus related to development: peace and conflict prevention/resolution, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy, and economic & community development. The study grants are valued at least $30,000. Generally, the study grants can be carried out in any country where there is a Rotary club or district.
See also Rotary International Peace Fellowships and Rotary Scholarships for Water and Sanitation professionals.
OFID Scholarship Award (Any Country)
OFID (The OPEC Fund for International Development) offers fully-funded scholarships to successful applicants who wish to pursue a Master’s degree in a development-related discipline from an accredited University around the world (subject to approval). The winner of the OFID Scholarship Award will receive a tuition support of up to US$50,000 plus a monthly allowance to cover living expenses, books and accommodation.
Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship Program (Multiple Countries)
The Joint Japan World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program provides scholarships to students from World Bank member countries to pursue development-related studies at selected Universities around the world. The scholarships cover the cost of completing a master’s degree or its equivalent including tuition, subsistence allowance, travel costs.
ADB Japan Scholarship Program (Asian countries)
The Asian Development Bank-Japan Scholarship Program (ADB-JSP) aims to provide an opportunity for well-qualified citizens of ADB’s developing member countries to undertake postgraduate studies in economics, management, science and technology, and other development-related fields at participating academic institutions in the Asian and Pacific Region. The scholarship provides full tuition fees, a monthly subsistence and housing allowance, an allowance for books and instructional materials, medical insurance, and travel expenses.
DAAD Scholarships for Development Related Postgraduate Courses (Germany)
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) provides scholarships for international students for a range of postgraduate courses related to development at German Universities. The scholarships aim at providing academically educated young professionals from developing countries with further specialized studies. The scholarships include monthly payments of 750 euros for graduates or 1,000 euros for doctoral candidates; payments towards health, accident and personal liability insurance cover; and travel allowance, unless these expenses are covered by the home country or another source of funding.
See also DAAD Masters Scholarships for Public Policy and Good Governance
KAAD Scholarships for Developing Countries (Germany)
The KAAD scholarships are addressed to post-graduates and to academics who already gained professional experience and who are interested in postgraduate studies (or research stays) in Germany. The scholarships are targeted to citizens of developing or emerging countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East or Latin America. There is no specific subject-preference but there is a certain leaning towards “development oriented” studies or studies that will be of significance for the home country of the applicant.
VLIR-UOS Scholarship Program (Belgium)
Every year, VLIR-UOS awards scholarships to students from developing countries to study one of the 15 International Course Programmes (ICPs) or one of the 6 International Training Programmes (ITPs) in development-related fields. The scholarships cover all related expenses including allowance, accommodation, travel costs, tuition fee, and insurance.
See also CIUF-CUD Scholarships that also provide scholarships in Belgium for development related fields of study.
Hubert Humphrey Fellowships Program (USA)
The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program provides a year of professional enrichment in the United States for experienced professionals from designated countries throughout the world. The Fellowship provides ten months of non-degree academic study and related professional experiences in the United States. The eligible fields of study are mostly development related. The Fellowship provides for tuition fees, living allowance, accident and sickness coverage, book allowance, air travel, etc.
Commonwealth Scholarships (UK)
The Commonwealth Scholarships are targeted to students from developing Commonwealth countries who wants to pursue Master’s and PhD study in the UK. All subject areas are eligible, although the CSC’s selection criteria give priority to those applications that demonstrate strong relevance to development. Each scholarship provides airfare to and from United Kingdom, tuition and examination fees, personal maintaining allowance, thesis grant (if applicable), initial arrival allowance, among others
See also Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme and Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships which both support courses that have strong relevance to development.
Allan & Nesta Feguson Charitable Trust Masters Scholarships at University of Sheffield (UK)
The University of Sheffield, in collaboration with the Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust and the Sheffield Institute for International Development, offers 3 scholarships per year targeted at international students from developing countries for a number of courses that are affiliated with the Sheffield Institute for International Development. Each scholarship offers a a full tuition fee waiver, maintenance for University accommodation, and a monthly stipend.
Louis Dreyfus-Weidenfeld Scholarship and Leadership Programme (UK)
The Louis Dreyfus-Weidenfeld Scholarship and Leadership Programme supports outstanding students from transition and emerging economies throughout Africa, Asia and South America to pursue a graduate degree at Oxford University. Eligible graduate programmes are related to agriculture, health care, environmental and water management, economics, public and foreign policy. The scholarship will cover 100% of University and college fees and a grant for living costs.
UEA International Development Full Fees Scholarships (UK)
The School of International Development offers competitive scholarships equal to full EU or International fees to students taking any of the full-time Master’s courses offered at the University of East Anglia. The scholarship covers full tuition fees worth £17,600.
International Scholarships for Specific Development Courses »
ESED Scholarships for Sustainable Energy Development Studies (Any country)
The purpose of the ESED scholarship is to support outstanding students pursuing advanced studies in sustainable energy development and to encourage meaningful contributions to the collective body of knowledge about this subject. Scholarships of US$ 23,000 per year for up to two years are offered for master’s level students.
United Nations University Scholarships in Sustainability (Japan)
The Japan Foundation for United Nations University (JFUNU) Scholarship is available for outstanding applicants from developing countries who can demonstrate a need for financial assistance and who are admitted to the Master of Science in Sustainability Programme at United Nations University – Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS). The scholarship covers the full tuition fees and provides a monthly allowance of 150,000 JPY* for living expenses for a maximum of 24 months.
See also JFUNU Scholarships for PhD in Sustainability Science
Marshal Papworth Scholarships for Agriculture and Horticulture Related Courses
Marshal Papworth scholarship fund one-year postgraduate courses such as MSc or MA related to agriculture, horticulture and development at participating Universities in UK for students from developing countries. The scholarships vary in value from £14,500 to £21,500 depending on location and chosen university/College. The scholarships are designed to fund the majority of tuition fees, living expenses and travel costs.
IOE-ISH Centenary Masters Scholarships (UK)
IOE is offering the International Students House Centenary Masters Scholarships for students who plan to work either in their home country, or another, to improve the circumstances of disadvantaged, excluded or underachieving citizens. The scholarships are for full-time taught Master’s Degree programmes offered at UCL Institute of Education. It will cover full tuition fees and accommodation at International Students House.
See also IOE-ISH Centenary Doctoral Scholarships
The Glenmore Medical Postgraduate Scholarship at the University of Edinburgh
Scholarships are available for postgraduate full-time one year Masters study for eligible Human Medical programme offered by the University. Each scholarship will cover full overseas tuition fees for eligible programmes, and will be tenable for one academic year.
International Scholarships for General Fields of Study that help in the Development of one’s Home Country »
Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Program (Any country)
The Aga Khan Foundation provides a limited number of scholarships each year for postgraduate studies to outstanding students from selected countires (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Syria, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique, and Madagascar) who have no other means of financing their studies. In France, Portugal, UK, USA and Canada, applications are accepted from those who are originally from one of the above developing countries, are interested in development-related studies and who have no other means of financing their education. Scholarships are awarded on a 50% grant : 50% loan basis through a competitive application process once a year. The Foundation assists students with tuition fees and living expenses only. Generally, the scholar is allowed to choose a reputable University of his/her choice subject to approval.
Reach Oxford Scholarships (UK)
A number of Oxford colleges offer Reach Oxford Scholarships to students from developing countries who, for political or financial reasons, or because equivalent educational facilities do not exist, cannot study for a degree in their own countries. Applicants should be intending to return to their country of ordinary residence following their studies. The scholarships cover university fees and college fees, a grant for living expenses and one return air fare per year.
Australia Awards Scholarships (Australia)
Australia Awards Scholarships, formerly known as Australian Development Scholarships (ADS), are scholarships for international students who wants to take up vocational education and training courses, undergraduate degrees, postgraduate degrees, and PhD degrees in Australian Universities. Scholarship holders are required to return to their country of citizenship for two years after they have completed their studies to contribute to the development of their home country. The scholarship benefits generally include: full tuition fees, return air travel, establishment allowance, contribution to living expenses (CLE), Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), etc.
New Zealand International Scholarships (New Zealand)
The New Zealand International Scholarships offers the opportunity for international students from selected developing countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean to study in New Zealand to gain knowledge and skills through post-graduate study in specific subject areas that will assist in the development of their home country. The scholarships include tuition fees, travel costs, living allowance, and insurance.
American University Emerging Global Leader Scholarship (USA)
The AU Emerging Global Leader Scholarship is targeted to high-achieving international students who are dedicated to positive civic and social change and who wish to pursue a Bachelor’s Degree offered at the American University. It is intended for students who will be to returning home to improve under-resourced, under-served communities in his/her home country. The AU EGL scholarship covers full tuition and room & board.
Developing Solutions Scholarships at University of Nottingham (UK)
The Developing Solutions Scholarships are designed for international students from Africa, India or one of the developing countries of the Commonwealth who want to study a Masters Degree at the University of Nottingham and make a difference to the development of their home country. Each year, 105 scholarships are awarded– 30 scholarships will cover the full tuition fee while 75 will cover 50% of the tuition fee.
University of West England Millennium Scholarships (UK)
The University of the West of England, Bristol offers the Millennium Development Scholarship which is targeted to international students who wish to attain Millennium Development goals within their country. The recipient of this scholarship will be required to undertake an internship working within the International Development Office. The scholarship includes full tuition fees.