Top Countries Offering Scholarships to International Students in 2025

By ScholarCalc TeamDec 19, 20247 min readStudy Destinations

🌍 Introduction

Studying abroad is a dream for millions of students every year — but the biggest question is always the same: Which countries offer the best scholarships for international students?

The truth is, some countries are more generous than others when it comes to funding higher education. In 2025, global education budgets have grown, and governments are actively encouraging international talent to study at their universities.

In this post, we explore the top countries that provide fully funded and partially funded scholarships, what makes each one unique, and how you can use ScholarCalc to instantly find scholarships you qualify for.

🎓 1️⃣ United States – Land of Global Opportunities

The USA remains the most popular study destination for international students, and 2025 continues the trend.

Top Scholarships in the USA:

  • Fulbright Foreign Student Program – fully funded for Master’s & PhD
  • Hubert Humphrey Fellowship – for professionals with leadership potential
  • AAUW International Fellowships – for women pursuing graduate degrees

Why Choose the USA:

  • Thousands of universities offering diverse programs
  • Generous assistantships and research funding
  • Strong post-study work options (OPT programs)

Minimum GPA for most U.S. scholarships: 3.0+

💡 Pro Tip: Use ScholarCalc to filter by GPA and match scholarships to your field.

🇬🇧 2️⃣ United Kingdom – Prestigious and Powerful

Home to Oxford, Cambridge, and LSE — and you don’t need to be rich to study there.

Top Scholarships:

  • Chevening Scholarships – full funding for one-year Master’s
  • Commonwealth Shared Scholarships – for eligible Commonwealth countries
  • GREAT Scholarships – partial funding for 200+ programs

Why Choose the UK:

  • 1-year Master’s degrees save time & money
  • Scholarships often cover tuition + living expenses
  • High-quality teaching standards

Ideal GPA: 3.3+

🇩🇪 3️⃣ Germany – Tuition-Free Education

Germany offers something unique — public universities with zero tuition fees, even for international students.

Top Scholarships:

  • DAAD Scholarships – full funding for postgraduates and researchers
  • Heinrich Böll Foundation Scholarship – supports students with strong social engagement
  • Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Scholarship – for future political and social leaders

Why Choose Germany:

  • No tuition fees at most public universities
  • English-taught programs increasing every year
  • Strong research and engineering environment

Minimum GPA: 2.7+

🇨🇦 4️⃣ Canada – Diverse, Welcoming, and Generous

Hundreds of merit-based and need-based scholarships for international students.

Top Scholarships:

  • Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships – CAD 50,000 per year
  • Lester B. Pearson Scholarship – for outstanding undergraduates
  • University of Toronto International Scholar Award

Why Choose Canada:

  • High-quality education with flexible immigration paths
  • Lower living costs than the US or UK
  • Scholarships for both undergraduates and graduates

Ideal GPA: 3.0+

🇦🇺 5️⃣ Australia – High-Value Funding and Global Recognition

Top Scholarships:

  • Australia Awards Scholarships – full tuition + living allowance
  • Research Training Program (RTP) – supports postgraduate research
  • Destination Australia Scholarship – for regional study

Why Choose Australia:

  • Globally recognized degrees
  • Friendly visa and PR pathways
  • High employability after graduation

Minimum GPA: 3.2+

🇯🇵 6️⃣ Japan – Technology and Tradition Combined

Top Scholarships:

  • MEXT (Monbukagakusho) Scholarship – fully funded Bachelor’s, Master’s & PhD
  • JASSO Scholarships – monthly stipend
  • University-specific scholarships (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka)

Why Choose Japan:

  • Fully funded degrees with living stipends
  • More English-taught programs every year
  • Great for engineering, robotics, and data science

Ideal GPA: 2.5+

🇫🇷 7️⃣ France – Affordable Education in the Heart of Europe

Top Scholarships:

  • Eiffel Excellence Scholarship – tuition, travel, monthly allowance
  • École Normale Supérieure International Selection
  • Campus France Scholarships – centralized portal

Why Choose France:

  • Among the lowest tuition costs in Europe
  • Rich cultural and professional exposure
  • Strong focus on research and innovation

Minimum GPA: 3.0+

💡 How to Choose the Right Country for You

  • Can you meet the language requirements (IELTS/TOEFL)?
  • Do you prefer research-based or coursework-based programs?
  • Can you adapt to the local culture and cost of living?
  • What’s your long-term plan — return home or settle abroad?

Use ScholarCalc to find which country’s scholarships best fit your GPA and profile.

🧭 Bonus: Countries Offering Hidden or Emerging Scholarships (2025)

  • 🇸🇪 Sweden – Swedish Institute Scholarships
  • 🇳🇱 Netherlands – Orange Tulip & Erasmus+
  • 🇰🇷 South Korea – Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)
  • 🇳🇿 New Zealand – Government Scholarships for Pacific & Asian students

These are easier to get because fewer students apply!

🧾 Conclusion

In 2025, studying abroad has never been more achievable. Whether it’s the USA’s prestige, Germany’s tuition-free universities, or Japan’s innovation-driven programs — there’s a country for every type of student.

Start exploring today with ScholarCalc — enter your GPA and degree level, and find out exactly which scholarships you’re eligible for across the world.

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