Here are 13 Fully-Funded University Scholarships in 2025
Some of them don’t require IELTS at all.
Figuring out how to fund your education abroad can feel like a full-time job. Between tuition fees, visa costs, housing, and all the paperwork, it’s easy to feel stuck before you even get started, especially if you’re coming from countries like Nigeria or India, where exchange rates and financial barriers can shut doors real quick. But here’s the part many people miss: there are fully funded scholarships that don’t just cover tuition, they take care of everything. Flights, living expenses, insurance, and even settling-in costs. And some of them don’t require IELTS at all. In this guide, we will walk you through what IELTS is, why it matters, and list some of the best fully funded scholarships available in 2025.
What’s IELTS and Why Does It Matter?
The IELTS (International English Language Testing System) is one of the most widely accepted English language exams in the world. It’s often a requirement for university admission and student visa applications in English-speaking countries like the U.S., UK, Canada, and Australia. Scoring well proves you can understand lectures, write academic papers, and handle everyday communication in English.
But here’s the thing: not every scholarship or university requires IELTS, especially if you’ve studied in English before or are applying to non-English-speaking countries. Some programs waive the test entirely or accept alternatives like TOEFL, Duolingo, or even a letter from your university stating that your previous education was in English.
David Adubiina
Top Fully Funded Scholarships for Nigerians and Indians in 2025 (With and Without IELTS)
United States
1. Fulbright Foreign Student Program
This U.S. scholarship fully covers tuition, monthly stipends, airfare, accommodation, and health insurance for master’s and PhD programs. It’s highly competitive but offers unmatched networking and cultural exchange opportunities.
Funding highlights: Full tuition + monthly stipend + airfare + accommodation + health insurance.
2. Yale University Scholarships
Fully funded scholarship for international students at the undergraduate, master’s, and PhD levels. Award amounts range widely, with the average need-based scholarship exceeding $50,000 per year.
Funding highlights: Up to $70,000/year (avg. $50,000) + tuition + living expenses.
3. Stanford University Scholarships
Offers full tuition, living allowance, travel allowance, and academic expenses for international students pursuing master’s and PhD programs.
Funding highlights: Full tuition + living stipend + travel allowance + academic expenses.
Germany
DAAD Helmut Schmidt Programme
Focuses on public policy, governance, and social sciences with full tuition coverage, a monthly allowance of about €934, travel allowances, and health insurance. Great for those aiming for leadership roles in their home countries.
Funding highlights: €934/month + full tuition + travel allowance + health insurance.
United Kingdom
1. Chevening Scholarship
Fully funds a one-year Master’s degree at any UK university with additional benefits including a monthly stipend, travel costs, and networking opportunities. Perfect for aspiring leaders across all fields.
Funding highlights: Full tuition + monthly stipend + travel allowance + networking.
2. Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Provides full tuition, £17,500 yearly stipend, health insurance, academic development funding, and a family allowance.
Funding highlights: Full tuition + £17,500/year + insurance + up to £10,120 family allowance.
China
Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC)
Provides full tuition, accommodation, a monthly stipend, and medical insurance for undergrads to PhD levels at top Chinese universities. Some programs also offer free Mandarin classes.
Funding highlights: Full tuition + accommodation + monthly stipend + medical insurance.
Singapore
Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA)
A PhD scholarship for science and engineering students offering full tuition, a monthly stipend starting at S$2,700 (increasing to S$3,200), airfare grants, and settling-in allowances.
Funding highlights: Full tuition + S$2,700–3,200/month + airfare + settling-in allowance.
Australia
Australia Awards Scholarship
Provides full tuition, return airfare, living allowance, and health insurance for postgraduate study. Target professionals who will contribute to development back home.
Funding highlights: Full tuition + airfare + living allowance + health insurance.
Sweden
Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP)
Covers tuition fees, monthly living expenses (up to SEK 10,000), travel grants, and insurance for master’s programs aimed at candidates with professional experience and leadership potential.
Funding highlights: Tuition + SEK 10,000/month + travel grant + insurance.
South Korea
KAIST University Undergraduate Scholarship
Covers full tuition, monthly stipend (up to 800,000 KRW), round-trip airfare, Korean language training fee, and medical insurance.
Funding highlights: Full tuition + 800,000 KRW/month + airfare + language training + medical insurance.
Switzerland
ETH Zurich Excellence Master’s Scholarships
It covers CHF 11,000 per semester toward living and study expenses, plus a full tuition waiver for master’s students. Highly competitive and merit-based.
Funding highlights: CHF 11,000/semester + tuition waiver
Level of Study: Master’s.
France
Charpak Master’s Scholarship
Offered by the French Embassy in India, this scholarship supports Indian students pursuing master’s degrees in France, especially in engineering, public policy, and sciences.
Funding highlights: Tuition waiver + €860/month stipend + visa fee waiver + travel allowance.
Kelechi Edeh
Conclusion
Studying abroad shouldn’t be a privilege for the few who can afford it. Whether you’re from Nigeria or India, or anywhere else with big dreams and limited resources, these fully funded scholarships are real opportunities to study at some of the world’s best universities without worrying about tuition, living expenses, or even standardized tests in some cases.
So if you’ve been putting off your study-abroad dreams because of money or language test stress, this might be your sign to finally go for it. Bookmark the deadlines. Get your documents ready. And most importantly, believe you stand a chance.
