Exciting scholarships in Europe for international students

Of the many scholarships in Europe, a few are on offer without fail every year. They attract students from outside the European Union (EU) to study for a degree, conduct research, or pursue a short-term exchange programme. There are arts programmes and science programmes in various specialisations, which promotes academic diversity — especially for students in emerging economies. So if you’re interested to study in Belgium, Frace, Germany, Holland, or Switzerland, consider these scholarships in Europe.

VLIR-UOS Training and Masters Scholarships in Belgium

International students and professionals from Africa, Asia, and Latin America can access a number of exchange opportunities to study and do internships abroad in Flanders via VLIR-UOS. Flanders is the Flemish region of Belgium, located just north of the capital city Brussels.

There are 15 international master’s programmes to choose from, with 12 scholarships on offer for each. As for professional exchange programmes, candidates building a career in academic institutions, research institutes, governments, the social economy or NGOs should apply.

Holland Scholarship for Non-EEA International Students

Here’s an opportunity exclusively for international students outside the EU — how does a bachelor’s or master’s experience in the Netherlands sound? Sponsored by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture, and Science, it offers a 5,000 euro scholarship to support your studies in Dutch institutes of research and applied sciences. Note that it is a one-time award for one year of the full-time programme.

Open your window to opportunity with one of these annual scholarships in Europe. Source: John Macdougall/AFP

Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme

Campus France is the go-to agency for all study abroad matters in France, so its Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme is a great opportunity for foreign students. It was established by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs specifically for master’s and PhD programmes. To be considered, you must first be accepted by a French higher education institute, which will then apply for the scholarship on your behalf.

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Students

These Swiss Federation scholarships establish exchange and research cooperation with over 180 countries. It is for postgraduate researchers with a master’s degree (at least) who want to further their research or pursue a PhD. Candidates must be nominated by an academic mentor from their institution.

Besides young scientists, the scholarship is also for foreign artists with a bachelor’s degree. They are welcome to pursue a master’s degree at any Swiss conservatory or arts university — but only students from a limited number of countries are considered.

The DAAD Scholarship in Germany

Fully-funded by the German government, this scholarship is open to all international students looking to pursue a postgraduate degree. The DAAD, or the German Academic Exchange Service, currently supports the education of 100,000 German and international students in party-related foundations or business-affiliated institutions. Its programmes are aimed at graduates, doctoral students and postdocs.