By Zekeria Madadi | September 19, 2026 | 0 Comments

Monthly Stipend Scholarships for International Students

Many international scholarships provide students with a monthly stipend in addition to other benefits such as tuition support, accommodation, insurance, travel, or research funding.

A monthly stipend is usually money paid regularly to help with living or study-related costs. However, a scholarship with a monthly stipend is not automatically fully funded. Some programmes cover tuition and living costs, while others provide only a monthly payment.

This guide explains some important scholarships that offer monthly financial support, their study levels, approximate stipend amounts where officially published, and what applicants should check before applying.

Important: Scholarship amounts, eligibility rules, and application dates can change. Always check the official scholarship call before applying.

Quick List of Monthly Stipend Scholarships

Scholarship	Country/Region	Study level	Monthly support
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters	Europe	Master’s	€1,400
DAAD Scholarships	Germany	Mainly Master’s/PhD and other programmes	€992+
Chevening Scholarship	UK	Master’s	Monthly stipend
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships	UK	Master’s	£1,712+
MEXT Scholarship	Japan	Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD and others	¥117,000–¥145,000+
Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)	South Korea	Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD	Monthly allowance
Türkiye Scholarships	Türkiye	Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD	Monthly stipend
Chinese Government Scholarship	China	Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD	CNY 2,500–3,500 in published 2026 programmes
Romania Government Scholarship	Romania	Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD	Monthly financial aid
SNU President Fellowship	South Korea	PhD	KRW 1.5–2 million
UCAS Scholarship	China	Master’s, PhD	CNY 2,000–2,500+
Hainan University Chinese Government Scholarship	China	Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD	CNY 2,500–3,500

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The amounts above are not directly comparable because currencies, living costs, scholarship duration, and additional benefits are different.

What Are Monthly Stipend Scholarships?

A monthly stipend scholarship gives the scholarship recipient a regular payment during the funded study period.

The money may help pay for expenses such as:

Food
Rent or accommodation
Local transportation
Study materials
Personal expenses
Other living costs

The exact purpose depends on the scholarship.

For example, Erasmus Mundus describes its scholarship as a contribution toward travel, visa, installation and subsistence costs and calculates the student scholarship at €1,400 per month for the applicable study period.

DAAD, on the other hand, explains that scholarship rates depend on the academic level and programme. Its current information lists €992 per month for Master’s-level scholarship holders and €1,400 per month for doctoral candidates and postdocs from February 2026.

This shows why applicants should look at the complete funding package, not only the monthly amount.

Best Monthly Stipend Scholarships

1. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters

Study level: Master’s
Location: Europe and partner countries
Monthly scholarship: €1,400
Duration: Usually 12, 18 or 24 months depending on the programme

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are international Master’s programmes delivered by a consortium of universities.

The EU’s current programme guide states that Erasmus Mundus scholarships can be offered to students from around the world. The scholarship is calculated at €1,400 per month and can cover the full duration of the Master’s programme, subject to the programme rules.

The scholarship contribution covers areas including travel, visa, installation and subsistence costs. Scholarship holders also cannot be charged tuition fees or mandatory participation costs by the selected Erasmus Mundus programme.

Important: Erasmus Mundus is not one single Master’s course. Applicants must choose an individual Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s programme and follow that programme’s application instructions.

Official Erasmus+ Erasmus Mundus information

2. DAAD Scholarships

Study level: Mainly Master’s, PhD and research programmes
Country: Germany
Monthly scholarship: €992 for Master’s-level scholarship holders; €1,400 for doctoral candidates under current DAAD information

DAAD is the German Academic Exchange Service and operates many different scholarship programmes.

For example, the DAAD Study Scholarships for Master’s studies currently provide €992 per month, together with other possible benefits such as insurance, travel allowance and a study allowance depending on the programme.

DAAD also states that scholarship payments do not necessarily cover every living expense, especially in expensive university cities.

Some DAAD programmes have different eligibility rules and deadlines, so applicants should search the official DAAD scholarship database rather than assuming that one DAAD rule applies to every programme.

Official DAAD scholarship database

3. Chevening Scholarship

Study level: Master’s
Country: United Kingdom
Monthly support: Living stipend, with the rate depending on the study location

Chevening is a UK Government scholarship programme for one-year Master’s study in the UK.

The official Chevening information states that the award normally includes tuition fees, approved travel, visa costs, arrival and departure allowances, and a monthly personal living allowance.

The monthly stipend varies according to whether the scholar studies inside or outside London, and rates are reviewed annually.

Current application cycle

For the 2027–2028 Chevening Scholarship, applications opened on 4 August 2026 and close on 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC.

Applicants must meet Chevening’s eligibility rules, including the work-experience requirement and the requirement to apply to eligible UK Master’s courses.

Official Chevening Scholarships

4. Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships

Study level: Master’s
Country: United Kingdom
Monthly stipend: £1,712 per month, or £2,000 for universities in the London metropolitan area

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission states that its Master’s Scholarships provide approved tuition fees, approved airfare, a monthly living allowance, and a study travel grant.

The current published stipend rate is £1,712 per month, increasing to £2,000 per month for scholars studying at universities in the London metropolitan area.

Additional allowances may apply in specific circumstances.

Eligibility depends on the particular Commonwealth scholarship and eligible-country rules, so applicants should check the current call rather than assuming that all Commonwealth countries are eligible for every award.

Official Commonwealth Scholarship Commission

5. MEXT Scholarship – Japan

Study levels: Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD and other categories
Country: Japan
Monthly stipend: Varies by programme and level

The Japanese Government’s MEXT Scholarship is available through different routes, including Embassy Recommendation and University Recommendation.

The official Study in Japan information currently lists the following monthly amounts for MEXT scholarship students:

Undergraduate and some other categories: ¥117,000
Master’s/professional degree: ¥144,000
Doctoral: ¥145,000
Some other categories have different amounts.

The application process depends on the category.

For the 2027 Embassy Recommendation, recruitment generally takes place in the previous year, with the exact schedule depending on the applicant’s nationality and Japanese embassy or consulate.

Official Study in Japan – MEXT Scholarships

6. Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)

Study levels: Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD
Country: South Korea
Monthly support: Monthly allowance plus other scholarship benefits

The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) is the South Korean government’s major scholarship programme for international students.

The official Study in Korea portal lists GKS degree programmes for undergraduate and graduate students and states that benefits include airfare, Korean-language training, tuition and monthly allowances.

The exact allowance and other benefits depend on the GKS category and current programme rules.

For example, the official Study in Korea information for the GKS Exchange Students Program lists a monthly allowance of KRW 630,000 for that short-term programme.

Therefore, applicants should not use the exchange-programme amount as the stipend for every GKS degree programme.

Official Study in Korea scholarship information

7. Türkiye Scholarships

Study levels: Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD
Country: Türkiye
Monthly stipend: Depends on the programme and study level

Türkiye Scholarships provides scholarships for international students at several higher-education levels.

The official programme page currently lists monthly payments of:

4,500 TL for associate and Bachelor’s students
6,500 TL for Master’s students
9,000 TL for PhD students

The programme also lists tuition, accommodation, health insurance, a one-year Turkish language course and a one-time flight ticket among its benefits.

The general application period is 10 January to 20 February each year according to the official application calendar.

However, Türkiye Scholarships also has separate short-term programmes with different stipend amounts and application periods.

Official Türkiye Scholarships

8. Chinese Government Scholarship

Study levels: Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD, depending on the programme
Country: China
Monthly stipend: Common published rates include CNY 2,500–3,500

The Chinese Government Scholarship is not a single university scholarship. Different universities and application routes can implement the scholarship under different programmes.

For example, the 2026 Chinese Government Scholarship application guide published by Beijing Language and Culture University lists:

CNY 2,500/month for undergraduate students
CNY 3,000/month for Master’s students
CNY 3,500/month for doctoral students

The same programme lists tuition, accommodation or accommodation subsidy, and medical insurance among its benefits.

Hainan University’s 2026–2027 Chinese Government Scholarship information also lists the same monthly stipend levels for Bachelor’s, Master’s and doctoral students.

Because implementation can differ by university and scholarship category, applicants should always check the university’s current scholarship call.

9. UCAS Scholarship for International Students

Study levels: Master’s and PhD
Country: China
Institution: University of Chinese Academy of Sciences

The 2026 UCAS Scholarship for International Students provides tuition support and other benefits.

For the published 2026 full scholarship, UCAS lists:

CNY 2,000/month for Master’s students
CNY 2,500/month for doctoral students

The programme also states that additional research assistantship support can bring the total monthly support to at least CNY 3,000 for Master’s students and CNY 3,500 for doctoral students, depending on the applicable arrangements.

Accommodation and medical insurance are also included under specified conditions.

Official UCAS International Students Scholarship

10. Romania Government Scholarship

Study levels: Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD
Country: Romania
Monthly support: Monthly financial aid

Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs scholarship programme for foreign citizens provides support for Bachelor’s, Master’s and doctoral studies.

The official scholarship information states that the award includes tuition funding, accommodation in student dormitories within the available subsidy, and a monthly financial aid according to Romanian legislation.

The official source does not state one simple universal monthly amount on the scholarship FAQ page, so GSH does not insert an estimated figure.

This is an important example of why applicants should not copy stipend amounts from other scholarship websites without checking the official programme information.

The 2026–2027 Romania MFA scholarship was officially launched for foreign citizens from non-EU countries, subject to the programme’s exceptions and eligibility conditions.

Official Study in Romania scholarship information

11. SNU President Fellowship Program

Study level: PhD
Country: South Korea
University: Seoul National University

Seoul National University’s 2026 graduate admission guide describes the SNU President Fellowship Program for eligible international PhD applicants.

The published benefits include:

Full tuition for up to six semesters
Monthly stipend of KRW 1.5–2 million
Round-trip airfare
National health insurance
Korean language training
Other specified support

The programme has specific eligibility conditions. For example, the 2026 guide states that it targets international admission applicants who are teaching or instructional staff at universities in developing countries and do not hold a PhD.

Official Seoul National University International Admissions

Which Monthly Stipend Scholarship Is Right for You?

There is no single scholarship that fits every student.

The right opportunity depends on several factors.

If you want a Master’s in Europe

Look at:

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters
DAAD scholarships
Other country-specific European scholarships

Erasmus Mundus is particularly interesting because the official scholarship calculation is €1,400 per month and the scholarship can cover the full Master’s study period under the programme rules.

If you want to study in the UK

Consider:

Chevening
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships

Chevening is currently accepting applications for the 2027–2028 cycle until 6 October 2026, while Commonwealth programmes have their own eligibility and application schedules.

If you want to study in Japan

MEXT is one of the major government scholarship routes. The application method and schedule depend on whether you apply through an embassy or a university.

If you want to study in South Korea

Check:

Global Korea Scholarship
University-specific scholarships
Foundation scholarships

The Korean government portal provides current GKS information and also lists other scholarships offered by universities, foundations and companies.

If you want Bachelor’s study

Some useful programmes include:

Türkiye Scholarships
MEXT
GKS
Chinese Government Scholarship programmes
Romania Government Scholarship

However, the exact fields, age limits, nationality rules and application routes are different for each programme.

Monthly Stipend Does Not Always Mean Fully Funded

This is one of the most important things applicants should understand.

Suppose a scholarship gives you €1,000 per month.

That does not automatically mean that it pays:

Tuition
Accommodation
Airfare
Visa
Insurance
Food
Transportation
Every university fee

For example, DAAD states that scholarship payments may not cover all living expenses in expensive German university cities.

On the other hand, some programmes combine a monthly stipend with several other benefits.

For example, Türkiye Scholarships lists tuition, accommodation, health insurance, a language course, flight support and monthly payments as part of its scholarship package.

Therefore, always read the complete funding section.

How to Compare Monthly Stipend Scholarships

Do not compare scholarships only by the biggest number.

Use this checklist:

Question	What to check
Monthly stipend	How much is paid each month?
Tuition	Fully covered, partly covered, or not covered?
Accommodation	Free dormitory, allowance, or not provided?
Travel	Airfare included or not?
Insurance	Health insurance included?
Visa	Visa fee covered or not?
Duration	How many months is the stipend paid?
Study level	Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD or other?
Nationality	Is your country eligible?
Field	Is your subject eligible?
Deadline	Is the current application open?
Application	University, government or central portal?

This gives a much clearer picture than comparing stipend amounts alone.

Are Monthly Stipend Scholarships Available for Afghan Students?

Some international scholarship programmes explicitly include Afghanistan among their eligible countries, while others use different country lists or eligibility systems.

Therefore, Afghan applicants should check the nationality section of each scholarship separately.

For example, the Aga Khan Foundation’s International Scholarship Programme has listed Afghanistan among its eligible countries, although the programme has its own postgraduate eligibility rules and the 2026–2027 cycle is closed.

Do not assume that because a scholarship is described as “international,” every nationality is automatically eligible.

How to Apply for Monthly Stipend Scholarships

The application process depends on the scholarship, but a practical approach is:

Step 1: Choose the study level

Decide whether you are looking for:

Bachelor’s
Master’s
PhD
Research
Short-term study

Step 2: Check your nationality

Look at the official eligible-country list.

Do not rely only on a scholarship website’s statement that the opportunity is “for international students.”

Step 3: Check the funding package

Look beyond the monthly stipend.

Find out whether tuition, accommodation, insurance, travel and visa costs are included.

Step 4: Check the academic requirements

Check your:

Degree
GPA or academic performance
Field
Graduation date
Age, if applicable
Work experience, if applicable

Step 5: Check language requirements

Do not assume that a monthly stipend scholarship is an “IELTS-free scholarship.”

Some scholarships require English proficiency, while others may have specific language tests or programme-level requirements.

Step 6: Prepare the correct documents

Depending on the programme, documents may include:

Academic transcripts
Degree certificates
CV
Motivation letter
Recommendation letters
Research proposal
Passport or identification
Language certificate

The exact list varies.

Step 7: Apply through the official route

Some scholarships use a central government portal.

Others require applications through a university, embassy, or individual Master’s programme.

Always follow the current official instructions.

Common Mistakes When Looking for Monthly Stipend Scholarships

Mistake 1: Looking only at the stipend amount

A scholarship offering €1,500 per month may not be financially better for you than one offering €1,000 if the second scholarship also provides accommodation, tuition and insurance.