International scholarships covering tuition fees, airfare and living expenses for students

By Zekeria Madadi | September 21, 2026 | 0 Comments

Scholarships Covering Tuition, Flights and Living Expenses

If you are looking for an international scholarship that can reduce the main costs of studying abroad, some major government and international scholarship programmes provide a combination of tuition support, travel or airfare, and a living allowance.

However, these benefits are not identical in every programme. Some scholarships pay tuition directly, some provide a monthly stipend for living costs, and some provide a one-time or approved flight allowance. A scholarship that covers these three areas does not automatically mean that every personal expense will be paid.

Below are several major programmes whose official sources confirm substantial support for tuition, travel and living expenses.

Quick Details

Scholarship	Main Study Level	Tuition	Flights/Travel	Living Support
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters	Master’s	Yes, for scholarship holders	Travel contribution	Monthly scholarship
Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)	Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD	Yes	Airfare	Monthly allowance
MEXT Scholarship	Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD and other categories	Exempted	Round-trip airfare	Monthly scholarship
Türkiye Scholarships	Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD	Yes	One-time flight ticket	Monthly stipend
Chevening	Master’s	Yes	Economy travel	Monthly stipend
Commonwealth Scholarships	Master’s, PhD and other programmes	Approved tuition	Airfare	Living allowance
DAAD scholarships	Mainly postgraduate/research programmes, depending on call	Programme-dependent	Travel allowance in many programmes	Monthly scholarship

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The exact benefits, eligibility rules and application periods depend on the specific programme and year.

1. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) are international master’s programmes supported by the European Union. Students normally study at more than one university and country as part of the joint programme.

The official Erasmus+ website states that full scholarships are available for selected students worldwide. The scholarship contributes to participation costs, travel, visa costs and a living allowance.

What can the scholarship cover?

For scholarship holders, the current Erasmus+ funding rules provide:

Contribution toward participation costs
Travel support
Visa-related support
Installation support where applicable
Subsistence/living support
Insurance and other programme-related costs under the programme rules

The current Erasmus+ Programme Guide calculates the student scholarship at €1,400 per month, with the scholarship covering the relevant duration of the master’s programme, up to the applicable maximum.

Who can apply?

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are master’s-level programmes. Applicants generally need a bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification, or they may apply during the final year of their bachelor’s degree if they graduate before the programme begins.

Important point

There is not one single Erasmus Mundus scholarship application. You normally select a specific joint master’s programme and apply directly to the consortium running that programme.

Most programmes have their own admission requirements and deadlines. The Erasmus+ website says applications are commonly submitted between October and January for programmes beginning the following academic year, although dates differ by programme.

2. Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)

The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) is a Korean government scholarship programme for international students.

The official Study in Korea website lists GKS support including airfare, tuition, Korean language training and monthly allowances. It covers undergraduate and graduate study through different programme categories.

Main benefits

Depending on the GKS programme and applicant category, support can include:

Tuition fees
Round-trip airfare
Korean language training
Monthly allowances
Other study-related support according to the applicable programme

The duration also depends on the degree. The official information lists bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral pathways, with Korean language training included for applicable degree programmes.

Who can apply?

Eligibility depends on the particular GKS announcement. For example, the official GKS information specifies nationality, age, education and academic-performance requirements for different categories.

Therefore, applicants should always read the announcement for the relevant year rather than relying on an old GKS eligibility list.

3. MEXT Scholarship — Japan

The MEXT Scholarship is provided by the Japanese government for international students and researchers.

The official Study in Japan website confirms that MEXT scholarships include tuition exemption, monthly scholarship support and round-trip airfare, subject to the specific scholarship category and recommendation route.

What does MEXT provide?

Depending on the category, benefits can include:

Tuition exemption
Monthly scholarship
Round-trip airfare
Preparatory or Japanese-language education in applicable categories

MEXT has different categories, including undergraduate, research students, teacher training and other programmes. Requirements such as age, academic background and application route differ between categories.

How do you apply?

MEXT applications can use different routes, including embassy recommendation and university recommendation, depending on the category.

Because requirements differ, applicants should identify the correct MEXT category first and then follow the instructions from the relevant Japanese embassy, university or official Study in Japan information.

4. Türkiye Scholarships

Türkiye Scholarships is a Turkish government scholarship programme covering associate, bachelor’s, master’s and PhD study.

The current official Türkiye Scholarships website lists the following benefits for its full-time scholarship programmes:

University and department placement
Monthly stipend
Tuition fee
One-year Turkish language course
Accommodation
Health insurance
A one-time flight ticket at the beginning and end of education

This makes Türkiye Scholarships particularly relevant for students looking for a programme that combines tuition, accommodation, living support and international travel.

Study levels

The full-time programme includes:

Associate degree
Bachelor’s degree
Master’s degree
PhD

The official programme currently lists monthly stipends of 6,500 TL for undergraduate students, 9,500 TL for master’s students and 13,000 TL for PhD students. These amounts can change in future application cycles, so applicants should verify the current figure when applying.

Important distinction

Not every Türkiye Scholarships programme has the same benefits. For example, the official website states that its short-term Success Scholarship only covers a monthly stipend and does not cover accommodation and other expenses.

Therefore, applicants should check the exact programme rather than assuming that every scholarship under the Türkiye Scholarships name provides the full package.

5. Chevening Scholarship — United Kingdom

The Chevening Scholarship is a UK government scholarship programme for eligible international students pursuing master’s-level study in the UK.

According to the current Chevening information, award recipients receive:

Tuition fee payment
Economy travel to and from the country of residence
Arrival allowance
UK visa application cost
Departure allowance
Travel top-up allowance
Monthly personal living allowance

The monthly stipend is intended to help with accommodation and living expenses. Chevening explains that stipend rates are subject to annual review.

What level does Chevening support?

Chevening normally supports one-year taught master’s degrees in the UK. The programme states that PhDs and distance-learning degrees are not eligible under the standard Chevening Scholarship.

Important point about “fully funded”

Chevening provides extensive financial support, but applicants should still read the award conditions carefully. For example, the scholarship has specific rules concerning tuition, travel, living costs and other expenses.

A scholarship should not be interpreted as an unlimited personal budget.

6. Commonwealth Scholarships

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (CSC) administers several scholarship programmes for eligible Commonwealth applicants.

The CSC states that Commonwealth Scholarships cover approved tuition fees, airfare and a living allowance for study in the UK.

Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships

For the 2027/28 academic year, the official Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship page states that applications are scheduled to open on 8 September 2026 and close at 16:00 BST on 20 October 2026. The scholarships are for study beginning in September/October 2027.

The programme provides:

Approved airfare
Approved tuition fees
Monthly living allowance
Study travel grant
Additional allowances in certain circumstances

The current programme page lists the stipend at £1,712 per month, or £2,000 per month for universities in the London metropolitan area, at the rates currently stated by the CSC.

Who can apply?

Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships are aimed at applicants from eligible low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries.

This is an important limitation: being an international student does not automatically make someone eligible. Nationality, residence, academic background and other conditions apply.

7. DAAD Scholarships — Germany

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers many different scholarship programmes rather than one single scholarship.

The official DAAD overview says that scholarships commonly include a monthly scholarship payment and a flat-rate travel allowance. Depending on the programme, additional benefits can include insurance, research allowances, family benefits or language-course funding.

One example is the Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) programme.

For eligible programmes, the current DAAD information lists:

Monthly scholarship payments
Health, accident and personal liability insurance
Travel allowance, unless covered by another source
Possible rent subsidy
Possible family allowance

The current EPOS information lists €992 per month for graduates and €1,400 per month for doctoral candidates from February 2026, subject to the programme conditions.

Why DAAD requires careful checking

DAAD has many separate scholarship calls. Benefits and eligibility can vary significantly between programmes.

Therefore, do not assume that every DAAD scholarship covers tuition or airfare in exactly the same way.

The DAAD itself directs applicants to its scholarship database and tells them to read the individual call for applications for the applicable benefits and deadlines.

Scholarships Compared

Programme	Tuition Support	Flight/Travel Support	Living Support	Main Levels
Erasmus Mundus	Yes	Yes	Yes	Master’s
GKS	Yes	Yes	Yes	Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD
MEXT	Tuition exempted	Round-trip airfare	Monthly scholarship	Multiple categories
Türkiye Scholarships	Yes	Flight ticket	Monthly stipend	Associate, Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD
Chevening	Yes	Economy travel	Monthly stipend	Master’s
Commonwealth	Approved tuition	Airfare	Living allowance	Master’s, PhD and other programmes
DAAD	Depends on programme	Often travel allowance	Usually monthly support	Depends on programme

This table is a high-level comparison. The exact financial package should always be checked in the official call for the specific programme and year.

What Does “Tuition, Flights and Living Expenses” Actually Mean?

These three terms can represent different types of financial support.

Tuition

Tuition support normally means the scholarship pays some or all approved tuition fees directly to the university, or provides an approved tuition-fee exemption.

It does not necessarily mean that every university charge is covered.

For example, Commonwealth Scholarships refer specifically to approved tuition fees, while Erasmus Mundus scholarship rules address participation costs and mandatory costs under the programme.

Flights

Flight support can mean different things, including:

One-way airfare
Return airfare
Round-trip economy airfare
A fixed travel allowance
Travel and installation support

For example, MEXT states that round-trip travel expenses are provided, while Türkiye Scholarships lists a one-time flight ticket as part of its full-time scholarship benefits.

Living expenses

Living support is commonly provided as a monthly stipend or allowance.

It may help pay for:

Accommodation
Food
Local transportation
Personal expenses
Study-related daily costs

However, a stipend is not necessarily enough to cover every expense a student may have.

For example, the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission explains that its stipend is intended for basic living expenses and is not designed to cover extensive social activities, holidays, car expenses or family support.

Are These Scholarships Really “Fully Funded”?

Some of the programmes above are commonly described as fully funded scholarships, and several official sources describe substantial packages that include tuition and living/travel support.

But the phrase “fully funded” should be used carefully.

There is no universal definition that means exactly the same thing for every scholarship.

A scholarship may cover:

Tuition
Accommodation
Monthly living allowance
Airfare
Insurance
Visa costs
Language training
Research costs

But another scholarship may cover only some of these.

For example, Chevening provides tuition, travel and a monthly living allowance, while DAAD explicitly states that benefits vary according to the individual scholarship programme.

The safest approach is to check each benefit separately instead of relying only on the phrase “fully funded.”

Can International Students Apply?

Some of these programmes are specifically designed for international applicants.

For example:

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters accept students from around the world.
GKS has scholarship routes for foreign students.
MEXT provides scholarship categories for international applicants.
Türkiye Scholarships provides international scholarship programmes.
Chevening is designed for eligible international applicants to study in the UK.

However, international student does not mean all nationalities are automatically eligible.

Nationality, age, education, academic performance, work experience, field of study and other conditions can apply.

Do These Scholarships Require IELTS or TOEFL?

There is no single IELTS or TOEFL rule covering all the scholarships in this article.

Language requirements can depend on:

The scholarship programme
The university
The selected degree
The country
The language of instruction
The applicant’s previous education

Therefore, do not assume that a scholarship either requires IELTS or does not require IELTS.

Check both the scholarship rules and the admission requirements of the university or programme.

How to Find the Right Scholarship

If your main requirement is tuition + flight + living support, use the following process.

Step 1: Check the degree level

First identify whether you need:

Bachelor’s
Master’s
PhD
Research programme
Fellowship

This immediately removes many scholarships that are not suitable for your education level.

Step 2: Check nationality eligibility

Look at the official eligibility section.

Do not apply based only on the statement that a scholarship is “international.”

Some programmes have country restrictions.

Step 3: Check the funding package

Create a simple checklist:

Tuition: Yes / No / Partial
Airfare: Yes / No / Allowance
Living stipend: Yes / No
Accommodation: Yes / No
Insurance: Yes / No
Visa: Yes / No
Language course: Yes / No

This is much more useful than simply searching for the words “fully funded.”

Step 4: Check the actual university requirements

A scholarship may have one set of eligibility rules while the university or degree programme has additional admission requirements.

Check:

Academic qualification
Required subjects
Language requirements
Application documents
Research proposal, if applicable
Admission deadline
Scholarship deadline

Step 5: Check the deadline

Scholarship deadlines can change every year.

For example, the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarship page currently gives specific dates for the 2027/28 cycle, while Erasmus Mundus programmes have individual programme deadlines.

Always use the current official call rather than an old social-media post or article.

Documents You May Need

Requirements differ, but international scholarship applications commonly ask for some combination of:

Passport or identity document
Academic certificates
Academic transcripts
CV
Motivation letter or personal statement
Recommendation letters
Proof of language ability, where required
Research proposal for some research programmes
University admission documents, where required
Proof of professional experience for selected programmes

The exact list must come from the official scholarship or university.

A Simple Way to Compare Scholarships

Before applying, make a comparison like this:

Question	What to Check
Am I eligible?	Nationality, age and education
Is my degree eligible?	Bachelor’s, Master’s or PhD
Is tuition covered?	Full, partial or exempted
Is airfare covered?	Return ticket, one-way ticket or allowance
Is living support included?	Monthly stipend or other allowance
Is accommodation included?	Free accommodation or separate allowance
Is insurance included?	Health/other insurance
Is IELTS required?	Scholarship + university requirements
When is the deadline?	Current application cycle
Where do I apply?	Official scholarship/application portal

This approach helps prevent one of the most common scholarship mistakes: seeing one attractive benefit and assuming that the entire cost of studying abroad will be covered.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Trusting old scholarship amounts

Stipends and other benefits can change.

Always verify the current cycle.

2. Assuming every scholarship is available to every nationality

Country eligibility is programme-specific.

3. Confusing a tuition waiver with a full scholarship

A tuition waiver can remove tuition costs while leaving accommodation, food and travel for the student.

4. Assuming “fully funded” means every expense is paid

Read the individual benefit list.

5. Applying through unofficial websites

For major government scholarships, start with the official programme website.

6. Ignoring university admission requirements

Scholarship eligibility and university admission are not always the same thing.

7. Waiting until the deadline

Some programmes require several documents, recommendations or admission steps. Starting early gives you more time to correct missing documents.

Which Scholarships Should You Check First?

The answer depends on your degree, nationality, subject and preferred destination.

For a master’s degree, Erasmus Mundus, Chevening and eligible Commonwealth programmes are important programmes to investigate.

For undergraduate study, GKS, MEXT and Türkiye Scholarships have relevant government-supported routes, subject to their individual eligibility rules.

For postgraduate study in Germany, DAAD is particularly important because it has a large number of programme-specific scholarships and funding calls.

The best next step is therefore not to choose a scholarship based only on the amount of funding. First match the programme to your nationality, degree level, academic background, field and admission requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which scholarships cover tuition, flights and living expenses?

Examples with official documentation supporting combinations of these benefits include Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters, GKS, MEXT, Türkiye Scholarships, Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarships. DAAD also has programmes with substantial combinations of funding, but its benefits vary by individual scholarship.

Do these scholarships cover airfare?

Several do, but the form of support differs. Some provide return airfare, some provide a one-time flight ticket, and others provide a travel allowance.

Do they cover accommodation?

Some programmes explicitly include accommodation. Türkiye Scholarships, for example, lists accommodation among its full-time scholarship benefits. Other programmes may provide a stipend intended to help cover accommodation instead of providing a separate room.

Are these scholarships available for bachelor’s degrees?

Some are. GKS, MEXT and Türkiye Scholarships have undergraduate routes, while Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters is specifically for master’s-level programmes.

Are these scholarships available for PhD students?

Some are. GKS, MEXT, Commonwealth programmes and selected DAAD programmes offer doctoral opportunities, while Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters is a master’s programme.

Does a scholarship with a living stipend cover all my living costs?

Not necessarily. A stipend is financial support for living expenses, but the amount may not cover every personal expense. The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission explicitly explains that its living allowance is designed around basic living costs.

Should I apply only for scholarships called “fully funded”?

No. It is better to examine the actual financial package. A programme that does not use the phrase “fully funded” may still provide tuition, travel and living support, while a programme advertised as “fully funded” may have specific limits or conditions.

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