Many universities in the United States of America rank highly in global university rankings, such that when students seek scholarships, they check if these universities have scholarships to offer at that moment.
However, securing a fully funded scholarship in the United States of America can be quite competitive. Therefore, we gladly bring to you postgraduate scholarship opportunities available for local and international students.
- Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Each year Gates Cambridge offers c.80 full-cost scholarships to outstanding applicants from countries outside the UK to pursue a postgraduate degree in any subject available at the University of Cambridge. Approximately two-thirds of these awards will be offered to PhD students, with approximately 25 awards available in the US round and 55 available in the International round.
The Gates Cambridge mission is to build a global network of future leaders committed to improving the lives of others. It aims to achieve this mission by selecting outstanding scholars, providing them with financial and non-financial support at one of the world’s leading universities, and facilitating community building at and beyond Cambridge.
Apart from covering the full cost of studying in the United States of America, the Gates Cambridge Scholarship also
- provides a maintenance allowance for a single student (£20,000 for 12 months at the 2023-24 rate; pro rata for courses shorter than 12 months) – for Ph.D. scholars the award is for up to 4 years.
- provides inbound visa costs & the cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge.
For October 2024 entry, Gates Cambridge is continuing to pilot a scheme that allows applicants to apply for funding for a part-time doctoral degree (PhD).
Courses that Gates Cambridge does NOT consider:
- Any Undergraduate degree, such as a BA (undergraduate) or BA affiliated (a second BA)
- MASt courses
- Master of Business (MBA)
- Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) and Global EMBA
- Master of Finance (MFin)
- Executive Master of Accounting
- Business Doctorate (BusD)
- PGCE
- MBBChir Clinical Studies
- MD Doctor of Medicine degree (6 years, part-time, Home students only)
- Graduate Course in Medicine (A101)
- Part-time degrees other than the PhD
- Non-degree courses
Criteria for selecting scholars:
- Academic excellence: transcripts and references should show evidence of academic excellence.
- Reasons for choice of course: You will need to demonstrate that you have the academic background and the necessary skills and expertise to complete the course.
- A commitment to improving the lives of others
- A leadership capacity: Applicants should provide evidence of their leadership experience to date and indicate how their leadership skills may have an impact on their future careers.
How to apply:
- Applicants submit their application for admission and funding via the University’s Graduate Application Portal.
To be considered for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship you must complete the section to apply for admission to a course and a College place and the Gates Cambridge part of the funding section. Gates Cambridge has access to the full application for admission and funding when reviewing applications.
- Apply to a specific graduate course and a College place. You will provide all of the usual details about yourself, your academic background, plans, and suitability for the proposed course.
- Apply for a range of funding offered by the University and associated bodies, including the Gates Cambridge Scholarships, which has its sub-section. When applying for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship you will be asked to provide the following:
- In no more than 3000 characters (approximately 500 words) please explain why you are applying for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship and how you meet the four main criteria. Full details about how to apply, including selection criteria and guidance on completing this statement, can be found at: www.gatescambridge.org
- Gates Cambridge requires PhD applicants only to submit a research proposal as part of their funding application. Most PhD applicants will upload a research proposal as part of their application for admission, but where this is not the case a research proposal is required to apply for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship.
- In addition to two academic references for admission, Gates Cambridge applicants must arrange for someone to submit a reference setting out how they meet the scholarship’s criteria.
In the application form, they ask:
How highly would you rank the applicant for a Gates Cambridge Scholarship?
The Gates Cambridge reference is used in the same way as the Gates Cambridge statement – to help distinguish between those candidates who have been nominated by academic departments.
Referees are also asked how they rate the applicant for the scholarship: exceptional, strong, not strong, weak. They may paste/type up to 4,000 characters into the online reference or upload a separate letter.
Applications for entry in the academic year 2024-2025 are now closed.
Applications for entry in the academic year 2025-2026 will open in September 2024.
- Chevening Scholarship
Chevening Scholarships enable outstanding emerging leaders from all over the world to pursue one-year master’s degrees in the UK. Whilst there is no ‘typical’ Chevening scholar, we are looking for the kind of people who have the passion, ideas, and influence to provide the solutions and leadership needed to create a better future.
Because these scholarships are fully funded (flights, accommodation, and course fees are all included), you are free to focus on achieving your professional goals and maximizing the experience of a lifetime. You will live and study in the UK for a year, during which time you will develop professionally and academically, network extensively, experience UK culture, and build lasting positive relationships with the UK. On completing your studies, you will leave the UK equipped with the knowledge and networks necessary to bring your ideas to life.
To be eligible for a Chevening Scholarship you must:
- Be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country or territory.
- Return to your country of citizenship for a minimum of two years after your award has ended.
- Have completed all components of an undergraduate degree that will enable you to gain entry into a postgraduate program at a UK university by the time you submit your application. This is typically equivalent to an upper second-class 2:1 honors degree in the UK but may be different depending on your course and university choice.
- Have at least two years (equivalent to 2,800 hours) of work experience.
- Apply to three different eligible UK university courses and receive an unconditional offer from one of these choices by the deadline listed on the application timeline.
Applicants are required to select three-course choices when applying for a Chevening Award. This means that you will have alternative options if, for any reason, you are not offered a place on your first-course option. It also provides assessors with a clearer picture of your career goals and they may suggest your second or third course choice as a more suitable option for a Chevening Award.
Choose your three courses carefully. You will not be able to change your course choices after submitting your application unless you are granted permission to do so at the interview stage. You will need to apply separately to your selected courses directly via the university. Please apply as soon as possible to ensure you get a place. To be awarded a scholarship, you must get an unconditional offer for one of your course choices by the deadline in our application timeline for your application year.
- Rotary Foundation Global Grant
Rotary is a global network of 1.4 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and ourselves.
Solving real problems takes real commitment and vision. For more than 110 years, Rotary’s people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects.
The Rotary Foundation offers scholarship funding through the Rotary Foundation Global Grants. The scholarships fund graduate-level coursework or research for one to four academic years.
Host Institution:
Any approved University located in a country where there is a host Rotary club or district, outside of the applicant’s home country.
Courses of study that are funded:
Master’s courses or research in one of these areas of focus: Peace and conflict prevention/resolution, Disease prevention and treatment, Basic education and literacy, Water and sanitation, Maternal and child health, and Economic and community development.
The minimum budget for a global grant scholarship is $30,000 which can fund the following: Passport/visa, Inoculations, Travel expenses, School supplies, Tuition, Room and board, Household supplies, and Language training courses.
Most personal expenses like feeding etc.. are not covered by the scholarship funding.
Eligibility:
The eligibility requirement depends on the Rotary district where you intend to apply.
How to apply:
Global grant applications are submitted online. The sponsor clubs or districts create the initial application, and the scholar candidate then completes the scholar profile online.
Global grant scholarship applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year but applications should be submitted at least three months before the scholar’s intended departure date to allow adequate time for Foundation review and processing. ***Each Rotary Club/District may have its specific timeline.
It is important to read the Rotary Global Grant Scholarship Supplement and visit the official website for details on how to apply for the scholarship.
- Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program at Stanford University
Knight-Hennessy Scholars cultivates and supports a multidisciplinary and multicultural community of graduate students from across Stanford University, and delivers engaging experiences that prepare graduates to be visionary, courageous, and collaborative leaders who address complex challenges facing the world.
The seven schools in Stanford University include:
- Graduate School of Business
- Graduate School of Education
- School of Engineering
- School of Humanities and Sciences
- School of Law
- School of Medicine
- Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability
Their graduate programs include:
- Aeronautics and Astronautics MS/PhD
- Anthropology PhD
- Applied Physics PhD/MS
- Bioengineering MS/PhD
- Biomedical Data Science MS/PhD
- Communication MA
- Genetics PhD
Eligibility requirements:
- Admission into Stanford
In addition to applying to Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS), you must apply to, be accepted by, and enroll in a full-time Stanford graduate degree program including, but not limited to, DMA, JD, MA, MBA, MD, MFA, MPP, MS, or PhD programs. You must meet at least one of the following four conditions:
- You are applying separately but concurrently to KHS and a full-time Stanford graduate degree program such that you will start both in the same year.
- You have already been offered and deferred admission to a full-time Stanford graduate degree program and will apply to KHS such that you will start both in the same year.
- You are a current Stanford graduate student who will apply to add a second full-time Stanford graduate degree program, such that you will start both KHS and the new program in the same year.
- You are a current Stanford PhD student in your first year of enrollment and will apply to KHS such that you will start KHS in your second year of PhD enrollment.
- Undergraduate degree date
To apply to join the cohort in 2024, you must have earned, in January 2017 or later, a U.S. bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from a college or university of recognized standing.
For applicants who served in the military, you must have earned your degree in January 2015 or later to enroll in 2024. Current college students are eligible if you will earn their first degree by September 2024.
How to apply:
The Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS) application to join the 2024 cohort is closed.
The KHS application to join the 2025 cohort will open on June 1, 2024.
5. Humphrey Fellowship Program
The Humphrey Fellowship Program, a Fulbright Exchange, builds connections between U.S. and foreign leaders to advance solutions to the most pressing global challenges, from combating climate change to protecting human rights, increasing access to education, and building global health security.
To be eligible for a Humphrey Fellowship Program, applicants must:
- Be a citizen of an eligible country
- Have an undergraduate (first university or Bachelor’s) degree
- Have a minimum of five years of full-time professional experience
- Demonstrated leadership qualities and a record of public service in the community
- Limited experience in the United States
- Demonstrated English language ability
How to apply:
Interested applicants must apply through the U.S. Embassy (Public Affairs Section) or Binational Fulbright Commission in their country. Application deadlines vary by country. Applications must contain:
- Complete answers to all questions; essay responses in English must thoroughly address the prompt.
- Two letters of reference in English; one must be from the applicant’s current employer.
- Official transcripts in English: Ensure all transcripts uploaded by the applicant are official, valid documents. Transcripts must list courses taken and grades received. Diplomas need only be uploaded if the transcript does not show proof that the degree was obtained.
- After national selection, independent review committees review nominations in the United States, and final candidate approval is determined by the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. After receiving approval from the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, the U.S. Embassies and Binational Fulbright Commissions will inform candidates of their status.
