📅 Dates from the awarding bodies themselves

Scholarship deadlines, October to December 2026

Every scholarship in our fully funded top 12 with a published closing date between now and the end of December 2026, soonest first. Where an award has no single date — because each country or university sets its own — we say so rather than guess.

Exact closing dates

Each one links to the full details: who it is for, what it pays, and the catch.

20 Oct 2026 Commonwealth Master's Scholarships Closes 20 October 2026 at 16:00 BST Checked 1 October 2026 Closes in 5 days
8 Dec 2026 Gates Cambridge Scholarship Courses with the December deadline Checked 1 October 2026 Closes in 54 days

Usually open in these months

These run the same weeks every year, but the exact day changes. Confirm on the official page.

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Most programmes take applications October to January

Set by your country or university

No single deadline exists for these. Find yours early — some close months before others.

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships Set by your country — many fall between September and December
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program Set by each partner university — apply to more than one
DAAD EPOS Scholarships Set by each course — generally between August and March
Fulbright Foreign Student Program Set by your country — most fall between February and October

Later in the cycle

Not due in this period, but the documents take months. Start them now.

Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships Usually opens in March
Gates Cambridge Scholarship Closes 6 January 2027
Australia Awards Scholarships Usually opens in February
Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) Usually opens in February
MEXT Japanese Government Scholarship Usually opens in May

Which of these can you actually win?

Five questions against the real eligibility rules of all twelve. It will tell you which to skip, which is the more useful half.

Check my eligibility Plan the application

Deadlines move every cycle and nominating bodies can close earlier than the award itself. Always confirm the date on the official page before you rely on it.