International Student Forum/ Message Board

This is the definitive guide to Tuition-Free Colleges, Financial Aid, Scholarships around the WORLD for ALL students (updated 28/06/2010).

For Tuition-Free Colleges, Financial Aid, Scholarships in the United States FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS, go to
(viewtopic.php?f=4&t=9339)

When I first started my quest for education overseas, I was led by the belief that students choose to study overseas in either the United States or the United Kingdom. Of course, both the US and UK are the leading places for students to seek a world-class educations. But they need not be the only places to consider. There are many universities around the world that offer a great education with their own unique charms by virtue of being geographically, culturally, historically, and politically distinct from each other.

Students who need financial aid will find MANY avenues around the world that provide up to the full cost of education, room and board, travel fare and maintenance allowance. There are three main avenues – Government scholarships, University scholarships, Tuition-Free Colleges – depending on the country of choice.

(English-instruction)
1. Australia

Government Scholarships
Australian Development Scholarships (ADS)
(Website: ausaid.gov.au)

Up to 1000 of these are awarded annually across 31 countries, equally between men and women. It is available for full-time undergraduate or postgraduate study. Applicant MUST be a citizen of an ADS participating country, etc.

Scholarship covers full tuition fees, return air travel, establishment allowance, and other misc. fees.

2. Singapore

University Scholarships
There are three public universities in Singapore – National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), and Singapore Management University (SMU). There are in total 12! different scholarships across the 3 universities that cover up to full tuition costs and benefits. International students have to compete with local students for such places and interviews may be required. Also, as part of the Tuition Grant Scheme, non-Singaporean students of the three public universities have to work in Singapore for three years upon graduation.

(non-English-instruction)

3. Japan (Japanese language)

Government Scholarships
Japanese Government Scholarship (Monbukagakusho – MEXT)
(Website: studyjapan.go.jp)

To date, some 79,000 students from approximately 160 countries and regions around the world have studied in Japan under the Japanese Government (Monbukagakusho) Scholarship program established in 1954. Different students are eligible for different scholarships – undergraduate students, research students, teacher training students, japanese studies students, etc.

The scholarship for undergraduate students covers tuition fees, school fees, traveling costs, and provides a monthly allowance.

4. China (Chinese language)

Government Scholarships
Chinese Government Scholarship Scheme
(Website: en.csc.edu.cn)

Chinese Government Scholarship scheme is established by the Ministry of Education of P.R. China (MOE) in accordance with educational exchange agreements or understandings reached between Chinese government and governments of other countries, organizations, education institutions and relevant international organizations to provide both full scholarships and partial scholarships to international students and scholars.

Scholarship covers tuition fees, school fees, accommodation costs, medical care, and provides a living allowance.

5. South Korea (Korean language)

Government Scholarships
Korean Government Scholarship Program for International Students for an Undergraduate Course
(Website: niied.go.kr)

The objective of the Korean Government Scholarship Program for an Undergraduate Course is to provide international students with the opportunity to conduct advanced studies at higher educational institutions in Korea in order to promote international exchanges in education and mutual friendship between the countries.

150 students are selected who meet the country-eligibility requirement

Scholarship covers tuition fees, airfare, medical insurance, language training expenses, and provides a monthly allowance.

University Scholarships
Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)

Enrolled international student of KAIST will be exempted from paying tuition fee (on condition that they achieve GPA of 3.0 or above) and they will be eligible to receive a monthly stipend of 300,000 won/month.

6. Denmark (Danish language)

Government Scholarships
Danish Ministry of Education Scholarship Scheme
(Website: studyindenmark.dk/tuition-and-scholarships/scholarship-scheme)

The Danish Ministry of Education Scholarship Scheme is offered each year to highly qualified candidates studying for a full degree programme or for part of a degree programme at undergraduate level.

The scholarships can be given as full or partial tuition fee waivers and/or grants towards covering student living costs.

All the information I have researched over the past 3 years on financial aid for international students has been uploaded onto the desperate guide website. Students, especially those from low-income families, who want to study in the US and in countries around the world will find the information helpful.

There are more than 30 college profiles, more than 50 scholarship info, and I will be updating with more colleges and college news as I get to them.

Initially, I did the research for myself and for schoolmates who wanted to study overseas. It is surprising that no one has come up with such a comprehensive one-stop guide when most international students have done some preliminary research on colleges and much of the information is already out there.

I hope that students who do benefit from my guide, in turn, share the information with others. It's a tall order for students who may be competiting with each other, but surely, when you have friends applying to college together it is more rewarding.

Thanks!