Masters Scholarships

A master’s degree is where Europe’s scholarship options are strongest. Most major government scholarships, including Erasmus Mundus, Eiffel, the Swedish Institute scholarship and DAAD, are built mainly for master’s students. This page compares them and links to a full guide for each.

Master’s Scholarships Compared

ScholarshipCountryMonthly moneyTuition covered?Guide

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters2+ countriesEUR 1,400YesRead guide
Eiffel ExcellenceFranceEUR 1,200NoRead guide
Swedish Institute (SISGP)SwedenSEK 12,000YesRead guide
DAAD EPOSGermanyUnder EUR 1,000Usually no fees at public universitiesRead guide
Stipendium HungaricumHungaryAbout EUR 110 + housing supportYesRead guide
MAECIItalyMonthly allowanceCheck the callRead guide
VLIR-UOSBelgium (Flanders)Monthly allowanceYesRead guide
ARESBelgium (Wallonia-Brussels)Monthly allowanceYesRead guide

Which One Fits You?

Two or more years of work experience: start with the Swedish Institute scholarship and DAAD EPOS. Experience counts heavily in both.
Fresh graduate with strong grades: Erasmus Mundus and Eiffel do not require work experience.
Limited family income: Italy’s DSU grant is based on family income, not only grades.
From a developing country: check Belgium’s VLIR-UOS and ARES. Our VLIR-UOS vs ARES comparison shows the difference.

Who Should Not Rely on These
If your bachelor’s grades are average and you have no work experience, the large government scholarships will be hard to win. They receive far more applicants than places. In that case, also apply to universities with low or no tuition, and treat a scholarship as a bonus rather than your only plan.

Common Questions
Which master’s scholarship is easiest to get?
None of the big ones is easy. Your chances are best where your profile matches what the scholarship looks for: work experience for the Swedish Institute, academic excellence for Eiffel, a strong fit with the specific course for Erasmus Mundus.
Do I need IELTS for a master’s scholarship in Europe?
Most English-taught programmes ask for IELTS or TOEFL, but some universities accept a medium-of-instruction letter instead. The rule is set by the university, so check each programme’s admission page.

Figures checked October 2026. Always confirm amounts and deadlines on the official scholarship website.