Which Degree Level Gets the Most Scholarships?
Who gets the most scholarships at each degree level, and how do the offers compare? Here's the breakdown.
Key findings: Shares of scholarships for each degree level
🎓 Master's leads the pack
Share of available scholarships by degree level (country-weighted): Master's 79.6%, Bachelor's 53.6%, PhD 46.0%, Non-degree 17.5%, Postdoc 7.0%.
Note: Levels are presence-based, so totals don't add to 100%.
🏛️ Who funds what depends on the level
Universities fund most Bachelor's and Master's scholarships, while public agencies and programs fund most PhD, Postdoc, and exchange opportunities.
💰 Funding packages vary by level
Bachelor's scholarships are usually partial tuition support, while Master's and PhD programs more often include stipends or full funding (tuition + stipend).
🧭 Mind the gates
Many scholarships for taught programs require you to have an offer from the university already. Exchange or agency programs, on the other hand, often use a nomination process instead.
Cite this report:
Gebrenegus M., Sokolova T. (2025). Which Degree Level Gets the Most Scholarships?. educations.com. https://www.educations.com/industry-reports/which-degree-level-gets-the-most-scholarships
Data overview
📊 Common scholarship features based on each degree level
🎓 Bachelor's
👉 67% of scholarships cover at least a part of tuition.
- Bachelor-level scholarships are still primarily funded by universities, with public agencies (22%) being a smaller but growing share.
- Most scholarships cover partial tuition, with a smaller proportion including stipends (39%) or full tuition (35%).
- Only a few offer housing allowances (9%) or one-off grants (26%).
- These programs are typically merit-based (72%), though around a quarter require you to have an offer in hand before applying.
For many students, Bachelor's scholarships are the first entry point into international study funding. They are more about reducing tuition than covering all costs.
🧑🎓 Master's
👉 70% of scholarships cover at least a part of tuition.
- At the Master's level, universities and public agencies (33%) play almost equal roles.
- Scholarships are more likely to include stipends, partial tuition (52%), or full tuition (44%), and about one in five are fully funded (18%).
- Support for research costs (15%) and insurance (26%) also becomes more common.
- The programs remain heavily merit-based (75%), but many still require you to secure an offer first.
This level often serves as a bridge between student-focused aid and career-oriented funding.
🔬 PhD
👉 60% of scholarships cover at least a part of tuition.
- Funding shifts dramatically for PhDs, with public agencies leading and universities providing the next largest share (32%).
- Most awards include stipends, with substantial numbers offering partial (45%) or full tuition (42%). About one in five are fully funded (21%).
- Research costs (19%) and insurance (35%) are also commonly covered.
- Scholarships at this level remain mostly merit-based (71%), but nomination routes and offer requirements are also very common.
In short, scholarships at this level are less about access and more about supporting specialized, long-term research.
✈️ Non-degree/Exchange
Conclusions
💰 Funding shifts with degree level
- At the Bachelor's level, scholarships are still mainly tied to universities and usually cover partial tuition. Fully funded options exist, but are highly selective.
- By the Master's and PhD stages, public agencies become equally, and then increasingly important, and stipends or full tuition coverage become more common.
- Postdoc awards are closer to salaried research appointments than to traditional scholarships.
📈 Follow the funding source to maximize your chances
Students aiming for Master's, PhD, or Postdoc roles should prioritize agency-linked or institutional fellowships to combine tuition support with stipends, research costs, and travel allowances.
Bachelor students should focus on fee waivers, partial tuition awards, and early preparation for more competitive, fully funded options.
⌛ Timing and eligibility matter
Many programs require either a confirmed admission offer or a nomination from a government or institution. Plan applications early to meet admissions, embassy, and commission deadlines.
💸 Think beyond tuition
Travel, housing, insurance, and research costs often determine a scholarship's real affordability. Look for awards that include these extras, as they can significantly increase the total value of the support package.
Sources and methodology
- Scholarship data was drawn from our Scholarship Directory.
- Each listing was tagged by degree level, funder type, funding features, and eligibility criteria to allow comparison between categories.
- Metrics: Percentages represent the share of programs with each feature. Because a single scholarship can include multiple funding types or apply to more than one level, programs may be counted in more than one category.
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