Scholarships can significantly reduce the cost of international education. But students need to be careful. Not every scholarship list circulating online is accurate, and a scholarship described as fully funded does not automatically mean every student is eligible.
A scholarship graphic currently circulating online contains a mix of genuine opportunities, incorrectly named programmes, and mismatched locations. Before applying, verify scholarships directly with the university or the official scholarship provider.
1. Duke University – Karsh International Scholarship
Location: United States
University: Duke University
Study level: Undergraduate
Scholarship type: Need-based financial aid for eligible international students
The Karsh International Scholars Program at Duke University is an opportunity for exceptional international students.
Duke states that international applicants must demonstrate financial need to be eligible. Students interested in the scholarship must apply to Duke University and request financial aid as part of the admissions process. It is not a separate scholarship application filled out after admission.
What students should focus on
A strong applicant should generally have:
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Excellent academic performance
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Strong extracurricular involvement
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Evidence of leadership and initiative
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A compelling university application
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Demonstrated financial need
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Strong personal essays
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Appropriate academic qualifications for the intended Duke programme
Admission to a highly selective university and consideration for major financial aid are both competitive. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an award.
2. National Tsing Hua University International Student Scholarship
Location: Taiwan
University:National Tsing Hua University (NTHU)
Study levels: Bachelor's, Master's, and PhD
Scholarship type: University-funded scholarship
National Tsing Hua University runs an official International Student Scholarship programme.
According to NTHU's published information, the scholarship can include tuition and credit-fee waivers as well as monthly financial support. Current published figures include:
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Bachelor's: NT$5,000 per month
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Master's: NT$5,000 per month
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PhD: NT$20,000–40,000 per month under the listed scholarship structure
The exact award and eligibility conditions depend on the programme and the scholarship regulations in force for the relevant intake.
NTHU has published information on its 2027 admissions cycle. Students targeting September 2027 should start monitoring the university's admissions and scholarship announcements early.
What students should know
The NTHU scholarship is different from the Taiwan Government or TaiwanICDF scholarships. These are separate funding routes with separate eligibility requirements.
Students should check:
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The degree programme they want to study
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Whether the programme accepts international applicants
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The admission deadline
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The scholarship deadline
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Whether the scholarship application is integrated into the admission application
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Whether additional documents are required
3. University of Groningen – Eric Bleumink Fellowship
Location: Netherlands
University: University of Groningen
Study level: Master's
Scholarship type: Fully funded fellowship for selected candidates
The Eric Bleumink Fellowship is for outstanding students from eligible countries who want to pursue a Master's degree at the University of Groningen. Nigeria is included among the eligible countries listed by the university.
The fellowship can cover:
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Tuition fees
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International travel costs
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Subsistence and living costs
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Books
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Health insurance
The grant may support a one- or two-year Master's programme, depending on the programme length.
A point many students miss:
There is no separate Eric Bleumink scholarship application. The University of Groningen states that the Admissions Office and faculty admission boards nominate suitable candidates. Applicants must first be admitted or provisionally admitted to an eligible Master's programme.
The university advises completing the Master's application before 1 December to be considered for the fellowship.
Profile of a competitive applicant
Candidates are expected to show:
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Excellent academic performance
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Strong Bachelor's results
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Strong English proficiency
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A suitable academic background
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Admission to an eligible Master's programme
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No other means of financing the proposed study
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Ability to participate in the full programme
This is a highly competitive opportunity. The university receives many applications but can award only a limited number of fellowships.
4. DAAD Scholarships – Germany
Students interested in Germany should investigate the official DAAD scholarship database rather than relying on names such as Gradusal University Scholarship or Borington University Scholarship, which do not correspond to real programmes.
DAAD maintains a searchable database of scholarship programmes for international students and researchers, including programmes offered by DAAD and selected other funding organisations.
DAAD also offers specific opportunities for students from Sub-Saharan Africa. For example, DAAD currently lists 2027 In-Country/In-Region scholarship opportunities for students from Sub-Saharan African countries, including programmes beginning between January and July 2027.
A current listing also identifies a 2027 Master's opportunity in Physics at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria, under the DAAD In-Country/In-Region programme.
Important distinction
DAAD is not one scholarship. It is a large collection of funding opportunities that differ by:
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Country of residence
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Academic level
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Field of study
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Academic requirements
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Deadlines
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Funding package
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Application procedure
Students should search the official database based on their own profile rather than applying to something simply because it appears on a viral graphic.
What Fully Funded Means
Fully funded has no universal definition. Depending on the scholarship, it may cover some or all of:
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Tuition
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Accommodation
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Monthly living allowance
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Health insurance
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Books
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Airfare
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Visa-related expenses
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Research expenses
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Relocation or settling-in costs
A scholarship that covers full tuition but no living allowance differs greatly from one that covers tuition, accommodation, living expenses, and travel. Read the official funding terms before assuming what is included.
What Students Should Prepare for 2027–2028 Scholarships
If you are targeting the 2027/2028 academic year, do not wait until a scholarship deadline is announced before preparing. Start building your application file early.
Academic documents
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Degree certificate or current academic record
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Academic transcripts
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Secondary school certificates where applicable
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International passport
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CV
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English-language test result where required
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Professional certificates where relevant
Personal documents
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Statement of purpose
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Motivation letter
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Personal statement
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Recommendation letters
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Research proposal, where required
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Study plan
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Evidence of leadership or community involvement
Financial documents
Some scholarships may require evidence of financial need or financial circumstances. Do not assume that fully funded means you will never be asked for financial documentation.
Build a Scholarship Strategy
Instead of applying randomly to every scholarship you see online, build a targeted strategy.
Step 1: Decide your study level
Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, research programme, or exchange programme.
Step 2: Choose your target countries
For example: the USA, Canada, Germany, the Netherlands, Taiwan, the UK, Australia, or other European countries.
Step 3: Identify eligible programmes
A scholarship may be available only for particular courses or academic levels.
Step 4: Check eligibility before preparing the application
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Nationality requirements
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Academic requirements
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Age requirements where applicable
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English-language requirements
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Work experience requirements
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Degree requirements
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Field-of-study restrictions
Step 5: Check the actual deadline
Don't rely on a date in a TikTok video, WhatsApp flyer, Instagram graphic, or blog. Go to the official scholarship website.
Step 6: Check what is actually funded
Separate fully funded from tuition-funded, from partial scholarship, from tuition discount. These are not the same thing.
Scholarship Application Timeline for 2027–2028
Work backwards from your expected intake.
August–October 2026: Research universities, courses, scholarship requirements, English-language requirements, application fees, and required documents.
October–December 2026: Focus on university applications, personal statements, CV, recommendation letters, research proposals, transcripts, and scholarship-specific documents. Some major opportunities have deadlines in this period. For example, the University of Groningen advises applicants seeking the Eric Bleumink Fellowship to complete their Master's application before 1 December.
January–March 2027: An important period for scholarship applications and university decisions.
April–June 2027: Follow up on admission decisions, scholarship decisions, additional documentation, financial requirements, and visa preparation.
June–September 2027: Successful students move into final admission, tuition arrangements, accommodation, visa application, and travel preparation.
One of the biggest mistakes students make is assuming that studying abroad means applying only to traditional destinations.
Germany, the Netherlands, and Taiwan also offer scholarship and funding opportunities for international students. Taiwan has university and government scholarship routes. Germany has the DAAD scholarship ecosystem. The Netherlands has university-specific funding such as the Eric Bleumink Fellowship.
The key is finding an opportunity that matches your academic profile, nationality, course, and financial circumstances. If you are planning for the 2027–2028 academic year, start now. A strong scholarship application is rarely built in a few days. Prepare your academic records, CV, personal statement, recommendations, English-language requirements, and university applications months in advance.
Never treat a social media scholarship graphic as the final source of truth. Use it as a starting point for research, then verify every opportunity on the official university or scholarship provider's website.
