USA • Master’s & PhD • Fully Funded
“Fully funded” usually means full tuition coverage + a living stipend (and often health insurance; some add flights and start-up allowances). Below is a shortlist of US-based options and global fellowships that place scholars at US universities, plus a fast, step-by-step plan to assemble a convincing application.
Top Fully Funded Options (What They Cover & Who They Suit)
1) Fulbright Foreign Student Program — Master’s/PhD (All Fields, Country-Specific)
Covers: tuition, living stipend, basic health insurance; usually international travel Who: outstanding graduates & professionals (via your country’s Fulbright Commission/US Embassy)
Flagship US program for international students. You apply through your home country; benefits and deadlines vary by country. Ideal for 1–2 year Master’s and some PhD pathways.
2) Knight-Hennessy Scholars (Stanford University) — Any Stanford Graduate Degree
Covers: full tuition for your Stanford program + living stipend/allowances Who: high-achieving graduates worldwide, any discipline
Campus-wide leadership scholarship that can be layered with departmental funding. Apply separately to Knight-Hennessy and to your Stanford degree.
3) Rotary Peace Fellowship — Master’s (e.g., Duke/UNC in the USA) & Professional Fellowships
Covers: tuition, living expenses, round-trip travel, field-study costs Who: mid-career leaders in peace/conflict, public policy, or related fields
Places selected fellows at partner universities (including US sites) for fully funded Master’s study in peace and development.
4) Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship — Non-Degree Professional Program (USA)
Covers: tuition/fees for non-degree study, living stipend, insurance, travel Who: established professionals with leadership potential
One academic year (non-degree) of graduate-level study and professional development at a host US university; strong for public service profiles.
5) Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) — Partner US Universities
Covers: tuition, monthly stipend, travel, books, health insurance Who: eligible citizens of World Bank member countries with development experience
Funds selected master’s programs (including US partners) aligned to development themes. Requires professional experience and home-country commitment.
6) Fully Funded PhD Packages — US Research Universities (Various Fields)
Covers: full tuition remission + stipend via fellowship/RA/TA + health insurance (typical) Who: competitive applicants worldwide
Across many US universities (e.g., MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Chicago, Berkeley and others), admitted PhD students commonly receive multi-year funding offers regardless of nationality. Packages and stipend levels vary by department and year.
Heads-up: Exact stipend amounts, insurance, and travel benefits change annually and differ by host/route. Always read the current official page for your route or department.
Quick Comparison (Coverage & Eligibility)
| Program | Level/Type | Coverage snapshot | Who it suits | Deadline window* |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fulbright Foreign Student | Master’s / PhD | Tuition + stipend + basic insurance; often flights | Academic/professional achievers; country quotas | Varies by country (often Feb–Oct) |
| Knight-Hennessy (Stanford) | Any Stanford graduate degree | Tuition + stipend + leadership programming | Global high achievers; separate Stanford admit | Early autumn (K-H), plus program deadline |
| Rotary Peace Fellowship | Master’s (select US partners) | Tuition + stipend + travel + field study | Mid-career public-interest leaders | Annual cycle; usually spring–summer |
| Humphrey Fellowship | Non-degree (1 academic year) | Fees + stipend + insurance + travel | Established professionals; leadership focus | Country/route-specific |
| JJ/WBGSP | Master’s (partner US programs) | Tuition + stipend + travel + books | Development professionals from eligible countries | Typically spring (varies by window) |
| US PhD funding packages | PhD (most fields) | Tuition remission + stipend; multi-year | Research-oriented candidates (global) | Departmental (late fall–winter) |
*Indicative windows. Always confirm the current cycle dates on the official program page for your country/department.
How to Apply (Step-by-Step Plan)
- Choose the right program type. If you want a Master’s: Fulbright / Knight-Hennessy / Rotary / JJ/WBGSP. For research careers: fully funded PhD packages.
- Draft a 1-sentence problem statement. “I will address X in Y using Z during my degree.” Use this to shape your statement and CV bullets.
- Map to a department/faculty fit. Name supervisors, labs, datasets, or clinics you will actually use; list 3–4 modules or milestones.
- Collect micro-evidence. A poster, code repo, policy brief, prototype, or dataset you built — one concrete result beats five vague claims.
- Brief referees with prompts. Send 3–5 bullet points they can turn into stories with outcomes (not adjectives).
- Write for scanning. Short paragraphs, sub-heads that say what the section does, and metrics (“reduced error 22%”).
- Submit early. Country-route portals and university systems can be strict about time zones and file formats.
Documents Checklist (Copy & Adapt)
- Valid passport/ID
- Degree certificates + transcripts (with grading scale)
- CV (2 pages for taught; up to 3 for research)
- Personal statement / research statement
- English proficiency (as required)
- Two–three references (academic/professional)
- Portfolio evidence (poster, preprint, code, dataset)
- Funding/return commitment (for route-based schemes)
- Supervisor contact/interest (for research degrees)
Timeline (Work Backwards from Your Earliest Deadline)
- Now–2 weeks: shortlist 4–6 programs and 3–5 target departments; note every deadline.
- +2–4 weeks: draft statement and CV; request references with prompts; build one micro-evidence artifact.
- +4–6 weeks: finalize PDFs; confirm word counts; upload 48–72 hours early.
- After submission: prepare for interviews (lead with outcomes; teach one method in 30 seconds).
Tip: US PhD deadlines cluster Nov–Jan; flagship scholarships can close earlier by country/route — track both calendars.
FAQs (Short & Straight)
Is US health insurance included?
Most fully funded packages include student health insurance or a subsidy; details vary by award and department — confirm on your official page.
Do I need to return home after study?
Some route-based programs (e.g., specific Fulbright categories) include home-country return expectations; read your country page carefully.
Are STEM PhDs easier to fund?
Many STEM PhDs rely on research assistantships tied to grants; humanities/social sciences also fund via fellowships and teaching — competitiveness varies by department.
Can I bring dependents?
Stipends are designed around a single student. Budget carefully and check your program’s dependent policies and visa guidance.
Final word: Choose the right program path (flagship fellowship vs. department-funded PhD), prove feasibility with one concrete result, align tightly with a US department’s resources, and brief referees early. That combination consistently earns fully funded offers.
• Educational guidance; always verify the latest rules, benefits, and deadlines on the official program page for your country/department.