Fully Funded PhD and Master's Scholarships in Politics, Business, Social Sciences, and Creative Practice

This post, curated by Habtamu Abebe Getahun (Lecturer, University of Gondar), compiles a selection of fully funded and prestigious academic scholarships for PhD, Master's, and undergraduate studies across leading global institutions. The highlighted opportunities span a wide range of disciplines, with a strong emphasis on political science, business, social sciences, education, law, and interdisciplinary research related to African creativity and global impact. Key PhD scholarships include: African Creativity Beyond Borders Prize Programme (King’s College London): Four fully funded PhD scholarships for research on African creativity, culture, and societal impact. Open to applicants with backgrounds in arts, humanities, social sciences, and policy studies. Funding covers tuition, a UKRI stipend (£22,780), and research support. Only one international student can be funded. Deadline: 13 February 2026. PhD in Politics (Luiss University): Seven fully funded scholarships for a three-year PhD in Politics, focusing on European integration, elections, global studies, and social innovation. Open to international candidates with a master’s degree or equivalent. Annual stipend: €16,243–€22,171.88. Deadline: 23 January 2026. Leeds University Business School PhD Excellence Scholarships : 21 scholarships covering tuition and a maintenance allowance (£20,780) for up to 3.5 years. Open to UK and international applicants in business-related fields. Deadlines: 4 March 2026 (PhD application), 11 March 2026 (scholarship application). Swansea University Research Scholarships : Fully funded PhD and master’s research scholarships across social sciences, STEM, and interdisciplinary fields. Open to UK and international students. Deadlines vary by program (earliest: 11 December 2025). Master’s and postgraduate scholarships include: Education Beyond Borders Scholarship (University of Edinburgh): Up to 20 scholarships for displaced individuals residing in the UK, covering full or partial tuition and stipends for full-time, on-campus master’s programs. Deadline: 17 February 2026. Other notable scholarships: Florence STG Annual Scholarships, DOST Scholarship (France), ICP Connect Scholarships, Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships, Erasmus Mundus Scholarships, and Columbia University MS in Climate Finance. Eligibility requirements generally include a strong academic record, relevant degree(s), English language proficiency (e.g., IELTS 7.0), and submission of supporting documents such as CV, research proposal, transcripts, and references. Some scholarships have specific nationality or residency requirements. Funding packages are typically fully funded, covering tuition and providing a stipend for living expenses. Some scholarships offer additional research and development funding, but international students may need to cover visa and health surcharge fees independently. Application deadlines range from December 2025 to March 2026, with most programs starting in October 2026. Applicants are encouraged to review each scholarship’s official page for detailed requirements and to apply early. For more information and to apply, follow the provided links to each scholarship opportunity.