Study Abroad for Free: Top Funded Programs in Europe and Asia Explained

TL;DR

• In 2025, studying abroad doesn’t have to mean taking on massive debt. YUNO LEARNING’s new guide walks students through how to secure fully funded scholarships for Master’s and PhD programs in Europe and Asia. 
• From Germany’s DAAD and France’s Eiffel to Korea’s GKS and Japan’s MEXT, the article outlines the best global funding options — plus how to build a strong academic profile, prepare standout SOPs, and apply strategically across multiple countries. 
• The guide also explains key differences between Master’s and PhD funding, timelines, and application strategies. 
• The message is clear: with the right preparation and planning, students can turn ambition into opportunity — and study abroad without financial strain.

In a previous post, YUNO LEARNING examined the growing obstacles Indian students face when trying to study abroad. We acknowledged a hard truth: the old roadmap — study abroad, work abroad, settle abroad — is breaking down. But that doesn’t mean the dream is dead. It just means the strategy must evolve. 

In this post, we turn to the other side of that journey — the all-important money side. 

According to India’s Bureau of Immigration, 7.6 lakh students left the country in 2024 to pursue higher education abroad. That’s first-time departures, not the total number of Indian students currently overseas. Aside from the obvious fact that they must be smart – some foreign university found them worthy of admission – what else can we say about these students?

Let’s start with a common observation: the sons and daughters of the ultra-wealthy rarely show the same level of drive needed to push through years of intense, grade-focused study. That kind of sustained motivation is more often seen in students from the middle class — or sub middle class. 

Their vision is simple but powerful: “If I work hard, I can build a successful career and a comfortable life.” Their families share that vision and often make heavy sacrifices to support it. 

We can’t prove it with data, but logic suggests that the majority of those 7.6 lakh students are from families who can’t afford to throw money at the problem. They have to fight for every opportunity — and every rupee of their education budget. If we could listen in on their daily prayers, we’d probably hear something like: “Please, God — admission to a good foreign university, a smooth visa process… and a scholarship — the bigger, the better.” 

While there’s no harm in hope, success is more likely to come from strategic action. How can a bright youngster help himself – or herself – to a scholarship? In this post, YUNO LEARNING, walks you through the three crucial areas of this process:

1. How to plan,
2. How to target the right countries,
3. How to play the odds — smartly. 

STEP 1: Clarify the Target

Before you dive into applications, review your academic profile and decide what level you’re aiming for:

1. Academic Profile
2. Strong GPA (>8.0/10 or 3.5/4.0 equivalent)
3. Solid English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL)
4. Strong motivation/SOP
5. Some research/internships/extracurriculars help, especially for grad school
6. Target Level

Bachelor’s? More competitive, fewer full scholarships

Master’s? Easier to get scholarships or assistantships

PhD? Most funded, but more research-focused 

STEP 2: Decide Where to Apply (based on openness + scholarships)

Here is a curated list of scholarship / grant/funding clearing house or portal sites (national or regional level) that are especially relevant for Europe, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore (or more broadly Asia). These can help you discover scholarships/assistantships for Master’s and PhD levels. Some act as central platforms where scholarship information is collected or managed. Find more scholarships by checking out websites of specific universities. 

Breakdown by Region (Scholarship Portals & Programs)

EUROPE – Best Option for Scholarships

SINGAPORE – Selective but Great If You Make It

JAPAN – Good Scholarships, But Language Can Be a Barrier

SOUTH KOREA – Decent Opportunities

TAIWAN – Often Overlooked, But Promising

STEP 3: Choose Scholarships FIRST, Then Universities

Many scholarships are tied to specific universities, and some require you to apply through government programs (like GKS, MEXT, DAAD).  This means that you should identify the scholarships you want to apply for and after that apply to the relevant university.

So the correct order is:

1. Identify scholarship programs
2. Check their partner universities
3. Apply to those universities according to the scholarship’s process 

STEP 4: Apply to Multiple Programs Strategically

1. Apply to multiple universities (5–10 is ideal)
2. Apply in different countries to diversify risk
3. Focus on places with low or no application fees (e.g., Germany, Norway, Taiwan) 

STEP 5: Build a Strong Application Package

Whether for scholarships or admissions, this includes:

1. Statement of Purpose (tailored to each program)
2. Strong Letters of Recommendation
3. Transcripts & academic proof
4. Language scores (IELTS/TOEFL, or in some cases GRE)
5. Portfolio or CV (especially for grad school)
6. Start collecting recommendation letters and preparing your SOP early (3–6 months before deadlines). 

STEP 6: Timeline & Execution Plan

1 Year Before Intake (e.g., Oct–Dec)

1. Shortlist countries and scholarship programs
2. Start preparing for IELTS
3. Draft SOPs

Jan–Mar

1. Apply for scholarships that open early (e.g., GKS, MEXT)
2. Apply to universities that have early deadlines

Apr–Jul

1. Continue with university and scholarship applications
2. Follow up on decisions

Aug–Oct

1. Prepare visa documents
2. Finalize finances and logistics 

STEP 7: Reduce Costs Wherever Possible

1. Apply to tuition-free countries (Germany, Norway)
2. Look for fee waivers or low-fee universities
3. Avoid using paid agents where possible — many students have successfully navigated this process independently with the help of official websites and online communities. 

STEP 8: Resources and Communities

Here are places where you can find useful information:

• DAAD, GKS, MEXT, TaiwanICDF official sites
• Facebook groups for specific countries/universities
• Reach out to current students via LinkedIn (especially scholarship holders)
• r/Scholarships, r/IndiaToAbroad, and r/gradadmissions (Reddit)
• The Yuno Learning Blog.  https://www.yunolearning.com/blog/ 

You will find a bit of variation in the procedure depending on whether you are aiming for a Master’s degree programme or for a PhD.  Here are the main differences:

Master’s Programs (Taught or Research-based)

1. Application Process

• Apply through university admissions portals
• Requires academic transcripts, IELTS/TOEFL, SOP, LORs
• Scholarships are either separate or part of the application
• No need to contact professors unless it’s a research-based program 

2. Funding & Scholarships

Scholarships are limited and competitive, but available

Examples:

• DAAD EPOS (Germany)
• Eiffel Scholarship (France)
• Swedish Institute Scholarships
• GKS-G (Graduate) for Korea
• MEXT for Japan
• TaiwanICDF for Taiwan

Some universities offer tuition waivers or assistantships 

3. Structure

• Mostly coursework + project
• Some have research/thesis component

4. Goals

Ideal if the student wants to boost credentials, switch fields, or work in industry 

Master’s is better IF the student

1. Is not deeply into research yet
2. Wants to work in the industry abroad
3. Needs a shorter and safer route to a job

PhD Programs (Fully Research-Oriented)

1. Application Process

Requires:

• Research Proposal or Statement of Research Interest
• Strong academic background
• Sometimes Master’s degree is preferred, but not always mandatory
• Key Difference: You often need to contact professors first to secure a supervisor 

2. Funding

• Much better funding chances than Master’s
• Most PhD positions in Europe/Asia are fully funded (tuition + living stipend)
• You may be hired as a research assistant (RA) or doctoral fellow
• No separate scholarship application — the position includes funding 

3. Structure

• No coursework (in most cases)
• Full-time research + publication
• Close mentorship with advisor 

4. Goals

• Best if aiming for academic, research, or high-level R&D careers
• Longer commitment (3–5 years)

PhD is better (and easier to fund) IF the student

1. Enjoys research or has done research in undergrad
2. Wants to pursue PhD/academia
3. Wants maximum funding and lowest costs

Hedge your bets 

It is always wise to adopt a risk-balanced strategy:

Apply to funded Master’s programs in countries like:

1. Germany (DAAD)
2. Italy (DSU scholarship)
3. France (Eiffel)
4. Sweden (SI)
5. South Korea (GKS-G)
6. Taiwan (ICDF) 

If you can write a basic research proposal then apply to a few fully funded PhD programs (especially in Europe), Use platforms like:

1. FindAMasters / FindAPhD
2. DAAD Scholarship Database
3. EURAXESS (PhD listings in Europe)
4. University websites (for direct funded PhD positions)  

A given scholarship is established to fulfill certain objectives and it has terms and conditions.  The scholarship will go to the student who grasps those objectives, terms and conditions and is able to demonstrate that he or she is most fully prepared to, and capable of, fulfilling the scholarship’s requirements.

YUNO LEARNING agrees that the scramble for scholarships has become highly competitive, but with the right targeting, the right resources, and the right mindset, it is possible to find financial help. To make the best use of this detailed roadmap, you must go step by step, stay consistent and complete all steps well in time.

1. Play smart,
2. Plan ahead,
3. Hustle for every opportunity.