Fully funded scholarships Filipino students can apply to abroad: MEXT, GKS, Chevening, Fulbright, Australia Awards, Erasmus Mundus, and more, by level and country.
Mariano Luiz King · PrepPH Founder
Published October 22, 2026
Studying abroad for free is possible for Filipinos, mostly through government scholarships from other countries. The tricky part is that most fully funded scholarships are for master's degrees, not college. This post sorts the main options by level, so you know which ones you can apply to now.
After reading this, you'll have a short list of scholarships that fit your level and know what each one asks for.
Where this comes from: This list is compiled from the scholarship programs' own websites and embassy announcements, plus a few public guides where the official page wouldn't load. Deadlines and rules change every cycle, so always check the official site before you plan around a date. Details are as of October 2026.
| You are… | Your best options |
|---|---|
| In senior high, applying to college | MEXT Undergraduate, GKS Undergraduate, ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship (NTU Singapore), full-need US colleges |
| A college graduate with work experience | Chevening, Fulbright, Australia Awards, Erasmus Mundus, DAAD, MEXT, GKS, Manaaki New Zealand |
| Planning a PhD | Fulbright, MEXT, GKS, DAAD |
"Fully funded" usually means tuition, a monthly living allowance, and plane tickets. Each program is different, so read what's covered.
Most of these programs open once a year. As of October 2026, here's where each one stands:
| Scholarship | Usual window | Status in Oct 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| MEXT (Japan) | Around April to May | 2027 call closed May 29, 2026 |
| GKS Undergraduate (Korea) | Around October (embassy track) | 2026 embassy track closed Oct 17, 2026 |
| Chevening (UK) | August to October | 2026 round closed in October |
| DAAD EPOS (Germany) | Around June to October, depends on the course | Many 2027/28 courses closed Oct 15, 2026 |
| Erasmus Mundus (EU) | Mostly October to January | Open now for many programs |
| Australia Awards | Around February to April | 2026 round closed April 30, 2026. Next expected around Feb 2027 |
| Manaaki New Zealand | Around March | Next expected around March 2027 |
| Fulbright (US) | Varies by cycle | Check PAEF |
If you missed one, it's not over. Use the time to prepare documents, essays, and English test scores for the next round.
Run by Japan's education ministry. Filipinos apply through the Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC) of the Embassy of Japan in Manila. For 2027, there were four categories:
| Category | Who can apply | Length |
|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate | High school graduates under 25 | 5 years |
| College of Technology | High school graduates under 25, engineering fields | 4 to 4.5 years |
| Specialized Training | High school graduates under 25 | 3 years |
| Research (master's or PhD) | College graduates under 35 | 2 to 5 years |
The longer lengths include a year of Japanese language study before your degree starts.
Run by the Korean government through NIIED (the National Institute for International Education). It usually includes a year of Korean language training, then your degree. Applicants with a high TOPIK score (Korea's language test) can skip the language year.
There are two ways in:
What it covers, per the official guidelines as summarized by partner universities: tuition, round-trip airfare, a monthly allowance, medical insurance, and the language year.
With only 1 or 2 embassy slots, the university track is the more realistic option for most Filipinos.
Offered at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) for citizens of ASEAN countries other than Singapore. Filipinos are eligible.
A handful of US colleges cover your full cost based on financial need. That's covered in Can International Students Study in the US for Free?.
The UK government's main scholarship. It's for a one-year master's at a UK university.
Run in the Philippines by the Philippine-American Educational Foundation (PAEF). It funds master's, PhD, and non-degree study in the US. Master's grants run 1 to 2 years, and doctoral grants run 2 years.
Funded by the Australian government for master's study in Australia. It targets people already working in government, business, or nonprofits.
Joint master's programs run by groups of universities in different European countries. Students from anywhere in the world can apply.
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) funds master's and PhD study in Germany. Its EPOS program funds development-related master's and PhD courses for professionals from developing countries. The Philippines is on the OECD's list of eligible developing countries.
The New Zealand government's scholarship. The Philippines is on the list of eligible countries. Recent coverage in the Philippines has been about postgraduate study, and slots for Filipinos went from 16 to 44 in the 2025 round.
Both Japan and Korea also have graduate tracks. MEXT's Research category takes college graduates under 35. GKS has a separate graduate program (GKS-G) with its own guidelines.
Start your essays early. They're what separates applicants with similar grades.
Real government scholarships don't ask you to pay a fee to "process" your scholarship. Be careful with agents promising guaranteed slots. Always apply through the official website or embassy.
If you're in senior high, apply to MEXT or GKS undergraduate, and apply to a free Philippine state or local college at the same time. See Free Tuition in the PH. College abroad is a long shot, and a free local degree keeps your options open for a master's abroad later, where there are many more scholarships.
If you're already a graduate, work for a couple of years first. Chevening, Fulbright, and Australia Awards all value work experience.
Yes, but fewer than for master's. MEXT (Japan), GKS (Korea), and the ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship (Singapore) are the main ones.
None are easy. They're all competitive. Your best odds come from picking programs that match your level and field, applying to several, and starting essays early.
Many programs ask for IELTS or TOEFL. Some accept proof that your degree was taught in English. Check each program.
Some scholarships require it, like Fulbright and Australia Awards. Others don't. Read the terms before you apply.
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