Global Dreams

SWISS GOVERNMENT EXCELLENCE SCHOLARSHIP 2027-2028

A fully funded PhD or Research Fellowship in one of the world's top academic hubs.
WHAT DOES IT COVER?
- Full Tuition Waiver at top Swiss universities (ETH Zurich, EPFL, etc.)
- Monthly Stipend: CHF 2,450 per month to cover living costs
- Health Insurance: Full premium coverage.
- Flight & Housing: Airfare back home + a CHF 600 housing allowance
- Free Transit: Half-fare Swiss public transport card. 

THE TIMELINE
Applications Open: 20 August 2026
Submission Deadline: Expected around mid-November 2026 (varies slightly by region, check local portal updates)

NOTE
You cannot simply apply online and hope to get selected. You must secure an academic supervisor (a professor in Switzerland) before you submit your application. Without a signed support letter from a Swiss professor, your application will be automatically rejected. 
Since professors take weeks to reply and go on summer holidays, July and August are the critical months to start cold-emailing them!

HOW TO PREPARE NOW:
- Find a Professor: Search Swiss university websites for faculty working in your exact field. 
- Draft a Research Proposal: Write a concise 2-3 page document outlining your PhD ideas. 
- Send a Cold Email: Contact the professor politely. Attach your CV, transcripts and your research proposal. Explicitly state that you are applying for this scholarship (professors love this because you bring your own funding!) - Get the Package: Once applications open, check the Official Swiss Government Scholarship Page or the Embassy of Switzerland in Addis Ababa LinkedIn updates to submit via the official ESKAS online portal. 

Cold Email Template to Swiss Professors

Dear Professor [Professor's Last Name],

I hope this email finds you well.
My name is [Your Name], and I recently graduated with a Master’s degree in [Your Field] from [Your University] in Ethiopia. I am writing to you because I am deeply interested in your research group's work on [mention a specific project, paper or research topic of the professor].

My master’s research focused on [1 short sentence about your thesis topic], and I would love to expand on this by researching [1 sentence about your proposed PhD topic] under your guidance.

I am preparing an application for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship for the upcoming cycle. Because this fellowship fully funds my tuition, monthly stipend, and health insurance, I would not require any financial support from your department's budget. However, to apply, I need to secure an academic supervisor.

I have attached my academic CV and a brief 2-page research proposal for your review.
Would you be open to a brief 10-minute Zoom call sometime next week to discuss if my profile aligns with your lab? I know your schedule is incredibly busy, so I truly appreciate any time you can spare.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Warm regards,
[Your Name]
[Your Link to LinkedIn]
[Your Phone Number with +251 country code]

CHEVENING SCHOLARSHIP 🇬🇧

This scholarship is opening very soon! If you are aiming to study in the UK for free, now is the time to prepare your documents and essays.

Applications Open: August 4, 2026 (11:00 UTC)
Applications Close: October 6, 2026 (11:00 UTC)
Studies Begin: September/October 2027

WHAT DOES IT COVER?
- 100% University Tuition Fees (Any eligible 1-year Master's degree)
- Free return economy flights from Addis Ababa to the UK
- Monthly living stipend (covers rent, food, and bills)
- Free TB testing allowance and UK student visa fees

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
Education: Must hold a completed Bachelor’s degree (with strong academic results).
Work Experience: Minimum of 2 years (at least 2,800 hours). Note: Full-time jobs, part-time jobs, internships and verified volunteer work all count!
Return Policy: You must commit to returning to Ethiopia for at least 2 years after graduating to contribute to the country's development.

HOW TO PREPARE RIGHT NOW?
Draft your 4 Essays: You must write 4 separate 500-word essays explaining your:
- Leadership & Influence skills (Give examples)
- Networking capabilities
- Studying in the UK (Why you chose your specific 3 courses)
- Career Plan (How you will help Ethiopia grow)

Pick 3 Courses: Research and choose exactly 3 eligible Master's courses across UK universities. They should ideally align with your career background.

Organise Transcripts: Ensure your university degree and official transcripts are scanned clearly into standard PDF formats.

Official Application Portal: chevening.org

Fully funded scholarship in America 🇺🇸

Berea College

This is the only college in the United States that covers 100% of costs for 100% of international students

What it covers:

- Full tuition
- Housing and food
- Paid on-campus job (~$2,500/year for personal expenses)

Things to know:

- No application fee
- You must show financial need
- English test required - IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 68, Duolingo 95, SAT or ACT
- $2,200 deposit on acceptance - but used toward your own expenses and financial aid available if you can't pay

Acceptance rate for international students is only 1% - extremely competitive

Application opens: August 1, 2026
Deadline: December 15, 2026
berea.edu

Fully Funded Scholarship in South Korea 🇰🇷

Global Korea Scholarship (GKS), one of the most competitive and prestigious government scholarships in the world.

What you get:

- Return airfare covered
- Full tuition paid
- Monthly living allowance
- Free Korean language training when you arrive

Available for both undergraduate and graduate students.

Deadline: varies by university, check yours now and apply early - studyinkorea.go.kr

Preparing for an English proficiency exam? - Our free IELTS tutor bot is available 24/7

👉 @YOLYTutor_bot

🎉 ነፃ የIELTS ቦት ተጀምሯል!
YOLY IELTS Tutor Bot is finally here! 🎉

After months of surveys and research, I built something for YOU.

Over 2000 of you told me English is your biggest barrier to studying abroad. So I created a free AI tutor that lives right here on Telegram, no app download, no payment.

Just message it and it will help you with:
- Writing Task 1 and Task 2
- Vocabulary and grammar
- Reading and listening strategies
- Speaking practice
- IELTS band score questions

And it speaks Amharic!
Start here: @YOLYTutor_bot

Also there are other great free AI tools like Cathoven that can support your IELTS journey. My goal is to make sure you have every possible tool to succeed. Use everything available to you!

This is just the beginning. More is coming.

Fully Funded & Tuition Waiver Scholarships at Aarhus University 🇩🇰

Aarhus University in Denmark is offering Danish State Scholarships for international Master’s students

For Master’s programmes in areas like:
• Business & Economics
• Computer Science & IT
• Engineering
• Natural Sciences
• Arts & Social Sciences

Scholarships may include: • Full or partial tuition fee waiver • Monthly stipend for living expenses (selected programmes)

No separate scholarship application is needed, applicants are automatically considered when applying for admission.

- Available for selected Master’s programmes - Highly competitive - strong academic results matter - Deadline: 15 September (Winter intake)

Official info: https://masters.au.dk/how-to-apply

Fully Funded Master’s in Australia 🇦🇺

Applications are now open for the Australia Awards Scholarships!

This is a fully funded Master’s degree in Australia covering:
- Flights
- Full tuition
- Living expenses
- Health insurance

Fields include:
- Agriculture & Food Security
- Climate Change
- International Relations
- Gender & Inclusion
- Mining & Energy

Who can apply?
- At least 5 years work experience
- Bachelor’s degree
- Currently employed
- IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent)

Deadline: April 30, 2026

👉 Apply here:
https://australiaawardsafrica.org/awards/apply/

Note: You apply once for both the scholarship and your course

University of Guelph Arrell Scholarship (Canada 🇨🇦)

I came across this opportunity and thought it might help someone here -

The Arrell Scholarship offers $50,000 per year for a Master’s (up to 2 years) in areas like food security, agriculture, nutrition and environmental sustainability.

It’s a great option for strong students (A- and above) who are interested in research.

Important to note -
- You need to apply and get admitted to a Master’s program first
- Application fees still apply
- It’s not strictly “fully funded,” but the funding is quite generous

Deadline: April 15, 2026
For more info - https://graduatestudies.uoguelph.ca/current/funding/scholarships/internal/arrell-scholarships