6 postgraduate scholarships you can still apply for in 2020-21

Pursuing your postgraduate studies can be an expensive endeavour, but don’t let that stop you from getting an advanced degree. 

Despite the eye-watering fee, it’s worth noting that those with higher education levels tend to earn more, are more likely to be employed, and more likely to move up the socioeconomic ladder.

Here are some postgraduate scholarships to keep an eye out on: 

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

Are you an African student who would like to study at Sciences Po in France? This institution boasts of famous alumni which include French President Emmanuel Macron.

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is offered in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation; these merit-based scholarships are for students from sub-Saharan African countries with an outstanding academic record and strong leadership potential, but who face financial and other barriers to higher education. 

These highly selective scholarships are open to candidates applying to one of their seven graduate schools.

You’ll need to apply for the scholarship before November 25, 2020, for the master’s programme; and submit your application before December 6, 2020.

Commonwealth Scholarship at the National University of Singapore

The Commonwealth Scholarship is awarded to outstanding graduate students from Commonwealth countries (except for Singapore citizens and PR holders) for research leading to a higher degree at NUS. This scholarship consists of a monthly stipend (SG$2,000 for PhD candidates and SG$1,500 for master’s candidates) plus a tuition fee subsidy.

Incoming graduate students should indicate their interest in the scholarship in their application for admission. Successful applicants will be informed of the outcome of their applications sometime in May (for admission in August) or October (for admission in January).

Asian Development Bank (ADP) ADP-JSP Scholarships in Asia and the Pacific

The Asian Development Bank (ADB)-Japan Scholarship Program (JSP) offers about 140 postgraduate scholarships a year for studies in economics, business, management, science and technology, law and public policy, and development studies for students from selected countries. 

The scholarship covers full tuition fees, monthly allowance for expenses, housing, books and instructional materials, medical insurance, and travel expenses.

You’ll need to have gained admission to an approved course in any of the 29 institutions located in Hong Kong, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Pakistan, The Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and the US.

The Swiss Government Excellence Scholarship in Switzerland

This fully-funded scholarship is open for students from over 180 different countries looking to pursue a master’s or PhD degree. There are two types of scholarships: a research scholarship (PhD) and an art scholarship (master’s programme).

Last year, 381 students were awarded the opportunity, and this year they are aiming for 500. The deadline to apply is November 2020. The Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students (FCS) will select scholarship holders for the 2021-22 academic year by the end of May 2021. 

Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program

This scholarship was established by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs to enable French higher education institutions to attract top foreign students to enrol in their masters and PhD programmes.

“It gives an opportunity to the future foreign decision-makers of the private and public sectors, in priority areas of study, and encourages applicants up to 25 years old from developing countries at master’s level, and applicants up to 30 years old from developing and industrialised countries at PhD level,” it says on its website.

The deadline to apply is January 8, 2021, while scholarship recipients will be announced in the week of March 22, 2021.

Black Academic Futures Scholarships

Up to 10 full scholarships are available for applicants who are ordinarily resident in the UK, who are of Black, or Mixed-Black ethnicity and who are applying to a postgraduate research degree (any full-time or part-time doctoral course, including combined master’s and doctoral programmes ie 1+3 programmes where admission is granted to both courses at the outset) at the University of Oxford. Awards are made for the full duration of students’ fee liability for the agreed course.

The scholarship is offered in partnership with the following partner colleges in the 2021-22 academic year: St Cross, Kellogg, Linacre, Green Templeton, Mansfield, Harris Manchester, Keble, Lady Margaret Hall, St Peter’s. The scholarships are jointly funded by the University and the colleges. Selection is expected to take place in April 2021.

Don’t Stop Scholarship

American rapper Megan Thee Stallion has partnered Rap Rotation, Amazon music’s flagship global hip-hop brand and playlist, two offer two US$10,000 scholarships to female students of colour pursuing an associate, bachelor’s, or postgraduate degree in any field. 

Click here for details.