Scholarships That Make Studying in Europe Even Cheaper: National Funding That Offsets Tuition and Living Costs

Europe offers tens of thousands of scholarship opportunities and funding schemes that make international study significantly cheaper, often covering full tuition, living expenses, travel allowances, and health insurance. Pan-European programmes like Erasmus+ and Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees (EMJMD) provide centralized EU funding for study across multiple countries. Individual nations such as France (Eiffel Excellence Scholarship), Sweden (Swedish Institute Scholarships), the Netherlands (Orange Tulip and NL Scholarships), Belgium (ARES Scholarships), and Ireland (International Education Scholarships) all offer government-backed awards that offset study costs. Many universities also run their own merit and regional awards, and combined with national schemes, this ecosystem creates over 100,000 support options for eligible students.

Europe’s scholarship landscape is complex and rich, not just a handful of headline awards but layered systems that together take the cost of study from “expensive” to manageable or even fully covered for students who qualify.

Understanding this multi-tiered ecosystem is key not just to reducing costs but to designing a study pathway that works financially and academically.

1. Pan-European Scholarships — EU-Level Funding That Substantially Lowers Cost

Europe’s largest coordinated scholarship efforts come from European Union-level funding programmes, which stand out because they are not tied to one country’s visa system or university, but instead offer opportunities to study across borders under unified support terms. The flagship of these is the Erasmus+ Programme, which includes not just student exchanges within Europe but also grants that significantly offset costs while studying abroad. Erasmus+ allows eligible students enrolled at participating institutions to study for 3–12 months in one or more European countries without paying extra tuition fees to the host institution, and it often includes a monthly living allowance and travel support depending on the duration and distance of travel.† (turn0search0*

Building on Erasmus+, the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees (EMJMD) scholarships take European funding a step further by offering fully funded master’s programmes that are delivered by consortia of universities in multiple European countries. These programmes provide a tuition fee waiver, a generous monthly stipend (often around €1,400 per month), travel allowances, and health insurance coverage — cumulatively worth tens of thousands of euros over the duration of a two-year master’s course. Because these degrees take place in two or three partner countries, they give students an internationally mobile education and scholarship support that rivals many national full-ride programmes elsewhere.† (turn0search1*

What makes these EU-level scholarships especially powerful is that they form a framework that spans borders and funding cultures. Unlike many national programmes that are tied to one country’s residency, Erasmus+ and EMJMD scholarships explicitly embrace mobility: you might do your first year in Spain, your second in Estonia, and finish a third semester in Finland — all on scholarship support that offsets tuition, travel, and living expenses. This means European study is not just cheaper; it’s structurally designed so cost does not isolate you in one place but supports mobility and regional academic integration.† (turn0search5*

For many students, particularly at the graduate level, mastering the Erasmus+ and EMJMD application cycles — usually opening in autumn and closing by early winter — opens doors to well-funded study paths that blend international experience with financial support. Because these awards are EU-wide, they also tend to attract high applicant numbers, meaning competitive essays, strong recommendations, and clear academic plans are essential for success.

Beyond Erasmus, the European Commission’s “Find a Scholarship” portal highlights that around 100,000 scholarships and financial support schemes exist across Europe, including centralised listings and links to national and institutional awards — a testament to the scale of support.† (turn0search0*

2. Government Scholarships by Country — National Funding That Offsets Tuition and Living Costs

At the next layer of funding are national government scholarships, which typically combine full or partial tuition coverage with living stipends, travel allowances, and often integration support for international students. These programmes vary in ambition and scope from country to country, but several iconic examples illustrate how government support makes European study economically feasible.

France’s Eiffel Excellence Scholarship is one of the most prestigious government-funded awards in Europe. It is administered by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and is targeted at master’s and doctoral students with outstanding academic records and potential as future leaders in their fields. Winners receive a monthly stipend to cover living expenses, travel costs, and complementary health insurance, making it substantially cheaper to study in France’s world-renowned institutions.† (turn0search9*

In Sweden, the Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP) provide comprehensive funding for master’s level study, including tuition coverage, a generous monthly stipend (often in the equivalent of thousands of Swedish kronor per month), travel grants, and insurance support. These awards are competitive and often geared toward global professionals in sustainability, technology, and development sectors.† (turn0search6*

The Netherlands Government Scholarship ecosystem includes several notable programmes. The Holland Scholarship provides international students with a one-time grant (commonly €5,000) that can be applied toward tuition costs in Dutch universities, while the Orange Knowledge Programme offers full funding for mid-career professionals seeking short courses or master’s programmes, often including tuition, monthly living stipends, travel, and health support.† (turn0search6*

Other national schemes include Belgium’s ARES Scholarship Program, which supports international students across disciplines with full tuition and living grants, and the Government of Ireland International Education Scholarships, which in 2026 is offering 60 scholarships that include a full tuition waiver plus a €10,000 stipend for one-year postgraduate study.† (turn0search4 *

Even within these national programmes, there are often multiple tracks — master’s, doctoral, research fellowships — each with distinct eligibility criteria and application processes. But the common theme is that national governments are actively subsidising international study, making Europe not just educationally rich but financially accessible for capable students worldwide.

3. University and Institutional Scholarships — Tuition Discounts and Living Support from the Campus Level

for students aiming to study in Europe, university-level scholarships form another critical layer of financial support — often complementing government awards, Erasmus funding, and external grants. Across European universities, especially in countries with strong international education strategies, institutional merit-based scholarships and need-based awards reduce the cost of study by partially or fully waiving tuition fees and sometimes adding monthly stipends or housing support.

For example, many Dutch universities operate their own Excellence Scholarship Programmes — such as the Leiden University Excellence Scholarship that offers students up to €15,000 or more toward tuition and, in some cases, living costs — making study significantly cheaper in one of Europe’s most internationally oriented education markets.† (turn0search7*

In Belgium, programmes like the VLIR-UOS Scholarships provide funding for students from developing countries to pursue master’s degrees in Flemish universities, covering not just tuition but also monthly stipends, accommodation, and travel costs — enabling learners to concentrate on study rather than financial stress.† (turn0search10*

European universities in Scandinavia and Central Europe often combine institutional awards with national schemes. For example, universities in Sweden and Finland may offer internal excellence scholarships that reduce living costs or cover admission fees for high-achieving international students, layered on top of national funding or Erasmus support.† (turn0search5*

In some cases, universities also provide department-specific scholarships that target students entering particular faculties — such as engineering, science, or social sciences — with awards that include travel allowances, research funds, and monthly support for living expenses. These institutional awards are often competitive and merit-based, but when combined with broader EU or government funds, they can substantially reduce or nearly eliminate personal expense requirements for international students.

This school-level support grows especially prevalent in private and research universities across Europe, where institutions use scholarship funds to attract top global talent, enhance research output, and strengthen their international profiles — again expanding access by reducing effective cost of tuition and living.

4. Specialized and Regional Funding — Targeted Support for Critical Fields and Underrepresented Groups

Beyond general government and institutional scholarships, Europe offers specialized and regional funding initiatives designed to make study more affordable for students in specific fields of study, countries of origin, or underrepresented populations. These opportunities often combine academic excellence with explicit socio-economic or thematic criteria, meaning applicants benefit not only from financial support but alignment with research, development, or policy priorities.

A quintessential example at the European level is the Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees (EMJMD) — but within that, many individual EMJMD programmes focus on priority sectors like sustainability, data science, international development, and public health, which are areas where funding bodies and employers are eager to support future professionals. Students who can articulate a strong fit between their academic goals and these fields often receive highly competitive support packages, including full tuition and living stipends.† (turn0search0*

At the national level, some government scholarship schemes are tailored toward global challenges. For example, Sweden’s scheme often prioritises sustainable development and global professional leadership, while scholarships in Belgium and Finland may favour innovation and research contributions in health, technology, or European studies.† (turn0search6*

Regional or expatriate-specific funding also exists: while not Europe-wide, many countries offer special awards for students from Africa, Asia, Latin America, or other non-EU regions, often under bilateral scholarship agreements or cultural exchange programmes. These scholarships recognise the value of international collaboration and aim to support talent from regions where financial barriers are more acute.

Finally, some universities partner with industry or philanthropic organisations to provide field-specific fellowship funding, particularly at the doctoral or postdoctoral level. These awards can include not just tuition and stipends but also research costs, travel to conferences, and equipment allowances — effectively making entire research careers more financially feasible in Europe.

Collectively, these specialized and regional funding avenues widen the quota of students who can study abroad cheaply — particularly those whose academic goals align with high-impact areas of study.

5. Application Strategies and Scholarship Planning — Making Europe Affordable in Practice

Knowing about scholarships is only part of the equation — the challenge for many students is strategically aligning applications so that these opportunities make Europe genuinely cheaper. That just means understanding deadlines, combining awards, and tailoring application materials to scholarship priorities.

First, calendars matter. Many pan-European programmes like Erasmus Mundus open calls in the autumn (often around October–January for the following academic year), while national government awards in countries like Sweden, France, and Ireland often require winter or early spring applications. Marking these cycles obsessively and preparing documentation — academic transcripts, language tests (not always required for some EMJMD programmes) and references — months in advance is critical.

Second, stacking scholarships is legally possible and financially powerful. A student might receive an Erasmus Mundus stipend while also qualifying for a national government subsidy in one of the host countries and an institutional award from a partner university. Because European scholarship systems often allow co-funding, the combined effect can offset tuition, living, travel, and even research costs — a strategy few students exploit fully.

Third, tailoring your materials to align with scholarship priorities — leadership, sustainability, international engagement — can elevate your application above competitors. Large EU programmes explicitly seek candidates who demonstrate global mobility, intercultural competence and academic excellence, so essays and references should reflect these competencies robustly.

Fourth, use centralized scholarship databases such as the European Commission’s scholarship finder, Scholarshipportal, and national Ministry of Education portals to scan and filter opportunities by country, level, and field of study. With 100,000+ scholarships and financial support schemes available across Europe, these tools help ensure you don’t miss niche or emerging funding chances.† (turn0search5*

Fifth, don’t overlook smaller or lesser-known scholarships such as the Orange Tulip Scholarship in the Netherlands, which specifically supports students from designated partner countries with customised funding packages that combine institutional, governmental, and private support.† (turn0search20*

Ultimately, the scholarship ecosystem in Europe is vast and deep — but effective planning, early preparation, and strategic application can turn it from an overwhelming sea of options into a highly accessible pathway for affordable, even fully funded, study abroad.

Comparison Tables for Featured Snippets

Major Europe Scholarships That Make Study Cheaper

Other Notable Government & Institutional Scholarships

Conclusion

Studying in Europe can be both academically rewarding and financially accessible thanks to an extensive ecosystem of scholarship opportunities that extend far beyond low tuition fees. From EU-level programmes like Erasmus+ and EMJMD that fund mobility and multi-country study to national government awards in France, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Ireland, and down to university and specialized funding, there are multiple layered ways to make international study cheaper — sometimes even fully funded. (†)

The trick is not merely knowing these scholarships exist, but strategically combining them, preparing strong applications, and aligning your academic and professional narrative with funding bodies’ priorities. With the right timing, documentation, and alignment, Europe’s opportunities can go from aspirational to achievable — and the cost of study can shift from barrier to a manageable, supported journey of growth. (†)