This guide covers the 14 scholarships in the USA that ScholarshipClaude lists for 2027: 11 fully funded and 3 with partial funding. For each one you will find what it pays for, who can apply and the deadline, with a link to the full page. The list was last updated on 8 October 2026.
The nearest confirmed deadline is PPIA Junior Summer Institute 2027 in the USA, on 7 November 2026. Scholarships with expected dates are based on the previous cycle and will be confirmed when the new call opens.
How scholarships work in the USA
In the USA, most funding for international students comes from the universities themselves. PhD students are commonly funded through fellowships and teaching or research assistantships that cover tuition and pay a stipend. Master's funding is harder to find and is usually partial. The US government also runs exchange programmes such as Fulbright, which are managed country by country.
Scholarships in the USA 2027 at a glance
Fully funded scholarships in the USA for international students
Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2027 in the USA
Knight-Hennessy Scholars funds up to three years of graduate study in any Stanford graduate programme, including master's, PhD, MBA, JD and MD degrees, and adds a leadership development programme. There are no quotas by region, university, field of study or career aspiration. The application for the 2027 cohort opened on 1 June 2026 and closed on 6 October 2026 at 1:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Applicants must also apply separately to a Stanford graduate programme by that programme's deadline (no later than 1 December 2026 to remain eligible). The deadline is very close, so only apply if your application is nearly ready.
What it covers:
- Full tuition and fees
- Stipend for living and academic expenses
- Travel stipend for one economy round trip per year
- Leadership development and mentoring programme
Who can apply:
- Bachelor's degree earned in January 2020 or later (for the 2027 cohort)
- Apply to both Knight Hennessy Scholars and a Stanford graduate programme
- Independence of thought, purposeful leadership and a civic mindset
Level: Master's & PhD. Deadline: closed for this cycle. Full details and how to apply.
PPIA Junior Summer Institute 2027 in the USA
The PPIA Junior Summer Institute (JSI) is a fully funded summer programme in public policy and international affairs for undergraduates. Fellows take graduate-level courses at one of three host universities: Harvard, Princeton or the University of Michigan. Applications for 2027 are open until 6 November 2026 at 11:59 PM Eastern time. Students graduating in December 2027, or between May and August 2028, can apply.
What it covers:
- Summer stipend
- Funded graduate-level coursework in policy, economics, statistics and leadership
- On-campus housing
- Books and course materials
Who can apply:
- Undergraduates graduating in December 2027 or between May and August 2028
- Studying at a college or university in the United States
- A serious interest in a career in public service
Level: Bachelor's. Deadline: 7 November 2026. Full details and how to apply.
Stanford Graduate Fellowship
The Stanford Graduate Fellowship in Science and Engineering (SGF) is one of Stanford's most prestigious internal awards for doctoral students. It covers tuition and a stipend for three years and is awarded to students nominated by their departments; there is no separate application. You are considered when you apply to an eligible Stanford PhD programme, and most science and engineering PhD programmes close applications in early December for autumn 2027 entry. The date below is an estimate.
What it covers:
- Full tuition for three years
- Annual stipend
- Combined with department funding for the rest of the PhD
Who can apply:
- Admitted to an eligible Stanford PhD programme
- Nominated by your department
- Outstanding academic and research record
Level: PhD. Deadline: expected 1 December 2026. Full details and how to apply.
MIT Presidential Fellowship 2027 in the USA
The MIT Presidential Fellowships are awarded to outstanding new graduate students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. They are nine-month fellowships that fund tuition, a monthly stipend and the student extended insurance plan for the first academic year at MIT.
What it covers:
- Tuition for the first academic year at MIT
- Monthly stipend for nine months
- Student extended insurance plan
Who can apply:
- Admitted to an MIT graduate programme
- Nominated by your department
- Exceptional academic and research record
Level: PhD. Deadline: expected 15 December 2026. Full details and how to apply.
Fully Funded STEM PhD Programs in the USA 2027
There is no single US government STEM scholarship for international students, so this page now covers the most common real route to free STEM study in the United States: funded PhD programmes. Most science and engineering PhD programmes support admitted students with a tuition waiver and a monthly stipend through fellowships, research assistantships or teaching assistantships for five years or more. Most programmes close applications between 1 and 15 December for autumn 2027 entry; the date below is an estimate.
What it covers:
- Tuition waiver
- Monthly stipend through fellowship or assistantship
- Health insurance in most programmes
Who can apply:
- Bachelor's or master's degree in a related field
- Strong grades and research experience
- English proficiency (TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo)
Level: PhD. Deadline: expected 15 December 2026. Full details and how to apply.
Fulbright Scholarship in the USA
The Fulbright Foreign Student Program funds graduate study and research in the United States for students from more than 150 countries. It is run by binational Fulbright commissions or US embassies, which each set their own application window, often 15 to 18 months before studies start. Because every country has its own date, no single deadline is shown here.
What it covers:
- Tuition and fees
- Living stipend
- Round trip airfare
- Health insurance
Who can apply:
- Citizen of a participating country
- Bachelor's degree with a strong academic record
- English proficiency
Level: Master's & PhD. Deadline: varies. Full details and how to apply.
Global UGRAD Program in the USA
The Global Undergraduate Exchange Program, known as Global UGRAD, is a programme of the United States Department of State. It gives one-semester scholarships to outstanding undergraduate students from around the world for non-degree, full-time study at a university or college in the United States. The semester is combined with community service, professional development and cultural activities.
What it covers:
- A one-semester scholarship for non-degree, full-time study in the United States
- Community service, professional development and cultural enrichment activities
- The programme website for your country lists the costs that are covered
Who can apply:
- An outstanding undergraduate student in a participating country
- Pakistan: a Pakistani citizen enrolled at a university or college in Pakistan
- Pakistan: in the 14th year of formal education, which is the second year of a bachelor's degree, at the application deadline
Level: Bachelor's. Deadline: varies. Full details and how to apply.
Kennedy-Lugar YES Program in the USA
The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) programme is run by the United States Department of State. High school students from selected countries live with an American host family and attend an American high school. They gain leadership skills and take part in activities to learn about the United States.
What it covers:
- Placement with a host family in the United States
- A place at an American high school
- Leadership and community activities during the exchange
- The programme website lists the costs that are covered
Who can apply:
- A high school student in a YES country
- Meet the age and school-year rules for your country
- Pass the merit-based selection process run in your country
Level: Short Programme. Deadline: varies. Full details and how to apply.
Study of the U.S. Institutes
Study of the U.S. Institutes (SUSIs) for Student Leaders are five-week academic programmes for foreign undergraduate students aged 18 to 25. They are designed to improve students' understanding of the United States and to develop their leadership skills. Each institute includes a four-week academic residency with classes, discussions, lectures and site visits.
What it covers:
- A five-week programme in the United States, including a four-week academic residency
- The US Embassy in your country explains the costs that are covered
Who can apply:
- Between 18 and 25 years old, with at least one semester of university left
- Leadership shown through academic work, community involvement and activities
- Proficient in reading, writing and speaking English
Level: Bachelor's. Deadline: varies. Full details and how to apply.
Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program in the USA
The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program is a non-degree programme of about ten months at universities in the United States. It is for mid-career professionals with a proven record of leadership and a commitment to public service, and it combines academic coursework with professional development.
What it covers:
- Tuition
- Airfare
- Textbooks
Who can apply:
- A mid-career professional with a proven record of leadership and a commitment to public service
- Meet the rules set by the US Embassy or Fulbright Commission in your country
- Pakistan (USEFP): Pakistani citizen with 8 to 18 years of progressively responsible professional experience
Level: Short Programme. Deadline: varies. Full details and how to apply.
Yale World Fellows Program 2027 in the USA
The Maurice R. Greenberg World Fellows Program brings a group of accomplished mid-career professionals from around the world to Yale University each year. Fellows spend four months in residence at Yale, from mid-August to mid-December, to study, share knowledge and build networks. The programme was established in 2002 and has a network of more than 450 World Fellows in over 100 countries.
What it covers:
- Taxable stipend to cover the cost of living in New Haven
- A modest, furnished one or two-bedroom apartment for the length of the programme
- Medical insurance
- Round-trip travel from your home country
Who can apply:
- Citizen of a country other than the United States
- Dual citizens with the United States can apply, but preference goes to candidates whose work is focused outside the United States
- Fluent in English
Level: Short Programme. Deadline: 2 December 2026. Full details and how to apply.
Partial scholarships in the USA
Harvard Kennedy School Fellowships and Financial Aid 2027 in the USA
Harvard Kennedy School (HKS) awards fellowships and scholarships to master's students, mostly on merit, and the amounts differ from award to award. In 2025–26, 61.5% of HKS students received no financial aid from HKS or Harvard, so do not plan on full funding.
What it covers:
- Partial to full tuition fellowships
- Some awards include living costs
- Need-based and merit-based funding
Who can apply:
- Admitted to an HKS master's programme
- Strong academic and professional record
- Financial need for need-based awards
Level: Master's. Deadline: 1 December 2026. Full details and how to apply.
American University Human Rights Essay Award 2027 in the USA
The Human Rights Essay Award is an annual legal writing competition run by the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law at American University Washington College of Law. Two winners are chosen: one for the best article in English and one for the best in Spanish. Each receives a full tuition scholarship to the Program of Advanced Studies on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law, for the Diploma or the Certificate of Attendance option. Travel, housing and living costs are not included. The best articles may also be published in the American University International Law Review.
What it covers:
- Full tuition scholarship to the Program of Advanced Studies on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law
- Valid for the Diploma or the Certificate of Attendance option, for up to four courses, including application and administrative fees
- Six awards in total: the best essay and two honourable mentions in English, and the same in Spanish. The tuition scholarship goes to the two best essays
- The winning essays and honourable mentions may be published in the American University International Law Review
Who can apply:
- You must already hold a law degree (J.D., LL.B. or equivalent)
- Demonstrated experience or interest in international human rights law
- Your essay must fit the 2027 topic, Democracy, Human Rights and Participation, or it is disqualified
Level: Short Programme. Deadline: 4 February 2027. Full details and how to apply.
Boustany Foundation Harvard MBA Scholarship 2027 in the USA
The Boustany Foundation awards one MBA scholarship at Harvard Business School every two years, for the two-year MBA course. The next scholarship is for the class starting in Autumn 2027. It offers financial aid of 75% of the tuition fees, plus travel and accommodation expenses for an internship with the foundation.
What it covers:
- Financial aid of 75% of the tuition fees
- Travel and accommodation expenses related to the internship
- One scholarship is awarded every two years
Who can apply:
- An offer of admission from the Harvard MBA programme
- An excellent academic background and considerable promise
- Candidates of any nationality, with priority for those of Lebanese descent
Level: Master's. Deadline: 31 May 2027. Full details and how to apply.
Scholarships in the USA by study level
- Bachelor’s: PPIA Junior Summer Institute 2027 in the USA, Global UGRAD Program in the USA, Study of the U.S. Institutes.
- Master’s: Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2027 in the USA, Harvard Kennedy School Fellowships and Financial Aid 2027 in the USA, Fulbright Scholarship in the USA, Boustany Foundation Harvard MBA Scholarship 2027 in the USA.
- PhD: Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2027 in the USA, Stanford Graduate Fellowship, MIT Presidential Fellowship 2027 in the USA, Fully Funded STEM PhD Programs in the USA 2027, Fulbright Scholarship in the USA.
Application timeline
Plan your applications in deadline order:
- 7 November 2026: PPIA Junior Summer Institute 2027 in the USA
- Expected 1 December 2026: Stanford Graduate Fellowship
- 1 December 2026: Harvard Kennedy School Fellowships and Financial Aid 2027 in the USA
- 2 December 2026: Yale World Fellows Program 2027 in the USA
- Expected 15 December 2026: MIT Presidential Fellowship 2027 in the USA
- Expected 15 December 2026: Fully Funded STEM PhD Programs in the USA 2027
- 4 February 2027: American University Human Rights Essay Award 2027 in the USA
- 31 May 2027: Boustany Foundation Harvard MBA Scholarship 2027 in the USA
No single deadline: Fulbright Scholarship in the USA, Global UGRAD Program in the USA, Kennedy-Lugar YES Program in the USA, Study of the U.S. Institutes, Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program in the USA. Their dates depend on the university, country or round, so check each page.
Closed for this cycle: Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2027 in the USA.
What the scholarships in the USA ask you to submit
Across the 14 scholarships in the USA on this page, this is how many ask for each document:
- CV or résumé: 6 of 14 (guide: academic CV template)
- Motivation letter, personal statement, essay or study plan: 7 of 14 (guide: statement of purpose guide and motivation letter template)
- Recommendation or reference letters: 9 of 14 (guide: how to get strong recommendation letters)
- Language test score or certificate: 2 of 14 (guide: IELTS or TOEFL: which to choose)
- Transcripts or degree certificates: 8 of 14
5 of them mention an interview in their selection process: Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2027 in the USA, Fulbright Scholarship in the USA, Boustany Foundation Harvard MBA Scholarship 2027 in the USA, Kennedy-Lugar YES Program in the USA, Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program in the USA. Our scholarship interview tips cover how to prepare.
Frequently asked questions
Which scholarships in the USA are fully funded?
Among the scholarships we list: Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2027 in the USA, PPIA Junior Summer Institute 2027 in the USA, Stanford Graduate Fellowship, MIT Presidential Fellowship 2027 in the USA, Fully Funded STEM PhD Programs in the USA 2027, Fulbright Scholarship in the USA, Global UGRAD Program in the USA, Kennedy-Lugar YES Program in the USA, Study of the U.S. Institutes, Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program in the USA, Yale World Fellows Program 2027 in the USA.
Which scholarships give partial funding?
Harvard Kennedy School Fellowships and Financial Aid 2027 in the USA, American University Human Rights Essay Award 2027 in the USA, Boustany Foundation Harvard MBA Scholarship 2027 in the USA.
Which deadline comes first?
PPIA Junior Summer Institute 2027 in the USA, on 7 November 2026.
See every active scholarship for this country on the scholarships page, and read how to find fully funded scholarships for more options.
Live list: every scholarship we currently cover here
| Scholarship | Funding | Stipend | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| PPIA Junior Summer Institute 2027 in the USA | Fully funded | See the scholarship page | 7 Nov 2026 |
| Harvard Kennedy School Fellowships and Financial Aid 2027 in the USA | Partial | See the scholarship page | 1 Dec 2026 |
| Stanford Graduate Fellowship | Fully funded | Stipend of 58,500 US dollars for 2026–27, paid as 14,625 dollars per quarter | 1 Dec 2026 (expected) |
| Yale World Fellows Program 2027 in the USA | Fully funded | Taxable stipend to cover the cost of living in New Haven (amount not published) | 2 Dec 2026 |
| MIT Presidential Fellowship 2027 in the USA | Fully funded | See the scholarship page | 15 Dec 2026 (expected) |
| Fully Funded STEM PhD Programs in the USA 2027 | Fully funded | See the scholarship page | 15 Dec 2026 (expected) |
| American University Human Rights Essay Award 2027 in the USA | Partial | See the scholarship page | 4 Feb 2027 |
| Boustany Foundation Harvard MBA Scholarship 2027 in the USA | Partial | 75% of Harvard MBA tuition fees (one award every two years) | 31 May 2027 |
| Fulbright Scholarship in the USA | Fully funded | Tuition, required textbooks, airfare, a living stipend and health insurance (Pakistan programme, subject to USEFP funding) | Varies |
| Global UGRAD Program in the USA | Fully funded | See the scholarship page | Varies |
| Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program in the USA | Fully funded | See the scholarship page | Varies |
| Kennedy-Lugar YES Program in the USA | Fully funded | See the scholarship page | Varies |
| Study of the U.S. Institutes | Fully funded | See the scholarship page | Varies |
This table updates itself whenever a scholarship is added or changed, so it can include newer entries than the sections above. See all scholarships.
