Scholarships Opening in August 2026: Don’t Miss These Deadlines
August is the most important month of the scholarship calendar. This is when the world’s most prestigious fully funded scholarships open their application windows.
If you’re planning to study abroad in 2027, the deadlines starting now are the ones you cannot afford to miss. Wait until December and most of these will have closed.
Here’s your complete August 2026 scholarship checklist.
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🔴 High Priority (Opening/Deadlining in August)
1. Chevening Scholarship (UK)
- Opens: August 4, 2026
- Closes: October 6, 2026
- What: Fully funded 1-year Master’s at any UK university
- Coverage: Full tuition + living stipend (£14-18K) + flights + visa
- Level: Master’s only
- Eligibility: 160+ countries, 2+ years work experience
Prepare now: Draft your 4 essay questions. These take weeks to get right.
Full Chevening Guide →
2. Rhodes Scholarship (Various Countries)
- Closes in August for several African constituencies:
– West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, etc.): August 27, 2026
– Kenya: August 27, 2026
– Southern Africa: August 3, 2026
- What: Fully funded postgraduate study at University of Oxford
- Coverage: Full tuition + £20,400/year stipend + flights
- Level: Master’s, PhD
Prepare now: Check your country’s exact deadline on the Rhodes website.
3. DAAD EPOS (Germany)
- Opening/Closng: August – October 2026 (course-dependent)
- What: Fully funded Master’s/PhD at German universities
- Coverage: €992/month (Master’s) or €1,400/month (PhD) + insurance + travel + language course
- Eligibility: Professionals from developing countries
Prepare now: Identify your specific course and check its exact deadline in the DAAD database.
4. DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Programme (Germany)
- Opens/Closes: August 2026
- What: Fully funded Master’s in Public Policy/Governance
- Coverage: Same as DAAD EPOS
5. DAAD In-Country/In-Region (Africa)
- Closes: August 15, 2026
- What: Fully funded Master’s/PhD at African universities
- Eligibility: Sub-Saharan African students
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🟡 Opening Soon (August – September)
6. Gates Cambridge Scholarship (UK)
- Opens: September 2026
- Closes: October (US round) / December-January (International)
- What: Fully funded postgraduate study at University of Cambridge
- Coverage: Full tuition + £21,000/year + flights + visa + family allowance
- Level: Master’s, PhD (~2/3 of awards go to PhD applicants)
Prepare now: Identify your Cambridge course and supervisor. The key is research fit.
7. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s (Europe)
- Open: November 2026 – January 2027
- What: Fully funded Master’s at European university consortia
- Coverage: Full tuition + €1,400/month + travel + insurance
- Eligibility: All nationalities, no work experience required
Prepare now: Browse the Erasmus Mundus catalogue and identify programs matching your field.
8. Schlumberger Faculty for the Future (Global)
- Opens: September 1, 2026
- Closes: November 6, 2026
- What: Fully funded PhD/Postdoc for women in STEM
- Eligibility: Women from developing/emerging economies
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🟢 Still Open (Apply This Month)
These programs are still accepting applications:
| Scholarship | Deadline | What’s Covered |
|---|---|---|
| AU Mwalimu Nyerere | July 31, 2026 | Fully funded Master’s/PhD in Africa |
| Mandela Rhodes | July 31, 2026 | Fully funded Master’s in South Africa |
| Mastercard Foundation (McGill) | August 21, 2026 | Fully funded Master’s in Canada |
| EAC Student Mobility | August 20, 2026 | 197 fully funded spots in East Africa |
| OWSD PhD Women in Science | August 31, 2026 | Fully funded PhD for women |
| Sabancı University (Turkey) | Aug 10/28, 2026 | Fully funded with monthly stipend |
| Expatrio Scholarship (Germany) | September 30, 2026 | €15,000 prize |
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Your August Action Plan
Week 1: Preparation
- [ ] Finalize your CV/résumé (Europass format for DAAD)
- [ ] Research 3 course choices for Chevening
- [ ] Identify your Rhodes constituency deadline
- [ ] Browse DAAD course database for EPOS programs
Week 2: Chevening Opens (Aug 4)
- [ ] Create your Chevening account
- [ ] Start drafting essay 1 (Leadership and Influence)
- [ ] Request 2 reference letters
- [ ] Check that your passport is valid
Week 3: Mid-August Push
- [ ] Complete applications for Aug 15 deadlines (DAAD In-Country)
- [ ] Submit Mastercard Foundation (McGill) by Aug 21
- [ ] Submit EAC Student Mobility by Aug 20
- [ ] Continue Chevening essays
Week 4: August Deadline Sprint
- [ ] Submit Rhodes Scholarship if your constituency closes in August
- [ ] Submit OWSD PhD by Aug 31
- [ ] Polish and finalize Chevening essays
- [ ] Research Gates Cambridge programs (opens September)
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September Preview
| Opens In September | Deadline |
|---|---|
| Gates Cambridge | Oct 2026 – Jan 2027 |
| Schlumberger Faculty for Future | Nov 6, 2026 |
| Clarendon Fund (Oxford) | Dec 2026 – Jan 2027 |
| QuestBridge National College Match | September 30, 2026 |
| Commonwealth Scholarships | Nov 2026 |
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Final Checklist
Don’t let August slip away. Print this checklist:
- [ ] Chevening: Register and start essays
- [ ] DAAD In-Country: Submit by Aug 15
- [ ] EAC Mobility: Submit by Aug 20
- [ ] Mastercard Foundation (McGill): Submit by Aug 21
- [ ] Rhodes (Africa): Submit by Aug 3/27
- [ ] OWSD PhD: Submit by Aug 31
- [ ] Sabancı University: Submit by Aug 10/28
- [ ] Expatrio: Submit by Sep 30
- [ ] Prepare for Gates Cambridge (opens Sep)
- [ ] Prepare for Schlumberger (opens Sep 1)
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August is make-or-break month for scholarship applications. Save this page and check back each week as we update deadlines.