Scholarships Closing October & November 2026: 12+ Deadlines You Can’t Miss
Quick Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Window covered | October 1 – November 30, 2026 |
| Urgent closes | Estonia national scholarship (Oct 1), Chevening (Oct 6), Knight-Hennessy (Oct 6), Marshall (Oct 7), Commonwealth Master’s + PhD (Oct 20), Study in Saudi (Oct 31), DAAD Ukraine (Nov 16) |
| Windows opening | Commonwealth Shared (Nov), NTU Singapore school deadlines (Nov 15), Vanier Canada (~Nov) |
| Today’s date | August 14, 2026 — you have 6–14 weeks, but applications take 2–4 weeks to prepare |
October and November 2026 are the heaviest deadline cluster of the scholarship year. If you’re targeting a 2027 start in the UK, US, Germany, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, the Baltics or Singapore, this is your final action window. Here’s the full verified list — with links to complete guides for each program.
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The Full Deadline Table
| Deadline | Scholarship | Level | Where | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 | Estonia National Scholarship | Master’s, PhD | Estonia | Read → |
| Oct 1 | DAAD EPOS SEPT MBA (Leipzig) | MBA | Germany | Read → |
| Oct 6 | Chevening Scholarships | Master’s | UK (global) | Read → |
| Oct 6 | Knight-Hennessy Scholars | Master’s, PhD | Stanford, USA | Read → |
| Oct 7 | Marshall Scholarship | Master’s, PhD | UK (US citizens) | Read → |
| Oct 20 | Commonwealth Master’s | Master’s | UK | Read → |
| Oct 20 | Commonwealth PhD (18 LDC countries) | PhD | UK | Read → |
| Oct 31 | Study in Saudi Arabia (Master’s/PhD) | Master’s, PhD | Saudi Arabia | Read → |
| Nov 15 | NTU Singapore (ADM/SoH/SSS/WKWSCI) | PhD | Singapore | Read → |
| Nov 16 | DAAD Ukraine — Study/Doctoral/Cotutelle | Master’s, PhD | Germany (Ukrainians) | Read → |
| Nov (early) | Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship | PhD | Canada | Read → |
| Nov 2026 | Commonwealth Shared OPENS (closes Jan 2027) | Master’s (1 yr) | UK | Read → |
| Nov 1–15 | NUS Singapore (FASS/Chemistry) | Master’s, PhD | Singapore | Read → |
| Oct–Jan | Gates Cambridge (course-dependent) | Master’s, PhD | Cambridge, UK | Read → |
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The 5 Deadlines That Matter Most
1. Estonia National Scholarship — October 1 (new!)
The Baltic state scholarship pays €350/month (Master’s) or €660/month (PhD) for a full academic year. You need an admission letter from an Estonian university before applying — start university applications immediately. Full details in our new Estonia & Baltic States Scholarships 2027 guide.
2. Chevening — October 6
The UK’s flagship global scholarship: fully funded Master’s + stipend + leadership network. Applications open in early August and close 12:00 BST on October 6, 2026. You need 2 years of work experience and an unconditional UK university offer (or proof you’re applying) by the time results are decided.
3. Commonwealth Master’s & PhD — October 20
Both the Commonwealth Master’s and the Commonwealth PhD (18 LDC countries) close at 16:00 BST on October 20, 2026. These are nominator-based — your national nominating agency sets an earlier internal deadline (often 2–4 weeks before), so treat mid-September as your real cutoff for contacting them.
4. Study in Saudi Arabia — October 31
The Saudi government’s unified scholarship program (25+ universities) covers full tuition, accommodation, monthly stipend and flights for Master’s and PhD applicants. Applications run through the official platform, closing October 31.
5. DAAD Ukraine — November 16
Study Scholarships, Doctoral Programmes and Cotutelle for Ukrainian applicants all close November 16, 2026, with funding from October 2027. €992/month (graduates) and €1,300/month (doctoral). Full details in the Ukraine Students Mega-Guide.
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Insider Tips
1. Nominator programs have hidden earlier deadlines
Commonwealth (both Master’s and PhD) requires nomination through a national agency or NGO. Those agencies publish their own deadlines in September. Contact yours this month.
2. Chevening needs 3 essays — start them now
The four Chevening questions (leadership, networking, study plan, career plan) take serious drafting. With the Oct 6 deadline, you should have first drafts done by mid-September.
3. Knight-Hennessy and Stanford admission are two separate applications
The Knight-Hennessy Scholars program (Oct 6) requires you to also apply to a Stanford graduate program by its own deadline (often early December). Don’t submit one and forget the other.
4. Estonia is the sleeper deadline of the season
Almost no one knows the Baltic states fund international students. The €660/month PhD rate is competitive, and the Oct 1 deadline gives you a genuine chance if you act this month.
5. November is Singapore month
NTU’s school-specific PhD deadlines (Nov 15 for ADM/SoH/SSS/WKWSCI) and NUS windows (Nov 1–15) cluster in November for August 2027 intake — Singapore’s stipends (S$4,300/month at NTU) are among the world’s highest.
6. Don’t confuse the Commonwealth Shared window
Commonwealth Shared opens in November and closes in January 2027 — a different timeline from the Master’s/PhD programs closing October 20. Mark both.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which deadlines are the most urgent right now (Aug 14)?
Estonia (Oct 1) is the earliest major close; Chevening and Knight-Hennessy follow on Oct 6. Nominator-based Commonwealth applications should start this month because of agency deadlines.
I missed the September 30 Czech Government deadline — what’s next?
The next Czech-government cycle opens around January 2027 for the following year. Meanwhile, Estonia (Oct 1), Chevening (Oct 6) and the Commonwealth programs (Oct 20) are your immediate options.
Can I apply to multiple programs with the same documents?
Yes — your transcript, references and CV are reusable. Only the essays (Chevening), personal statements (Knight-Hennessy) and research proposals (Commonwealth PhD) are program-specific. Reuse where possible to hit more deadlines.
Do I need an admission offer before applying?
Depends on the program: Estonia requires an Estonian HEI confirmation letter; Chevening accepts proof of application to UK universities; Knight-Hennessy requires a concurrent Stanford application; Commonwealth requires nomination (admission comes later).
When do results come out?
Chevening: shortlist interviews ~Feb–Apr 2027, final results ~June 2027. Commonwealth: outcomes by July 2027. Knight-Hennessy: decisions in early spring 2027. Estonia: by December 1, 2026.
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Timeline Table
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Aug 14 (today) | Start Estonia admission applications + contact Commonwealth nominators |
| By Sep 15 | First drafts of Chevening essays; Commonwealth nomination submitted |
| Oct 1 | Estonia + DAAD EPOS SEPT MBA deadlines |
| Oct 6 | Chevening + Knight-Hennessy close |
| Oct 20 | Commonwealth Master’s + PhD close (16:00 BST) |
| Oct 31 | Study in Saudi Arabia closes |
| Nov 15 / Nov 16 | NTU Singapore schools / DAAD Ukraine close |
| Nov 2026 | Commonwealth Shared opens; Vanier Canada deadline |
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Your Action Plan
1. This week: Pick your top 3 programs from the table above
2. By Aug 31: Contact nominators (Commonwealth) and start Estonian university applications
3. By Sep 15: Chevening essays drafted; Knight-Hennessy + Stanford applications underway
4. Oct 1–31: Submit Estonia, Chevening, Knight-Hennessy, Marshall, Commonwealth, Saudi applications in deadline order
5. Nov: Submit NTU/NUS (Singapore) and DAAD Ukraine; prepare Commonwealth Shared for January
6. Bookmark the Scholarship Calendar 2026-2027 and review 10 Scholarship Mistakes to Avoid before you submit
Share this with someone who keeps saying “I’ll apply next year” — the deadlines are here.