Scholarships Closing November–December 2026: HKPFS, Yenching, Swiss Excellence & More
Quick Overview
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Biggest December 1 deadline | HKPFS (Hong Kong PhD Fellowship) — HK$344,400/yr + travel, 400 awards |
| Opening in the window | TaiwanICDF opens Dec 1 (closes Mar 15, 2027); Commonwealth Shared opens Nov |
| European flagship | Swiss Government Excellence 2027-28 — country deadlines November 2026 |
| Deadline cluster | Dec 1: HKPFS, Yenching, Iceland, TaiwanICDF opening, NUS Economics |
| Full list | 10+ programs closing or opening in the Nov–Dec 2026 window (below) |
September and October are the busiest scholarship months of the year — but the November–December 2026 window is where the biggest prizes land. The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship (HKPFS) closes December 1. Yenching Academy closes December 1. Swiss Government Excellence deadlines fall in November. Iceland closes December 1. And TaiwanICDF opens December 1 for its four-month window.
This roundup compiles every major program with a November–December 2026 deadline or opening — so you can act before the year ends.
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📅 The November–December 2026 Deadline Table
| Scholarship | Level | Value | Deadline | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swiss Government Excellence | Master’s, PhD | Monthly stipend (PhD ~CHF 2,450/mo) | Nov 2026 — per country (e.g., Argentina Nov 10, Paraguay Nov 27; ETH Zurich window to Nov 30) | — |
| Vanier Canada | PhD | CAD $50,000/yr × 3 | Nov 2026 (university nomination) | Read → |
| Commonwealth Shared (UK) | Master’s (1 yr) | Fully funded + £1,452/mo | Opens Nov – closes Jan 15, 2027 | Read → |
| NUS Economics (Singapore) | Master’s, PhD | Tuition + stipend | Dec 1, 2026 | Read → |
| HKPFS (Hong Kong) | PhD | HK$344,400/yr + HK$14,400 travel | Dec 1, 2026, 12:00 noon HKT | Read → |
| Yenching Academy (Peking) | Master’s | Fully funded (China Studies) | Dec 1, 2026 | Read → |
| Iceland Government | BA (Icelandic) | Registration + monthly stipend | Dec 1, 2026 | Read → |
| TaiwanICDF | UG, Master’s, PhD | Fully funded | Opens Dec 1, 2026 – Mar 15, 2027 | Read → |
| ADB-Japan Scholarship (JSP) | Master’s | Full tuition + allowance (27 institutions) | Dec 2026 – Mar 2027 per institution | Read → |
| Mastercard @ Cambridge | Master’s | Fully funded | Dec 2026 – Jan 2027 | Read → |
| Weidenfeld-Hoffmann (Oxford) | Master’s, PhD | 100% fees + £20,780/yr | Dec 2026 – Jan 2027 (MBA Jan 8) | Read → |
| LPDP (Indonesia) | Master’s, PhD | Fully funded | Batch 1 2027 ~Jan (verify) | Read → |
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🔴 The Three to Act on This Week
1. HKPFS — Hong Kong PhD Fellowship (deadline December 1)
400 fellowships, HK$344,400 (~US$44,150) per year plus HK$14,400 annual conference/travel allowance, up to 3 years, at eight Hong Kong universities (HKU, CUHK, HKUST, PolyU, CityU, HKBU, Lingnan, EdUHK). No nationality or age restrictions. Initial application via HKPFSES opens September 1 and closes December 1, 12:00 noon HKT; university deadlines follow the same day. Full details in our dedicated HKPFS 2027-28 guide.
2. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027-28 (deadlines November)
Applications opened August 20, 2026 and close in November 2026 — but the exact date depends on your country of origin (e.g., Argentina November 10, Paraguay November 27; ETH Zurich’s application window runs to November 30). Covers research fellowships, doctoral scholarships and postdoc funding (PhD-level monthly stipend ~CHF 2,450). You need a letter of support from an academic supervisor in Switzerland — that’s the long pole, so start contacting professors immediately. Country-specific deadlines were published in August 2026 on sbfi.admin.ch.
3. Yenching Academy (deadline December 1)
The fully funded one-year Master’s in China Studies at Peking University closes December 1, 2026. Full tuition, accommodation, travel and living stipend for outstanding graduates from any discipline. See the Yenching guide.
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🟢 Also Opening in This Window
- TaiwanICDF (opens Dec 1, 2026 – Mar 15, 2027): fully funded UG/Master’s/PhD in Taiwan — apply in December, don’t wait for the March close. Guide
- Commonwealth Shared (opens November): one-year UK Master’s, fully funded at £1,452/month — closes January 15, 2027. Guide
- ADB-Japan Scholarship (JSP): institution-specific deadlines run December 2026 – March 2027 for September/October 2027 intakes — apply to your target university ~6 months before intake. Guide
- Mastercard @ Cambridge: applications open around December 2026 – January 2027. Guide
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Insider Tips
1. December 1 is a triple-deadline day — plan the week before
HKPFS, Yenching, Iceland and NUS Economics all land on December 1. Never submit any of them on the day itself — portals routinely slow down, and HKPFS closes at noon HKT, not midnight.
2. Swiss Excellence is won in the supervisor search, not the form
The Swiss Government Excellence application requires a supervisor support letter in Switzerland. August–October is the window to email professors; by November it’s too late. Country-specific deadlines and scholarship types are on sbfi.admin.ch (published August 2026).
3. Stack the December 1 PhD options
If you’re a PhD applicant, HKPFS (Dec 1) + Swiss Excellence (Nov) + NTU Singapore (Oct 1 – Jan 31) + Vanier (Nov) can all be submitted in the same season — the application materials (proposal, transcripts, references) are ~80% reusable. Our Fully Funded PhD roundup compares them side by side.
4. November is “opening season” for spring-2027 windows
TaiwanICDF and Commonwealth Shared both open in November/December for applications that close in early 2027. Applying in the first week they open lets you fix mistakes and avoids the March/April rush.
5. Keep the year-end calendar in one place
Bookmark the Scholarship Calendar 2026-2027 — it tracks every deadline through the cycle so nothing sneaks past while you’re on holiday season.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the biggest scholarship closing in December 2026?
A: HKPFS — 400 fully funded Hong Kong PhD fellowships (HK$344,400/yr + HK$14,400 travel), deadline December 1, 2026 at 12:00 noon HKT. No nationality or age restrictions.
Q: When does Swiss Government Excellence close?
A: In November 2026 — but the exact date is country-specific (e.g., Argentina Nov 10, Paraguay Nov 27; ETH Zurich to Nov 30). Check the country list on sbfi.admin.ch.
Q: Is Yenching Academy still open?
A: Yes — the 2027 intake closes December 1, 2026. It funds a one-year Master’s in China Studies at Peking University.
Q: What opens in November–December rather than closes?
A: TaiwanICDF (opens Dec 1, closes Mar 15, 2027), Commonwealth Shared (opens Nov, closes Jan 15, 2027), and the ADB-Japan Scholarship institution windows (Dec 2026 – Mar 2027).
Q: Can I apply to HKPFS and Yenching at the same time?
A: Yes — they’re independent programs (one PhD, one Master’s). Both close December 1, so prepare both files in October.
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Timeline Table
| Month | Program | Action |
|---|---|---|
| September | HKPFS opens (Sep 1); Commonwealth Master’s opens (Sep 8) | Start files |
| October | Chevening closes (Oct 6); Commonwealth closes (Oct 20) | Submit |
| November | Swiss Excellence closes (per country); Vanier nominations; Commonwealth Shared opens | Submit / apply |
| December 1 | HKPFS (noon HKT), Yenching, Iceland, NUS Econ, TaiwanICDF opens | SUBMIT |
| Dec 2026 – Jan 2027 | ADB-JSP, Mastercard Cambridge, Weidenfeld-Hoffmann | Apply |
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Your Action Plan
1. This week: Decide your PhD vs Master’s targets; start supervisor contact for Swiss Excellence and HKPFS now.
2. By mid-October: Complete HKPFS initial-application prep (reference number requirements, 2 programme choices).
3. By November 15: Submit Swiss Excellence (before your country’s deadline); lock your Yenching file.
4. November 25–30: Submit HKPFS + Yenching + Iceland — early, never on December 1.
5. December 1+: Open your TaiwanICDF and Commonwealth Shared applications while they’re fresh.
November and December hold the biggest deadlines of the year — HKPFS alone funds 400 PhDs. Plan your December 1 week now. Share this with someone who needs a fully funded scholarship this winter.