Study abroad trends are evolving, with the focus shifting from the conventional destinations like the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand. International students are keen to explore new destinations and Asia is emerging as a popular education hub. Asian countries like China, Japan, and South Korea are home to some of the best universities in the world.
Apart from academic excellence, the countries offer cultural diversity, rich cuisine, affordable living costs, and more. China is the global superpower, while Japan serves a mix of tradition and innovation. South Korea has thriving student life and low-cost quality education. Even better, these countries offer the opportunities to study for free with scholarship programmes. Here are the top seven worth exploring.
THE GREAT WALL PROGRAMME
The government of China brings the Great Wall Programme, which is a full scholarship for the academic year 2020-2021. The programme has 75 fellowships for students from developing member states in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa, Latin America, and the Arab region. Scholarships are available for students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The one-year programme is ideal for advanced studies and individual research. You can expect regular guidance from a supervisor in China as a part of the programme.
SCHWARZMAN SCHOLARSHIP
The scholarship will run at the Tsinghua University in Beijing, with classes starting in August next year. Its application period opened in April until September, and the selection started in November. This scholarship picks potential leaders looking to understand China and other countries on a deeper level.
UNIVERSITY OF TOKYO FELLOWSHIP
The fellowship was launched in 2004, with the objective to provide research funding to deserving postgraduate international students. It assists them with funds for pursuing university education in Japan. Further, it promotes the acceptance of high-achieving international students in Japanese universities. A monthly grant of 150,000-200,000 yen is provided during the standard period of the study programme. The duration of funding is one year for research students.
JAPANESE GOVERNMENT (MEXT) SCHOLARSHIP
If you plan to study in Japan as an international student, consider the MEXT Scholarship by the Japanese government. It covers six categories- undergraduate students, research students, Japanese studies students, teacher training students, specialised training college students, and college of technology students. To qualify for the programme, you will need the recommendations of a Japanese embassy or the university that accepts you as a student. Teacher trainees and research students get a monthly stipend of 143,000 yen to 145,000 yen under the initiative. Recipients in other categories get 117,000 yen as a monthly allowance. The scholarship also covers tuition and round-trip airfare.
KOREAN GOVERNMENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME(KGSP)
If you aim to pursue international education in South Korea, the KGSP is an ideal option for you. It is available to international students for undergraduate and graduate studies at higher education institutions in Korea. The programme aspires to enhance education exchange and consolidate the relationships between Korea and other countries. You can apply for the KGSP by March next year.
SILK-ROAD SCHOLARSHIP
The Silk-Road Scholarship is an initiative for Indian students. It enables them to access free education at Seoul National University. The programme is available for students pursuing graduate-level social science or humanities courses. The scholarship is awarded to five students every year by the Cultural Foundation and Seoul National University.
GLOBAL KOREA SCHOLARSHIP (GKS) FOR EXCHANGE STUDENTS
The GKS programme covers exchange students coming to study in Korea from developing countries. Application for the scholarship opened in March this year and is still ongoing. It focuses on Korean culture and covers international students who want to experience the education system of the country.
International students who want to study for free or at a low cost in Asia can get a good start with these scholarship opportunities. Explore them and get a step closer to your international education dreams.
If you are considering studying abroad why don’t you discuss your prospects and opportunities with experts at Lurnable’s dedicated study abroad counselling division LurnPathways?
