FROM THE ABROAD PROCESS LIBRARY
Top Scholarships to Apply for in October 2026
Published 22 October 2026 · Source checked 2026-10-22
Programme guide: check the official provider for its current intake, funding and requirements.
Last checked: 22 October 2026. These scholarships have deadlines in the last days of October or on 1 November 2026. Deadlines can change, and eligibility depends on your country and course, so confirm each one on the official page before you apply.
Closing this week
Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (Germany)
- Deadline: 31 October 2026, 11:59 pm. The foundation says it cannot extend the deadline.
- For: Students from non-EU countries who are already in a full-time master’s programme at a German university. Bachelor’s programmes, study abroad stays and internships are not funded.
- Funding: Paid for by the German Federal Foreign Office and not repaid. It is granted for one year and can be extended for a second year.
- Key conditions: You should not have been in Germany for more than 15 months before the scholarship starts, with exceptions for study and research. Two letters of reference are required.
- Check: The foundation’s pages differ on who can apply, so confirm your eligibility with the scholarship office before you start.
University of Melbourne: Graduate Research Scholarships, Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences
- Deadline: The faculty’s 2027 Round 1 closes 31 October 2026, with outcomes by 18 December 2026. Later rounds close 31 January 2027 and 15 May 2027.
- For: Research students applying for a research degree in this faculty. You are considered for scholarships automatically when you apply for admission.
- Check: Other Melbourne faculties have different dates, so check the “How to apply” tab of your course. Re-applications are only considered in Round 1.
Closing on 1 November
Wellington Doctoral Scholarship (Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand)
- Deadline: 1 November 2026 at 4:30 pm (New Zealand time). Late or incomplete applications are not accepted. The date falls on a Sunday, so submit early.
- For: New Zealand and international students who plan to start a first PhD in any subject, with a bachelor’s or master’s at First Class Honours level or equivalent.
- Funding: A stipend of NZ$32,000 a year plus domestic tuition fees for up to three years. International students should check what fee support applies to them.
- Next step: Outcomes are emailed six to eight weeks after the closing date. Include your supporting documents and references by the deadline.
Already closed: plan for next year
Chevening closed its 2027/28 applications in early October. Deadlines vary by country (for example 6 October 2026 for Russia), and India’s page says applications are closed. Check the Chevening site for your country’s date, and plan early for the next cycle. You need at least two years of work experience.
How to apply well
- Read the eligibility rules first, then list every document and reference you need.
- Ask referees at least two weeks before the deadline.
- Write your statement around your own goals and results, and keep it specific.
- Submit a day early, in case the system is slow.