Scholarships and Funding | Welcome to CSO

Pursuing a Master's or PhD can be expensive — but there are many funding options available through universities, governments, and independent organizations.

This page gives you a starting point to explore opportunities, understand how funding works, and plan a realistic financial strategy for graduate school.

Types of Funding

University Scholarships & Fellowships

Offered directly by the university you're applying to. Can be need-based, merit-based, or research-based.

Examples:

Graduate Research Assistantships
Teaching Assistantships
Departmental Scholarships
Full/Partial Tuition Waivers

Government & External Scholarships

Funded by foundations, governments, or international organizations. Often require a separate application.

Prestigious examples:

Fulbright (USA)
Chevening (UK)
Erasmus Mundus (EU)
DAAD (Germany)
MEXT (Japan)
Commonwealth Scholarships

Need-Based Aid & Loans

Some universities offer need-based aid to international students. Loans may be available from private providers.

Options include:

University need-based aid
Prodigy Finance
MPOWER loans
Local bank loans with co-signers

When & How to Start

Junior Year

Start researching scholarships; list deadlines; identify recommenders

Summer

Draft personal statements and scholarship essays

Fall (Final Year)

Apply for major external scholarships (e.g., Rhodes, Fulbright, Chevening)

Winter–Spring

Submit university applications and funding forms

Important: Deadlines vary! External scholarships may be due before your university applications.

Helpful Resources

How to Write a Strong Scholarship Essay

Scholarship Timeline and Checklist

External Funding Tracker (Spreadsheet)

Letters of Recommendation for Scholarships

Sample Budget for International Grad School

Tips for Securing Funding

Start early — many top scholarships are due 6–12 months before grad school begins
Tailor your essays for each scholarship's mission
Reach out to past recipients or mentors for feedback
Don't ignore smaller or partial awards — they can stack up!
Track deadlines carefully with a spreadsheet or calendar