Scholarships abroad for Tunisians: the 2027 overview
Turkey, China, Hungary, Japan, Korea, the UK, the US, Germany, the Gulf, Italy: all the major scholarships open to Tunisians, sorted and compared.
By Worldwide Studies team, Worldwide Studies teamPublished 4 min read
Studying abroad is expensive, but many scholarships allow Tunisian students to go with partial or full funding. Government scholarships, university scholarships, regional income-based grants: here is the overview of scholarships abroad for Tunisians, with the main programmes, their level of coverage and the typical timeline.
Amounts, conditions and dates change every year. This overview gives the general framework; our advisors check the current calls for you.
The three main families of scholarships
Full government scholarships: funded by a foreign state, they generally cover tuition fees, a monthly stipend, accommodation or a housing allowance, and sometimes the flight ticket. Highly competitive.
University scholarships: tuition fee reductions or merit scholarships granted directly by institutions, often based on grades.
Regional or social grants: awarded according to family income, such as the DSU grants in Italy.
Full government scholarships
| Scholarship | Country | Levels | Usual application period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Türkiye Bursları | Turkey | Bachelor's, master's, doctorate | Beginning of the year |
| CSC | China | Bachelor's, master's, doctorate | Beginning of the year to spring |
| Stipendium Hungaricum | Hungary | Bachelor's, master's, doctorate | Autumn to winter |
| MEXT | Japan | Bachelor's, research | Spring (embassy route) |
| GKS | South Korea | Bachelor's, master's, doctorate | Autumn (bachelor's), beginning of the year (master's) |
| Chevening | United Kingdom | Master's (1 year) | Summer to autumn |
| Fulbright | United States | Master's, doctorate, teaching | According to the annual call |
| DAAD | Germany | Master's, doctorate, research | Depending on the programme |
| Saudi scholarships | Saudi Arabia | Bachelor's, master's, doctorate | Winter to spring |
Our detailed guides:
University scholarships
Many universities offer fee reductions or merit scholarships to international students:
Northern Cyprus: fee reductions based on bac grades, often substantial. See Studying in Northern Cyprus.
Turkey (private universities): reductions of 25% to 100% depending on grades.
United States: merit scholarships and, at some universities, need-based aid.
Finland, Sweden, Netherlands: fee reductions or scholarships for non-EU students.
Gulf: full scholarships at certain Saudi and Qatari universities.
Income-based grants
Italy: the regional DSU grant can cover accommodation, meals and fees, depending on family income. See Studying in Italy: DSU grants.
France: some universities grant exemptions from the differentiated fees.
What about countries without tuition fees?
Even without a scholarship, some countries are very affordable:
Germany: no fees at most public universities. See Study in Germany.
Czech Republic: free in Czech. See our guide.
Austria: moderate fees.
Our method for winning a scholarship
Start 12 to 18 months before the target intake: government scholarships close early.
Target 3 to 5 scholarships consistent with your level, grades and plans.
Take care over the motivation letter and the study plan: they are often what makes the difference.
Prepare for the tests (English, sometimes SAT or GRE) in advance.
Highlight your activities: associations, volunteering, projects, awards.
Prepare for interviews with concrete examples.
Keep a plan B with no scholarship or a partial one.
Beware of scams
Genuine government scholarships are free to apply for. Beware of intermediaries who "guarantee" a scholarship in exchange for payment, or who ask you to pay to access an official platform.
Which scholarship for your profile?
Bac holder or in the final year of secondary school: Türkiye Bursları, CSC (China), Stipendium Hungaricum, MEXT (Japan), GKS (Korea), university scholarships in Northern Cyprus or Turkey, Saudi scholarships.
Bachelor's student: DAAD summer courses, university exchanges, mobility grants from your Tunisian university.
Bachelor's graduate: Chevening (with work experience), Fulbright, DAAD, Türkiye Bursları, CSC, Stipendium Hungaricum, KAUST, European university scholarships.
Master's graduate: doctoral scholarships (DAAD, CSC, MEXT, GKS, Fulbright, KAUST), doctoral contracts at European universities.
Mid-career professional: short training programmes, Hubert Humphrey (United States), DAAD thematic programmes.
The annual scholarship calendar
| Period | Scholarships to watch |
|---|---|
| Summer – autumn | Chevening, Stipendium Hungaricum (opening), GKS bachelor's |
| Autumn – winter | Stipendium Hungaricum (closing), CSC (opening), DAAD depending on programmes |
| Winter | Türkiye Bursları, GKS master's, Saudi scholarships |
| Spring | MEXT (embassy route), CSC (university deadlines), Fulbright according to the call |
| Summer | DSU grants in Italy, university scholarships for the intake |
Exact dates change every year: use this table as a guide and check each call.
Documents common to almost all scholarships
Prepare once and for all a "document box" that you will reuse:
diplomas and transcripts translated into English (and French);
valid passport;
up-to-date CV in English;
recent language certificate;
two or three recommendation letters;
medical certificate;
digital ID photos.
You will save precious time when applying.
Full or partial scholarship: what to aim for?
A full scholarship changes everything for the family budget, but it is highly competitive. A partial scholarship (fee reduction, university scholarship) is more accessible and may be enough if you choose a country with a moderate cost of living. The best strategy is often to apply for one or two full scholarships and, in parallel, to universities that grant reductions based on grades.
Our support
Worldwide Studies helps you identify the scholarships suited to your profile, prepare the applications, letters and interviews, and build a solid plan B. Also read Studying abroad after the Tunisian bac: where to start?.
👉 Calls open on different dates: talk to an advisor for a personalised scholarship calendar.