A master’s degree in the United States rarely comes with the same level of funding that PhD students typically receive, which makes the handful of strong scholarship options worth knowing well in advance. Some pay for tuition alone, others add a living stipend on top.
The ten options below span government programs, professional organizations, and university-level funding that international applicants can realistically target for 2027 admission.
1. Fulbright Foreign Student Program
The [Fulbright Foreign Student Program](/foreign-fulbright-student-program/) funds one or two years of master’s study at a US university, covering tuition, a monthly stipend, airfare, and health insurance, and remains the single most widely available graduate scholarship for international applicants.
2. AAUW International Fellowships
The [AAUW International Fellowship](/aauw-international-fellowship/) is open to women completing a full-time master’s degree in the US, with award amounts intended to cover a significant share of tuition and living costs during the fellowship year.
3. Rotary Global Grant Scholarship
Rotary clubs around the world sponsor individual candidates for master’s study tied to one of the organization’s six areas of focus, such as peacebuilding, disease prevention, or water and sanitation, with funding covering tuition and living costs for the length of the program.
4. Rotary Peace Fellowship
A more specialized Rotary program, the Peace Fellowship funds a one-year master’s or professional certificate in peace and conflict resolution at a short list of partner universities, including several in the United States, paying tuition, housing, and travel.
5. Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program
Funded by the government of Japan through the World Bank, this program supports master’s study in development-related fields at partner universities worldwide, including a number of American institutions, covering tuition, a living stipend, and travel.
6. P.E.O. International Peace Scholarship
This scholarship, run by a US-based women’s philanthropic organization, supports women from outside the US and Canada pursuing graduate study at an American or Canadian university, with awards intended to help cover tuition and related costs.
7. Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme
Combining a scholarship with a low-interest loan, this program supports outstanding students from specific developing countries pursuing master’s degrees abroad, including at universities in the United States, based on both financial need and academic merit.
8. Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program
This US State Department program brings accomplished mid-career professionals to American universities for a year of non-degree graduate-level study, covering tuition-equivalent costs, a stipend, and health insurance alongside professional development activities.
9. University Graduate Teaching and Research Assistantships
Many US universities fund international master’s students indirectly through teaching or research assistantships tied to a specific department, which typically cover tuition and provide a modest stipend in exchange for part-time work supporting a professor or course.
10. Knight-Hennessy Scholars at Stanford University
Open to students admitted into any graduate degree at Stanford, including master’s programs, [Knight-Hennessy Scholars](/knight-hennessy-scholars/) covers tuition and a living stipend while also running a parallel leadership development curriculum.
Because assistantships are awarded by individual departments rather than a central scholarship office, contacting the target program directly, well before the application deadline, often matters more than any single scholarship search.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are teaching assistantships only available to PhD students?
No, many departments also offer teaching or research assistantships to master’s students, particularly in STEM fields, though availability varies widely between universities.
Does Fulbright fund every academic field?
Yes, Fulbright supports nearly all fields of study, though certain highly specialized or clinical programs may face additional restrictions depending on the home country’s agreement.
Is the P.E.O. scholarship open to men?
No, it is specifically reserved for women pursuing graduate study at a university in the United States or Canada.
How long does a typical Rotary Global Grant Scholarship last?
Most Rotary Global Grant Scholarships fund a one to two year master’s degree, matching the typical length of the program itself.
Can applicants combine a Fulbright award with university funding?
In most cases no, since Fulbright expects to be the primary source of funding during the fellowship period, though some universities offer supplementary tuition waivers.
Do these scholarships require a university admission letter first?
For several programs, including Knight-Hennessy and most assistantships, admission to the degree program happens either simultaneously with or before the funding decision.
What qualifies as a development-related field for the Joint Japan/World Bank program?
Fields such as economics, public policy, agriculture, health, and environmental management are commonly accepted, reflecting the program’s development focus.