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Introduction

Study abroad programs require considerable investments, which scholarships can alleviate. Full scholarship programs can provide funding for some of the expenses, including tuition fees, accommodations, living expenses, travel, and insurance. In turn, partial scholarships provide a certain sum of money in relation to a specific percentage of the total expense of the student's program.

It is crucial to know what differences exist between these two scholarship types, as it is vital to plan your study abroad budget. You should know that a scholarship that provides a great discount on tuition fees still requires money for other expenses such as accommodation, food, travel, insurance, and others.

The scholarship that might not be the best in terms of value is the one that comes with the highest price tag. As a student, you need to evaluate how much of your expenses a particular scholarship can cover, eligibility requirements, competitiveness, and how much more you will spend once you get the scholarship.

What Is a Fully Funded Scholarship?

A fully funded scholarship is a form of scholarship meant to cover the majority or all of the expenses that one will incur while going for studies in another country. This will depend on the nature of the program, as some may cover all expenses, including tuition, living, travel, insurance, and others.

Notably, a fully funded scholarship does not necessarily cover all the personal expenses one incurs while at school.

What Does a Fully Funded Scholarship Usually Cover?

A fully funded scholarship may provide support for several major study-related expenses:

• Tuition fees: Covers some or all university tuition costs.
• Accommodation: May provide university housing or a housing allowance.
• Living expenses: A monthly stipend may help cover food, transportation, and everyday costs.
• Travel allowance: Some scholarships provide funding for flights or travel between the student's home country and study destination.
• Health insurance: Certain programs include medical or health insurance coverage.
• Study allowances: Some awards provide additional funding for books, research materials, or academic expenses.
• Visa-related costs: Selected scholarships may contribute toward visa or relocation expenses.

How Fully Funded Scholarships Work

Requirements may include a certain GPA, fluency in English, and financial or other eligibility requirements. The application process includes academic transcripts, a letter of recommendation, a personal statement, proof of language proficiency, and sometimes interviews or other forms of assessment.

Since scholarships that cover all the expenses of study can get applications from all over the world, competition may be fierce. A good GPA is one of the factors. Still, other qualities, such as leadership skills, extracurricular and community involvement, research experience, career goals, and the quality of an application, may also be taken into consideration. 

Make sure you know what exactly your scholarship will cover, how the money will be paid, if your scholarship is renewable, and what conditions have to be met to retain the scholarship.

[Explore more: Scholarships vs. Fellowships for Studying Abroad in 2026]

What Is a Partial Scholarship?

Partial scholarships offer monetary assistance that only partially pays for the overall expenses of study abroad programs. These scholarships are not similar to full scholarships because partial scholarships do not cover all kinds of expenses. Although partial scholarships are quite helpful, they still do not cover all expenses and require additional sources like personal savings and educational loans.

1. Definition and Purpose of Partial Scholarships

Partial scholarships are supposed to cater to particular education expenses but not cover all the costs of studying abroad. This means that partial scholarships can either help in lowering tuition charges or even offer a definite sum of money towards study expenses. In the case of tuition charge reduction, it is the amount that is being deducted from your university fees, whereas in other cases, it could be something else.

2. Common Types of Partial Scholarships

Universities and scholarship providers can offer partial funding in several forms. Common options include

• Tuition fee reductions: A specific amount is deducted from the total tuition fee.
• Fixed financial awards: Students receive a predetermined amount, such as a grant for one academic year.
• Percentage-based tuition waivers: A fixed percentage of tuition fees, such as 10%, 25%, or 50%, may be waived.
• Merit-based discounts: Students with strong academic performance or achievements may receive reduced tuition fees.
• Accommodation or living-cost support: Some scholarships provide limited assistance toward housing or everyday expenses.

3. Expenses Students Usually Need to Fund Themselves

Receiving a partial scholarship does not eliminate the need for financial planning. Students may still need to pay for:

• Remaining tuition fees
• Accommodation
• Food and daily living expenses
• Local transportation
• Health or travel insurance
• Visa and flight expenses
• Books, supplies, and personal costs

Therefore, students first need to estimate all the costs related to studying abroad before opting for any scholarship programs. This is because a scholarship offering a small percentage reduction might be more helpful at universities where there are low total expenses, even though there may be high tuition waivers available at some other place.

[Learn more: Fully Funded Scholarships to Study in the UK]