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Operational Guide • Job Market • Intermediate Level

Full Scholarships for Bangladeshi Students: International Government Programs and Deadlines

A comprehensive guide to fully funded international government scholarships for Bangladeshi undergraduate and graduate applicants, covering Fulbright, Chevening, DAAD, MEXT, and GKS.

BD Market Insights Editorial Team
Published: • 8 min read
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Overview of International Government Scholarships for Bangladesh

Securing international funding is the primary route for Bangladeshi graduates to access world-class higher education without prohibitive tuition debt. Every fiscal year, foreign sovereign governments and multilateral agencies award hundreds of fully funded master’s, doctoral, and postdoctoral scholarships directly to citizens of Bangladesh.

Unlike private institutional aid, sovereign government scholarships generally cover 100% of academic tuition fees, roundtrip international airfare from Dhaka, health insurance, thesis allowances, and a monthly tax-free living stipend pegged to local living expenses.

Top Fully Funded Government Scholarships Available to Bangladeshi Citizens

1. United Kingdom: Chevening & Commonwealth Scholarships

  • Administering Body: UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) and Commonwealth Scholarship Commission.
  • Degree Level: One-year taught Master’s degree at any recognized UK university.
  • Coverage: Full university tuition, monthly living allowance (~£1,300 to £1,600/month), return economy flights from Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport (DAC), arrival grant, and visa application fee.
  • Key Eligibility Criteria: Minimum two years (equivalent to 2,800 hours) of verifiable work experience; an undergraduate degree equivalent to an upper second-class (2:1) honours; commitment to return to Bangladesh for a minimum of two years post-graduation.
  • Application Window: Annually from early August to early November.

2. United States: Fulbright Foreign Student Program

  • Administering Body: US Department of State, coordinated via EducationUSA at the American Center, US Embassy Dhaka.
  • Degree Level: Master’s degree (typically two academic years) across STEM, humanities, public administration, and public health.
  • Coverage: Full tuition, living stipend, J-1 exchange visitor visa sponsorship, book allowance, health benefit plan, and international airfare.
  • Key Eligibility Criteria: Four-year Bachelor’s degree from an accredited Bangladeshi public or private university with superior academic standing; minimum two years of professional work experience; strong English proficiency demonstrated via TOEFL or IELTS.
  • Application Window: Annually from February to mid-May.

3. Germany: DAAD (EPOS & Development-Related Master’s)

  • Administering Body: German Academic Exchange Service (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst).
  • Degree Level: Master’s and PhD programs taught in English or German at state-recognized German universities.
  • Coverage: Monthly stipend (€934 for graduates, €1,300 for doctoral candidates), health, accident, and personal liability insurance, travel allowance, and study subsidies.
  • Key Eligibility Criteria: Minimum of two years of relevant professional experience post-Bachelor graduation; graduation completed within the last six years.
  • Application Window: Varies by university course, typically August to November preceding the academic winter semester.

4. Japan: MEXT (Monbukagakusho) Japanese Government Scholarship

  • Administering Body: Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, via the Embassy of Japan in Dhaka.
  • Degree Level: Undergraduate, Research Student (Master’s and PhD), and Specialized Training College.
  • Coverage: 100% tuition and examination fee exemption, monthly allowance (143,000 to 145,000 JPY), and round-trip economy flights Dhaka–Tokyo.
  • Application Tracks: Embassy Recommendation (annual preliminary exams conducted in Dhaka in May–June) and University Recommendation (applied directly through Japanese host universities).

5. South Korea: Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)

  • Administering Body: National Institute for International Education (NIIED) under the South Korean Ministry of Education.
  • Degree Level: Bachelor’s (4 years + 1 year Korean language) and Graduate (Master’s 2 years + 1 year language; PhD 3 years + 1 year language).
  • Coverage: Full tuition, monthly stipend (1,000,000 to 1,500,000 KRW), settlement allowance, medical insurance, and airfare.
  • Selection Process: Embassy Track via the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Dhaka or University Track directly to participating Korean universities.

6. European Union: Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM)

  • Administering Body: European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA).
  • Degree Level: Two-year joint Master’s degree studied across at least two different European countries.
  • Coverage: Participation costs, full tuition, insurance, travel grant, and a monthly subsistence allowance of €1,400 per month for the duration of the program.
  • Key Advantage: Bangladesh is consistently among the top five countries globally for total Erasmus Mundus scholarship recipients.

Comparative Matrix of Sovereign Scholarships for Bangladesh

Scholarship ProgramHost CountryDegree LevelWork Experience Req.Monthly Stipend (Approx.)
CheveningUnited KingdomMaster’s (1 Year)2 Years Required£1,300 – £1,650
FulbrightUnited StatesMaster’s (2 Years)2 Years Required$1,600 – $2,400
DAAD EPOSGermanyMaster’s / PhD2 Years Required€934 – €1,300
MEXTJapanUndergrad / Master’s / PhDNot Required143,000 – 145,000 JPY
GKSSouth KoreaUndergrad / Master’s / PhDNot Required1,000,000 – 1,500,000 KRW
Australia AwardsAustraliaMaster’s2 Years Required3,000 AUD / month
Erasmus MundusEurope (Multi)Master’s (2 Years)Program Dependent€1,400 / month

Strategic Preparation Steps for Bangladeshi Applicants

1. Standardized English Testing

Most sovereign awards require proof of English proficiency unless completing secondary and tertiary education entirely in a native English-speaking jurisdiction. Bangladeshi applicants must target:

  • IELTS Academic: Overall band score of 6.5 to 7.5 (with no individual band below 6.0).
  • TOEFL iBT: Minimum score of 90 to 100.

2. Statement of Purpose (SOP) & Development Impact

Government scholarship review panels prioritize the development impact the applicant will generate in Bangladesh upon return. Proposals aligning with Bangladesh’s national development priorities (energy transition, climate resilience in the delta, RMG productivity modernization, public financial governance, and IT infrastructure) score highest in evaluation rubrics.

3. Academic Transcript Attestation

All secondary and tertiary certificates must undergo verification:

  1. Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Boards (Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, etc.).
  2. Respective public or private university registrar office.
  3. Ministry of Education (MOE) at Bangladesh Secretariat.
  4. Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) consular attestation wing in Segunbagicha, Dhaka.

Sources, Data & References

In accordance with BD Market Insights Editorial Standards, all factual claims, market sizes, and corporate data cited in this publication are cross-referenced with official filings, regulatory bodies, and industry documentation.

  1. US Embassy in Bangladesh EducationUSA Programs — bd.usembassy.gov (Accessed: October 14, 2026)
  2. British Council Bangladesh Chevening & Commonwealth Scholarships — britishcouncil.org.bd (Accessed: October 14, 2026)
  3. DAAD German Academic Exchange Service Regional Office — daad.de (Accessed: October 14, 2026)