Many students miss scholarships simply because they find out too late. Most major international scholarships open and close at roughly the same time every year. If you know the calendar, you can plan ahead.
This guide shows the typical yearly calendar of major scholarships available to study abroad, so you can see which ones are open now and which are coming next.
Dates below are typical patterns, not guarantees. Always check the current year’s official dates.
The Scholarship Calendar
| Months | What usually opens or closes |
|---|---|
| February–March | Global Korea Scholarship (graduate) opens; some Chinese and Turkish programmes open |
| April–June | MEXT embassy applications in many countries; some university summer deadlines |
| June–August | Rhodes and Fulbright cycles in many countries; Chevening usually opens in August |
| September | Global Korea Scholarship (undergraduate) embassy track |
| October–November | Chevening usually closes; Pearson (U of T) and UBC deadlines; Eiffel internal deadlines |
| December–January | US university aid deadlines; Erasmus Mundus programmes; UK university funding deadlines |
| January–February | Swedish university admissions and SI scholarship; Russian quota deadline |
Official Sources to Check
How to Use the Calendar
- Work backwards from the deadline: most applications need 2–3 months of preparation.
- Book tests early: IELTS/TOEFL results can take weeks.
- Ask referees at least a month before each deadline.
- Group similar applications, such as all UK scholarships in one season.
A Sample Plan for a Master’s Applicant in Bangladesh
- June: take IELTS; shortlist programmes.
- August–November: apply for Chevening; prepare Erasmus Mundus applications.
- December–January: submit Erasmus Mundus, UK and Swedish applications.
- February–March: apply for GKS graduate and DAAD where relevant.
Read More
See our step-by-step scholarship timeline, where to apply for scholarships and full scholarships by country.
Final Thoughts
Scholarships follow a yearly rhythm. Learn the calendar, prepare months ahead and apply to several programmes across the year to give yourself the best chance.
