ICCR Special Scholarship Scheme for Afghan Nationals 2026–2027 (Online UG & PG)

The ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP) 2027 is a fully funded scholarship for outstanding students who wish to pursue a regular Master's degree at ETH Zurich in Switzerland. The programme provides CHF 13,500 per semester for living and study expenses from the 2027/28 academic year, together with a tuition fee waiver, mentorship, and access to the ETH Foundation network. Approximately 60 ESOP scholarships are expected to be awarded for the 2027/28 academic year. The scholarship is highly competitive and is intended for exceptionally strong Bachelor's graduates, generally those who rank among the top 10% of their Bachelor's degree programme. Applicants must apply for an eligible regular Master's degree programme at ETH Zurich and select ESOP within the ETH eApply application. Applicants with an international Bachelor's degree must apply during the first Master's application window from 1 to 30 November 2026. The complete application, including all required documents and the ESOP Master's thesis pre-proposal, must be submitted by 30 November 2026 at 11:59 AM Central European Time (CET). Admission to ETH Zurich is highly selective. Applicants must meet the academic, disciplinary, language, and other admission requirements of their chosen Master's programme. Meeting the general ESOP criteria does not guarantee admission or the scholarship, as applications are evaluated competitively by the relevant Master's programme admission committees and the final scholarship decision is made by the Rector of ETH Zurich. Applicants should carefully check the specific admission requirements of their chosen Master's programme because language requirements, GRE requirements, academic prerequisites, required documents, and other conditions can differ between Master's programmes.

The Open Doors Russian Scholarship Project 2026 is one of the world's largest international scholarship competitions, offering outstanding students the opportunity to study at leading Russian universities without paying tuition fees. Organized by the Global Universities Association with the support of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, the competition attracts thousands of talented applicants from around the world every year. The scholarship provides fully funded opportunities for Bachelor's, Master's, PhD, and Postdoctoral applicants in hundreds of academic programmes offered by participating Russian universities. Students compete through an online academic competition where their knowledge, academic achievements, research potential, and professional qualifications are evaluated by university experts. Unlike traditional scholarship programmes, Open Doors first selects the strongest applicants through several competitive stages before assigning successful candidates to participating universities. Winners receive tuition-free admission and may also receive additional financial support such as monthly stipends, accommodation assistance, and research opportunities depending on the university and programme. More than twenty of Russia's leading universities participate in the Open Doors Project, including institutions consistently ranked among the country's best universities in engineering, artificial intelligence, medicine, physics, computer science, economics, mathematics, international relations, biotechnology, chemistry, business, education, energy, aerospace engineering, environmental science, public policy, and many other fields. The competition welcomes talented students from almost every region of the world. Applicants from Afghanistan and other international countries are eligible to participate provided they satisfy the academic requirements of their chosen study level and subject profile. One of the biggest advantages of the programme is its flexibility. Students may choose from numerous academic subject profiles and compete entirely online without travelling to Russia during the selection process. Most stages—including portfolio submission, examinations, interviews, and research assessments—are completed electronically through the official Open Doors platform. The scholarship covers 100% tuition fees at participating universities. Depending on the host institution, scholarship winners may also receive monthly financial support, student accommodation, access to research laboratories, university libraries, innovation centres, scientific conferences, international exchange opportunities, and academic supervision by leading professors. Programmes are available in both English and Russian, depending on the selected university and field of study. Many graduate programmes are offered entirely in English, particularly in engineering, information technology, economics, international relations, mathematics, artificial intelligence, and natural sciences. Applicants are evaluated based on academic excellence, previous educational achievements, research experience, publications, awards, professional accomplishments, motivation, portfolio quality, and performance during the online competition. Doctoral and postdoctoral candidates are additionally assessed on research proposals, scientific publications, and research potential. Graduates of participating Russian universities continue successful careers in academia, government institutions, multinational companies, international organisations, technology firms, healthcare systems, research institutes, engineering companies, financial institutions, and universities across the world. For students seeking high-quality education, internationally recognised research opportunities, and tuition-free university study in Russia, the Open Doors Russian Scholarship Project 2026 represents one of the most competitive and valuable scholarship opportunities available to international students.

Graduate Research School Scholarships (UQGRSS), including the Australian Government Research Training Program (RTP), provide competitive funding for high-quality postgraduate research students at The University of Queensland (UQ) in Australia. The scholarship is available to domestic and international students undertaking eligible Higher Degree by Research (HDR) programs, including the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Master of Philosophy (MPhil), and eligible research-focused professional doctorates. The scholarship provides a tax-free living stipend of AUD 39,220 per year at the 2026 rate, indexed annually, together with tuition fee support and Single Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) for eligible international students. The standard scholarship duration is 3.5 years, with the possibility of one extension in accordance with UQ and RTP scholarship policies. Applicants are assessed competitively based on academic performance, research capability, the quality of the proposed research project and the quality of the proposed research environment and supervisory team. Applicants normally begin by submitting an Expression of Interest (EOI) for their preferred UQ research program and identifying a suitable supervisor. A separate scholarship application is not required for this scholarship. For the international scholarship round for commencement in Research Quarter 4, 2027 or early 2028, the application closing date is 19 October 2026.

The OIST Graduate University PhD Program 2027 is a fully funded, five-year doctoral program in Japan for international and domestic students who hold, or expect to complete before enrollment, a bachelor's degree, master's degree, or equivalent qualification. OIST offers an interdisciplinary research environment in which students work across scientific fields under the guidance of internationally recognized faculty. The program begins with laboratory rotations and allows students to develop an individualized curriculum and research direction before progressing to thesis research. OIST does not require a written entrance examination. Shortlisted applicants are invited to participate in an online Admissions Workshop as part of the selection process. Admitted PhD students receive financial support through the OIST Research Assistantship, including tuition support and living support. Financial support starts at approximately JPY 2.6 million per year and may increase with academic progress up to approximately JPY 3.6 million per year. Applicants submit their application online and provide academic transcripts and diploma or enrollment documentation, a statement of purpose, CV, recommendation letters, and an English proficiency score when required. Applicants should review available research units and faculty interests before applying.