Let us start with a number that should make you sit up straight. In 2026, there are over 1.6 million open AI positions globally and only 518,000 qualified candidates available to fill them. That is a demand-to-supply ratio of 3.2 to 1. Three companies competing for every one qualified person. For the first time ever, AI skills have surpassed all others to become the single hardest skill for employers to find globally, according to ManpowerGroup’s 2026 Talent Shortage Survey of 39,000 employers across 41 countries. Glassdoor estimates the average US data scientist salary at about $155,000 in 2026. Workers with AI skills can command a substantial wage premium over their peers, according to PwC’s 2025 Global AI Jobs Barometer. The world needs you in this field. The good news is that right now, in 2026, there are scholarships that will pay for you to get there. Here are 16 of the best ones.
Average annual salary for AI & data roles (USD, 2026)
Sources: Glassdoor 2026, Robert Half 2026 Salary Guide. Figures are US market averages.
1. Spärck AI Scholarship – United Kingdom
Deadline: The 2027 cycle opens autumn 2026.
Host: UK Government, nine leading UK universities.
The Spärck AI Scholarship is a new, prestigious UK government programme designed to attract top home and global talent to study artificial intelligence at master’s level. It is named after Karen Spärck Jones, a pioneering British computer scientist who changed how machines understand language.
The initiative aims to offer at least 100 fully funded places across leading UK universities. Each scholar receives a tax-free maintenance stipend of £20,780 per year, with UCL offering £22,780 given the higher cost of living in London. But what makes this scholarship truly special is that scholars get internship opportunities at top AI companies including Darktrace, Quantexa, Faculty, PolyAI, and CausaLens, plus mentorship from academic, industry, and government figures, and access to national networking events.
You need a first-class honours degree in Computer Science or a related field. Both domestic and international students are eligible.
Apply at: mancheter.ac.uk
2. SECAI AI Scholarship (Germany)
Deadline: June 30, 2026. Open right now.
Host: TU Dresden and Leipzig University, funded by DAAD.
The School of Embedded Composite and Artificial Intelligence (SECAI) at Leipzig and Dresden Technical Universities is currently accepting applications for its 2026 AI Scholarship programme. It is a fully funded opportunity for home and international students pursuing a master’s degree at either university, including a full tuition waiver, a monthly family allowance, and a living stipend of €11,208 per year.
SECAI treats AI as an interdisciplinary field that needs talent from computer science, engineering, mathematics, social science, law, natural sciences, and even medicine. Women in STEM are particularly encouraged to apply.
The scholarship covers the remaining duration of your studies. The monthly allowance is €934, and foreign students may also receive an additional family allowance on top of that. You need to be enrolled or planning to enrol in a master’s programme at TU Dresden or Leipzig University. You can apply for admission and the scholarship at the same time.
Apply at: secai.org
3. Erasmus Mundus in Data Engineering and AI (DEAI) (Europe)
Deadline: The 2027 cycle opening in October 2026.
Host: Five leading European universities across Belgium, Spain, Austria, Italy, and France.
The Erasmus Mundus DEAI programme is a two-year international excellence programme designed to develop the next generation of experts in data-driven innovation and AI. It is delivered jointly by five leading European universities and combines rigorous academic training with hands-on industry collaboration. Students gain a foundation in data management, analytics, and AI in the first year, then specialise in Knowledge-Driven Data Management, Business and Financial Data Science, or Intelligence for Heterogeneous Systems in the second.
The scholarship covers full tuition, travel, insurance, and a monthly living stipend of €1,400. Over two years that is €33,600 in living support alone, on top of free tuition. You need a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science or a related field and English proficiency. It is open to all nationalities.
Apply at: scholarships.af/opportunity/erasmus-mundus-scholarship-data-engineering-ai
4. Erasmus Mundus in AI (EMAI) (Europe)
Deadline: Watch for 2027 cycle opening October 2026.
Host: Four European research universities across Slovenia, Italy, Netherlands, and Spain.
This is a different Erasmus Mundus programme and it deserves its own mention. In the first year, EMAI students study in three different countries. In the second year they choose where to do their master’s thesis. Students can specialise in data science in Slovenia, robotics in Italy, cybersecurity in the Netherlands, or intelligent decision-making in Spain.
The Erasmus Mundus scholarship for EMAI is a non-taxable monthly stipend of €1,400 for the full 24-month duration of the programme, covering tuition fees, full insurance, and all compulsory academic expenses.
Apply at: upf.edu/web/emai
5. AIMS Google DeepMind AI for Science Scholarship (South Africa)
Deadline: Watch for the 2027 cycle opening December 2026.
Host: African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, funded by Google DeepMind.
If you are African and interested in AI research, this is the scholarship you should be building your entire application strategy around. Google DeepMind funds 40 African scholars every year to study AI and machine learning at AIMS South Africa. The programme is fully residential and runs for one year. You will use AI to solve real scientific problems in cosmology, epidemiology, and ecology.
Everything is covered. Tuition, accommodation, meals, medical insurance, computing costs, and research equipment. Zero out-of-pocket expenses. To apply you need to be an African citizen currently living in Africa, with a four-year undergraduate degree in mathematics, computer science, statistics, physics, or a related science field.
Apply at: ai.aims.ac.za
If you are also exploring research opportunities beyond a taught degree, read our guide on how to get paid to live and research in Japan with the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship.
6. KAUST Fellowship (Saudi Arabia)
Deadline: May 7, 2026.
Host: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.
This is a special scholarship because all you need is to get admitted to the right program. This scholarship is designed such as every single international student who gets admitted at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology automatically receives the fellowship. You do not apply for funding separately. Get in and the money follows.
The fellowship covers full tuition, free on-campus housing, and a monthly stipend of around $2,200. KAUST offers master’s programmes specifically in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Computer Science, and Statistics. The campus is one of the most technically advanced research environments in the world.
Apply at: admissions.kaust.edu.sa
7. Gates Cambridge Scholarship (United Kingdom)
Deadline: October 2026 for US citizens. December 2026 for everyone else.
Host: University of Cambridge, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Cambridge has one of the strongest AI and machine learning research groups in the world. The Gates Cambridge Scholarship gives you a fully funded ticket to study there. The Fulbright Scholarship and Gates Cambridge are among the most competitive scholarships globally for AI study. Gates Cambridge covers full tuition, a living stipend, health insurance, and an academic development fund.
Around 80 scholarships are awarded every year across all fields. The acceptance rate sits at around 1.2%. That is tight. But the people who win it are not always the ones with the highest grades. They are the ones who can clearly explain how their AI work will make other people’s lives better.
Apply at: gatescambridge.org
8. ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship (ESOP) (Switzerland)
Deadline: November 2026 for the 2027 intake.
Host: ETH Zurich.
ETH Zurich ranks in the global top 5 for Computer Science and AI research. Its alumni include 22 Nobel Prize winners. And for students in the top 10% of their undergraduate class, the ESOP scholarship makes studying there financially realistic. You get CHF 12,000 per semester (roughly $1,370 per month) plus a full tuition waiver. You also submit a pre-proposal for your master’s thesis as part of the application, which means you arrive already thinking like a researcher.
ETH Zurich offers strong master’s programmes in Data Science, Computational Science, AI, Statistics, and Computer Science.
Apply at: ethz.ch
9. EPFL Excellence Fellowship (Switzerland)
Deadline: December 15 (Round 1) and March 31 (Round 2) annually.
Host: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.
EPFL is right next door to ETH Zurich in the global rankings and it has one of Europe’s strongest Data Science and AI engineering programmes. The Excellence Fellowship covers full tuition and a monthly stipend for up to four semesters. The best part is that you do not apply for the fellowship separately. When you apply to an EPFL master’s programme, you are automatically considered. That means the application costs you nothing extra.
Apply at: epfl.ch
10. Fulbright Foreign Student Program (United States)
Deadline: February to October 2026, depending on your country.
Host: US Government, top American universities including MIT, Stanford, Carnegie Mellon, and Berkeley.
The Fulbright Scholarship is an exceptional opportunity for international students seeking advanced studies in artificial intelligence at American institutions. It provides full financial support including tuition, airfare, living expenses, and health insurance for master’s or PhD programmes in AI, Machine Learning, Robotics, and Data Science. The US has the most concentration of AI hiring and research in the world. Studying there on a Fulbright means you are close to Silicon Valley, New York’s AI labs, and the world’s most influential tech companies. The network you build alone is worth the application.
Check your local US Embassy or Fulbright Commission for your country’s specific deadline.
Apply at: foreign.fulbrightonline.org
11. Chevening Scholarship (United Kingdom)
Deadline: Next cycle opens October 2026.
Host: UK Government.
Chevening covers full tuition, travel, visa, and a monthly stipend for AI programmes at Oxford, UCL, Imperial, and other top UK universities. It requires leadership potential and at least two years of professional work experience.
The UK government is actively investing in AI talent right now. The Spärck AI Scholarship mentioned above is one piece of that. Chevening is another. If you already have two years of work experience and a clear sense of how AI fits into your career goals, this is your scholarship.
Apply at: chevening.org
Planning to go beyond a master’s degree? Read our full guide on 40 fully funded PhD scholarships for international students in 2026 and start building your long-term academic roadmap.
12. Japanese Government MEXT Scholarship (Japan)
Deadline: May to June annually, via your local Japanese Embassy.
Host: Japanese Ministry of Education (MEXT).
Japan is a serious AI and robotics powerhouse. Sony, Toyota, NTT Research, and RIKEN AI Institute are all there. The country has some of the most advanced human-computer interaction and robotics research programmes in the world. The MEXT Scholarship covers full tuition, a generous monthly stipend of about ¥143,000, and round-trip airfare. Applicants must pass academic or language screenings depending on their level of study.
If you want to do AI research in a country that takes robotics and machine learning seriously at a national policy level, Japan belongs on your list.
Apply at: studyinjapan.go.jp
13. Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) (South Korea)
Deadline: February to March annually.
Host: Korean Government.
South Korea has KAIST, which consistently ranks in the global top 50 for AI and computer science. The country is also home to Samsung AI Research, LG AI Research, and Kakao Brain. The ecosystem for applied AI work is serious.
The GKS covers full tuition, a monthly allowance of ₩900,000 (roughly $650), a round-trip flight, health insurance, one year of free Korean language training, and reimbursement of thesis printing costs at the end.
Apply at: studyinkorea.go.kr
14. DAAD Scholarship (Germany)
Deadline: October to January annually, varies by programme.
Host: German Academic Exchange Service.
Germany has TU Munich, RWTH Aachen, and Heidelberg University, all of which have strong AI and data science programmes. German public university tuition is already minimal. The DAAD scholarship adds a monthly stipend of around €992 (roughly $1,100) on top of that.
Top German universities like TU Munich and RWTH Aachen offer programmes in AI, Machine Learning, and Data Engineering through the DAAD scholarship. Some courses prefer applicants with prior work or research experience.
If you want to study in Europe without going through the ETH Zurich or EPFL competition, Germany via DAAD is your next best bet.
Apply at: daad.de
15. Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) (China)
Deadline: March to April annually.
Host: Chinese Government.
China is not playing around with AI, it is investing heavy in having the right competences. The country has set a national goal to become the world leader in AI by 2030 and is spending billions to get there. Tsinghua University, Peking University, and the University of Science and Technology of China all rank in the global top 50 for AI and Computer Science.
The CSC scholarship covers full tuition, accommodation, health insurance, and a monthly allowance of up to 3,500 yuan (roughly $480). Most programmes admitting international students are available in English.
If you want to be in the middle of the world’s fastest-growing AI ecosystem, China is your destination.
Apply at: csc.edu.cn
16. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program (Africa and Global Partners)
Deadline: Varies by partner university.
Host: Mastercard Foundation in partnership with multiple universities.
This one is built for young Africans with strong academics and a clear plan to come back and make an impact on their communities after graduating. Data Science, AI, and Computer Science are eligible fields. The programme partners with universities across Africa, Canada, and the US. The scholarship covers tuition and living costs and varies slightly depending on the partner institution you apply through.
If you are African and you want to study AI without leaving the continent, check the African partner universities first. If you want to go further abroad, check the North American partners.
Apply at: mastercardfdn.org
For a broader guide to fully funded opportunities beyond just tech, read our article on 30 fully funded master’s scholarships for international students in 2026.
Quick Reference Table
| # | Scholarship | Country | Deadline |
| 1 | Spärck AI Scholarship | UK | Autumn 2026 (2027 cycle) |
| 2 | SECAI AI Scholarship | Germany | June 30, 2026 |
| 3 | Erasmus Mundus DEAI | Europe | Oct 2026 (2027 cycle) |
| 4 | Erasmus Mundus EMAI | Europe | Oct 2026 (2027 cycle) |
| 5 | AIMS Google DeepMind (Africa) | South Africa | Dec 2026 (2027 cycle) |
| 6 | KAUST Fellowship | Saudi Arabia | May 7, 2026 |
| 7 | Gates Cambridge | UK | Oct–Dec 2026 |
| 8 | ETH Zurich ESOP | Switzerland | Nov 2026 |
| 9 | EPFL Excellence Fellowship | Switzerland | Dec 15 / Mar 31 |
| 10 | Fulbright | USA | Feb–Oct (varies) |
| 11 | Chevening | UK | Oct 2026 |
| 12 | MEXT | Japan | May–Jun |
| 13 | Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) | South Korea | Feb–Mar |
| 14 | DAAD | Germany | Oct–Jan |
| 15 | Chinese Government (CSC) | China | Mar–Apr |
| 16 | Mastercard Foundation | Africa/Global | Varies |
Final Thoughts
Demand for AI fluency has grown sevenfold in just two years, jumping from 1 million to 7 million workers in occupations where AI skills are explicitly required. Seven times. In two years. By the end of 2026, the IT skills shortage is expected to result in $5.5 trillion in losses globally, according to an IDC survey of North American IT leaders. That is not a problem. That is an opportunity. Specifically, your opportunity. A master’s degree in Data Science or AI right now is one of the highest-return investments a person can make in their own career. The gap between people who have these skills and people who do not is already huge. And it keeps growing.
The scholarships on this list exist because governments and institutions understand that too. They are not doing you a favour. They are investing in talent they desperately need. Your job is simple. Pick two or three scholarships that genuinely fit your background. Apply with everything you have got. And do not stop until one of them says yes.
The most urgent opportunity right now is the SECAI scholarship in Germany, closing June 30, 2026. If you have a strong AI or CS background and want to study in Europe, stop reading and go apply today. For everyone else, bookmark this page, set your calendar reminders, and start working on those applications.
Want more opportunities? Browse our full Education Page for daily updates. You might also want to read our complete guide to 17 Masters Scholarships in Computer Science and IT open in 2026.
