Here is something most people do not know. The tech industry is facing a serious talent shortage and the people funding that pipeline are not just companies. Governments, foundations, and universities are literally paying students to get a Masters in Computer Science and IT. According to the World Economic Forum, by 2025 the global shortage of software engineers was expected to reach 85 million workers. That number keeps growing. And these scholarships exist partly because of that pressure. So, if you have been sitting on your dream of getting a Masters in Computer Science, Data Science, AI, Cybersecurity, or Software Engineering, this is your year. Here are 17 masters’ scholarships in computer science and it you can apply for today.
1. ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship (ESOP) – Switzerland
Deadline: November 1 to 30, 2026 (for the 2027 intake).
Host: ETH Zurich.
ETH Zurich consistently ranks in the global top 5 for Computer Science. QS World University Rankings 2025 placed it at number 5 worldwide. And this scholarship makes studying there financially possible for international students who graduate in the top 10% of their class.
The ESOP gives you CHF 12,000 per semester (roughly $1,370 per month) plus a full tuition waiver for the entire duration of your master’s programme. You also get mentorship from ETH faculty and access to the ETH Foundation professional network.
You need to be in the top 10% of your undergraduate class. You also need to submit a pre – proposal for your master’s thesis as part of the application.
Apply at: ethz.ch
2. EPFL Excellence Fellowship – Switzerland
Deadline: December 15 (Round 1) and March 31 (Round 2) annually. Host: École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.
EPFL ranks in the top 20 globally for engineering. It is right next to ETH Zurich in the global rankings, and it has one of the strongest Computer and Communication Sciences programmes in Europe.
The fellowship covers tuition fees and pays a monthly stipend for up to four semesters. Lausanne itself is a beautiful lakeside city in Switzerland and is one of the most international cities on the continent.
You apply directly through the EPFL master’s application portal. Anyone applying for an EPFL master’s is automatically considered, which means applying for the fellowship costs you nothing extra.
Apply at: epfl.ch
3. Gates Cambridge Scholarship – United Kingdom
Deadline: October 2026 for US citizens. December 2026 for everyone else.
Host: University of Cambridge.
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and it is one of the most respected scholarships in the world. Since the programme launched in 2000, it has supported more than 2,000 scholars from over 100 countries.
Around 80 scholarships are awarded every year. The scholarship pays full tuition, a maintenance allowance of £21,000 per year (roughly $1,850 per month), health insurance, and an academic development fund of up to £2,000. Computer Science, AI, and Information Technology are all eligible fields at Cambridge.
The acceptance rate sits at around 1.2% to 1.3%, according to the Gates Cambridge website. That is tight. But the people who get it are not necessarily the people with the highest grades. They are the people who can clearly articulate how their work will improve other people’s lives. Start building your application now. Do not wait until September.
Apply at: gatescambridge.org
For other fully funded ways to study in the UK, have a look at how to study at a top UK university with the Africa Development Scholarship.
4. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters in Cybersecurity and CS – Europe
Deadline: January to March annually (varies by programme).
Host: Consortium of European universities.
With Erasmus Mundus you do not just go to one university. You study across at least two European countries and get a joint degree at the end. Some programmes include three countries.
Several Erasmus Mundus programmes are built specifically for computing students. CYBERUS is focused on cybersecurity. Other programmes cover data science, embedded computing systems, and human – computer interaction. Each programme comes with a monthly stipend of €1,400 (roughly $1,540) and full tuition coverage. Over two years that is more than €33,600 in living support alone.
The European Commission runs the Erasmus Mundus programme and it is open to students from any country in the world.
Apply at: eacea.ec.europa.eu
5. Fulbright Foreign Student Program – United States
Deadline: February to October 2026, depending on your country.
Host: US Government, top American universities.
The Fulbright programme funds around 4,000 international students every year to study at US universities. It is the US government’s flagship academic exchange programme and has been running since 1946.
Computer Science, AI, Data Science, Cybersecurity, and Software Engineering are all eligible. The scholarship covers full tuition, airfare, a monthly living stipend, and health insurance for the full duration of your degree.
Because deadlines vary significantly by country, your first step is to visit your local US Embassy or Fulbright Commission website and find the exact date for your country. Many African countries have deadlines between June and October 2026 for the 2027 to 2028 academic year.
Apply at: foreign.fulbrightonline.org
6. DAAD Scholarship – Germany
Deadline: October to January annually, varies by programme.
Host: German Academic Exchange Service.
Germany has some of the best computer science and engineering universities in the world. TU Munich, KIT, and TU Berlin all rank globally for CS. And if you study at a German public university, tuition is essentially free or very low even without a scholarship.
The DAAD scholarship adds a monthly stipend of €992 (roughly $1,100) on top of that. It also covers health insurance and a one – time travel allowance. For Sub – Saharan African students specifically, there is also a dedicated DAAD In – Country/In – Region track that funds study within Africa itself.
Apply at: daad.de
7. Japanese Government MEXT Scholarship – Japan
Deadline: May to June annually, via your local Japanese Embassy.
Host: Japanese Ministry of Education (MEXT).
Japan is a global leader in robotics, semiconductors, and AI research. Sony, Toyota, Fujitsu, and NTT Research are all headquartered there. Studying in Japan means being physically close to some of the world’s most innovative technology organisations.
The MEXT scholarship covers tuition, accommodation, a monthly living allowance of around ¥147,000 (roughly $950), and a round – trip plane ticket. Applications go through your nearest Japanese Embassy so deadlines vary by country.
Apply at: studyinjapan.go.jp
If you want to explore more opportunities in Japan, read about how to get paid to live and research in Japan with the JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowship.
8. Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) – South Korea
Deadline: February to March annually.
Host: Korean Government.
South Korea is one of the fastest – growing technology ecosystems in Asia. KAIST, POSTECH, and Seoul National University are world – class institutions for Computer Science. The Korean government funds more than 2,000 international students every year through the Global Korea Scholarship programme.
The scholarship covers full tuition, a monthly allowance of ₩900,000 (roughly $650), a round – trip flight, health insurance, and one year of free Korean language training. You also get a settlement allowance when you first arrive and your thesis printing fees reimbursed at the end.
Apply at: studyinkorea.go.kr
9. Chevening Scholarship – United Kingdom
Status: Next cycle opens October 2026 for the 2027 to 2028 academic year.
Host: UK Government.
Chevening is the UK government’s flagship international scholarship and it lets you study at virtually any UK university you want. Imperial College London, University of Edinburgh, UCL, and the University of Manchester all have outstanding CS programmes and all accept Chevening scholars.
The scholarship covers full tuition, accommodation, flights, and a monthly living allowance. It funds one year of study. The one condition that surprises people is that you need at least two years of professional work experience before applying.
The 2027/28 cycle opens October 2026. Between now and then, work on your three – sentence answer to the question: “What do you want to do with this degree and how will it benefit others?” That answer is the heart of every successful Chevening application.
Apply at: chevening.org
10. Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) – China
Deadline: March to April annually.
Host: Chinese Government.
China has invested heavily in its technology universities over the past decade. Tsinghua University ranks 14th globally for Computer Science in the 2025 QS rankings. Peking University, Zhejiang University, and USTC are all in the global top 60 for the field.
The CSC scholarship is fully funded, covering tuition, accommodation, health insurance, and a monthly allowance of up to 3,500 yuan (roughly $480). Many CS programmes at Chinese universities are available in English. Applications go through your local Chinese Embassy.
Apply at: csc.edu.cn
NOTE: All these scholarships provide a monthly stipend to support your living expenses as you study. Here is how these stipend compare where we look at the most generous programmes.
Monthly stipend comparison (USD equivalent, approx.)
Sources: KAUST, Gates Cambridge, European Commission, ETH Zurich, DAAD, MEXT, NIIED. Figures are approximate USD equivalents as of 2026.
11. Türkiye Bursları Scholarship – Turkey
Deadline: February to March annually.
Host: Turkish Government.
Turkey is an underrated destination for tech students. It has a growing software and startup scene, particularly in Istanbul. Several universities offer strong English – taught master’s programmes in Computer Engineering, Software Engineering, and Information Systems.
The Türkiye Bursları scholarship covers monthly stipend, full tuition, a return flight, health insurance, and accommodation. It is open to students from any country in the world.
Apply at: turkiyeburslari.gov.tr
12. Australia Awards Scholarship – Australia
Deadline: April to June annually, varies by country.
Host: Australian Government.
Australia is home to some of the strongest computing departments in the Asia – Pacific region. The University of Melbourne, ANU, UNSW, and Monash University all rank well globally for CS and Data Science.
The Australia Awards scholarship covers tuition, travel, living expenses, and health cover in full. It is aimed at students from developing countries and African eligible countries include Kenya, Ghana, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Ethiopia, Rwanda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe among many others.
Apply at: australiaawardscholarships.dfat.gov.au
13. Orange Knowledge Programme – Netherlands
Deadline: January to April annually, varies by programme.
Host: Dutch Government.
TU Delft and Eindhoven University of Technology are among Europe’s best institutions for engineering and computing. The Orange Knowledge Programme funds mid – career professionals from developing countries to study at Dutch universities.
It covers tuition, living costs, visa, round – trip flights, and health insurance. This one is specifically designed for people who already have some professional experience in tech or a related field and want to upskill at the master’s level. That makes it a lot less competitive than scholarships that are open to all recent graduates.
Apply at: nuffic.nl
14. Hungarian Government Scholarship – Hungary
Deadline: January to February annually.
Host: Hungarian Government via Stipendium Hungaricum.
Hungary is one of Europe’s most affordable countries for postgraduate study. Budapest has a fast – growing tech and startup scene and several universities offer English – taught master’s programmes in Computer Science, Software Engineering, and IT Management.
The scholarship covers full tuition for the entire programme. Living costs in Budapest are significantly lower than in Western Europe, which means your budget stretches further than it would in Germany or Switzerland.
Apply at: stipendiumhungaricum.hu
For a broader list of fully funded opportunities to study abroad, check our guide on 30 fully funded master’s scholarships for international students in 2026.
15. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program – Various African Universities and Partners
Deadline: Varies by partner university. Several open now.
Host: Mastercard Foundation in partnership with multiple universities.
This one is specifically for young Africans with strong academic records and a clear plan to give back to their communities after graduating. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program partners with universities across Africa, Canada, and the US to fund talented students through full scholarships.
Technology – related fields including Computer Science, Data Science, and Engineering are eligible. The scholarship covers tuition, living costs, and additional support depending on the partner institution.
Apply at: mastercardfdn.org
16. AIMS Google DeepMind AI for Science Scholarship (Africa Only)
Deadline: March 6, 2026. It has passed, but watch for the 2027 cycle opening December 2026.
Host: African Institute for Mathematical Sciences, South Africa.
This one is for Africans only and it is honestly one of the most exciting scholarships in the world right now. Google DeepMind funds 40 scholars every year to study AI and machine learning at AIMS South Africa. Forty. That is it. So the competition is real but so is the reward.
The programme is a fully residential one – year master’s with a heavy research focus. You will use AI to solve real scientific problems in areas like cosmology, epidemiology, and ecology. Google DeepMind funds the full package: tuition, accommodation, meals, medical insurance, and even research equipment and computing costs. No out – of – pocket expenses whatsoever.
To be eligible you need to be an African citizen living in Africa, with a four – year undergraduate degree in maths, computer science, statistics, or a related science field.
Apply at: ai.aims.ac.za
17. KAUST Fellowship – Saudi Arabia
Deadline: May 7, 2026. Open now.
Host: King Abdullah University of Science and Technology.
Here is something that will surprise you. Every single student admitted to KAUST automatically gets a full fellowship. You do not apply for it separately. Get in and the money comes with you.
KAUST offers master’s programmes in Computer Science, AI, Data Science, Electrical Engineering, and Bioscience. The fellowship covers full tuition, free on – campus housing, and a monthly stipend of around $2,200 (the highest on this list). The campus is one of the most technically advanced research environments in the world.
You need a strong undergraduate degree in a STEM field. No GRE required. No application fee either.
Apply at: admissions.kaust.edu.sa
Final Thoughts
Let us be honest with each other for a second. By 2030, McKinsey estimates that up to 375 million workers globally may need to change occupational categories due to automation. That means the people who understand the technology doing the disrupting will be the most valuable people in any economy. A Masters in Computer Science or IT is not just a degree. It is a career insurance policy for the next 30 years. And now you have 17 ways to get one for free or close to free.
The most important thing you can do today is start your application process. Do not try to apply for all 17. Pick two or three that genuinely fit your background and your goals. Then give those two or three applications everything you have. If you have a maths or CS background, start with the AIMS Google DeepMind scholarship when it opens again in December 2026. If you are aiming for Europe, Erasmus Mundus and ETH Zurich are your strongest bets. If you want the USA, Fulbright is the gold standard.
Want more opportunities like these? Browse our full Education section for daily updates. You may also want to read our full guide to 18 Masters in Education Scholarships open in 2026.
