Europe — including the UK — is one of the most popular study abroad destinations for Nepali students, and it has more scholarship money available than most students realise. From fully funded UK government awards to automatic university merit discounts, this guide maps every major scholarship pathway for Nepali students heading to Europe.
Note on the UK: The UK left the European Union in 2020, so technically it is no longer part of “Europe” for study purposes. But Nepali students consistently search for UK scholarships alongside European ones — and the UK remains the most popular European destination for Nepali students — so this guide covers both.
Quick Overview — Best European Scholarships for Nepal
| Scholarship | Country | Level | Value | Next Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevening | UK | Master’s | Fully funded | October 2026 |
| GREAT Scholarship | UK | Master’s | £10,000 | Varies by university |
| Commonwealth Scholarship | UK | Master’s / PhD | Fully funded | October–December |
| DAAD EPOS | Germany | Master’s (professionals) | Fully funded | Varies by course |
| DAAD Helmut Schmidt | Germany | Master’s (Public Policy) | Fully funded | July 31 annually |
| Erasmus Mundus | EU (multiple) | Master’s / PhD | Fully funded | Varies by programme |
| Émile Boutmy (Sciences Po) | France | UG / Master’s | €9,500–€18,500/year | Jan 20 (UG) / Oct–Nov (PG) |
| UEA Merit Scholarship | UK | Undergraduate | £5,000/year | Automatic with offer |
UK Scholarships for Nepali Students
1. Chevening Scholarship
The UK government’s flagship international scholarship — one of the most prestigious awards available to Nepali students. Fully funded one-year master’s at any eligible UK university.
- Coverage: Full tuition fees, monthly living allowance, return economy airfare, arrival allowance, visa fee reimbursement, travel grant for Chevening events
- Nepal seats: Approximately 10–15 scholarships per year
- Eligibility: Nepali citizen; bachelor’s degree; minimum 2 years (approximately 2,800 hours) of work experience; must return to Nepal for minimum 2 years after scholarship
- 2027 cycle: Applications expected to open August–September 2026; deadline October 7, 2026
- Apply to Chevening first, then universities. This is the most common mistake — Chevening and university applications run simultaneously, not sequentially. You apply to both at the same time.
- Official page for Nepal: chevening.org/scholarship/nepal
2. GREAT Scholarships — Nepal Specific
The GREAT Scholarship programme is specifically designed for students from Nepal (and other selected countries) studying at participating UK universities. Nepal is an explicitly named country.
- Value: £10,000 toward postgraduate tuition fees
- Administered jointly by: British Council and participating UK universities
- Level: Postgraduate (master’s)
- How to apply: Through individual participating universities — not through a central GREAT portal. Each university manages its own GREAT Scholarship for Nepal applicants. Check the British Council Nepal website for the current list of participating universities and their deadlines.
- Can be combined with university merit scholarships — GREAT + university award can together significantly reduce your tuition cost
3. Commonwealth Scholarships
Nepal is a Commonwealth member — Nepali students are eligible for the full range of Commonwealth Scholarship Commission awards.
- Master’s Scholarships: Fully funded one or two-year master’s at UK universities. Covers tuition, living allowance, return airfare, and thesis grant.
- PhD Scholarships: Fully funded doctoral study at UK universities.
- Split-site PhD Scholarships: 12 months at UK institution as part of a PhD registered at a Nepali university.
- Distance Learning Scholarships: Study UK-based distance learning programmes while remaining in Nepal.
- Deadline: October–December annually. Applications for Nepal go through a national nominating body — contact UGC Nepal or MoEST for the current application route.
- Check: cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk
4. UEA International Undergraduate Merit Scholarship
Automatic £5,000 per year toward tuition fees for Nepali students at the University of East Anglia — Nepal is explicitly named as a priority country. No separate application needed.
- Renewable for full degree duration
- See the EduNepal UEA Merit Scholarship guide for full details
5. UK University Merit Scholarships
Beyond named programmes, most UK universities offer automatic merit scholarships for high-achieving international students — ranging from £2,000 to £10,000+ per year. These are awarded with or shortly after your admission offer and require no separate application. Examples relevant to Nepal:
- University of Edinburgh Global Online Scholarship — 50% fee reduction
- University of Manchester Global Futures Scholarship — £5,000
- University of Birmingham Global Scholarship — £5,000 for high-achieving international students
- University of Leeds Postgraduate Merit Scholarship — £3,000–£5,000
Check each university’s scholarship page directly after applying — these awards are not publicly advertised as widely as they should be.
Germany Scholarships for Nepali Students
6. DAAD EPOS Scholarship
Fully funded postgraduate study in Germany for working professionals with 2+ years of experience. Nepal is an eligible country. Multiple development-related master’s programmes available across engineering, environment, agriculture, health, and social sciences.
- Monthly stipend: €992 (master’s) or €1,400 (doctoral)
- Deadlines vary by course — check DAAD EPOS brochure at daad.de
- Apply to the university course directly — not to DAAD
- See EduNepal DAAD EPOS guide
7. DAAD Helmut Schmidt Programme
Fully funded master’s in Public Policy, Governance, Development Studies, and related fields at 8 German universities. Open to both fresh graduates and working professionals. No German required at application.
- Deadline: July 31 annually — applications now open for 2027 entry
- See EduNepal DAAD Helmut Schmidt guide
France Scholarships for Nepali Students
8. Émile Boutmy Scholarship (Sciences Po)
Sciences Po’s flagship international scholarship for non-EU students — including Nepal. €9,500/year for undergraduate or €18,500/year for master’s. Built into the Sciences Po admissions application — no separate form needed.
- Critical: Must be indicated during your Sciences Po application — cannot apply after admission
- Undergraduate deadline: January 20 annually; Master’s: October–November
- See EduNepal Émile Boutmy guide
9. Eiffel Excellence Scholarship (France)
The French government’s Eiffel programme supports international master’s and doctoral students at French universities. Nepal is eligible.
- Coverage: Monthly allowance (approximately €1,181 for master’s, €1,400 for doctoral), return airfare, health insurance, cultural activities
- Does not cover tuition — French public universities have very low tuition fees (€243/year for most master’s), so this is less of a gap than it sounds
- Applied for by the French institution on behalf of the student — contact your target university’s international office to be nominated
- Deadline: Typically January annually. Check: campusfrance.org
EU — Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s
10. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarships
Erasmus Mundus is the EU’s flagship scholarship for international students to study joint master’s programmes taught across multiple European universities. Nepal is eligible for all Erasmus Mundus programmes as a “third country” applicant.
- Coverage: Full tuition across all participating universities, monthly living allowance (€1,400/month), travel allowance, installation allowance, health insurance
- Duration: 1–2 years depending on programme
- How it works: You study at 2–3 European universities in different EU countries and receive a joint or multiple degree
- Subject areas: All disciplines — science, engineering, social sciences, arts, health, environment, computer science, and more. Over 200 Erasmus Mundus programmes available.
- Deadlines: Typically November–January for September entry. Each programme has its own deadline. Browse at Erasmus Mundus catalogue
- Tip for Nepali applicants: Science, engineering, environmental studies, and computer science Erasmus Mundus programmes are particularly competitive but have many seats. Management and social science programmes are even more competitive. Apply to multiple programmes simultaneously — this is encouraged.
Other European Countries
Netherlands
- Holland Scholarship: €5,000 one-time grant for non-EEA students including Nepal. Offered by Dutch universities and the Dutch Ministry of Education. Check individual university pages.
- Orange Tulip Scholarship: Varies by university; partial to full tuition. Check studyinnl.org
- IHE Delft scholarships: Water sector professionals — directly relevant to Nepal. Several fellowships for developing country applicants.
Sweden
- Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professionals (SISGP): Fully funded master’s in Sweden. Nepal is eligible. Strong focus on leadership and development. Deadline typically February. Check: si.se
Norway
- Norwegian public universities charge no tuition fees for international students (including Nepali) at the bachelor’s and master’s level — you only pay a semester fee of approximately NOK 600. This is effectively a scholarship without being called one. Living costs are high (approximately NOK 12,000–15,000/month) so financial planning is critical.
- Quota Scholarship (Kvoteprogrammet): Historically available to Nepali students — check current status with hkdir.no as the programme has been under review.
How to Approach European Scholarships as a Nepali Student
- Start with Chevening if you have 2+ years work experience. 10–15 seats per year for Nepal with full funding — highest value per application effort for experienced professionals.
- Erasmus Mundus if you want Europe broadly. 200+ programmes across all disciplines. Apply to multiple simultaneously. European experience across multiple countries in one degree.
- DAAD for Germany (professionals or policy focus). EPOS for technical professionals. Helmut Schmidt for governance and public policy. July 31 deadline for Helmut Schmidt is live now.
- Sciences Po + Eiffel if you’re interested in France. Boutmy for tuition reduction, Eiffel for living allowance — both can be stacked.
- Norway for zero-tuition undergraduate. No scholarship application needed — just get admitted. Budget carefully for living costs.
- Check university automatic merit awards everywhere you apply in the UK — these are often missed because they’re not heavily marketed.
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