Part of our Nursing Scholarships by Level series. Last checked: 25 October 2026.
Most fully funded international scholarships are for master’s study, and nurses are strong candidates. You have clinical experience, a clear public-health story and a reason to go home and lead. Most programmes don’t have a “nursing” category, so pick a course that fits your plan: an MSc in Advanced Nursing, Nursing Education, Public Health, Global Health, Health Policy or Midwifery.
At a glance
| Scholarship | Where | Covers | 2027 intake deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gates Cambridge | University of Cambridge, UK | Fees, about £22,000/yr maintenance, flights, visa | 8 Dec 2026 or 6 Jan 2027 (by course) — open |
| DAAD EPOS | Germany (e.g. International Health, Global Health) | €992/month, insurance, travel | Set by each course, mostly Aug–Nov 2026 |
| Chevening | Any UK university | Fees, stipend, flights, visa | Closed 6 Oct 2026; next round opens about August 2027 |
| Commonwealth Master’s | UK | Fees, £1,712–£2,000/month, flights | Closed 20 Oct 2026; next round about autumn 2027 |
| NURSE Corps (NP students) | US | Tuition, fees, stipend | Usually spring |
UK
Gates Cambridge (open now)
Gates Cambridge is for citizens of any country outside the UK, for a one-year postgraduate course or a PhD at Cambridge. It covers the University fee, maintenance (£22,050 for 12 months at the 2025–26 rate), flights, the visa and the Immigration Health Surcharge, plus extras such as a child allowance. About 70 awards are made each year. Applications opened 11 September 2026. The deadline is 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, depending on your course. You apply through the Cambridge postgraduate application. Cambridge has no taught nursing MSc, so nurses usually apply for public health, epidemiology or related courses.
Chevening (next round about August 2027)
- Funds a one-year master’s at almost any UK university, covering tuition, a monthly stipend, flights, visa and arrival and departure allowances.
- You need at least two years of work experience (2,800 hours) and must return home for two years afterwards. Nursing practice counts.
- You choose three UK courses and need an unconditional offer from one by July.
- The 2027/28 round ran from 4 August to 6 October 2026. Prepare now for the 2028/29 round: draft your four essays on leadership, networking, study plans and career plan.
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships
These are for citizens of eligible low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries, including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Zambia, Tanzania and India. They cover airfare, full tuition, a stipend of £1,712 a month (£2,000 in London) and a study travel grant. You need at least a 2:1 (second class upper) or a 2:2 plus a relevant postgraduate qualification, and you must show you can’t afford UK study otherwise. The 2027/28 round closed on 20 October 2026. Many universities also offer partial “Commonwealth Shared” or departmental awards.
Germany: DAAD EPOS
The DAAD’s Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS) programme funds professionals from developing countries on selected master’s courses. Courses that suit nurses include the MSc International Health at Charité Berlin and at Heidelberg, and the MSc Global Health at Bonn. It pays €992 a month plus health insurance and travel, with possible rent and family allowances.
- You need a bachelor’s degree, normally no more than six years old, with above-average results.
- You need at least two years of professional experience.
- English-taught courses need IELTS or TOEFL.
- You apply to the course, not to the DAAD, and each course sets its own deadline (mostly August to November). Check each course website now.
US
- NURSE Corps Scholarship. Covers NP students, paying tuition, fees and a monthly stipend in exchange for two years at a Critical Shortage Facility. Open to US citizens, nationals and permanent residents. Proposed FY2027 cuts to nursing workforce programmes could affect future rounds.
- Employer tuition support. Many US hospital systems pay for MSN and NP programmes in return for a work commitment. For working RNs this is often the biggest source of money.
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program (for non-US citizens). Funds graduate study in the US. You apply through the US Embassy or Fulbright Commission in your own country, which sets its own timeline and eligible fields.
Also worth checking
- Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters. Fully funded two-year programmes taught in several European countries. Several are in public health. Search the EU catalogue for health programmes, because each sets its own deadline, often between October and January.
- Australia Awards. These fund master’s study in Australia for many African countries. For the 2027 intake, health was not a priority field for African applicants, so check your country profile before applying.
- University scholarships. Many UK universities offer £2,000–£10,000 international fee discounts on nursing and public health MSc courses. They are smaller, but much less competitive.
How nurses win these awards
- Lead with a problem you have seen. For example: maternal deaths in your hospital, nurses leaving, no infection control. Then show how the course helps you fix it.
- Show leadership beyond your shift: unit projects, union or association roles, teaching students, community outreach.
- Make your plan to return concrete. Name the role, the institution and what you will change.
- Line up references and transcripts early. Nursing schools can take weeks to issue them.
- Start 10 months before the deadline, and get feedback on every essay.
See also: Undergraduate nursing scholarships and PhD and DNP funding.
Sources: Opportunities for Africans (Chevening 2027/28; Commonwealth Master’s 2027/28; Gates Cambridge 2027/28; Australia Awards 2027); Lesotho Tribune, DAAD EPOS 2027/28; University of Washington School of Nursing, NURSE Corps 2026; AACN Policy Watch (8 April 2026). Confirm every deadline on the official scholarship page.