If you are looking for a fully funded scholarship, one of the first questions you may ask is: Which country is easiest to get a fully funded scholarship?
There is no country where getting a fully funded scholarship is guaranteed or genuinely “easy.” However, some countries have large government-funded scholarship programmes that regularly accept international students and may offer a clearer application route than others.
For Kenyan students, Hungary, Türkiye, Germany, the United Kingdom, and several European scholarship programmes are worth considering. The best choice depends on your academic level, course, grades, work experience, and the scholarship’s eligibility requirements.
What is the easiest country to get a fully funded scholarship?
Türkiye is one of the countries worth considering if you want a comprehensive government-funded scholarship open to international students. Its Türkiye Scholarships programme covers associate, bachelor’s, master’s, PhD and research opportunities.
However, “easiest” should not be confused with “easy.” Türkiye Scholarships received more than 121,000 applications from 170 countries in 2024 and awarded approximately 5,000 scholarships annually, showing that competition is still significant.
Hungary is another particularly important option for Kenyan students. Kenya’s Ministry of Education advertised 200 Stipendium Hungaricum scholarships for eligible Kenyans for the 2026/2027 academic year, covering bachelor’s, master’s, one-tier master’s and PhD studies.
This makes Hungary especially interesting if your goal is not simply to find a scholarship abroad, but to find a programme that specifically provides opportunities to Kenyan applicants.
1. Hungary
Hungary should be high on the list for Kenyans because the Stipendium Hungaricum programme has an established scholarship route involving Kenya.
For the 2026/2027 academic year, Kenya’s Ministry of Education announced 200 scholarships under the programme. The available fields included agriculture, computer science and IT, law, economics, engineering, medical and health sciences, natural sciences and other specified areas.
The programme can provide tuition-free education, accommodation support and other benefits depending on the scholarship and circumstances. The official programme provides application information for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral applicants.
Best for: Kenyan students looking for government-supported opportunities in Europe at undergraduate, master’s or PhD level.
2. Türkiye
Türkiye is another strong destination for students searching for a comprehensive scholarship.
Türkiye Scholarships is a government-funded programme available to international students. It offers opportunities at undergraduate, master’s and PhD levels, among others.
One major advantage is the range of benefits. Depending on the programme, scholarship support can include tuition fees, accommodation, health insurance, a monthly stipend, language training and flight tickets.
Best for: Students who want a scholarship that can cover several major costs rather than tuition alone.
3. Germany
Germany is another country worth researching, particularly if you are pursuing postgraduate study or research.
The German Academic Exchange Service, commonly known as DAAD, offers numerous scholarship programmes for international students, graduates and researchers. DAAD states that its scholarships are aimed primarily at graduates, doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers.
However, Germany should not automatically be described as the easiest country for every applicant. Scholarship eligibility varies significantly by programme, and DAAD itself recommends checking the specific requirements, deadlines and selection criteria for each opportunity.
Best for: Master’s students, PhD candidates, researchers and applicants with a strong academic or research profile.
4. United Kingdom
The United Kingdom has some of the world’s best-known fully funded scholarship programmes.
For Kenyan graduates, Chevening is particularly important because Kenya has its own Chevening scholarship page and scholarship opportunities for Kenyan citizens.
Chevening is designed primarily for a one-year master’s degree. However, it is highly competitive and has significant requirements, including an undergraduate degree, at least 2,800 hours of eligible work experience and evidence of leadership and influence.
Therefore, the UK can be an excellent option for an experienced Kenyan graduate, but it would be misleading to call it the easiest destination.
Best for: Kenyan graduates with work experience, leadership achievements and a strong master’s application.
5. European countries through Erasmus Mundus
You do not always have to search for a scholarship belonging to one particular country.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters can allow international students to study at several universities in different countries. The official Erasmus+ programme states that students from around the world can apply and that full scholarships are available for the best-ranked applicants.
Scholarship benefits can contribute towards participation costs, travel, visa expenses and living costs. Most programmes have their own application requirements, so you need to select the specific master’s programme before determining whether you qualify.
Best for: Strong bachelor’s graduates looking for fully funded master’s opportunities across Europe.
A simple comparison
| Country/Programme | Best suited for | Funding opportunity | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hungary | Bachelor’s, Master’s & PhD | Strong | Competitive |
| Türkiye | Bachelor’s, Master’s & PhD | Comprehensive | Highly competitive |
| Germany | Master’s, PhD & research | Strong for eligible programmes | Competitive |
| UK – Chevening | Master’s | Fully funded scholarship | Highly competitive |
| Erasmus Mundus | Master’s | Full scholarships available | Highly competitive |
The important point is that there is no scholarship country where simply being Kenyan guarantees selection. Your academic record, course, eligibility, application quality and the number of available awards all matter.
What makes a country easier for scholarship applicants?
Rather than asking only which country is easiest, look for these five characteristics.
1. The country has government-funded scholarships
Government scholarship programmes can be easier to find and verify because they normally have official application portals and published eligibility requirements.
Türkiye Scholarships and Stipendium Hungaricum are good examples of structured national programmes.
2. The scholarship accepts international students
Some scholarships are restricted to citizens of particular countries or regions.
Always check whether Kenya is included before spending time preparing an application.
3. The scholarship covers several expenses
A scholarship that only removes tuition fees may still leave you responsible for accommodation, food, insurance, flights and other expenses.
For a genuinely fully funded opportunity, check exactly what the award covers. For example, Türkiye Scholarships lists tuition, accommodation, health insurance, flight tickets and other support among its scholarship benefits.
4. There are opportunities at your education level
A scholarship may be excellent but useless to you if it does not accept your level of study.
For example, Chevening is primarily for master’s study, while Türkiye Scholarships offers opportunities across undergraduate and graduate levels.
5. You meet the eligibility requirements
This is perhaps the most important factor.
A scholarship with fewer applicants is not necessarily easier if you do not meet its academic, professional or course requirements.
How can a Kenyan increase their chances of getting a fully funded scholarship?
Start by choosing scholarships that match your qualifications rather than applying randomly to every opportunity you find.
If you have recently completed KCSE, concentrate on undergraduate scholarships. If you already have a bachelor’s degree, look for master’s scholarships, while PhD applicants should concentrate on doctoral and research funding.
Your application should also clearly explain why you deserve the scholarship, what you intend to study, what problem you want to solve and how the education will contribute to your future goals.
Do not rely entirely on excellent grades. Some scholarship providers consider leadership, community involvement, professional experience, research potential and other factors in addition to academic performance. DAAD, for example, notes that scholarship selection can consider academic qualifications, the quality of a proposed project and the applicant’s potential.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which country gives the most fully funded scholarships?
There is no single country that can accurately be described as giving the most fully funded scholarships to everyone. The number and availability of scholarships change by year, academic level, nationality and field of study.
Which country is easiest to get a scholarship from Kenya?
For Kenyan applicants, Hungary and Türkiye are strong countries to investigate first, while Germany, the UK and Erasmus Mundus offer other important opportunities depending on your academic level and profile. Kenya’s Ministry of Education has specifically advertised Stipendium Hungaricum opportunities for Kenyan applicants.
Can I get a fully funded scholarship with average grades?
Yes, it is possible, but your options may be more limited. Some scholarships consider more than grades, including leadership, work experience, community involvement, research potential and the overall strength of your application.
Can I get a scholarship without IELTS?
It depends on the scholarship and university. Some programmes do not impose a universal IELTS requirement, while individual universities may have their own English-language requirements.
For example, Chevening itself does not have an English-language requirement, but applicants still need to satisfy the requirements of their chosen UK universities.
Is a fully funded scholarship really free?
A fully funded scholarship generally means that the scholarship provider covers specified major study-related expenses. However, “fully funded” does not necessarily mean every possible personal expense is covered, so applicants should carefully read the scholarship’s funding terms.
Final answer: Which country should you choose?
If you want the shortest answer, there is no universally easiest country for a fully funded scholarship.
For a Kenyan student, however, Hungary and Türkiye are excellent places to start researching, especially because they have structured government scholarship programmes for international students and, in Hungary’s case, Kenya has had specifically advertised Stipendium Hungaricum opportunities.
For master’s and research applicants, also investigate Germany, the UK and Erasmus Mundus. The smartest strategy is not to look for the country with the “easiest” scholarship, but to find the scholarship where your nationality, academic qualifications, field of study and experience match the eligibility requirements.
That approach gives you a much better chance than applying simply because a scholarship is advertised as “easy” or “fully funded.”
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