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Scholarships closing December 2026 include some of the best fully funded awards in the world — Gates Cambridge, Commonwealth Shared, Clarendon at Oxford, Erasmus Mundus, and the new University of Toronto PhD scholarship worth C$80,000 a year. If you act in November, you still have time. If you wait until Christmas, most of these doors will already be shut.
Scholarships closing December 2026 make this the busiest scholarship month of the year. Many programmes do not have one single deadline. Gates Cambridge and Clarendon close on your course deadline. Erasmus Mundus closes on each programme’s own date. Eiffel closes on your French university’s internal deadline, not the Campus France date. This guide gives you the real date for each one, what it pays, who can apply, and what to do first.
Warning: Do not apply to Chevening for 2027-28 — it closed on 6 October 2026. Do not apply to the main Commonwealth Master’s round — it closed on 20 October 2026. Do not apply for Vanier in 2026 — Vanier was discontinued in 2025 and replaced by the Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral. And do not apply for the University of Hull GREAT Scholarship now — it closed on 12 November 2026 at midnight UK time. Many blogs still list all four as open. They are not.
1. Gates Cambridge Scholarship — UK
Gates Cambridge is the flagship of scholarships closing December 2026 — it pays the full cost of a postgraduate degree at Cambridge, including fees, a maintenance allowance of £23,152 for 2026-27, economy flights, visa costs and the Immigration Health Surcharge. About 70 awards a year. Deadline is your course funding deadline, either 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027. The US round closed 14 October 2026.
Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are among the scholarships closing December 2026: open 10 November 2026, close 16:00 GMT on Tuesday 8 December 2026. Fund selected one-year full-time taught Master’s courses starting Sept/Oct 2027. Covers full tuition, return flight and £1,712/month (£2,000 in London). Must be from an eligible Commonwealth country and must not have studied or worked in a high-income country for one year or more.
3. Clarendon Fund, University of Oxford — UK
Clarendon is one of the best-value scholarships closing December 2026: around 140-200 awards a year, full tuition and college fees plus a living grant of at least £20,780 a year. No separate application — apply for a Master’s or DPhil course by your course’s December 2026 or January 2027 funding deadline. Some courses close 12 noon UK time on 2 December 2026.
4. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters — Europe
Erasmus Mundus is one of the biggest scholarships closing December 2026: a 1-2 year Master’s taught by at least three universities in different countries, €1,400/month for up to 24 months plus tuition and insurance. For September 2027 entry, most scholarship deadlines fall between 1 December 2026 and mid-January 2027. Examples: Mundus MAPP 1 December 2026, EMLE 31 December 2026, PlantHealth 31 December 2026, EMMIR 20 December 2026. If you are still comparing countries and funding, start with our guide to fully funded scholarships 2026.
5. Maastricht University NL-High Potential Scholarship — Netherlands
18 full scholarships a year for students from outside EU/EEA, full-time Master’s starting 2027-28. Your full Master’s application through Studielink must be complete by 10 December 2026. Scholarship application open 1 October 2026 until 1 February 2027 at 23:59 CET. Only about 2% of applicants receive it.
6. France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship — France
€1,200/month for a Master’s and €2,000/month for a PhD, plus flights, insurance and housing help. Does not pay tuition. Age limit 29 for Master’s, 35 for PhD. A French university must submit your file to Campus France by 6 January 2027. Your real deadline is the university’s internal deadline, often in November or early December 2026.
7. University of Toronto Presidents’ Impact Scholarship — Canada
The Toronto Presidents’ Impact Scholarship is the newest of the scholarships closing December 2026 — launched 5 October 2026, backed by a C$100 million fund. Each scholar receives C$80,000 a year for four years. 12-13 new scholars each year, first cohort September 2027. Applications open late Fall 2026, nomination-based — apply to a Toronto PhD programme first, department PhD deadlines fall December 2026-February 2027. A funded PhD in Canada can also be the first step to a career abroad, so read our guide to visa sponsorship jobs in Canada, UK & USA 2026.
8. SINGA — Singapore International Graduate Award
SINGA is one of the scholarships closing December 2026 with the earliest deadline: PhD in Singapore, SGD 2,700/month plus airfare. Deadline 1 December 2026 at 11:59 pm Singapore time.
9. Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS)
HKD 344,400 a year plus travel allowance for a PhD in Hong Kong. Initial application closes 12:00 noon Hong Kong time on 1 December 2026. Submit initial application to the Research Grants Council first, get a reference number, then apply to universities.
10. MBZUAI Scholarship — United Arab Emirates
Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence in Abu Dhabi, full scholarships for Master’s and PhD in AI, monthly stipend AED 15,500-17,500 including housing, plus tuition, health insurance and flights. Deadline 15 December 2026 at 5:00 pm UAE time.
More scholarships closing December 2026: ENS International Selection Scholarship Paris €1,000/month, closes 15 December 2026; University of Sydney International Scholarship AUD 42,754-44,293/year, closes 18 December 2026; Austrian Ernst Mach Grant, closes 1 December 2026; Stipendium Hungaricum opens mid-November 2026, closes 15 January 2027, but home country Sending Partner may close earlier in December.
How to Apply for Scholarships Closing December 2026
Work backwards from the earliest deadline. Make a shortlist of three scholarships, not ten. Gather passport, transcripts, degree certificate, two references, English test score, CV and motivation/research statement. References are the most common reason for a late application — ask referees now. Apply for the course first where the scholarship rides on admission. Never pay anyone to apply for you. Think about what comes after — many graduates look for flexible work after study, so read our guide to remote jobs in USA 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which scholarships are still open in December 2026?
Gates Cambridge, Commonwealth Shared, Clarendon at Oxford, Erasmus Mundus, Maastricht NL-High Potential, Eiffel, Toronto Presidents’ Impact, SINGA, Hong Kong PhD Fellowship and MBZUAI — all scholarships closing December 2026.
What is the deadline for Gates Cambridge in December 2026?
8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, depending on your course.
Is Chevening still open in December 2026?
No. Chevening for 2027-28 closed on 6 October 2026.
Can I apply for more than one scholarship closing in December 2026?
Yes, apply to two or three that fit your level and eligibility, tailoring each motivation letter.
Do I need IELTS to apply for scholarships closing December 2026?
Most programmes need proof of English, usually IELTS, TOEFL or PTE, but score and deadline differ by university.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and is not legal, immigration or financial advice. Scholarship amounts, eligibility rules and deadlines change, and the official university or programme page is the final authority. Always verify the deadline, amount and requirements on the official website before you apply. No scholarship, admission or visa outcome is guaranteed.