Getting a degree in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM), or Healthcare is a smart move. These fields have the highest job demand globally. However, studying these courses in Europe can be very expensive.
The good news is that many European governments offer fully funded scholarships specifically for these high-demand courses. If you want to study nursing, public health, software engineering, or data science for free, here are the top five scholarships you should target.
1. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (Multiple European Countries)
This is a unique program funded by the European Union. It allows you to study in at least two different European countries during your Master’s program.
- Focus: It heavily funds courses in engineering, environmental science, tech, and public health (like the famous Europubhealth+ program).
- Benefits: It pays your complete tuition, flight tickets, full health insurance, and gives you a monthly allowance of about €1,000 to €1,400.
- Who can apply: Any graduate with a strong academic record. You do not need work experience for most of their programs.
2. DAAD EPOS Scholarship (Germany)
Germany is a global leader in technology and medicine. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers the EPOS award specifically for development-related courses.
- Focus: It is perfect for students going for engineering, mathematics, urban planning, and tropical medicine or public health.
- Benefits: It covers your university fees, health insurance, travel costs, and provides a monthly stipend of €934 for Master’s students (and more for PhDs).
- Who can apply: You need a good Bachelor’s degree and at least two years of relevant work experience before applying.
3. Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (Sweden)
Sweden is home to top tech innovations and excellent healthcare systems. The Swedish government uses this scholarship to train future leaders from developing countries.
- Focus: The selection committee highly prioritizes applicants going for STEM, computer science, and global health degrees.
- Benefits: It is 100% fully funded. It covers your tuition fees entirely, provides a monthly living allowance of SEK 12,000, and gives a travel grant for your flight.
- Who can apply: You must have a minimum of 3,000 hours of proven work experience (which equals about one and a half years of full-time work) and strong leadership skills.
4. Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Program (France)
The French government created this award to attract the smartest foreign students to their universities for Master’s and PhD programs.
- Focus: It strictly targets four main areas. Two of the biggest ones are Engineering Sciences and Biology/Health Sciences.
- Benefits: It gives you a massive monthly allowance of €1,181, free return flights, housing support, and health insurance.
- Who can apply: You cannot apply for this directly. You must first apply for admission into a French university. If the school accepts you, they will nominate you for the Eiffel award.
5. Chevening Scholarship (United Kingdom)
The UK is a favorite destination for Nigerian students. While Chevening supports many different courses, they strongly favor students who want to use STEM and healthcare to solve major problems back home.
- Focus: Perfect for students targeting data science, artificial intelligence, biotechnology, and public health management.
- Benefits: It pays your full tuition, UK visa fees, return flight tickets, and a generous monthly living stipend.
- Who can apply: You need an undergraduate degree, at least two years of work experience, and a very clear essay explaining what you will do when you return to Nigeria.
A Quick Tip for Winning
To win any of these awards, your university grades matter, but your practical experience matters more. Volunteer at local hospitals, join tech communities, or take part in community building projects. The scholarship judges want to see that you are already making an impact in your field before they give you the money.
