Asia Scholarships & PhD Positions 2026–2027: 19+ Open Programmes
19 verified asia scholarships & phd positions for 2026–2027 are open right now, concentrated in Japan and Hong Kong. The soonest deadline is 30 October 2026 — closing-soon entries are flagged in the list. Hosted by Asian Development Bank (ADB), Chinese University of Hong Kong and Government of Japan. Listings are re-verified daily against official sources.
The Asian Development Bank–Japan Scholarship Program funds about 300 students each year from ADB developing member countries to study approved master's (and in some cases doctoral) programmes, mostly in economics, management, health, education, agriculture, environment and technology. There is no central application deadline: candidates apply directly to a participating university, which forwards eligible files to ADB, and applications should reach the university at least six months before the intended start.
✓ Fully FundedMonthly stipend per programme rules — see official listing
University-specific (e.g. GRIPS 20 Nov 2026; AIT 31 Mar 2027) – see host universityDetails Details
Full tuition HK$190,000 per annum plus HK$9,000 monthly stipend for MA in Intercultural Studies at CUHK. For underrepresented groups. Deadline: 15 January 2027.
Fully funded CSC scholarship at Tsinghua University covering tuition, accommodation, monthly stipend (CNY 3,000-3,500), and medical insurance. Open to international students for Master's and PhD programs. Apply via Type A (embassy) or Type B (direct to Tsinghua).
National Institute for International Education (NIIED) / Study in Korea · South Korea
The Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) for graduate degrees is the Korean government's flagship scholarship for international master's and PhD students, administered by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) under the Ministry of Education. Each year more than a thousand candidates are selected worldwide through two application tracks: the embassy track, which runs through Korean embassies in each country, and the university track, which runs directly through designated Korean universities.
✓ Fully FundedKRW 900,000/month (graduate), plus tuition, airfare and 1-year Korean language training
HKU Presidential PhD Scholar Programme 2027/28: HK$28,700/month scholarship, HK$40,000 cash award, full fee waiver and guaranteed hall place - first-year value up to HK$445,800. Main Round closes 1 December 2026.
The Hokkaido International Foundation (HIF) offers a scholarship for foreign students of Japanese to attend its intensive summer Japanese-language programme in Hakodate. The annual call, including the deadline and grant coverage, is published on the foundation's scholarship page for foreigners.
Partially FundedMonthly stipend per programme rules — see official listing
400 fully funded PhD fellowships in Hong Kong. Annual stipend HK$344,400 plus HK$14,400 travel allowance. Open to all nationalities. Deadline: 1 Dec 2026.
Keio University participates in the ADB-Japan Scholarship Program, offering fully funded master's study at its graduate schools in economics, business, public policy and media and governance. Candidates apply to Keio's graduate admissions with an ADB-JSP expression, and the scholarship rounds close several months before the September intake.
✓ Fully FundedFull tuition + monthly subsistence and housing allowance per ADB-JSP schedule
Nanyang Technological University (NTU) · Singapore
NTU's Research Scholarship supports eligible PhD researchers in Singapore. Hosted by Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore. Apply by School/programme-specific; no single university deadline.
National University of Singapore (NUS) · Singapore
The NUS Integrative Sciences and Engineering Programme supports interdisciplinary PhD research. Hosted by National University of Singapore (NUS) in Singapore. Apply by 15 December 2026 (August 2027 intake).
Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) · Japan
OIST recruits international applicants for its PhD programme in Okinawa. Hosted by Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST) in Okinawa. Apply by 15 November 2026, 23:59 JST.
✓ Fully FundedMonthly stipend per programme rules — see official listing
The Rotary Yoneyama Scholarship 2027 for Overseas Candidates at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University (APU) provides ¥140,000 per month for two years to Master's and PhD students plus up to ¥250,000 in travel reimbursement. Foundation application window: 1-31 October 2026. APU deadlines: 15 September 2026 (Sept 2027 intake) and 7 October 2026 (April 2027 intake). This award provides living-cost support; tuition fees are not covered.
Partially Funded¥140,000 monthly stipend for 2 years
Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) · Singapore
SUTD's PhD scholarship route supports research in technology, design and related disciplines. Scholarship funding is competitive and not guaranteed by admission. No IELTS needed if your degree was taught in English - an MOI letter waives SUTD's English test requirement.
✓ Fully FundedCompetitive SUTD PhD Fellowship: tuition for up to four
Tokushima University's International Student Center (ISC) publishes step-by-step admission guidance for international students across its graduate programmes, including document requirements, screening timelines and scholarship options such as tuition reductions and MEXT routes. Each intake's windows are listed on the admission-steps page.
Partially FundedTuition reductions and MEXT/university scholarship routes
Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia (UIII) · Indonesia
UIII (Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia) is a graduate-only university near Jakarta offering MA and PhD programmes across four faculties, with full scholarships for admitted international students. Its admissions portal runs early-bird and regular rounds for the 2027-2028 academic year.
✓ Fully FundedStipend/salary rate set by the funder — see the official listing
The University of Tokyo's scholarship page consolidates funding for international graduate students: the Japanese government's MEXT scholarship, university-run awards, and private-foundation grants. Because each scholarship and graduate school sets its own timeline, applicants should map funding deadlines against their admission round.
Yokohama National University's Special Graduate Program in urban innovation and related engineering fields lets international students earn master's and doctoral degrees entirely in English, with MEXT-linked scholarship slots attached to the admission round. The application guideline, including the closing date, is published annually on the programme page.
