How to Get a 100% Scholarship to Study Abroad: A Complete Guide for Bangladeshi Students

For many Bangladeshi students, studying abroad is an exciting goal, but the cost can be one of the biggest concerns.

International tuition fees, accommodation, food, travel, health insurance and other expenses add up quickly, which is why so many students search for how to get a 100% scholarship to study abroad.

The good news: full and fully funded scholarships do exist. The important part is understanding that receiving one is highly competitive, and there is no shortcut, guaranteed formula, or consultancy that can promise you a 100% scholarship.

Successful applicants usually combine strong academic results with a carefully selected scholarship, a convincing application, clear goals, and evidence that they are a good match for what the scholarship provider is looking for.

This guide explains what a 100% scholarship actually means, where to find fully funded opportunities, and how Bangladeshi students can improve their chances of securing one. If you’d rather talk through your specific profile with someone first, ESI Global’s education counsellors can help you shortlist realistic options.

What Does a 100% Scholarship Actually Mean?

Before applying, understand exactly what a scholarship covers. The phrase “100% scholarship” is often used casually, but scholarship packages can be very different.

Full Tuition Scholarship

A full tuition scholarship normally covers 100% of your tuition fees. However, you may still need to pay for:

• Accommodation
• Food
• Transportation
• Flights
• Visa-related expenses
• Health insurance
• Books and study materials
• Personal expenses

This is still an extremely valuable scholarship, but it does not necessarily mean that studying abroad will cost you nothing.

Fully Funded Scholarship

A fully funded scholarship generally provides broader financial support. Depending on the programme, funding may include tuition fees, living expenses, travel, insurance and other study-related costs.

For example, the UK Government’s Chevening Scholarship describes itself as fully funded and currently includes tuition fees, economy travel, visa application costs and a monthly living allowance among its benefits. Similarly, Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters can offer full scholarships to the highest-ranked students from around the world.

The exact benefits always depend on the scholarship. So instead of asking only “Is this a 100% scholarship?” ask “Exactly which expenses does this scholarship cover?”

Can Bangladeshi Students Get a 100% Scholarship Abroad?

Yes. Bangladeshi students can apply for many university, government and international scholarship programmes, provided they meet the individual eligibility requirements, at the following levels:

• Bachelor’s degrees
• Master’s degrees
• Research master’s programmes
• PhD programmes

Availability differs significantly by country and academic level. Fully funded undergraduate scholarships are often particularly competitive, while master’s and research students tend to find more opportunities through government scholarship programmes, research funding and international programmes.

For example, Bangladeshi applicants are currently eligible for the UK Government’s Chevening Scholarship, one of the most popular routes for students planning to study in the United Kingdom. The Fulbright Foreign Student Program also offers opportunities for eligible international applicants pursuing master’s or doctoral study in the United States, with benefits that include funding support, J-1 visa sponsorship and a health benefit plan.

The opportunity exists, but getting selected requires planning. Here’s how.

10 Steps to Improve Your Chances of Winning a Scholarship

1. Start With a Strong Academic Profile

Academic performance is one of the first things many scholarship committees assess. That doesn’t mean every full scholarship requires a perfect GPA, different scholarships evaluate applicants differently. Strong academic results simply demonstrate that you’re capable of succeeding in a demanding academic environment.

For Bangladeshi students, relevant results include SSC and HSC grades for undergraduate applications, or bachelor’s and master’s results for postgraduate applications. If your results aren’t perfect, don’t assume you have no chance, leadership, professional experience, community involvement and research potential can still strengthen your application, particularly for scholarships that value more than grades.

2. Do Not Apply to Every Scholarship You Find

One of the biggest mistakes students make is sending the same application to dozens of scholarships. A better approach is to shortlist scholarships where you’re genuinely competitive.

Before applying, check:

• Nationality requirements
• Academic requirements
• Degree level
• Eligible subjects
• English-language requirements
• Work experience requirements
• Leadership criteria
• Application deadline
• Required documents
• Whether university admission is required separately

Chevening’s current eligibility criteria, for example, include holding an undergraduate degree suitable for a UK master’s programme and having at least two years of post-graduation work experience. A fresh graduate without that experience would waste time applying before becoming eligible. Matching your profile to the scholarship matters more than submitting a large number of applications, ESI Global’s admission service can help you check eligibility before you commit time to an application.

3. Build More Than Good Grades

For highly competitive scholarships, academic results alone may not be enough. Depending on the programme, valuable experience may include:

• Leadership roles
• Volunteer work
• Community involvement
• Research and internships
• Employment or entrepreneurship
• Student organisations and social-impact activities
• Competitions or academic projects

The goal isn’t collecting random certificates, your activities should tell a coherent story about your interests and goals. A student applying for a master’s in environmental sustainability, for instance, builds a far stronger application with climate research or sustainability volunteering than with 20 unrelated certificates.

4. Understand What the Scholarship Provider Is Looking For

Every scholarship has a purpose. Some want academic excellence; others focus on leadership, development goals, research, or international cooperation. Read the criteria carefully and ask: why does this scholarship exist, and how does my background connect with that purpose?

Chevening, for example, places strong emphasis on future leadership, impact and a clear vision for what applicants want to achieve. An applicant who writes only “I want a scholarship because studying in the UK is my dream” is unlikely to stand out next to someone who clearly explains their experience, future goals, and how the degree connects the two. Your application needs to answer: why should we invest in you?

5. Write a Strong Statement of Purpose or Scholarship Essay

For many scholarships, the written application is where equally qualified candidates separate themselves. A strong essay should be personal, specific and evidence-based.

Avoid generic statements like “I have always dreamed of studying abroad because international education is very good.” Instead, explain what you want to study, why it matters to you, what experiences shaped your interest, why you chose the programme, and what you intend to do with the education afterward.

Use examples: instead of “I am a good leader,” describe a situation where you led a team, solved a problem, and achieved a measurable outcome. Specific evidence is always more convincing than adjectives and never copy someone else’s successful essay; the committee is trying to understand your story.

6. Choose the Right Course and University

Scholarship applications get stronger when your course selection makes sense, your previous education, your experience and your future goals should connect logically. A student who studied electrical engineering and later worked in renewable energy makes a clear case applying for a master’s in sustainable energy.

Changing fields isn’t impossible, but you should be able to explain why. Choose your university based on course content, faculty expertise, research areas, facilities, career relevance and scholarship eligibility, not just name recognition. For Chevening, applicants currently choose three eligible master’s courses and must eventually receive an unconditional offer from one of them within the programme’s required timeline. If you’re unsure which course and country combination fits your goals, ESI Global’s country guides and admission service team can help you compare options.

7. Achieve the Required English Score

Many international universities require proof of English-language proficiency, commonly IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL or another approved test. There is no universal score that guarantees a scholarship; each university and scholarship sets its own requirement, so focus first on meeting the actual threshold of your target programme.

Start preparation early. Waiting until close to a scholarship deadline to sit your English test creates unnecessary pressure, especially if you need to retake it. ESI Global provides PTE preparation and Spoken English support alongside its other education services, which can help students meet university entry requirements on schedule.

8. Get Strong Recommendation Letters

Some applications require academic or professional references. Choose referees who genuinely know your work, a professor who taught and supervised you is often more valuable than a senior academic who barely remembers you, and the same logic applies to workplace supervisors.

Give your referee enough time, and provide useful context: the programme you’re applying to, your academic goals, relevant accomplishments and the submission deadline. Never assume your referee already knows what the committee wants to hear.

9. Apply Early and Prepare Your Documents in Advance

Fully funded scholarships attract applicants from many countries, and waiting until the final day increases the chance of avoidable mistakes. Prepare a scholarship folder with documents commonly required across programmes:

• Academic transcripts and certificates
• Passport
• CV or résumé
• English-language test result
• Recommendation letters
• Personal statement
• Research proposal (where relevant)
• Employment evidence, awards or supporting documents

Requirements differ between programmes, so always follow the official checklist, and set your own internal deadline one or two weeks before the real one so you have time to review everything properly.

10. Apply for Different Types of Scholarships

Don’t limit yourself to one famous programme, scholarships come from several sources:

• Government scholarships, such as Chevening in the UK and other country-specific government awards.
• University scholarships, merit scholarships, international student scholarships, tuition discounts and research funding offered directly by institutions. Australia’s official Study Australia platform notes that scholarships for international students come from the Australian Government, education providers and other organisations.
• International programmes, such as Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters, which offers international master’s opportunities across multiple universities, with full scholarships for top-ranked applicants.
• Research scholarships, for research master’s or PhD students, often connected to a research project, supervisor or government programme. Australia’s Research Training Program, for example, supports eligible domestic and international research students through participating universities.
• Scholarship databases, Germany’s DAAD maintains a database of DAAD scholarships as well as selected funding opportunities from other organisations for international students and researchers.

Search broadly, but apply selectively.

Popular Fully Funded Scholarship Opportunities to Research

Scholarship	Destination	Typical Level	Key Point
Chevening Scholarship	UK	Master’s	Fully funded UK Government scholarship; Bangladesh is currently an eligible country
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters	Europe	Master’s	Full scholarships may be offered to top-ranked students worldwide
Fulbright Foreign Student Program	USA	Master’s / Doctoral	International graduate study and research funding
DAAD Scholarships	Germany	Various, especially postgraduate/research	Multiple scholarship programmes available through DAAD’s database
University Scholarships	Multiple countries	Undergraduate/Postgraduate	Funding varies from partial tuition support to full scholarships
Research Scholarships	Multiple countries	Research Master’s / PhD	Often linked to academic merit, research potential and specific projects

Always check the official scholarship website before applying, since eligibility, benefits, deadlines and availability can change.

How Early Should You Start Preparing?

Serious scholarship preparation should ideally begin months before applications open, for highly competitive opportunities, a year or more in advance, since parts of your profile (academic performance, work experience, leadership activities, research, English proficiency, referee relationships) can’t be improved overnight.

If you’re currently in the first or second year of university and want a fully funded master’s degree later, you can start now. Your profile is built over time, not during the final week before the deadline.

A practical preparation timeline:

• 12+ months before: Research destinations, courses and scholarship programmes.
• 9–12 months before: Identify eligibility gaps and work on English, experience, research or extracurricular activities.
• 6–9 months before: Shortlist programmes, prepare your CV and begin drafting major application documents.
• 3–6 months before: Request references, complete English tests and prepare scholarship essays.
• Application period: Review every requirement carefully and submit before the deadline.

This is only a planning framework, actual scholarship deadlines differ, so always confirm official dates.

Common Scholarship Mistakes to Avoid

Even strong students weaken their chances through poor preparation. Common mistakes include:

• Submitting the same personal statement everywhere
• Applying without reading eligibility criteria
• Exaggerating achievements
• Focusing only on famous scholarships
• Missing deadlines
• Choosing courses that don’t match career goals
• Failing to properly explain future plans
• Approaching scholarships purely from a financial-need perspective, rather than explaining why you’re a strong candidate

So, How Can You Get a 100% Scholarship to Study Abroad?

There’s no guaranteed formula, but you can significantly improve your chances by:

1. Building a strong academic and professional profile
2. Researching scholarships that genuinely match your background
3. Choosing courses that connect with your goals
4. Developing relevant leadership, research or community experience
5. Writing a personal and convincing application
6. Securing good references
7. Meeting language and admission requirements
8. Applying early and carefully

And most importantly, apply even if you’re not certain you’ll win. Competitive scholarships reject many excellent candidates, and not being selected doesn’t mean your profile is poor. Learn from the process, strengthen your application, and keep exploring other funding opportunities.

Plan Your Study Abroad Journey with ESI Global

Finding the right scholarship starts with finding the right study pathway. A scholarship for a course that doesn’t suit your academic background or career objectives isn’t necessarily a good opportunity.

ESI Global Services supports students with university and course selection, admission services, PTE and Spoken English preparation, and visa-related assistance across study destinations including Australia, Canada, Ireland, Malaysia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

ESI Global cannot guarantee a scholarship decision and you should be cautious of any organisation that does, but professional guidance can help you approach the process with better information and stronger preparation. If you have more questions, check our FAQ page or read how other Bangladeshi students are choosing a study abroad consultancy in Dhaka.

Ready to start? Contact ESI Global Services to discuss your academic background, preferred destination, budget and future goals with an education counsellor and begin planning your international education journey.

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