A quick honesty note before the list: September itself is a thin month for brand-new deadlines. Most of the big-name scholarships you’ll see in “September roundups” elsewhere Commonwealth, Chevening, DAAD, Knight-Hennessy, Canada’s new doctoral award actually close in October or November. Only Schwarzman Scholars has a deadline that falls in September. Everything else below is either open right now with a deadline in the coming weeks or a scholarship you need to start preparing for this month because the window is short once it opens.
Currency note: 1 GBP = Rs. 127 | 1 USD = Rs. 94 | 1 EUR = Rs. 109 | 1 CAD = Rs. 68 as of September 2026. Always verify current rates before financial planning.
Closing This Week: Apply Before September 9
Schwarzman Scholars, Tsinghua University, China
Deadline: September 9, 2026, 3:00 PM EDT | Fully Funded
A one-year, fully funded master’s in Global Affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing, open to applicants of any nationality, including India. No GRE, GMAT, or Mandarin proficiency is required.
What it covers:
- Full tuition and fees.
- Accommodation, round-trip airfare, health insurance, and course materials.
- A laptop and a personal stipend of USD 4,000 (approximately Rs. 3.76 lakh).
Eligibility for Indian students:
- Aged 18 to 29 as of August 1, 2027.
- Bachelor’s degree completed before August 1, 2027.
- Strong English proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS waived if you studied in English for 2+ years at the undergraduate or master’s level).
Apply at: schwarzmanscholars.org
Why this matters for Indian students: One of the very few fully funded master’s programs with no GRE, GMAT, or language test requirement for most applicants. This is a “finish and submit” week, not a “start from scratch” one.
Open Now, Closing in October Start This Month
These aren’t September deadlines, but if you want a shot at them, September is when you need to be finalizing documents, references, and university offers.
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships, UK
Expected CSC deadline: Mid-October 2026 | Level: Master’s | Fully Funded
Supports full-time postgraduate study in the UK for Indian students who can demonstrate genuine financial need.
What it covers: Full tuition, airfare, and a living allowance.
Eligibility for Indian students: Upper second-class (2:1) undergraduate degree or equivalent by September 2026; demonstrated financial need; MBA programs generally not eligible.
Apply at: cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk
Why start now: India’s nominating body (Ministry of Education) usually has an internal deadline earlier than the CSC’s own cutoff, so September is when that paperwork needs to move.
Knight-Hennessy Scholars, Stanford University
Deadline: October 6, 2026, 1:00 PM Pacific Time | Level: Master’s/MBA/JD/MD/PhD | Fully Funded
Covers any eligible graduate degree at Stanford for students of any nationality. Requires a separate application for a Stanford graduate program, due by your program’s deadline or December 1, 2026, whichever is earlier.
Apply at: knight-hennessy.stanford.edu
DAAD Study Scholarship, Germany
Deadline: October 15, 2026 | Level: Master’s/PhD | Fully Funded
Open to candidates with above-average grades and a clear study plan at a German institution.
What it covers: Monthly stipend of EUR 992 for master’s (approximately Rs. 1.08 lakh) or EUR 1,400 for PhD (approximately Rs. 1.53 lakh), plus travel allowance and health insurance.
Apply at: daad.de
Canada Graduate Research Scholarship Doctoral (CGRS-D)
Institutional deadlines: Late August to mid-October 2026 (varies by university) | Level: PhD
This award is the new program that replaced the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship, which was discontinued after its final 2024 competition.
What it covers: CAD 40,000/year (approximately Rs. 27.20 lakh/year) for up to 3 years, covering tuition, living costs, and research expenses.
Eligibility for Indian students: International PhD applicants are explicitly eligible for the first time under this harmonized program. Apply through your university’s graduate school office; do not prepare a Vanier application, as it is no longer accepted anywhere.
Apply at: Check your target university’s graduate studies office for its CGRS-D internal deadline.
Still Open: Chevening
Chevening Scholarship, UK
Deadline: November 5, 2026 | Level: Master’s | Fully Funded
Opened August 5 and still accepting applications. Requires 2 years of work experience and an unconditional offer from an eligible UK master’s program at the time of submission.
What it covers: Full tuition, monthly living allowance, and airfare, totalling GBP 35,000–50,000 (approximately Rs. 44.45 lakh to Rs. 63.50 lakh).
Apply at: chevening.org/scholarship/india
Open Year-Round: Rolling Applications
KAUST Visiting Student Research Program (VSRP), Saudi Arabia
Deadline: Rolling | Level: Undergraduate/Master’s research internship
2-to-6-month research placements with a monthly stipend of USD 1,000 (approximately Rs. 94,000), accommodation, and travel covered.
Apply at: vsrp.kaust.edu.sa
All Deadlines at a Glance
| Scholarship | Country | Level | Deadline | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schwarzman Scholars | China | Master’s | September 9, 2026 | Full funding + USD 4,000 stipend (Rs. 3.76 lakh) |
| Commonwealth Master’s | UK | Master’s | Mid-October 2026 (expected) | Full tuition + allowances |
| Knight-Hennessy | USA (Stanford) | Master’s–PhD | October 6, 2026 | Full Stanford funding |
| DAAD Study Scholarship | Germany | Master’s/PhD | October 15, 2026 | EUR 992–1,400/month (Rs. 1.08–1.53 lakh) |
| CGRS-D (replaces Vanier) | Canada | PhD | Late Aug–mid-Oct 2026 (varies) | CAD 40,000/year (Rs. 27.20 lakh) |
| Chevening | UK | Master’s | November 5, 2026 | GBP 35,000–50,000 (Rs. 44.45–63.50 lakh) |
| KAUST VSRP | Saudi Arabia | UG/Master’s internship | Rolling | USD 1,000/month (Rs. 94,000) |
This story has been verified by Leap Scholar.
Not sure if your profile fits any of these? A quick counselling call with a Leap Scholar counselor can help you shortlist and prioritise your applications between now and October.
Sources: Schwarzman Scholars Official | Vanier CGS Official (discontinued notice) | NSERC CGRS-D Program | Commonwealth Scholarship Commission | Knight-Hennessy Scholars Official | DAAD Official | Chevening Official | KAUST VSRP Official
