TheScholarSphere

Scholarships

All ScholarshipsBy CountryBy NationalityBy FieldFully Funded
ToolsGuidesBlogPricing
Find Scholarships
🇮🇷

Middle East

Scholarships for Iranian Students

29 scholarships open to Iranian students · 27 fully funded · Top destinations: United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands

Iranian students have access to a wide range of international scholarship opportunities. From fully funded government scholarships to prestigious university awards, there are 29 programs currently available — helping Iranian students pursue their academic goals without financial barriers.

29

Total Scholarships

27

Fully Funded

8

Destination Countries

3

Degree Levels

All Scholarships for Iranian Students

DAAD Scholarship

🇩🇪 Germany
Fully Funded
Masters
  • Monthly stipend (€934 for master's, €1,300 for PhD)
  • Health insurance subsidy
  • Travel allowance
Deadline: October 15 (varies by programme)
High
View Details Apply

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters

🇳🇱 Netherlands
Fully Funded
Masters
  • Participation costs including tuition
  • Monthly living allowance (€1,400/month)
  • Travel and installation costs
Deadline: January–March (varies by programme)
Very High
View Details Apply

Stipendium Hungaricum

🇭🇺 Hungary
Fully Funded
Undergraduate Masters PhD
  • Tuition-free education
  • Monthly stipend (HUF 43,700–140,000)
  • Free accommodation or dormitory contribution
Deadline: January 15
Medium
View Details Apply

Rhodes Scholarship

🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Fully Funded
Masters
  • Full university and college fees
  • Personal stipend (£19,092/year)
  • Return economy airfare
Deadline: Varies by country (June–October)
Very High
View Details Apply

Émile Boutmy Scholarship

🇫🇷 France
Partial Funding
Undergraduate
  • Tuition waiver or significant reduction (up to €13,190/year)
  • Some grants include living cost contribution (€5,000/year)
Deadline: Varies by intake (December–April)
High
View Details Apply

Top Destination Countries for Iranian Students

These countries offer the most scholarship opportunities for Iranian students. Click a destination to see specific scholarships and eligibility details.

🇬🇧

United Kingdom

6 scholarships

 🇩🇪

Germany

2 scholarships

 🇳🇱

Netherlands

2 scholarships

 🇯🇵

Japan

2 scholarships

 🇨🇳

China

2 scholarships

 🇰🇷

South Korea

2 scholarships

 🇫🇷

France

2 scholarships

 🇦🇺

Australia

2 scholarships

Scholarships by Degree Level

Browse scholarships for Iranian students organized by academic level.

Undergraduate

10

scholarships available

Masters

20

scholarships available

PhD

11

scholarships available

The Study-Abroad Context for Iranian Students

Iran sends approximately 70,000 students abroad each year despite international restrictions. Top destinations include Turkey, Canada, Germany, USA, and Italy. Strong STEM and medical education at Iranian universities (Sharif, Tehran, Amirkabir) produces internationally competitive applicants. The Ministry of Science and Technology coordinates Iranian higher education; international scholarships fund most overseas postgraduate study.

Common Challenges for Iranian Applicants

These are the recurring practical issues Iranian applicants face when applying for international scholarships. Knowing them early lets you plan the timeline correctly.

Visa scrutiny and restrictions

Iranian applicants face significant visa scrutiny in US, UK, and some Schengen countries due to sanctions and security policies.

Banking and financial documentation

International sanctions affect financial transfers; legitimate channels exist but require careful documentation.

Document verification timing

Document attestation through universities, MSRT, and MOFA can take 4–8 weeks.

Field-of-study restrictions

Some destinations restrict Iranian applicants from certain sensitive fields (nuclear engineering, certain materials research).

Document Attestation and Authentication for Iranian Applicants

Iranian academic documents need attestation through the issuing university, then the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology (MSRT), then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), and finally the destination-country embassy or interest section. Iran is not currently a Hague Convention party. Some destinations accept WES or ECE evaluations in lieu of the full attestation chain. Iranian passport-holders may face additional documentation requirements at certain embassies.

What Makes Iranian Applications Strong

Strong Iranian applications emphasise specific research interests (particularly in STEM fields where Iranian undergraduate education is internationally strong), demonstrated research output, and clear professional or academic plans. STEM applicants from Sharif University, University of Tehran, and Amirkabir University consistently win admissions to top global programmes. PhD applications with named supervisors and strong research portfolios are most successful.

Where Iranian Students Typically Go

These are the most frequently chosen destinations for Iranian scholarship applicants and the specific reasons each one attracts students from Iran.

Turkey

Geographic proximity, lower visa barriers, growing Iranian diaspora

Canada

Strong study-to-PR pathway, large Iranian-Canadian diaspora, less restrictive than US

Germany

DAAD support, tuition-free public universities, strong Iranian-German research collaboration

United States

Where visas permit — Iranian STEM applicants are heavily recruited at top universities

Italy

Italian Government Scholarship, growing Iranian student community

FAQs: Scholarships for Iranian Students

Popular study destinations for Iranian students include the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Australia, and several other European and Asian countries. Each offers unique academic strengths, scholarship programs, and post-study work opportunities. Your ideal destination depends on your field of study, budget, and career goals.

TheScholarSphere currently lists 27 fully funded scholarship programs available to Iranian students out of 29 total opportunities. Fully funded scholarships cover tuition, living costs, health insurance, and often include travel allowances.

Most English-taught programs in non-English-speaking countries and all programs in English-speaking countries require IELTS (typically 6.0–7.0) or TOEFL (80–100) scores. Some scholarships waive this requirement if you completed your previous degree in English. Always check individual program requirements.

Yes, virtually all international scholarships accept applications from students in their home country. In fact, many government scholarships (like Chevening, DAAD, and Türkiye Bursları) require applicants to be in their home country at the time of application. You can complete the entire application process from Iran.

Scholarships with "medium" or "low" competitiveness ratings tend to be more accessible. Government-to-government scholarships like Stipendium Hungaricum, Türkiye Bursları, and Chinese Government Scholarships (CSC) have relatively higher acceptance rates compared to highly competitive programs like Rhodes, Gates Cambridge, or Chevening.

Most scholarship deadlines for the 2026 academic year fall between October 2025 and March 2026. Start researching and preparing documents at least 12–18 months in advance. Some programs like Fulbright and Chevening have early deadlines, so planning ahead is essential.
Scholarship Alerts

Never Miss a Scholarship Deadline

Get curated scholarship opportunities, application tips, and deadline reminders delivered straight to your inbox every week.

Verified scholarships only Weekly updates Unsubscribe anytime