Scholarships for Nepali Students 2027: USA, UK, Canada, Australia

The main government scholarships for Nepali students going to the USA, UK and Australia are Fulbright (through USEF Nepal), Chevening and Australia Awards. All three have already closed for 2027 entry, and their next rounds were not announced as of 17 October 2026. Commonwealth Scholarships are not open to Nepali citizens because Nepal is not a Commonwealth member. For 2027, your realistic options are university merit scholarships and a few university-run awards such as the University of Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson scholarship, whose application deadline is 6 November 2026.

Last checked: 17 October 2026. Rupee amounts use the NRB selling rate, 17 October 2026.

Scholarships for Nepali students: 2027 at a glance

USA: Fulbright through USEF Nepal

In Nepal, the Fulbright Foreign Student (Master’s) Program is run by the United States Educational Foundation (USEF) Nepal. For the 2027–28 cohort, USEF Nepal’s timeline shows applications opened on 1 February 2026 and closed on 31 May 2026, with interviews in August 2026 and departure in Fall 2027. If the next round follows the same pattern it would open in early 2027, but USEF Nepal has not announced it yet, so watch its website.

Key eligibility (USEF Nepal general requirements):

• Nepali citizen and current resident.
• At least 16 years of education. A four-year bachelor’s, or a bachelor’s plus a master’s. Three-year bachelor’s holders are not eligible unless they have completed a full master’s.
• At least 3 years of full-time professional work in Nepal after the bachelor’s, relevant to the proposed study.
• 60% aggregate or a 3.0 GPA.
• TOEFL (100+) or GRE only after shortlisting, depending on the field.
• Grantees travel on a J-1 visa and must spend two years in Nepal after the programme before getting an immigrant, H or L visa.

USEF Nepal says the grant covers tuition, a living stipend and academic allowances, round-trip airfare, health insurance and J-1 visa sponsorship (with J-2 visas for an eligible spouse or children under 21).

UK: Chevening (yes, Nepal is eligible)

Chevening, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, has a dedicated Chevening in Nepal page, so Nepali citizens can apply. That page says applications for 2027–28 are now closed. Chevening’s general timeline shows the cycle opens in August and closes in October, with interviews from March to April and results from mid-June.

Main eligibility rules from Chevening’s eligibility guidance:

• Citizen of a Chevening-eligible country, and agree to return home for at least two years after the award.
• At least two years (2,800 hours) of work experience.
• An undergraduate degree that qualifies you for a UK master’s.
• Apply to three different eligible UK courses and hold an unconditional offer from one by the deadline.
• There is no upper age limit.

If you are aiming for September 2028, start now: work experience hours, three course applications and references take time. Our Study in the UK from Nepal guide covers admissions.

UK: Commonwealth Scholarships (Nepal not eligible)

The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK requires applicants to “be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person”. Nepal is not one of the Commonwealth’s 56 member countries and is not on the Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships eligible list. So, unless you hold another eligible citizenship, you cannot apply. Ignore any agent or post saying otherwise.

Australia: Australia Awards Scholarships

Nepal is covered by Australia Awards South Asia and Mongolia, funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and managed by Palladium on the government’s behalf. (It is sometimes wrongly called “South and West Asia”.) The eligible countries are Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Mongolia.

For the 2027 intake, applications closed on 30 April 2026. The regional site says applications will reopen in early 2027 and normally run from 1 February to 30 April. Exact dates for the next intake were not announced as of 17 October 2026.

Key rules from the 2027 intake guidance:

• Nepali citizen living in and applying from Nepal, over 18.
• Master’s only, up to two years, in priority sectors such as climate change, disaster risk reduction, economic development, education, governance and sustainable infrastructure.
• At least three years of relevant full-time work after the bachelor’s (with specific degree combinations).
• IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no band below 6.0, or TOEFL iBT 84 or PTE Academic 58. Some groups, including women and public servants, may qualify with IELTS 6.0 (no band below 5.5).
• Covers full tuition, return airfares, a living-expenses contribution and medical insurance.
• You must leave Australia for at least two years after the scholarship.

Canada: what is genuinely open to Nepali students

• Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship, University of Toronto. Covers tuition, books, incidental fees and full residence support for four years; about 37 scholars a year. For September 2027 entry you must be in your final year of secondary school (or graduated no earlier than June 2026) and be nominated by your school. The school nomination deadline was 9 October 2026 and the scholarship application and documents are due 6 November 2026.
• Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral (CGRS D). CAD 40,000 a year for 36 months (about Rs 43.02 lakh a year, NRB selling rate, 17 October 2026). International students qualify only if already registered in an eligible doctoral programme at a Canadian institution; up to 15% of awards go to international applicants.
• Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships are no longer accepting applications. The Vanier site points to CGRS D as the new harmonised programme.

Most other Canadian funding for international students comes from individual universities, often as automatic entrance awards. Check each university’s international awards page. See also Study in Canada from Nepal.

University merit scholarships: your best bet for 2027

Since the big government awards are closed for 2027, most Nepali students starting in 2027 will rely on university scholarships. How to find them properly:

1. Use the university’s own website only. Search “[university name] international scholarships” and confirm you are on the official domain.
2. Check whether it is automatic or needs a separate application. Many deadlines fall before the admission deadline.
3. Read the fine print: amount per year, how many years, the GPA you must keep, and whether it is a tuition discount rather than cash.
4. Get the award in writing, on the offer letter, I-20, CAS or CoE where possible. Visa officers look at the funds you must show after the scholarship.
5. Recalculate your bank balance with our bank balance guide. A partial scholarship lowers the amount you need, but does not remove it.

For Nepali applicants: what to watch

• Three years of work experience is required for both Fulbright and Australia Awards. Fresh graduates should plan for later rounds, not 2027.
• Return obligations are real. Fulbright (J-1 two-year rule), Chevening and Australia Awards all require you to go home for at least two years.
• Scholarships are free to apply for. Fulbright, Chevening and Australia Awards are applied for online directly. Nobody can “guarantee” one for a fee. Test any adviser with our consultancy red flag test.
• Fake “scholarship” offers that need you to pay a processing fee first are a classic scam.

Common mistakes

• Trusting scholarship lists on social media with old deadlines.
• Applying for Commonwealth Scholarships with Nepali citizenship.
• Missing a university scholarship deadline that is earlier than the admission deadline.
• Counting a scholarship as cash when it is a tuition discount.
• Leaving references and work-experience proof to the last week.

What to do next

1. For 2027 entry: shortlist universities and note each scholarship deadline.
2. For 2028 entry: prepare now for Chevening (its usual cycle opens in August and closes in October), Australia Awards (early 2027) and Fulbright (watch USEF Nepal).
3. Collect work-experience letters, transcripts and test scores early.
4. Build your full plan with our free study abroad plan tool.

Frequently asked questions

Is Chevening available for Nepali students?
Yes. Chevening has a Nepal country page, so Nepali citizens can apply. The 2027–28 round is closed; the next round’s dates were not announced as of 17 October 2026.

Can Nepali students apply for Commonwealth Scholarships?
No. Applicants must be citizens of an eligible Commonwealth country, and Nepal is not a Commonwealth member.

When does Fulbright Nepal open for 2028?
USEF Nepal has not announced it as of 17 October 2026. The last round opened on 1 February 2026 and closed on 31 May 2026.

Is the Australia Awards scholarship open for Nepal now?
No. The 2027 intake closed on 30 April 2026. The official site says applications reopen in early 2027, usually 1 February to 30 April.

Are there full scholarships in Canada for Nepali undergraduates?
Yes, a few, such as the University of Toronto’s Lester B. Pearson scholarship. It needs a school nomination, and the 2027 application deadline is 6 November 2026.

Related guides

• Education Loan in Nepal for Study Abroad: How It Works (2026)
• Sponsor Documents for Study Abroad from Nepal: 2026 Checklist
• Property Valuation and Income Source Certificate for Student Visa
• How to Explain a Study Gap for a Student Visa (Nepal Guide)

Sources

• Fulbright Foreign Student Program timeline – USEF Nepal
• Fulbright general requirements – USEF Nepal
• Fulbright grant benefits – USEF Nepal
• Chevening in Nepal – Chevening
• Chevening application timeline
• Chevening eligibility guidance
• Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships – Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK
• Commonwealth member countries – Commonwealth Secretariat
• How to apply, intake 2027 – Australia Awards Nepal
• Scholarships – Australia Awards South Asia and Mongolia
• Lester B. Pearson International Scholarships – University of Toronto
• Canada Graduate Research Scholarship – Doctoral – NSERC
• Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships

Last checked: 17 October 2026. This is general information, not financial or immigration advice. Always confirm deadlines on the official scholarship website.