Master's Programs That Are Completely FREE

Three Types of Funding#

Before we look at specific programs, you need to understand the three main ways universities fund Master's students.

Fully Funded Programs#

Some Master's programs automatically cover tuition and provide a stipend to every admitted student. You do not need to apply for separate scholarships. If you get in, you are funded. These are rare but they exist, and they are the best opportunities for international students without money.

Named Scholarships#

Named scholarships are funded by donors, foundations, or organizations. They are awarded to students who meet specific criteria, such as being from a particular country, studying a certain field, or demonstrating leadership. These scholarships are competitive but can cover your entire cost of attendance.

Assistantships#

Assistantships are positions where you work for the university in exchange for tuition and a stipend. There are two main types:

A Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) means you help teach undergraduate classes. In exchange, the university waives your tuition and pays you a monthly stipend. You might lead discussion sections, grade assignments, or hold office hours.

A Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) means you work on a professor's research project. Like a GTA, you receive tuition coverage and a stipend. GRAs are more common in STEM fields where professors have grant funding.

This list is organized into three tiers based on how reliable the funding actually is for international applicants. Apply where you have a real shot — not where the marketing sounds good.

Tier 1 — Strong Paths to Full Funding#

These programs cover tuition + stipend + (usually) health insurance for the students they fund. Most fund every student admitted to the program. A few are eligibility-based or competitive (clearly labeled) — but when awarded, the funding is genuinely full and life-changing. Apply to anything in this tier that matches your situation.

1. Princeton University — Master in Public Affairs (MPA/MPP)#

Princeton's School of Public and International Affairs (SPIA) fully funds every admitted MPA/MPP student. Tuition, health insurance, and a generous living stipend, for the full two years.

2. MIT Media Lab — Master of Science (MAS)#

The MIT Media Lab funds all admitted MAS students through research assistantships. Cutting-edge work in tech, design, and social impact. Tuition covered, monthly stipend, health insurance.

3. UC Berkeley — Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program#

For students from Africa. Full tuition + living costs + travel + books, plus mentoring and a career-services pipeline. Open to economically disadvantaged students from Sub-Saharan Africa across multiple master's programs at Berkeley. If you're eligible, this is one of the strongest funded paths anywhere.

4. Arizona State University — Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program#

For students from Africa. Same Mastercard Foundation eligibility rules as Berkeley's version: full funding (tuition + housing + living) across several ASU master's programs for students from Sub-Saharan Africa.

5. Stanford University — Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program#

Competitive scholarship — open to all internationals. Covers full tuition + stipend across nearly any Stanford graduate program (business, law, medicine, engineering, sciences, humanities). One of the most generous scholarships in the world. About 90 scholars admitted per year from 8,000+ applicants — apply with a strong story, but treat it as a stretch alongside other Tier 1 picks.

6. Brown University — MFA in Literary Arts#

Small, highly selective, fully funded. Every admitted student gets tuition, stipend, and health insurance.

7. University of Iowa — Iowa Writers' Workshop (MFA)#

The most prestigious creative-writing MFA in the country. All admitted students receive full funding via teaching assistantships and fellowships.

8. University of Texas at Austin — Michener Center for Writers (MFA)#

One of the most generously funded MFAs anywhere. Full tuition, a large annual stipend, and health insurance for every admit.

9. University of Texas at Austin — New Writers Project (MFA)#

The sister program to Michener at UT Austin. Smaller and lesser-known, but also fully funded for every admitted student — and slightly less competitive than Michener.

10. University of Michigan — Helen Zell Writers' Program (MFA)#

Michigan's MFA in Creative Writing. Every admit receives full tuition + stipend + health insurance for the full two years, plus a post-graduate fellowship year for some students.

11. Indiana University Bloomington — MFA in Creative Writing#

Fully funded for all admitted students through teaching assistantships. Tuition waiver plus stipend.

12. Vanderbilt University — MFA in Creative Writing#

All admits receive full tuition + stipend through teaching assistantships.

13. Cornell University — MFA in Creative Writing#

Cornell's MFA is fully funded. Tuition, stipend, health insurance for every admitted student.

14. Boston University — MFA in Creative Writing#

One-year MFA, fully funded with tuition + stipend for all admits.

15. Syracuse University — MFA in Creative Writing#

Three-year program, fully funded for every admit via teaching assistantships.

16. University of Notre Dame — MFA in Creative Writing#

Two-year MFA, fully funded for all admitted students. Tuition + stipend + health insurance.

17. University of Mississippi — MFA in Creative Writing#

Three-year program with full funding via teaching assistantships for every admit.

18. University of Maryland — MFA in Creative Writing#

Fully funded MFA. Tuition + stipend through teaching assistantships.

19. University of Wisconsin-Madison — MFA in Creative Writing#

Highly selective (admits ~6 students per year), but every admit is fully funded.

20. University of Virginia — MFA in Creative Writing#

Fully funded for all admits. Tuition + stipend through teaching positions.

Tier 2 — Tuition-Only Full Scholarships#

These cover 100% of tuition for every admit, but do not include a living stipend. You'll need to plan for housing, food, and personal expenses separately.

21. Curtis Institute of Music#

Curtis covers full tuition for every admitted student regardless of nationality or financial need — for graduate-level performance programs. Stipend not included. Living costs are your responsibility.

Tier 3 — Significant Funding, But Read the Fine Print#

These programs DO offer funding, but the marketing line doesn't apply to everyone. Each entry below has the specific caveat international applicants need to know before spending months on the application.

22. University of Notre Dame — Keough School Master of Global Affairs#

Significant merit-based aid awarded to many admitted students. Caveat: full funding is not guaranteed — awards range from partial to full and are based on application strength.

23. Washington University in St. Louis — McDonnell International Scholars Academy#

Full tuition + stipend for master's and doctoral students. Caveat: restricted to nominees from a fixed list of partner institutions worldwide. You can only apply if your home university is on McDonnell's partner list.

24. Georgetown University — McCourt School of Public Policy#

Significant merit-based scholarships for master's students in public policy. Caveat: only a portion of admitted students get full funding — most receive partial awards. International students are eligible but compete in the same pool.

25. New York University — Wagner School of Public Service#

Merit-based scholarships that can cover full tuition. Caveat: awarded to a minority of admitted students, and the awards typically cover tuition only — no stipend.

26. Northwestern University — MFA in Documentary Media#

Funding packages can include full tuition + stipend. Caveat: funding is not guaranteed for every admit — slots are limited and some students enter unfunded.

27. University of Texas at Austin — Harrington Graduate Fellows Program#

Full tuition, fees, stipend, and research funding. Caveat: competitive nomination-only — about 20 awarded per year across UT Austin. Departments nominate, you don't apply directly.

28. Ohio State University — University Fellowship#

Tuition + fees + monthly stipend. Caveat: competitive nomination-only — departments nominate top incoming applicants. Most graduate students do not receive this.

29. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign — Graduate College Fellowships for Equity and Inclusion#

Tuition + stipend for master's and doctoral students. Caveat: demographic-restricted to students from underrepresented backgrounds. Eligibility rules are specific — check carefully.

30. The Juilliard School#

Many graduate students receive scholarship support. Caveat: awards are need-based and vary widely — Juilliard does not guarantee full tuition for every admitted graduate student.

Bonus — Post-Graduate Writing Fellowship (Not a Degree)#

Stanford University — Stegner Fellowship in Creative Writing#

Not a degree program — a 2-year writing fellowship at Stanford. Five fiction + five poetry fellows admitted per year, all fully funded with a generous stipend. Worth flagging because it's one of the most coveted destinations for writers in America, and international writers are eligible.

What To Do With This List#

Apply heavily in Tier 1 — these are your strongest funded paths. Creative writers have 15 fully funded MFA options here. Students from Sub-Saharan Africa have two of the most generous fully-funded paths anywhere — apply to both. And anyone with a strong story should add Knight-Hennessy to their Stanford application as a long-shot stretch — it's a real fully-funded path when awarded, just don't build your whole strategy on it.

Treat Tier 3 as bonus shots. Don't build your strategy around them. Apply to one or two if your profile genuinely matches the caveat (e.g., apply to McDonnell if your home university is on their partner list; apply to UIUC Equity if your background qualifies).

Match your field, not the prestige. A fully funded MFA at Notre Dame will pay your bills. A partial Knight-Hennessy that you don't win will not.

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