Fully Funded Ph.D. Scholarships in the USA 2025–2026 (Full Guide)
Fully funded Ph.D. scholarships in the United States are among the most searched academic opportunities globally, especially by students from Nigeria, Africa, Asia, and other developing regions. For the 2025–2026 academic year, the USA offers hundreds of fully funded PhD programs that cover tuition fees, monthly stipends, accommodation, health insurance, and research funding.
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🇺🇸 List of Fully Funded Ph.D. Scholarships in the USA (2025–2026)
1. Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program – Stanford University
Keywords: Fully funded PhD in USA, Stanford PhD scholarship, USA scholarships for international students
Eligibility: Open to all nationalities applying to any Ph.D. program at Stanford University.
Benefits:
100% tuition coverage
Annual living stipend (approx. $34,000)
Travel allowance
Leadership and global networking opportunities
Deadline: October 9, 2025
2. Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA)
Keywords: Fulbright PhD scholarship, USA government scholarship, PhD in USA for Africans
Eligibility: International students from over 160 countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.
Benefits:
Full tuition
Monthly stipend
Health insurance
Airfare
Fields: All academic disciplines except clinical medical research involving patient care.
3. NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program (NSF-GRFP)
Keywords: NSF PhD funding, STEM PhD scholarships USA
Eligibility: U.S. citizens and permanent residents only.
Benefits:
$37,000 annual stipend
$16,000 annual education allowance
Funding for up to 3 years
4. DoD National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship (NDSEG)
Keywords: Engineering PhD scholarships USA, science PhD funding USA
Eligibility: U.S. citizens pursuing Ph.D. degrees in science and engineering.
Benefits:
Full tuition
$43,200 annual stipend
Travel and health insurance allowance
5. AAUW International Fellowships (Women Only)
Keywords: Fully funded PhD for women, USA scholarships for female students
Eligibility: Women from countries outside the United States.
Benefits:
$20,000–$50,000
Covers tuition, living expenses, and research costs
Deadline: December 1, 2024
6. Harvard University Fully Funded Ph.D. Scholarships
Keywords: Harvard PhD funding, Ivy League PhD scholarships USA
Eligibility: Open to domestic and international students.
Benefits:
Full tuition waiver
Annual living stipend
Research grants
7. Yale University Fully Funded Ph.D. Programs
Keywords: Yale PhD scholarship, USA PhD funding without IELTS
Eligibility: Open to U.S. and international students.
Benefits:
Full tuition
Living stipend
Health insurance
8. University of Chicago Ph.D. Scholarships
Keywords: University of Chicago PhD funding, USA graduate scholarships
Eligibility: All admitted Ph.D. students.
Benefits:
Full tuition coverage
Monthly stipend
Health insurance
9. Mayo Clinic Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences
Keywords: Biomedical PhD scholarships USA, medical research PhD funding
Eligibility: Open to international and domestic students.
Benefits:
Full tuition
Competitive stipend
Health and research benefits
10. NIH Oxford–Cambridge Scholars Program
Keywords: NIH PhD scholarship, biomedical PhD USA
Eligibility: Students conducting collaborative biomedical research.
Benefits:
Full PhD funding
Research and travel support
11. Hertz Fellowship Program
Keywords: Engineering PhD scholarships, technology PhD funding USA
Eligibility: High-achieving Ph.D. students in applied sciences and engineering.
Benefits:
Full tuition
Generous annual stipend
Innovation mentorship
12. Meta (Facebook) Ph.D. Fellowship
Keywords: Computer science PhD scholarships, AI PhD funding USA
Eligibility: Doctoral students in AI, computer science, and data science.
Benefits:
Full tuition
$42,000 annual stipend
Conference travel funding
Deadline: September 20, 2025
13. Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship
Keywords: PhD scholarships for developing countries, scholarships for Africans in USA
Eligibility: Students from selected developing countries.
Benefits:
Tuition and living expenses (grant + loan)
Deadline: March 31, 2025
14. Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future
Keywords: STEM PhD scholarships for women, fully funded PhD for females
Eligibility: Women from developing countries pursuing STEM PhD programs.
Benefits:
Up to $40,000 per year
15. World Bank Robert S. McNamara Fellowship
Keywords: World Bank PhD fellowship, research funding for PhD students
Eligibility: International Ph.D. students from developing countries.
Benefits:
Up to $42,750 research funding
16. IMU Breakout Graduate Fellowship (Mathematics)
Keywords: Mathematics PhD scholarships USA, fully funded math PhD
Eligibility: International students in mathematics PhD programs.
Benefits:
Up to $10,000 annually
🎓 How to Apply for Fully Funded Ph.D. Scholarships in the USA
Start applications early (August–October)
Prepare strong SOP and research proposal
Apply to multiple universities
Some programs waive IELTS/TOEFL
Secure strong academic referees
🔍 Final Thoughts
Fully funded Ph.D. scholarships in the USA for 2025–2026 offer international students a rare opportunity to study in America without financial burden. Whether you are searching for PhD scholarships in the USA for Nigerians, Africans, or Asians, these programs provide world-class education, research exposure, and global career opportunities.
Apply early, optimize your applications, and turn your PhD dream into reality.