Scholarships for International Relations & Political Science Students in Asia (2025)

Studying International Relations (IR) or Political Science in Asia opens doors to diplomacy, global leadership, and international careers. But tuition and living costs can be a challenge  that’s where scholarships come in.

Here are some of the top scholarships available for international students in Asia pursuing Political Science or IR.

Singapore

1. NUS Graduate Scholarships (National University of Singapore)

•Covers tuition and living allowance.

•Open to Master’s and PhD students in Political Science, Public Policy, and IR.

2. Singapore International Graduate Award (SINGA)

•For PhD students in all fields, including Social Sciences.

•Fully funded with monthly stipends.

China

3. Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC)

•Covers tuition, accommodation, and living stipends.

•Available at universities like Peking, Tsinghua, and Fudan for Political Science/IR programs.

4. Yenching Academy Scholarship – Peking University

•Fully funded Master’s in China Studies (with IR & Politics tracks).

•Includes tuition, accommodation, and travel allowance.

Japan

5. MEXT Scholarship (Ministry of Education, Japan)

•Covers tuition, travel, and monthly allowance.

•Offered for undergraduate and postgraduate Political Science/IR students at universities like the University of Tokyo and Waseda.

6. Waseda University International Student Scholarships

•Partial to full tuition coverage.

•Available for IR, Political Science, and Global Studies programs.

South Korea

7. Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)

•Fully funded (tuition, flight, living costs).

•Open to undergrad and graduate students in Political Science, International Studies, and related fields.

8. Yonsei University Underwood International College Scholarships

•For international students in Political Science and IR.

•Covers partial to full tuition.

Hong Kong

9. Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS)

•For PhD students in IR/Political Science at HKU, CUHK, or CityU.

•Includes tuition, monthly stipend, and research funding.

10. CUHK Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarships for Excellence

•Merit-based awards for undergraduates, including Political Science students.

Why Apply?

•Full or partial funding for tuition and living expenses.

•Opportunities to work with global organizations (e.g., UN, NGOs, embassies in Asia).

•Builds strong career networks in diplomacy, governance, and global policy