Financing for IT fields is one of the most affordable among technical specialties: technology companies, universities, and governments are actively investing in training specialists in computer science, AI, and cybersecurity.
Merit-based scholarships
They are awarded for academic achievements: high GPA, Olympiads, technical projects. Many universities offer such scholarships directly upon admission to bachelor’s or master’s degree programs in computer science. For example, in the UK, UCL offers Computer Science Excellence Scholarships for applicants with an excellent academic profile, as well as a separate Global Master’s Scholarship — £15,000 to cover tuition and accommodation for one academic year.
Need-based scholarships
They take into account the financial situation of the family and are accessible to students from low-income countries. UCL Access Opportunity Scholarships, for example, fully cover the cost of a bachelor’s degree for students with proven financial need. Similar programs are available at most major universities in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Corporate and industrial scholarships
Technology companies directly fund IT students. The Microsoft Tuition Scholarship covers tuition fees for undergraduate students in computer science and related STEM fields in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and provides additional funding for participation in technology conferences. Similar programs are available from Google, Intel, and other corporations, aiming to support talent in technology disciplines.
Government and foundation scholarships
Government programs, such as the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme in the UK, cover up to 20% of the cost of education for students from developing Commonwealth countries. In the US, the government program NSF GRFP supports outstanding STEM students at the master’s and PhD level with a scholarship of $37,000 per year plus partial tuition coverage.
Research Assistantships
For master’s and PhD, most leading universities offer positions of research assistant or teaching assistant: the student participates in the faculty’s research projects and receives full tuition waiver plus a scholarship. In major technical universities in the United States, such packages often exceed $30,000 per year.
It is not enough to have good grades to get a scholarship. Technical projects, programming competitions, and a strong motivation letter that shows how you will benefit the university are important.
Computer science and related IT fields are one of the most well-funded fields among all international programs: top master’s and doctoral programs in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Switzerland, Germany, and Singapore often receive full scholarships with paid summer internships at major technology companies.
SelfStartGlobal is a company that focuses on scholarship admissions. In total, we have already saved our students over $25 million through scholarships.
Scholarship programs often have separate deadlines and requirements. When selecting universities, it is important to consider where a student has a chance not only to enroll but also to receive funding. Come for a free consultation to receive an initial diagnosis.
