Many international scholarships focus on individual students, but a growing number recognize that many applicants are married, have young children, or are primary caregivers. With these family-friendly scholarships, you can study abroad with your spouse and/or dependents, while getting financial, visa, and settlement support.
Here is a detailed guide to scholarship programs that support dependents, what they cover, and how to apply.
The importance of some scholarships for families
It is understood by scholarship providers that:
- Professionals in mid-career with families make up a large percentage of applicants
- There is a great deal of emotional and financial stress associated with leaving dependents behind
- Family stability is often associated with better academic performance in students
- The contribution of skilled immigrants with families to host countries is long-term
Due to this, some scholarship programs either fully or easily support dependents.
Scholarships Supporting Spouses and Children
1. Australia Awards Scholarships
This scholarship is one of the most family-friendly in the world.
After arrival (or if approved, with you), awardees are allowed to bring their spouses and children.
The support includes:
- Full tuition
- Monthly stipend
- Coverage for dependents’ health care
- Support for spouses and children applying for visas
- In many cases, children receive schooling support
Families with mid-career professionals will find this ideal.
2. New Zealand Scholarships (NZ Manaaki)
Student families are very well supported here.
Dependent visas are available for your spouse and children.
Among the benefits are:
- Full tuition
- Living stipend
- Travel tickets for the scholar
- Work rights for spouses
- There is little to no cost for children to attend public schools
An excellent choice for studies related to sustainable development or the public sector.
3. Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s (EU)
Erasmus does not directly fund dependents, but many students are allowed to bring families with them on their own resources.
Advantages include:
- Some countries provide a generous monthly stipend for single parents.
- Multiple-country experience
- The possibility of long-term employment after graduation with options for family reunification
Ideal for those planning to settle with family in the future.
4. Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships (PhD)
The Canadian culture is extremely family-friendly.
Vanier does not directly pay dependents, but it does offer:
- A high stipend (50,000 CAD per year)
- The family can come on an open work permit and a study permit
- Public schools are free for children
- After graduation, there is an opportunity for PR
For scholars with families, this is one of the best options.
5. Canadian Provincial or University Scholarships (Master’s and PhD)
The financial support provided by many Canadian universities is sufficient to support dependents comfortably.
As an example:
- Awards for International Graduates at UBC
- University of Manitoba Graduate Fellowship
- University of Saskatchewan Graduate Scholarships
- Ontario Graduate Scholarship
- McGill and Alberta scholarships
Among the benefits are stipends of between 16,000 and 35,000 CAD per year, as well as the right to work for spouses and to educate children.
6. Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA)
Dependents are not officially funded by Fulbright, but:
- J-2 visas allow family accompaniment
- Permits for work can be obtained by spouses
- In the United States, children attend school.
As the stipend varies by state, planning is essential, however, it is one of the most flexible programs available.
7. DAAD Scholarships (Germany)
Some dependents are supported by the DAAD, especially in the case of PhD or research programs that are long-term.
Among the support options are:
- Allowance for family members
- Child allowance
- Health insurance
- Family reunion visa support
Additionally, Germany provides free education to school-aged children.
8. Scholarships for excellence offered by the Swiss Government
Dependents are permitted to join through the family reunion rules in Switzerland.
Despite not being fully funded for families, the stipend is high, and spouse and children support may be available depending on the canton.
9. Scholarships offered by the Swedish Institute (SI)
In spite of the fact that SI does not directly fund dependents, Sweden’s residency rules allow scholars to bring their spouse and children along with them.
The following services are available to dependents:
- Free schooling
- Healthcare
- A spouse’s right to work
Strong in the fields of social sciences, innovation, and development.
10. Korean Government Scholarship (GKS)
Especially after the first year, GKS allows family accompaniment for PhD and long-term research students.
The support includes:
- Full tuition
- Allowance for settlement
- Monthly stipend
- Health insurance
It is the student’s responsibility to fund dependents, but they are allowed to be present legally.
Scholarships and programs that provide strong indirect support to families
Although some scholarships do not directly fund dependents, they offer powerful benefits that make it possible for students to bring their families to school. Among them are:
- Norway Quota Scheme and university-funded PhD scholarships
- Finland University Scholarships
- OKP/NFP in the Netherlands (family allowed, high stipend)
- Japan MEXT (family welcome under dependent visas)
- Commonwealth Scholarships (family members are permitted under certain conditions)
Family relocation is made easier through these programs, which provide stipends and work rights.
The typical scope of these scholarships
The following benefits may be available:
- Tuition
- Monthly living allowance
- Health insurance
- Travel tickets for the scholar
- Research support
- Visa processing assistance
- Family allowance (in some programs)
- Open work permits for spouses (depending on the country)
- Children should have access to free or subsidized education
Generally, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Sweden, and Norway are the most generous countries for families.
Typical Requirements to Qualify
There are a variety of requirements depending on the program, but most ask for:
- A strong academic background
- Clearly defined study and career goals
- Experience with family-friendly programs (especially)
- An excellent personal statement
- English proficiency
- Obtaining admission to a recognized university
- The ability to demonstrate financial planning for dependents
Scholarships may require scholars to arrive alone first, and then bring their families later.
How to Increase Your Chances of Winning These Scholarships
- Provide a mature and professional description of your family responsibilities
- Describe how family support contributes to your academic success
- Demonstrate a strong commitment to career development and leadership
- Create a powerful CV for academic or professional purposes
- Select programs that are known for their leadership and development capabilities
- Complete your application as early as possible
- Ensure that your personal statement and research proposal are strong
The stability you have as a family member can actually serve to strengthen your application if it is framed properly.
Conclusions
Many fully funded programs allow you to study abroad with your spouse and children while you are on a scholarship. A key to securing a scholarship is to select the right scholarship and country, to understand the rules for family visas, and to plan financially before applying.