As of April 25, 2026, the need for education that is flexible and doesn’t have borders has led to a big rise in funding just for online degrees. Online programme funding is different from traditional on-campus scholarships in that it often focuses on “Distance Learning” grants, which are mostly for students from developing countries.
Here are the most important scholarships for online study in 2026.
1. Big Online Scholarships Around the World
These programmes cater specifically to students seeking a degree from a prestigious international university while remaining in their home country.
- Commonwealth Scholarships for Distance Learning:
- People in developing Commonwealth countries, like Nigeria, Kenya, and Pakistan, are the target.
- Coverage: Pays for all of the tuition costs for certain Master’s programmes at UK universities, such as The Open University or the University of Manchester.
- Update for 2026: Applications usually close in March for programs that start next year. It is one of the most important awards for studying online.
- • Unicaf Scholarships:
- Target: Students all over the world, but especially in Africa and Asia.
- Coverage: Provides partial scholarships (up to 80% off tuition) for online bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD programs from partner schools, such as Liverpool John Moores University and the University of East London.
- People’s University (UoPeople) Grants for school
- Target: Students who can’t pay for regular school fees.
- UoPeople is “tuition-free,”, but students still have to pay for tests. For students who need help, they offer different types of micro-scholarships to pay for these tests.
2. Funds for distance learning in each country
Some governments give money to their best universities so that they can offer online degrees to students from other countries for less money.
- GREAT Scholarships in the UK:
- Usually, the “GREAT” funding from UK universities is only for students who study on campus. However, some universities, like Edinburgh Napier and Brunel, have occasionally used it to pay for high-impact online postgraduate courses. Look at the individual pages for each university to see if they are available in 2026–27.
- Online Study UK Grant:
- Goal: students from the UK, the EU, and other countries.
- Details: Every year, we conduct a scholarship draw for students in the UK enrolled in recognised online degree programmes. Usually, winners have to show proof of enrolment.
- Discounts on EdX MicroMasters and MicroBachelors:
- Platforms like edX offer financial aid (up to 90% off) for their professional credentials, even though they are not “degree” scholarships in the traditional sense. Many colleges and universities will let students turn these into full degree credits in 2026 when they move on to the last programme.
3. “Merit” Awards for Online Students from Institutions
To get high-achieving students from around the world to their online classrooms, many traditional universities now give out “Online Excellence” awards.
- Johns Hopkins (USA) Online Grants: Some departments, especially in Public Health, give international students who are getting their MPH online partial tuition waivers.
- The IU International University of Applied Sciences in Germany offers “flexible scholarships” for its online bachelor’s and master’s programmes. Depending on where you live and your academic background, these scholarships can lower the cost by up to 67%.
- University of London (Distance Learning): Offers several regional scholarships (for example, for students in Sub-Saharan Africa) for their distance-learning degrees in Law, Computer Science, and Finance.
4. Important Checklist for 2026
To get a scholarship for an online degree, your application needs to highlight different strengths than one for an on-campus degree:
- Proof of Digital Literacy: You need to show that you have the tools (a reliable high-speed internet connection and a computer) and the self-discipline to finish a degree online.
- Local Impact Narrative: You need to say how the degree will help you improve your community while you are there for distance learning grants (like the Commonwealth).
- Employer Support: Some online scholarships need a letter from your current boss saying that the degree will help you grow as a professional.
5. How to Find “Hidden” Online Funding
- Check the “Distance Learning” Tab: Don’t look at the main scholarship page; instead, look for the “Distance Learning” or “Online Education” sub-section on university websites.
- Look for programmes, not schools. Most online funding is for fields like Data Science, Public Health, and Education that pay well. “Online MPH Scholarships” is a better search term than “Online USA Scholarships”.
- Be on the lookout for “Regional Price Scaling.” Some colleges and universities don’t offer “scholarships,”, but they do offer lower regional prices. For instance, an online degree may cost a Nigerian student 50% less than it does for a student in the US.