Are full scholarships really “free”? You still have to take care of the costs yourself

🔄 Cập nhật lần cuối: 08/10/26

Hearing about full scholarships, many families think their children will "go to school without spending any money". In fact, even the most generous scholarships have expenses you must pay yourself before receiving money, or expenses that are outside the scope of funding. This article helps you list each item to prepare a reasonable reserve fund.

What do full scholarships usually cover?

Each scholarship defines “full-ride” differently. Some examples as announced by the sponsor:

• Fulbright (master's degree in the US): tuition and fees, monthly living allowance, round-trip airfare, health insurance.
• MEXT (PhD student in Japan): tuition, admission fee, air tickets to and from home, monthly allowance (about 143,000–145,000 yen according to recent announcement, subject to change).
• “Full tuition” school scholarships: usually only 100% tuition exemption, no living expenses.

Therefore, the first step is to carefully read the award letter and accompanying regulations. If you are unclear about the differences between scholarship groups, see the article Types of study abroad scholarships.

Fees before submitting application

These are the expenses you spend when you don't know whether you will pass or not:

• Foreign language certificate exam: IELTS, TOEFL, may need to be retaken to achieve the required score. Article Which English certificate to choose? helps you avoid taking the "wrong" exam type that is not accepted.
• Other standardized tests: SAT, GRE, GMAT depending on industry and country.
• School application fee: many schools in the US, UK, and Canada charge application fees; some have a no-application fee policy.
• Translation and notarization: transcripts, diplomas, birth certificates, sometimes even labor contracts.
• Send paper documents, send official test scores: some test organizations charge a fee to send scores to the school.

Expenses before departure

Visa and related items

Student visa fees are quite significant and change from period to period. Refer to the level announced on the official page at the time of updating the article:

• UK: Student visa fee paid from outside the UK is £558; In addition, there is a medical surcharge (Immigration Health Surcharge) calculated based on the visa term.
• USA: SEVIS I-901 fee for F visa is 350 USD, plus nonimmigrant visa application fee.
• Australia: subclass 500 student visa fee will be increased to 2,000 AUD from July 1, 2025.

Some government scholarships reimburse visa fees, many others do not. In addition, there are costs for health checks, criminal records, photo taking, travel to the place of application and interview.

Airline tickets and luggage

If the scholarship does not include tickets, this is usually the largest amount before travel. If included, the scholarship usually only covers economy class tickets, standard baggage and the route chosen by the sponsor; Excess baggage, change flight dates according to your personal needs at your own expense. See more international checked baggage regulations for international students.

Personal belongings

Laptop, winter clothes (for temperate countries), personal medicine, essential items. This amount is very flexible but can easily exceed expectations.

First month expenses abroad

This is the "gap" that surprises many of you the most: living allowance is usually transferred after you enroll. open a bank account and complete the procedure – sometimes it takes several weeks. Meanwhile you need money for:

• House deposit and first month's rent: many places require a deposit of 1-2 months' rent.
• Eating, traveling, phone SIM in the first weeks.
• Room amenities: blankets, pillows, cooking utensils.
• Additional costs: residence registration fee, traffic card, books.

Additionally, in expensive cities, the subsidy level may be adequate or slightly inadequate for the lifestyle you desire. If you bring your family along, most scholarships do not cover dependents.

Estimated table of expenses outside of full scholarship (reference)

A safe rule is to prepare a reserve fund equivalent to 1–2 months of living expenses in the destination country, plus visa fees and airfare if the scholarship does not cover it. For more detailed budgeting, see How much budget do parents need to plan for studying abroad?.

Frequently asked questions

Do full scholarships require financial proof when applying for a visa?

Usually you use the scholarship award letter as financial proof. If the scholarship does not cover all expenses according to the regulations of the destination country, you need to prove the remaining amount. For details, refer to the article Proof of finances for studying abroad.

Is the living allowance enough to live on?

With a frugal lifestyle, most government scholarship grants are enough for basic needs. In expensive cities or when traveling with family, you may need additional financial resources.

Does the scholarship cover tickets to return home during Tet?

Usually not. Round-trip tickets in the scholarship are mainly for the beginning and end of the program. The trip back to Tet is at your own expense.

Should I work part-time to cover expenses?

It is possible, but you need to comply with visa work hour limits and scholarship regulations - some scholarships limit part-time work.

Conclusion

Full scholarships are a great opportunity, but they are not “absolutely free”. Having a backup ready will help you enter the school year with more ease. When you need advice on tickets and luggage for your first trip, you can Submit a ticket request or call hotline/Zalo 090.1800.918.

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