With the launch of the latest QS EECA University Rankings covering the best universities in emerging Europe and central Asia, we thought we’d celebrate with a selection of international scholarships for students looking to study abroad in eastern Europe, covering countries such as the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Ukraine.

We also have a separate list dedicated entirely to scholarships for Russia, and one for those looking to study elsewhere in Europe.

Scholarships to study in Azerbaijan: 

• Baku Engineering University – Scholarships for new international students studying a bachelor’s degree at Baku Engineering University, covering 50% of tuition fees.
• Khazar University International Scholarship Program– Scholarships covering all tuition fees for two international students at Khazar University in Baku. Applicants can be from any country and be studying any bachelor’s, master’s or PhD program.

Scholarships to study in Bulgaria: 

• American University in Bulgaria – Various scholarships are available for both domestic and international students to study at the university. No separate application is required, except for students who are applying for a scholarship based on their financial need.      

Scholarships to study in Croatia:

• Agency for Mobility and EU Programs Bilateral Agreements – Scholarships for students from selected other European countries who have a bilateral agreement with Croatia. These scholarships are mostly for PhD research or for studying Croatian language and literature.
• http://www.studyincroatia.hr/studying-in-croatia/scholarships/other

Scholarships to study in the Czech Republic: 

• Charles University in Prague Scholarships – The University offers Faculty of Science: STARS scholarships for both domestic and international PhD students, as well as development scholarships for students from developing countries.
• Czech Government Scholarships for Developing Countries – Government scholarships for international students to study (at all levels) at universities across the Czech Republic. Czech is the language of instruction for most eligible programs.
• The South Moravian Centre for International Mobility – Study abroad scholarships for non-EU students who are commencing a master’s or PhD degree at one of the center’s partner universities, primarily for study programs in technical and natural science. 

Scholarships to study in Estonia: 

• Estonian Government scholarships – International scholarships are available for students at all degree levels to study abroad in Estonia. If applying for a scholarship at bachelor’s level, your chosen subject should be related to Estonian language and culture.
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs Estonian Development Cooperation scholarships – Scholarships for students from Ukraine, Georgia, Armenia, Moldova, Belarus, Azerbaijan and Afghanistan to study one of the selected English-taught master’s degrees at the University of Tartu.
• Study IT in Estonia Speciality Scholarship – Study abroad scholarships for bachelor’s and master’s students to study an IT-related degree at Tallinn University of Technology.
• Study IT in Estonia Skype Foreign Studies Scholarship – Two scholarships for international students to study a master’s in the sciences, with a preference for information technology. Open to students from Estonia or residing in Estonia on a permanent residence permit.

Scholarships to study in Hungary: 

• Central European University Financial Aid for Admitted Students – Scholarships for international master's and PhD students to study at Central European University in Budapest.
• Hungarian Government Scholarships for Foreign Students – International scholarships for master’s students to study in Hungary, funded by the Hungarian government. (The 2018 round has ended, so check back later for the 2019 round.)
• The Stipendium Hungaricum – Study abroad scholarships which cover tuition fees, medical insurance, accommodation and a monthly stipend for residents of partner countries to study in Hungary at all study levels.

Scholarships to study in Poland: 

• Ignacy Łukasiewicz Scholarship Program – Government scholarships for international students from selected countries to study their master’s or PhD (in a science subject) abroad in Poland.
• University of Warsaw – Scholarships for current students of the University of Warsaw with a high GPA.

Scholarships to study in Romania:

• Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs – International scholarships for non-EU students at all levels to study abroad in Romania. Priority will be given to certain subjects such as politics and education, and studies must be in the Romanian language (students not proficient in the language will be offered a one-year preparatory course). The scholarship covers tuition fees, accommodation and monthly financial support payments.

Scholarships to study in Russia:

• Click here for our dedicated listing.

Scholarships to study in Slovakia: 

• National Scholarship Program of the Slovak Republic – Scholarships for foreign students enrolled in at least their sixth semester to take part in one semester of their master’s abroad at a Slovakian university. There are also scholarships for international PhD students, teachers and researchers.
• Slovak Government Scholarships for Selected Developing Countries – Government scholarships for students from developing countries to study in Slovakia at any degree level. Open to students from designated countries within the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Asia.

Scholarships to study in Slovenia:

• Slovene Human Resources Development and Scholarship Fund – Various scholarships for both Slovenian and international students to study in Slovenia at all levels.

Other scholarships to study in Eastern Europe: 

• Erasmus Mundus Scholarships – Enterprise led by the European Commission to help international students fund their studies in Europe at selected institutions.
• CEEPUS Exchange Program with Central and Eastern Europe – CEEPUS is a multilateral exchange program in which universities from 16 countries within central and eastern Europe take part in student exchanges. Students are not required to pay tuition fees and will receive a grant to cover their living costs in their host country. To be eligible, students should be nationals of a CEEPUS/EU/EEA country.
• Visegrad Fund scholarships – Study abroad scholarships for master’s and PhD students from selected countries in eastern Europe to study in one of the Visegrad (V4) group countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia) for up to four semesters. Students from the Visegrad group can also apply for the outgoing scheme to other V4 countries and partnership countries. 

This article was originally published in June 2016. It was updated in October 2018. 

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Click here to view the 2019 version of this article, based on the QS Arab Region University Rankings 2019. 

Published today, the 2018 edition of the QS Arab Region University Rankings features 160 of the region’s most prestigious universities, extended from 100 last year. The ranking is based on a methodology which assesses each university’s reputations among employers and academics, web impact, research impact and more.

Read on for an overview of the 10 highest-ranked universities in the Arab region, including a look at their subject strengths (based on the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject).

1. American University of Beirut (AUB)

Location: Lebanon

Overtaking King Fahd University to be the highest-ranked university in the Arab region this year, American University of Beirut (AUB) is also ranked 235^th in the latest QS World University Rankings®. AUB is a private, secular university which teaches all courses in English and currently has around 8,800 students enrolled. Ranked first in the region for the employer reputation indicator, AUB offers generous financial aid, with more than 75% of applicants for financial aid receiving it. AUB has more than 130 undergraduate/graduate programs in seven faculties, and achieves positions in the top 200 of the QS World University Rankings by Subject for archaeology and philosophy.

2. King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM)

Location: Saudi Arabia

Down one place, but still the highest-ranked university from Saudi Arabia, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) receives top five scores for employer reputation, faculty/student ratio and citations per faculty. KFUPM was founded in 1963 in Dhahran, a major administrative center for the Saudi oil industry. It science and engineering programs are highly regarded, and KFUPM is one of the most selective universities in Saudi Arabia. According to the latest rankings by subject, KFUPM is ranked in the global top 200 for the broad subject area of engineering and technology, and also achieves a top-50 position for mineral & mining engineering.

3. King Saud University (KSU)

Location: Saudi Arabia

Retaining its position of third in the Arab region, King Saud University (KSU) is ranked first in the entire region for web impact, showing it has a strong commitment to international engagement and communication. KSU also achieves top five scores for academic reputation, faculty/student ratio and citations per faculty. Founded in 1957, KSU is located in the capital city of Riyadh and unlike KFUPM accepts both men and women. Of the 14 subjects KSU is internationally ranked for, it achieves its strongest positions for mechanical engineering, agriculture and pharmacy (top 150).

4. King Abdulaziz University (KAU)

Location: Saudi Arabia

The last of three top universities in Saudi Arabia to make the top five, King Abdulaziz University (KAU) is also ranked joint 267^th in the latest World University Rankings, up 16 places from last year. Established in 1967 in Jeddah and named after the founder of Saudi Arabia, KAU has separate campuses for men and women and enrolls around 82,000 students. KAU is ranked for 12 subjects in the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject, achieving its highest positions for chemical engineering and mathematics.

5. United Arab Emirates University

Location: United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Up one place this year, United Arab Emirates University also improved its position in the overall World University Rankings this year, climbing to 390^th. It’s the oldest university in the UAE, but nonetheless quite young, established in 1976 by the country’s founder, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. It now has around 13,800 students, more than 80% of whom are female. United Arab Emirates University boasts the largest number of electronic resources in the Arab world, with more than 170,000 e-books. It’s also ranked within the global top 500 for mechanical engineering and medicine.

6. American University in Cairo

Location: Egypt

Ranked sixth in the Arab Region this year, the American University in Cairo (AUC) achieves scores in the top five for both employer and academic reputation, and is also ranked joint 395^th in the main World University Rankings. Established in 1919, the university’s language of instruction is English, and it’s liberal arts approach allows students to study across disciplines. According to the latest rankings by subject, AUC was featured in the global top 100 for development studies and the top 250 for modern languages.

7. Qatar University

Location: Qatar

Climbing two places to now rank seventh among the top universities in the Arab region this year, Qatar University also improved its position in the World University Rankings, now placing joint 349^th – 44 places higher than last year. Qatar University is the oldest and largest university in the country, founded in 1973 and currently educating around 14,000 students, around 35% of whom are expatriates. The university offers both English and Arabic-taught programs and boasts a strong research infrastructure, with laboratories, technical equipment, a large library which stores a collection of rare manuscripts, and even an ocean vessel.

8. American University of Sharjah

Location: United Arab Emirates (UAE)

The American University of Sharjah is ranked eighth in the Arab Region in 2018, and achieves a very high score (second in the region) for the international students indicator, thanks to a student body of 6,000 from more than 99 countries. It’s also ranked fourth for its proportion if international faculty members. The university is independent and not-for-profit, and, like the other American universities in this list, conducts all teaching in English. American University of Sharjah is currently ranked within the top 350 universities to study business & management and mechanical engineering.

9. University of Jordan

Location: Jordan

Down one place this year, the University of Jordan, also ranked in the 551-600 range of the main rankings, is the oldest and largest university in Jordan. It was established in 1962 in capital city Amman and has more than 38,000 students. It achieves fifth place for employer reputation, showing that its graduates are highly regarded. The university maintains a large number of international partnerships and agreements, mostly for student exchange programs with universities such as Vanderbilt University in the US and the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.

10. Sultan Qaboos University

Location: Oman

Up one place this year to overtake Cairo University as the 10^th highest-ranked university in the Arab region, Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) is also ranked 451-460 in the World University Rankings. One of the youngest Arab universities on this list, SQU was established in 1986 in capital city Muscat, and is the only public university in the country. Its campus, set on a valley below the foothills of the Oman Mountains, boasts a beautiful range of traditional Omani and Islamic architecture, and was built on an axis in the valley with one end aligned toward Mecca.

Image credit: Abdulrahman Y. idlbi (Flickr)

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Click here to view the 2019 version of this article, based on the QS EECA University Rankings 2019. 

The 2018 results of the QS EECA University Rankings are out now, featuring 250 of the top universities in emerging Europe and central Asia, extended from 200 last year. The ranking is based on a methodology which assesses each institution on nine key performance indicators, including employer and academic reputations, faculty/student ratio and papers per faculty.

Read on for an overview of the 10 highest-ranked universities in this year’s EECA ranking, or click here to view the full rankings table.

1. Lomonosov Moscow State University

Location: Russia

Lomonosov Moscow State University continues to rank first in emerging Europe and central Asia this year, holding on to the top spot for the fourth year running. Consistently ranked as one of the top universities in Russia, Lomonosov ranks first for both the employer and academic reputation indicators. It also climbed 13 spots in the latest QS World University Rankings® to now feature among the global top 100. Established in 1755, Lomonosov has around 47,000 students, with 4,000 of these coming from outside Russia. Pictured above is its main building, which lays claim to being the tallest educational building in the world.

Looking at the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject, Lomonosov is included in the global top 50 for linguistics, modern languages, computer science, mathematics, physics and hospitality (you can view its other results here).

2. Novosibirsk State University

Location: Russia

Also retaining its position this year, Novosibirsk State University (NSU) achieves top-10 scores for its academic reputation and number of papers per faculty. Known as one of the top universities in Russia to study science subjects, NSU is ranked among the world’s top 50 universities to study physics and astronomy. It’s also ideally located in the Akademgorodok (Academic Town), a world famous research center in Novosibirsk. Founded in 1959, NSU currently has around 7,100 students, including more than 1,000 international students.

3. University of Tartu

Location: Estonia

Up two places this year is Estonia’s national university, the University of Tartu, which also made a good leap in the overall World University Rankings this year (up 33 places to rank joint 314^th). Founded in 1632 by King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, the university currently has roughly 13,000 students, including over 1,000 international students from 70 countries. Although the main language of instruction is Estonian, the University of Tartu offers a good range of international master’s programs taught in English, including joint programs coordinated by other universities.

4. Saint-Petersburg State University

Location: Russia

Down one place this year, Saint-Petersburg State University (SPbSU) is the oldest university in Russia, having been established in 1724 by Peter the Great. SPbSU is also one of the largest universities in Russia, hosting more than 30,000 students, including 3,000 international students. It boasts an impressive range of successful alumni, including several Nobel Prize winners and political figures such as current President Vladimir Putin. SPbSU is also a member of the Coimbra Group, an association of prestigious European universities.

5. Charles University

Location: Czech Republic

In the Czech Republic, Charles University is down one place to rank fifth in the EECA region this year, and achieves the second-highest score in the ranking for academic reputation. Located in Prague, Charles University is the country’s largest and oldest university. It dates back to 1348, making it the first university in central Europe, and today educates about 49,200 students, including over 7,000 international students. In the QS World University Rankings, Charles University currently shares 314^th place with fellow EECA entrant, the University of Tartu.

6. University of Warsaw

Location: Poland

Retaining its position as the sixth highest-ranked university in the EECA region, the University of Warsaw is the largest university in Poland, with around 47,600 students enrolled in 21 faculties. Founded in 1816, the university’s history has been almost as eventful as the city’s itself; the campus was turned into military barracks during German occupation in the Second World War. Education in Polish was banned during this time, but university education continued through the organized Secret University of Warsaw.

7. Bogaziçi Üniversitesi

Location: Turkey

Up two places this year, Turkey’s Bogaziçi Üniversitesi earns the third-highest score in the ranking for the papers per faculty indicator, plus strong scores for employer reputation and staff with a PhD. Also known by its English name, Bosphorus University, Bogaziçi was founded in 1863 as Robert College, the first American higher education institution founded outside the US. It’s now under Turkish administration but nonetheless still has ties to the American education system and all courses are taught in English.

8. Czech Technical University in Prague

Location: Czech Republic

Czech Technical University in Prague (CTU) is ranked eighth in the EECA region in 2018 and achieves the third-highest score in the ranking for employer reputation. CTU is one of the largest and oldest technical universities in Europe, established in 1707 and it now hosts about 24,000 students. It currently offers 128 study programs with 453 fields of study within the framework, and is ranked within the global top 200 for civil, electrical and mechanical engineering, as well as architecture and physics.

9. Middle East Technical University

Location: Turkey

Climbing five places this year to now feature within the top 10 universities in emerging Europe and central Asia, Middle East Technical University (METU) achieves top-10 scores for employer and academic reputations, as well as papers per faculty. METU was founded in 1956 and is located mainly in the Turkish capital, Ankara, but also has a campus in Cyprus. In the latest rankings by subject, METU achieves a position in the global top 50 for mineral and mining engineering, as well as the top 150 for architecture and civil engineering.

10. Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

Location: Kazakhstan

Our look at the top universities in emerging Europe and central Asia ends with a visit to Kazakhstan, and Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU) is up one place this year to now rank 10^th in the region, and is featured in the top 10 for three indicators: employer reputation, academic reputation and faculty/student ratio. Named after the Eastern philosopher and scholar Al-Farabi, KazNU was founded in 1934 in Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, and has around 18,000 students.

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This year’s QS Arab Region University Rankings have been released, and the American University of Beirut has been named the best university in the Arab region.

The Lebanese institution has climbed one place since last year’s ranking, which means King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals has been dethroned for the first time ever since the ranking was first piloted in 2014.

Saudi Arabia can still proudly claim to be one of the best destinations for higher education in the Arab world though, with three universities in the top four beneath the American University of Beirut. It’s also the most-represented nation in the rankings, with 21 Saudi Arabian universities in the top 100.

The next countries to feature the most are Egypt and Jordan, although these countries can both manage only one university each in the top 10. This year’s top 10 is largely unchanged since last year, with only Sultan Qaboos University, based in Oman, breaking into the top 10 (it was 11^th last year).

Now featuring nearly 150 universities, this year’s rankings were compiled by assessing universities on eight different indicators, including the number of academic papers published per faculty member and their online presence. More information about the methodology can be found here.

The top 10 of the region can be found below, or click here to see this year’s table in full.

This year’s QS EECA University Rankings have been released, and Lomonosov Moscow State University has retained its title as the best university in emerging Europe and central Asia.

One of four regional rankings to be published today, the EECA ranking is the only one which doesn’t see a new university take top spot, and there’s no movement in second place either which continues to be held by Novosibirsk State University.

Russian universities aren’t the only headline-makers in this year’s ranking though. Estonia’s University of Tartu has climbed two places to third since last year, while Turkey has two universities in the top 10 for the first time. Bogaziçi Üniversitesi has moved up to seventh this year, having ranked ninth last time, while the Middle East Technical University is a newcomer to the top 10, up five places into ninth.

The Czech Republic also has two top 10 universities, with Charles University and the Czech Technical University in Prague continuing to both rank in the top 10, despite both universities slipping one place since last year’s ranking.

This year’s rankings were compiled by assessing universities on eight different indicators, including the university’s online presence and the proportion of academic staff members qualified to a PhD level. More information about the methodology can be found here.

The top 10 for the region can be found below, or click here to see this year’s table in full.

Click here to discover the top 10 universities in Asia in 2019.

The results of the QS Asia University Rankings are out now, featuring 450 of the top universities in Asia, extended from 350 in the previous year. The ranking is based on a methodology which considers 10 performance indicators, including factors considered particularly important in this part of the world, such as the number of staff with a PhD, and each university’s proportion of inbound and outbound exchange students.

Read on for a closer look at this year’s top 10, or click here to view the full 2018 rankings table.

1. Nanyang Technological University (NTU)

Location: Singapore

Climbing two places and knocking its rival, the National University of Singapore, out of the top spot this year, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) is now the highest-ranked university both in Singapore and Asia. NTU receives the highest score in the whole ranking for citations per faculty member (a measure of research impact). NTU is a young university, established in 1991, and has consistently been ranked first in the QS Top 50 Under 50, a ranking of the top universities in the world under 50 years old. NTU has a student population of about 32,400 and has the largest university campus in Singapore, at 200 hectares. NTU also features among the world’s best for 31 subjects, including top 10 positions for chemical and civil engineering.

2. National University of Singapore (NUS)

Location: Singapore

National University of Singapore (NUS) is down one place to rank second in Asia in 2018, but nonetheless receives the highest score in the entire ranking for employer reputation, and is only one place behind NTU for citations per faculty member. NUS was founded in 1905 as the King Edward VII College of Medicine and today has around 38,600 students, almost 10,000 of whom are studying at postgraduate level. NUS is featured among the world’s best for 36 subjects, including positions in the top 10 for chemical and civil engineering, chemistry, materials science, architecture and statistics.

Trying to decide between NTU and NUS? View our comparison article here.

3. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)

Location: Hong Kong

Up one place this year, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is another one of the youngest top universities in Asia in this list, having been founded in 1991, and places second after NTU in the QS Top 50 Under 50. HKUST has around 14,200 students and boasts an attractive 60-hectare campus in an area of natural beauty on the Clear Water bay peninsula, a short drive from central Hong Kong.

4. KAIST - Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology

Location: South Korea

Climbing two places this year, Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology was founded in 1971 as the first research-orientated science and engineering university in South Korea. It’s located in Daejeon, a city known for its innovation in science and education, and also has a campus in capital city Seoul. KAIST currently has around 10,600 students, with a larger proportion of postgraduates than undergraduates.

5. University of Hong Kong (HKU)

Location: Hong Kong

Down three places to rank fifth in Asia this year, the University of Hong Kong (HKU) is nonetheless consistently one of the top universities in Asia. HKU is Hong Kong’s oldest university, having been established in 1911, and has since gained international recognition for its achievements as a research-led comprehensive university. HKU has an enrollment of 28,744 students, including 9,215 international students.   

6. Tsinghua University

Location: China

Tsinghua University is down one place in the Asian rankings this year but is nonetheless the highest-ranked Chinese university, achieving top-five scores for both academic and employer reputation. Also established in 1911, Tsinghua is based in the Chinese capital Beijing and is a member of the prestigious C9 League of Chinese universities. It’s currently ranked among the top 10 universities in the world to study civil, electrical, and mechanical engineering, as well as materials sciences. 

7. Fudan University

Location: China

Also in China, fellow C9-member Fudan University has climbed four places in the Asian rankings in 2018, overtaking Peking University in the process. Established in 1905 as Fudan Public School, Fudan is located in Shanghai, and is considered one of the most selective Chinese universities. It has about 31,900 students, of whom 3,000 are international, and is ranked among the world’s top 50 universities to study modern languages, mechanical engineering, chemistry, materials sciences and politics.

8. City University of Hong Kong

Location: Hong Kong

Ranked eighth in Asia in 2018, City University of Hong Kong is another young, fast-growing institution, established in 1984 as the City Polytechnic of Hong Kong. City University of Hong Kong features among the world’s top 50 universities for civil engineering, mathematics, accounting & finance, communication & media studies and social policy & administration. As well as over 50 bachelor’s degree programs, it offers dual degree programs with other prestigious universities such as Columbia University in the US.

9. Peking University

Location: China

Peking University retains its position of ninth this year, and achieves top-five scores for its reputation among both academics and employers, suggesting a degree from Peking will certainly put you in good stead. Established in 1898 in Beijing, Peking is another member of the prestigious C9 League, and is also well known for the beautiful traditional Chinese architecture on its campus grounds. Peking is currently ranked in the global top 15 for linguistics, modern languages, chemistry, and dentistry.

10. The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)

Location: Hong Kong

Concluding our look at the 10 top universities in Asia in 2018 is the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), down two places to rank 10^th in the region this year. CUHK receives its highest scores for the proportion of inbound exchange students and academic reputation, and offers a large range of programs, most of which are taught in English. Founded in 1963, CUHK is currently Hong Kong’s only collegiate university. 

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