Do I have to take GRE or GMAT exams for admission, or are there fully funded scholarships available for a Master's?
It depends on your field. Business programs often require GMAT or GRE, though waivers are common; STEM and humanities programs typically ask for GRE only if any test is required. Fully funded Master's scholarships exist, though more competitive than PhD funding, through Fulbright, Erasmus Mundus, Chevening and DAAD.
Whether you need the GRE or GMAT depends heavily on your field of study, and yes, fully funded Master's degrees do exist, though they are more competitive to win than PhD funding. Read both parts below so you can plan your applications and your funding search together.
Exam Requirements By Field
| Field | Typical Exam Requirement | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Business / MBA programs | GMAT or GRE, often either accepted | Waivers common based on work experience or high GPA |
| STEM, humanities, social sciences | GRE, if any exam is required | Many programs have gone test-optional |
| Test-optional programs | No score needed | Requires a strong GPA, SOP and recommendation letters instead |
Fully Funded Master's Scholarship Options
- Internal university funding: graduate assistantships (teaching or research) covering full tuition plus a living stipend, most common in STEM, lab-heavy sciences and public policy
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program: covers tuition, airfare and living stipend for international students in the US
- Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters: EU-funded, covers travel, tuition and living costs across multiple partner countries
- AAUW International Fellowships: funding for women pursuing graduate study in the US who plan to return home professionally
- Country-specific scholarships: Chevening (UK), DAAD (Germany), Australia Awards (Australia)
My Advice
Start your scholarship search at least a year before your intended intake, since programs like Chevening, DAAD and Erasmus Mundus close applications far earlier than the university deadlines themselves. Apply to a mix of test-optional and test-required programs so a strong GRE or GMAT score is not your only path to funding if you choose to sit the exam.
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