Top Universities Offering Student Visa Sponsorship and Relocation Stipends for Graduate Research
Top global universities now offer full student visa sponsorship and relocation stipends to attract international graduate researchers in 2025.
Why Universities Are Offering Visa Sponsorship & Relocation Packages
Demand for researchers in STEM, engineering, AI, public health, climate science, biotechnology, quantum computing, and data science has surged. To stay competitive, universities are expanding benefits such as:
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Full student visa sponsorship
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Relocation stipends (flight + accommodation allowance)
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Monthly living stipends
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Tuition waivers
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Research funding
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Healthcare insurance
This trend is strongest in the U.S., UK, Canada, Europe, Australia, Japan, and Korea, where graduate research drives innovation.
High-CPC targets:
graduate fellowships, research funding, international student visa, global scholarship programs, study abroad financing.
Top Universities Offering Visa Sponsorship & Relocation Stipends (2025)
These institutions provide full financial coverage + visa support for international master’s and PhD researchers.
🇺🇸 1. Harvard University (USA)
Harvard offers full tuition, health insurance, visa sponsorship, and relocation allowances.
Funding includes:
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Full PhD scholarship
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$35,000–$45,000 yearly stipend
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Travel & relocation grants
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J-1 visa support
Fields:
Public health, engineering, CS, economics, biology, AI.
🇺🇸 2. MIT – Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA)
MIT provides some of the strongest graduate research packages globally.
Benefits:
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Visa sponsorship (F-1/J-1)
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Full tuition waiver
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Monthly living stipend
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Relocation allowance
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Additional research grants
Popular research areas:
AI, robotics, aerospace, quantum computing.
🇬🇧 3. University of Oxford (UK)
Through Clarendon, Rhodes, and departmental scholarships.
Includes:
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Full UK Student Visa sponsorship
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£17,000–£20,000 annual stipend
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Relocation and settling-in allowance
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Research travel funding
Fields:
Social sciences, humanities, engineering, medicine.
🇨🇦 4. University of Toronto (Canada)
International grad researchers receive:
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Visa sponsorship (Study Permit)
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CAD $18,000–$50,000 funding packages
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Housing allowance
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Relocation stipend for new PhD students
High-CPC keywords: Canada research visa, graduate funding Canada.
🇪🇺 5. ETH Zurich (Switzerland)
A global leader in engineering and sciences.
Offers:
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Visa sponsorship
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CHF 2,000–3,500 monthly stipend
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Relocation assistance
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Paid research responsibilities
🇩🇪 6. Technical University of Munich (Germany)
Germany offers tuition-free graduate education with excellent funding.
Includes:
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German student visa support
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Monthly stipends via DAAD
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Research assistant contracts
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Relocation support for international researchers
🇦🇺 7. University of Melbourne (Australia)
Through the Melbourne Research Scholarship.
Benefits:
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Full visa sponsorship
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AUD $34,000+ yearly stipend
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Relocation grant ($2,000–$3,000)
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Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
🇯🇵 8. University of Tokyo (Japan)
International graduate researchers receive:
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Full visa sponsorship
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JASSO & MEXT stipends
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Relocation allowance
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Housing subsidies
🇰🇷 9. KAIST – Korea Advanced Institute of Science & Technology (South Korea)
Popular for engineering and tech research.
Offers:
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Full tuition
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Student visa sponsorship
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Monthly stipend
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Flight + relocation support
Comparison Table: Universities Offering Visa Sponsorship + Relocation Stipends (2025)
| University | Visa Sponsorship | Relocation Stipend | Annual Stipend | Tuition |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard (USA) | ✔ | ✔ | $35k–$45k | Fully covered |
| MIT (USA) | ✔ | ✔ | $38k–$50k | Fully covered |
| Oxford (UK) | ✔ | ✔ | £17k–£20k | Fully covered |
| Toronto (Canada) | ✔ | ✔ | CAD $18k–$50k | Covered |
| ETH Zurich (Switzerland) | ✔ | ✔ | CHF 2k–3.5k/mo | Covered |
| TUM (Germany) | ✔ | ✔ | €1k–€2k/mo | Mostly covered |
| Melbourne (Australia) | ✔ | ✔ | AUD $34k+ | Fully covered |
| Tokyo (Japan) | ✔ | ✔ | ¥1.4M–¥2.4M | Covered |
| KAIST (Korea) | ✔ | ✔ | KRW 800k–1.2M/mo | Covered |
Visa Sponsorship for Graduate Researchers
Universities sponsor the following visas:
🇺🇸 U.S.
F-1 Visa + OPT or J-1 Exchange Visitor Visa
🇬🇧 UK
Student Visa + Graduate Route
🇨🇦 Canada
Study Permit + Post-Graduate Work Permit (PGWP)
🇦🇺 Australia
Subclass 500 Student Visa
🇪🇺 Europe
National Study Visas (Germany, Switzerland), Schengen research permits
High-CPC keywords:
student visa, research visa sponsorship, graduate visa application.
How to Apply for Graduate Research Funding (Step-by-Step)
✔ 1. Identify Your Research Area
AI, engineering, biomedical science, climate studies, economics, policy, etc.
✔ 2. Prepare Required Documents
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Academic transcripts
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CV/Resume
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Research proposal
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Letters of recommendation
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Passport
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English proficiency test (IELTS/TOEFL)
✔ 3. Contact Potential Supervisors
This increases acceptance chances significantly.
✔ 4. Apply Through the University Portal
Most deadlines: October–January.
✔ 5. Interview + Offer + Visa Support
Your university handles visa sponsorship paperwork.
Official University Scholarship Links (Safe & Non-Affiliate)
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Harvard Graduate School — https://gsas.harvard.edu
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MIT Graduate Admissions — https://gradadmissions.mit.edu
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Oxford Scholarships — https://ox.ac.uk
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University of Toronto Funding — https://future.utoronto.ca
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ETH Zurich Graduate — https://ethz.ch
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TUM International Office — https://tum.de
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University of Melbourne Graduate Research — https://unimelb.edu.au
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University of Tokyo — https://u-tokyo.ac.jp
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KAIST Scholarships — https://kaist.ac.kr
FAQs
1. Do universities pay for relocation?
Yes—many institutions provide $1,000–$3,000 for flights, settling-in, and housing.
2. Do these scholarships cover full tuition?
Most top research universities cover 100% tuition.
3. Can graduate researchers work during the program?
Yes—most countries allow part-time work on student visas.
4. Do these scholarships lead to work visas or PR?
Yes. Countries like Canada, Australia, UK, and Germany offer post-study work visas that can lead to permanent residency.
5. Is IELTS mandatory?
Not always—some programs accept TOEFL, Duolingo, or institutional tests.
Conclusion
In 2025, top global universities are offering exceptional funding opportunities for international graduate researchers complete with full visa sponsorship, relocation stipends, tuition waivers, and monthly research funding. Whether you’re pursuing a master’s, PhD, or post-graduate research fellowship, these universities provide world-class resources and pathways to global academic careers. Now is the perfect time to apply.