What “fully funded” actually covers—and the three questions I asked before accepting

Start with the offer letter, not the headline

When an advert says fully funded, it may mean tuition only, tuition plus a stipend, or tuition plus a grant that arrives after you have already paid costs. My first action was to put every benefit into a small table: tuition, monthly stipend, health insurance, visa, travel, and conference funding.

The three questions that changed my decision

1. What is paid directly, and what is reimbursed? Reimbursement can be impossible if you do not have savings for a visa or flight.
2. Is the stipend guaranteed for the full programme? Ask whether it changes after coursework or depends on teaching.
3. Which costs are excluded? Moving, dependants, insurance, and registration fees can materially change the value of an offer.

My proposal structure

I used one page: the problem, why it mattered, the method I could realistically learn, and the local research fit. I named two papers from the group and one limitation I hoped to understand. That specificity made the proposal feel like the beginning of research rather than a generic personal statement.

Before you apply

Do not assume a fee waiver includes a living stipend. Save the official funding terms beside the event or scholarship deadline and request clarification in writing.