Several universities in Europe offer fully funded scholarships for Master's programs such as the University of Amsterdam (Amsterdam Merit Scholarship), ETH Zurich Excellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme, and others. In addition, you can also consider external merit-based scholarships such as Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees and DAAD (Germany) scholarships, as well as country-specific scholarships such as the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship (France) and Orange Tulip Scholarship (Netherlands).

The academic requirements typically include a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field, good grades or GPA, and standardized test scores (e.g., GRE, TOEFL/IELTS). Specific requirements may vary, so it's important to carefully review the information on each program's website.

In my experience, having quality research experience can significantly enhance your chances of securing funding. European universities place a high value on GPA/grades when considering funding applications, so being in the top 15-20% of your class will be highly advantageous.

In the US, application fees typically range from $50 to $100 per application. In Europe, many universities, particularly in Germany and the Nordic countries (e.g., Sweden, Norway), have low or no application fees. When fees exist, they range from €50 to €100.

Fee waivers are more commonly offered by US universities, particularly for applicants who demonstrate financial need. In contrast, fee waivers are less common in European universities. One should check directly with universities for availability of such waivers.

The ideal number of universities to apply to varies based on individual circumstances, but in my experience, targeting 8-12 universities is usually sufficient.

Funding comes in many shapes and sizes. You should be aware of all aspects of funding. There’s a professor funding, which means the professor has some research project they are hiring for, typically geared towards PhD students, because they can stick for a while. You have the funding as long as you're working with the Professor. Then there’s a department or university funding, such as that at Wisconsin Madison, where you can change the project and professor. Then there are third-party funding like Fulbright, Erasmus Mundus, and Commonwealth, which have some strings attached, such as repaying by coming back to Pakistan and serving the country for a certain amount of time. Other sources of funding also include TAships. The money can cover most of your tuition. Once you get one of those TAships, you’re usually able to get more. Then there are RAships - some people self-fund their first semester and then they’re able to get RAships and TAships that help cover their tuition. There are plenty of opportunities, you'll just have to look. Niche programs encourage people to apply by offering them funding. So, if it aligns with your interests, you can apply there and get some funding.

I recommend thoroughly searching through the Financial Aid and Assistance options subsection of program websites. Usually, there is some general statement about university/program policy regarding this. For Ph.D. programs, you can also check professor/PI websites which often mention whether they are looking to hire in a certain season. Other than that I think the resources others mentioned should help you find some answers.

@Mukhtiar-Ahmad The availability and types of financial aid for graduate students can vary significantly by university and program. In my experience, PhD applicants often receive full funding through scholarships, assistantships, and fellowships, though the mix may change annually. Assistantships come in two types: Graduate Research Assistantships (GRAs), which involve research often related to the student's dissertation, and Graduate Teaching Assistantships (GTAs), which involve teaching duties.

Master's students typically do not receive funding upon admission but may secure scholarships or assistantships later by reaching out to their department or faculty members.

Again, these opportunities depend greatly on the specific university, program, and departmental resources. More detailed advice requires information on the targeted university, program, or field of study.

@Mukhtiar-Ahmad In general, most Master's programs are not funded. However, there are exceptions, such as Masters by Research programs. In addition, you can also fund your Master's via research assistantships or teaching assistantships but they come with their caveats. For example, for the former, you need some research experience. There are also various scholarships you can apply for that are typically geared towards specific regions or countries (e.g., Fulbright Scholarship, Commonwealth Scholarship). I hope this helps.