Fully Funded Scholarships for African Students 2026-2027
Are you an African student looking to study abroad — or within Africa — without paying tuition? You’re in the right place. There are currently over 230 fully funded scholarship opportunities open to African students for the 2026-2027 academic year.
This guide covers the 15 most impactful programs — government scholarships, foundation grants, and university awards that cover tuition, living costs, travel, and more.
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Why African Students Should Apply Early
Here’s the reality: most scholarship deadlines fall between July and November 2026 for programs starting in 2027. If you wait until next year to start applying, you’ll miss the window for the most prestigious opportunities.
Act now. This guide lists what’s available, when to apply, and exactly what each program covers.
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1. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Level | Undergraduate, Master’s |
| Host countries | Canada, USA, Africa |
| Coverage | Full tuition + accommodation + books + living stipend |
| Eligibility | African students with financial need and leadership potential |
The Mastercard Foundation is one of the largest scholarship providers for African students. Their Scholars Program partners with universities worldwide to provide comprehensive funding.
Featured partner universities for 2026:
- McGill University (Canada) — 35 Master’s scholarships in Public Health, Nutrition, Public Policy, Sustainable Agriculture. Deadline: August 21, 2026
- University of Nairobi (Kenya) — Undergraduate scholarships. Deadline: August 31, 2026
- University of Toronto (Canada) — Undergraduate and graduate programs
- University of Cape Town (South Africa) — Varies by program
Apply for Mastercard Foundation Scholars →
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2. DAAD Scholarships (Germany)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Level | Master’s, PhD |
| Host country | Germany |
| Coverage | €992/month (Master’s) or €1,400/month (PhD) + health insurance + travel |
| Eligibility | African graduates, all fields |
DAAD is the German Academic Exchange Service, and it’s the single largest scholarship provider for African students wanting to study in Germany.
Key DAAD programs for Africans:
- DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Programme — Master’s in Public Policy/Good Governance (closes Aug 2026 for 2027 intake)
- DAAD In-Country/In-Region Programme — Master’s/PhD at African universities (deadline: August 15, 2026)
- DAAD Postgraduate Courses — Development-related Master’s at German universities (deadline: Aug–Oct 2026)
> Most DAAD scholarships are 100% tuition-free since German public universities charge little to no tuition. The scholarship covers your living costs instead.
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3. Chevening Scholarship (UK)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Level | Master’s (1 year) |
| Host country | United Kingdom |
| Coverage | Full tuition + £14,000-£18,000/year stipend + flights + visa |
| Eligibility | African citizens from Chevening-eligible countries, 2+ years work experience |
Chevening is the UK government’s flagship scholarship. African students from all 54 African countries are eligible to apply.
Deadline: Applications open August 4, 2026 and close October 6, 2026.
Key requirement: You need at least 2 years of work experience — which includes paid employment, volunteer work, and unpaid internships.
Read our complete Chevening guide →
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4. Commonwealth Scholarships (UK)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Level | Master’s, PhD |
| Host country | United Kingdom |
| Coverage | Full tuition + £1,378/month stipend + airfare + allowances |
| Eligibility | Citizens of Commonwealth African countries |
This is Chevening’s companion program for Commonwealth citizens. It places more emphasis on development impact — what will your degree do for your home country?
Application route: Unlike Chevening, Commonwealth Scholarships require you to apply through a nominating agency in your home country (usually the Ministry of Education).
Deadline: Applications open November 2026 through national nominating agencies.
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5. Rhodes Scholarship (Oxford)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Level | Master’s, DPhil (PhD) |
| Host country | UK (University of Oxford) |
| Coverage | Full tuition + £20,400/year stipend + flights |
| Eligibility | By African constituency (country-specific) |
The Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest and most prestigious international scholarship program. Approximately 100 scholars are selected globally each year, with dedicated slots for African countries.
African constituencies and deadlines:
- West Africa (Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Senegal, Togo, Benin): Deadline August 27, 2026
- Kenya: Deadline August 27, 2026
- Southern Africa: Deadline August 3, 2026
- Other countries: Check individual deadlines at rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk
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6. African Union Mwalimu Nyerere Scholarship
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Level | Master’s, PhD |
| Host countries | African Union member states (outside your home country) |
| Coverage | Full tuition + monthly stipend + travel + health insurance |
| Eligibility | Nationals of any AU member state |
This is one of Africa’s most prestigious intra-continental scholarships. It funds African students to study at African universities outside their home countries, promoting pan-African collaboration.
Post-graduation commitment: You must work in any African country for at least the duration of your scholarship period after graduating.
Deadline: July 31, 2026
Apply for Mwalimu Nyerere Scholarship →
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7. Mandela Rhodes Scholarship (South Africa)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Level | Honours, Master’s |
| Host country | South Africa |
| Coverage | Tuition + accommodation + living allowance + travel + research |
| Eligibility | African students under 30 years |
The Mandela Rhodes Scholarship combines full financial support with a leadership development program. Scholars join a lifelong community of African changemakers.
Deadline: July 31, 2026
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8. Australia Awards Scholarship
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Level | Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD |
| Host country | Australia |
| Coverage | Full tuition + living allowance + airfare + health insurance |
| Eligibility | Select African countries |
Funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs, this program brings African students to Australian universities for degree programs that address development priorities.
Deadline: April 30, 2026
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9. Global Korea Scholarship (GKS)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Level | Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD |
| Host country | South Korea |
| Coverage | Full tuition + KRW 1,000,000-1,500,000/month + 1 year Korean language training + airfare |
| Eligibility | All African countries |
South Korea’s government scholarship is one of the most generous in Asia. It includes one full year of Korean language training before your degree starts, plus extra financial incentives for high TOPIK scores.
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10. OWSD PhD Fellowships for Women Scientists
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Level | PhD |
| Host countries | Developing countries (outside your home country) |
| Coverage | Full funding + stipend + travel + research costs |
| Eligibility | Women from Science & Technology Lagging Countries |
Run by UNESCO, this fellowship is designed specifically for women scientists from developing countries who lack PhD training opportunities at home.
Deadline: August 31, 2026
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11. Intra-Africa Scholarship (European Commission)
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Level | Master’s, PhD |
| Host countries | Participating African universities |
| Coverage | Full tuition + €1,230/month stipend + travel |
| Eligibility | Citizens of African countries |
Jointly funded by the European Union and African Union, this program supports academic mobility within Africa at partner universities across the continent.
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12. Airtel Africa Tech Fellowship
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Host country | Nigeria (7 public universities) |
| Coverage | Full tuition + accommodation + living stipend (4-5 years) |
| Eligibility | Nigerian students in ICT/STEM fields |
Airtel Africa Foundation funds 100+ students per year at Nigerian public universities including UNILAG, ABU, UNIBEN, UNN, OAU, UNILORIN, and TASUED. Requires JAMB score of 230+.
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Comparison Table
| Scholarship | Level | Coverage | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mastercard Foundation | UG, Master’s | Full | Aug 21, 2026 (McGill) |
| DAAD (Germany) | Master’s, PhD | €992-1,400/month | Aug-Nov 2026 |
| Chevening | Master’s | Full + £14K+ stipend | Oct 6, 2026 |
| Commonwealth | Master’s, PhD | Full + £1,378/month | Nov 2026-Feb 2027 |
| Rhodes (Oxford) | Master’s, PhD | Full + £20K/year | Jul-Oct 2026 |
| AU Mwalimu Nyerere | Master’s, PhD | Full + stipend | Jul 31, 2026 |
| Mandela Rhodes | Honours, Master’s | Full | Jul 31, 2026 |
| Australia Awards | UG, Master’s, PhD | Full | Apr 30, 2026 |
| Global Korea (GKS) | UG, Master’s, PhD | Full + KRW 1M+/month | Varies |
| OWSD PhD | PhD | Full | Aug 31, 2026 |
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How to Maximize Your Chances (Action Plan)
Step 1: Identify Your Tiers (1 hour)
Create three tiers of scholarships for your profile:
- 3-5 reach (very competitive — Rhodes, Chevening)
- 5-10 moderate (good fit — DAAD, Commonwealth)
- 5-10 safety (local, university-specific)
Step 2: Gather Your Documents (Week 1)
- Academic transcripts and certificates
- Valid passport
- CV/résumé (tailored for scholarships)
- English proficiency test scores (IELTS/TOEFL typically 6.5-7.5)
- Recommendation letter contacts
- Personal statement template
Step 3: Write Your Base Essay (Week 2-3)
Most scholarships ask some variation of: “Who are you, what have you overcome, and what are your goals?” Write one strong essay first, then adapt it.
Step 4: Apply in Batches
Treat scholarship applications like a part-time job. Aim for 2-3 quality applications per week.
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Don’t Miss These Deadlines
| Urgency | Scholarship | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| ⚠️ This week | EAC Student Mobility | Jul 15, 2026 |
| ⚠️ This month | AU Mwalimu Nyerere | Jul 31, 2026 |
| ⚠️ This month | Mandela Rhodes | Jul 31, 2026 |
| 🔜 Soon | Rhodes West Africa | Aug 27, 2026 |
| 🔜 Soon | Rhodes Kenya | Aug 27, 2026 |
| 🔜 Soon | DAAD In-Country | Aug 15, 2026 |
| 🔜 Soon | Mastercard Foundation (McGill) | Aug 21, 2026 |
| ⏳ Next batch | Chevening 2027 | Oct 6, 2026 |
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Final Advice
The students who win scholarships don’t have perfect grades. They have persistence, organization, and a clear story. Start today. Pick the scholarships that match your profile and begin drafting your applications.
The money is out there. Go get it.
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