International Scholarships for African Students | Top Universities
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International Scholarships for African Students

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Laura Tucker

Updated Aug 21, 2024
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There are many international scholarships for African students available, including government scholarships, Commonwealth scholarships and university scholarships.

Read on for our list of current opportunities, and download our free guide on how to find scholarships to study abroad here.

To study anywhere:

 

  • Africa London Nagasaki (ALN) Fund – Graduate scholarships for African scientists to gain funding for a master’s degree in an area related to disease control in Africa. Scholarship winners can choose to study at London’s Institute of Tropical Medicine, the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine or Nagasaki University in Japan.
  • Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship Program – Needs-based graduate scholarships for African students at master’s and PhD level to study anywhere in the world.
  • Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships – International scholarships for African students within the Commonwealth* to study a part-time master’s degree by distance learning from select universities in the UK and worldwide.
  • The Beit Trust Scholarships – International master’s degree and PhD scholarships for African students from Malawi, Zambia or Zimbabwe to study in the UK, Ireland or South Africa at a leading university. Applicants need to have been accepted into the university to be eligible for the Beit Trust scholarship.
  • Wells Mountain Foundation Scholarships – Needs-based scholarships for students from developing countries (including African nations) to gain funding for university at home or in a country in the developing world. Candidates must be planning to work and live in their own country after graduation and will be enrolled in a program of study that will either benefit the community or contribute to the country’s growth.
  • Women Techmakers Scholars Program – Scholarships for women from Africa (as well as Europe and the Middle East) to study computer science, computer engineering or a closely related technical field at any study level at a university in one of the aforementioned regions.
  • Rotary Peace Fellowships – Fully-funded academic fellowships covering tuition fees, accommodation, transportation and field-study expenses for master’s degree applicants. Applications are open to students from any African country and successful applicants will be able to study at a selection of top universities around the world.

To study in Africa:

 

  • ACCESS Kenya – Partial scholarships for students from Kenya to gain funding to study at undergraduate level at an accredited university in Kenya.
  • Mandela Rhodes Scholarships – Scholarships for Africans with strong leadership skills to study for an honors or master’s degree at a recognized university in South Africa.
  • Jim Ovia Scholarship – Scholarships for Nigerian students to gain funding to study at undergraduate level in Nigeria. The award includes tuition and maintenance allowance.
  • The Graduate Institute Geneva – A number list of unique masters and PhD scholarships for academically talented students from Africa. Financial aid packages may include cost-of-living scholarships, tuition reduction and/or a paid position, and is awarded based on the individual’s financial needs as well as academic merit.
  • WAAW Foundation Scholarships – Need-based scholarships for female African students looking to pursue a STEM-focused undergraduate program (science, technology, engineering or mathematics) at a recognized African university.

To study in Asia-Pacific:

To study in Europe:

 

To study in Belgium:

  • VLIR-UOS Awards Scholarships – Graduate scholarships for international students from Africa, Asia and Latin America to study in Belgium on a development-related master’s degree or training program.

To study in Germany:

  • DRD-DAAD Merit Scholarships – Scholarships for Sub-Saharan** Africans to study a development-related master’s or PhD program in Germany. Scholarships will be awarded based on academic merit.

To study in Ireland:

To study in the Netherlands:

To study in the UK: 

To study in the US: 

 

Note that the list above is NOT exhaustive – there are lots of other scholarships open to African students. To find more opportunities, check the website of your chosen university and research funding offered via government schemes or external organizations (e.g. the IET offers funds for engineering students).

You could also be eligible for the QS Scholarships scheme, which offers US$7 million in funding each year. To find out more, and to get personal advice for your application, register to attend the QS World Grad School Tour for free.

African Commonwealth countries: Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Swaziland, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania and Zambia.

** Sub-Saharan African countries: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Republic of the Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

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This article was originally published in April 2015. It was last updated in June 2020. 

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