Working out how to fund a degree abroad can feel like the hardest part of the whole journey. There are dozens of scholarships out there, but they all have different deadlines, different rules, and different odds — and it's hard to know where to even start looking.
The good news: African students are genuinely in demand right now. Governments, universities, and foundations across the USA, UK, and Europe are actively expanding funding for African applicants, prioritising diversity, leadership potential, and strong academic records.
This guide walks through the main scholarships open to African students in each region, what they actually offer, and how to apply. We’ve checked each one against its official source, so you know what’s real and what’s changed recently.
Scholarships in the USA
| Scholarship |
What It Actually Offers |
Official Source |
| Fulbright Foreign Student Program |
Fully funded Master’s or PhD study: tuition, a monthly living stipend, travel, and health insurance. Maintains dedicated space for applicants from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, and other African countries. |
foreign.fulbrightonline.org |
| Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program |
Fully funded undergraduate and Master’s study for African students, run through a network of partner universities — including Arizona State University and UC Berkeley in the US, plus McGill University and the University of Cape Town. Typically covers tuition, accommodation, a living stipend, mentorship, and internship support. Each partner runs its own process and deadlines, so apply through the specific university’s page. |
mastercardfdn.org |
| AAUW International Fellowships |
For women pursuing full-time graduate study in the US in STEM fields (engineering, computer science, chemistry, and related disciplines). $20,000 for a Master’s, $25,000 for a doctorate; a separate, larger postdoctoral fellowship also exists. Open to non-US citizens and permanent residents. |
aauw.org |
Worth knowing: AAUW’s flagship International Fellowship is now STEM-specific. If your field falls outside STEM, AAUW’s smaller Career Development and Community Action grants are worth checking instead.
Scholarships in the UK
| Scholarship |
What It Actually Offers |
Official Source |
| Chevening Scholarship |
Fully funded, one-year Master’s. Covers tuition, a monthly stipend, travel costs, and visa fees. Highly competitive, but African professionals with leadership experience do well here. |
chevening.org |
| Commonwealth Shared Scholarships |
Fully funded, aimed at students from lower-income Commonwealth countries, many of which are in Africa. Covers tuition, a living stipend, flights, and a thesis grant. Fields include STEM, development studies, engineering, environment, and healthcare. |
cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk |
| Rhodes Scholarships (University of Oxford) |
Fully funded, one of the most prestigious scholarships in the world. Selection is based on academic excellence, leadership, and community contribution rather than financial need. Eligible African constituencies currently include South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Nigeria, and Malawi — check the current list, as this shifts year to year. |
rhodeshouse.ox.ac.uk |
| Gates Cambridge Scholarship |
Fully funded Master’s or PhD in any field except the MBA. Focused on students tackling global problems in health, technology, agriculture, education, and governance. |
gatescambridge.org |
| Mastercard Foundation AfOx Graduate Scholarships (Oxford Saïd) |
Full MBA tuition plus a living-cost grant (minimum c. £20,000+), for African nationals ordinarily resident in Africa. Run jointly by Oxford Saïd Business School, the Africa Oxford Initiative, and the Mastercard Foundation. No separate application — indicate interest on the standard MBA form. |
sbs.ox.ac.uk |
| African Scholarship (London Business School) |
£20,000 towards MBA tuition, open to all successful MBA applicants who are nationals of African countries. Automatic consideration — no separate application. LBS also runs a separate, larger Mo Ibrahim Foundation Scholarship for sub-Saharan African MBA candidates. |
london.edu |
Other UK options worth a direct look: LSE’s Graduate Support Scheme, Imperial College London’s President’s Scholarship, Edinburgh Global Scholarships, and SOAS scholarships for African Studies. Amounts and eligibility vary a lot by programme, so check each institution’s page individually.
Scholarships in Europe
| Scholarship |
What It Actually Offers |
Official Source |
| Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarships |
Fully funded joint Master’s across 2–3 European countries. No age limit; covers travel and living costs alongside tuition. |
erasmus-plus.ec.europa.eu |
| DAAD Scholarships (Germany) |
Monthly stipend for Master’s or PhD study. German public universities don’t charge tuition, though most charge a modest semester contribution fee for admin and transport. Strong support for African applicants in engineering, renewable energy, and public health. |
daad.de |
| Eiffel Excellence Scholarship (France) |
Monthly stipend plus tuition and allowance for Master’s or PhD study, aimed at future leaders in engineering, economics, international relations, and the sciences. |
campusfrance.org |
| Holland Scholarship (Netherlands) |
Partial funding (typically a one-off contribution, not full cost of study) for non-EEA students starting a Bachelor’s or Master’s at a participating Dutch university. |
studyinnl.org |
| Swedish Institute Scholarships (SISGP) |
Fully funded Master’s study. Competitive, with a strong emphasis on leadership and development impact. Eligible countries vary by year — check the current list before applying. |
si.se |
| Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships |
Fully funded Master’s, PhD, or postdoctoral study, leaning heavily toward research potential. |
sbfi.admin.ch |
A word of caution: The Netherlands’ Orange Knowledge Programme, which used to be widely listed alongside the Holland Scholarship, ended in 2024 and has no rounds planned for 2026 or beyond. If you see it listed as “open” on a third-party site, that page is out of date — the Holland Scholarship is the current option.
A Few Field-Specific Options Worth Knowing
| Scholarship |
What It Actually Offers |
Official Source |
| Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future |
Up to $50,000/year for PhD study and $40,000/year for postdoctoral study, for women from developing countries in STEM. |
facultyforthefuture.net |
| London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine funding |
A range of scholarships and bursaries for postgraduate public health study, some specifically for students from low- and middle-income countries. |
lshtm.ac.uk |
These are a starting point, not an exhaustive list — search by your specific field and target university for more.
How to Actually Improve Your Chances
Winning a scholarship comes down to preparation and a clear story, not luck. A few things that consistently help:
- Lead with a real story. The strongest applications talk about specific moments — a challenge you overcame, a project you led, a community you served — not just a list of achievements.
- Get recommenders who actually know your work. A letter that speaks to your leadership or academic potential in specific terms carries far more weight than a generic one.
- Apply to more than one. Most successful applicants apply to somewhere between five and ten scholarships, not just their top choice.
- Start early. Most programmes open their applications between August and February, and strong applications take weeks to put together properly.
- Write a different essay for each one. Every scholarship is looking for something slightly different — reusing the same essay everywhere tends to show.
What to Do Next
There’s no single “best” scholarship — the right one depends on your field, your target country, and your own story. Start by shortlisting two or three that genuinely fit your background, then build your application around those rather than spreading yourself across every option on this list.
Find scholarships you may be eligible for, or use the Qualification Checker to see which universities and programmes could be a good fit for your grades, goals, and budget.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. Scholarship details are sourced from publicly available and verified third-party sources, including official websites and scholarship portals, current as of publication. NovaGrad does not guarantee the completeness, accuracy, or continued availability of any scholarship listed here. Deadlines, amounts, and eligibility criteria change often, so always check the official provider’s website before applying. NovaGrad does not fund or decide scholarships — we show you opportunities and link you to the official provider, where you apply directly. NovaGrad also does not guarantee admission, funding, or visa approval; always check official university and government websites for current requirements.
