Fully Funded Scholarships for Africans 2025/2026 — Complete Guide

How “fully funded” is defined

In scholarship terms, “fully funded” generally means the award covers tuition fees plus a living stipend. Many fully funded scholarships also include return airfare, health insurance, visa support, and sometimes research or thesis allowances. Always check the official scholarship page for the exact coverage and exclusions — some scholarships call themselves “fully funded” but expect recipients to cover small items such as accommodation deposits or local taxes.

Top fully funded scholarships open to Africans (2025/2026)

Below are widely-known, well-funded programmes that accept (or actively recruit) African applicants. For each scholarship we summarise eligibility, what’s covered, application window/notes and why it’s valuable for African students.

1. Chevening Scholarships (UK) — one-year master’s

Overview: The UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office funds Chevening to support future leaders from eligible countries to complete a one-year master’s in the UK. Chevening covers tuition, living allowance, travel costs and visa expenses. Chevening criteria emphasise leadership potential and networking.

Who should apply: Emerging leaders with 2+ years’ work experience, a clear career plan, and strong English-language ability. Many African applicants succeed by showing community impact and leadership in civic, entrepreneurship, or public-service work.

When to apply: Chevening typically opens in August/September for the next academic year; deadlines are often in November. Check the official site each year for exact dates.

2. Clarendon Fund (University of Oxford) — graduate scholarships

Overview: Clarendon awards around 200 fully funded scholarships annually across Oxford’s graduate programs. Clarendon covers tuition and a generous grant towards living costs. It’s highly competitive and merit-based.

Who should apply: High-achieving master’s and doctoral candidates with strong academic records and research potential. Clarendon applicants typically apply for graduate admission and are automatically considered (verify the intake procedure each year).

3. DAAD Scholarships (Germany) — many programs & levels

Overview: The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers many scholarships for postgraduate study and research in Germany. DAAD awards vary by programme, but many are fully funded and include monthly stipends, health insurance, and travel allowances. DAAD funds are available to applicants from Africa through specific country programmes and targeted master’s scholarships.

4. Pan African University (PAU) Scholarships — continental, postgraduate

Overview: The Pan African University, an African Union initiative, offers fully funded postgraduate scholarships to African students with the mandate that beneficiaries contribute to Africa’s development after graduation. PAU typically covers tuition, travel, accommodation and living stipends. PAU explicitly targets African nationals and encourages candidates committed to working on the continent post-study.

5. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program (selected partner universities)

Overview: The Mastercard Foundation funds scholarships across African universities and international partner universities for talented African students with leadership potential, often focusing on disadvantaged youth. Coverage varies by partner institution but generally includes tuition, living costs, internships, and leadership development. For 2025/2026 the program continues at select sites (e.g., University of Rwanda, other partners).

6. Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA) — masters & doctoral research

Overview: Fulbright provides grants for graduate study and research in the United States. Awards typically include tuition, living stipend, travel, and health insurance. National Fulbright commissions or US embassies in African countries manage applications. Fulbright also runs specialized fellowships and exchange programs.

7. Eiffel Excellence Scholarships (France) and French Government programs

Overview: Eiffel scholarships (for masters and PhD) and other French government scholarships fund exceptional international students, including Africans. Eiffel provides a monthly allowance, travel costs and health coverage (tuition exemption may be limited—check details). Many French universities also offer fully funded PhD positions (often paid research assistantships).

8. Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) and university scholarships

Overview: China Scholarship Council (CSC) scholarships are often fully funded for masters and PhD programs and include tuition, accommodation or allowance and monthly stipends. Many Chinese universities also offer scholarships specifically for African students (e.g., Belt and Road scholarships).

9. MEXT (Japan) and other East Asian scholarships

Overview: MEXT (Japan) scholarships cover tuition, living allowance and travel for selected international students. Korea (KGSP), Taiwan, and Singapore also offer fully funded graduate scholarships; check country-specific rules and deadlines.

10. Country or university-specific African excellence scholarships

Universities like the University of Glasgow (African Excellence Award), some Commonwealth scholarships and other university scholarships specifically for African candidates are expanding in 2025/2026. These awards vary widely in size but several offer full tuition and living stipends for outstanding African applicants. Always check university funding pages and look for “Africa” or “Developing Countries” scholarships on official pages.

How to choose the right scholarship for you

Match level: Determine whether the scholarship supports undergraduate, master’s, PhD, or research. Some schemes (e.g., Chevening) are master’s-only; others (DAAD, Fulbright, Clarendon) support masters and PhD. Pan African University focuses on postgraduate study for Africans.

Field of study: Some scholarships target specific fields (e.g., STEM, public policy, development). Others are broad and open across disciplines. Identify whether your field is a priority for the funder (this increases your chances).

Career & return conditions: Some African-focused scholarships ask recipients to return and work in Africa or to commit to community development. If you plan to work in Africa after graduation, highlight that in your application. PAU in particular emphasises an Africa-focused career commitment.

Application competitiveness: Large programmes (Chevening, Clarendon) are highly competitive. Complementary scholarship routes (university-level awards, country government scholarships) can improve your chances. Apply to multiple opportunities with tailored, high-quality applications.

Document checklist & application readiness (what selectors look for)

Most scholarship selectors expect the following documents. Prepare and tailor each to the award:

• Academic transcripts and certificates (translated and notarised if necessary).
• Degree certificate or provisional certificate.
• Proof of language ability (IELTS/TOEFL) where required — some programs waive this if prior education was in English or accept other proofs.
• Curriculum Vitae (academic + professional) — highlight leadership and impact.
• Motivation/personal statements tailored to the scholarship (not generic university statements).
• Research proposal (for PhD/Research-focused scholarships) — concise, feasible, and linked to host’s strengths.
• References — ideally academic referees who can vouch for your research/academic promise and a professional referee for leadership/work experience.
• Valid passport and any supporting identification documents.

Tip: Treat each statement as a persuasive case: why this scholarship, why now, why this host university, and how your training will benefit your community or country.

Application timeline planning (sample timeline for 2025/2026)

Planning is critical: many scholarships align with academic intakes (September/October in the UK, Europe and North America; January/February and September elsewhere). Use this sample timeline to stay on track:

1. 12–10 months before intake: Scan scholarship pages, note eligibility and deadlines, shortlist 4–6 target scholarships/universities.
2. 9–6 months before intake: Prepare documents, request transcripts and references, draft personal statements and research proposals.
3. 6–3 months before intake: Submit scholarship and university applications (many close 4–6 months before course start). For Chevening and similar, apply in the 3–4 month window announced annually.
4. 3–0 months before intake: Attend interviews (some scholarships require interviews), secure visas, arrange travel and arrival logistics after confirmation.

Note: Some African-focused calls (e.g., PAU and certain Mastercard Foundation cohorts) have unique windows that may not align with northern-hemisphere academic calendars — always confirm official dates on the program’s site.

Writing winning application essays and interviews — practical tips

The essay and interview are where you stand out. Selectors evaluate authenticity, impact, clarity of purpose, and feasibility.

Structure your essays

• Start with a story: a two-sentence example that shows your motivation (community project, challenge you solved).
• State your goals: be specific — which degree, what research area, and how you’ll use the skills after graduation.
• Show impact and leadership: include measurable outcomes (people reached, funds raised, improvements made).
• Link to the scholarship’s aims: explain why the scholarship is the right vehicle for your goals and how you’ll contribute back.

Interview preparation

• Practice concise answers to common questions (why this course, your leadership examples, challenges you overcame).
• Have concrete plans for how you will use the degree to solve a problem (economic, social, environmental) in your country or region.
• Be professional but authentic — panels look for sincerity and clarity, not scripted lines.

Common eligibility traps and how to avoid them

Trap — Ineligible or missed deadlines: Always confirm your country is eligible and the current deadline for the intake year. Sites change eligibility and dates year-to-year. Official pages are authoritative (e.g., Chevening’s country list; DAAD country-program pages).

Trap — Generic essays: Avoid reusing a university personal statement for a scholarship. Tailor every essay to the scholarship’s goals and selection criteria.

Trap — Weak referees: Choose referees who can comment specifically on your suitability (academic depth for research awards; leadership examples for fellowships).

Scams and red flags — protect your application

Unfortunately, scholarship scams persist. Watch for:

• Requests for application fees or “processing fees” sent to personal accounts — legitimate fully funded scholarships do not ask for fees to award a scholarship (some application systems have legitimate small registration fees — confirm on the official site).
• Emails that ask for bank details or photo IDs before any official offer — official offers often come as formal letters from universities/funding bodies and route through official portals.
• Social media “agents” guaranteeing scholarships for payment — no credible scholarship guarantees acceptance for money. Use official scholarship pages and university admissions offices to verify offers.

If in doubt, contact the scholarship or university directly via contact details on their official web pages.

Scholarship opportunities list (quick reference)

Below quick reference list — always visit the official page for full details and exact deadlines for 2025/2026:

• Chevening Scholarships (UK) — one-year masters.
• Clarendon Fund (University of Oxford) — graduate scholarships.
• DAAD (Germany) — multiple postgraduate scholarships.
• Pan African University (AU) — postgraduate scholarships for Africans.
• Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program — partner universities and African cohorts.
• Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA) — masters and PhD.
• Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) — masters & PhD.
• Eiffel Excellence Scholarships and French government programmes.
• University-level African Excellence awards (e.g., Glasgow).

Case study: How one successful applicant structured their Chevening application (example)

Profile: Mid-career civic tech project manager (Ghana), 4 years’ work experience, undergraduate first-class degree, English medium education, local NGO projects with measurable impact.

Application highlights:

• Clear leadership examples with impact metrics (led a 12-person team that improved access for 3,000 users to civic resources).
• Specific study plan linking a UK master’s course to a policy project to scale the NGO nationally.
• Strong referees — an academic supervisor and a professional head of programmes who could attest to project leadership and technical skills.

Why it worked: The application connected leadership, a feasible academic plan and an outcome-focused return goal — elements Chevening values most. Use this as a template to adapt your own essays and outcomes.

Extra resources and where to verify information

• Chevening — official site (UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office).
• DAAD — country-specific scholarship pages (Germany).
• Pan African University — AU/PAU official site.
• Mastercard Foundation partner pages (University of Rwanda, etc.).
• Oxford Clarendon Fund — University of Oxford funding pages.

FAQs — quick answers

Q: Can undergraduates get fully funded international scholarships?

A: Yes — fewer in number than postgraduate awards, but programmes exist (some university scholarships, country-specific programs and international foundations). Search for “undergraduate full scholarship + country/university” and monitor national scholarship portals.

Q: How many scholarships should I apply to?

A: Apply to multiple targeted scholarships (3–6) and several university funding options. Don’t spray applications; tailor each carefully.

Q: How long does it take to prepare a strong application?

A: Expect at least 8–12 weeks for polished essays, research proposals, transcripts requests and referee confirmations; more time if you need to secure test scores or translations.

Final checklist before you click “submit”

1. Have you answered every selection criterion? (Tick each box.)
2. Are your referees ready and do they know the deadline?
3. Is your research proposal/statement clear, practical and aligned with the host institution?
4. Have you proofread for grammar and clarity? (Ask a mentor to read your essays.)
5. Have you scanned the official page for any optional attachments or special requirements (e.g. CV format, word counts, portfolio links)?