Scholarships for African students to study abroad

As an international student, searching for scholarships is one of the biggest tasks you will undertake before you head off to study abroad.

It can be difficult to know where to start because there are many different scholarships and partial scholarships that international students can apply for.

Below is a selection of scholarships available to African students. This is not a definitive list as lots of universities will have their own scholarships that international students from a range of countries can apply for, so use this article as a starting point to help you search for the right scholarship for you.

To read more about scholarships for international students visit our comprehensive scholarship hub. 

Global

Aga Khan Foundation – The Aga Khan Foundation provides a selection of scholarships for postgraduate students who have no other means of financing their studies. Scholarships are open to students from a range of African countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Madagascar and Mozambique.

Beit Trust Postgraduate scholarships – These scholarships are available for postgraduate students from Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi to study at a choice of 19 South African or British universities.

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme – Academically strong students may apply to be a Mastercard scholar at a range of universities in France, the US, the UK and Canada. The programme is open to both undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Zawadi Africa Foundation Fund – This programme aims to support female students from Africa who wish to study in the US, Canada or Africa.

To study in the US

Fulbright Foreign Student programme – A range of opportunities for graduate students and young professionals to study or work in the US for six months up to a year.

7UP Harvard Business School Scholarship – For Nigerians wishing to pursue an MBA at Harvard University, this scholarship covers tuition, housing and travel to and from the US.

Hubert Humphrey Fellowship – The Humphrey Programme brings young and mid-career professionals from sub-Saharan Africa to the US for a year of non-degree graduate-level study, leadership development and professional collaboration with US counterparts.

Scholarships in Canada for international students
Scholarships available in the UK for international students
Scholarships for international students in Australia and New Zealand
Scholarships available in the US for international students

To study in the UK

Commonwealth Scholarships for Developing Commonwealth Countries – There are a range of scholarships available for students from Commonwealth countries at master’s and PhD level. The Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme is open to international students from any Commonwealth country looking to do a master’s programme in the UK. The area of the study must aid the development of technology, economy or society within the student’s country of origin.

LSE Commonwealth Shared Scholarship scheme – The LSE Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme is awarded to students from developing Commonwealth countries to study at the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Reach Oxford Scholarships – These scholarships are for students from a range of African countries who have already received admission to the University of Oxford.

Chevening Scholarships – Chevening is the UK government’s international awards scheme. It offers a range of scholarships for African students.

To study in Australia

Australia Awards Africa – Applicants for the Australia Awards must be able to demonstrate that the knowledge gained through the scholarship will be used to improve policy, practice or reform in their home country. The award is open to master’s students.

Macquarie University Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship – African Women in STEM – This is a partial scholarship that supports female students from Africa to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics at Macquarie University. The scholarship covers 50 per cent of tuition fees.

University of Western Australia Global Excellence Scholarship – A range of scholarships are available for both undergraduate and postgraduate students wishing to study at The University of Western Australia.

University of Adelaide Global Academic Excellence Scholarship – Open to students from any country (excluding Australia and New Zealand), these scholarships offer a 50 per cent reduction of tuition fees for successful candidates.

To study in Canada

Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships – These were created to attract and retain world-class doctoral students. The scholarship is worth C$50,000 (£31,000) per year for three years and can be used towards a doctoral degree or combined master’s and PhD.

Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships – These are offered to international students doing postgraduate study in natural and social sciences or health sciences.