If you are an African student with the dream of studying abroad but the cost feels like a wall standing between you and that goal, this article is for you. The truth is, there are more scholarships to study abroad for African students than most people realise — fully funded opportunities that cover tuition, accommodation, feeding, airfare, and even personal expenses. You just need to know where to look.
Below is a carefully compiled list of the best scholarships available to African students for the 2025/2026 academic session, covering both undergraduate and postgraduate levels across universities in the USA, UK, Germany, Canada, Australia, Japan, and beyond.
Undergraduate Scholarships to Study Abroad for African Students
1. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is one of the most well-known and most generous scholarships available to African students. It is offered in partnership with several leading universities across the USA, UK, Canada, Europe, and Africa. The programme targets academically talented students from Africa who come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
What it covers:
- Full tuition fees
- Accommodation and living expenses
- Return airfare
- Health insurance
- Leadership development activities
Level: Undergraduate and Postgraduate
Eligible countries: All African countries
How to apply: Applications are made through each partner university’s own scholarship portal. Visit the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program official website for the full list of partner universities and current deadlines.
2. Reach Oxford Scholarships (University of Oxford)
The Reach Oxford Scholarship is one of the few fully funded undergraduate scholarships offered by the University of Oxford specifically for students from developing countries, including African nations. It is designed for students who would otherwise not be able to afford to study at Oxford.
What it covers:
- Full tuition fees
- Full living costs
- One return economy airfare per year
Level: Undergraduate
Eligible countries: Developing countries including African nations
Deadline: Applications typically open in the first quarter of the year. Check the Oxford University website for exact dates.
3. MEXT Scholarship (Japanese Government)
The MEXT Scholarship is offered by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology to international students including those from Africa. It is one of the most comprehensive government-funded scholarships available globally.
What it covers:
- Full tuition fees
- Monthly living allowance
- Accommodation support
- Round trip airfare between your home country and Japan
Level: Undergraduate, Postgraduate, and Research
Eligible countries: Open to African students. Check the Japanese Embassy in your country for specific eligibility.
Deadline: Varies by country. Applications are typically processed through Japanese Embassies in each African nation.
4. American University Merit Scholarships
American University in Washington DC offers merit-based scholarships to international undergraduate students including those from Africa. These awards are highly competitive and are given to students who demonstrate exceptional academic ability.
What it covers:
- Scholarship grants ranging from $8,000 to $20,000 per academic year
- Renewable for up to three additional years of undergraduate study
Level: Undergraduate
Eligible countries: Open to all African students
5. University of Milan Scholarships for African Students
The University of Milan in Italy offers over 500 scholarships to students from developing countries including those across Africa. These scholarships cover undergraduate, master’s, and PhD programmes and make Italy one of the most accessible European study destinations for African students.
What it covers:
- Tuition fee waivers
- Accommodation support
- Monthly stipend for living expenses
Level: Undergraduate, Masters, and PhD
Eligible countries: Open to students from developing countries in Africa
Postgraduate Scholarships to Study Abroad for African Students
6. Chevening Scholarships (United Kingdom)
The Chevening Scholarship is the UK government’s flagship international scholarship programme. It is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and is available to outstanding individuals from across the world including Africa. Chevening targets future leaders and professionals with strong academic backgrounds and leadership potential.
What it covers:
- Full university tuition fees
- Monthly living allowance
- Economy class return airfare to the UK
- Additional grants for travel, visas, and other essential costs
Level: Masters (one year)
Eligible countries: Open to African students from Chevening-eligible countries
Deadline: Applications typically open in August and close in November each year.
7. DAAD Scholarships (Germany)
The DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) is one of the world’s largest scholarship organisations and offers numerous fully funded scholarships for African students to study in Germany. DAAD scholarships cover a wide range of academic disciplines and are available for both master’s and PhD programmes.
What it covers:
- Monthly stipend of €992 for master’s students and €1,300 for doctoral students
- Travel allowance
- Health, accident, and personal liability insurance
- Monthly rent subsidy
- Monthly family allowance where applicable
Level: Masters and PhD
Eligible countries: Open to all African students
Deadline: Varies by programme. Visit the DAAD official website for current deadlines.
8. Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA)
The Fulbright Foreign Student Program is funded by the United States government and is one of the most prestigious scholarships in the world. It is open to students from over 155 countries including all African nations and supports graduate-level study and research at American universities.
What it covers:
- Full tuition fees
- Monthly living stipend
- Round trip airfare
- Health insurance
- Book and travel allowance of $600 per trip
Level: Masters and PhD
Eligible countries: Open to all African students
Deadline: Applications are processed through the US Embassy in each country. Check the US Embassy in your country for specific deadlines.
9. Gates Cambridge Scholarships (University of Cambridge)
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is one of the most competitive and prestigious postgraduate scholarships in the world. It is funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and supports outstanding students from outside the UK to pursue a full-time postgraduate degree at the University of Cambridge.
What it covers:
- Full tuition fees
- Annual living stipend of £17,500
- Health insurance
- Academic development funding of up to £2,000
- Family allowance of up to £10,120
Level: Masters and PhD
Eligible countries: Open to all African students
Deadline: Applications typically close in October for the following academic session.
10. Commonwealth Scholarships (United Kingdom)
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission offers several scholarship programmes for students from Commonwealth countries, many of which are in Africa. These include the Commonwealth Masters Scholarship, Commonwealth PhD Scholarship, and Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships for students who prefer to study from their home countries.
What it covers:
- Full tuition fees
- Monthly living allowance
- Return airfare
- Arrival and departure allowances
Level: Masters and PhD
Eligible countries: Commonwealth African countries including Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, and more
Deadline: Applications typically open between October and December each year.
11. Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship
The Aga Khan Foundation offers needs-based postgraduate scholarships to outstanding students from select developing countries including several African nations. The scholarship is designed for students who have no other means of funding their postgraduate education abroad.
What it covers:
- 50% grant and 50% loan basis — the loan portion is interest-free
- Tuition fees
- Living expenses
Level: Masters and PhD
Eligible countries: Select African countries. Check the Aga Khan Foundation website for your country’s eligibility.
Deadline: Applications typically open in January and close in March each year.
12. Oxford Clarendon Scholarships
The Clarendon Scholarship is one of Oxford University’s most prestigious postgraduate awards. It is open to graduate applicants of any nationality who demonstrate outstanding academic achievement and research potential — making it very accessible to high-achieving African students.
What it covers:
- Full tuition fees for masters and PhD programmes
- Full living expenses grant
Level: Masters and PhD
Eligible countries: Open to all nationalities including all African countries
Deadline: Applicants must apply for Oxford admission by the January deadline to be considered for Clarendon funding.
13. ETH Zurich Excellence Masters Scholarship (Switzerland)
ETH Zurich is consistently ranked among the top ten universities in the world and offers fully funded Excellence Masters Scholarships to outstanding international students including those from Africa. Switzerland is an exceptional study destination and this scholarship makes it financially achievable for African students.
What it covers:
- Full tuition fees waiver
- Monthly living stipend
Level: Masters
Eligible countries: Open to all African students
Deadline: Applications typically close in December for the following academic year.
14. Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program (Stanford University, USA)
The Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program at Stanford University is the largest fully funded graduate scholarship programme in the world. It admits up to 100 high-achieving students annually from across the globe including Africa and supports them to pursue any graduate programme at Stanford.
What it covers:
- Full tuition fees
- Room and board
- Travel expenses
- Personal expenses
- Up to four years of funding depending on the programme
Level: Masters and PhD
Eligible countries: Open to all African students
Deadline: Applications typically open in September and close in October each year.
15. Australia Awards Scholarships
The Australia Awards Scholarships are funded by the Australian government and are designed to promote development in partner countries, many of which are in Africa. They support African students to undertake full degree programmes at Australian universities and return home to contribute to their countries’ development.
What it covers:
- Full tuition fees
- Return economy airfare
- Establishment allowance
- Monthly living allowance
- Overseas student health cover
Level: Undergraduate and Postgraduate
Eligible countries: Select African countries including Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and more
Deadline: Varies by country. Check the Australia Awards website for your country’s specific deadline.
Final Thoughts
There is no shortage of scholarships to study abroad for African students — what matters is knowing which ones exist, meeting the eligibility requirements, and applying on time. Whether you are looking for an undergraduate opportunity in Japan or a fully funded PhD at Cambridge, the opportunities on this list cover a wide range of countries, disciplines, and academic levels.
Start researching early, prepare your documents carefully, and give every application the attention it deserves. Your dream of studying abroad is closer than you think.
Do you have questions about any of the scholarships listed here? Drop them in the comment section below and we will be happy to help.