Top 10 International Scholarships for African Students

This list brings together ten international scholarships that are aimed specifically at African students. They are funded by governments, universities and foundations in the USA, Canada, Australia, the UK and Germany. The awards support study at secondary, undergraduate, master's and PhD level, and many cover tuition, living costs and travel. Below you will find each scholarship with what it pays for and who it is for, so you can compare them and go to the official pages for deadlines and application steps.

MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program for Africa (USA, Canada, Africa)
This $500 million program aims to educate academically qualified but economically disadvantaged young people in Africa so they can help transform the continent. It supports students in secondary school and university and builds the knowledge and leadership skills needed for economic and social progress across Africa. Scholars receive financial support for fees, uniforms, books and supplies, transportation, accommodation, and stipends.

See also African Leaders of Tomorrow Awards at Canadian Universities

Australia Awards in Africa (Australia)
The Australian Government offers scholarships and fellowships for African professionals to study at Masters level in Australian universities. Benefits usually include full tuition fees, return air travel, an establishment allowance, a contribution to living expenses (CLE), Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), and other items.

Nottingham Developing Solutions Scholarships (UK)
These scholarships are for international students who want to study at the University of Nottingham and make a difference to development in their home country. They are open to citizens of Africa, India or one of the countries of the Commonwealth. Each year 105 scholarships are offered: 30 full tuition fee and 75 of 50% towards tuition fee.

The University of Edinburgh Southern African Scholarships (UK)
The University of Edinburgh offers one scholarship for postgraduate Masters study in any subject it offers to students from certain Southern African countries. The award covers the overseas rate of tuition fee and University accommodation, and is tenable for one academic year.

Westminster African Education Scholarships (UK)
This scholarship is intended for an education professional involved in higher education in sub-Saharan Africa. It covers a full tuition fee award, accommodation at International Students House, living expenses and flights to and from London.

Loughborough University Graduate School Development Trust Africa Scholarships (UK)
These are full-fee scholarships for international full-time taught postgraduate students who are currently domiciled (permanently living) in Africa. They cover 100% of the course fees for your chosen postgraduate taught course for one year.

Oppenheimer Fund Scholarships
The Oppenheimer Fund Scholarships support students who have previously studied at South African universities and who wish to pursue full-time graduate degrees at Oxford University. The scholarship provides a grant for living costs (at least £13,863).

Ferguson Scholarships for Africans at SOAS London
The Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable trust offers four Ferguson scholarships to African students (African nationals resident in Africa) who wish to take a taught masters course at SOAS. Each Ferguson Scholarship is valued at £20,619 in total and lasts for one year.

See also Governance for Development in Africa Scholarships at SOAS London, which are for African students taking a full-time MSc in the field of Governance for Development in Africa.

Eldred-Waverley Scholarship at Linacre College
The Eldred-Waverley Scholarship at Linacre College funds students from sub-Saharan Africa to study the MSc African Studies at Oxford. It covers 100% of University and college fees, a grant for living costs (at least £10,397) and a return flight to and from the UK.

DRD Scholarships for Sub-Saharan Africans (Germany)
The DRD offers a limited number of DAAD merit scholarships each year for applicants from Sub-Saharan African countries with an excellent academic record, to pursue development-related Masters and PhD studies. Scholarships include monthly allowances of 650 Euro for Master candidates and 900 Euro for PhD candidates, plus travel allowances.