What the Unicaf scholarship actually is
Unicaf is an organisation that delivers online degrees for partner universities and runs its own Unicaf University campuses. Its scholarship programme reduces the tuition a student pays for those programmes. It is a discount on your fees, not a separate cash grant paid to you.
That distinction matters. You do not receive money in your bank account and then choose any university in the world. You enrol in a Unicaf-delivered programme, and the scholarship lowers what you owe for that programme. The exact percentage or amount depends on your profile and the programme, and Unicaf confirms it during the application process.
Who runs it and who awards the degree
Unicaf handles recruitment, admission, enrolment and support for online learners. The degree itself is awarded by the partner university. Unicaf states this explicitly for the University of East London and Liverpool John Moores University, and the same delivery model applies to its other partners. Unicaf University programmes are awarded by Unicaf University in Malawi and Zambia.
Who can apply for a Unicaf scholarship?
Unicaf assesses candidates on three things: academic qualifications, financial ability and country of residence. There is no single published cut-off that decides every case, so treat the list below as the frame Unicaf uses rather than a checklist you can tick once and forget.
- Academic qualifications: you need the entry qualifications for the specific degree you want, such as a recognised bachelor's degree for a master's programme.
- Financial ability: the scholarship exists to make fees manageable, so Unicaf looks at what you can realistically contribute.
- Country of residence: where you live is part of the assessment, and Unicaf's partnerships are especially focused on students across Africa.
- Study mode: you must be able to study online, or attend a Unicaf University campus if you choose the on-campus route.
- Programme availability: the programme you want must be open for the intake you are targeting.
Entry requirements beyond the scholarship
The scholarship decision and the admission decision are separate. You still have to meet the university's entry requirements for your chosen degree, including English language ability where the programme requires it. Unicaf's advisers check whether you meet the requirements before you go further, and the official FAQ page covers entry requirements in detail.
What the scholarship covers and what you still pay
The Unicaf scholarship reduces tuition. It does not usually cover your whole cost of study, and Unicaf does not publish one flat rate that applies to every applicant. Your remaining contribution depends on the programme, the university partner and your assessment.
| Cost item | What the scholarship does | What you should confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition fees | Reduces the amount you pay | Your exact fee after the scholarship, in writing |
| Application or registration fees | Not stated as covered | Whether any fee applies before enrolment |
| Study materials and technology | Not stated as covered | What the virtual learning environment includes |
| Travel and living costs | Not covered, since study is online or local campus based | Your own budget if you attend a campus |
Ask for the total cost of your studies in writing before you accept a place. Unicaf's own FAQ page lists this as one of the main questions students ask, which tells you it is worth pinning down early.
Unicaf partner universities and the degrees on offer
Unicaf works with universities in the UK, the US, Europe and Africa, and also runs Unicaf University campuses in Malawi and Zambia. Programmes span business, health, education and other professional fields, at bachelor's, master's and doctoral level.
- University of East London, UK: Unicaf is a global delivery partner for UEL awards approved for online delivery, and graduates receive a UEL award.
- Liverpool John Moores University, UK: Unicaf recruits, admits, enrols and supports online learners for LJMU awards.
- University of Suffolk, UK: the partnership delivers programmes fully online for working professionals.
- Unicaf University, Malawi and Zambia: campus-based study with online delivery built in.
Examples that appear across Unicaf's own pages include the Master of Business Administration with several specialisations, the Master of Science in International Public Health with Liverpool John Moores University, and the Doctorate of Business Administration. Availability changes by intake, so confirm your programme on the official study page before you build your application around it.
How to apply for a Unicaf scholarship, step by step
The route is straightforward but it runs through Unicaf's own process rather than a central government application. Work through it in this order.
- Choose your programme and university partner. Use the official study pages to see which degrees are open and which university awards them.
- Check the entry requirements. Confirm the academic and English language requirements for that specific degree before you spend time on the application.
- Start the scholarship application. Begin from the Unicaf scholarship page, which is the entry point for the award.
- Speak to a student adviser. Unicaf's programme advising service helps you match your qualifications and interests to a programme and resolves registration issues.
- Submit your documents. Provide your academic transcripts, identification and any other documents the adviser requests.
- Complete the assessment. Unicaf reviews your academic qualifications, financial ability and country of residence.
- Receive your scholarship decision and admission outcome. Confirm the fee you will pay in writing before you accept.
- Enrol and begin your studies. Online students study through the virtual learning environment; on-campus students attend a Unicaf University campus.
If this is your first scholarship application of any kind, our guide on how to apply for a scholarship covers the general paperwork and timing habits that make a difference.
Documents and timeline: what to prepare and when
Unicaf sets its own intake dates, and the official site has the current round for each programme. What you can do now is prepare the paperwork so you are ready when your intake opens.
| Stage | What you need | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Before you apply | Academic transcripts and certificates, identification, an idea of your budget | These drive both admission and the financial assessment |
| During the application | Programme choice, university partner choice, contact details for your adviser | Unicaf matches you to a programme that fits your qualifications |
| After the decision | Written confirmation of your fee and enrolment steps | You need the real figure before you commit |
Because intakes run through the year rather than on one fixed national deadline, the risk is not missing a single date. The risk is applying late in an intake and rushing your documents. Start at least a few weeks before the intake you want, and check the official page for the current dates.
How Unicaf assesses your application
Unicaf states that it considers candidates on academic qualifications, financial ability and country of residence. Those three factors work together. Strong grades help, but they are not the only thing that decides your award, and a lower income profile can support your case rather than weaken it.
What the adviser adds
Unicaf's programme advising service is part of the process, not a sales extra. Advisers give detailed information on partner universities and degrees, assess whether you meet the requirements, resolve registration problems and explain the delivery model and technology. Use that conversation to ask the questions that decide whether the programme is right for you, including the total cost.
What is not published
Unicaf does not publish a success rate or a fixed number of awards per intake on its scholarship page. If you see a specific figure quoted elsewhere, check it against the official site before you rely on it.
Who the Unicaf scholarship suits and who should look elsewhere
This award fits a particular kind of student, and being honest about that saves you time.
It suits you if
- You want to keep working while you study and cannot relocate for a full-time campus degree.
- You are open to an online degree from a UK, US, European or African partner university.
- You need the fee reduced rather than fully covered, and you can contribute the rest.
- You live in a country where Unicaf's partner programmes are actively recruiting, particularly across Africa.
Look elsewhere if
- You need a fully funded award that covers tuition, living costs and travel. Start with our list of fully funded scholarships for international students.
- You want to study on a traditional campus abroad and need a visa-sponsored place. Country guides such as scholarships in the United Kingdom are a better starting point.
- You want a research degree with a stipend attached. See PhD scholarships instead.
Common mistakes with the Unicaf scholarship
- Treating it as a full ride. It is a partial award. Budget for the remainder of your tuition from the start.
- Assuming the scholarship replaces admission. You still need to meet the university's entry requirements for your chosen degree.
- Not asking for the total cost in writing. Confirm your fee after the scholarship before you accept a place.
- Applying without checking programme availability. Not every degree is open in every intake, so confirm yours first.
- Ignoring the adviser. The programme advising service exists to catch requirement and registration problems early.
- Relying on old pages. Pages labelled with an earlier year may describe a round that has closed. The official site has the current one.
After you are offered a Unicaf scholarship
An offer is the start of the practical work. Read the scholarship terms carefully, confirm the fee you will pay and the payment schedule, and check what happens if you need to defer or withdraw. Ask your adviser to explain the virtual learning environment before teaching begins so you are not learning the platform in week one.
If you are studying on campus at a Unicaf University campus, sort your local arrangements early. If you are studying online, set a weekly study schedule around your job, because the flexibility is real but it depends on you protecting the time.
Alternatives worth comparing before you commit
Compare the Unicaf scholarship with awards that fund different things. If your priority is a fully funded place, look at government and university schemes in the country you want to study in. Our scholarship finder lets you filter by level and destination, and the country pages group awards by where you would study.
If you are still choosing a subject, our guides to MBA scholarships, engineering scholarships and education scholarships cover funding tied to specific fields. For the paperwork side, see our advice on the scholarship motivation letter and recommendation letter for a scholarship.