Fully funded master's scholarships for African students, 2027

Fully funded master's scholarships open to African students for 2027 entry, each checked against the official page, with the deadline and what is paid for.

19 open now, 19 fully funded. Updated 13 November 2026.

This page lists master's scholarships that are open now, accept applicants from African countries, and are described by the funder as fully funded. Each listing is taken from the official programme page and shows the deadline, what the award pays for and who can apply. The list updates itself: programmes drop off when their deadline passes and new ones appear as soon as they are checked.

"Fully funded" means different things to different funders. Most packages on this list cover tuition and a living allowance, and many add return travel, health insurance or a settling-in grant. Some pay tuition directly to the university and give you a monthly allowance; others are a fixed sum. Read the "what it pays for" line on each listing and the official page before you plan around it.

Who qualifies also varies. Some awards are only for citizens of African countries (for example programmes funded by the Mastercard Foundation or the Mandela Rhodes Foundation), others are open to many developing countries, and some are open to every nationality. Many ask for work experience, a strong first degree, or a commitment to return home after the course. A few require you to hold an offer of admission before you apply for funding, and others let you apply for the course and the scholarship together.

Timing matters more than most applicants expect. The main round for September 2027 entry runs from about November 2026 to March 2027, and several large programmes close before Christmas. Some funders open only once a year, so if you miss a round you wait twelve months. The Mandela Rhodes Foundation, for example, says on its official page that applications for the Class of 2028 open on 9 March 2027.

How to make a strong application: start with the eligibility rules and rule out what you do not qualify for; ask referees at least four weeks before the deadline; write a personal statement that answers the funder's own criteria (leadership, academic merit, development impact) with specific examples; and keep a calendar of deadlines, because course and scholarship deadlines are often different dates.

How to use this list: it is sorted by deadline, so start at the top. Open a listing to see the full eligibility rules and the link to the official page. If you create a free OpenDoors profile, you can see which of these you are eligible for and get reminders before each deadline.

See which of these you qualify for, and why.Get my matches, free

Scholarship · Fully fundedMastercard Foundation Scholars Program – Phase III Innovation and Technology Scholarship (2027 Application)Arizona State University (Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program)

Full tuition, required books and student fees, housing, medical support, transportation to and from Kigali, visa processing costs, English test voucher if required, ASU application fee waiver, leadership programmingAfrica22 Nov

Scholarship · Fully fundedMastercard Foundation Scholars Program at Sciences Po (Graduate Study, 2027 intake)Sciences Po (in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation)

Covers full financial needs of selected Scholars (no specific amount stated)Africa23 Nov

Scholarship · Fully fundedExcellence Scholarship & Opportunity Programme (ESOP)ETH Zurich

CHF 12,000 per semester (CHF 13,500 per semester from HS27 onwards) plus tuition fee waiverOpen worldwide30 Nov

Scholarship · Fully fundedYenching Scholarship 2027 (International Candidates)Yenching Academy of Peking University

Fellowship covering tuition fees, accommodation, monthly stipend, one round-trip travel fare and field study costsOpen worldwide30 Nov

Scholarship · Fully fundedEric Bleumink Fellowship 2027University of Groningen

Covers tuition fee, international travel, subsistence, books and health insuranceAsia, Africa, Latin America, Europe, Middle East, Oceania1 Dec

Scholarship · Fully fundedCommonwealth Shared Scholarships (2027/28 entry)Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC)

Full tuition fees covered; airfare; stipend of £1,712 per month (£2,000 per month in London); warm clothing allowance where applicable; thesis and study travel grants; TB test contribution; child allowances for widowed, divorced or single-parent scholars.Africa, Asia, Latin America, Oceania, Europe8 Dec

Scholarship · Fully fundedGates Cambridge ScholarshipGates Cambridge Trust, University of Cambridge

Full-cost award: University Composition Fee plus £23,152 maintenance allowance (2026-27 rate, 12 months), airfares, visa costs and Immigration Health SurchargeOpen worldwide8 Dec

Scholarship · Fully fundedErasmus Mundus Master's Scholarship in Journalism, Media and Globalisation (Mundus Journalism, 2027-2029)Mundus Journalism Consortium (coordinated by Aarhus University)

Full tuition waiver for both years, €1,400 per month for up to 24 months, free health and liability insuranceOpen worldwide10 Jan

Scholarship · Fully fundedGLOCAL Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Scholarship 2027/29GLOCAL Consortium (led by University of Glasgow)

EMJM scholarship (amount not stated on pages)Open worldwide14 Jan

Scholarship · Fully fundedLLM–MAS in International Crimes, Justice and Human Rights – Scholarship and Regular Admission (September 2027 intake)Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights (University of Geneva and Geneva Graduate Institute)

Full scholarship covers tuition and living expenses in Geneva for 10 months; regular tuition CHF 18,000Open worldwide17 Jan

Scholarship · Fully fundedUM NL Brightlands Talent Scholarship (academic year 2027-2028)Maastricht University

Living expenses €20,150 (13 months) or €38,750 (25 months); tuition, health and liability insurance, visa costs, pre-academic training and ISAP covered by UM. Amounts for 2027-2028 subject to change.Open worldwide1 Feb

Scholarship · Fully fundedPioneering Women in STEM Scholarship 2027/2028Swedish Institute (SI)

Full tuition fee coverage paid directly to the university; SEK 12,000 monthly allowance; one-time SEK 15,000 travel grant (not for those already living in Sweden).Africa, Asia24 Feb

Scholarship · Fully fundedSI Scholarship for Global ProfessionalsSwedish Institute (SI)

Full tuition fee coverage; monthly allowance of SEK 12,000; one-time travel grant of SEK 15,000 (SEK 10,000 for scholars from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine).Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, Oceania, North America24 Feb

Scholarship · Fully fundedJoint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) 2027 - Developing Country NationalsWorld Bank Scholarships Program (Development Economics Vice Presidency), funded by the Government of Japan

Tuition, basic medical insurance, monthly living stipend, economy round-trip airfare, and US$600 travel allowance per tripAfrica, Asia, Latin America, Middle East, Europe, Oceania26 Feb

Scholarship · Fully fundedICP Connect Scholarships for Master Programmes 2027-2028 (Study in Belgium)VLIR-UOS

Full ScholarshipOpen worldwide28 Feb

Scholarship · Fully fundedMandela Rhodes Scholarship (Class of 2028)The Mandela Rhodes Foundation

Comprehensive funding for tuition and registration, study materials, research, medical aid, accommodation and meals, personal allowance, and economy-class travel to and from home country.Africa14 Apr

Scholarship · Fully fundedJoint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) 2027 - Window 2World Bank Scholarships Program (Development Economics Vice Presidency)

Full tuition, basic medical insurance, monthly living stipend, round-trip economy airfare, and US$600 travel allowance per trip; covers program duration or two years, whichever is less.Africa, Asia, Latin America, Middle East, Europe, Oceania21 May

Scholarship · Fully fundedAllan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable Trust Masters ScholarshipsUniversity of Sheffield

Full tuition fee waiver plus a £12,500 maintenance stipendOpen worldwide1 Jun

Scholarship · Fully fundedSchwarzman Scholars Program (Class of 2028-2029) - U.S./Global ApplicantsSchwarzman Scholars

Fully funded (tuition, room and board, in-country study tour, travel to and from Beijing, health insurance, and a personal expenses stipend)Open worldwide30 Sept

Common questions

Which master's scholarships are fully funded for African students in 2027?

The scholarships listed above are open now, accept African applicants and are described by their funders as fully funded; each links to its official page. They include university, government and foundation programmes in Europe, Asia, Africa and North America, and the list updates as deadlines pass.

When should I apply for a fully funded master's for September 2027?

Apply between November 2026 and March 2027 for most programmes. Several large scholarships close in late November or December 2026, so prepare documents and ask referees early; a few open later in spring.

Do I need an admission offer before applying for the scholarship?

It depends on the funder. Some require an offer of admission first, some let you apply for the course and the scholarship together, and some (such as the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship) need admission only by the start of the year of study. Each listing states the rule.

What does a fully funded scholarship usually cover?

Usually tuition and a living allowance, and often travel and health insurance. The exact package differs by funder, so check the 'what it pays for' line on each listing and the official page.

Are these scholarships only for citizens of African countries?

Some are, and others are open to applicants from many countries including African ones. Each listing shows the eligible nationalities and regions taken from the official page.