This page is AfricanBase’s scholarship discovery and shortlisting hub for African students. It does not attempt to maintain a giant “top scholarships” ranking. Instead, it shows major funding routes, how to find the current call, and how to decide which opportunities deserve your application time.
African students searching for international scholarships face a different problem from a lack of information: there are thousands of scholarship pages, old deadline articles, university awards and government schemes competing for attention. The useful skill is learning how to identify opportunities that are current, legitimate, relevant to your degree level and realistically aligned with your profile.
This guide is therefore a starting point. It introduces major scholarship routes and gives you a method for building a shortlist. For the complete application workflow after you choose your opportunities, use AfricanBase’s How to Apply for Study Abroad Scholarships from Africa.
Start With the Type of Funding You Need
Before searching by country or scholarship name, decide what level of funding you require.
- Comprehensive/fully funded award: look for programmes that cover the major costs defined in their terms, potentially including tuition, living support and travel.
- Full tuition: tuition may be covered while living, travel and other costs remain.
- Partial tuition scholarship: a fixed amount or percentage reduces tuition but leaves a funding gap.
- Need-based financial aid: support is determined partly by demonstrated financial circumstances.
- Research/graduate funding: fellowships, research assistantships and teaching assistantships may be more relevant than a named scholarship for research degrees.
Do not compare awards by labels alone. AfricanBase’s Fully Funded vs Partial Scholarships guide explains how to compare the actual package.
Major Scholarship Routes for African Students
1. Chevening Scholarships — United Kingdom
Chevening is the UK government’s international scholarship programme for eligible countries and territories. The current scholarship requires, among other criteria, an eligible nationality/residency position, an undergraduate degree that qualifies the applicant for a UK Master’s programme and at least 2,800 hours of work experience acquired after completing the undergraduate degree.
For the current 2027/28 cycle, applications opened on 4 August 2026 and close on 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC. Applicants should use their country page because eligibility and award availability are country-specific.
Nigerian applicants can use AfricanBase’s Chevening Scholarship Nigeria guide for the current cycle.
2. Commonwealth Scholarships — United Kingdom
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission operates several scholarship routes rather than one universal “Commonwealth Scholarship.” Eligibility, nominating routes, benefits and timelines depend on the specific programme.
For Nigerians, AfricanBase maintains a dedicated Commonwealth Scholarships guide with current-cycle information. Check the exact route—such as Master’s, Shared or another CSC programme—before preparing an application.
3. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters — Europe and Partner Universities
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters are international Master’s programmes delivered by consortia of higher-education institutions. Students worldwide can apply, and full scholarships are available to the best-ranked applicants. The EU states that scholarship support can cover participation costs and contribute to travel, visa and living expenses.
Students apply directly to the consortium running the chosen Master’s. In most cases, applications are submitted between October and January for programmes starting the following academic year, but each programme publishes its own exact dates and requirements.
Official starting point: Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters.
4. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is particularly relevant to African students, but there is no single central scholarship application. Applications and decisions are managed by participating universities and organisations, each with its own programmes, eligibility rules and deadlines.
The Foundation says the programme currently supports study at secondary, undergraduate and Master’s levels, but scholarships are not currently available to PhD candidates. Support can include tuition, accommodation, books and academic materials, mentoring, counselling, leadership development and a return flight where necessary.
A current example is the University of Cambridge Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program, which opened applications for 2027/28 on 11 September 2026. The Cambridge programme supports eligible African students undertaking Master’s study and lists course fees, a monthly living allowance, return flight and a laptop among its support.
Official starting point: Mastercard Foundation — Where to Apply.
5. Chinese Government and University Scholarships
China offers multiple scholarship routes rather than one application that covers every university and degree. Applicants may encounter Chinese Government Scholarship routes as well as university, provincial and other awards. Requirements, eligible programmes and application channels vary.
Nigerian applicants should start with AfricanBase’s China Scholarship Guide for Nigerian Students and then verify the relevant university and official scholarship route for the cycle in which they intend to apply.
6. DAAD and Germany-Based Funding
DAAD administers many scholarship programmes rather than one universal “DAAD Scholarship.” Degree level, field, professional-experience requirements, funding and deadlines depend on the individual call.
African applicants should use the official DAAD scholarship database and country/regional guidance, then read the exact programme announcement. Do not assume every DAAD programme is fully funded, open to every African country or available for every subject.
Official starting point: DAAD Scholarships.
University Funding Is Often as Important as Famous Global Scholarships
Do not restrict your search to government scholarship names. Universities can offer entrance awards, need-based aid, tuition discounts, departmental scholarships and graduate assistantships.
The funding model can also depend on the degree. A research PhD may have a stipend or assistantship structure while a professional Master’s at the same university is self-funded. Engineering applicants can see this distinction in AfricanBase’s ECE Funding Guide.
How to Build a Scholarship Shortlist
Create a shortlist based on eligibility and fit, not the number of “top scholarship” articles in which an award appears.
| Check | Question to answer |
|---|---|
| Country eligibility | Is your nationality/residency explicitly eligible? |
| Degree level | Does it fund undergraduate, Master’s, PhD or your exact programme type? |
| Academic eligibility | Do you meet the published academic requirement? |
| Experience | Is work, leadership, research or service experience required? |
| Language | What English or other language evidence is accepted? |
| Funding | Exactly which costs are covered? |
| Admission relationship | Do you need university admission before, during or after the scholarship application? |
| Deadline | What is the current date, time and time zone? |
| Application route | Direct, university nomination, partner institution or government agency? |
Do Not Assume Every Scholarship Requires a High GPA
There is no universal 3.0, 3.5 or first-class requirement for international scholarships. Some opportunities set an academic threshold; others use holistic selection; highly competitive programmes can still favour strong academic records even when no single CGPA is advertised.
If your grades are a concern, use AfricanBase’s Scholarships for Nigerian Students With Low CGPA. The key is to distinguish minimum eligibility from competitiveness rather than searching for a guaranteed “low-CGPA scholarship.”
“No IELTS” Requires Careful Reading
A scholarship that does not require IELTS may still require another form of English-language evidence, and the university can have separate admission requirements. Do not interpret “no IELTS” as “no language requirement.”
See AfricanBase’s Scholarships Without IELTS for African Students for a detailed explanation.
Fully Funded Does Not Mean Every Expense Is Covered
Always inspect the official benefits. Tuition, living allowance, travel, visa costs, insurance, dependants and research expenses can be treated differently from one programme to another.
If you need comprehensive funding, use AfricanBase’s Fully Funded Scholarships for Nigerian Students. If you already have a partial award, our Top-Up Funding Guide explains how to investigate legitimate supplementary funding.
Scholarship Red Flags
- The article says “apply now” but provides no current official call.
- The deadline is copied from a previous year without verification.
- A supposed scholarship guarantees selection after payment.
- The application requires payment to an individual’s personal account.
- The provider’s official website does not mention the opportunity.
- A third-party article promises a fixed scholarship amount that the official programme does not publish.
- The opportunity is described as “fully funded” without explaining what is covered.
- An agent asks for your application password or offers to invent information for you.
The Mastercard Foundation, for example, warns about fraudulent social-media recruitment and says applicants should apply through its partner institutions rather than groups demanding application payments.
Scholarship Search Strategy by Destination
United Kingdom
Check government programmes such as Chevening and Commonwealth routes, then search individual universities for international scholarships, country-specific awards and departmental funding.
Canada
Funding is heavily institution-specific. Use AfricanBase’s Canada Scholarships for International Students as the main Canada funding hub rather than assuming there is one national “fully funded Canada scholarship.”
China
Investigate the relevant Chinese Government Scholarship route, participating universities and university/provincial awards. Verify language, programme and application-route requirements for the current cycle.
United States
Separate undergraduate need-based financial aid from graduate funding. At graduate level, departmental fellowships, research assistantships and teaching assistantships can be central to funding, especially for research degrees.
Europe
Consider Erasmus Mundus, national scholarship agencies, university awards and research funding. “Europe scholarship” is not one funding system; requirements vary by country and programme.
Once You Have a Shortlist, Prepare the Application
Discovery is only the first stage. After you identify suitable opportunities:
- Read the current official call from beginning to end.
- Confirm eligibility before preparing long essays.
- List the exact required documents.
- Ask eligible referees early.
- Write responses for the programme’s actual selection criteria.
- Check whether the scholarship has rules on generative AI.
- Submit before the deadline and save confirmation.
Use AfricanBase’s Scholarship Essay Guide, African Scholarship Essay Examples and Recommendation Letter Guide when those documents are required.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best scholarship for African students?
There is no single best scholarship for every African student. The relevant opportunity depends on nationality, degree level, subject, academic/professional background, funding need and career goal.
Are there scholarships specifically for African students?
Yes. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is a major example, and individual universities also operate Africa- or country-specific awards. Eligibility still varies by partner and programme.
Can African students get fully funded scholarships?
Yes, eligible African students can compete for programmes offering comprehensive funding. Read the benefits carefully because “fully funded” does not have one universal package.
Should I pay an agent to find scholarships?
You can discover and verify many opportunities yourself through official scholarship, government and university websites. No agent can guarantee selection. Be particularly cautious about payments, password sharing and applications containing information you did not personally verify.
How many scholarships should I apply for?
There is no universal target. Apply to as many suitable opportunities as you can complete accurately and to a strong standard. Eligibility and fit are more useful than chasing a fixed application count.
Related AfricanBase Scholarship Hubs
- How to Apply for Study Abroad Scholarships from Africa
- Fully Funded Scholarships for Nigerian Students
- Fully Funded vs Partial Scholarships
- Scholarships for Nigerian Students With Low CGPA
- Scholarships Without IELTS for African Students
- Canada Scholarships for International Students
- Scholarships in Tunisia for African Students
- China Scholarships for Nigerian Students
Final Takeaway
A strong scholarship search is not about collecting the longest possible list. Identify funding routes that match your degree level and goals, verify every opportunity on the official source, understand exactly what it covers, and invest your application time where you genuinely meet the criteria. That approach is more reliable than any static “top 20 scholarships” ranking.
