10 Fully Funded Scholarships in Europe for African Students 2026/2027
Top 10 Fully Funded Scholarships in Europe for African Students
Studying in Europe can be expensive, especially when you consider international tuition fees, accommodation, food, transportation, visa costs and flights.
The good news is that African students have access to several highly competitive scholarships that can cover most or all of these costs.
Some programmes cover tuition fees, living expenses, travel and health insurance, while others provide substantial financial support that can significantly reduce the cost of studying abroad.
In this guide, ScholarsConnect highlights 10 major European scholarship opportunities worth considering, particularly for African students looking for Master's and doctoral opportunities.
Important: Scholarship benefits, eligible countries, deadlines and participating universities can change from one academic year to another. Always verify the current call on the official scholarship website before applying.
1. Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Scholarships — European Union 🇪🇺
The Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) is one of the most attractive opportunities for international students who want to study in Europe.
These programmes are jointly delivered by several universities, often in different European countries. Students may therefore study in more than one country during the same Master's programme.
Erasmus Mundus scholarships are open to students from around the world, including applicants from Africa.
According to the European Commission, scholarships can cover participation costs and contribute towards travel, visa expenses and living allowance.
What can the scholarship cover?
Depending on the programme and scholarship:
Participation/tuition-related costs
Travel support
Visa-related costs
Living allowance
Other programme-related support
Most programmes last between 1 and 2 academic years.
Who can apply?
Generally, applicants need a first higher-education degree or equivalent qualification for Master's-level programmes. Specific requirements depend on the individual Erasmus Mundus programme.
Why African students should consider it
One major advantage is that you are not restricted to studying in just one European country. A single programme can provide an international academic experience across several institutions.
Official source: Erasmus+
2. Chevening Scholarships — United Kingdom 🇬🇧
Chevening is the UK government's flagship international scholarship programme.
It provides fully funded opportunities for exceptional candidates from eligible countries to pursue a one-year Master's degree in the UK.
African countries, including Nigeria, participate in the programme.
For the 2027–2028 cycle, applications are currently open and the deadline is 6 October 2026 at 11:00 UTC.
What does Chevening cover?
The scholarship is fully funded and can include:
University tuition fees
Monthly stipend
Travel costs
Other allowances and support
Who is it suitable for?
Chevening is particularly attractive to applicants who can demonstrate:
Leadership potential
Strong professional or academic achievements
Clear career goals
Commitment to creating positive impact
A convincing reason for studying in the UK
Applicants must also satisfy the programme's citizenship and eligibility requirements.
ScholarsConnect Tip
Don't treat Chevening like an ordinary university application. Your leadership experience, career plans and intended impact are extremely important.
3. Commonwealth Master's Scholarships — United Kingdom 🇬🇧
The Commonwealth Master's Scholarship is another excellent opportunity for African students.
It is designed for talented candidates from eligible low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK.
Nigeria is among the eligible countries.
For the 2027/28 academic year, applications opened on 8 September 2026 and close at 16:00 BST on 20 October 2026. Studies are expected to begin in September/October 2027.
What does it cover?
The scholarship provides:
Approved tuition fees
Airfare to and from the UK
Living allowance
Study travel grant
Visa-related support
Additional allowances in certain circumstances
The current published stipend is £1,712 per month, or £2,000 per month for universities in the London metropolitan area.
Who can apply?
Applicants generally need:
Citizenship or refugee status in an eligible Commonwealth country
Permanent residence in an eligible country
A first degree meeting the required academic standard
Financial need
Ability to start studies in the relevant academic year
ScholarsConnect Tip
For this scholarship, don't focus only on academic excellence. Your application should clearly demonstrate how your proposed study can contribute to development in your home country.
4. Gates Cambridge Scholarship — University of Cambridge 🇬🇧
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship provides full-cost scholarships to outstanding international students pursuing postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge.
The programme offers around 80 full-cost scholarships each year to applicants from countries outside the UK.
Applications for 2027 entry open in September 2026.
What makes Gates Cambridge different?
The scholarship isn't simply looking for students with excellent grades.
Successful applicants are expected to demonstrate qualities such as:
Outstanding intellectual ability
A strong reason for choosing their course
Commitment to improving the lives of others
Leadership potential
The scholarship is available for eligible postgraduate courses at Cambridge.
What does it cover?
It is designed as a full-cost scholarship, meaning funding can cover the major costs associated with studying at Cambridge.
ScholarsConnect Tip
If you are applying, research your proposed course and explain why Cambridge is specifically necessary for your academic and career goals.
5. Clarendon Scholarships — University of Oxford 🇬🇧
The Clarendon Scholarship is one of the major graduate funding opportunities at the University of Oxford.
It is particularly attractive because there are no nationality restrictions. African students are therefore eligible to compete alongside applicants from around the world.
What does Clarendon cover?
For full-time scholars, the scholarship provides:
Full course fees
Annual living-expense grant
For 2025–26, Oxford states that scholars receive at least £20,780 per year for living expenses.
Who can apply?
Applicants must apply for a new eligible Master's or DPhil course at Oxford by the relevant December or January deadline.
One useful feature is that there is no separate Clarendon scholarship application form. Eligible applicants are automatically considered when they apply for their graduate course by the relevant deadline.
ScholarsConnect Tip
Don't wait until after applying to Oxford to think about funding. Your academic application itself is what puts you forward for Clarendon consideration.
6. Rhodes Scholarship — University of Oxford 🇬🇧
The Rhodes Scholarship is one of the world's best-known postgraduate scholarships.
It provides fully funded postgraduate study at the University of Oxford and is designed to develop academically outstanding, public-spirited leaders.
African applicants can apply through several Rhodes constituencies.
For example, the West Africa constituency includes Nigeria and currently offers three Rhodes Scholarships each year. The 2027 West Africa application window opened on 1 June 2026 and closed on 27 August 2026.
What does Rhodes cover?
The scholarship covers:
Oxford University course fees
Annual living stipend
Oxford application fee
Student visa and International Health Surcharge
Flights to and from the UK
Settling-in allowance
For 2025–26, the published stipend was £20,400 per year.
Who should consider it?
Rhodes is particularly suited to applicants who can demonstrate:
Academic excellence
Leadership
Character
Commitment to service
Potential to create positive change
ScholarsConnect Tip
Your grades matter, but your story matters too. Show how your academic journey, leadership and community impact connect to the change you want to create.
7. DAAD Scholarships — Germany 🇩🇪
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers a large range of scholarships for international students and researchers.
DAAD funding is not one single scholarship. It is a collection of different programmes with different eligibility requirements, academic levels and funding packages.
DAAD states that its scholarships are aimed primarily at graduates, doctoral students and postdoctoral researchers and support study and research in Germany.
Some programmes specifically target applicants from developing and emerging countries.
What can DAAD funding provide?
Depending on the programme, benefits may include:
Monthly scholarship payments
Health insurance
Travel allowance
Research or study allowances
Other financial support
For example, some DAAD Master's scholarship programmes publish monthly payments of around €992, together with insurance support.
Important warning
Don't assume that every DAAD scholarship is fully funded.
DAAD has many different funding programmes, so applicants must check the exact scholarship and its benefits before applying.
ScholarsConnect Tip
Use the official DAAD scholarship database to search specifically for programmes matching your country, degree level and field of study.
8. Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals — Sweden 🇸🇪
The Swedish Institute (SI) offers scholarships for international students applying to eligible Master's programmes in Sweden.
The programme has included applicants from several African countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia, depending on the applicable scholarship and cycle.
The official SI application system allows applicants to search eligible Master's programmes and add them to their scholarship application.
What makes this opportunity attractive?
The scholarship is designed for international professionals and can provide substantial financial support for Master's study.
Applicants should first check:
Whether their country is eligible
Whether their Master's programme is eligible
Whether they meet the work/experience requirements
The current scholarship call
ScholarsConnect Tip
Don't select a Swedish Master's programme simply because it is available. Choose a programme that clearly connects to your professional experience and future impact.
9. Stipendium Hungaricum — Hungary 🇭🇺
The Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Programme gives international students the opportunity to study at Hungarian universities.
It covers multiple study levels, including Bachelor's, Master's and doctoral programmes.
The programme's published benefits include:
Tuition-free education
Monthly stipend
Accommodation contribution
Medical insurance
For the 2026/27 call, the application deadline was 15 January 2026.
Because deadlines and participating countries change, applicants should wait for and carefully read the relevant annual call before applying.
Why consider Hungary?
Hungary can be an interesting alternative for students who want to study in Europe but are looking beyond the traditional UK, Germany or France options.
Important consideration
The scholarship provides substantial support, but applicants should still understand exactly what the stipend and accommodation contribution cover and whether additional personal funds may be necessary.
ScholarsConnect Tip
When comparing scholarships, don't look only at the word "fully funded." Calculate the actual cost of living in the destination country and compare it with the scholarship's allowance.
10. France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship — France 🇫🇷
The France Excellence Eiffel Scholarship is funded by the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and targets outstanding international students at Master's and doctoral levels.
It supports priority areas including:
Mathematics and digital fields
Engineering sciences
Biology and health
Ecological transition
Economics and management
Law and political science
History and French language/civilisation
What does it provide?
From January 2026, the published monthly allowance is:
€1,200 for Master's students
€2,100 for doctoral students
The programme also provides services related to travel, transportation, insurance and housing support.
Important clarification
The Eiffel programme itself does not generally pay university tuition fees directly. However, French government scholarship recipients studying for eligible national diplomas at public institutions may benefit from tuition exemptions under applicable rules.
Therefore, students should not automatically treat Eiffel as identical to scholarships such as Chevening or Gates Cambridge.
How do you apply?
Unlike many scholarships, students do not submit the Eiffel application directly themselves.
You first work with a French higher-education institution. The institution submits the scholarship application to Campus France.
Quick Comparison
Scholarship Country/Region Main Level Major Funding
Erasmus Mundus Multiple European countries Master's Tuition/participation + travel + living support Chevening UK Master's Fully funded Commonwealth Master's UK Master's Tuition + living + travel Gates Cambridge UK Postgraduate Full-cost Clarendon UK Master's/DPhil Tuition + living grant Rhodes UK Postgraduate Tuition + stipend + travel DAAD Germany Master's/PhD/Postdoc Varies by programme Swedish Institute Sweden Master's Major scholarship support Stipendium Hungaricum Hungary Bachelor's/Master's/PhD Tuition + stipend + accommodation contribution Eiffel France Master's/PhD Major financial support; tuition rules vary
How to Choose the Right Scholarship
Finding a scholarship is only half of the process. You need to find one that matches your profile.
- Start with your degree level
If you're looking for a Master's, prioritise programmes such as:
Erasmus Mundus
Chevening
Commonwealth Master's
Clarendon
Gates Cambridge
Swedish Institute
DAAD programmes
For doctoral study, look more closely at:
Gates Cambridge
Rhodes
DAAD
Erasmus Mundus programmes that offer relevant doctoral pathways or related funding opportunities
- Check your country eligibility
Being African does not automatically mean you qualify for every scholarship.
Some programmes have country-specific eligibility lists.
For example, Nigeria is currently listed among the eligible countries for the Commonwealth Master's Scholarship.
- Check the academic requirements
Some scholarships are extremely competitive and expect excellent academic records.
But grades are not always the only factor.
Leadership, professional experience, research potential, community impact and career goals may also matter.
- Don't ignore deadlines
Some European scholarships open almost a year before the programme begins.
For example, the Commonwealth Master's Scholarship for the 2027/28 academic year opened in September 2026, while Chevening's current cycle closes in October 2026.
Start preparing before applications open.
Documents You Should Start Preparing
Depending on the scholarship, you may need:
International passport
Academic transcripts
Degree certificate or proof of graduation
Curriculum vitae
Motivation letter/personal statement
Research proposal
Recommendation letters
Proof of English proficiency
Work experience documents
Leadership/community-impact evidence
Portfolio where relevant
Do not wait for the scholarship portal to open before preparing these documents.
How to Increase Your Chances
Build a strong academic profile
Good grades can strengthen your application, particularly for highly competitive scholarships.
Develop evidence of impact
Don't simply write:
"I am passionate about helping my community."
Show what you actually did.
For example:
Founded an initiative
Built a technology solution
Trained students
Organised educational programmes
Conducted research
Volunteered
Solved a community problem
Make your application specific
Avoid sending exactly the same motivation letter to every scholarship.
Your application should explain:
Why this programme? Why this university? Why this scholarship? Why you? What will you do with the opportunity?
Apply strategically
Don't put all your hopes on one scholarship.
If you qualify for five scholarships, consider applying to all five rather than waiting for one result.
A Final Warning About "Fully Funded" Scholarships
The phrase fully funded does not always mean that you will never spend any personal money.
A scholarship may cover tuition and provide a living allowance but still leave you responsible for expenses such as:
Personal shopping
Additional travel
Deposits
Extra accommodation costs
Local transportation beyond the allowance
Family/dependent expenses
Costs outside the scholarship's approved terms
Always read the official funding conditions.
For example, Clarendon covers full course fees and provides a living grant, but Oxford notes that certain continuation charges are not covered.
Similarly, Erasmus Mundus benefits depend on the specific joint Master's programme.
ScholarsConnect Advice 🎓
Don't search for scholarships only after applications open.
The strongest applicants often start months before the deadline by preparing transcripts, CVs, recommendation letters, personal statements and evidence of leadership or community impact.
For African students, scholarships such as Erasmus Mundus, Chevening, Commonwealth, Gates Cambridge, Clarendon and Rhodes can be highly competitive, so applying strategically is important.
Most importantly, never pay someone simply because they promise to "secure" a scholarship for you. Apply through the official scholarship or university website and verify every opportunity before submitting personal documents or making payments.
Final Thoughts
Europe offers some of the world's most prestigious scholarship opportunities for international students.
Whether you want to study in the UK, Germany, Sweden, France, Hungary or multiple European countries, there are funding programmes worth investigating.
The key is not simply finding a scholarship.
You need to find the right scholarship for your academic background, career goals, country and level of study.
Start early, prepare strong documents, demonstrate real impact and always verify information from the official source.
Your dream of studying in Europe may be closer than you think.
Don't just look for opportunities. Apply better. 🚀
Official Sources
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