Scholarships, grants and fellowships for Libyan applicants 2027

Applicants from Libya can apply for several scholarships, fellowships, grants, competitions and training programmes that accept Africans or all nationalities. The strongest matches depend on your level, field, English ability, professional experience and willingness to study or work abroad.

Key facts

• UNU-MERIT Migration Management Diploma Training Programme explicitly includes Libya among its eligible countries and covers flights, accommodation, visa fees, meals, insurance and field-trip costs.
• Chevening Scholarships Research Fellowship Opportunity accepts Libyan professionals with at least five years of experience for five months of research in the United Kingdom.
• UNESCO AfriMAB GRÓ-LRT Land Restoration Fellowship is fully funded for African professionals in environment and climate or natural sciences, with English as the working language and a maximum age of 40.
• Mastercard Foundation PhD Scholarship at University of Toronto and Mastercard Foundation Doctor of Public Health Scholarship offer full financial support for African PhD applicants in health and medicine studying in Canada.
• Wageningen University & Research Masters Scholarship covers tuition, travel, living costs, visa costs and health insurance for a 24-month English-taught master’s programme in the Netherlands.
• Leading Russian Universities Open Doors Scholarship offers study programmes in Russian or English, but students must pay for transport, food, accommodation, communication services and medical insurance.
• None of the listed options is identified as requiring IELTS specifically, but several require English proficiency or an English-language certificate, so you must check each official page.

Which scholarships and fellowships suit Libyan applicants best?

Start with eligibility, not the funding amount. Many schemes accept applicants from all African countries, which includes Libya, while others accept all nationalities. A Libyan applicant should then filter by academic level and field.

For a health and medicine PhD, Mastercard Foundation PhD Scholarship at University of Toronto matters because it offers full support for tuition, travel, housing, food, books and other expenses for the professional programme. Mastercard Foundation Doctor of Public Health Scholarship matters for the same reason, but applicants should confirm the programme-specific academic conditions on the official page before preparing an application.

For migration policy or public administration, UNU-MERIT Migration Management Diploma Training Programme is a direct fit because Libya is named in its eligibility list. The three-month programme in the Netherlands covers flights, accommodation, visa fees, meals, daily living expenses, health insurance and field trips.

For environmental research, UNESCO AfriMAB GRÓ-LRT Land Restoration Fellowship matters because it is open to professionals from all African countries and covers tuition, academic expenses, travel, health insurance and living costs during a six-month stay in Iceland. It requires at least one year of experience, English communication skills and an age of no more than 40.

For a master’s degree, Wageningen University & Research Masters Scholarship matters because it is open to all African countries and provides tuition, travel, living costs for 24 months, visa costs and health insurance. You must meet the English language requirements before the stated deadline and submit a complete application for an MSc programme.

What can Libyan undergraduates, master’s students and PhD researchers apply for?

The level shown by a programme is a hard filter. An undergraduate should not spend time on a PhD scholarship without first confirming a change in eligibility on the official page.

Undergraduates can examine FrieslandCampina Global Traineeship Internship Opportunity, which accepts applicants of undergraduate level in business and management, computer science and IT, or economics. It is hosted in the Netherlands or Malaysia, requires fluent English for all disciplines and has a 36-month duration. The funding details are not provided here, so check the official page before treating it as a funded placement.

Master’s applicants can consider Wageningen University & Research Masters Scholarship, TU Delft Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships and MS International Federation McDonald Fellowship Opportunity. TU Delft Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships matters because it offers full tuition fees for a TU Delft MSc programme plus a contribution towards living expenses. It accepts all nationalities, requires an English language certificate and has a 24-month duration.

MS International Federation McDonald Fellowship Opportunity matters for Libyan applicants in health and medicine because it accepts master’s, PhD and professional applicants from developing countries. It provides EUR 55,000 per year for two years through the host institution and covers one return flight, but the application must include the online form, reference letters and a supporting statement from the host.

PhD applicants in social sciences can assess The Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies Fellowship, which offers an annual stipend of USD 80,000 and annual research support of USD 6,000 for two-year, in-residence appointments in the United States. The required research material may be published or unpublished, but it must be in English. Letters of recommendation must arrive by the separate stated deadline, not merely by the deadline for the other materials.

Which options are suitable for Libyan professionals?

Professional experience changes the shortlist. A recent graduate may not qualify for a scheme that requires several years of work, while an established researcher may need a host institution or a defined project.

Chevening Scholarships Research Fellowship Opportunity matters because Libya is specifically included among its eligible countries. It is a five-month research fellowship at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies in the United Kingdom, with living expenses, return economy airfare and an allowance for research-related activities. The minimum experience requirement is five years, and six awards are available.

CyberSafe Foundation Fellowship for African Women in Cybersecurity matters for Libyan women working in cybersecurity because it is open to African women who speak English and currently reside in an African country. It is remote, fully funds the SANS training and certification pathway without tuition charges, and requires at least three years of experience. The programme runs for nine months, so applicants should be ready for sustained participation rather than a short course.

Chicago Booth Journalists in Residence Program Fellowship matters for experienced journalists because it provides a USD 14,000 stipend for living expenses during a 12-week programme in Chicago, economy-class airfare reimbursement, SEVIS and visa application fees, and health insurance through the University of Chicago plan. Applicants need proficient English, some years of journalism experience and an interest in political economy.

Getty Conservation Institute Fellowship Opportunity matters for senior conservation professionals because it provides USD 21,500 for a three-month residence, housing, a workstation, research assistance and a travel stipend. It requires at least seven years of experience, so a strong academic record alone may not satisfy the stated profile.

Which programmes accept English applications from Libya?

English is the working language for many of the strongest international options. A Libyan applicant should not rely on an Arabic-language application unless the official page expressly permits it.

UNESCO AfriMAB GRÓ-LRT Land Restoration Fellowship requires applicants to speak, read and write English because English is the working language of GRÓ LRT. CyberSafe Foundation Fellowship for African Women in Cybersecurity also requires English because fellows must speak English and reside in an African country. The Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies Fellowship requires an English research paper, while CIFAR Global Scholars Program: PhD Research Scholarship requires fluent spoken and written English.

There are limited alternatives. APNI African Plant Nutrition Outreach Fellowship Competition accepts application materials in English or French, which may help an applicant who can prepare a stronger submission in French. Rainforest Alliance Kleinhans Community Forestry Fellowship accepts applications in English, Spanish or Portuguese, but its stated fields are environment and climate or natural sciences, and it does not subsidise academic tuition or fees.

Leading Russian Universities Open Doors Scholarship is different because universities offer programmes in Russian or English depending on the institution. The scholarship covers tuition and provides a monthly stipend, but it does not cover travel, food, accommodation or medical insurance. Confirm the language of the specific programme before applying.

The aggregate information does not identify any listed option as requiring IELTS. That does not mean an English test can be ignored. Where a programme asks for an English certificate or proficiency, follow that programme’s rule and check whether an alternative proof is accepted.

What documents should Libyan applicants prepare?

Prepare only documents the official page requests, but make the core evidence ready early. Your academic records should show the qualification and field that match the programme level. If a programme requires a host, referee or supporting statement, those people must have enough time to submit their parts separately.

For MS International Federation McDonald Fellowship Opportunity, the application is not complete without the online application form, reference letters and supporting statement from the host. Contact a suitable host before the deadline and confirm that the statement will be submitted through the required process.

For APNI African Plant Nutrition Outreach Fellowship Competition, the materials must be in English or French. For The Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies Fellowship, the research paper must be in English, whether published or unpublished. These are not cosmetic details. A committee cannot assess a document that fails the stated language condition.

A strong research answer should identify a specific question, explain why it matters in your field and show what you will do during the funded period. Avoid broad claims about helping Libya without evidence of a defined project, relevant experience or a practical research output.

For professional schemes, show the experience the programme asks for rather than listing every task you have performed. Getty Conservation Institute Fellowship Opportunity requires at least seven years, Chevening Scholarships Research Fellowship Opportunity requires at least five years and CyberSafe Foundation Fellowship for African Women in Cybersecurity requires at least three years. Match each example in your CV to that threshold.

How should Libyan applicants manage deadlines and time zones?

Record the deadline in both the published time zone and Libya time, then submit earlier. Several deadlines are not midnight in Libya. CyberSafe Foundation Fellowship for African Women in Cybersecurity closes at 12:00 WAT, ERA Cambridge AI Fellowship Opportunity for Professionals uses 23:59 Anywhere on Earth, Medical Research Council Early Independence Fellowship closes at 16:00 UK time, and Tara For Women Competition Opportunity: Tara’s Circle closes at 12:00 CEST.

Other deadlines use North American or European time zones. The Harvard Academy for International and Area Studies Fellowship requires materials by 23:59 EDT, while recommendation letters have a later separate deadline. Mastercard Foundation PhD Scholarship at University of Toronto and Mastercard Foundation Doctor of Public Health Scholarship use 23:59 EST in Toronto, CIFAR Global Scholars Program: PhD Research Scholarship uses 12:00 Eastern Standard Time, and TU Delft Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships uses 23:59 CET.

Do not wait for the final hour. A slow upload, an incomplete reference submission or a portfolio that cannot be edited after closing time can turn an otherwise eligible application into an incomplete one. For Leading Russian Universities Open Doors Scholarship, the deadline also ends the ability to add to or edit account information or portfolios.

FAQ: What should Libyan applicants know before applying?

Can Libyan students apply for scholarships in Canada?

Yes. Mastercard Foundation PhD Scholarship at University of Toronto and Mastercard Foundation Doctor of Public Health Scholarship are open to all African countries and are hosted in Canada. Both provide full financial support for tuition, travel, housing, food, books and other expenses for the professional programme. The listed level is PhD and the field is health and medicine.

Which fully funded options accept applicants from Libya?

UNU-MERIT Migration Management Diploma Training Programme is explicitly open to Libya and covers the full cost of its training, including flights, accommodation, visa fees, meals, insurance and field trips. Other fully funded choices are open to all African countries or all nationalities, but you must still satisfy their level, field, language and experience conditions.

Do these scholarships require IELTS?

None of the listed options is identified as requiring IELTS specifically. However, Wageningen University & Research Masters Scholarship requires an English language certificate, while other programmes require English proficiency or English-language documents. Check the official page for accepted evidence before assuming that IELTS is unnecessary.

Which funding is best for a Libyan professional with work experience?

The answer depends on your field and experience. Chevening Scholarships Research Fellowship Opportunity suits professionals with at least five years of experience and funds research in the United Kingdom, while UNESCO AfriMAB GRÓ-LRT Land Restoration Fellowship suits environment and natural sciences professionals with at least one year of experience and a maximum age of 40. Cybersecurity professionals can assess CyberSafe Foundation Fellowship for African Women in Cybersecurity if they are African women with at least three years of experience.

Can a scholarship cover every cost of studying abroad?

Some listed schemes do, while others leave clear gaps. Wageningen University & Research Masters Scholarship covers tuition, travel, living costs, visa costs and health insurance, but Leading Russian Universities Open Doors Scholarship leaves transport, food, accommodation, communication services and medical insurance to the student. Read the funding section carefully and confirm any missing cost on the official page.

What should Libyan applicants do next?

Choose one academic or professional target first. Check that Libya or all African countries appears in the eligibility rule, then confirm your level, field, experience and language evidence.

Create a deadline sheet with the published time zone, required documents and the person responsible for each reference or host statement. Submit before the closing time, keep copies of every file and use the official page to verify qualification recognition, visa conditions, document formats and any requirement not stated here.