48 Scholarship and Fellowship Deadlines in October 2026 for Africans

This site lists 48 deadlines in October 2026, running from 1 to 31 October, and each one is open to applicants from at least one African country. Below they appear in date order, one line each, with a short note on seven of the best-known programmes: Chevening, Knight-Hennessy, the DAAD EPOS master's courses, the Commonwealth scholarships, the CFJ Fellowship, the NASA Hubble Fellowship and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UCT.

If a date below is already behind you, that call is closed for this round. The cards at the foot of the page show the days left for each one, or mark it closed.

October 2026 at a glance

The month holds 48 listings from 44 funders. Fellowships lead with 22, followed by 13 scholarships, 6 grants, 4 training programmes and 3 competitions.

Research dominates the levels as well. PhD and postdoctoral candidates have 15 listings each, master's applicants have 14 and professionals 12. Ten calls are open at any level. Only three name undergraduates.

Seven listings carry the site's fully funded label, and just one, FOR-GHP Fellowship 2027: outbreak readiness for sub-Saharan Africa, is marked as not requiring IELTS.

The load is heaviest early. Twenty listings close between 1 and 7 October, eleven between 8 and 15 October, eleven between 16 and 23 October and six in the final week. The busiest single days are 2, 6, 15 and 20 October, with five deadlines each.

Closing 1 to 7 October

Twenty calls close in the first week, and nine of them close on 1 or 2 October.

• Senckenberg Global Fellowships in Germany for Global South researchers (closed): 1 October, noon CEST, EUR 1,600 to EUR 2,700 a month.
• Getty Conservation Guest Scholars Program in the USA (closed): 1 October, 17:00 Los Angeles time, USD 21,500.
• Mastercard Foundation Doctor of Public Health Scholarships 2027 (closed): 1 October, 23:59 EST, seven doctoral places.
• UNU Migration Management Diploma Programme in the Netherlands (closed): 1 October, 23:59 CEST.
• AfricaLics PhD Visiting Fellowship 2027 in South Africa (closed): 2 October, 23:00 East Africa Time.
• IDP IELTS Future Award 2026 with six prizes of USD 5,000 (closed): 2 October, 23:59 in your local time.
• DFFE Full-time Bursary Programme 2027 for South African students in environmental fields (closed): 2 October, no late applications.
• TANGO2 Research Foundation TDD Research Pathways Grant (closed): 2 October, 17:00 EST.
• World Bank GovTech AI Bootcamp 2026 for Public Officials (closed): 2 October.
• MTN mPulse Spelling Bee 2026 for Nigerian pupils aged 15 and under (closed): 4 October, 23:59.
• Bayreuth Academy Fellowships in African Studies, Germany (closed): 5 October, 23:59 CEST.
• Digital Science Catalyst Grant 2026 for AI tools that act on research (closed): 5 October, 17:00 BST.
• Software Sustainability Institute Fellowship Programme 2027 (closed): 5 October.
• AIAS Visiting Fellowships 2027: Unsalaried Research Visits in Denmark (closed): 6 October, noon Copenhagen time.
• Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2027: Fully Funded Graduate Study at Stanford (closed): 6 October, 13:00 Pacific Time.
• Chevening Scholarships 2027/28: One-Year UK Master's (closed): 6 October, 11:00 UTC.
• OpenAI AI and Teen Development Research Grant Program 2026 (closed): 6 October, 23:59 Pacific Time.
• Chevening OCIS Fellowship 2027 at Oxford for Professionals (closed): 6 October.
• IAIFI Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027-2030 at MIT (closed): 7 October, every item including references.
• ARC-GSSP Postgraduate Scholarships for African Students (closed): 7 October, 23:59 GMT.

Two of these need a closer look. Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2027: Fully Funded Graduate Study at Stanford (closed) funds up to three years in any field, for any nationality, with tuition, a living stipend and one return trip a year. Its 13:00 Pacific cut-off on 6 October 2026 falls at 21:00 in Lagos and 23:00 in Nairobi.

Chevening Scholarships 2027/28: One-Year UK Master's (closed) pays tuition and a living stipend and asks for at least two years of experience. Its eligible list names most African countries. It closes at 11:00 UTC on 6 October 2026, which is midday in Lagos. The same funder runs Chevening OCIS Fellowship 2027 at Oxford for Professionals (closed), five months of research for nationals of ten listed countries, closing that day.

Closing 8 to 15 October

• France-South Africa Scholarship Programme 2027 for Graduates (closed): 8 October, 23:59 South Africa time.
• MTN Foundation ICT and Business Skills Training, Phase 8 (closed): 11 October, for Nigerians aged 35 or under.
• CEES Fellowship Program Spring 2027: Research Stay in Switzerland (closed): 12 October.
• National AI Innovation Challenge 2026 for Nigerian Innovators (closed): 12 October, 23:59 West Africa Time.
• Mandela Washington Fellowship 2027 for Young African Leaders (closed): 13 October, 550 places, age 35 or under.
• Leading for Humanity 2027: Tutu Foundation Leadership Programme (closed): 14 October, accommodation and meals covered but not travel.
• ISATEC (MSc Marine Biology), University of Bremen: DAAD EPOS 2027 (closed): 15 October.
• Sustainable Renewable Energy Technologies MSc, Oldenburg: EPOS 2027 (closed): 15 October.
• International Health MSc, Charité Berlin: DAAD EPOS Scholarship 2027 (closed): 15 October.
• African Climate Collaborative PhD Fellowships 2027 at UCT (closed): 15 October, 23:00 SAST, twelve places for all African countries.
• Smithsonian Institution Fellowship Program 2027 in the United States (closed): 15 October, 23:59 ET, USD 45,000 to USD 65,000 a year.

The three DAAD EPOS courses that close on 15 October are master's programmes in Germany for applicants from developing countries, and each asks for at least two years of experience. ISATEC (MSc Marine Biology), University of Bremen: DAAD EPOS 2027 (closed) wants English at C1 level. Sustainable Renewable Energy Technologies MSc, Oldenburg: EPOS 2027 (closed) lasts 24 months and accepts English at B2 through several tests, TOEFL iBT and IELTS among them. International Health MSc, Charité Berlin: DAAD EPOS Scholarship 2027 (closed) opened its window on 1 August 2026 for admission in September 2027. A fourth EPOS course, Joint MSc in Environmental Risks and Human Security in Bonn, Germany, closes on 31 October.

Closing 16 to 23 October

• AGNES-BAYER Science Foundation Research Grant 2026 for PhD Students (closed): 16 October, 23:59 GMT, up to EUR 7,000.
• AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grants 2026 for PhD Researchers (closed): 16 October, 23:59 UTC, EUR 2,300 to EUR 3,000 for stays of one or two months.
• Leverhulme Trust Early Career Fellowship 2027 at CRASSH, Cambridge (closed): 16 October, noon.
• The Image Centre Research Fellowships 2027 in Toronto for photography research (closed): 18 October, 23:59 EST, reference letters included.
• CFJ Fellowship 2027 for Early-Career Women Lawyers: 20 October, noon SAST.
• Cornell Atkinson Postdoctoral Fellowship in Sustainability 2027: 20 October, 17:00 ET, USD 65,000 a year.
• Commonwealth Master's Scholarships 2027/28 for Study in the UK: 20 October, 16:00 BST.
• Mohamed Ali Foundation Fellowship 2027 at Durham University: 20 October.
• University of Sussex Commonwealth PhD Scholarships 2027: 20 October, 16:00 GMT.
• FOR-GHP Fellowship 2027: outbreak readiness for sub-Saharan Africa: 21 October, midnight CET.
• EUI Jean Monnet Fellowships 2027-2028 for Postdocs in Italy: 23 October, 14:00 CEST, EUR 2,850 a month.

The Commonwealth pair closes on 20 October. Commonwealth Master's Scholarships 2027/28 for Study in the UK covers full tuition, return airfare and a stipend of GBP 1,712 a month, or GBP 2,000 in the London area, for one year. Its eligible list includes Botswana, Gabon, Ghana, Gambia, Kenya, Lesotho, Mauritius, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Eswatini, Togo, Tanzania, Uganda, South Africa and Zambia. University of Sussex Commonwealth PhD Scholarships 2027 is the doctoral route, for eleven listed countries, with tuition, a stipend and return travel, and it asks for a valid IELTS certificate. The Commonwealth page gives 16:00 BST and the Sussex page gives 16:00 GMT, which are an hour apart. Work to 16:00 BST, the earlier of the two.

CFJ Fellowship 2027 for Early-Career Women Lawyers places ten fellows with host organisations in Kenya, Malawi, South Africa and Gambia for twelve months, and only nationals of those four countries can apply. Hosts pay the equivalent of a competitive gross annual salary in local currency. Fluent English is required.

Closing 24 to 31 October

• NASA Hubble Fellowship Program 2027 for Postdocs in the United States: 28 October, 19:00 EDT.
• IFRA-Nigeria Research Grants 2027 for Humanities and Social Sciences: 30 October, 23:59 WAT, up to EUR 1,000, French or English.
• Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UCT 2027 for Postgraduates: 31 October.
• The Open Notebook Early-Career Science Journalism Fellowship 2027: 31 October, USD 6,600, remote and part time.
• Joint MSc in Environmental Risks and Human Security in Bonn, Germany: 31 October, dates marked as still to be confirmed.
• MATS Residency 2027 Winter Intake for AI safety researchers: 31 October, Anywhere on Earth.

NASA Hubble Fellowship Program 2027 for Postdocs in the United States funds 24 fellows for three years, with a salary comparable to other prize fellowships plus support for health insurance, relocation, travel and research costs. It is open to English-speaking applicants of any nationality. The cut-off is 19:00 EDT on 28 October 2026, which is 23:00 UTC, midnight in Lagos and 02:00 the next morning in Nairobi.

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UCT 2027 for Postgraduates is open to applicants from all African countries for honours, master's and eligible postgraduate diploma programmes. It covers tuition, a laptop, campus accommodation, living expenses, medical aid, a study visa where needed and annual travel to and from UCT.

Joint MSc in Environmental Risks and Human Security in Bonn, Germany is the last EPOS option of the month. It asks for IELTS 6.5 or an equivalent such as TOEFL iBT 79, plus two years of experience, and its page still marks the window from 31 July to 31 October as to be confirmed.

The fully funded picks

Seven listings carry the site's fully funded label:

• Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2027: Fully Funded Graduate Study at Stanford (closed), 6 October: any field, master's or PhD, up to three years.
• Chevening Scholarships 2027/28: One-Year UK Master's (closed), 6 October: most African countries eligible.
• ARC-GSSP Postgraduate Scholarships for African Students (closed), 7 October: up to two years at hosts in South Africa, Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal and Ghana.
• AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grants 2026 for PhD Researchers (closed), 16 October: travel and subsistence for researchers from sub-Saharan Africa.
• Commonwealth Master's Scholarships 2027/28 for Study in the UK, 20 October: one year, for the listed Commonwealth countries.
• University of Sussex Commonwealth PhD Scholarships 2027, 20 October: eleven listed countries.
• Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UCT 2027 for Postgraduates, 31 October: all African countries.

One near miss deserves a look. Mastercard Foundation Doctor of Public Health Scholarships 2027 (closed) sits outside the label because its listing records no separate stipend, yet the funder describes full support for tuition, travel, housing, food and books.

What to do now

Start from your own deadline, not from the size of the award. Count the days you have left and plan backwards from there.

Chase references first. IAIFI Postdoctoral Fellowship 2027-2030 at MIT (closed) and The Image Centre Research Fellowships 2027 in Toronto for photography research (closed) both want the letters in before the cut-off, and referees are the slowest part of almost any application. Ask yours today, give them the exact time, and send one reminder three days before it.

Check the experience rules before you write a word. Getty Conservation Guest Scholars Program in the USA (closed) asks for seven years, Chevening OCIS Fellowship 2027 at Oxford for Professionals (closed) for five and AIAS Visiting Fellowships 2027: Unsalaried Research Visits in Denmark (closed) for four, while Chevening Scholarships 2027/28: One-Year UK Master's (closed), FOR-GHP Fellowship 2027: outbreak readiness for sub-Saharan Africa and all four DAAD EPOS courses ask for two.

Book an English test now if you need one, because results take time to arrive. Joint MSc in Environmental Risks and Human Security in Bonn, Germany asks for IELTS 6.5 or an equivalent, University of Sussex Commonwealth PhD Scholarships 2027 wants a valid IELTS certificate and ISATEC (MSc Marine Biology), University of Bremen: DAAD EPOS 2027 (closed) expects C1.

Submit a day early. Portals slow down in the final hours, and a file that fails to upload at 23:50 is still late.

Questions readers ask about October deadlines

Are these closing times in my local time?

Rarely. Only IDP IELTS Future Award 2026 with six prizes of USD 5,000 (closed) uses your local time of residence, and MATS Residency 2027 Winter Intake for AI safety researchers uses Anywhere on Earth, the last time zone on the calendar. The rest name a time zone, usually the funder's. OpenAI AI and Teen Development Research Grant Program 2026 (closed) closes at 23:59 Pacific Daylight Time on 6 October 2026, which is already the morning of 7 October everywhere in Africa.

Which October deadlines are fully funded?

Seven: Knight-Hennessy Scholars 2027: Fully Funded Graduate Study at Stanford (closed), Chevening Scholarships 2027/28: One-Year UK Master's (closed), ARC-GSSP Postgraduate Scholarships for African Students (closed), AGNES Intra-Africa Mobility Grants 2026 for PhD Researchers (closed), Commonwealth Master's Scholarships 2027/28 for Study in the UK, University of Sussex Commonwealth PhD Scholarships 2027 and Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UCT 2027 for Postgraduates. Several others pay most costs without the label, among them Mastercard Foundation Doctor of Public Health Scholarships 2027 (closed) and UNU Migration Management Diploma Programme in the Netherlands (closed).

Do I need IELTS?

One listing, FOR-GHP Fellowship 2027: outbreak readiness for sub-Saharan Africa, is marked as not requiring IELTS, and it accepts TOEFL, native-speaker status or a degree taught in English instead. Two ask for IELTS outright, University of Sussex Commonwealth PhD Scholarships 2027 and Joint MSc in Environmental Risks and Human Security in Bonn, Germany. Many others ask for English without naming a test.

Can undergraduates apply to anything here?

Three listings name undergraduates: DFFE Full-time Bursary Programme 2027 for South African students in environmental fields (closed), TANGO2 Research Foundation TDD Research Pathways Grant (closed) and The Image Centre Research Fellowships 2027 in Toronto for photography research (closed). Ten more are open at any level, including MATS Residency 2027 Winter Intake for AI safety researchers and the competitions IDP IELTS Future Award 2026 with six prizes of USD 5,000 (closed) and National AI Innovation Challenge 2026 for Nigerian Innovators (closed).

What if the deadline I wanted has passed?

Then that call is closed for this round. Senckenberg Global Fellowships in Germany for Global South researchers (closed) runs two regular rounds a year, on 1 March and 1 October, so a missed date is not the end of it. For the others, watch the listing page for the next cycle.

Check every deadline on the funder's official page before you rely on it. Funders do change dates, and only their version counts.