Masters Scholarships and Fellowships for African Students

Masters applicants can find scholarships, fellowships, internships and training programmes in Europe, North America, Asia and remote settings. Your best match depends on nationality, field, language ability, experience and whether you need tuition, travel, accommodation or living support.

Key facts

• Every listed opportunity accepts Masters applicants, while some also accept PhD, postdoctoral, undergraduate or professional applicants.
• The earliest fixed deadline is 16 September 2026, and the latest fixed deadline is 28 February 2027.
• Rolling or ongoing application reviews are available for World Health Organization Internship Programme Opportunity, AIXI Labs Research Fellowship: Remote AI Safety Fellowship, Transfyr AI Fellowship Opportunity for Masters, PhD and Postdoc and Ocean Training Partnership Natural Sciences Training Programme.
• Mitacs Globalink Research Internship Opportunity in Canada supports tuition, stipend, travel, insurance and accommodation for a three-month research internship in Canada.
• ARES International Training Scholarships – Belgium Study Funding supports tuition, stipend, travel and insurance for eligible African applicants studying in Belgium.
• UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowship Programme does not require IELTS, but applicants must show reading and writing ability in the language used at the proposed host institution in Japan.
• Funding exclusions differ, with some options leaving accommodation, food, insurance, tuition or equipment costs to the student.

Which Masters opportunities are open to African applicants?

Eligibility varies by nationality. Check this before preparing a complete application because some programmes accept selected African countries, while others accept all African countries or applicants from developing countries.

ARES International Training Scholarships – Belgium Study Funding matters if you are from one of its listed African countries and have at least two years of experience. It supports undergraduate, Masters and professional training in business and management, law, health and medicine, economics, computer science and IT, arts and design, and environment and climate.

Eligible countries include South Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Niger, Uganda, DR Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. You must complete the application in the language of the training and prove written and spoken knowledge of that language.

Wageningen University & Research Masters Scholarship matters to applicants from any African country seeking a Masters degree in Netherlands. It covers tuition, travel, living costs, visa costs and health insurance for a 24-month programme. You must meet the English language requirements before 1 December 2026 and submit a complete MSc application before that date.

The Beit Trust Postgraduate Scholarship Opportunity matters to applicants from Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi who want Masters or PhD study in health and medicine, economics, or environment and climate. It covers tuition and academic fees, living costs, visa and health surcharge expenses, testing and biometric costs, arrival and departure allowances, a laptop allowance and economy-class flights.

Which scholarships cover tuition and living costs?

Funding must be assessed line by line. A stipend does not automatically include tuition, accommodation, insurance or travel.

UK Government Chevening Scholarships for Master's Study matters if you need support for a 12-month Masters degree in any field in the United Kingdom. It is open to all nationalities and includes a full tuition fee waiver, a monthly stipend, travel to and from the UK, the visa application cost and a travel grant for Chevening events. Applicants need at least two years of experience.

TU Delft Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships matters if you are applying for an MSc at TU Delft in the Netherlands and can upload an English language certificate. It covers full tuition fees per year under the stated fee basis and contributes to living expenses for 24 months. It is open to all nationalities, but two awards are listed.

Leading Russian Universities Open Doors Scholarship matters if you need tuition support and a monthly stipend for study in Russia. It accepts all nationalities and covers fields including mathematics, computer science and IT, engineering, health and medicine, education, natural sciences and public policy. Students must pay for transport, food, accommodation, communication services and medical insurance.

That distinction affects your budget. Where a funding description does not name a cost, check the official page instead of assuming it is covered.

Which fellowships support Masters research?

Research fellowships may require a defined project, a host institution or a field-specific background. Some payments go through the host institution rather than directly to the fellow.

UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowship Programme matters if you are a Masters or PhD researcher aged up to 40 and your project fits education, computer science and IT, environment and climate, arts and design, entrepreneurship, public policy or social sciences. It offers a grant of up to USD 10,000 for an approved research stay in Japan.

The grant may contribute to international and domestic travel, accommodation, medical insurance, meals, local transport, incidental expenses and other research costs where applicable. It does not cover tuition, computers, publication costs or conference participation unless the participation is clearly integral and significant to the research project.

MS International Federation McDonald Fellowship Opportunity matters to Masters, PhD and professional applicants in health and medicine from developing countries. It provides EUR 55,000 per year for two years, paid to the host institution and then used to pay the fellow, plus one return flight to the host country. The application must include the online form, reference letters and a supporting statement from the host by 1 December 2026.

Rainforest Alliance Kleinhans Community Forestry Fellowship matters if your research concerns community forestry, environment or natural sciences. It accepts Masters, PhD and postdoctoral applicants of all nationalities and provides USD 20,000 per year for two years. It does not subsidise tuition or fees or cover unnecessary transport vehicles and equipment.

Applications for Rainforest Alliance Kleinhans Community Forestry Fellowship may be submitted in English, Spanish or Portuguese. Your research proposal must still fit the fellowship’s community forestry focus.

Which options suit science, technology and health applicants?

Computer science and IT, mathematics, engineering, natural sciences and health and medicine appear across several options. Field compatibility is only one test. You must also meet the nationality, level and language conditions.

Mitacs Globalink Research Internship Opportunity in Canada matters if you are an undergraduate or Masters student from an eligible country, including Brazil, China, India, South Korea, France, Germany, Finland, United Kingdom, United States or Tunisia. It offers a three-month, non-remote research internship in Canada in natural sciences, engineering, mathematics, humanities or social sciences.

Its support includes contributions towards round-trip airfare, transport from the Canadian airport, housing, student enrolment fees, food and incidentals, and emergency health insurance. Amounts vary by country of origin or host institution. Applicants must be fluent in the project language, English and/or French, in spoken and written forms.

AIXI Labs Research Fellowship: Remote AI Safety Fellowship matters to Masters and PhD applicants in computer science and IT or mathematics who need a remote option. It accepts all nationalities, reviews applications on a rolling basis and lists a stipend of GBP 2,000 to GBP 3,500 per month.

Transfyr AI Fellowship Opportunity for Masters, PhD and Postdoc matters to Masters, PhD and postdoctoral applicants in computer science and IT, engineering, mathematics or natural sciences. It accepts all nationalities, is remote, reviews applications on a rolling basis and lists USD 125,000 per year plus benefits for a 12-month fellowship.

World Health Organization Internship Programme Opportunity matters to applicants interested in health and medicine, social sciences, or business and management. It accepts all nationalities at undergraduate, Masters and PhD levels, with internships posted continuously. WHO provides medical and accident insurance, while living allowance is available to eligible selected interns who need financial support.

Which language and IELTS rules apply?

Language rules differ by provider and host institution. A programme may require an English certificate, accept another language, or require fluency in the working language of a project or office.

UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowship Programme matters if you are searching for a Masters fellowship without IELTS. IELTS is not required, but you must demonstrate sufficient reading and writing proficiency in the language of instruction or supervision at the proposed host institution in Japan.

TU Delft Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships requires an English language certificate to be uploaded. Wageningen University & Research Masters Scholarship requires applicants to meet its English language requirements before the stated deadline. Mitacs Globalink Research Internship Opportunity in Canada requires fluency in the project language, English and/or French, in both spoken and written forms.

For Ocean Training Partnership Natural Sciences Training Programme, all documents and the application form must be completed in English. The programme is for Masters, PhD, postdoctoral and professional applicants in natural sciences, and its support includes international airfare, subsistence, accommodation and, where required, a seafaring medical examination and sea survival training.

Do not assume that a missing IELTS reference means that no language evidence is needed. Check the official page and follow the host institution’s requirements.

How should you plan the application deadlines?

Fixed deadlines use different time zones. Record the local time stated by the provider and submit early enough to allow for references, file uploads and technical problems.

The deadline for Mitacs Globalink Research Internship Opportunity in Canada is 16 September 2026 at 1:00 p.m. Pacific time. ARES International Training Scholarships – Belgium Study Funding closes on 18 September 2026 at 12:00 UTC+1, while UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowship Programme closes at midnight Paris time on 30 September 2026.

UK Government Chevening Scholarships for Master's Study closes on 6 October 2026 at 12:00 GMT. Southafrica-france-scholarships Scholarship Programme closes on 8 October 2026 at 23:59 South Africa time. Leading Russian Universities Open Doors Scholarship has a 1 November 2026 registration deadline, after which participants cannot add to or edit account information or portfolios.

Several deadlines fall on 1 December 2026. Wageningen University & Research Masters Scholarship requires a complete MSc application by that date, MS International Federation McDonald Fellowship Opportunity requires the form, references and host statement by that date, and TU Delft Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships closes at 23:59 CET. The Beit Trust Postgraduate Scholarship Opportunity opens on 1 December 2026 and closes on 12 February 2027.

Rolling review is not automatic acceptance. For World Health Organization Internship Programme Opportunity, AIXI Labs Research Fellowship: Remote AI Safety Fellowship, Transfyr AI Fellowship Opportunity for Masters, PhD and Postdoc and Ocean Training Partnership Natural Sciences Training Programme, check the official page regularly because postings or reviews continue over time.

What documents and costs should you check?

Begin with the documents named by the provider. MS International Federation McDonald Fellowship Opportunity explicitly requires an online application form, reference letters and a supporting statement from the host. TU Delft Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships requires an English language certificate. Leading Russian Universities Open Doors Scholarship requires careful attention to the portfolio because account information and portfolio edits stop after registration closes.

Funding gaps can affect visa and personal budget planning. Leading Russian Universities Open Doors Scholarship leaves food, accommodation, transport, communication and medical insurance to the student. UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowship Programme excludes tuition and equipment, while Rainforest Alliance Kleinhans Community Forestry Fellowship excludes tuition, fees, unnecessary transport vehicles and unreasonable equipment.

Currency also needs care. The stated figures use USD, EUR and GBP. Use the provider’s stated currency and check how, when and through whom payment is made instead of relying on an assumed exchange rate.

A common rejection or incomplete-file problem is treating references, host statements, language certificates or university applications as optional. Match each document to the correct opportunity, use the required language and submit before the provider’s local deadline.

Masters scholarships and fellowships FAQ

Which Masters scholarships are open to all nationalities?

UK Government Chevening Scholarships for Master's Study, TU Delft Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships and Leading Russian Universities Open Doors Scholarship accept all nationalities. Their funding differs, so check tuition coverage, living support, language documents and costs that remain the student’s responsibility.

Which Masters opportunities support study in the Netherlands?

Wageningen University & Research Masters Scholarship and TU Delft Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships support study in the Netherlands. Wageningen University & Research Masters Scholarship is for applicants from all African countries and covers tuition, living costs, travel, visa costs and health insurance, while TU Delft Justus & Louise van Effen Excellence Scholarships covers tuition and contributes to living expenses.

Can I apply for a Masters fellowship without IELTS?

UNESCO/Japan Young Researchers’ Fellowship Programme states that IELTS is not required. You must still demonstrate reading and writing proficiency in the language used for instruction or supervision at the proposed Japanese host institution.

Which Masters opportunities are remote?

AIXI Labs Research Fellowship: Remote AI Safety Fellowship and Transfyr AI Fellowship Opportunity for Masters, PhD and Postdoc are remote and accept all nationalities. Both review applications on a rolling basis, while AIXI Labs Research Fellowship: Remote AI Safety Fellowship lists GBP 2,000 to GBP 3,500 per month and Transfyr AI Fellowship Opportunity for Masters, PhD and Postdoc lists USD 125,000 per year plus benefits.

What happens if I miss a scholarship deadline?

Some providers do not accept late applications or changes after closing. Mitacs Globalink Research Internship Opportunity in Canada states that applications will not be accepted past its deadline, while Leading Russian Universities Open Doors Scholarship prevents account and portfolio edits after registration closes. Check the official page for any unclear submission rule.

What should you do next?

Select options that match your nationality, Masters field, language evidence and funding needs. Create a deadline sheet showing the provider’s time zone, required documents, funding exclusions and application status.

Prepare time-sensitive evidence first. Request references and host statements where required, obtain the relevant language certificate, complete any university application before its scholarship deadline and upload portfolios before editing is locked. Submit early, keep copies of every file and check the official page again before final submission.