Fully Funded Scholarships for African Students 2027 (12 Open Now)

These 12 fully funded scholarships are open to African students for 2027 study, and you can apply to them right now. They pay tuition and living costs, and many also pay flights, for bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degrees in Sweden, the UK, Hong Kong, Europe, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the USA.

Each one is checked on its official website and has its own full guide on our blog, with eligibility, documents and step-by-step instructions. The table below gives you the quick view. Click any name for the full post.

Fully funded master’s scholarships for African students

1. Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professionals 2027 (Sweden)

Full tuition, SEK 12,000 a month and a SEK 15,000 travel grant for a master’s in Sweden. It is open to citizens of 34 countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Egypt, Morocco, Senegal, Rwanda, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Liberia and South Africa. You need work and leadership experience. Read the full Swedish Institute guide.

2. Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2027/28 (UK)

Full fees, £23,152 a year for living costs, airfare and visa costs for a master’s or PhD at Cambridge. Open to citizens of every country outside the UK. Read the Gates Cambridge guide.

3. Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarship 2027/28 (Oxford, UK)

All course fees plus a living grant of at least £21,805 for a master’s at Oxford, for graduates and professionals from developing and emerging economies. Read the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann guide.

4. Erasmus Mundus GLOCAL 2027/29 (Europe)

Tuition, a monthly living allowance and help with travel for a two-year joint master’s in Global Markets, Local Creativities, studied at universities across Europe and led by the University of Glasgow. Open to students worldwide. Read the GLOCAL guide.

5. Erasmus Mundus ILSPSD 2027/29 (Europe)

Tuition, a monthly living allowance and a travel contribution for a two-year joint master’s in International Law of Security, Peace and Sustainable Development. Open to students worldwide. Read the ILSPSD guide.

Fully funded PhD scholarships for African students

6. Ellison Graduate Scholars Programme 2027 (Oxford, UK)

A fully funded doctorate at Oxford in the listed fields. Read the Ellison guide.

7. HKU Presidential PhD Scholarship 2027/28 (Hong Kong)

A stipend, full tuition waiver, and research and travel allowances for a PhD at the University of Hong Kong, open to all nationalities. Read the HKU guide.

8. Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme 2027/28

About 400 awards a year, with a yearly stipend and travel allowance for three years of PhD study in Hong Kong. Any nationality can apply. Read the HKPFS guide.

Fully funded master’s and PhD scholarships in the Middle East

9. KAUST Scholarship 2027 (Saudi Arabia)

Tuition, a monthly stipend, on-campus housing and medical and dental cover for science and engineering master’s and PhD study. Read the KAUST guide.

10. HBKU Scholarship 2027 (Qatar)

Tuition, a monthly stipend, housing support and health insurance for master’s and PhD study at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, open worldwide. Read the HBKU guide.

Full financial aid for undergraduate study in the USA

11. Northwestern University 2027

Northwestern meets up to 100% of demonstrated financial need for admitted students, including international students, through grants rather than loans. Read the Northwestern guide.

12. University of Richmond 2027

Richmond meets 100% of demonstrated need for admitted international students, and its strongest applicants can be named Richmond Scholars, which covers full tuition, housing and food. Read the Richmond guide.

How to choose the right scholarship

• Start with your level: bachelor’s, master’s or PhD. That alone cuts this list in half.
• Check your country. Some scholarships, like the Swedish Institute, list eligible countries. Others, like Gates Cambridge and HKU, are open to almost everyone.
• Look at the deadline and work backwards. University applications often close before the scholarship itself.
• Pick two or three and do them well. A strong, personal application beats ten rushed ones.

Do I need IELTS for these scholarships?

Most universities ask for proof of English. Some accept other proof, such as a degree taught in English. Each full guide on our blog explains the English rule for that scholarship, so check the post before you book a test.

Can I apply for more than one scholarship?

Yes. You can apply for several scholarships at the same time. If you win more than one, you choose the one you want.

Is there an application fee?

The scholarships themselves are free to apply for. Some universities charge an application fee for admission, for example Sweden’s University Admissions charges SEK 900. The full guides list any fees.

How to write a winning application

Your motivation letter, CV and recommendation letters decide most scholarships. Our step-by-step guides on each of these are coming this week. Join our WhatsApp channel so you don’t miss them.

Have a question?

Tell us your country and study level in the comments, and we’ll point you to the best scholarships for you.

Related reading

• Swedish Institute Scholarship for Global Professionals 2027 (Fully Funded Master’s in Sweden)
• UN Journalism Fellowship 2027 in Doha, Qatar (Fully Funded)
• Stanford Fisher Family Summer Fellows Program 2027 in the USA (Fully Funded Stay)
• DAAD EPOS Scholarship 2027/28 in Germany (Fully Funded, for Developing Countries)

Follow us so you never miss an opportunity

We post new fully funded scholarships every day, many open to African students. Join our WhatsApp channel or follow us on TikTok so the next one reaches you first.

Join our WhatsApp Channel

Follow us on TikTok

Apply now

See All Fully Funded Scholarships