If you are an African, looking for fully-funded scholarship opportunities to advance your educational pursuit in America, Europe, Australia or any other part of the world, this article is solely for you.
- 🌍 Top Fully Funded Scholarships 2026
- Arizona State University Mastercard Foundation Program 2026
- KAUST International Scholarship 2026
- Swedish Institute Scholarships 2026
- Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) Scholarships 2026
- University of Liverpool Hodgson Law Scholarship 2026 (Fully Funded)
- 🇹🇷 Turkiye Burslari Scholarship 2026 (Fully Funded)
- 🇦🇺 Australia Awards Scholarships 2026 (Fully Funded)
- 🇨🇳 Chinese Government Scholarships (CSC) 2026 (Fully Funded)
- 🇭🇰 Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) 2026 (Fully Funded)
- 🌏 ANSO-CAS-TWAS/UNESCO PhD Scholarships 2026 (Fully Funded)
- 🎓 Rhodes Scholarships (Oxford University, United Kingdom) 2026 (Fully Funded)
- 🎓 Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarship (Oxford University, UK) 2026 (Fully Funded)
- 🎓 Schwarzman Scholars Program 2026 (Established by the Chinese Government)
- 🇨🇭 Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2026 (Fully Funded)
- 🇨🇦 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships 2026 (Fully Funded)
- Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship 2026 (Fully Funded)
- 🇪🇺 Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Scholarships 2026 (Fully Funded)
- 🎓 Harvard University MBA Fellowships 2026 (Fully Funded)
Securing a fully-funded scholarship is the best route to studying in top universities around the world without bearing the brunt of the exorbitant cost that naturally comes with it.
This article has succinctly highlighted scholarship opportunities for 2025-2026 that African applicants can explore.
They cover all the major costs of study, ranging from tuition fee waivers, travel allowances, health insurance, accommodations, living expenses, as well as monthly stipends for those applying for Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) or Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA).
A Graduate Teaching Assistantship (GTA) is a position offered to graduate students who are either currently pursuing their Master’s or PhD programme.
They are saddled with the responsibility of assisting professors with teaching-related duties while in exchange for their service, they receive monthly stipends which often range from $2500 and above in some US and Canadian Universities, among others. While most European Universities pay over £2000 monthly.
Similarly, A Graduate Research Assistantship (GRA) involves assisting a professor or research team with academic or scientific research projects.
Like a teaching assistantship, a research assistantship also provides financial support through a stipend and tuition waiver, funded by the professor’s research grant.
Aside from the GTA and GRA, there are other types of fully funded scholarship opportunities Africans can explore.
These could come from the government, non-governmental organisations, universities and even individuals.
These types of scholarship are mostly grants, fellowships and merit-based.
They also cover tuition fees waiver, health insurance and other living expenses.
Perfect examples include:
🌍 Top Fully Funded Scholarships 2026
- 🇺🇸 Fulbright Scholarship 2026 (Fully Funded)
- 🇬🇧 Chevening Scholarship 2026 (Fully Funded)
- 🌍 Commonwealth Scholarship 2026 (Fully Funded)
- 🇪🇺 Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s Scholarship 2026 (Fully Funded)
- 🎓 Gates Cambridge Scholarship 2026 (Fully Funded)
- 🇸🇪 Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP) 2026 (Fully Funded)
- 🇫🇷 Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme 2026 (Fully Funded)
- 🎓 Beit Trust Postgraduate Scholarships 2026 (Fully Funded)
- 🇩🇪 DAAD Scholarships 2026 (Fully Funded)
Here are tertiary institutions still offering fully funded scholarships to African prospective students for the 2025-2026 academic session.
Arizona State University Mastercard Foundation Program 2026
Arizona State University, in collaboration with the Mastercard Foundation, is offering fully funded scholarship opportunities to Africans who intend to gain knowledge that will enable them to make an impact in the African continent and beyond.
The aim is to significantly empower young African leaders with the skills and knowledge needed to drive innovative and sustainable development on the continent and, of course, around the globe.
The deadline for the application is 2nd November 2025.
KAUST International Scholarship 2026
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is currently accepting applications from Africans across Africa who intend to advance their studies with them.
KAUST is offering a fully funded scholarship which covers tuition fees, accommodations, travel expenses and living expenses.
The scholarship is strictly merit-based and targets students who envisage becoming global leaders.
The application deadline is 26th January, 2026.
Swedish Institute Scholarships 2026
One of the ways the Swedish government invests in global talent to build a more developed and sustainable world is through scholarships.
The scholarship cuts across various world-class Universities in Sweden and supports full-time, one- or two-year master’s studies and full-time or part-time PhD programmes, respectively.
The deadline for the application is 25th February, 2026.
Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) Scholarships 2026
Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) is a world-class University that aims to reward students who have exceptionally distinguished themselves by attaining some levels of academic excellence in their prior academic pursuits.
The University provides fully funded scholarships to intellectually sound students who have met their minimum screening criteria.
Students who envisage being admitted to TU Delft must ensure they have research publications in reputable international journals and also have demonstrable leadership potential.
The application deadline is 1st December, 2025.
University of Liverpool Hodgson Law Scholarship 2026 (Fully Funded)
The Hodgson Law Scholarship is mainly for those interested in advancing their education in the law faculty.
The scholarship is made possible through the benevolence and generosity of Elizabeth Hodgson, widow of the Liverpool Solicitor Joseph Hodgson.
If you are interested in pursuing a degree, a master’s or a PhD in law, this could be a perfect search for you. The application deadline is 1st May, 2026.
🇹🇷 Turkiye Burslari Scholarship 2026 (Fully Funded)
The Turkish government has always welcomed African students with fully funded scholarship programs. This program is for African students pursuing a bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD degree who wish to study in Türkiye.
Turkiye Burslari scholarship covers tuition fees, health insurance, round-trip international flights, stipends, and housing expenses.
Surely, this is a great Scholarship opportunity for African Students. The 2026 application form will be available starting in January and will close in February 2026.
Students can actually enrol in a one-year language course with additional benefits.
🇦🇺 Australia Awards Scholarships 2026 (Fully Funded)
The Australian government awards scholarships to Africans on a fully funded basis every year.
This application program is expected to open in February 2026 and close in April 2027. This is a great opportunity for Africans who dream of exploring the world. Australia is a country with a good life and quality academic performance.
With Australia Awards Scholarships, African students can achieve their dreams without financial barriers. The program is across all academic levels.
This program covers health insurance, tuition fees, housing expenses, and airfare.
The Australian government founded this scholarship program for African Students with leadership potential, strong academic performance, and entrepreneurship.
Additionally, the program is for Africans to develop their continent with the knowledge they have earned.
🇨🇳 Chinese Government Scholarships (CSC) 2026 (Fully Funded)
Do you ever dream of studying in China? This is a great opportunity for African Students to study in the top-ranked Chinese universities.
The application welcomes postgraduate African students, and the Scholarship form is expected to open from November 2025 for the September 2026 intake. The deadline is in March 2026.
Those who wish to make an impact in Africa and who consider applying for this prestigious scholarship.
🇭🇰 Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) 2026 (Fully Funded)
Hong Kong has gradually become an academic hub for researchers.
The HKPFS fully funded PhD programs welcome applications from foreign students, including Africans.
The scholarship extends to Hong Kong’s top-ranked universities, and the expected date is set to begin in September or October 2025.
This program covers students’ tuition fees, travel allowance, housing expenses, and yearly stipend.
Hong Kong has world-class research facilities, and international students are currently trooping in for quality education.
🌏 ANSO-CAS-TWAS/UNESCO PhD Scholarships 2026 (Fully Funded)
This is a great STEM research and development tri-agency scholarship. The program is established to help students from developing countries.
The ANSO-CAS-TWAS/UNESCO PhD Scholarships are fully funded scholarships that cover housing expenses, tuition fees, travel costs, health insurance, and stipends.
The application is expected to start in November 2025 and close in February 2026.
The tri agency welcomes African Students extensively with great care, and their support for doctoral studies is extremely interesting. This program takes place in the top Chinese universities.
🎓 Rhodes Scholarships (Oxford University, United Kingdom) 2026 (Fully Funded)
The United Kingdom and African nations have a long-standing mutual relationship. And every year, the UK opens its doors for African students to join world-class universities across the country.
The Rhodes Scholarship is one of the toughest scholarships in the United Kingdom. This program is specially for well-deserved students with a strong academic reputation.
The Rhodes scholarship covers university tuition fees, health insurance, international economy flights (in and out to the UK), and an annual stipend.
This is a fully-funded scholarship opportunity for Africans who intend to advance their studies in the world’s most developed nation. Apply now!
🎓 Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarship (Oxford University, UK) 2026 (Fully Funded)
African students with great skills in entrepreneurship, leadership, and sustainable development, the Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarship is for you.
The scholarship program will open its application form in September 2025 and close in January 2026.
Weidenfeld-Hoffmann Scholarship allows access to a bespoke leadership development program for qualified applicants.
This leading UK scholarship program covers university tuition fees and housing expenses.
It is fully funded scholarships for all eligible candidates. Apply now to enjoy the full benefit of the bespoke development program.
🎓 Schwarzman Scholars Program 2026 (Established by the Chinese Government)
The Schwarzman Scholars Program is established by the Chinese Government to help students across the world.
This program welcomes African students exclusively with master’s fully funded scholarships in China.
Schwarzman scholarship will take place in the top-ranked Chinese universities.
Additionally, these fully funded Chinese scholarships are expected to start in September 2025.
It covers tuition fees, accommodations, travel expenses, health insurance, and an annual stipend.
If you really want to explore the world, start with China.
🇨🇭 Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2026 (Fully Funded)
Swiss Scholarship is more than a scholarship; it is a prestigious award for deserving students across the world.
This program invites African postgraduate students and researchers to join this prestigious scholarship and earn real-world knowledge from world-class professors. The application process is expected to start in August 2025 and close in December.
The Swiss government fully funded scholarship covers university tuition fees, insurance, medical expenses, travel airfare, and stipends.
If you want to join Switzerland’s world-class research institutions, facilities, and world-renowned professors, the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships have opened doors for you.
🇨🇦 Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships 2026 (Fully Funded)
Canada is among the top countries in the world that offers African students fully funded scholarships at all academic levels _ bachelor’s, Master’s, and doctoral degrees.
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship offers one of the best fully-funded scholarships to potential PhD applicants around the world.
This program is for international students, including Africans.
The Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship application is already in process as of October 17, 2025.
The scholarship extends to Engineering, natural Sciences, health, and social sciences.
This scholarship program covers applicants’ tuition fees and living expenses. It also provides CAD $50,000 per year for three consecutive years.
Student fund their living expenses and tuition with the money annually. Join world-class universities across Canada and enjoy the benefits of a healthy environment.
Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship 2026 (Fully Funded)
African students are actually making waves globally with exceptional academic performance and leadership. The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship invites undergraduate African students to join Canada’s most competitive universities and pursue world-class degrees.
If you are an African student looking for a fully-funded undergraduate scholarship, the Lester B Pearson scholarship provides qualified candidates with tuition fees, incidental fees, books, housing expenses, and insurance. Wow, isn’t that great?
This support extends to a period of four years of your studies. The application is already in process, and the deadline is November 6, 2025. This is a great opportunity to study in Canada’s top-ranked universities.
🇪🇺 Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Scholarships 2026 (Fully Funded)
This fully funded scholarship invites African postgraduate students to join the best European tertiary institutions and pursue world-class degrees.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Scholarships extend to all levels of interdisciplinary courses, including Humanities, science, and engineering.
This is a fully-funded scholarship because it covers your tuition fees, monthly stipends, installation costs, travel expenses, and insurance.
The application process starts in October 2025 and closes in January 2026.
African students who actually want to explore a European multicultural environment and world-class degrees should apply for this prestigious scholarship.
🎓 Harvard University MBA Fellowships 2026 (Fully Funded)
The HBS Forward Fellowship was primarily established to support students from low-income backgrounds.
This scholarship program invites African Students with financial situations to join a community filled with vision and support.
The HBS Forward Fellowship offers students $30,000 ($15,000 each year) based on financial history, and to those who need it most.
Students are strongly advised to complete the HBS Financial Aid application and a complementary fellowship application, which discloses their family’s financial circumstances, before they can apply.
Harvard Business School is among the top tertiary institutions in the world that offer students exclusively world-class degrees. This program covers health, tuition fees, and living expenses.
Top countries include the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Sweden, Germany, and China. They offered programs like Chevening, DAAD, Fulbright, Mastercard Foundation, and Erasmus Mundus.
Yes! Many programs, such as the Mastercard Foundation Scholarships, Turkiye Burslari, and Australia Awards, support undergraduate, master’s, and PhD levels. Some scholarships sometimes target STEM, health, or development studies.
I. Excellent academic records
ii. Proven leadership or community involvement
iii. English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL)
iv. Valid international passport
v. Strong motivation or personal statement
🌍 Explore More Scholarship Opportunities
Are you looking for more ways to study abroad for free? Check out these fully funded programs and guides that can help you reach your academic goals.
- 🇺🇸 USA Universities Fully Funded Scholarships
- 🇨🇦 Carleton University Scholarships (Canada)
- 🇸🇰 Study Free in Slovakia – Fully Funded Scholarship + €15,000 Grant!
Conclusion,
To apply for fully funded scholarships, students must display exceptional academic performance and potential skills in leadership, community involvement and an excellent personal statement.
Top Universities around the world are currently offering undergraduate, master’s, and PhD scholarships to qualified candidates.
As African students, a fully-funded scholarship opportunity is your best alternative if you want to study abroad without financial barriers.


