5 Fully Funded Scholarships and Programmes Open to Africans Right Now (2026)

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Finding legitimate, fully funded opportunities as an African student or professional can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Most scholarship roundups online are either outdated, US-focused, or list opportunities that closed months ago.

This post is different. Every opportunity listed here is real, currently open or recurring annually, and directly relevant to African applicants — whether you are a student looking for a Master’s degree in Europe, a journalist wanting to sharpen your skills, or a development professional ready to take your career to the next level.

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Quick Overview: All 5 Opportunities at a Glance

1. Mo Ibrahim Foundation Scholarship: Fully Funded Master’s in the UK With a Paid Internship

Best for: African professionals under 30 with a First Class degree who are serious about governance and development policy

If there is one scholarship on this list that represents a genuine career-defining opportunity, it is this one.

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation, established by Sudanese-British billionaire Mo Ibrahim and best known for the Ibrahim Index of African Governance- funds one exceptional African candidate every year to complete a full MSc in Development Policy and Politics at the University of Birmingham, followed by a one-year paid internship split between the university and the Foundation’s London office.

The University of Birmingham is a Russell Group institution — the UK’s equivalent of the Ivy League. The Mo Ibrahim Foundation operates at the highest levels of African governance advocacy globally. Getting funded to study at one and work at the other is genuinely rare.

What It Covers

• Full tuition fee
• Return airfare to and from the UK
• Visa costs
• £1,592 per month for 18 months
• Arrival allowance of £1,082
• Final 6 months of internship funded directly by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation

The Two-Year Structure

Year One is the full MSc, covering governance, development policy, democracy, and political analysis — with a dissertation that can involve overseas fieldwork in a country of your choice.

Year Two is the internship — six months doing research at Birmingham’s Governance and Social Development Resource Centre, then six months in London at the Mo Ibrahim Foundation, including participation in the Now Generation Forum for African emerging leaders.

Who Can Apply

• African nationals domiciled in an African country (preference for Sub-Saharan Africa)
• Under 30 years of age
• First Class Honours degree in a relevant subject — this is a hard minimum, not a suggestion
• Relevant subjects include Politics, Development Studies, International Relations, Sociology, Public Administration, Anthropology, and others. Business degrees are excluded.
• IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL 580/93 for non-native English speakers

Honest Take

This is one slot per year. The competition is fierce. A First Class degree gets you in the door — what wins the scholarship is the quality of your motivation, the depth of your thinking about African governance, and how specifically you connect your background to what the Foundation actually does. Read their publications before you apply.

2026 applications are closed. Start preparing now for 2027.

Apply through the University of Birmingham’s International Development Department

2. IHE Delft Water and Development Partnership Scholarship, €1,220/Month to Study in the Netherlands

Best for: Water, environment, and development professionals from Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, Egypt, Iraq, Uganda, and other eligible countries

The Netherlands is the world leader in water management. IHE Delft is the world’s largest international graduate water education institution. This scholarship, funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs,  sends eligible candidates there fully funded, with a monthly living allowance of €1,220.

This is one of the most complete funding packages available for Master’s students from the eligible regions. Most scholarships cover tuition or living costs — this one covers both, plus flights, insurance, and travel.

What It Covers

• Full tuition fee for the MSc in Water and Sustainable Development
• International travel costs (return flights)
• Insurance
• €1,220 per month for living and accommodation
• Partial scholarships also available for those with co-funding

Eligible Countries

Sahel: Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger

Horn of Africa: Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Uganda

Middle East: Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Palestine, Yemen

Key Requirements

• Academic admission to the MSc in Water and Sustainable Development at IHE Delft
• Currently living or working in one of the eligible countries
• Employer recommendation letter, on official letterhead, confirming your return to the organisation after studies. This is non-negotiable.
• Commitment to conduct MSc research in your home country, linked to a supported programme project
• Commitment to return home after graduation
• English test results submitted before 1 June 2026

Selection Priorities

Strong priority is given to female candidates. After that, motivation, academic background, and relevant work experience determine selection.

Honest Take

The research return requirement is real; you must go home and conduct your dissertation research in your country. If you genuinely intend to return and build a career in your country’s water sector, this is not a limitation. It is alignment. If you are looking to relocate permanently, this scholarship is not designed for you.

Deadline: 1 June 2026. Apply immediately.

For more details and application: Click here

3. Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) Scholarships: Study in Europe With a Monthly Stipend

Best for: Master’s students from Asia, Eastern Europe, the Americas, and select other nationalities looking for affordable, EU-recognised postgraduate education

Lithuania is not the first country that comes to mind when people think of European education — but that is precisely why it deserves attention. KTU is one of Lithuania’s leading research universities, offering EU-recognised degrees at a fraction of the cost of studying in Germany, the Netherlands, or the UK. And the Lithuanian State Scholarship is one of the more generous Master’s funding packages available in Central and Eastern Europe.

KTU actually offers four separate funding opportunities. Here is a breakdown:

The Lithuanian State Scholarship, The Main One

Funded by the Lithuanian Ministry of Education and Science, this scholarship covers full study costs plus a €592 monthly stipend for full-time Master’s students from selected countries.

Eligible nationalities: Armenia, Azerbaijan, China (PRC and Taiwan), Georgia, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Moldova, New Zealand, Philippines, South Korea, Ukraine, USA, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, and foreign citizens of Lithuanian origin from non-EU/EFTA countries.

Important note: Most African countries, including Nigeria, are not on the eligible list for this specific scholarship. Nigerian and other African applicants should look at the Tuition Fee Waiver below instead.

Selection is based on motivation (50%) and academic grades (50%). The 2026 scholarship deadline was 20 April 2026 and has now passed.

KTU Tuition Fee Waiver: Open to All International Applicants

Every international student who applies through KTU’s application portal is automatically considered for a full or partial tuition fee waiver. No separate application needed.

• Deadline: 1 June 2026
• Results: Mid-July 2026
• Based on academic record and motivation

KTU Talent Scholarship: For Enrolled Students

Already studying at KTU? You can compete for €250/month (€1,000/semester) based on academic results, research, and extracurricular activities in business, innovation, or social impact.

Honest Take

KTU is a solid choice for students from eligible countries who want an EU-recognised degree in a lower cost-of-living environment. The Lithuanian State Scholarship is competitive but well-funded. For African applicants, the Tuition Fee Waiver is the realistic entry point — and an automatic consideration at that.

Tuition Fee Waiver deadline: 1 June 2026

More details and application: Click here

4. MTN Media Innovation Programme: Free Media Training With an All-Expense-Paid Trip to South Africa

Best for: Nigerian journalists, content creators, editors, producers, and digital media professionals

This one is different from the academic scholarships above. The MTN Media Innovation Programme is a six-month capacity-building programme for media practitioners in Nigeria — and it is completely free to participants.

Funded by MTN Nigeria, the programme is built around the reality that the media industry is changing faster than most practitioners can keep up with. Technology is reshaping how content is created, distributed, and monetised. This programme is designed to close that gap.

What the Programme Includes

30 days of classroom training spread across six months, covering media innovation, digital transformation, content strategy, and technology in journalism.

7 days in South Africa, all expenses paid. Flights, accommodation, and programme costs are fully covered by MTN. South Africa has one of the most technologically advanced media industries on the continent, and the exposure is genuinely valuable.

1 day at MTN Nigeria and MTN Group Headquarters, inside one of Africa’s largest telecommunications companies, understanding how a major corporation thinks about media, content, and innovation.

1 day at the Innovation Hub, exposure to the broader technology and startup ecosystem shaping the future of media.

Who Should Apply

Nigerian media practitioners at any career stage — journalists, editors, content creators, digital media professionals, broadcasters, and media managers. If your work involves creating or managing media content in Nigeria and you feel your skills have not kept pace with the industry’s digital shift, this programme is built for you.

Honest Take

There is no stipend. This is training, not a fellowship with financial support. The value is in the skills, exposure, networks, and the South Africa trip, not a monthly payment. The application is a Google Form, which means competition is likely high and your written responses matter more than you might think. Apply with the same care you would give a formal scholarship application.

No stated deadline, apply as soon as possible.

For more details and application: Click here

5. Griots Fellowship:  For African Storytellers, Journalists, and Cultural Leaders

Best for: African journalists, writers, filmmakers, artists, and cultural practitioners shaping authentic African narratives

The word “griot” refers to the traditional West African historians and oral storytellers who preserved culture and history across generations. The Griots Fellowship by the LéO Africa Institute carries that legacy into the modern era — supporting the journalists, writers, filmmakers, and cultural practitioners who are defining how Africa’s story is told today.

This is not a cash scholarship. It is a fellowship — a structured programme that gives selected fellows skills, platforms, creative project support, and networks to tell Africa’s stories more powerfully and authentically on a global stage.

Programme Structure

The fellowship is built around three tracks:

Journalism and Media:  for reporters, editors, and media professionals working to produce accountable, impactful journalism about Africa.

Creative Arts:  for writers, filmmakers, visual artists, and creatives shaping African cultural narratives through their work.

Cultural Heritage: for practitioners preserving African identity, oral history, and cultural knowledge in a rapidly changing world.

Training is delivered through in-person residencies, online workshops, and independent creative projects, with a focus on narrative strategy, media production, and cultural leadership.

Who Should Apply

Any African storyteller, at any stage of their career, who creates content that speaks to Africa’s present or future. If your work is about telling African stories more honestly, more powerfully, and more effectively, this fellowship exists for you.

Honest Take

The Griots Fellowship is less about financial support and more about development, skills, networks, and the credibility that comes from being part of a recognised cohort of African storytellers. The LéO Africa Institute is a serious organisation with a genuine track record in African leadership development. For creatives and journalists who feel isolated in their work, the community aspect of this fellowship alone has significant value.

For more details and application: Click here

Which One Is Right for You?

Not every opportunity on this list will fit your situation. Here is a simple way to think about which one to pursue:

If you are a water or environment professional from Nigeria, Kenya, Ethiopia, or another eligible country, the IHE Delft scholarship is your most urgent priority. The deadline is 1 June 2026. Move now.

If you are an African professional under 30 with a First Class degree and a serious interest in governance, start preparing your Mo Ibrahim Foundation application for 2027 today. One slot per year means preparation cannot start too early.

If you are a Nigerian media practitioner, apply to the MTN Media Innovation Programme immediately. There is no stated deadline, which means it could close at any point.

If you are an African journalist, writer, filmmaker, or cultural practitioner, look into the Griots Fellowship. It is designed specifically for people doing the work of telling Africa’s story.

If you are a Master’s applicant from one of KTU’s eligible countries, apply before 1 June 2026, and you will automatically be considered for a tuition fee waiver.

Final Word

Opportunities like these exist every year. The problem is not that they are rare — it is that they are scattered, poorly publicised, and buried under outdated information online.

Bookmark this page, share it with someone in your network who needs it, and check back regularly. We update our scholarships and opportunities section continuously, so you always have access to what is current and legitimate.

FAQ

Are these scholarships open to Nigerians? The IHE Delft scholarship, MTN MIP, Griots Fellowship, and Mo Ibrahim Foundation scholarship are all open to Nigerians. The KTU Lithuanian State Scholarship does not currently include Nigeria on its eligible country list, but the KTU Tuition Fee Waiver is open to all international applicants.

Which scholarship has the closest deadline? The IHE Delft Water scholarship closes on 1 June 2026. The KTU Tuition Fee Waiver also closes on 1 June 2026. Apply to both immediately if you are eligible.

Which opportunity pays the highest monthly stipend? The Mo Ibrahim Foundation scholarship pays £1,592 per month. The IHE Delft scholarship pays €1,220 per month. The KTU Lithuanian State Scholarship pays €592 per month.

Can I apply for more than one of these at the same time? Yes, and you should. IHE Delft explicitly encourages applicants to apply for other scholarships simultaneously. Applying to multiple opportunities at once is standard practice and increases your chances of securing funding.

Are any of these open to applicants outside Africa? The KTU scholarships and IHE Delft scholarship include non-African countries in their eligibility lists. The Mo Ibrahim Foundation scholarship, MTN MIP, and Griots Fellowship are specifically for African applicants.