Best PhD Scholarships in Europe for African Students (2026)

University of Oxford · United Kingdom · PhD · Fully Funded

The University of Oxford is offering a fully funded 3.5-year D.Phil. in Geotechnical Engineering focusing on nature-based and biomimetic foundation systems. This scholarship covers full tuition and provides a substantial annual stipend, aiming to attract top doctoral candidates g

Scholars4Dev (Africa) · United Kingdom · PhD · Fully Funded: covers tuition fees, accommodation, and an annual stipend.

The Institute of Education (IOE) at University College London (UCL) offers Centenary Doctoral Scholarships for international students from low- and middle-income countries to pursue full-time PhD degrees. The scholarship covers tuition fees, accommodation, and an annual stipend, and is tenable for up to 4 years. Applicants must have an unconditional offer to study a full-time PhD degree at IOE and be domiciled in an eligible low or lower-middle income country according to the World Bank classification. The application deadline is 4 May 2026. Applicants must visit the official website for detailed instructions. Only campus-based PhD programs at IOE are eligible. Official scholarship website: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ioe/about-ioe/global-reach/scholarships-and-funding.

Commonwealth Scholarships UK · United Kingdom · PhD · Funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Commonwealth PhD scholarships contribute to the development needs of Commonwealth countries by supporting research that will have a developmental impact. They also enhance individual teaching and research capacity leading to increase institutional capacity in academic and other sectors in Commonwealth countries, and will contribute to UK higher education and research by attracting high-calibre international applicants and encouraging links and collaboration, and are aimed at those who could not otherwise afford to study in the UK.

Commonwealth PhD Scholarships are for applicants from least developed countries and vulnerable states, as classified by the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC), in the Commonwealth, for full-time doctoral study at a UK university.

University of Cambridge · United Kingdom · PhD · Fully Funded

Fully-funded Commonwealth Scholarships for students from Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique or Zambia to study for a PhD at any UK university.

University of Cambridge · United Kingdom · PhD · Fully Funded

PhD fellowships for outstanding junior scientists worldwide wishing to pursue a PhD project in basic biomedical research in an internationally leading laboratory.

University of Cambridge · United Kingdom · PhD · Fully Funded

Funding for three years to enable students to study for a PhD in occupational or environmental health at a UK university.

University of Cambridge · United Kingdom · PhD · Fully Funded

Information on Research Council funding opportunities available for doctoral studies at Cambridge.

Commonwealth Scholarships UK · United Kingdom · PhD · Fully Funded

Commonwealth Split-Site PhD Scholarships fund African PhD students enrolled at home to spend up to 12 months at a UK university for research, supervision and lab access — tuition support, airfare and stipend are covered.

Commonwealth Scholarships UK · United Kingdom · PhD · Fully Funded

Commonwealth PhD Scholarships fund African researchers from low- and middle-income Commonwealth countries to pursue a full-time PhD in the UK — covering tuition, airfare, monthly stipend and research support.

Various · United Kingdom · PhD · Partial to fully funded depending on award (Chancellor's, WMS, departmental scholarships)

The University of Warwick, known for its high academic and research standards, offers several international student scholarship opportunities., Post a Comment

University of Warwick · United Kingdom · PhD · Fully Funded

The University of Warwick offers fully-funded Chancellor's International Scholarships for eligible PhD students for 2026 entry, covering academic fees and living costs.

Various · United Kingdom · PhD · N/A — visa policy article

The new Graduate Route visa allows UK international students to apply to live and work in the country two years after their graduation period., Post a Comment

Aga Khan Foundation · United Kingdom · PhD · Fully Funded

Gates Cambridge Scholarship: Eligibility for PhD, MLitt, or one-year postgraduate course at Cambridge for non-UK citizens. Excludes certain degrees. Deadlines vary by course. Fully funded.

Imperial College President's PhD Scholarships · United Kingdom · PhD · Fully Funded

The Imperial College President's PhD Scholarships offer a prestigious opportunity for outstanding doctoral candidates from around the world to pursue fully-funded PhD studies at a world-leading institution.

Various · United Kingdom · PhD · Fully Funded

PhD Studentships in Asthma Reviews are available as the University of Edinburgh in the UK opens its doors for international students., Post a Comment

Rhodes Trust / University of Oxford · United Kingdom · PhD · Fully Funded

Rhodes Global Scholarships – University of Oxford’s Postgraduate Study in the UK - Study in Europe, Post a Comment

Various · United Kingdom · PhD · Partial to fully funded — varies by award (Birkbeck International Merit Awards £4,000–£7,500)

he University of London Birbeck has available international student postgraduate scholarships for people interested to pursue further study in the UK., Post a Comment

Various · United Kingdom · PhD · Fully funded (tuition + living + flights) or 50% / partial depending on award

University of Westminster – List of Available International Student Scholarships - Study in Europe, Post a Comment

Gates Cambridge Trust / University of Cambridge · United Kingdom · PhD · Fully funded: tuition, maintenance allowance ~£18,000/year, travel, family allowance, academic development funding

Gates Cambridge Graduate and Postgraduate Scholarships for International Students - Study in Europe, Post a Comment

Imperial College London · United Kingdom · PhD · Fully funded + £25,000 stipend

Fully funded doctoral scholarships at Imperial College London covering tuition, stipend (£25,000+ tax-free) and consumables for international PhD candidates, open to African applicants in science, engineering, medicine and business.

University of Edinburgh · United Kingdom · PhD · Fully Funded (Tuition fees + UKRI stipend rate, currently £20,780 for 2025-2026).

The University of Edinburgh offers PhD scholarships for students starting in 2026-2027, covering tuition and a stipend. Open to UK and international students applying for their first year of on-campus or distance PhD study. Applicants must demonstrate outstanding academic merit. Deadlines vary by school. This scholarship offers comprehensive training and development opportunities. Scholarships cannot be held concurrently with other fully-funded awards. The College of Medicine & Veterinary Medicine has a deadline of April 30, 2026. For other schools, check their specific deadlines. Shortlisted candidates may be interviewed. The University is committed to widening participation for underrepresented groups, including BAME students and those from deprived communities. Eligibility requires a first-class or 2:1 UK honours degree (or equivalent).

Various · United Kingdom · PhD · Tuition discount; varies by programme and provider

Recommended UK Universities for Distance Learning -, Post a Comment

LMU Munich · Germany · PhD · Fully Funded

The LMU - CSC Scholarship Program offers scholarships for highly qualified Chinese candidates to pursue doctoral studies and research at LMU Munich. It is a key element of the strategic cooperation between LMU and Chinese academic instituti

China Scholarship Council (CSC) · Germany · PhD · Partial

China Scholarship Council Doctoral Awards – Freie University Berlin - PhD, Post a Comment

Various · Germany · PhD · Tuition Only

Tanzanian-German Center for Eastern African Legal Studies Scholarships for African Students - Masters, Post a Comment

Cluster of Excellence “Contestations of the Liberal Script (SCRIPTS)” at Freie Universität Berlin · Germany · PhD · Fully Funded

The Academic Accelerator Fellowship 2026 offers up to 3 fully funded positions for second- or third-year doctoral researchers from underrepresented regions and communities, integrating them into the Berlin Graduate School for Global and Transregional Studies (BGTS) at Freie Unive

DAAD EPOS · Germany · PhD · Fully Funded

DAAD research grants provide foreign doctoral candidates with an opportunity to take part in a study visit to Germany as part of their doctoral studies.

LMU Munich · Germany · PhD · Partial

This grant provides funding for travel related to academic activities for doctoral candidates at LMU.

LMU Munich · Germany · PhD

This program offers scholarships and mentoring to doctoral candidates at LMU, supporting their academic and professional development.

LMU Munich · Germany · PhD

A grant for doctoral candidates at LMU to support them during the final phase of their doctoral studies.

Gerda Henkel Stiftung · Germany · PhD · Funded — €1,400/month

The Gerda Henkel Foundation PhD Scholarship provides financial assistance to doctoral candidates in historical humanities. It offers a monthly stipend of €1,400 and is open to applicants worldwide with rolling admissions.

Various · Germany · PhD · Research grant (up to ~€500,000)

Volkswagen Stiftung Knowledge for Tomorrow – Cooperative Research Projects in Sub-Saharan Africa - Fellowship, Post a Comment

Max Planck Society · Germany · PhD · Fully Funded

The International Max Planck Research Schools (IMPRS) offer outstanding doctoral education under excellent research conditions across a wide range of scientific disciplines, providing structured PhD programs in collaboration with universities.

DAAD EPOS · Germany · PhD · The scholarship provides monthly payments of 1,400 euros, along with comprehensive health, accident, and personal liability insurance coverage. A travel allowance is included, as is an annual research allowance of €460. Additional benefits, such as monthly rent subsidies and allowances for accompanying family members, may be available upon application under specific circumstances. Language support, including course fees for online language courses, language courses in Germany, and reimbursement for TestDaF or DSH tests, is also provided.

This DAAD scholarship offers highly qualified international students the opportunity to pursue a doctoral degree in Germany. Funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, the program supports research projects at German higher education institutions or non-university research institutes. It covers an individual project supervised by a university teacher or participation in a structured doctoral study program. The scholarship provides financial support including a monthly stipend, insurance, and research allowances, along with language training, for up to four years, with funding beginning in 2026. Eligibility criteria include above-average academic qualifications, recent graduation, and limited prior residency in Germany. The selection process emphasizes academic excellence, the quality of the research proposal, and the applicant's potential. Applications are submitted online, requiring various documents including a CV, motivation letter, research proposal, and letter of supervision or program contacts. Deadlines are updated annually; applicants should consult the official DAAD website for current information.

DAAD EPOS · Germany · PhD · Monthly payments for doctoral candidates during the stay in Germany: 1,400 euros. (No scholarship payments during stays at the home university). Payments towards health, accident, and personal liability insurance cover. Travel allowances for up to three outward and return journeys. A research allowance of € 460. Travel and accommodation expenses for supervising university teachers for one trip of up to 10 days. **Under certain circumstances, for uninterrupted stays of over 6 months:** Monthly rent subsidy. Monthly allowance for accompanying members of family. Subsidy for justified additional costs incurred due to disability or chronic illness. **German Language Learning Support:** Payment of course fees for an online language course. Potential funding for a 2, 4, or 6-month language course before the research stay (DAAD decides based on language skills and project). Allowance for a personally chosen German language course during the funding period. Reimbursement of the fee for a TestDaF or DSH test. **Note:** Benefits from third parties are partially credited towards the DAAD scholarship.

This program offers the opportunity to do a bi-national doctoral degree at your home university and at a university in Germany. There are two options: a) Doctorate with bi-national supervision (sandwich model) and b) Doctorate following the Cotutelle procedure. The scholarship funds research stays in Germany as part of a doctoral program and provides monthly payments, insurance, travel allowances, and language support. Eligibility requires specific academic qualifications and limits on prior residence in Germany. Applications are submitted online, and selection is based on academic achievement, research project quality, and applicant potential. Funding must begin in 2026.

EPFL · Switzerland · PhD · Fully Funded

The Swiss government offers a limited number of grants to foreign students wishing to do part of their training at a Swiss university.

Various · Switzerland · PhD · N/A

Here are the top Switzerland universities for Scholarships for Africans, based on the Times Higher Education ranking:, Post a Comment

Various · Switzerland · PhD · CHF 1,600/month for Master's study

University of Lausanne Master’s Grants for International Students to Study in Switzerland - Study in Europe, Post a Comment

Various · Switzerland · PhD · Fully Funded

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships for Foreign Students to Study in Switzerland - PhD, Post a Comment

CeMM (Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences) and AITHYRA (Research Institute for Biomedical Artificial Intelligence) · Austria · PhD · Fully Funded

Austria has opened applications for the CeMM PhD Programme 2026, providing 15 to 20 fully funded doctoral positions for global students interested in molecular medicine and life sciences research. Hosted by CeMM, this prestigious four-year programme is a highly competitive and ge

Vienna BioCenter · Austria · PhD · Fully Funded

The Vienna BioCenter PhD Program is a fully funded doctoral program in life sciences, offered in collaboration with leading universities and research institutes in Vienna, Austria.

Various · Austria · PhD · Partial

AAI Salzburg Scholarship Program 2021 for Study in Austria | Deadline: July 31, 2021 -, Post a Comment

Various · Netherlands · PhD · Fully Funded

Wageningen University & Research Africa Talent Program – PhD Scholarships - Study in Europe, Post a Comment

Institut Pasteur · France · PhD · Fully funded: monthly stipend, travel, insurance, research costs (3 years)

Fully-funded 3-year PhD fellowships in biomedical research at Institut Pasteur, Paris — open to candidates from the Pasteur Network (incl. Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Madagascar, Tunisia, Algeria, Cameroon).

Various · Hungary · PhD · Fully Funded

Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarships for International Students Offered by the Government of Hungary - Study in Europe, Post a Comment

Ghent University · Belgium · PhD · Fully funded: ~€2,400/month net + social security + research budget (4 years)

The official page for the Ghent University Special Research Fund (BOF) Doctoral Scholarships is currently unavailable. This brief provides information based on the provided existing data. The scholarship is fully funded, offering around €2,400/month net, social security, and a research budget for four years. There are multiple calls per year. Applicants should monitor the official URL for updates on eligibility, required documents, how to apply, key dates, and selection criteria, as these details are currently inaccessible.

Various · Russia · PhD · Varies by award

Top 10 Universities In Russia - Study in Europe, Post a Comment

Various · Sweden · PhD · Fully funded postdoc: salary, social security, relocation support

Chalmers University of Technology 2022 Ariel Postdoctoral International Fellowships in Sweden - Fellowship, Post a Comment