Country Guide

Fully Funded Scholarships for Tanzanian Students (2026 Guide)

The best fully funded scholarships open to Tanzanian students in 2026 — Chevening, Commonwealth, DAAD, MEXT, GKS, Türkiye Bursları, CSC and Mastercard Foundation — with eligibility notes, timelines and where to apply.

By Scholarships for Africans EditorialSeptember 12, 202610 min read

Tanzanian university graduates in caps and gowns celebrating on a sunny campus

Tanzanian students sit in a fortunate position: the country is eligible for almost every major government scholarship on earth — Commonwealth, Chevening, DAAD, MEXT, GKS, Türkiye and China all accept Tanzanian applicants every year. This guide ranks the best fully funded routes and tells you exactly when each one opens.

For the live list with apply links, use our Tanzania scholarships page.

The eight strongest fully funded routes

1. Commonwealth Master's & PhD Scholarships (UK)

Full tuition, monthly stipend and flights for study in the UK. Tanzanians apply online and must be nominated by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology. The window is typically September–October — see our current deadline roundup.

2. Chevening Scholarships (UK)

Fully funded one-year UK Master's for future leaders — requires two years of work experience. Applications open in August and close in early November.

3. DAAD EPOS (Germany)

Fully funded development-related postgraduate courses with a monthly stipend, insurance and travel. See our complete DAAD guide.

4. Mastercard Foundation Scholars

Full scholarships at partner universities across Africa (including Ashesi and Makerere partnerships) and abroad — the flagship option for undergraduates with financial need and leadership potential.

5. Türkiye Bursları (Türkiye)

Fully funded Bachelor's, Master's and PhD — tuition, stipend, dormitory, flights and a free Turkish language year. One application, open to all Tanzanians. Read our Türkiye guide.

6. Chinese Government Scholarship (China)

Full funding via the Tanzanian Ministry of Education quota (Type A) or directly through Chinese universities (Type B). Details in our CSC guide.

7. MEXT (Japan) & GKS (South Korea)

Two embassy-run full scholarships covering tuition, stipend and flights. Watch the Japanese and Korean embassies in Dar es Salaam for the annual calls — typically April–June for MEXT and February–March for GKS graduate rounds. See our MEXT guide and GKS guide.

8. ARES Scholarships (Belgium)

Fully funded study and training grants in francophone Belgium for nationals of developing countries — Tanzania qualifies, and the deadline falls in September.

When to apply: the Tanzanian applicant's year

August–November: Chevening and Commonwealth open.
September–February: DAAD EPOS course deadlines and CSC windows.
January–March: Türkiye Bursları application window; GKS graduate round.
April–June: MEXT embassy applications.
Year-round: Mastercard Foundation partner university deadlines vary — track them on the hub.

Next steps

Build your shortlist on the Tanzania scholarships page, check the Top 100 list, and use the matching tool to see which of these you actually qualify for before you invest the time.

Frequently asked questions

Which fully funded scholarships can Tanzanian students apply for in 2026?

Tanzanians are eligible for nearly every major government scholarship: Chevening and Commonwealth (UK), DAAD (Germany), MEXT (Japan), GKS (South Korea), Türkiye Bursları, the Chinese Government Scholarship, and Mastercard Foundation Scholars at partner universities across Africa and beyond.

How do Tanzanians apply for the Commonwealth Scholarship?

Apply online via the CSC's application system when it opens (usually September–October) and through Tanzania's national nominating agency — the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology advertises the call each year. You must be nominated to be considered.

Can Tanzanian students study abroad without IELTS?

Sometimes. Several scholarships — including Türkiye Bursları, GKS and many Chinese university-track CSC awards — do not require IELTS at the scholarship stage, though the university may ask for proof of English. Our guide to scholarships without IELTS/TOEFL lists the current waivers.

Are there scholarships for Tanzanian undergraduates, not just Master's?

Yes. Türkiye Bursları, the Chinese Government Scholarship, GKS and Mastercard Foundation Scholars (through partners such as Ashesi University and the University of Edinburgh) all fund first degrees. Most Western government awards (Chevening, Commonwealth, DAAD EPOS) are postgraduate only.

Hubs in this guide

Open the full scholarship pool for any topic referenced above.

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