Top 10 Masters and MBA Scholarships to Match to Your Budget and Career

A research master's, a taught master's and an MBA need different funding plans. One award may pay a research stipend; another only reduces tuition. These ten options help African applicants compare the package with their qualifications, location and career plans.

How these options were selected

These SFA editorial picks balance subject variety, destinations and funding models; they are not a global ranking. We distinguish comprehensive support from tuition-only assistance and admission-linked from separate applications. An African passport alone does not make every award accessible.

1. UCT Postgraduate Financial Aid and GAP Bursary

South African citizens and permanent residents applying for eligible full-time postgraduate study at UCT may seek a contribution to study costs or GAP tuition support, not guaranteed full funding. For 2027, these are financial-need awards, not merit-only bursaries: the published household-income bands are below R350,000 for Financial Aid and R350,001–R600,000 for GAP. Applicants need a prior-qualification average of at least 70%, may not work more than 20 hours weekly, and cannot hold NRF funding concurrently. Certain professional degrees, fully coursework master's degrees, second degrees at the same level, and master's or doctoral programmes with under 33.3% research are excluded. The guidelines list further excluded qualifications. Applications close 10 November 2026; first-year applicants must first apply for UCT admission, then use the PeopleSoft postgraduate funding application. Late or incomplete applications are not considered.

Official programme and application instructions | 2027 eligibility and exclusions

2. SARB Masters in Data Science and Machine Learning Scholarship

The South African Reserve Bank advertises a full scholarship for eligible full-time study in 2027, but the call does not itemise the financial package. Applicants must be South African citizens younger than 35, hold a relevant honours degree with at least a 65% overall average, and have provisional acceptance into one of the specifically listed master's programmes, with modules including financial analytics. It is not funding for any data-science degree. Applications close 31 October 2026, with no late submissions. Submit results, proof of acceptance and supporting documents through the official call's online route using promo code SARBDSM27. Applicants must be available for interviews; recipients sign a SARB agreement and may need to attend prescribed workshops. Confirm covered costs and contractual obligations before accepting.

Official programme information | 2027 call and application route

3. INSEAD Africa Leadership Fund Scholarship

This MBA scholarship provides €50,000, with one award per class. It targets African nationals who have spent a substantial part of their lives in Africa and received part of their prior education there and can demonstrate financial need; current African residents receive preference. Applicants must be admitted or at the interview stage. The award page does not promise full tuition, living costs or travel. For the next usable round after the 22 October Round 1 cutoff, the August 2027 MBA admission deadline is 3 November 2026; the Round 2 scholarship deadline is 7 December 2026 at 23:59 CET. Round 2 interview notifications are scheduled for 4 December. Treat this as an admission-gated route, not an open scholarship form for anyone: this named award accepts rounds 1–3 and requires admission or interview-stage status.

Apply through Application Online, then My Applications and the MBA scholarship option; authenticated award availability was not tested.

Official programme information · MBA admission rounds · Scholarship calendar

4. HEC Paris Laidlaw Scholars Program

Women with strong leadership potential and financial need can receive 100% MBA tuition funding. Living costs are excluded, and recipients must initially pay a €5,000 deposit, reimbursed when classes resume. Double and joint degrees are ineligible, and the award cannot be combined with another HEC scholarship. This is admission-linked: apply for the scholarship within one week of admission results. For this 23 October edition, the next listed MBA admission deadline is 15 November 2026, not a universal Laidlaw deadline. The scholarship link is available only after admission, and remaining awards are not guaranteed in every round. Prepare financial evidence early, but do not mistake full tuition for a cost-free MBA.

Official programme information · MBA admission timetable

5. Strathclyde Engineering Deans International Excellence Award

For January 2027 entry, this award reduces tuition by £9,000–£12,000. Eligible candidates are self-funded, non-EU international-fee offer holders joining a full-time engineering master's on the Glasgow campus. Academic excellence, usually first-class-equivalent performance, and contribution potential are assessed. The current official deadline is 30 November 2026. Eligible offer holders are considered automatically; no separate scholarship application is required. Full government or embassy sponsorship excludes applicants, and the award cannot be moved to a different intake. The tuition deduction is recorded after payment of the deposit; students may receive only one University of Strathclyde scholarship per academic year. Living costs and travel are not included in this tuition-fee award.

Official programme information

6. NL MPP Scholarship at Maastricht University

One annual award supports the Public Policy and Human Development master's: tuition, €7,800 living support over 13 months, accommodation at The Social Hub from August 2027 to June 2028, insurance, visa costs and pre-academic training. ISAP costs are covered for the first block only; the stated accommodation period is shorter than 13 months. Applicants need qualifying non-EU/EEA nationality, excluding Switzerland and Suriname, and must meet Dutch visa/residence requirements. They must be no older than 35 on 1 September 2027, hold a bachelor's or pre-master's degree, and have no previous degree-seeking higher education abroad; exchange study is permitted. Submit the complete eligible master's admission file before 10 December 2026 and the scholarship application by 1 February 2027 at 23:59 CET. Conditional admission is necessary for an award. Any required admission handling fee is excluded and must be paid by 1 February. The application also requires academic evidence, financial-needs statement and a qualifying reference. Maintain alternative funding plans.

Official programme, benefits and application form

7. Perimeter Scholars International Full Scholarship

Applicants worldwide, including African students, can seek this intensive Canadian theoretical-physics master's. Strong physics or mathematics preparation is expected, and scholarship consideration is part of admission. Support covers tuition, accommodation, meals, a living stipend, health insurance, necessary learning and IT materials, and a travel supplement. These provisions have no cash equivalent; do not assume every travel cost is covered. Students are expected to seek other eligible funding, and some external funding may be applied to programme costs. The priority deadline is 24 January 2027 at 23:59 Eastern Time, with references due 29 January. Late applications may be considered only while places remain. Check the academic prerequisites before applying.

Official funding information · Application guidance · 2027 application call

8. Ontario Graduate Scholarship through Brock University

OGS provides CAD 10,000 for two terms or CAD 15,000 for three, rather than a comprehensive tuition-and-living package. Brock's international route includes eligible African applicants studying in Ontario under a study permit or visa. It requires full-time research master's or doctoral study and the specified A−/80% academic standard. The scholarship deadline is 14 December 2026 at 16:00 Eastern Time. International applicants not already registered in a Brock research graduate programme must also submit their admission application by 11 January 2027 for their OGS application to be evaluated. At least two eligible study terms must remain. The award cannot be held concurrently with another OGS, QEII-GSST, OTS or tri-agency award; applicable OSAP restrictions must be cleared. Other Ontario universities run separate competitions; Brock's award cannot be transferred between universities.

Official programme information · Brock application form

9. S. Nakayama Memorial Scholarship in Japan

Non-sponsored, non-Japanese applicants, including Africans, can seek tuition support of 30%–100% at International University of Japan. Only Premium adds JPY 100,000 monthly and a JPY 250,000 admission-fee exemption, leaving JPY 50,000 of that fee payable. These are tiers of one scholarship, not separate opportunities. Awards last one year, with second-year extension dependent on commendable performance. Premium includes dorm-life work-study duties; another monthly stipend, except JASSO, ends its stipend. A Student visa is required. The first admission deadline for applicants resident outside Japan is 10 December 2026, followed by 11 February 2027. Complete the scholarship section in phase two of admission; do not budget a tuition-only offer as Premium.

Official funding information · 2027 scholarship conditions · 2027 admission schedule · Application entry page

10. University of Reading Master’s Excellence Scholarship

For September 2027 or February 2028 entry, eligible international-fee applicants, including Africans, receive a first-year tuition reduction of £10,000 for a first-class-equivalent degree, £9,000 for a 2:1 or £4,000 for a 2:2. Reading determines overseas qualification equivalence, and final results can change a conditional award. This is not living-cost funding or cash, cannot pay the deposit, and is not renewed for a second year. Full-time and ordinary part-time eligible master’s at Whiteknights or London Road qualify; dual, flexible/modular and integrated undergraduate master’s courses do not. Full tuition sponsorship excludes applicants. Alumni/Partner awards replace this scholarship, while partial external funding can combine only up to total tuition.

There is no separate scholarship form: submit the master’s admission application with degree evidence, meet course and English requirements, then accept the offer and pay any required deposit. Course-specific admission deadlines apply. The 2027/28 PDF says accept the scholarship by 30 June 2027, or within eight weeks for offers after 1 July, but the FAQ says no acceptance deadline. Confirm the date in writing and do not rely on the FAQ to ignore the stricter PDF or offer deadline. No deferral to a later academic year is allowed. These terms do not cover February 2027 entry, which uses a separate scheme.

Official programme · 2027/28 terms · FAQ · Master’s application guidance

Build a shortlist you can actually use

Shortlist by degree type first, then calculate the funding gap. For every option, separate tuition, living costs, travel and any deposit you must pay upfront. Ask referees early and note whether scholarship consideration is automatic, requires a separate form or begins only after admission. Use SFA to compare; submit through the official provider.

Related reading

• Explore SFA masters scholarship coverage

The first nine entries were rechecked against official sources on 21 October 2026; Reading was checked on 22 October 2026. Provider rules can change, and the Reading acceptance-date discrepancy is explained above. Check the official call and your written offer before making financial commitments.