UK scholarships for African students
The United Kingdom is one of the most generous destinations for African scholars, with one-year fully funded Masters and competitive PhD funding across Oxford, Cambridge, LSE, Imperial, UCL and the wider Russell Group.
Headline programmes include the Chevening Scholarship, Commonwealth Scholarships, Rhodes Scholarships at Oxford, Gates Cambridge and the GREAT Scholarships co-funded by the British Council. The list below tracks every UK-based opportunity currently open in our database.
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Read articleFrequently asked questions
What is the Chevening Scholarship?
Chevening is the UK Government's flagship fully funded scholarship for one-year Masters study at any UK university. It covers tuition, monthly stipend, return flights and arrival allowances and is open to citizens of every African country.
Which other UK scholarships are open to Africans?
Commonwealth Scholarships, Rhodes Scholarship at Oxford, Gates Cambridge, GREAT Scholarships, the British Council Women in STEM scholarships and university-specific awards at LSE, Edinburgh, Manchester, UCL and Imperial all routinely fund African students.
Do African applicants need IELTS for UK universities?
Most UK universities accept Medium-of-Instruction (MOI) letters from Anglophone African universities, but Chevening, Oxford, Cambridge and other competitive programmes still require IELTS, TOEFL or PTE — typically IELTS 6.5–7.5 overall.
Can I work in the UK after my degree?
Yes — the Graduate Route lets international graduates stay and work for 2 years (3 years for PhD holders) without a job offer. After that, the Skilled Worker visa route is open to graduates with a sponsoring employer.
When do UK scholarship deadlines fall?
Chevening opens in August and closes in early November each year. Commonwealth Master's deadlines fall in October–December. Most UK university scholarships close between January and March for the September intake.
How long is a UK Masters?
One year (12 months) for the vast majority of taught Masters programmes — one of the main reasons the UK is a fast and affordable Masters destination for Africans.
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