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African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scholarship for Scientific Excellence

Last verified 17 May 2026 by the Scholarships for Africans editorial team

Flagship African Union scholarship funding African master's, PhD and post-doctoral candidates pursuing science, technology and innovation at AU-accredited universities across the continent.

Provider: African Union Commission
Host country: Africa
Deadline: Annual cycle — most recent edition: 2025; next call expected mid-2026
Region: Africa

Official source Track this application

Topics

Applying from your country? See your edition: Kenya · Nigeria · Ghana · Ethiopia · Uganda · Tanzania · Rwanda · Angola · Mozambique · São Tomé & Príncipe · Senegal · Cameroon · Ivory Coast · Benin · Togo · DR Congo

Eligibility & requirements at a glance

Review the recorded eligibility, funding and deadline information below. Confirm the current award conditions on the provider's official source.

Who can apply: African Union member-state citizens. Master's applicants need a relevant bachelor's; PhD applicants need a relevant master's. Female and underrepresented-region applicants strongly encouraged.
Funding: Fully Funded
Study level: Masters
Deadline: Annual cycle — most recent edition: 2025; next call expected mid-2026

Key eligibility criteria

African Union member-state citizens. Master's applicants need a relevant bachelor's; PhD applicants need a relevant master's. Female and underrepresented-region applicants strongly encouraged.

Recorded funding information

Fully Funded

About the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scholarship for Scientific Excellence (2026)

## Overview The African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scholarship for Scientific Excellence is the flagship continental scholarship programme of the African Union Commission, named after Ghana's first president and a founding architect of Pan-Africanism. It funds outstanding African students and researchers to pursue master's, doctoral and post-doctoral studies in science, technology, engineering and mathematics at African Union–accredited universities across the continent. The programme advances Agenda 2063 by building Africa's research and innovation capacity from within Africa, with a strong emphasis on women in science, applied research aligned to continental priorities, and the retention of scientific talent on the continent. Unlike many international scholarships that take African talent abroad, the Kwame Nkrumah Programme deliberately funds African scientists to train in African institutions, strengthening regional centres of excellence and producing research that addresses Africa's most pressing development challenges — from food security and climate resilience to public health and the digital economy. ## Benefits The scholarship provides comprehensive financial support to enable scholars to focus fully on their studies and research: * **Full tuition fees** at the host African Union–accredited university. * **Monthly stipend** to cover accommodation, meals and personal expenses (amount varies by study level and host country). * **Research grant** to support fieldwork, laboratory consumables, data collection and conference participation. * **Annual return airfare** between the scholar's home country and the host institution. * **Health insurance** for the duration of the programme. * **Thesis preparation and publication allowance**. * **Networking and mentorship** through the AU's continental research community and alumni network. ## Eligibility * Be a citizen of an African Union member state. * **Master's applicants:** hold a relevant bachelor's degree with strong academic performance (typically upper second class or equivalent), normally under 35 years of age (40 for women). * **PhD applicants:** hold a relevant master's degree, normally under 40 years of age (45 for women). * **Post-doctoral applicants:** hold a PhD obtained within the last five years. * Propose a research project aligned with the AU's STISA-2024 / Agenda 2063 priority areas — agriculture and food security, health, energy, infrastructure, environment, ICT, or social sciences with a scientific dimension. * Female candidates and applicants from underrepresented regions are strongly encouraged; specific quotas reserve a significant share of awards for women. * Applicants must intend to return to and work in an African country after completing the programme. ## Application Process 1. Visit the African Union Commission scholarship portal (au.int/en/education/scholarships) and read the current call for applications, which lists the participating host universities and eligible fields for the cycle. 2. Secure provisional admission to one of the partnering African Union–accredited universities for your chosen programme. 3. Prepare your application package — typically certified copies of transcripts and degree certificates, a detailed CV, a research proposal aligned to Agenda 2063, motivation letter, two academic references, a copy of your national passport, and a medical certificate. 4. Submit the complete application online through the AU portal before the published deadline. Late or incomplete applications are not considered. 5. Shortlisted candidates may be invited for an interview or asked to provide additional documentation. Final selections are announced by the AU Commission. 6. Successful candidates sign a scholarship agreement and proceed with university registration and travel arrangements. ## Deadlines The Kwame Nkrumah Scholarship runs as an **annual continental call**, with applications typically opening mid-year. Exact opening and closing dates vary year to year and are announced through the African Union Commission's Education, Science, Technology and Innovation portal and through national ministries of education. Applicants should monitor au.int/en/education/scholarships from May onwards each year and apply within the published window — extensions are rare. ## Why this scholarship matters For African scientists and researchers, the Kwame Nkrumah Programme is one of the few large-scale, fully funded routes to advanced training that keeps the work — and the talent — on the continent. It is particularly strong for applicants who want to do applied research that solves African problems, who value being part of a continental cohort of peers, and who are committed to building Africa's research institutions from the inside.

Funding information

The funding information below is recorded in this listing; it does not establish additional covered components. Check amounts, caps, exclusions and conditions on the official source.

Fully Funded

African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scholarship for Scientific Excellence eligibility

Always cross-check eligibility against the sponsor's official site before applying — sponsor rules can change between intakes.

African Union member-state citizens. Master's applicants need a relevant bachelor's; PhD applicants need a relevant master's. Female and underrepresented-region applicants strongly encouraged.

African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scholarship for Scientific Excellence document information

No explicit document checklist is recorded here. If an application is required, prepare only the materials the provider requests.

How to apply for the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scholarship for Scientific Excellence 2026

Follow the provider's stated process. The checks below are guidance, not additional application requirements. Any original editorial instructions remain in the description above.

1
Check the provider's process
Consult https://au.int/en/announcements to confirm whether consideration is automatic or requires an application, and follow only the process stated there.
2
Check eligibility and any requested materials
Listed eligibility: African Union member-state citizens. Master's applicants need a relevant bachelor's; PhD applicants need a relevant master's. Female and underrepresented-region applicants strongly encouraged.. Confirm the current criteria and, if submission is required, use the provider's own checklist.
3
Check dates and next steps
Listed deadline information: Annual cycle — most recent edition: 2025; next call expected mid-2026. Confirm any cutoff, time zone and follow-up process with the provider.

African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scholarship for Scientific Excellence deadline & application timeline

Provider deadline information: Annual cycle — most recent edition: 2025; next call expected mid-2026. This text cannot be safely converted to a countdown; check the official source for its meaning. The earlier milestones are optional planning suggestions only.

Planning suggestion: 12 months out
Check the current call and decide whether this opportunity fits your plans.
Planning suggestion: 6 months out
If the provider requires tests or documents that take time, plan for them using its published instructions.
Planning suggestion: 3 months out
If an application is required, review the provider's process and prepare only the materials it requests.
Planning suggestion: 1 month out
If submission is required, allow time to check your materials and any stated cutoff.
Provider deadline
Annual cycle — most recent edition: 2025; next call expected mid-2026
Provider deadline information: Annual cycle — most recent edition: 2025; next call expected mid-2026. Confirm the current instructions and any cutoff or time zone on the official source; no additional time is assumed here.

Ready to apply?

Cross-check the latest eligibility rules and deadline on the sponsor's official portal before you start your application.

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Editorial verification note

Original au.int/en/education/scholarships URL returns 404 as of May 2026. AUKNASE is announced via au.int/en/announcements. Most recent edition: 2025 Science Excellence Awards. Calls typically open mid-year with November deadlines (EAT).

Last checked 5/17/2026

Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scholarship for Scientific Excellence?+

African Union member-state citizens. Master's applicants need a relevant bachelor's; PhD applicants need a relevant master's. Female and underrepresented-region applicants strongly encouraged.

What funding does the African Union Kwame Nkrumah Scholarship for Scientific Excellence offer?+

Listed funding: Fully Funded. Confirm amounts, exclusions and conditions on the official source. This label does not establish any additional benefit components.

When is the application deadline?+

Provider deadline information: Annual cycle — most recent edition: 2025; next call expected mid-2026. Confirm the current cutoff and any time zone on the official source; no additional cutoff or late-submission policy is assumed here.

What documents do I need to apply?+

No explicit document checklist is recorded here. If an application is required, prepare only the documents requested by the provider; requirements may differ from admission requirements.

How do I check the application process?+

Consult https://au.int/en/announcements to confirm whether consideration is automatic or requires an application, and follow only the process stated there. Listed eligibility: African Union member-state citizens. Master's applicants need a relevant bachelor's; PhD applicants need a relevant master's. Female and underrepresented-region applicants strongly encouraged.. Confirm the current criteria and, if submission is required, use the provider's own checklist. Listed deadline information: Annual cycle — most recent edition: 2025; next call expected mid-2026. Confirm any cutoff, time zone and follow-up process with the provider.

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