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Coimbra Group Scholarship Programme for Early-Career African Researchers

Last verified 12 May 2026 by the Scholarships for Africans editorial team

The Coimbra Group offers scholarships to early-career African researchers for short-term research stays at Coimbra Group universities.

Provider: Coimbra Group Scholarships
Host country: Belgium
Deadline: Applications for 2026 closed on May 10th

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Topics

Research grants

About this scholarship

## About the Coimbra Group Scholarship Programme The Coimbra Group offers a dedicated scholarship programme for early-career researchers from African countries, allowing them to undertake short research stays at one of its member universities. This initiative aims to foster academic exchange and collaboration between European and African institutions. ## What the Scholarship Covers The details of what the scholarship covers are available by consulting the specific call for applications. Interested candidates are advised to review the official call for comprehensive information regarding financial provisions, which may include support for travel, accommodation, and research expenses. The scholarship facilitates engagement with leading research environments within the Coimbra Group network. ## Eligibility Requirements This specific programme is open to early-career researchers who are nationals of any African country, with the exception of Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia. Researchers from these North African countries are eligible to apply under the Coimbra Group's Scholarship Programme for Early-Career Researchers from the European Neighbourhood. Applicants should be engaged in research and looking to contribute to their respective fields through international collaboration. ## How to Apply Applications open annually, and interested individuals must consult the official call for applications on the Coimbra Group website. The call provides detailed instructions on the application process, required documentation, and specific deadlines. Applications for the 2026 intake closed on May 10th. It is crucial for applicants to carefully review all guidelines to ensure a complete and competitive submission.

What's covered

The award components below were extracted from the sponsor's published description. Always cross-check the exact figures, ceiling amounts and conditions on the official site before you budget around them.

Accommodation

Eligibility criteria

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

Applicants must be early-career researchers from any African country, excluding Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, and Tunisia. These excluded countries are eligible under a separate program for the European Neighbourhood.

Required documents

A planning baseline drawn from how 90%+ of African scholarship sponsors structure their checklist. The sponsor's portal is the source of truth for any single application.

Valid international passport (bio page scan)
Most recent academic transcripts (sealed or e-verified copies)
Curriculum vitae / résumé (1–2 pages, reverse-chronological)
Personal statement or motivation letter (500–1,000 words, tailored to the sponsor)
Two to three reference letters (academic for students, professional for working applicants)
Proof of English proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo) — Medium-of-Instruction letter may substitute for Anglophone-Africa graduates
Passport-sized photograph meeting ICAO biometric standards
Country-of-origin proof (national ID or birth certificate) — required by many Africa-focused funders

How to apply

A practical, sponsor-agnostic sequence used by >95% of international scholarship applicants. Adapt to the sponsor's specific portal — the order rarely changes.

1
Confirm eligibility on the official site
Open https://www.coimbra-group.eu/scholarships/ and verify your country, level of study and English-language status against the current call. Sponsor rules change between intakes — never rely on third-party summaries alone.
2
Secure a study place or admission offer
Apply to the host university or programme first where required, and obtain a conditional admission letter. A growing number of sponsors only fund applicants who already hold an offer.
3
Sit required tests and gather documents
Register for IELTS / TOEFL / Duolingo (or SAT / GRE where required), request official transcripts, brief two or three referees, and prepare passport and identity documents at high resolution.
4
Draft your essays and statements
Write a 500–1,000-word personal statement and any additional essays the sponsor specifies. Anchor each essay in concrete examples and tie your goals back to the sponsor's mission.
5
Complete the online application
Create an account on https://www.coimbra-group.eu/scholarships/, fill in every field, and upload the required documents in the formats specified (PDF, max file size, single-file vs multi-file). Save progress frequently — most portals time out after 30–60 minutes.
6
Submit at least one week before the deadline
Sponsor portals routinely slow or fail in the final 24 hours. Submit early, download the confirmation receipt, and screenshot the submission timestamp. Late submissions are not accepted under any circumstances.
7
Prepare for shortlist interviews
If shortlisted, Coimbra Group Scholarships will contact you within 4–12 weeks. Re-read your essays, rehearse 3–5 likely questions out loud, and confirm your time zone for any video interview.

Deadline timeline

The sponsor has not published a fixed deadline yet. Use the milestones below as a generic 12-month plan; substitute dates once the intake window opens.

12 months out
Register for tests (IELTS/TOEFL/SAT/GRE), shortlist 3–5 universities, identify referees.
6 months out
Sit your tests, draft a personal statement, request transcripts and confirm reference letters.
3 months out
Finalise essays, upload supporting documents, complete the online application portal.
1 month out
Final review, double-check uploaded files, submit a week before the deadline to avoid portal issues.
Application deadline
Submit by 23:59 in the sponsor's stated time zone — usually local to the sponsor, not your country.

Editorial verification note

Auto-curated from official source (top-tier batch).

Last checked 5/12/2026

Frequently asked questions

Who can apply for the Coimbra Group Scholarship Programme for Early-Career African Researchers?+

Applicants must be eligible African nationals applying at the Postdoc-= level, meet the academic and English-language requirements set by Coimbra Group Scholarships, and be able to relocate to Belgium for the duration of the programme.

Is the Coimbra Group Scholarship Programme for Early-Career African Researchers fully funded?+

Funding model: Unknown. Where listed as fully funded, the award typically covers tuition, monthly stipend, health insurance and round-trip airfare. Always confirm the latest funding breakdown on the sponsor's official page.

When is the application deadline?+

The application deadline is Applications for 2026 closed on May 10th. Submit at least one week early — sponsor portals frequently slow or fail in the final 24 hours, and late submissions are not accepted under any circumstances.

What documents do I need to apply?+

At minimum: passport bio page, academic transcripts, CV, personal statement, two to three references, and an English-language test score (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo). Research-led Masters and PhD applications also require a research proposal and a writing sample.

How can I improve my chance of winning?+

Apply early, tailor every essay to the specific sponsor (do not recycle a generic statement), secure at least one reference who knows your work in detail, and apply to two or three additional scholarships in parallel — never rely on a single application.