Scholarships for Kenyan students
Curated scholarships and fellowships open to students from Kenya — including Chevening, DAAD, MasterCard Foundation Scholars, and dozens more. Refreshed every day.
Kenya is one of the most consistent winners of international scholarships in East Africa, with strong pathways into the United States, Canada, Germany, China and Australia. The list below tracks every scholarship in our database that explicitly welcomes Kenyan applicants — from MasterCard Foundation Scholars at USIU and KCA, to Chevening, DAAD, Australia Awards and Knight-Hennessy.
Where Kenyans win most. The U.S. (Fulbright, MasterCard at Michigan State and ASU) and Canada (Vanier, MasterCard at McGill and UBC) lead the field, followed by Germany (DAAD EPOS, Heinrich Böll, KAAD) and China (CSC, Confucius). Australia Awards and the UK Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are also reliable annual entries.
Application calendar. Australia Awards opens in February, MasterCard Foundation cohorts open in September–December, DAAD deadlines cluster in August–October, and U.S. graduate funding closes between December and January. Start your standardised tests four to six months ahead of your first deadline.
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Scholarships for Kenyans by destination
Pick the country you want to study in. Each page shows every fully funded scholarship in that destination currently open to Kenyan applicants.
Fulbright, MasterCard, Knight-Hennessy and need-blind Ivy aid.
Vanier, Trudeau, McCall MacBain and MasterCard at McGill & UBC.
DAAD EPOS, Heinrich Böll, KAAD and Erasmus Mundus joint Masters.
Chevening, Commonwealth, Rhodes and Said Foundation awards.
Australia Awards Africa and Group of Eight RTP PhD funding.
Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC) and Confucius Institute awards.
OKP/NFP, Holland Scholarship and Erasmus Mundus consortia.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for scholarships for Kenyan students?
Any Kenyan citizen or permanent resident pursuing Bachelors, Masters or PhD study can apply, provided they meet the academic and language requirements (typically a minimum GPA and IELTS/TOEFL or equivalent).
Are these scholarships fully funded?
Most listings on this page cover full tuition, monthly stipend, health insurance and round-trip airfare. Each opportunity clearly states whether funding is full, partial or tuition-only.
Do I need IELTS or TOEFL to apply from Kenya?
Most non-Anglophone destinations and all UK, US, Canadian and Australian programs require IELTS or TOEFL. Some scholarships waive the requirement if your previous degree was taught in English.
When do scholarships for Kenyans open?
Major intakes open between August and February for the September following year. We refresh this list daily so you always see the live, currently-open opportunities.
Are there scholarships for Kenyan undergraduates?
Yes — Mastercard Foundation Scholars, Equity Bank's Wings to Fly, and several university-specific awards fund Kenyan students at the Bachelors level.
How do I improve my chances of winning a scholarship?
Apply early, tailor every personal statement to the specific scholarship, secure strong recommendation letters, and apply to multiple opportunities rather than just one.
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