Scholarships for Basotho students
Find fully funded scholarships and fellowships open to citizens of Lesotho — from Chevening and Commonwealth to MasterCard Foundation Scholars, DAAD and Australia Awards Africa.
Lesotho is a Commonwealth member with English as a medium of instruction, opening a strong UK and Anglophone scholarship pipeline. Recurring funders include Chevening, Commonwealth Master's and Shared, MasterCard Foundation Scholars, DAAD EPOS, Australia Awards Africa, the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship and South Africa's NRF.
Where Basotho win. South Africa (Mandela Rhodes, NRF, Stellenbosch postgraduate funding), the UK (Chevening, Commonwealth), Australia (Australia Awards Africa), Germany (DAAD) and the U.S. (Fulbright, MasterCard Foundation).
Calendar. Chevening closes early November, Commonwealth Master's October, DAAD August–October, Australia Awards Africa February–April, Mandela Rhodes April.
See the live list of opportunities currently open to Basotho applicants below, or browse our Africa-wide scholarships hub for awards open continent-wide.
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Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for scholarships for Basotho students?
Citizens of Lesotho pursuing Bachelors, Masters or PhD studies are eligible, subject to each programme's specific academic and language requirements.
Are these scholarships fully funded?
Most listings cover tuition, monthly stipend, health insurance and round-trip airfare. Each card clearly labels whether funding is full, partial or tuition-only.
Do Basotho applicants need IELTS or TOEFL?
Because English is an official language of instruction in Lesotho, many universities accept a Medium-of-Instruction letter. UK, US, Canadian and Australian programmes still commonly require IELTS or TOEFL.
Where do Basotho students typically win scholarships?
South Africa, the United Kingdom (Chevening, Commonwealth), the United States (Fulbright, MasterCard), Australia (Australia Awards Africa) and Germany (DAAD) lead the field.
When do these scholarships open?
Major intakes run August–March. Australia Awards opens February–April, Chevening closes early November, and DAAD deadlines cluster August–October.
Are PhD scholarships available for Basotho researchers?
Yes — DAAD, Commonwealth PhD, MasterCard Foundation, the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship and South African NRF awards regularly fund Basotho doctoral candidates.
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