Scholarships for Sierra Leonean students
Find fully funded scholarships and fellowships open to Sierra Leonean students — from Chevening and Commonwealth to MasterCard Foundation Scholars, DAAD, Australia Awards and the Chinese Government Scholarship.
Sierra Leone is a Commonwealth member with English as the 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 and the Chinese Government Scholarship.
Where Sierra Leoneans win. The UK (Chevening, Commonwealth, Rhodes Sierra Leone), the U.S. (Fulbright Sierra Leone, MasterCard at Michigan and ASU), Germany (DAAD), Australia (Australia Awards), China (CSC) and Cuba (medical scholarships).
Calendar. Chevening closes early November, Commonwealth Master's October, Australia Awards February–April, DAAD August–October, Rhodes Sierra Leone July–August, and Fulbright Sierra Leone February–April.
See the full list of opportunities currently open to Sierra Leonean applicants below, or browse our Africa-wide scholarships hub for awards open continent-wide.
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Browse by field of study
Drill into the fully funded scholarships for Sierra Leoneans in each subject area.
Engineering
Sierra Leoneans applying for engineering scholarships.
Computer Science & AI
Sierra Leoneans applying for computer science and AI scholarships.
Business & MBA
Sierra Leoneans applying for business and MBA scholarships.
Medicine & Public Health
Sierra Leoneans applying for medicine and public health scholarships.
Education & Teaching
Sierra Leoneans applying for education and teaching scholarships.
Law & Human Rights
Sierra Leoneans applying for law and human-rights scholarships.
Agriculture & Climate
Sierra Leoneans applying for agriculture and climate scholarships.
Guides for this country
Hand-picked editorial that pairs with this country's scholarships.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for scholarships for Sierra Leonean students?
Sierra Leonean citizens at the Bachelors, Masters and PhD level can apply, subject to each programme's academic and language requirements.
Which scholarships fund Sierra Leonean students most often?
Chevening, Commonwealth, Rhodes Sierra Leone, MasterCard Foundation Scholars, DAAD EPOS, Australia Awards Africa, Fulbright Sierra Leone and the Chinese Government Scholarship.
Do Sierra Leonean applicants need IELTS or TOEFL?
Most UK, US and Australian universities accept Medium-of-Instruction letters because English is the language of instruction in Sierra Leone. Some competitive programmes still require IELTS or TOEFL.
Are PhD scholarships available for Sierra Leonean researchers?
Yes — DAAD doctoral, Commonwealth PhD, Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorates, French CDSN PhD contracts and AUF doctoral mobility regularly fund Sierra Leonean doctoral candidates.
Are there undergraduate scholarships for Sierra Leonean students?
Yes — MasterCard Foundation Scholars at the African Leadership University and partner universities, plus need-based aid at top U.S. liberal-arts colleges.
How often is this list refreshed?
Daily. Closed scholarships are removed and new opportunities are added as soon as our editors verify them with the official sponsor.
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