UK University Scholarships for African Students
The UK is one of the most generous destinations for African scholars — with one-year fully funded Master's, Rhodes and Gates at Oxbridge, and dedicated university-level awards from Edinburgh, SOAS, Manchester, UCL, Imperial, Leeds, Glasgow and Westminster. Browse the 19 programs below or jump into our wider UK database.
Featured programs
Nineteen UK university scholarship programs — from Russell Group flagships to country-specific awards open only to African applicants.
19 of 19 programs
- Rhodes Trust
Rhodes Scholarships for Africa — University of Oxford
The original international postgraduate scholarship — fully funded study at Oxford with dedicated constituencies for East, Southern and West Africa, Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
Where: Oxford (England)Level: MastersFunding: Fully funded + stipend + travelOpen to: African citizens from a Rhodes constituency, under 25Apply: Each cycle — check official page - University of Cambridge
Gates Cambridge Scholarship
One of the most prestigious global scholarships — covers full Cambridge postgraduate study plus stipend, airfare and family allowances.
Where: Cambridge (England)Level: MultipleFunding: Fully funded + stipend + travelOpen to: Any non-UK national applying to CambridgeApply: Each cycle — check official page - UK FCDO
Chevening Scholarships
UK Government's flagship one-year Master's funding at any UK university for emerging African leaders.
Where: All UK universities (UK-wide)Level: MastersFunding: Fully funded + stipend + travelOpen to: African nationals with 2+ years work experienceApply: Each cycle — check official page - Commonwealth Scholarship Commission
Commonwealth Master's Scholarships (UK)
UK government-funded Master's for talented Africans from Commonwealth nations who cannot otherwise afford UK study.
Where: All UK universities (UK-wide)Level: MastersFunding: Fully funded + stipend + travelOpen to: Citizens of low/middle-income Commonwealth African countriesApply: Each cycle — check official page - University of Oxford
Reach Oxford Scholarship
Rare fully funded undergraduate scholarship at Oxford for African students who cannot study for a degree in their home country.
Where: Oxford (England)Level: UndergraduateFunding: Fully funded + stipend + travelOpen to: Africans from listed low-income countriesApply: Each cycle — check official page - Cambridge Trust
Cambridge Trust Scholarships
Umbrella of country-specific and need-based awards at Cambridge — including many ring-fenced for African students.
Where: Cambridge (England)Level: MultipleFunding: Partial to fully fundedOpen to: African applicants with Cambridge offerApply: Each cycle — check official page - University of Edinburgh
Mastercard Foundation Scholars — Edinburgh
Fully funded Master's at Edinburgh for talented young Africans from economically disadvantaged backgrounds — includes pastoral support and laptop.
Where: Edinburgh (Scotland)Level: MastersFunding: Fully funded + stipend + travelOpen to: Sub-Saharan Africans with financial needApply: Each cycle — check official page - SOAS, University of London
SOAS Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
Fully funded SOAS Master's in development, governance, finance and African studies — strong pipeline back into African public service.
Where: London (England)Level: MastersFunding: Fully funded + stipend + travelOpen to: Sub-Saharan Africans with financial needApply: Each cycle — check official page - Said Foundation
Said Foundation Scholarships
Postgraduate scholarships at top UK universities for development-impact fields — covers tuition, stipend, travel and visa.
Where: All UK universities (UK-wide)Level: MastersFunding: Fully funded + stipend + travelOpen to: Citizens of select African and Middle Eastern countriesApply: Each cycle — check official page - University of Westminster
Westminster Full International Scholarships
One of the few fully funded UK undergraduate scholarships open to African students from developing countries.
Where: London (England)Level: UndergraduateFunding: Fully funded + stipend + travelOpen to: Africans with significant financial needApply: Each cycle — check official page - British Council × UK Universities
GREAT Scholarships
£10,000+ tuition awards co-funded by the UK government and 40+ universities — ring-fenced awards for Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa.
Where: 40+ UK universities (UK-wide)Level: MastersFunding: £10,000+ tuitionOpen to: African nationals from eligible countriesApply: Each cycle — check official page - University of Manchester
Manchester Equity and Merit Scholarships
Country-specific fully funded Master's at Manchester for East African candidates returning to work in their home country.
Where: Manchester (England)Level: MastersFunding: Fully funded + stipend + travelOpen to: Citizens of Ethiopia, Rwanda, Tanzania, UgandaApply: Each cycle — check official page - Imperial College London
Imperial President's PhD Scholarships
Top doctoral funding at Imperial — full tuition, tax-free stipend over £25,000/year and consumables for African applicants in STEM and business.
Where: London (England)Level: PhDFunding: Fully funded + £25,000 stipendOpen to: International PhD applicants in STEM/businessApply: Each cycle — check official page - University College London
UCL Global Masters Scholarships
UCL awards of £15,000 to help offset London tuition and living costs for African Master's applicants from eligible countries.
Where: London (England)Level: MastersFunding: £15,000 toward tuition/livingOpen to: Applicants from low-income African countriesApply: Each cycle — check official page - University of Glasgow
Glasgow African Excellence Award
Dedicated Master's award for African students at one of Scotland's top research universities.
Where: Glasgow (Scotland)Level: MastersFunding: £5,000 tuitionOpen to: African citizens with Glasgow offerApply: Each cycle — check official page - University of Leeds
Leeds Africa Scholarships
Five fully funded Leeds Master's each year for African candidates planning to return home and apply their skills.
Where: Leeds (England)Level: MastersFunding: Fully funded + stipend + travelOpen to: African nationals resident in AfricaApply: Each cycle — check official page - University of Bristol
Bristol Think Big Scholarships
Bristol's flagship international award — partial tuition for outstanding African undergraduate and postgraduate applicants.
Where: Bristol (England)Level: MultipleFunding: £6,500–£20,000 tuitionOpen to: International undergraduate & postgraduateApply: Each cycle — check official page - University of Sussex
Sussex Chancellor's International Scholarships
Half-tuition awards at Sussex for international Master's students, with strong African representation each year.
Where: Brighton (England)Level: MastersFunding: 50% tuitionOpen to: International Master's applicantsApply: Each cycle — check official page - University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh Global Online Learning Master's Scholarships
Study an Edinburgh Master's from your home country — £5,000 awards for African applicants enrolling in any online programme.
Where: Edinburgh (Scotland)Level: MastersFunding: £5,000 tuition contributionOpen to: Africans on online Edinburgh Master'sApply: Each cycle — check official page
Why study in the UK?
- One-year Master's. Most UK Master's degrees finish in 12 months — half the time and cost of a US Master's.
- English-medium teaching. No language barrier for African students from Anglophone countries.
- Strong Africa pipeline. Edinburgh, SOAS, Manchester, Leeds and Glasgow run dedicated Africa-only scholarship programs every year.
- Graduate Route visa. Two-year (PhDs: three-year) post-study work visa — no employer sponsorship needed.
Plan the next step
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