5 Scholarships Every African Student Should Apply For in 2025

More Funding Than You Think

African students are among the fastest-growing populations applying to European universities — and for good reason. European education offers world-class quality, often at a fraction of the cost of American or UK programs. The challenge for most African students is not finding the right program; it is finding the funding to make it possible.

The good news is that there are more scholarship opportunities specifically targeting African students than most applicants realize. Here are five that every African student should know about and actively apply for in 2025.

1. DAAD Scholarships — Germany

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is one of the world's largest funding organizations for international academic exchange. For African students, the most relevant programs are the DAAD Development-Related Postgraduate Courses — fully funded Master's scholarships for students from developing countries planning to return home after graduation — and the Helmut-Schmidt Programme for public policy and governance Master's programs.

Coverage includes tuition, a monthly stipend of €934 for graduates, health insurance, and a travel allowance. Eligibility requires a Bachelor's degree with a strong academic record, a minimum of two years of work experience for some programs, and a commitment to returning to your home country after graduation. Application windows typically run from September through November.

2. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program provides fully funded scholarships specifically for talented young Africans from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The program covers tuition, accommodation, a living allowance, books, and a laptop. Beyond funding, it provides mentoring, leadership development, and a strong alumni network of over 50,000 scholars.

Eligibility requires African citizenship, demonstrated financial need, a strong academic record, and evidence of commitment to giving back to Africa.

3. Eiffel Excellence Scholarship — France

The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs offers the Eiffel Excellence Scholarship to attract outstanding international students to French higher education. Benefits include a monthly allowance of €1,181 for Master's students and €1,400 for PhD students, plus round-trip airfare, health insurance, and a cultural activities budget.

You must first apply to and be accepted by a French higher education institution, which then nominates you for the Eiffel scholarship. The application window runs from October through January.

4. Orange Tulip Scholarship — Netherlands

The Orange Tulip Scholarship is a merit-based award for international students from eligible countries applying to Dutch universities. Several African nations are on the eligible country list, including Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, and Egypt. Value ranges from partial tuition waivers of €5,000 to €10,000 to full tuition coverage for some programs.

5. Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP)

Sweden offers fully funded scholarships for global professionals from eligible countries — which includes many African nations — pursuing Master's programs at Swedish universities. The SISGP covers tuition fees, a living allowance of approximately SEK 10,000 per month, a travel grant, and insurance. The application window runs from February through March.

Final Advice: Build Your Timeline Around Scholarship Deadlines

Do not treat scholarships as a backup plan — build your entire application timeline around scholarship deadlines. Most fully funded scholarships require your university application to be complete or accepted, so start the process 12 to 18 months before your intended start date.