East African Community (EAC) Scholarship Programme 2026 (Fully Funded)

IUCEA hereby invites suitably qualified nationals of the East African Community (EAC) to apply for cohort 4 of the KfW- funded Scholarships to pursue Master’s studies in the EAC Partner State other than their own.

The EAC Scholarship Programme (EACSP) is a regional initiative of the East African Community (EAC) and the Federal Republic of Germany. Implemented by the Inter-University Council for East Africa, the Programme seeks to develop future leaders who will contribute to regional integration and sustainable development by supporting students to pursue Master's studies in an EAC Partner State other than their country of citizenship. The Programme was launched in 2018 and has already supported 180 Master's students from across the East African Community through its first Phase. 

The Programme provides scholarships to academically talented but financially disadvantaged students pursuing eligible Master's programmes in Mathematics, Engineering, Informatics, Science, Technology and Business-related disciplines. 

• Table of Content
• About East African Community (EAC)
• East African Community (EAC) Scholarship Programme
• Aim and Benefits of East African Community (EAC) Scholarship Programme
• Requirements for East African Community (EAC) Scholarship Programme Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for East African Community (EAC) Scholarship Programme
• Documents Required for Application
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About East African Community (EAC)

The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of 7 Partner States: The Republic of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Kenya, the Republic of Rwanda, the Republic of South Sudan, the Republic of Uganda, and the United Republic of Tanzania, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. The EAC is home to an estimated 283.7 million citizens, of which over 30% is urban population. With a land area of 4.8 million square kilometres and a combined Gross Domestic Product of US$ 305.3 billion, its realisation bears great strategic and geopolit...... continue reading

East African Community (EAC) Scholarship Programme

Aim and Benefits of East African Community (EAC) Scholarship Programme

The scholarship package includes: 

• One return economy-class air ticket between the scholar's home country and the host country upon commencement and completion of studies. 
• Full tuition fees payable directly to the host university.
• Arrival allowance EUR 200 upon arrival in the study country and opening a bank account in that country (Where feasible, scholars are encouraged to open a EUR denominated bank account to facilitate the receipt of the allowance and reduce potential losses arising from currency exchange fluctuations and conversion charges). 
• A monthly stipend of EUR 380 to cover accommodation, meals, local transport and other living expenses. 
• A lump-sum allowance of EUR 650 for study materials
• A one-time EUR 1,500 study and research allowance. 
• Medical insurance coverage for the duration of the scholarship.
• Visa/ Entry fee: Where payment of entry pass into the host country or student pass is required.
• Participation in at least one extracurricular event

Requirements for East African Community (EAC) Scholarship Programme Qualification

Applicants must satisfy all of the following requirements;

• Be a citizen of any of the 8 EAC Partner States;
• Be below 35 years of age at the time of application;
• Apply to study in an EAC Partner State other than their country of citizenship;
• Possess a Bachelor's Degree, with a minimum of Second Class Upper Division, Distinction or equivalent qualification;
• Have applied for admission to an eligible Master's programme offered by partner university;
• Submit a complete scholarship application within the stipulated application period. Applicants must submit supporting documents to indicate their satisfaction of the eligibility criteria as indicated in the list of supporting documents 

Eligible Programme

Kenya

Rwanda

Uganda

United Republic of Tanzania

Interview date, Process and Venue for East African Community (EAC) Scholarship Programme

 IMPORTANT NOTES

• Only complete applications for eligible programmes, submitted before the deadline, in English and in accordance with the application guidelines, shall be considered.
• Applicants must complete both stages of the application process: Apply for admission to an eligible Master's programme at a participating university, and submit a separate application for the EAC Scholarship Programme.
• Applicants must submit all mandatory supporting documents as specified in the Supporting Documents Checklist. Failure to do so will result in the application being deemed incomplete and ineligible for further consideration. 
• Applicants applying for more than one programme must submit a separate complete application for each programme applied for.
• Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
• Providing false, misleading or incomplete information may result in automatic disqualification from the selection process or withdrawal of a scholarship award. 
• IUCEA reserves the right to verify any information and supporting documentation submitted as part of the application process.
• Successful applicants may commence their studies at the earliest available intake, depending on the admission schedules and academic calendars of the respective host universities. 
• Submission of an application does not guarantee the award of a scholarship. 
• The scholarship opportunity cannot be deferred to a later time or transferred to another person. Failure to take up the opportunity at the time of the award will result in its termination.

Important Dates

Documents Required for Application

Only applications with all mandatory documents submitted shall be considered.

Submit documents in PDF format and in a single zipped folder. Name each file using the format [Document Code] [Document Name], e.g., E01 National ID

• E01 – National ID or Passport
• E02 – Passport Photograph (recent, colour, full head and upper shoulders)
• E03 – Proof of University Admission Application (admission letter, acknowledgement email, receipt, or portal screenshot)
• E04 – Bachelor's Degree Certificate and Transcript (certified true copies; if obtained outside the host country, must be equated by the relevant national authority before admission; if not in English, must include certified translations)
• E05 – Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• E06 – Bank Statements, last six months, where applicable
• E07 – Academic Reference Letter
• E08 – Professional Reference Letter

Optional documents, but required where they apply to your situation (used to evaluate specific parts of your application):

• E09 – Recent Payslip
• E10 – Professional Membership Certificate
• E11 – Payslips, last six months, where applicable
• E12 – Scholarship Award Letter, if your undergraduate studies were funded by a scholarship
• E13 – Photograph of Primary Residence
• E14 – Publication, Research Paper, Award, Fellowship, Certification, or Other Achievement Evidence
• E15 – Leadership Certificate
• E16 – Volunteer Certificate
• E17 – Evidence of Dependents (marriage or birth certificates, guardianship documents, school fee receipts)
• E18 – Medical Report, for applicants with a disability or chronic illness
• E19 – Refugee Identification or Registration Documents
• E20 – Displacement, Disaster, or Social Welfare Documentation
• E21 – Evidence of Loss of Livelihood (termination letter, closure notice, etc.)
• E22 – Tuition Arrears Statements, Fee Balance Statements, or Financial Aid Applications
• E23 – University Correspondence Demonstrating Financial Hardship
• E24 – Any other relevant documents, such as an English Language Proficiency Certificate (IELTS, TOEFL, where applicable)

Check also:
Commonwealth Master's Scholarship to Study in UK 2027/2028
Mandela Washington Fellowship for Africans 2027 (Fully Funded to USA)

Application Deadline

How to Apply

Applicants must apply for admission to one of the approved Master's programmes offered by participating universities in an EAC Partner State other than their country of citizenship.

Applicants may apply for more than one eligible Master's programme and/or university. However, each programme application shall be treated as a separate application and must be accompanied by: A separately filled-in online scholarship application form; A separate email submission clearly indicating the programme and university applied for, with supporting documents attached

Applications that do not include a complete online application form and the required supporting documents for each programme applied for will   not   be considered during the evaluation process. Students can apply to any of the programmes offered by the partner universities/ institutions as indicated in the table above;

The application process for Phase II of the EACSP shall be twofold,
 

Application Process Steps

PART A: Apply for admission to a partner university in an EACPartner State otherthan their country of citizenship

Step 1: Review this call and select the programme and the University of choice from the Eligible Programmeslist;
Step 2: Visit the university's website and review its application process for the selected programme.This will be indicated along with the call for applications for the EACSP.
Step 3: Apply for admission to the university of your choice, indicating your intention to apply for the EACScholarship Programme. Ensure the University application fee is paid (where applicable).

PART B: Apply for the EAC Scholarship

Step 4: Complete and submit the online EAC Scholarship Application form via https://ee-eu.kobotoolbox.org/J4W9xHf7 (The link will be open on 20th August 2026)

Step 5: Review the Supporting Documents Checklist to identify all required attachments for submission.
Step 6: Compile all required supporting documents into a single folder and name files according to the prescribed document codes.
Step 7: Compress all required supporting documents in PDFformat into a single zipped folder and submit it by emailto [email protected] [email protected]

The email subject line shall follow the prescribed format: [Applicant Name] – Application for[Master's Programme] at [University] – Phase IIEACSP e.g. Tsavo Simba – Application for MBA at Adroit University – Phase II EACSP

Applicants may apply to more than one eligible Master's programme and/or university. However, each programme application shall be treated as a separate application and must be accompanied by: 

• A separately completed online scholarship application form;
• A separate email submission for each programme applied for, with A complete set of supporting documents.

Applicants are strongly advised to submit all required supporting documents for each programme in a single email. Where multiple submissions are made for the same programme, only the first submission shall be considered unless the applicant sends an email indicating that we disregard the previous submission before the application deadline.

Submission of an application for admission to a university does not constitute an application for the EAC Scholarship Programme. Applicants must complete and submit the scholarship application separately, along with all required supporting documents.

For any assistance or clarification regarding this call, do not hesitate to contact; IUCEA: [email protected]  ACI : [email protected] 

A virtual pre-application information session will be held on 28 August 2026 at 11:00 AM East Africa Time (Nairobi time) to provide interested applicants with an opportunity to seek clarification on the Call for Applications and the application requirements. Please confirm your attendance by registering at https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/xV6Th4PfTJSUw3JFg0ioMQ   

For more Information Concerning This Scholarship, Read the Application Guideline