Nationals of all eight East African Community Partner States can apply for up to 120 funded two-year Master’s scholarships covering full tuition, airfare, a €380 monthly stipend, study materials, research support and medical insurance.
EAST AFRICA — August 27, 2026 — Applications are open for Cohort 4 of the East African Community Scholarship Programme (EACSP), offering up to 120 funded Master’s scholarships to eligible students from across the East African Community.
The programme is implemented by the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) under a regional initiative of the East African Community and the Federal Republic of Germany, with funding through KfW.
According to the official IUCEA scholarship call, applications opened on August 20, 2026 and close on September 10, 2026 at 17:00 East Africa Time.
An official virtual pre-application information session will take place on August 28, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. EAT.
Who Can Apply?
The scholarship is open to citizens of all eight EAC Partner States:
Burundi
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Kenya
SCHOLARSHIPS
120 EAC Master’s Scholarships Open to EAC Students — How to Apply
Up to 120 EAC Master’s scholarships are open to nationals of eight East African countries, covering tuition, flights and a €380 monthly stipend.
August 27, 2026 at 9:23:50 AM
August 27, 2026 at 9:23:50 AM
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Nationals of all eight East African Community Partner States can apply for up to 120 funded two-year Master’s scholarships covering full tuition, airfare, a €380 monthly stipend, study materials, research support and medical insurance.
EAST AFRICA — August 27, 2026 — Applications are open for Cohort 4 of the East African Community Scholarship Programme (EACSP), offering up to 120 funded Master’s scholarships to eligible students from across the East African Community.
The programme is implemented by the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) under a regional initiative of the East African Community and the Federal Republic of Germany, with funding through KfW.
According to the official IUCEA scholarship call, applications opened on August 20, 2026 and close on September 10, 2026 at 17:00 East Africa Time.
An official virtual pre-application information session will take place on August 28, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. EAT.
Who Can Apply?
The scholarship is open to citizens of all eight EAC Partner States:
Burundi
Democratic Republic of the Congo
Kenya
Rwanda
Somalia
South Sudan
United Republic of Tanzania
Uganda
Applicants must be below 35 years old and must study in an EAC Partner State other than their country of citizenship.
That cross-border requirement is important. A Kenyan applicant cannot use the scholarship to study in Kenya, a Ugandan applicant cannot use it in Uganda, and the same rule applies to nationals of every other eligible EAC state.
Scholarship at a Glance
Detail | Information |
Programme | East African Community Scholarship Programme — Cohort 4 |
Implementing organization | Inter-University Council for East Africa |
Funding | Federal Republic of Germany / KfW |
Awards | Up to 120 |
Study level | Master’s |
Duration | Two years |
Eligible applicants | Citizens of 8 EAC Partner States |
Age | Below 35 |
Opened | August 20, 2026 |
Deadline | September 10, 2026 at 17:00 EAT |
Information session | August 28, 2026 at 11:00 EAT |
Application language | English |
Study rule | Must study outside country of citizenship within the EAC |
What Does the Scholarship Cover?
Successful scholars receive:
Full tuition fees
One return economy-class air ticket
€200 arrival allowance
€380 monthly stipend
€650 study-material allowance
€1,500 one-time study and research allowance
Medical insurance
Eligible visa, entry-pass or student-pass expenses
Participation in at least one extracurricular programme activity
The monthly stipend is intended to support accommodation, meals, local transport and other living expenses.
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must:
Be a citizen of one of the eight EAC Partner States.
Be below 35 at the time of application.
Apply to study in an EAC Partner State other than their country of citizenship.
Hold a Bachelor’s degree with at least Second Class Upper Division, Distinction or equivalent.
Have applied for admission to an eligible Master’s programme at a participating university.
Submit a complete scholarship application within the official application period.
Applications must be submitted in English.
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IUCEA strongly encourages applications from women, persons with disabilities and applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds, and the programme aims for at least 50% female participation.
Eligible Fields of Study
The current call covers 60 Master’s programmes in:
Mathematics
Engineering
Informatics
Science
Technology
Business Science
Examples include civil engineering, data science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, software engineering, public health, electrical power systems, logistics and supply chain management, development finance, MBA programmes, innovation and entrepreneurship management, chemistry and biodiversity conservation.
Applicants should use the official IUCEA Cohort 4 programme list when selecting a course.
Where Can Students Study?
The current approved programmes are hosted by participating universities in:
Kenya
Rwanda
Uganda
Tanzania
Applicants must select a host country different from their own country of citizenship.
Participating institutions include universities such as Chuka University, Egerton University, KCA University, Strathmore University, University of Rwanda, Busitema University, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Sokoine University of Agriculture, University of Dar es Salaam and University of Dodoma.
Important: There Are Two Separate Applications
Applicants must complete both the university admission process and the scholarship application.
Part A — Apply to an Eligible University
Applicants should:
Choose an eligible Master’s programme.
Visit the participating university’s official website.
Review the university admission requirements.
Apply for admission.
Indicate an intention to apply for the EAC Scholarship Programme where requested.
Pay the university application fee if applicable.
A university admission application does not count as a scholarship application.
Part B — Apply for the EAC Scholarship
Applicants must separately complete the official EAC Scholarship form:
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They must then prepare and submit the supporting documents required by IUCEA.
Required Documents
Mandatory documents include:
National ID or passport
Recent colour passport photograph
Proof of university admission application
Certified Bachelor’s degree certificate
Certified academic transcript
Curriculum Vitae
Proof of university application may include an admission letter, acknowledgement email, payment receipt or screenshot from the university admissions portal.
Applicants whose academic documents are not in English must submit the originals together with translations into English by an accredited translation provider.
Depending on the applicant’s circumstances, additional supporting documents may include academic and professional references, bank statements, payslips, professional membership certificates, leadership or volunteer certificates, refugee or displacement documentation, financial-hardship evidence and English-language proficiency certificates where applicable.
How to Package and Send the Documents
Supporting documents must be submitted as PDF files inside a single zipped folder.
IUCEA requires applicants to use document codes such as:
E01 National ID
E02 Passport Photograph
E03 Proof of University Admission Application
E04 Bachelor's Degree Certificate and Transcript
E05 Curriculum Vitae
After completing the online scholarship form, applicants must email the zipped supporting-document package to both:
The email subject should follow this format:
[Applicant Name] – Application for [Master's Programme] at [University] – Phase II EACSP
Can Applicants Apply to More Than One Programme?
Yes.
Applicants can apply to more than one eligible programme or university, but each programme must have its own complete application.
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That means a separate online scholarship form, separate email and complete set of supporting documents for every programme selected.
Official Information Session — August 28
IUCEA will hold a virtual pre-application information session on August 28, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. East Africa Time — Nairobi time.
Applicants can use the session to seek clarification on eligibility, university admission, eligible programmes, supporting documents and scholarship submission rules.
Register for the official information session
Important Dates
Activity | Date |
IUCEA call published | August 13, 2026 |
Applications opened | August 20, 2026 |
Information session | August 28, 2026 at 11:00 EAT |
Application deadline | September 10, 2026 at 17:00 EAT |
Communication of successful students | December 2026 |
Scholarship agreements | December 2026 |
Reporting to universities | According to university calendars |
Is There an Application Fee?
IUCEA does not state a separate scholarship application fee.
However, participating universities may charge their normal university admission application fee.
Applicants should not pay agents or individuals claiming they can guarantee selection for the scholarship.
How to Apply — Step by Step
Confirm you are a citizen of one of the eight EAC Partner States.
Confirm you are below 35.
Check that your Bachelor’s qualification meets the academic requirement.
Review the eligible Master’s programmes.
Choose a programme in an EAC country other than your country of citizenship.
Apply to the participating university.
Keep proof of your university application.
Complete the official IUCEA scholarship form.
Prepare certified supporting documents.
Translate non-English documents where required.
Name the PDF files using IUCEA’s document codes.
Place the files in one zipped folder.
Email the package to both official scholarship addresses.
Submit everything before September 10, 2026 at 17:00 EAT.
Official Application Links
Official scholarship call: IUCEA — Two-Year Funded Master’s Scholarships, Cohort 4
Official scholarship application: Complete the EAC Scholarship Application Form
Information session registration: Register for the August 28 Virtual Session
Deadline: September 10, 2026 at 17:00 EAT
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