IUCEA KfW East African Masters Scholarships 2026 offer up to 120 fully funded two-year Master’s scholarships for EAC nationals, including tuition, monthly stipend, airfare, research support, medical insurance and visa fees.
The IUCEA KfW East African Masters Scholarships 2026 offer up to 120 fully funded scholarships to talented students from the East African Community (EAC) who want to pursue a Master’s degree in an EAC Partner State other than their country of citizenship.
The programme is implemented by the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) as part of the EAC Scholarship Programme (EACSP), a regional initiative of the East African Community and the Federal Republic of Germany. The programme is funded by KfW, Germany’s development bank, and is designed to strengthen regional integration, sustainable development and the development of future East African leaders.
For Cohort 4, applications opened on August 20, 2026 and will close on September 10, 2026 at 17:00 East African Time. Successful applicants will receive financial support for up to two years while studying an approved Master’s programme in another EAC country.
| Scholarship Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scholarship | EAC Scholarship Programme – Cohort 4 |
| Implementing Body | Inter-University Council for East Africa |
| Funding Partner | KfW / Federal Republic of Germany |
| Study Level | Master’s degree |
| Duration | 2 years |
| Available Awards | Up to 120 |
| Eligible Countries | Burundi, DR Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda |
| Age Limit | Below 35 years |
| Study Location | An EAC Partner State other than country of citizenship |
| Fields | Mathematics, Engineering, Informatics, Science, Technology, Business Science |
| Application Opens | August 20, 2026 |
| Deadline | September 10, 2026 at 17:00 EAT |
| Application Language | English |
What Is the EAC KfW Scholarship Programme?
The EAC Scholarship Programme was launched in 2018 to support academically talented students who may face financial barriers to pursuing postgraduate education.
The first phase supported 180 Master’s students across the East African Community. Phase II began in October 2025 and is expected to support at least 280 students across three cohorts from the current EAC Partner States.
The programme has a strong regional integration component. Scholarship recipients must study in an EAC country other than their own country of citizenship, allowing students to gain cross-border academic experience and build regional networks.
Its stated vision is:
“Leadership to Foster Regional Integration.”
What Does the Scholarship Cover?
The IUCEA KfW scholarship provides a comprehensive funding package for selected students.
Full Tuition Fees
The scholarship covers full tuition fees, which are paid directly to the host university.
Monthly Living Stipend
Each scholar receives EUR 380 per month to support accommodation, food, local transportation and other living expenses.
Airfare
The package includes one return economy-class air ticket between the scholar’s home country and the host country at the beginning and completion of studies.
Arrival Allowance
Recipients receive an EUR 200 arrival allowance after arriving in the study country and opening a local bank account where feasible.
Study Materials
A EUR 650 lump-sum allowance is provided for study materials.
Research Allowance
The scholarship includes a one-time EUR 1,500 study and research allowance.
Medical Insurance
Scholars receive medical insurance coverage for the duration of the scholarship.
Visa or Entry Fees
Where an entry pass or student pass is required, the scholarship provides support for the applicable visa or entry fee.
Recipients are also expected to participate in at least one extracurricular event.
Who Is Eligible?
Applicants must satisfy all of the programme’s eligibility conditions.
They must be citizens of one of the following eight EAC Partner States:
Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, United Republic of Tanzania and Uganda.
Applicants must also be below 35 years of age at the time of application.
A key requirement is that students must apply to study in an EAC Partner State other than their country of citizenship.
Academically, applicants must hold a Bachelor’s degree with at least Second Class Upper Division, Distinction or an equivalent qualification.
They must also have applied for admission to an approved Master’s programme at one of the participating universities.
Eligible Fields of Study
The Cohort 4 scholarship supports Master’s programmes in six broad thematic areas:
Mathematics, Engineering, Informatics, Science, Technology and Business Science.
The official call contains a list of approved programmes and participating universities across Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania.
Examples include Master’s programmes in applied mathematics, data science, computing, information technology, civil engineering, electrical engineering, food science, biotechnology, environmental science, cybersecurity, public health, sustainable energy, business administration and other approved areas.
Applicants should select their programme directly from the official eligible-programmes list because not every Master’s programme at a participating university qualifies for the scholarship.
Women and Disadvantaged Applicants
The programme strongly encourages applications from women, persons with disabilities and applicants from other disadvantaged backgrounds.
IUCEA states that the programme aims to achieve at least 50% female participation among scholarship beneficiaries.
The scholarship is therefore not solely focused on academic performance. The wider programme also seeks to expand access to postgraduate education among financially disadvantaged students across the EAC region.
Application Process
The application involves two separate stages.
Part A: Apply for University Admission
First, applicants must select an eligible Master’s programme and university from the official list.
They should visit the university’s website, review the admission requirements and submit an application for the selected programme. Where applicable, the university’s application fee must be paid.
Applying for university admission does not automatically constitute an application for the EAC Scholarship.
Part B: Apply for the EAC Scholarship
Applicants must separately complete the online EAC Scholarship application form.
After identifying the required supporting documents, applicants must compile them into a single folder, save them in PDF format and compress them into one ZIP file.
The ZIP folder must then be submitted by email to:
and
scholarships@adroitconsultinternational.com
Applicants should follow the prescribed email subject format and submit a complete set of documents for each programme applied for.
Can Applicants Apply to More Than One Programme?
Yes. Applicants may apply to more than one eligible Master’s programme and/or university.
However, every programme application is treated as a separate application.
Applicants must therefore complete a separate scholarship application form and make a separate email submission with the full supporting documentation for each programme.
Submitting one application and assuming it covers multiple programmes is not sufficient.
Required Supporting Documents
The call requires a range of documents, including:
National ID or passport
Recent passport photograph
Proof of university admission application
Bachelor’s degree certificate and academic transcript
Curriculum Vitae
Depending on circumstances, applicants may also submit bank statements, academic and professional reference letters, payslips, professional memberships, evidence of leadership or volunteering, publications, awards, certifications, disability or hardship documentation, refugee documentation and other supporting evidence.
Applicants whose academic documents were obtained outside the host country may need to have their qualifications equated by the relevant authority in the host country before admission.
Documents issued in languages other than English must also be accompanied by accredited English translations where required.
Important Dates
| Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Call launched | August 20, 2026 |
| Application period | August 20 – September 10, 2026 |
| Virtual information session | August 28, 2026 |
| Application deadline | September 10, 2026 at 17:00 EAT |
| Successful applicants announced | December 2026 |
| Scholarship acceptance and agreements | December 2026 |
| Pre-travel orientation | According to university academic calendars |
Final Thoughts
The IUCEA KfW East African Masters Scholarships 2026 offer up to 120 fully funded opportunities for EAC nationals seeking Master’s education in another East African country.
The scholarship package is comprehensive, covering full tuition, a EUR 380 monthly stipend, return airfare, EUR 200 arrival support, EUR 650 for study materials, EUR 1,500 for study and research, medical insurance and applicable visa or entry fees.
Applicants must be under 35, hold at least a Second Class Upper Division or equivalent Bachelor’s qualification, gain admission to an approved programme and study outside their country of citizenship.
With applications closing on September 10, 2026 at 17:00 EAT, eligible students should complete both the university admission process and the separate EAC Scholarship application well before the deadline.
Apply Now
Official IUCEA Scholarship Page:
https://iucea.org/two-year-funded-masters-scholarships-for-cohort-4/
Online Scholarship Application:
https://ee-eu.kobotoolbox.org/J4W9xHf7
Application Deadline: September 10, 2026 at 17:00 EAT
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