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A verified guide to Chevening, Commonwealth and university specific scholarships for African students seeking fully or partly funded UK study in 2026, including eligibility, deadlines and what each award covers.
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Studying in the UK does not always mean paying full international tuition and living costs out of pocket. Every year, a number of fully funded and partially funded scholarships are open to students from African countries, covering tuition, living expenses, and sometimes flights. The two largest and most reliable UK government funded schemes are the Chevening Scholarship and the Commonwealth Scholarship. Beyond these, many UK universities also run their own award programmes for international students. This guide explains how each scheme works, who qualifies, and how to apply with confidence.
Chevening is the UK government's international scholarship scheme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and partner organisations. It funds one year master's degrees for people who show strong leadership potential, and it has no upper age limit.
You are not eligible if you hold British or dual British citizenship, if you already live in the UK, if you are a close relative or employee of a Chevening partner organisation such as the British Council or a partner UK university, or if you have previously studied in the UK on a UK government funded scholarship.
These dates are set by Chevening for the relevant intake and can shift slightly year to year, so always confirm the current cycle on the official Chevening website before planning around them.
A Chevening award pays full tuition fees, a monthly living allowance that varies depending on whether you study inside or outside London, economy return travel to the UK, an arrival and departure allowance, the cost of your UK visa application, and a contribution toward a TB test where one is required.
The Commonwealth Scholarship is administered by the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in the UK (CSC) and funded by the UK government together with host universities. It supports students from low and middle income Commonwealth countries to study full time master's degrees in the UK under specific development themes.
Because this scheme is only open to Commonwealth member countries, Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Zambia, Uganda, Tanzania and South Africa are eligible, but Egypt and Morocco are not Commonwealth members and are therefore not eligible for this particular scholarship. Students from Egypt and Morocco should focus on Chevening and university specific awards instead.
Unlike many scholarships, the Commonwealth Scholarship does not accept direct applications from students. You must apply through an approved nominating body in your home country, such as a government ministry or an approved organisation, which then nominates a limited number of candidates to CSC.
Successful scholars receive approved airfare to the UK, full tuition fees, a monthly stipend, a study travel grant, and where applicable a warm clothing allowance and child allowance for scholars who are their child's sole carer. Scholars are expected to return home after their studies and cannot switch to a Graduate visa or any other visa to remain in the UK afterward.
In addition to the two national schemes above, many individual UK universities offer their own scholarships and tuition discounts for international students, including dedicated Africa focused awards at some institutions. These vary widely from one university to another in value, subject coverage and eligibility criteria, and they change from year to year. Rather than rely on generic figures, check the scholarships or fees pages of each university you are applying to directly, since this is the only way to get accurate, current information for that specific institution.
Scholarship competition is high, but the opportunities are real and renewed every year. Chevening and the Commonwealth Scholarship remain the two most trusted, fully funded routes for African students, while university specific awards can further reduce your costs. Because eligibility rules, deadlines and funding details are reviewed annually, always confirm the latest information directly on the Chevening website, the CSC website, or the official page of the university you plan to attend before you apply.
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