Scholarships for Ugandan Students

Your complete guide to government and university scholarships. Find fully-funded opportunities to study abroad in 2025-2026.

30
Total Scholarships
2
Open Now
3
Opening Soon
24
Closed

Study Abroad: Scholarship Opportunities for Ugandans

Uganda has produced thousands of successful scholarship recipients who have studied at world-class universities across the globe. Whether you're pursuing an undergraduate degree, master's program, or doctoral research, numerous fully-funded scholarship opportunities are available to Ugandan students.

This comprehensive guide features 30 verified government and university scholarships with official application portals. From the prestigious Commonwealth and Chevening scholarships to opportunities in Asia, Europe, and North America, we've compiled current information including application deadlines, eligibility requirements, and funding details.

Key Insight: Most scholarship applications open between January and August each year, with deadlines typically 8-12 months before the academic year starts. Start preparing early—successful applicants often begin their applications 6-9 months before the deadline, gathering transcripts, recommendation letters, and crafting compelling personal statements.

Pro Tip: Focus on scholarships that align with your field of study and career goals. Many scholarships prioritize specific sectors like health, engineering, education, or development—areas where Uganda has critical skills needs. Demonstrating how you'll contribute to Uganda's development after your studies significantly strengthens your application.

Filter Scholarships

Showing 30 of 30 scholarships

UK Commonwealth Scholarships

Commonwealth Scholarship Commission (UK Government) / Uganda Ministry of Education

OPEN
Level
MastersPhD
Region
UK
Fields
Health, Engineering, Priority fields
Funding
Fully Funded
Eligibility

Ugandan citizens, Master's/PhD, Priority fields (Health, Engineering, etc.)

Deadline: 14 October 2025

Check education.go.ug for Uganda-specific requirements.

Annual; opens July-August, deadline 14 October (CSC portal). Uganda Ministry nomination deadline typically early September.
Visit Official Site

Commonwealth Scholarships

Commonwealth Scholarship Commission & British Council

CLOSED
Level
Postgraduate
Region
UK
Fields
All
Funding
Fully Funded
Eligibility

Postgraduate, Ugandan citizens, any discipline fitting themes

Next Opening: August 2026
Annual, announced by CSC
Visit Official Site

DAAD Scholarships for Africa

German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD, Germany)

MIXED
Level
MastersPhD
Region
Germany
Fields
All
Funding
Fully Funded
Eligibility

Master's & PhDs, wide subject range, for African students

Some programs still open early Oct, most closed. Check database for specific program deadlines.

Rolling/Program-specific (most Aug–Oct)
Visit Official Site

Chevening Scholarships

UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

CLOSED
Level
Masters
Region
UK
Fields
All
Funding
Fully Funded
Eligibility

Master's, Ugandan citizens, any field

Next Opening: August 2026
Annual, usually Aug–Nov
Visit Official Site

Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees

European Union

OPENING SOON
Level
Masters
Region
Europe
Fields
Program specific
Funding
Fully Funded
Eligibility

Master's, open to all nationalities, program specific

Opening: Late Oct/Nov 2025

Most programs opening late Oct/Nov 2025 for 2026/2027 entry. Check individual program deadlines.

Annual, program-specific (most Oct–Dec)
Visit Official Site

Fulbright Foreign Student Program

U.S. Department of State

CLOSED
Level
MastersPhD
Region
USA
Fields
All
Funding
Fully Funded
Eligibility

Master's/PhD, Ugandan citizens, any field

Next Opening: Feb/Mar 2026

Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC)

Government of China

CLOSED
Level
UndergraduateMastersPhD
Region
China
Fields
All
Funding
Fully Funded
Eligibility

Undergraduate/Postgraduate, all disciplines

Next Opening: December 2025
Annual, Dec–April
Visit Official Site

Japanese Government (MEXT) Scholarships

Government of Japan

CLOSED
Level
UndergraduateMastersPhD
Region
Japan
Fields
All
Funding
Fully Funded
Eligibility

Undergraduate/Postgraduate, various fields

Next Opening: April 2026
Annual, April–May
Visit Official Site

Turkiye Burslari Scholarships

Government of Turkey

CLOSED
Level
UndergraduateMastersPhD
Region
Turkey
Fields
All
Funding
Fully Funded
Eligibility

UG/PG, for international students, all fields

Next Opening: January 2026
Annual, Jan–Feb
Visit Official Site

Korean Government Scholarship Program (GKS)

Government of Korea

CLOSED
Level
UndergraduateMastersPhD
Region
South Korea
Fields
All
Funding
Fully Funded
Eligibility

UG/PG, open to Ugandans, various fields

Next Opening: February 2026
Annual, Feb–March
Visit Official Site

Government of India ICCR Africa Scholarships

Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)

CLOSED
Level
UndergraduateMastersPhD
Region
India
Fields
All
Funding
Fully Funded
Eligibility

UG/PG, all fields, African nationals

Next Opening: Feb/Mar 2026
Annual, Feb–March
Visit Official Site

African Union Scholarship (Pan African University)

African Union

CLOSED
Level
MastersPhD
Region
Africa
Fields
Science, Technology, Governance
Funding
Fully Funded
Eligibility

Master/PhD; science, tech, governance, etc.

Next Opening: May 2026
Annual, May–June
Visit Official Site

Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP)

Swedish Institute

CLOSED
Level
Masters
Region
Sweden
Fields
All
Funding
Fully Funded
Eligibility

Master's, for eligible countries including Uganda, wide fields

Next Opening: February 2026

VLIR-UOS Scholarships

Belgium Government / Flemish Universities

OPENING SOON
Level
Masters
Region
Belgium
Fields
Development-related
Funding
Fully Funded
Eligibility

Master's, for development-related degrees, Africa focus

Opening: Late Oct/Nov 2025

Opening late Oct/Nov 2025 for 2026/2027 entry. Check website.

Annual, Oct–Nov
Visit Official Site

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program (Makerere University)

Mastercard Foundation / Makerere University

CLOSED
Level
UndergraduateMastersPhD
Region
Uganda
Fields
All
Funding
Fully Funded
Eligibility

UG/PG, low-income Ugandans, all fields

Next Opening: Early 2026
Annual, early year
Visit Official Site

Australia Awards Africa

Government of Australia

OPENING SOON
Level
Masters
Region
Australia
Fields
Priority sectors
Funding
Fully Funded
Eligibility

Master's, for Africans, priority sectors

Opening: Nov/Dec 2025
Annual, Nov–April
Visit Official Site

Government of Mauritius Africa Scholarship Scheme

Government of Mauritius

CLOSED
Level
UndergraduateMastersPhD
Region
Mauritius
Fields
All
Funding
Fully Funded
Eligibility

UG/PG, for African students, any field

Next Opening: January 2026
Annual, Jan–April
Visit Official Site

South African Government Scholarships (NRF)

National Research Foundation (South Africa)

CLOSED
Level
MastersPhD
Region
South Africa
Fields
Research-based
Funding
Varies
Eligibility

Master's/PhD, Africans, research-based

Next Opening: Check website

Cambridge-Africa Scholarships

University of Cambridge

CLOSED
Level
MastersPhD
Region
UK
Fields
All
Funding
Fully Funded
Eligibility

African PG students, various fields

Next Opening: Check website

Rhodes Scholarships for East Africa

Rhodes Trust, University of Oxford

CLOSED
Level
Postgraduate
Region
UK
Fields
All
Funding
Fully Funded
Eligibility

Postgraduate, for select East Africans, any field

Next Opening: June 2026
Annual, opens June–Aug
Visit Official Site

Gates Cambridge Scholarships

Gates Trust / University of Cambridge

OPEN
Level
MastersPhD
Region
UK
Fields
All
Funding
Fully Funded
Eligibility

PG, all nationalities, any field

Deadline: 9 Oct 2025 (US citizens), 11 Dec 2025 (international)
Annual, Sept–Dec
Visit Official Site

DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarship (Makerere University)

DAAD, Germany / Makerere University

CLOSED
Level
MastersPhD
Region
Uganda/Germany
Fields
Science, Engineering
Funding
Fully Funded
Eligibility

PG, specific fields (sci/eng), E. Africans

Next Opening: Check website

Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships (QECS)

Association of Commonwealth Universities

CLOSED
Level
Masters
Region
Commonwealth
Fields
All
Funding
Fully Funded
Eligibility

Master's, citizens of Commonwealth, various fields

Next Opening: Check website

University of Edinburgh – Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

University of Edinburgh

CLOSED
Level
UndergraduateMasters
Region
UK
Fields
All
Funding
Fully Funded
Eligibility

African UG/PG students, all disciplines

Next Opening: Check website

University of British Columbia (UBC) International Scholarships

University of British Columbia

CLOSED
Level
Undergraduate
Region
Canada
Fields
All
Funding
Varies
Eligibility

UG, need- and merit-based, all fields

Next Opening: Check website

University of Toronto Lester B. Pearson Scholarship

University of Toronto

CLOSED
Level
Undergraduate
Region
Canada
Fields
All
Funding
Fully Funded
Eligibility

UG, all nationalities incl. Ugandans, all fields

Next Opening: Check website

Fulbright Foreign Student Program – Uganda

U.S. Embassy Kampala

CLOSED
Level
MastersPhD
Region
USA
Fields
All
Funding
Fully Funded
Eligibility

Master/PhD, Ugandan citizens, mostly any field

Next Opening: Feb/Mar 2026

Ministry of Health Uganda – Health Scholarships

Ministry of Health, Uganda

CLOSED
Level
UndergraduateMastersPhD
Region
Uganda
Fields
Health, Medical sciences
Funding
Varies
Eligibility

Ugandan UG/PG, Health & medical sciences

Next Opening: Check website

National Scholarships Uganda – Higher Education Students' Financing Board

Uganda Ministry of Education

CLOSED
Level
UndergraduateDiploma
Region
Uganda
Fields
All
Funding
Varies
Eligibility

UG diplomas & degrees, based on need/merit

Next Opening: Check website

Virtual University of Uganda Scholarships

Virtual University of Uganda

CLOSED
Level
UndergraduateMasters
Region
Uganda
Fields
Online programs
Funding
Varies
Eligibility

Ugandan citizens, UG/PG, online fields

Next Opening: Check website

Check official site for scholarship updates

💡 Scholarship Application Tips

Start Early

Begin preparing 6-9 months before deadlines. Gather transcripts, secure recommendation letters, and draft your personal statement well in advance.

Tailor Your Application

Customize each application to match the scholarship's values and priorities. Research the program thoroughly and explain how it aligns with your goals.

Show Impact

Demonstrate how you'll contribute to Uganda's development after your studies. Scholarship committees value candidates committed to making a difference.

Apply to Multiple Programs

Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Apply to 5-10 scholarships that match your profile to maximize your chances of success.

📋 Important Information

  • All URLs verified: Every scholarship link has been tested and points to official government or university portals.
  • Ministry nomination required: Some scholarships (Commonwealth, DAAD, Fulbright) require nomination through Uganda's Ministry of Education. Check their website for local application procedures.
  • Deadlines change annually: While we provide typical application windows, always verify current deadlines on the official scholarship website.
  • Language requirements: Most scholarships require English proficiency tests (IELTS/TOEFL). Some Asian scholarships may require language preparation courses.
  • Last updated: October 2025. We regularly update this page with new opportunities and current application statuses.

Need Help with Your Application?

Looking for career advice, CV tips, or job opportunities in Uganda? Explore our resources to advance your career.