EAC Full Scholarship Programme 2026 for East African Students - Fully Funded Master’s Scholarships.

Applications are now open for Cohort 4 of the East African Community Scholarship Programme (EACSP), offering up to 120 fully funded Master’s scholarships to eligible citizens of East African Community (EAC) Partner States.

The programme provides successful applicants with financial support to pursue a two-year Master’s degree at a participating university in an EAC Partner State other than their country of citizenship.

The EAC Scholarship Programme 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 (IUCEA) and funded by KfW. The programme seeks to develop future leaders who can contribute to regional integration, innovation and sustainable development across East Africa.

EAC Scholarship Programme 2026 Overview

EAC Scholarship Benefits

The EACSP offers a comprehensive financial support package designed to cover major academic and living expenses during the two-year Master’s programme.

Successful scholars will receive:

• Full tuition fees paid directly to the host university.
• One return economy-class air ticket between the scholar’s home country and host country.
• EUR 200 arrival allowance.
• Monthly stipend of EUR 380 to support accommodation, meals, local transportation and other living expenses.
• EUR 650 allowance for study materials.
• One-time EUR 1,500 study and research allowance.
• Medical insurance for the duration of the scholarship.
• Visa or entry fee support where required.
• Participation in at least one extracurricular event.

The scholarship supports scholars for a maximum period of two years.

Who Can Apply for the EAC Scholarship?

Applicants must meet the programme's eligibility requirements to be considered.

To qualify, applicants must:

• Be citizens of one of the eight EAC Partner States: Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Tanzania or Uganda.
• 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.
• Hold a Bachelor's degree with at least a Second Class Upper Division, Distinction or an equivalent qualification.
• Have applied for admission to an eligible Master's programme at a participating university.
• Submit a complete scholarship application within the official application period.

Applicants should carefully confirm that both their selected university programme and scholarship application meet the programme requirements before submitting their documents.

Available Master’s Programmes and Fields of Study

The EAC Scholarship Programme supports eligible Master’s programmes across six major thematic areas:

1. Mathematics
2. Engineering
3. Informatics
4. Science
5. Technology
6. Business Science

Participating universities are located in Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania.

Examples of eligible areas mentioned in the programme information include Applied Mathematics, Biochemistry, Economics, Civil Engineering, Data Science, Development Finance, Business Administration, Information Technology, Software Engineering, Electrical Power Systems, Artificial Intelligence, Cyber Security, Public Health and Manufacturing Engineering.

The availability of a particular programme depends on the participating university and the official list of eligible programmes.

Applicants may apply for more than one eligible programme or university. However, each programme requires a separate scholarship application, separate email submission and a complete set of supporting documents.

Required Documents

Applicants should prepare their supporting documents carefully and follow the prescribed document naming requirements.

The application may require the following documents:

• National ID or passport.
• Recent passport photograph.
• Proof of university admission application, such as an admission letter, acknowledgement email, receipt or portal screenshot.
• Certified true copies of the Bachelor's degree certificate and academic transcript.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV).
• Bank statements for the last six months, where applicable.
• Academic reference letter.
• Professional reference letter.
• Recent payslip or payslips, where applicable.
• Professional membership certificate, where applicable.
• Scholarship award letter for undergraduate studies, where applicable.
• Evidence of publications, research, awards, fellowships, certifications or other achievements.
• Leadership and volunteer certificates.
• Evidence of financial hardship, dependants or other disadvantaged circumstances, where applicable.
• Medical report for applicants with disabilities or chronic illnesses, where applicable.
• Refugee, displacement or social welfare documentation, where applicable.
• English language proficiency certificates such as IELTS or TOEFL, where applicable.

Documents that were not originally issued in English must be accompanied by an English translation from an accredited translation provider.

How to Apply for the EAC Scholarship Programme

The EACSP application process consists of two important stages. Applicants must complete both stages because applying for university admission alone does not constitute a scholarship application.

Step 1: Apply for University Admission

First, review the list of eligible programmes and select a participating university and eligible Master's programme located in an EAC Partner State outside your country of citizenship.

Visit the selected university's official website and follow its admission requirements and application procedures.

Where applicable, applicants may be required to pay the university application fee and indicate their intention to apply for the EAC Scholarship Programme.

Applicants should obtain evidence that they have applied for admission, such as an admission letter, acknowledgement email, receipt or relevant portal screenshot.

Step 2: Submit the EAC Scholarship Application

After applying for university admission, complete the online EAC Scholarship Application Form through the official scholarship application portal.

Applicants should then:

1. Review the Supporting Documents Checklist.
2. Prepare all required documents.
3. Name the documents using the prescribed document codes.
4. Convert the documents to PDF format.
5. Combine the required documents into a single zipped folder.
6. Submit the zipped folder by email to eacsp@iucea.org and scholarships@adroitconsultinternational.com.

The email subject should follow this format:

[Applicant Name] – Application for [Master's Programme] at [University] – Phase II EACSP

Applicants should carefully check the email addresses, document requirements and submission instructions before sending their applications.

Important Application Information

Applicants should pay close attention to the following requirements:

Applying for admission to a university does not automatically mean that you have applied for the EAC Scholarship. The university admission process and the EACSP scholarship application are separate processes, and both must be completed.

Applicants applying for multiple eligible programmes must submit a separate and complete scholarship application for each programme.

Only complete applications submitted in English, for eligible programmes and within the official application period will be considered.

Applicants should provide accurate information throughout the application. False, misleading or incomplete information may lead to disqualification or withdrawal of a scholarship award.

Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.

Successful applicants may begin their studies during the earliest available intake according to the academic calendar of their selected host university.

EACSP Pre-Application Information Session

A virtual pre-application information session is scheduled for 28 August 2026 at 11:00 AM East Africa Time (EAT). The session is intended to help prospective applicants understand the scholarship requirements and application process.

Applicants interested in the programme are encouraged to use the session to clarify application requirements before submitting their applications.

EAC Scholarship Application Deadline

The deadline for the EAC Scholarship Programme Cohort 4 application is: 10 September 2026 at 17:00 East Africa Time (EAT).

Applicants should not wait until the final hours to submit their applications. University admission procedures may require additional processing time, and applicants must complete both the university admission and scholarship application stages.

Final Advice for Applicants

The EAC Scholarship Programme provides a significant opportunity for young East African graduates to pursue postgraduate education in another EAC Partner State while receiving comprehensive financial support.

Before submitting an application, applicants should carefully confirm their eligibility, select an eligible Master's programme, apply for university admission, prepare the required documents and follow the scholarship submission instructions exactly.

Particular attention should be given to the age requirement, academic qualification, choice of host country, document formatting, file naming, email submission and application deadline.

For applicants applying to more than one programme, remember that each programme requires a separate scholarship application and complete supporting documents.

The Light of Engineering encourages eligible East African students to prepare their applications early and verify all information against the official EACSP application guidance before submission.

The EAC Full Scholarship Programme 2026 offers eligible East African graduates an opportunity to pursue a fully funded two-year Master's degree in another EAC Partner State. With support covering tuition, travel, living expenses, study materials, research, insurance and other costs, the programme can provide valuable academic and professional development opportunities.

Eligible applicants should begin preparing their university admission and scholarship documents early and ensure that every requirement is satisfied before the 10 September 2026 deadline.

Disclaimer: Applicants should verify the latest programme requirements, eligible programmes, participating universities and submission instructions through the official EAC Scholarship Programme sources before applying, as application requirements may change.