Scholarships That Include Visa and Relocation Support for African Students (2025 Guide)
The international scholarship is a flower for many African students. Most of the population don’t know that not all scholarships cover school fees alone. Some even pay visa fees, air tickets, accommodation and others. These are the scholarships that make the process of going to a foreign country for studies easier.
Here in this post, we will tell you all you need to know about these kind of scholarships. You will know the list of scholarships that provide visa and relocation, how to apply, to whom. Tips to increase your chances and answers to frequently asked questions are included as well.
What are Scholarships with Visa and Relocation Support?
Most scholarships tend to only cover tuition fee or a fraction of the scholarship. But there are special scholarships that go further. These are the ones that have:
- Visa application fees
- Flight or travel tickets
- Monthly living allowance
- Accommodation support
- Airport pickup or orientation help
These scholarships are to ease the stress and cost of moving to another country. They will be suitable for African students who may not have money for travel and setup fees.
Why These Scholarships Matter for African Students
Most African students who get scholarships find it difficult to cope with the cost of relocation. A student can get a full scholarship but doesn’t even have money to buy a ticket or even process a visa. Others even fail to attend due to lack of travel fees.
These scholarships eliminate such a hurdle. Students in countries like Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Ethiopia among others can now enjoy their academic offering at full potential.
Top Scholarships That Cover Visa and Relocation Costs for Africans
1. Erasmus Mundus Scholarship
If you would love to study in other European countries, then this scholarship is for you. It is among the biggest and most well regarded scholarships in the world. Students across the world including Africa are welcome to this incredible opportunity. In case you need to study in Europe and want to meet various people and get the best education, this scholarship is just what you need to fulfill your dreams.
What the scholarship has:
- Full tuition
- Monthly living stipend (about €1,400)
- Visa and travel allowance
- Health insurance
- Relocation costs between partner countries
Who is eligible: Bachelor’s degree and good academic record.
2. MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program
It’s a scholarship for African students which can be pursued in some of the best universities in the world such as University of Edinburgh, University of Cape Town, McGill University and many others. It gives you the opportunity to study in the best colleges, develop yourself and build a good future. This might be your step up if you are an African.
What the scholarship has:
- Tuition and books
- Full visa processing
- Relocation allowance
- Travel tickets
- Monthly allowance
Who is eligible: Young African students with leadership potential and financial need.
Application: Through partner universities offering the program.
3. DAAD EPOS Scholarships (Germany)
The German Academic Exchange Service also known as DAAD gives out the EPOS scholarship. It’s for African professionals and graduates who want to develop their careers. This scholarship focuses on the courses that relate to development and so students acquire the development of knowledge and skills that will help them to have an impact back home. This is a great opportunity to apply if you are an African graduate who wants to study in Germany.
What the scholarship has:
- Full tuition fees
- Health insurance
- Visa and travel allowance
- Monthly stipend
- German language course
Who is eligible: Bachelor’s degree, 2 years of work experience, and good academic results.
Application: Apply directly to the universities listed on the DAAD EPOS website.
4. Chevening Scholarship (UK)
Chevening is a global scholarship offered by the UK Government. It’s full-funded which means it will pay your tuition fees, your living costs etc. Students from more than 160 countries, with a good number in Africa, are eligible to Chevening. If you have a dream of studying in the UK and creating good international connections, it’s a great opportunity to develop your studies and career.
What the scholarship has:
- Full tuition
- Travel costs
- Visa fee
- Monthly allowance
- Arrival and departure allowance
Who is eligible: Undergraduate degree, leadership skills and work experience.
Application: Online through the Chevening website.
5. Commonwealth Shared Scholarships (UK)
UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office fully fund these scholarships. They are open to students from low and middle income Commonwealth countries. It’s a great opportunity to study in the UK and food is free. If you are a citizen of any of the countries mentioned and want to expand your education and career then this might be the time to achieve your dreams.
What the scholarship has:
- Tuition fees
- Visa fees
- Travel tickets
- Living allowance
- Warm clothing allowance
To Qualify: Only candidates who are members or citizens of a Commonwealth country can apply, e.g, Nigeria, Kenya, or Uganda.
Application: Apply through UK universities offering the course.
6. Swedish Scholarships
Another great opportunity, full scholarship for African students with work experience. You can learn without thinking of payments and develop more. If you have been in employment and you have always wanted to pursue your studies, then this might be your course to pursue. Don’t miss this opportunity to develop your future and achieve your goals.
What the scholarship has:
- Full tuition
- Monthly living expenses (SEK 12,000)
- Visa and travel grant
- Insurance
- Leadership development programs
To Qualify: Applicants must be citizens of Commonwealth countries including Nigeria, Kenya, and Uganda.
Application: Apply through Swedish Institute and university admissions portal.
How to Apply for Scholarships with Visa and Relocation Benefits
Here are the simple steps to follow:
1. Search for Scholarships Early
Most of these scholarships open between August and January every year. Set a calendar reminder.
2. Prepare the Right Documents
You will need:
- International passport
- Academic certificates
- Statement of purpose or motivation letter
- Recommendation letters
- Language test (IELTS/TOEFL for some)
3. Write a Strong Motivation Letter
Tell your life experiences and background, what you want to do and about how you need the scholarship. State how the support of visa and relocation will help you.
4. Apply to Partner Universities
Some scholarships require you to first apply and get accepted to a university before the scholarship is given.
5. Read the Instructions and follow Accordingly
Every scholarship involves different regulations and requirements. Before you apply, it is quite prudent to ensure that you read all the details provided on their official site. That is how you will get to know exactly which documents you need, the deadlines and who can avail. If you take time to make such calculations you will save yourself stress and chances of success will be higher. Make sure that you fulfil all their requirements even before you apply.
How to Increase Your Chances of Winning
- Apply in more than two scholarships
- Focus on development-related programs (they usually have more funds)
- Show leadership or community work
- Ask past winners for guidance
- Make sure your documents are clear and correct
Challenges African Students Face Without These SupportsAfrican students get full or partial funding but still can’t travel because:
- Visa fees are high
- Flight costs are too much
- No support for housing setup
- Family can’t support extra costs
That’s why one should apply to scholarships that offer full support with visa and relocation. It removes these worries.
Countries That Offer These Scholarships
From recent trends, these are the countries that provide scholarships with visa and relocation support:
- UK
- Germany
- Sweden
- Netherlands
- Canada (via MasterCard)
- South Korea (GKS)
- Japan (MEXT Scholarship)
FAQ
Q1: What if I don’t have a passport?
So: it’s possible to apply most of the existing scholarships without a passport yet. But you are highly recommended to start the process of getting your passport as soon as possible. When you apply to most of the scholarships you will be asked to attach the copy of your passport especially if you get to the next round.
Another thing is that you must have a valid passport once you submit a visa, make flight reservations and enroll to the university after your acceptance. And though not all apps will prevent you from entering the country at this initial step if you don’t have a passport, the absence of it in the future may hold you up and even paralyze you. The benefit of early application is that you won’t be rushing towards the deadline.
Q2: Do they only offer post graduate scholarships?
Most of the foreign scholarship programs offer master and doctoral scholarships. These scholarships are full scholarships because its purpose is to enable the student to consolidate its academic researching or professional qualifications. But undergraduates also get scholarships.
As an example, the MasterCard Foundation offers free undergraduate scholarships across different universities, most of which are in Africa and Canada. These programs have their undergraduate counterpart with the other programs (MEXT (Japan), Turkey Burslari, and some Chinese Government Scholarships, etc.).
If you are in high school or just out of high school then you need to specially search the programs accepting undergraduates. Before any application it’s worth getting acquainted with the eligibility sections.
Conclusion
If you really want to study abroad then remember to target full scholarship with helping hands to visa and relocation. These are the best programs you can follow if you want a stress-free entrance to a new country.
It can be Erasmus, Chevening or MasterCard Foundation but the trick is to plan ahead, prepare and have faith in yourself.No cash or visa problem. Apply now!
Scholarshipefly Recommends:Â Top African Union Scholarships Open to All African Nationals (Including Nigerians)
