Table of Contents
1. CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars Program 2027/2029
Benefits: CDN $100,000 in unrestricted research support; two years of mentorship within an interdisciplinary global research network; access to CIFAR seed funds for high-risk collaborative projects; membership in the CIFAR Global Scholars community; targeted leadership training in team management, mentorship, and science communication.
Eligibility and Requirements: Open to applicants from all countries. Must hold a PhD, hold a full-time principal-investigator position at a higher education or research institution (secure through March 2029), have started that first post-PhD position between July 1, 2022 and December 31, 2026, be fluent in English, and hold a valid passport for international travel. Postdoctoral fellows are not eligible. Application deadline: November 4, 2026.
Official Webpage: cifar.ca/next-generation/global-scholars
2. Julius Berger Nigeria Plc. Female Scholarship Award 2026
Benefits: A merit-based scholarship supporting female engineering undergraduates in Nigerian public universities, part of Julius Berger's corporate social responsibility programme in education and human capital development.
Eligibility and Requirements: Open to female Nigerian citizens studying full-time in a Federal or State university (Faculty of Engineering, Environmental Studies, or Technology), currently in their second year, with a minimum CGPA of 3.5 on a 5-point scale. Eligible courses include Civil, Electrical, Mechanical and Chemical Engineering, Architecture, Quantity Surveying, and related fields. Application deadline: September 16, 2026.
Official Webpage: candidate.scholastica.ng/schemes/jbn2026
3. Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarships 2027
Benefits: $60,000 CAD per scholar to support PhD research in Canada, alongside mentorship and a network of scholars working on issues shaping Canada's future.
Eligibility and Requirements: Open to Canadian students (in Canada or abroad) and international students enrolled at a Canadian university (international students residing outside Canada are not eligible). Research must align with one of four themes: Human Rights and Dignity, Responsible Citizenship, Canada and the World, or People and their Natural Environment. Applicants must be in the first or second year of a PhD programme and provide three letters of reference. Application deadline: October 2, 2026.
Official Webpage: trudeaufoundation.ca/become-a-scholar
4. University of British Columbia Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2027/2028
Benefits: Full tuition and books, flights and immigration support, room and board, living stipends, health insurance, career services, access to the Mastercard Foundation global alumni network, and a Social Entrepreneurship Fund for scholars wanting to start ventures back home.
Eligibility and Requirements: Open to African citizens or refugees aged 35 or younger with a completed Bachelor's degree (no existing Master's), applying to specific eligible Master's programmes in UBC's Faculty of Land and Food Systems, Faculty of Forestry, or Master of Data Science. Expression of interest deadline: September 6, 2026.
Official Webpage: mastercardfdn.scholars.ubc.ca
5. University of Michigan African Presidential Scholars Program (UMAPS) 2027
Benefits: A five-month residential research fellowship in Ann Arbor, Michigan, working with a University of Michigan faculty mentor, without the pressure of degree coursework, aimed at strengthening research output and institutional ties between African and U.S. universities.
Eligibility and Requirements: Open to early-career faculty at African universities with fewer than ten years of teaching experience. Direct applications welcomed from faculty in Botswana, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa, and Uganda; other African countries require nomination by a Michigan faculty member. Requires an institutional endorsement letter and a five-page research proposal. Application deadline: October 15, 2026.
Official Webpage: ii.umich.edu/asc/fellows/umaps/apply.html
6. Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships 2027/2028
Benefits: Monthly funding of CHF 2,450 for postgraduate research, PhD study (up to 36 months), or art Master's study (up to 21 months) in Switzerland.
Eligibility and Requirements: Open to applicants under age 35 from 183 countries (research and PhD tracks) or 26 countries (art track). Research and PhD applicants need a Master's degree and a Swiss academic supervisor willing to direct their research; art applicants need a Bachelor's degree and admission or proof of application to a Swiss institution. Applications are ongoing, submitted through Swiss diplomatic representations.
Official Webpage: sbfi.admin.ch/en/swiss-government-excellence-scholarships
7. African Development Bank (AfDB) Japan Africa Dream Scholarship (JADS) Program 2026/2027
Benefits: Full tuition, admissions fee, a monthly subsistence allowance of 150,000 JPY (including housing), and economy-class return airfare between the scholar's home country and Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Japan.
Eligibility and Requirements: Open to nationals of AfDB member countries aged 35 or under, holding a Bachelor's degree in energy, agriculture, health, environmental sustainability, engineering, or related fields, with at least one year of relevant paid work experience within the past three years. Applicants commit to returning home after their studies. Deadline for April 2027 enrolment: September 15, 2026.
Official Webpage: afdb.org/en/about-us/careers/japan-africa-dream-scholarship-jads-program
8. Chevening UK Government Scholarships Programme 2027/2028
Benefits: Fully funded one-year Master's study in the UK, covering tuition, return travel, an arrival and departure allowance, visa costs, a monthly living stipend, and a structured networking programme with alumni, government officials, and partner organisations.
Eligibility and Requirements: Open to citizens of Chevening-eligible countries with at least two years' work experience (2,800 hours) after their undergraduate degree. Applicants must apply to three different eligible UK university courses and secure an unconditional offer from at least one, and must commit to returning home for a minimum of two years after the scholarship ends. Application deadline: October 6, 2026.
Official Webpage: chevening.org/scholarships
9. University of Cape Town MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program 2027
Benefits: Comprehensive financial support for the full duration of study, covering tuition, a laptop, campus accommodation, living expenses, medical aid, a study visa where applicable, and annual travel to and from UCT, plus mentoring, leadership development, entrepreneurship training, and lifelong membership in the Mastercard Foundation Alumni Network.
Eligibility and Requirements: Open to academically talented young Africans demonstrating leadership potential and a commitment to social impact, who meet UCT's academic entry requirements for their chosen programme. Scholarship application is separate from, and follows, admission to a UCT academic programme. Application deadline: October 31, 2026.
Official Webpage: uct.ac.za/mastercardfdn
10. South African Reserve Bank External Bursary Scheme 2027
Benefits: A bursary covering undergraduate study in relevant fields, aimed at addressing South Africa's critical skills shortages, for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Eligibility and Requirements: Open to students under 30 with provisional acceptance into an undergraduate degree at a South African university, an average of 70% in their June Grade 12/Matric results, and demonstrated financial need. Applications require exam results and proof of university acceptance, submitted using promo code SARBEXT2027. Application deadline: September 30, 2026.
Official Webpage: resbank.co.za
