EAC Student Mobility Scholarship Scheme For Africans

EAC Student Mobility Scholarship Scheme (or EAC-SMS) is a regional scholarship scheme designed to promote academic mobility and integration across East Africa, supporting students to study at a university in an EAC Partner State other than their own. It’s a cost-sharing program, jointly funded by IUCEA, host universities, and students or their families.

Scholarship benefits

Benefits of the EAC-SMS include:

1. Tuition and examination fees waived by the host university
2. Travel expenses, health insurance, and a research cost lump sum (for Master’s and PhD) covered by IUCEA

Note: accommodation and daily living expenses are covered by the student/family, not the scholarship

Eligibility

The eligibility criteria for the scholarship scheme include:

1. Must be a national and resident of an EAC Partner State (Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan)
2. Foreign academic qualifications must be equated by the national higher education authority
3. Non-English documents must be submitted with certified English translations
4. Can apply to more than one university, but only one scholarship can be awarded

How to apply

Apply through the IUCEA website, selecting a host university and program outside your home country.

Application deadline

The deadline is on August 20, 2026.

For more details, visit the EAC Student Mobility scholarship page.