The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) has officially opened applications for the 3rd Cohort of the East African Community Student Mobility Scholarship (EAC-SMS) Scheme for the 2026/2027 academic year. The programme offers 197 scholarship opportunities for students pursuing Diploma, Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD programmes at 28 participating universities across Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda.
Designed to strengthen regional integration through higher education, the scholarship enables eligible students to pursue studies in an East African Community (EAC) Partner State other than their own. By encouraging academic exchange and cross-border collaboration, the initiative seeks to cultivate highly skilled graduates with regional perspectives while fostering stronger educational partnerships across East Africa.
Applications remain open until 20 August 2026.
About the EAC Student Mobility Scholarship Scheme
The EAC Student Mobility Scholarship Scheme is a regional initiative implemented by the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) to promote academic mobility and regional cooperation within the East African Community.
The programme provides students with opportunities to undertake studies at accredited universities outside their home country while benefiting from a shared funding model involving IUCEA, participating universities, and students or their guardians.
The scholarship supports students pursuing qualifications at multiple academic levels while promoting intercultural understanding, research collaboration, academic excellence, and regional integration.
Scholarship Distribution
A total of 197 scholarships are available for the 2026/2027 intake across six EAC Partner States:
- 1 Diploma scholarship
- 95 Bachelor’s scholarships
- 90 Master’s scholarships
- 11 PhD scholarships
Participating host countries include:
- Burundi – 35 scholarships
- Kenya – 49 scholarships
- Rwanda – 16 scholarships
- South Sudan – 12 scholarships
- Tanzania – 48 scholarships
- Uganda – 37 scholarships
The scholarships cover programmes offered by 28 universities spanning disciplines such as engineering, agriculture, computer science, public health, medicine, business, education, environmental sciences, renewable energy, economics, public administration, statistics, information technology, epidemiology, biotechnology, international relations, and many more.
Scholarship Benefits
The programme operates as a cost-sharing scholarship, with responsibilities shared among participating institutions, IUCEA, and beneficiaries.
Participating Universities
Host universities will provide:
- Full tuition fee waiver
- Examination fee waiver
IUCEA Secretariat
IUCEA will provide:
- Travel expenses
- Health insurance
- Research lump-sum funding for Master’s and PhD students
Student or Guardian
Beneficiaries will be responsible for:
- Accommodation
- Daily living expenses
- Other university administrative fees not covered by the scholarship
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must satisfy all of the following requirements:
- Be a national and resident of an East African Community Partner State.
- Apply to study at a participating university located outside their country of citizenship.
- Meet all academic admission requirements of the selected programme.
- Master’s and PhD applicants must possess at least an Upper Second-Class Honours, Distinction, or equivalent qualification.
- Master’s applicants must be below 35 years of age.
- PhD applicants must be below 45 years of age.
- Relevant work experience is considered an added advantage for PhD applicants.
Required Application Documents
Applicants must prepare and upload the following documents:
- Letter of motivation
- Updated and signed Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Certified copies of academic certificates
- Certified academic transcripts
- University application form together with required attachments
- Recent passport-sized colour photograph
- National ID, passport or birth certificate as proof of nationality
- Proof of residency issued by local authorities
- Evidence of leadership, community service, awards or achievements
- Additional supporting documents such as recommendation letters or medical reports where applicable
Applicants holding foreign academic qualifications must ensure they are officially equated by their national higher education commission or council before submission. Documents issued in languages other than English must be accompanied by certified English translations.
Application Process
Interested applicants should complete the following steps:
- Select an eligible programme from the official list of participating universities.
- Review the programme’s admission requirements.
- Prepare all required supporting documentation.
- Complete the online IUCEA scholarship application.
- Upload all required documents before the application deadline.
Applicants should not apply directly to participating universities, as IUCEA coordinates both admissions and scholarship processing on behalf of successful candidates.
Candidates already admitted to participating universities remain eligible to apply for the scholarship.
Wide Range of Academic Programmes
The 2026/2027 intake offers 164 academic programmes across multiple disciplines and study levels.
Some featured programmes include:
- Computer Science
- Information Technology
- International Studies
- Public Health
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics
- Renewable Energy
- Agriculture
- Mining Engineering
- Biotechnology
- Business Administration
- Statistics
- Education
- Environmental Science
- Food Science
- Public Administration
- Entrepreneurship
- Urban Planning
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Climate Change and Sustainability
- Public Health Informatics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Tourism
- Renewable Energy
- Medicine
- Nursing
- Physiotherapy
- Economics
- Political Science
- Security Studies
The diversity of programmes provides opportunities for students across numerous academic and professional disciplines.
Important Dates
Application Deadline: 20 August 2026
Scholarship Intake: 2026/2027 Academic Year
Why This Scholarship Matters
The EAC Student Mobility Scholarship Scheme is more than a financial support programme. It serves as a strategic investment in East Africa’s future by strengthening regional cooperation, encouraging knowledge exchange, promoting cultural understanding, and developing graduates capable of contributing to sustainable development across the East African Community.
Students gain international academic exposure while building networks with peers and institutions throughout the region, positioning themselves for future careers in academia, government, industry, entrepreneurship, and international development.
Eligible students from EAC Partner States are encouraged to prepare their applications early to maximize their chances of securing one of the 197 available scholarships.
