Here are some of the major scholarship program providers for students from developing countries:
- The Fulbright Program: It provides scholarships for students from 155 countries to study in the US. It offers opportunities for research, graduate and post-graduate study.
- The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program: It provides scholarships for students from Sub-Saharan Africa to study at universities in their home country, as well as Canada, the US and the UK. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate scholarships.
- The Chevening Scholarship: It is the UK government’s global scholarship program for students from 160 countries to pursue postgraduate study at UK universities.
- The Commonwealth Scholarship: It offers scholarships for students from Commonwealth countries for postgraduate study and PhD study in the UK.
- The DAAD Scholarship: It offers scholarships for students from developing countries for undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD study in Germany.
- The Erasmus Mundus Scholarship: It offers scholarships for students from third countries to pursue postgraduate studies in 2 or more European universities.
- The Rotary Peace Fellowship: It offers scholarships for professionals from developing countries to pursue Masters degrees in peace, conflict resolution and international development at universities worldwide.
- The Swedish Institute Scholarships: It offers scholarships for students from selected developing countries to pursue masters and PhD studies in Sweden.
- The Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship: It offers scholarships for students from developing countries to pursue postgraduate studies at Japanese universities.
- The Google Anthropic AI Scholarships: It offers scholarships for students from underrepresented groups including those from developing countries to study in Anthropic’s AI Safety training programs.
These are some of the largest and most prestigious scholarship programs available for students in developing countries. They offer tremendous opportunities for higher education at top universities around the world.
Which of these scholarship programs are available for undergraduate studies?
Among the scholarship programs I mentioned, the following offer undergraduate scholarships for students from developing countries:
- The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program: It provides undergraduate scholarships for students from Sub-Saharan Africa to study at universities in their home country, as well as Canada, the US and the UK.
- The Fulbright Program: In some countries, the Fulbright Program offers undergraduate scholarships and grants in addition to postgraduate opportunities. Students will need to check with the Fulbright commission in their country to see if undergraduate scholarships are available.
- The DAAD Scholarship: The DAAD Scholarship offers some undergraduate scholarships for students from developing countries to study in Germany. However, most of the scholarships are focused on postgraduate studies. Undergraduate students can explore options, but opportunities may be more limited.
- The Swedish Institute Scholarships: The Swedish Institute Scholarships offer a limited number of scholarships for undergraduate studies in Sweden. Most opportunities are for postgraduate studies, but students from select developing countries may be eligible to apply for undergraduate scholarships.
- The Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship: In some cases, the Joint Japan World Bank Scholarship provides undergraduate scholarships for students from developing countries to study in Japan. However, priority is typically given to postgraduate students.
So in summary, the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program and the Fulbright Program are two of the largest sources of undergraduate scholarships for students in developing countries. The DAAD, Swedish Institute and Joint Japan World Bank scholarships also offer some opportunities for undergraduate studies, but their primary focus is on postgraduate and PhD students.
What are the eligibility criteria for the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program?
The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program offers scholarships for students from Sub-Saharan Africa to study at universities in their home country, Canada, the US and the UK. The main eligibility criteria for the scholarships are:
- Nationality: You must be a citizen of a Sub-Saharan African country. The program includes all countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Residency: You must be residing in Sub-Saharan Africa at the time of application. Students living outside Africa are not eligible.
- Academic Merit: You must meet the minimum academic requirements for admission at the university you want to attend. The program looks for students with excellent academic results and potential.
- Financial Need: You must demonstrate financial need. The program aims to help disadvantaged students who are unable to afford higher education without assistance.
- Leadership Potential: The program looks for students who show leadership qualities and potential. Extracurricular activities, community involvement and entrepreneurial initiatives are viewed positively.
- Study Plan: You must have a clear study and career plan. The program aims to support students who know what they want to study and are motivated to build a career to contribute to their community.
- Commitment to community service: Applicants must show a commitment to give back to their community and country. The program aims to support students who want to use their education to drive positive change.
- Application requirements: You must complete the official application and submit all required documents like academic transcripts, test scores, references, etc. before the application deadline.
- University admission: You must gain admission at one of the partner universities to receive the scholarship. The program does not provide admission, only funding.
Those are the key eligibility and application criteria for the MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program. If you meet all these requirements and show outstanding potential, you have a good chance of being selected. But the program is very competitive, receiving many more applications than scholarships available.