Mauritius–Africa Scholarship Scheme 2027

The Mauritius–Africa Scholarship Scheme is a fully funded government scholarship from the Republic of Mauritius for full-time, on-campus undergraduate and postgraduate study at public higher education institutions in Mauritius. It is offered by the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Research for the 2027 academic year, and applications for the 2027 round are open.

Overview

The Government of the Republic of Mauritius offers the Mauritius–Africa Scholarship Scheme to deserving students who are resident citizens of active member states of the African Union or African Commonwealth countries. The scheme funds full-time, on-campus Diploma, undergraduate degree, MPhil, MPhil/PhD and PhD programmes at public Higher Education Institutions in Mauritius, for the intake starting in July, September or October 2027. It is the Government of Mauritius’s flagship scholarship for students from across Africa, and selection is made on merit.

Scholarship Benefits

• Tuition and study costs: an annual payment of fees and other study-related costs (general, annual and miscellaneous fees, laboratory consumables) up to MUR 100,000 per year for beneficiaries from SADC countries and up to MUR 160,000 per year for beneficiaries from non-SADC countries (2027). Fees above those limits are paid by the awardee.
• Living allowance: MUR 16,500 per month (2027), paid monthly into the awardee’s bank account in Mauritius on evidence of attendance and satisfactory progress.
• Airfare: a return airfare by the most economical route — from the country of origin at the start of studies and back on completion. Awardees buy the outward ticket themselves and claim a refund on arrival with the original receipts.
• Healthcare: free healthcare in public hospitals in Mauritius. Awardees arrange their own travel insurance and may take out medical insurance for the duration of their studies.
• Student visa: the host institution initiates the student visa process with the Passport and Immigration Office, which issues a provisional entry permit before travel.

What it does NOT cover: accommodation is not provided — awardees must arrange it with their institution in advance. Awardees must arrive with funds for their air ticket plus at least USD 1,000 for the first three months. Books, fieldwork abroad and examination re-sits or repeated years are paid by the student, and no request for an extension of the scholarship or for additional grants is entertained. Family members’ travel and living costs are the awardee’s own.

Eligibility Criteria

• Nationality: resident citizens of active member states of the African Union or African Commonwealth countries. Mauritian nationals are not eligible.
• Age: for undergraduate programmes, above 18 years of age and not yet 26 by 1 January 2028. For MPhil, MPhil/PhD and PhD programmes, not yet 40 by 1 January 2028.
• Undergraduate degree: completed end-of-secondary schooling with at least 21 points at GCE or HSC A-Level (three principal subjects), or an overall average of 60%, or 12/20, or an equivalent qualification. Applicants who already hold an undergraduate degree are not considered.
• Diploma: a minimum of five credits at School Certificate, GCE O-Level or IGCSE, including a credit in English, or an equivalent qualification. Applicants who already hold at least a diploma are not considered.
• English: where the language of instruction in the qualifying examination was not English, a TOEFL score of 550 (paper-based), 213 (computer-based) or 79 (internet-based), or an IELTS score of 5.5, or other acceptable proof of English proficiency.
• MPhil / MPhil-PhD: a recognised undergraduate degree with at least an upper second class (or CPA/GPA above 60%), preferably with a Master’s degree for MPhil/PhD.
• PhD: direct entry as required by the chosen institution.
• Other rules: applicants must have applied for a full-time, on-campus programme at a public Mauritian institution for the 2027 academic year. Part-time, distance and mixed/blended programmes are not covered. Self-financing students already studying in Mauritius cannot apply for the same level of study under this scheme.

Available Fields

All fields of study offered as full-time, on-campus programmes at the participating public institutions in Mauritius, including the University of Mauritius, the University of Technology Mauritius, Université des Mascareignes, the Open University of Mauritius, the Mahatma Gandhi Institute, the Rabindranath Tagore Institute, Polytechnics Mauritius Ltd and the Academy of Design and Innovation. The award is made for the first-choice programme for which the applicant has obtained a seat, and awardees may not transfer to another institution or change their course once the scholarship is granted.

Required Documents

• Completed Mauritius–Africa Scholarship Application Form 2027.
• Certified copy of the birth certificate.
• Certified copy of the passport biodata page, if available.
• Certified copies of educational certificates and transcripts (originals must be shown to the Ministry within two weeks of arrival in Mauritius; certificates not in English or French need a certified translation).
• Copy of a conditional offer letter from a public Mauritian institution, if available, or the receipt for the institution’s application fee (the fee is refunded to successful applicants).
• Medical certificate, filled in and stamped by a registered medical practitioner in Section 6 of the application form.
• For MPhil, MPhil/PhD and PhD applicants, in addition: a letter of acceptance from the proposed supervisor(s) and an abridged research proposal.
• Successful candidates will also need a certificate of character, good conduct or equivalent from the competent authorities in their country of origin, for visa processing.

Application Process

1. Apply for admission first. Apply for at least one full-time, on-campus programme at a public Mauritian institution as soon as its application window opens. Postgraduate applicants must apply for a seat by the end of January 2027, and must have a confirmed seat at the time of final selection.
2. Download the 2027 application form and guidelines from the official Mauritius–Africa Scholarship Scheme page of the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Research.
3. Submit the completed form and all documents to the National Nominating Agency in the country of citizenship (usually part of the Ministry of Education), by the deadline that agency communicates. Applications must NOT be sent directly to Mauritius — direct applications are not accepted, and applications without the Nominating Agency’s endorsement are not considered.
4. The Nominating Agency shortlists and nominates candidates and forwards the application packs to Mauritius: soft copies by 17 March 2027 and hard copies by 31 March 2027.
5. Selection is made on merit by the Ministry, once the institution has confirmed a seat. Successful applicants are informed through their Nominating Agency and receive a Scholarship Agreement Form. Candidates who hear nothing within six months of the deadline should consider that they were not selected.
6. Within two weeks of arrival in Mauritius, awardees meet the Ministry, submit the signed agreement, show the originals of all qualifications, and undergo a medical check-up as required for the student visa.

Important Dates

Event	Date
Postgraduate applicants: apply for a seat at a Mauritian institution	By end of January 2027
Soft copies of all documents (via Nominating Agency)	17 March 2027
Hard copies of all documents (via Nominating Agency)	31 March 2027
Intake	July / September / October 2027, depending on the institution

Applications for the 2027 round are open. The deadline is 31 March 2027 for hard copies, and 17 March 2027 for soft copies. Each National Nominating Agency sets its own earlier internal deadline — check with the agency in your country first.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the Mauritius–Africa Scholarship pay?

Tuition and study costs up to MUR 100,000 per year for SADC-country beneficiaries and MUR 160,000 per year for non-SADC beneficiaries, a living allowance of MUR 16,500 per month, and a return airfare by the most economical route (2027 figures).

Can I apply directly to the Ministry in Mauritius?

No. Applications must go through the National Nominating Agency in your country of citizenship. Direct applications to Mauritius are not accepted.

Who can apply?

Resident citizens of active member states of the African Union or African Commonwealth countries. Mauritian nationals are not eligible. Undergraduate applicants must be above 18 and not yet 26 by 1 January 2028; postgraduate applicants must not yet be 40 by 1 January 2028.

How long does the scholarship last?

Up to 3 years for a Diploma (3 years 6 months for the National Diploma in Nursing), up to 4 years for a degree, up to 2 years for an MPhil, up to 3 years for a PhD, plus up to 6 months for thesis defence where applicable. No extensions are granted.

Do I need to have applied to a university before I apply for the scholarship?

Yes. You must have applied for a full-time, on-campus programme at a public Mauritian institution, and you submit either the offer letter or the application-fee receipt with your scholarship application. Postgraduate applicants must apply for a seat by the end of January 2027.

Official source: Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Research — Mauritius–Africa Scholarship Scheme