Europe as a whole offers more fully funded scholarship opportunities for African students than any other continent. Between the European Union's Erasmus Mundus programme, Germany's DAAD, the Netherlands' Orange Knowledge Programme, Belgium's VLIR-UOS, Sweden's Swedish Institute Scholarships, and dozens of country-specific programmes, there is an accessible route for African students at almost every academic level and GPA range.
Europe's additional advantage is geographic, flight times from West Africa to Europe are 6–9 hours, making family visits affordable. Many European countries also have significant African diaspora communities, particularly in France, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, and the UK.
This guide covers fully funded scholarships across the major European destinations, with practical information on GPA requirements, visa processes, and cost of living.
The Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree (EMJMD) programme is funded by the European Commission and offers one of the most generous scholarship packages available. Winners study at two or three European universities across different countries, receiving a monthly stipend of €1,400, travel allowances between countries, tuition fee waivers, and installation support. The programme has no specific African quota: it is genuinely competitive globally, but African students consistently receive a significant share of awards. The acceptance rate is approximately 20% of completed applications.
The Orange Knowledge Programme (OKP) is the Netherlands' government scholarship for students from developing countries, including most African nations. It covers short courses and master's programmes at Dutch universities. One of its key advantages is a lower GPA threshold (2.8 minimum) and a focus on mid-career professionals, making it accessible to people who have been working for a few years since graduating. Dutch universities are internationally ranked, English-friendly, and located in a country with a strong Nigerian, Ghanaian, and Ethiopian diaspora.
Sweden's Swedish Institute Scholarships for Global Professionals (SISGP) have no GPA minimum: they evaluate leadership potential, relevance of the proposed study to the applicant's home country, and professional experience. This makes them one of the most accessible scholarships in Europe for students who may not have an outstanding academic GPA but have strong professional track records. The scholarship covers tuition, living expenses, travel, and insurance.
Germany has the highest volume of scholarship programmes through DAAD and Erasmus Mundus. The UK has the most prestigious individual scholarships (Chevening, Gates Cambridge, Rhodes). Belgium and the Netherlands have programmes specifically designed for African students. Overall, Germany and the UK combined offer the widest range.
Not necessarily. Many European scholarship programmes are offered in English-only tracks. Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Belgium in particular have a large number of English-medium postgraduate programmes. France and Spain have fewer English-only options. If your target programme is in English, standard IELTS 6.0–6.5 or TOEFL 80–90 is all you need.
The Schengen Area covers 27 European countries. A student visa in one Schengen country (e.g., Germany, Netherlands, or France) allows travel within the Schengen Area for up to 90 days per 180-day period. The UK, Ireland, and Switzerland are not in the Schengen Area and have separate visa regimes. Your national student visa for your host country does not automatically allow you to take up employment in another Schengen country.
You apply directly through each Erasmus Mundus programme's own application portal, not through a central EU application. Each programme sets its own requirements and deadlines, typically between October and January for the following academic year. You must apply to the programme (the consortium of universities), not to individual universities. The StudiePoint scholarship database lists specific Erasmus Mundus tracks relevant to African students.
If you are on an Erasmus Mundus scholarship, switching between the partner universities in different countries is part of the programme design, you are required to study at multiple partner universities. For national scholarships (DAAD, OKP), your visa is tied to your host country and you would need to update your visa status if you move.
Last updated: April 2026. Find scholarships on StudiePoint AI →