A 2:2 degree, called a Lower Second Class Honours: does not close the door on fully funded international scholarships. It closes some doors and opens others. The scholarship programmes that remain available to you are often less well-known, which means lower competition and better odds than the Chevening-and-Rhodes conversation most people are stuck in.
This guide covers every fully funded postgraduate scholarship genuinely accessible to African students with a 2:2, what 2:2 means in each African grading system, and the strategy you need to make the most of your application.
The honest picture: around 19 fully funded scholarships on the StudiePoint database are accessible to 2:2 graduates (GPA threshold of 2.8/4.0 or below, or no stated GPA). Across all African grading systems and countries, this represents a realistic, non-trivial set of opportunities, particularly in Asia, the Middle East, and through development-focused funders like Norad, IsDB, OFID, and the Aga Khan Foundation.
The term '2:2' originates from the British classification system, but African universities use a wide range of grading scales. Here is what a 2:2 (Lower Second Class Honours) translates to across the major African grading systems: **Nigerian 5.0 scale:** CGPA 3.00–3.49 out of 5.0. This is the most common grading system in West Africa, used by University of Lagos, University of Ibadan, UNILAG, ABU Zaria, and most federal and state universities. Students with CGPA 3.5–3.99 hold a 2:1; CGPA 4.0–5.0 is First Class. **Ghanaian letter grade system:** 2:2 equates to a B average (Second Class Lower), approximately 55–59% aggregate across final-year courses. This system is used by University of Ghana (Legon), KNUST, UCC, and UDS. **Kenyan system:** 2:2 is the Second Class Lower Division at Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Moi, and Strathmore: typically a cumulative grade point between 2.50–2.99 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent. **South African percentage system:** 2:2 corresponds roughly to 55–64% cumulative average. A 2:1 is 65–74%; a First Class is 75%+. Used by UCT, Wits, Stellenbosch, UP, UKZN, and others. **Ethiopian system:** Ethiopia uses a 4.0 scale; 2:2 maps to CGPA 2.50–2.99. Used by Addis Ababa University and regional universities. **East African systems (Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda):** University of Dar es Salaam, Makerere, and University of Rwanda all use a 5.0 or 4.0 GPA scale with classifications similar to the British system. 2:2 typically corresponds to CGPA 2.50–2.99 on 4.0, or 3.00–3.49 on 5.0. **Francophone African system (26 countries. Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire, Cameroon, DRC, Mali, Burkina Faso, etc.):** Uses the French 20-point scale. 2:2 equivalent is approximately 12–13/20 cumulative average. Mention moyenne (average) specifically in applications. European selectors understand this reference. **When you apply for scholarships, use the StudiePoint GPA converter** to get the standardised 4.0-scale figure to include on your scholarship application. Many non-UK scholarship bodies use the 4.0 scale as their benchmark, and a Nigerian 3.2/5.0 (2:2) converts to approximately 2.8/4.0, right at the accessible threshold for several major scholarships.
Using the '2:2 Friendly' filter on the StudiePoint scholarships page shows all programmes with a GPA threshold of 2.8/4.0 or below. As of May 2026, 19 fully funded scholarships qualify. The most significant are: **By country of study:** *Asia:* - Japan MEXT Scholarship. No GPA cutoff; aptitude-tested. One of the best-value scholarships globally. Full tuition + ¥145,000/month + flights. - Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC), 2.5/4.0 minimum. 280+ universities across China. Full tuition + stipend + free accommodation. - Malaysian International Scholarship (MIS), 2.75/4.0 minimum. English-medium. Full tuition + RM 1,500/month. - Taiwan ICDF Scholarship, 2.8/4.0. Full tuition + NT$15,000–17,500/month + flights. STEM and development focus. - Brunei BDGS, 2.5/4.0. Open to all Commonwealth African countries. Full package including accommodation. - Korean Government Scholarship (KGSP), 2.64/4.0. Already on StudiePoint. Full package. *Europe:* - Norwegian Government Scholarship (Norad), 2.5/4.0 effective. Development-focused. Open to Norad priority African countries. - Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary), 2.8/4.0. Growing programme with diverse degree options. - Türkiye Burslari (Turkey), 2.8/4.0. 300+ universities; huge programme open to all African nationalities. - DAAD EPOS, 2.8/4.0. Development-related German programmes in English. *Middle East / International:* - IsDB Merit Scholarship, 2.8/4.0. OIC member country nationals. Full tuition + $1,500/month. STEM focus. ~30+ African countries eligible. - OFID Scholarship, 2.8/4.0. Any university worldwide. $100,000 total award. All African nationalities. *Africa-based or flexible:* - Aga Khan Foundation. No GPA minimum. Leadership and experience weighted. East and Southern Africa eligibility. Places at Oxford, LSE, Harvard, Sciences Po. - ICCR (India), 2.8/4.0. All African nationalities. Full tuition + stipend. - AMCI (Morocco), 2.8/4.0. Francophone and Arabic-speaking African students. - OKP Netherlands, 2.8/4.0. Mid-career professionals from partner countries.
A 2:2 changes your strategy, but it does not eliminate your strategy. Here is what to do differently: **1. Lead with experience, not GPA.** Every scholarship listed above either does not check GPA rigidly or weights work experience and community impact strongly. Your SOP and personal statement must centre on what you have built, what problems you have solved, and what you have done since graduation, not on defending your grades. **2. Contextualise your grades.** If your 2:2 was affected by a specific circumstance (health, bereavement, financial difficulty, family responsibility), academic scholarship applications almost universally allow you to address this. A one-paragraph honest explanation in your SOP removes the question from the committee's mind. Do not leave it unexplained. **3. Target the right scholarship types.** Development-funders (IsDB, OFID, Norad, Aga Khan), government-quota programmes (MEXT, CSC, Russia, Brunei, Malaysia), and regional schemes (Stipendium Hungaricum, Türkiye Burslari) are structurally more accessible than prestige-brand scholarships (Chevening, Gates, Rhodes). Spend your application energy where your GPA is not an automatic disqualifier. **4. Get more references.** When your grades are not your strongest asset, references carry more weight. Seek out a senior professional who has seen your work: an employer, NGO director, government official, alongside an academic. A powerful professional reference can shift a borderline application. **5. Consider a bridge year.** If you have recently graduated with a 2:2, one year of focused professional work in your field, in a registered NGO, government body, or development organisation, significantly expands your scholarship options. IsDB, OFID, Norad, and the Aga Khan Foundation all favour or require demonstrable professional experience.
Yes: around 19 fully funded scholarships on the StudiePoint platform are accessible to students with a 2:2 (Lower Second Class). The most accessible are the Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC), Japanese MEXT, Malaysian International Scholarship, Norwegian Government Scholarship (Norad), Brunei BDGS, IsDB Merit Scholarship, OFID Scholarship, Türkiye Burslari, and Stipendium Hungaricum. These are open to African students from most or all 54 countries. Your Nigerian 3.0–3.49/5.0 CGPA or Ghanaian 2:2 Honours is competitive for all of them.
For scholarship purposes, 2:2 graduates typically have a GPA of approximately 2.5–2.8 on the 4.0 scale after proper conversion. A Nigerian CGPA of 3.0/5.0 converts to ~2.5/4.0; 3.4/5.0 converts to ~2.8/4.0. A South African 55% converts to ~2.5/4.0; 64% to ~2.8/4.0. Use the StudiePoint GPA converter to get your precise figure before applying, and always include the conversion in your application.
No: the Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme does not state a minimum GPA. Selection is holistic, heavily weighted towards leadership, community impact, financial need, and career direction. A 2:2 graduate with two or more years of meaningful professional experience in development, health, education, or public service is genuinely competitive. You must be a citizen of an AKF designated country: in Africa these include Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Mozambique, Madagascar, Rwanda, South Africa, and Burkina Faso (verify with your local AKF office).
Yes. MEXT does not use GPA as a hard filter. The Japanese Embassy administers aptitude tests (mathematics, your subject area, and English) as part of the selection process, and these tests carry more weight than your undergraduate classification. A 2:2 graduate who performs well on aptitude tests and submits a strong research plan, ideally with a Letter of Acceptance from a Japanese professor: is a competitive MEXT applicant. Contact a Japanese professor in your research area before applying.
Yes, in most cases. If your 2:2 was affected by a specific circumstance, illness, family difficulty, financial hardship, bereavement, most scholarship applications have a space for 'additional information' where you can address this briefly and honestly. One clear, factual paragraph is sufficient. If your 2:2 reflects broader academic performance without a specific circumstance, focus your statement on what you have achieved since graduation, professional growth, community leadership, and skill development, rather than on your undergraduate record.
Last updated: May 2026. Find scholarships on StudiePoint AI →