Equity and Merit Scholarships for international master’s students (Tanzania, Ethiopia, Malawi, Uganda)
The University of Manchester is committed to supporting a more equitable and sustainable future for all. Through our Equity and Merit Scholarships, we aim to empower talented individuals from the Global South to drive meaningful change in their home countries.
Equity and Merit Scholarships are open to academically excellent students from Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe, who can demonstrate the potential to make a significant contribution to sustainable development in their communities at local, national or regional level.
The awards are intended for applicants who would not otherwise be able to study in Manchester without financial support. We are committed to equal opportunity, and all applications are assessed on their merits. We particularly encourage women to apply.
We offer two types of scholarship:
- Full-time, on-campus master’s (one-year)
- Part-time, distance learning master’s (three to five years)
There are 30 scholarships (20 for full-time study and ten for online study) available for a range of courses in engineering, environment, health sciences, global development, education and law.
The scholarships cover full tuition fees, and for students who will be studying in Manchester, the award includes return international airfares, living expenses and visas.
Eligibility
Our master’s scholarships are aimed at talented applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds.
To apply for a scholarship, you must:
- be a resident citizen of Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda or Zimbabwe;
- hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognised institution with the required grade. Your degree must be awarded before September 2025. Please check the list of Eligible Qualifications for Equity and Merit Scholarships to ensure you meet our academic requirements;
- have at least two years’ professional experience related to your chosen field of study – this excludes unpaid internships or voluntary work;
- be committed to returning home and be able to demonstrate the potential to make a positive impact on the future of your home country;
- have a clear idea of how studying at Manchester will benefit both your career and the wider community;
- have not previously studied outside of Africa (training of six months or less does not count).
How to Apply
Scholarship applications for September 2027 entry will open on 1 August 2026 and close on 31 August 2026.
You can view a sample application form to help you prepare.
To apply, use this: Equity and Merit Scholarships: 2027/28 application form.
Application process
Eligibility
If you meet the eligibility requirements for the Equity and Merit Scholarship, we will:
- Invite you to apply for your chosen master’s course
- Ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification that meets the requirements for that course
Shortlisting
- You must hold an unconditional offer for your master’s course before you can be shortlisted for the scholarship.
We will contact all applicants to confirm the outcome of their application by June 2027.
Application timeline for 2027/28
| 1 to 31 August 2026 | Applications for the scholarship are open |
| September 2026 | We review applications to check eligibility |
| 1 to 31 October 2026 | Eligible applicants are invited to apply for their chosen master’s course |
| 30 November 2026 | Deadline to submit your English language qualification |
| November 2026 to May 2027 | Applications are assessed |
| June 2027 | Scholarship decisions are announced |
| September 2027 | Start of the academic year |