Global Futures Scholarships (Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe)

The University of Manchester is proud to offer more than 300 awards to international students starting their studies in September 2026. The total value of scholarships offered will be more than £6 million, and are open to students applying for undergraduate and master’s degrees.

Undergraduate awards 

We’re proud to offer more than 100 merit-based undergraduate scholarships of up to £30,0000 (£10,000 per year over three years) to international students from a selection of countries across the globe.

The Global Futures Scholarships for Africa are open to applicants domiciled in the following countries: Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Please note the application form will only be made available once you’ve applied for an eligible course and received an offer.

Award details

Each award comprises £10,000 for the first year of study with a further £10,000 in the second and third years. Continuation of the award is conditional on attainment of 60% in final exams and assessments each year. Scholarships will be awarded as a discount on published international tuition fees.

You must be taking one of the following qualifications: A-level, IB, South African Matric (NSC or IEB), NCUK International Foundation Year or Bridge House College Foundation.

Scholarships will be awarded based on academic excellence, predicted and achieved grades, and your online application form, which will be emailed to all eligible offer-holders.

Awardees will be selected based on academic merit, but we’ll try to achieve a balance in the allocation of the awards by gender, domicile, qualification type and course of study.

Eligibility criteria

• Applications will be considered from international fee-paying students domiciled in the following countries: Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

• To be considered as domiciled in these countries, applicants must have predominantly resided there during the last three years.

• We consider your permanent country of residence to be the country you’re ordinarily resident, not a country where you’re only living for full-time education.

• You must be applying for direct first-year entry in 2026 and have, or be working towards, one of the following qualifications:

• • A-levels

  • IB Diploma

  • South African NSC or IEB

  • NCUK International Foundation Year

• Application deadlines will vary by the qualification taken.

• Scholarship applications from A-level, IB and NCUK IFY students will be assessed on any previous examinations, predicted grades in the above-listed qualifications and the strength of the personal statement.

• Scholarships for South African NSC/IEB students will be based on the results released in January 2026 and the strength of the personal statement.

• You must be self-funded (not sponsored).

• You must have selected The University of Manchester as your ‘Firm’ UCAS choice by 25 May 2026.

• The award applies only to full-time courses delivered at The University of Manchester’s UK campus.

Not eligible

• Medicine (MBChB), Dentistry (BDS), Architecture, or any courses with an integrated foundation year.

• Those who’ve previously studied in the UK.

• Blended and distance learning programmes.

Applications are considered in two rounds according to the qualification you’re taking:

• A-level, IB or NCUK IFY should apply by 09 April 2026.

• South African NSC or IEB or November series A-level or those who already hold results from an accepted qualification should apply by 26 February 2026.

Master’s awards 

The University of Manchester is proud to offer more than 200 merit-based master’s scholarships to prospective international students from a range of countries across the globe.

The value of The Global Futures Scholarships for African students is £18,000. Scholarships will be awarded as a discount on published overseas tuition fees.

Within Africa, the awards are open to applicants domiciled in the following countries: Botswana, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Please note: the application form will only be made available once you’ve applied and been made an offer (either conditional or unconditional).

Award details

The scholarships of £18,000 will be awarded based on academic excellence and the quality of your online application form.

Scholarships will be awarded as a discount on published overseas tuition fees.

Summary of eligibility criteria

• Applications will be considered from international fee-paying students domiciled in: Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Egypt, Botswana, Mauritius, Zimbabwe and South Africa.

• To be considered as ‘domiciled’ in these countries, you must have predominantly lived there during the last three years.

• We consider your permanent country of residence to be the country you’re ordinarily resident, not a country where you’re only living for full-time education.

• You must hold an unconditional offer to study a full-time, on-campus master’s course at The University of Manchester starting in September 2026 by 23 April 2026 and submit an online scholarship application form by the same deadline. The form will be emailed to all eligible offer-holders.

• You’ll be considered based on academic merit and the quality of your scholarship application, but we’ll try to achieve a balance by gender, domicile and course in the allocation of the awards.

• You must be self-funded (not sponsored).

Not eligible

• MBA, MPhil, Master of Architecture (MArch), Architecture and Urbanism (MA), Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA), Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), Clinical Medicine and Dentistry degrees.

• Those who’ve studied a Bachelor’s degree outside of Africa.

• Blended and distance learning programmes.

You must hold an unconditional offer to study a full-time master’s course at Manchester and submit an online scholarship application form by 23 April 2026.