Scholarship
Nursing Scholarships in Africa: A Complete 2026/2027 Guide
If you have ever delayed getting a nursing degree, a Master’s degree, or an educator certification because of money, you are not alone. Tuition, accommodation, books, and daily living costs can make it difficult for nurses across Africa to specialise, teach, or pursue further education. The good news is that nursing scholarships in Africa and other education funding opportunities are available to nurses and aspiring nurses across Africa. The real challenge is finding genuine opportunities, relevant to nursing, currently active, and worth your time. This guide brings together verified nursing scholarships in Africa and nursing-relevant funding opportunities for African nurses and aspiring nurses. It explains the different types of funding available, common eligibility requirements, and how to apply. Every opportunity mentioned here includes a link to its official website. Where an application window has closed for the current cycle, we state it clearly. Quick Answer: Nursing Scholarships in Africa at a Glance NANNNA Nurse Educator Scholarship: Nursing-specific funding for eligible Nigerian nurses pursuing further training in nursing education. Burdett Fellows Scholarship: Postgraduate funding for selected nursing, midwifery, and related programmes at King’s College London. Commonwealth Shared Scholarships: Funded Master’s study in selected UK programmes, including health-related courses relevant to nurses. DAAD In-Country/In-Region Scholarships: Postgraduate funding for eligible programmes at selected African institutions. Japan Africa Dream Scholarship (JADS): Master’s-level funding in selected fields, including health-related areas. University of Dundee Vice Chancellor’s Africa Scholarship: Partial tuition funding for eligible African students in qualifying postgraduate programmes. Understanding Nursing Scholarships in Africa Nursing education funding can come from several sources. Understanding these categories helps you focus your search and avoid applying for opportunities that do not match your situation. Government-backed scholarships: National and international scholarship programmes may support nursing or related postgraduate study. University scholarships: Universities may offer full or partial tuition support based on programme, nationality, academic performance, or other criteria. Professional development scholarships: Nursing organisations may fund further training in nursing education, leadership, research, or other areas. Corporate and foundation funding: Companies, healthcare organisations, and foundations may occasionally provide funding for nursing education. Note that not every scholarship that accepts African students is a nursing scholarship. Some broader awards are relevant to nurses only when their chosen programme meets the scholarship’s requirements. Related: Career Progression in Nursing Scholarships for Undergraduate Nursing Students in Africa Finding fully funded undergraduate nursing scholarships can be challenging because many major international programmes focus on postgraduate education. Undergraduate opportunities are more often offered by governments, universities, foundations, and other organisations. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program provides education opportunities through participating universities and organisations. It is not a nursing-specific scholarship, and not every partner institution offers nursing. For aspiring nurses, the important step is to check whether a current partner institution offers an eligible nursing programme. Nursing relevance: Programme-dependent Funding: Varies by participating institution How to apply: Applications are handled by participating universities and organisations. Government and University Scholarships National scholarship boards, education ministries, universities, and other organisations may offer funding for undergraduate nursing education. Funding and eligibility vary by country and institution. Check your national or state scholarship board, Ministry of Education, and the official website of your chosen university for current opportunities. Postgraduate Nursing Scholarships for African Nurses Postgraduate nurses often have more scholarship opportunities than undergraduate applicants. However, note that not every opportunity is labelled as a nursing scholarship. Some support nursing directly, while others fund areas such as clinical research, public health, palliative care, health systems, or health education. Direct Nursing Scholarships 1. NANNNA Nurse Educator Scholarship The NANNNA Nurse Educator Scholarship supports eligible Nigerian nurses pursuing further training in nursing education. Nursing relevance: Direct Study area: Nursing education Funding: Tuition support for eligible nurse-educator programmes Who can apply: Eligible Nigerian nurses who meet the scholarship requirements How to apply: Check the official NANNNA website for the current application cycle and requirements. Because application dates can change, confirm the current information before applying. Read also: How To Become An Oncology Nurse in Africa 2. Burdett Fellows Scholarship at King’s College London The Burdett Fellows Scholarship is one of the most directly relevant opportunities for nurses and midwives pursuing postgraduate study. Funded by the Burdett Trust for Nursing, it supports nursing leadership and research capacity. For 2026/27, the international award included university fees and an annual stipend of £18,765. Eligible programmes included MSc Clinical Nursing, MRes Clinical Research, and MSc Palliative Care. The application deadline was 22 May 2026, so this cycle is now closed. (King’s College London) Nursing relevance: Direct Study level: Postgraduate 2026/27 status: Closed Next step: Monitor King’s College London’s funding page for the next cycle. Nursing-Relevant Broader Scholarships …
