Category: Community Action

Here is a 2017 list of opportunities that got me sharing and retweeting. Just for you, I read through them, so you do not have to – and tailored them for Kenyans. All the best!

1. Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Kenya – The Government of Kenya regularly updates this list of scholarships directed from various countries for Kenyan citizens. This list is deep, so, definitely worth a try.
2. Fulbright for Foreign Students (non-US citizens) : These are administered through the country Fulbright Commissions or U.S. Embassies (portal link) For example, if you are from Kenya, you are redirected to the Kenya site, with more information, and an actual email address to a real person. In this case, the Musician and Orchestra Conductor, Mr Ken Wakia, a past Fulbright recipient is the Chairman of the Kenya Fulbright Scholars Association, and is the main contact (email him)
3. If you are interested in studying in the USA, go to:
   1. EducationUSA : This site offers a wealth of information about scholarships, English language learning, cultural exchanges, and other options available from the US.
   2. EducationUSA Kenya Advisory Services: They offer advice through general sessions held regularly in Nairobi. I attended the general session when I was applying, and later sought further advice through tailored paid sessions back in 2004/5. Now, students have many more options, including #3 below.
   3. For high achieving students (B+ and above in the KCSE) with a desire to study in the USA, they do offer a number of limited slots to assist students with the cost and process of application to the US  through the EducationUSA Scholars program. know at least one young woman who contacted them through the EducationUSA Kenya FB Page, and won one of these spots, and is now studying in the USA.
4. Austria: Undergraduates, Graduates, Postgraduates and PhD students who are citizens of any country apart from Austria can apply for the Scholarship of the Scholarship Foundation of the Republic of Austria for Undergraduates, Graduates and Postgraduates which is a grant for research promotion, or search the Austrian scholarships database for specific courses of study at Scholarships.at. You can click through and find more information in English too.
5. Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship: Nationals of  Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Syria, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Madagascar and Mozambique are eligible to apply (and a few others if you are currently resident in France, Portugal, Canada, USA and UK) for postgraduate studies. You must also be interested in development-related studies and have no other means of financing your education.  In case you do not get this one, the AKF shares a longer list of other sources of scholarships to which you can apply too.
6. Chevening Scholarship for the UK: Chevening is the UK Government’s international awards scheme aimed at developing global leaders. Funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) and partner organisations, Chevening offers two types of award – Chevening Scholarships and Chevening Fellowships – the recipients of which are personally selected by British embassies and high commissions throughout the world. Applications for Chevening Scholarships and some Chevening Fellowships open between 7 August and 7 November 2017. Kenya applicants check this page
7. Endeavour Scholarship Awards in Australia: The Australia Awards–Endeavour Scholarships and Fellowships are the Australian Government’s competitive, merit-based scholarships and fellowships providing opportunities for Australians to undertake study, research or professional development overseas and for overseas citizens to do the same in Australia. But before you apply, check out what other international students have to say about their experiences
8. Swedish Institute Scholarship Study Scholarships: Scholarships cover both living costs and tuition fees. An estimated 335 scholarships will be available for master’s level studies in Sweden starting in the autumn semester 2017. Kenya is eligible, among other countries. Of importance, is that you need to check their criteria, plus demonstrate you are SI scholarship ready, including 3,000 hours of relevant work, internship or other trustworthy responsibility.
9. Scholarships to study in Flanders, Belgium are open to African, Asian and Latin American applicants from 31 countries 
10. NZAID Scholarships in New Zealand: The NZ Government funds several key scholarships for students in the Pacific. However, for Kenyan applicants, the New Zealand Development Scholarship is likely to be your targeted application if you are looking to do a Postgraduate Certificate (6 months), Postgraduate Diploma (1 year), Master’s Degree (1 – 2 years) or your PhD (3 – 4 years) and the New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarship for Master’s Degree (1 – 2 years) + PhD (up to 3.5 years)
11. Germany DAAD – Graduates with 2 years of work experience can apply for the Deutsche Akademische Austauschdienst / German Academic Exchange Service scholarships. Read more about them