EAC Student Mobility Scheme
EAC Student Mobility Scheme 2026/2027: 197 Scholarships Across East Africa
The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) has announced the 3rd Cohort of the EAC Student Mobility Scheme (EAC-SMS) for the 2026/2027 academic year, offering 197 scholarship opportunities to qualified nationals of EAC Partner States.
The scholarships enable students to study in an EAC Partner State other than their country of nationality, promoting regional integration, academic exchange and mobility across East Africa.
Scholarship Overview
A total of 197 scholarships are available across 28 participating universities in six EAC Partner States.
| Level of Study | Number of Scholarships |
|---|---|
| Diploma | 1 |
| Bachelor’s/Undergraduate | 95 |
| Master’s | 90 |
| PhD | 11 |
| Total | 197 |
Scholarships by Host Country
- 🇧🇮 Burundi: 35 scholarships – 4 universities
- 🇰🇪 Kenya: 49 scholarships – 9 universities
- 🇷🇼 Rwanda: 16 scholarships – 2 universities
- 🇸🇸 South Sudan: 12 scholarships – 1 university
- 🇹🇿 Tanzania: 48 scholarships – 6 universities
- 🇺🇬 Uganda: 37 scholarships – 7 universities
What Does the Scholarship Cover?
The EAC Student Mobility Scheme is a cost-sharing programme involving IUCEA, host universities and students.
Host Universities
Participating host universities provide:
- Tuition fee waivers
- Examination fee waivers for students from other EAC Partner States
IUCEA Secretariat
IUCEA covers:
- Travel expenses
- Health insurance
- Research lump-sum support for Master’s and PhD students
Student/Guardian Contribution
Students or their guardians are responsible for:
- Accommodation
- Daily living expenses
- Other university fees not covered by the scholarship
Therefore, applicants should note that this is not necessarily a full-cost-of-living scholarship.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be a national and resident of an EAC Partner State.
- Provide evidence of nationality such as a national ID, passport or birth certificate.
- Apply for an eligible programme at a university in an EAC Partner State other than their own country.
- Meet the academic admission requirements of the selected programme.
- Master’s and PhD applicants should have an Upper Second-Class Honours, Distinction or equivalent, as applicable.
- Master’s applicants must be below 35 years of age at the time of application.
- PhD applicants must be below 45 years of age at the time of application.
- Relevant work experience is an added advantage for PhD applicants.
Examples of Available Programmes
The 2026/2027 catalogue contains 164 programmes across different levels and countries.
Examples include:
Bachelor’s Programmes
- BSc Computer Science
- BSc Computer Networks and Cyber Security
- Bachelor of Information Systems & Technology
- Bachelor of Education
- Bachelor of Commerce
- Bachelor of Business Administration
- Bachelor of Statistics
- Bachelor of Software Engineering
- Bachelor of Public Health
- Bachelor of Agriculture
- Bachelor of Information Science and Library Management
- Bachelor of Renewable Energy
- Bachelor of Accounting
Master’s Programmes
- MSc Computer Science
- MSc Information Technology
- Master’s in Education
- Master of Business Administration
- Master of Public Administration
- Master of Renewable Energy
- Master of Public Health
- Master of Information Technology
- Master of Science in Entrepreneurship
- Master of Project Planning and Management
- Master of Education (Educational Management)
- Master of Regional Integration
PhD Programmes
Available PhD opportunities include fields such as:
- Business Management
- Public Health
- Food Security and Sustainable Agriculture
- Innovation and Sustainable Development
- Astronomy
- Tourism
- Swahili
- Natural sciences and engineering
- Social sciences and humanities
Opportunities in Rwanda
For students from other EAC Partner States interested in studying in Rwanda, available programmes include opportunities at:
Institut d’Enseignement Supérieur de Ruhengeri (INES)
Examples include:
- Bachelor in Land Survey
- Bachelor in Statistics Applied to Economy
- Bachelor in Accounting
- Bachelor in Rural Development Economics
- Bachelor in Land Management and Valuation
- Bachelor in Information Science and Library Management
- Bachelor in Food Biotechnology
- MSc in Geo-informatics
- MSc in Food Science and Technology
- MSc in Bio-Medical Laboratory Science
University of Technology and Arts
Available programmes include:
- Bachelor in Agribusiness
- Bachelor in Renewable Energy
- Bachelor’s in Social Work
- Bachelor’s in Accounting
- Bachelor in Crop Production
- Bachelor’s in Animal Production
Required Documents
Applicants should prepare the following documents:
- Scholarship motivation letter
- Updated and signed Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Certified copies of academic certificates and transcripts
- University application form and attachments
- Recent passport-size colour photograph
- Proof of nationality of an EAC Partner State
- Proof of residency
- Evidence of awards, leadership or community service
- Other relevant supporting documents, where applicable
- Medical reports or letters of reference, where applicable
Important: Foreign qualifications must be equated by the applicant’s national Council/Commission for Higher Education.
Documents that are not in English must be accompanied by certified English translations.
How to Apply
The application process has three main steps:
Step 1: Choose a Programme
Select an eligible programme and host university from the official EAC-SMS programme catalogue.
Carefully review the admission requirements of the selected programme.
Step 2: Prepare Your Documents
Prepare and scan all required documents. Documents should be uploaded in the required format during the online application.
Step 3: Submit Your Application to IUCEA
Complete the online EAC-SMS application and upload the required documents.
Applicants should not apply directly to participating universities for the scholarship process. IUCEA processes university submissions for qualified applicants.
Applicants may apply to more than one university, but only one scholarship will ultimately be awarded to a successful candidate.
Application Fee
There is no application fee.
Application Deadline
20 August 2026
Applications must be submitted by midnight East Africa Time (EAT) on 20 August 2026.
With the deadline approaching, eligible students are encouraged to prepare their documents and submit their applications as early as possible.
Why Apply?
The EAC Student Mobility Scheme provides students with an opportunity to:
- Study at a university in another EAC Partner State
- Access tuition and examination fee support
- Gain regional academic exposure
- Experience another East African education system and culture
- Build professional networks across the EAC region
- Contribute to regional integration and development
Inquiries
For application-related inquiries:
Email: eacsms@iucea.org
Important: Applicants should carefully verify programme-specific admission requirements and scholarship conditions before submitting their applications.
Key Details at a Glance
Scholarship: EAC Student Mobility Scheme (EAC-SMS)
Cohort: 3rd Cohort
Academic Year: 2026/2027
Total Scholarships: 197
Programmes: 164
Host Countries: 6 EAC Partner States
Study Levels: Diploma, Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD
Application Fee: None
Deadline: 20 August 2026
Target Applicants: Nationals and residents of EAC Partner States
Important condition: Applicants must study in an EAC Partner State other than their own.
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