Equity and Merit Scholarships (Distance Learning) – University of Manchester

Equity and Merit Scholarship (distance learning) at the University of Manchester

You get your full tuition fees paid for a part-time online master's degree that runs 3 to 5 years, so you study from home while keeping your job. The programme is funded jointly by the University of Manchester and private donors. It awards 10 distance-learning scholarships a year, alongside 20 on-campus ones. This distance-learning version covers only the tuition. There is no living allowance, no flights and no visa help. Those extras go only to students who move to Manchester.

Who can apply

• Nationality: You are a resident citizen of Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda or Zimbabwe.
• Degree: You hold a bachelor's degree from a recognised institution with the required grade, awarded before September 2025. Ideally you finished in the top 10% of your year.
• Work experience: You have at least 2 years of paid professional experience in the field you want to study. Unpaid internships and volunteering do not count.
• Field of study: You apply for one of several online master's courses, such as public health, global health, data analytics, occupational health, nursing or disaster management.
• Study abroad history: You have not studied outside Africa before, apart from courses of 6 months or less.
• Financial need: You could not pay for this degree without support.
• Commitment: You plan to stay in your home country and use your studies to help its development.
• Encouraged: Women and applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply.

How to apply

You apply through the scholarship's online form. You do not need a university admission offer beforehand. For studies starting in September 2027, you can apply from 1 to 31 August 2026. Only shortlisted candidates are invited to make an academic application. They must hold a place offer before the final selection.

How realistic are your chances?

Eligibility is narrow: only citizens of six countries, with a strong degree, two years of relevant work and genuine financial need. That keeps the applicant pool focused, and with 10 distance-learning places a year, a well-matched candidate has a fair shot. A clear plan for how your studies will benefit your home country, and applying as soon as the window opens, will strengthen your case.