Equity and Merit Scholarships (distance learning) – University of Manchester

What the scholarship covers

You get your full tuition fees paid for an online master's degree at the University of Manchester in the UK. You study part-time by distance learning over 3 to 5 years, online from home, while the university covers the course cost. The university funds 10 of these online scholarships each year. They are aimed at talented students from lower-income countries who cannot afford postgraduate study on their own. Because you study remotely, this version does not include flights, living costs or visa fees; those apply 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 already hold a bachelor's degree from a recognised institution, with the grade Manchester requires, awarded before the September your studies would start.
• Field of study: You pick an online master's course in an area such as public health, global health, chemistry, data analytics, environmental control, electrical power engineering or oncology.
• Work experience: You have at least two years of paid professional work linked to your chosen subject. Unpaid internships and volunteering do not count.
• Study abroad history: You have not studied outside Africa before. Short training of six months or less does not count against you.
• Commitment: You plan to stay in your home country and can show how the degree will help your career and community.
• Financial need: You come from a disadvantaged background and could not study at Manchester without this support. Women are especially encouraged to apply.

How to apply

You submit an online application form during the August window (1 to 31 August, for the following academic year). If you are shortlisted, you must also win an unconditional offer for your chosen master's course before the scholarship is confirmed. The university tells all applicants the final result.

How realistic are your chances?

This award is cut narrowly: only citizens of six specific countries with a relevant degree and two years of paid work experience qualify, and just 10 online places are given each year. That keeps the field smaller than an open scholarship, but competition among well-matched candidates is still real. If you clearly meet the country, degree and experience rules, can prove financial need and set out a strong plan for your home country, your prospects are good, especially since women are actively encouraged to apply.