University of Manchester - Full-time campus-based master’s scholarships – Rwanda

What you get

You will receive a fully funded one-year master's degree at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom at no cost to you. The scholarship covers your full tuition fees, your living costs whilst studying, return flights between Rwanda and Manchester, and your visa costs. It applies to the entire one-year on-campus Master’s programme. The University of Manchester funds it as part of its ‘Equity and Merit Scholarships’ programme, which supports talented but financially disadvantaged professionals from six African countries. Each year, approximately 20 full-time places are offered on campus. You can choose from a wide range of named Master’s programmes, including engineering, computer science, environmental sciences, global development, education, law, and medical and health sciences.

Who can apply

• Nationality and residence: You are a Rwandan national and live there.
• Degree: You hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognised Rwandan higher education institution, such as the University of Rwanda, Carnegie Mellon University in Rwanda or one of the higher education institutions in Kigali. Your degree was awarded before September 2025.
• Grades: You scored at least 70% or B+ (a GPA of 4 out of 5, or 16 out of 20).
• Work experience: You must have at least two years’ paid professional experience in the field you wish to study. Unpaid work placements and voluntary work do not count towards this requirement.
• Study history: You have not yet studied outside Africa, apart from further training courses that lasted no more than six months.
• Financial need: Without this support, you wouldn’t have been able to afford to study in Manchester.
• English: You can usually meet the English language requirements with an IELTS Academic 7.0 overall score (some degree programmes also accept 6.5) or an equivalent TOEFL or Pearson score. Duolingo is not accepted.
• Commitment: You are planning to return to your home country after completing your studies and can explain how you will make a positive contribution in Rwanda. Women in particular are encouraged to apply.

How to apply

You must submit an online scholarship application by 31 August 2026 at 17:00 BST for the academic year 2027/28. You must upload a reference from your employer, as well as your degree certificates and academic transcripts. You do not need to have secured a place at university at this stage. If your application meets the criteria, the university will invite you from October onwards to apply for admission to the degree programme, and scholarship decisions will be announced in June.

How realistic are your chances?

This scholarship is very restrictive. You must be a Rwandan national, hold a degree from one of the listed institutions, have two years’ paid professional experience and demonstrate a genuine financial need; as a result, the pool of eligible applicants is smaller than for open scholarships. As there are only around 20 full-time places, spread across six countries, competition remains fierce. If you clearly meet all the requirements, can demonstrate your financial need and convincingly explain how your degree will benefit Rwanda, your chances are good.