University of Edinburgh Nyerere Scholarship 2026 (Fully Funded)

The Nyerere Scholarship provides funding for a talented Tanzanian student to follow in Nyerere’s footsteps and study at the University of Edinburgh. The scholarship offers a one-year postgraduate scholarship for a student domiciled in Tanzania to study the multidisciplinary MSc in Africa and International Development. This postgraduate programme is based in the University of Edinburgh’s Centre of African Studies, Europe’s leading centre for the study of Africa. The award is open to high-achieving applicants who are either: 1) currently studying at the University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM), or recent UDSM graduates (within the previous 4 years).

Launched in 2020, the Nyerere Scholarship has been awarded five times to academically-gifted candidates. The scholarship was initiated by Prof Deborah Fahy Bryceson to honour the scholarly legacy of J.K. Nyerere, who started his Masters degree at the University of Edinburgh in 1949.

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineFebruary 12, 2026
• ValueFully Funded
• Study LevelMasters
• SponsorUniversity of Edinburgh
• City to studyEdinburgh
• School to studyUniversity of Edinburgh
• Course to studyAfrica and International Development
• Eligible CountryTanzania

Benefits

The scholarship will cover Tuition Fees and an annual stipend at the UKRI rate (amount to be advised; for reference, this is £20,780 in 2025/26). The annual stipend will be paid into the awardee’s UK bank account in monthly instalments following full matriculation, with the first 3 months paid in advance. 

Awards are made for one year only. 

The award cannot be held alongside any other scholarship funding.

Requirements

• Applicants must be Tanzanian citizens domiciled in Tanzania, who have graduated from the University of Dar es Salaam within the last four years (from 2022) or will be graduating from the University of Dar es Salaam prior to the 2026/2027 academic year.
• The award will be made to a student who is accepted onto the full-time MSc Africa and International Development programme.
• The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of academic excellence. Candidates must have, or expect to obtain, the equivalent of a UK first class or 2.1 Honours degree at undergraduate level in a Humanities or Social Science subject.
• In order to gain access to the scholarship application system, applicants must have first applied for admission to the full-time MSc Africa and International Development programme. Please note that, following the submission of an application for admission, it can take up to five working days for all system checks to be completed and for access to be granted. Therefore, please submit your MSc application at least five working days before the scholarship deadline to allow you access to the scholarship application form before it closes.

Check also:
Wits-Edinburgh Programme in Sustainable African Futures by Mastercard Foundation 2026-2027
Department of Aeronautics MSc Scholarship at Imperial College London 2026

Application Deadline

How To Apply

1. Submit your application to the MSc programme (including the personal statement and statement of skills, references, etc).
2. When you submit your MSc application and receive your confirmation email, please immediately email [email protected]to inform them that you are applying for the Nyerere Scholarship. Eligible applicants will not need to pay the application fee. Please make sure you include your University Username (eg s1234567) in your email.
3. Submit your application to the scholarship through the scholarship portal. This involves completing the following in your Personal Statement (up to 500 words / 3,500 characters including spaces): 

(i) - List two to three books that you have read in the last five years which have had an impact on you. List the book’s title and author, and explain briefly what the book is about and why it has made an impression on you. 

(ii) - Why do you wish to do further studies? How would a MSc in Africa and International Development facilitate your career goals?  

(iii) - What do you think is one of the most pressing problems in Tanzania that needs research? How would you go about researching it? Who would be interested in or benefit from your findings? How and why?  

(iv) - What are Tanzania’s major advantages in global development? Why and how are they advantageous? Who benefits from them? 

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not permitted in answering any of the above questions. Answers may be screened to identify use of AI. Applicants who are identified as having used AI will not be considered for the scholarship.

References submitted to the Africa and International Development programme will be used to assess your scholarship application. Please ensure that these have been uploaded to your application by the scholarship deadline.

Please note: The Nyerere Scholarship cannot be held alongside any other scholarship funding. This scholarship does not cover airfare and visa application costs.

Eligible applicants should complete an online scholarship application.

In order to gain access to the scholarship application system applicants must have applied for admission to the University of Edinburgh. Please note that, following the submission of an application for admission, it can take up to five working days for all system checks to be completed and access to be granted. We highly recommend you apply for the scholarship well in advance of the scholarship deadline date should you encounter any technical difficulties with your application which need resolved.

The online scholarship application form is located in EUCLID and can be accessed via MyEd - our web based information portal at: https://www.myed.ed.ac.uk

When logging in to MyEd, you will need your University User Name (UUN) and password. If you require assistance, please go to: http://www.ed.ac.uk/student-systems/support-guidance

Further guidance on applying for scholarships as a registered student can be found here: Applying for a scholarship | Student Systems | Student Administration

For more details, visit University of Edinburgh Scholarship webpage