EAC Student Mobility Scholarship 2026

EAC Student Mobility Scholarship 2026/2027

Particulars	Details
Host Organization	Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA)
Scholarship Name	East African Community Student Mobility Scholarship Scheme (EAC-SMS)
Opportunity Type	Scholarship
Study Levels	Diploma, Undergraduate, Master's, PhD
Number of Scholarships	197
Participating Universities	28 Universities
Host Countries	Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda
Eligible Countries	EAC Partner States (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda)
Application Mode	Online (IUCEA Portal)
Application Fee	None
Application Deadline	August 20, 2026
Status	Applications Open

Description

The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) has opened applications for the East African Community (EAC) Student Mobility Scholarship Scheme (EAC-SMS) 2026/2027, offering 197 scholarships for Diploma, Undergraduate, Master's, and PhD studies at 28 universities across East Africa. The scholarship enables students from eligible East African Community countries to study in another EAC Partner State while receiving financial support for tuition, travel, health insurance, and research costs.

Scholarship Benefits

Benefit	Covered By
100% Tuition Fees	Host University
Examination Fees	Host University
International Travel Expenses	IUCEA
Health Insurance	IUCEA
Research Support (Master's & PhD)	IUCEA
Accommodation	Student/Parents
Daily Living Expenses	Student/Parents
Other University-Related Costs	Student/Parents

Number of Scholarships Available

Study Level	Scholarships
Undergraduate	95
Diploma	1
Master's	90
PhD	11
Total	197

Participating Countries

Country	Available
Burundi	Yes
Kenya	Yes
Rwanda	Yes
South Sudan	Yes
Tanzania	Yes
Uganda	Yes

Available Degree Programmes

Programme	Available
Computer Science	Yes
Information Technology	Yes
Cyber Security	Yes
Statistics	Yes
Medicine	Yes
Nursing	Yes
Public Health	Yes
Renewable Energy	Yes
Agriculture	Yes
Environmental Science	Yes
Business Administration	Yes
Economics	Yes
Finance	Yes
Engineering	Yes
Biotechnology	Yes
Climate Change	Yes
Education	Yes
Social Work	Yes
International Studies	Yes
Peace and Conflict Studies	Yes
Tourism	Yes
Development Studies	Yes
Law	Yes
Entrepreneurship	Yes
Regional Integration	Yes
Project Planning and Management	Yes
Monitoring and Evaluation	Yes
Health Informatics	Yes
Food Security	Yes
Sustainable Agriculture	Yes
Astronomy	Yes
Swahili Studies	Yes

Eligibility Criteria

Requirement	Details
Nationality	National and resident of an EAC Partner State
Study Location	Must study in another EAC Partner State (not own)
Academic Performance	Excellent academic performance
Master's/PhD Requirement	Upper Second-Class Honours degree (or equivalent)
Age Limit (Master's)	Below 35 years
Age Limit (PhD)	Below 45 years
Work Experience	Added advantage for PhD applicants

Required Application Documents

Document	Required
Motivation Letter	Yes
Updated and Signed CV	Yes
Certified Academic Certificates	Yes
Certified Academic Transcripts	Yes
University Application Form	Yes
Passport-Size Photograph	Yes
Proof of Nationality	Yes
Proof of Residency	Yes
Evidence of Leadership/Awards/Community Service	If Applicable
Letters of Reference	If Available
Equated Foreign Qualifications	If Applicable
Certified English Translations	For Non-English Documents

Application Process

Step	Action
Step 1	Browse official list of eligible universities and programmes
Step 2	Select preferred course of study
Step 3	Complete online IUCEA scholarship application
Step 4	Upload all required documents
Step 5	Submit application before deadline

Important Information

Important Note	Details
University Application Fee	Not Required
Number of Applications	May apply to more than one university
Scholarship Award	Only one scholarship per successful applicant
Current Students	Already admitted students remain eligible to apply

Important Links

Description	Official Link
Apply Here	https://www.iucea.org/eac-sms
IUCEA Official Website	https://www.iucea.org
EAC Official Website	https://www.eac.int
Programme List	https://www.iucea.org/eac-sms-programmes

Programme Timeline

Event	Date
Applications Open	Currently Open
Application Deadline	August 20, 2026
Academic Year	2026/2027

FAQs

Question	Answer
Who can apply?	Nationals and residents of EAC Partner States
Which countries are eligible?	Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda
What study levels are covered?	Diploma, Undergraduate, Master's, PhD
How many scholarships are available?	197
Is there an application fee?	No
What is the application deadline?	August 20, 2026
Can I apply to multiple universities?	Yes

CareerFlora Expert Insight

The EAC Student Mobility Scholarship is a transformative opportunity for East African students seeking to study in another EAC country. With 197 scholarships across 28 universities and 164 programmes, it is one of the region's most comprehensive scholarship schemes. The cost-sharing model significantly reduces financial burden while promoting regional integration. Candidates should demonstrate excellent academic records, apply early, and ensure all documents are properly certified and translated. The scholarship is highly competitive, particularly for Master's and PhD programmes.

Best Opportunity For

Category	Suitable
Diploma Students	Yes
Undergraduate Students	Yes
Master's Students	Yes
PhD Students	Yes
East African Students	Yes
Regional Integration Enthusiasts	Yes
Cross-Cultural Learners	Yes

Competition Level

Category	Level
Regional Competition	High
Scholarship Seats	197 Available
Selection Difficulty	Moderate to High

CareerFlora Recommendation

Recommendation Area	Details
Overall Rating	Outstanding
Financial Support	Excellent
Regional Exposure	Excellent
Academic Quality	Excellent
Career Prospects	Excellent
Apply Early	Strongly Recommended

EAC Student Mobility Scholarship 2026/2027 – 197 Fully Funded Scholarships for East African Students