CALL FOR APPLICATIONS EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY STUDENT MOBILITY SCHOLARSHIPS SCHEME (EAC-SMS)

Author: Admin | Post Date: May 13, 2025

Undergraduate and Postgraduate programs

2025/2026

Background

The Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) invites suitably qualified students who are nationals of the East African Community (EAC) Partner States to apply for the EAC Student Mobility Scholarship Scheme (EAC-SMS) for the academic year 2025/2026.

What is the EAC-SMS?

The EAC-SMS is a regional scholarship programme designed to promote student exchange across the EAC Partner States. It supports students to pursue undergraduate, Master’s, and PhD studies at universities in a Partner State other than their own.

Scholarship Coverage

This is a cost-sharing programme supported by:

• Host universities: Waive tuition and examination fees for students from other Partner States.
• IUCEA Secretariat: Covers travel expenses, health insurance, and research costs.
• Parents/Guardians/Students: Cover remaining costs such as accommodation and daily living expenses through personal means or other available support schemes.

Scholarships Available for 2025/2026

A total of 177 scholarships are available in various disciplines:

• 91 Undergraduate
• 76 Master’s
• 10 PhD

Where to Study?

Participating universities from across the EAC Partner States are offering the scholarships for specific programmes. The full list of programmes, institutions, number of slots, and intakes is available in Table 1 of the official call document.

The deadline is 30th June 2025.

Table 1: Programmes offered under EAC-SMS, 2025/26

BACHELORS (Undergraduate) PROGRAMMES.

 MASTERS PROGRAMMES

 DOCTORAL PROGRAMMES 

Eligibility Criteria

The following are the eligibility criteria for applicants to EAC-SMS:

• Be a national and resident of a partner state in the East African Community. (Provide national ID/Passport/Birth Certificate).
• Willing to apply to an eligible program (provided in Table 1) offered by a university in a country other than their countries of citizenship (e.g., applicants from the Republic of Uganda are eligible only if they apply to a participating university from other countries of the EAC other than Republic of Uganda).
• Excellent academic performance records as per programs’ entry requirements provided by participating universities.
• Possess at least an Upper Second-Class Honours or “Distinction” or equivalent if applying for Master’s and PhD programs.
• Age limit (less than 35 and 45 for Master’s and PhD programs, respectively, at the time of application).
• Work experience will be an added advantage for PhD programs.

Responsibilities

A. IUCEA– Inter-University Council for East Africa

• Provide medical insurance.
• Provide transport facilitation by road whenever applicable at the beginning and end of the academic program.
• Provide Master’s and PhD students with a lump sum for research (after completion of coursework and approval of thesis proposal).

B. Member Universities

• Offer scholarships through tuition and examination fee waivers.
• Offer admission and induction to the scholarship awardees.
• Provide a contact person to be a liaison between IUCEA and parents/guardians.
• Monitor and provide regular progress reports on the performance of scholarship beneficiaries.

C. Students

• Cater for accommodation and living expenses.
• Cater for other university fees except tuition and examination fees provided in the scholarship.
• Provide any other material/information as may be required.
• Gather the necessary documents from the universities of their choice in the region that offer programs under the scholarship scheme. (cfr Table 2).
• Submit regular progress reports on their academic performance and social welfare to IUCEA, the University, and Parents as required under the Scheme.

Application Process

The application process is two-fold, and each MUST be completed separately:

• Application for admission: An applicant shall identify the programme and university of their choice from amongst the eligible programmes as presented in Table 1. Table 2 contains the university admission links for each university that offered scholarships.
• Applicants are required to consider the programme admission requirements that are provided by universities.

Table 2: Links for Universities for admission

Application for the EAC-SMS Scholarship

Application for the EAC-SMS scholarship shall be made through the IUCEA website as follows:

• (a) Register online for the scholarship through the link: Scholarship Application Form
• (b) Download and complete the Scholarship Application Form here.

The following are the required documents which will support the application:

• A letter of motivation for applying for the scholarship.
• Up-to-date and signed Curriculum Vitae.
• Certified copies of all academic certificates and transcripts.
• A copy of the university Application Form and its attachments.
• A recent passport photograph in the colour of your head and upper shoulders.
• Evidence of Nationality of a Partner State in the East African Community, such as a copy of the national identity card/ passport/birth certificate.
• Proof of Residency (provide a certificate from the local gover