Medicine Scholarships for African Students 2027: 3 Routes to Check
- Study in
- Türkiye, Rwanda, Hungary
- Levels
- Undergraduate medicine
- Funding
- Varies by route
- Covers
- Tuition and some living support, depending on the route
- Who can apply
- School leavers planning a first medical degree, subject to each programme's nationality rules
- Run by
- Each programme's organiser
On this page
Medical school is costly, but some government and university programmes pay for it. This guide compares three official routes for students who want a first medical degree: Türkiye Scholarships, the University of Global Health Equity (UGHE) in Rwanda, and Stipendium Hungaricum. They are separate programmes with separate rules, and each one needs its own application.
Status: No single deadline. UGHE’s MBBS round is open until 17 January 2027, but it does not recruit from Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya or India unless you live in Rwanda and finished school there, or you are a refugee who qualifies. Türkiye Scholarships accepts all these nationalities in principle, with a usual window of 10 January to 20 February. Check Hungary’s country list for your own nationality (checked November 2, 2026).
Key details
| Türkiye Scholarships | Usual window 10 January to 20 February. The calendar page does not name a year, so confirm the 2027 round |
|---|---|
| UGHE MBBS, Rwanda | Applications close 17 January 2027 at 11:59 PM CAT |
| Stipendium Hungaricum | The 2026/27 call closed on 15 January 2026. The official call page does not yet state 2027/28 dates |
Türkiye Scholarships
The Türkiye Scholarships criteria set the bar high for medicine. You need at least 90% in your academic results, and bachelor’s applicants must be under 21. The award includes university placement, a monthly stipend, tuition, health insurance, accommodation, a Turkish language course and one flight ticket. Applying is free. Use the application calendar to confirm dates.
UGHE MBBS in Rwanda
The UGHE admissions page describes a 6.5 year dual degree: MBBS with a Master of Science in Global Health Delivery.
- Who can apply: citizens of Burundi, DRC, Rwanda, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Malawi, Lesotho, Eritrea, South Sudan and Sudan. International candidates who finished high school in Rwanda and live there full time may also apply. So may refugees in Rwanda or any African country who finished A-Level in 2025 or 2026.
- What it covers: tuition, dormitory housing, meals, local health insurance, academic costs and a laptop.
- What it does not cover: transport to Rwanda, visa fees, personal items and a living stipend. A work-study placement is required and unpaid.
- Service: graduates commit to a set number of years serving vulnerable populations, on a full salary. Those who do not complete this must repay tuition and boarding fees.
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UGHE covers master’s programmes only, not the MBBS.
Stipendium Hungaricum
Hungary’s programme funds one-tier master’s degrees, including general medicine. These take students straight from secondary school. The 2026/27 call offered free tuition, a monthly stipend of HUF 43,700, a dormitory place or HUF 40,000 a month for housing, and insurance. The call warns that this does not meet all living costs. You must apply through the sending partner for your citizenship and be nominated by it. Medicine is highly competitive, and applicants who list it as a second choice may not be considered. Use the partners page to check your country.
How to apply
- Confirm your nationality is eligible on the official page.
- Check age limits and grade minimums against your actual results.
- Prepare your school certificate, passport and personal statement. UGHE wants a notarised certificate and does not accept a results slip.
- Apply on the programme’s own portal before its closing date.
Tips before you apply
- Ask whether the degree will be recognised by the medical council in the country where you plan to work.
- Plan for costs the award leaves out, especially flights and living costs.
- Read any service agreement before you sign it.
- Ignore old lists that repeat past deadlines. Rely only on dates shown by the organiser.
Related guides
- AUC Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program 2027: Eligibility and Deadlines
- Anthony Udokwu Foundation-Yahweh University Scholarship 2027/2028
- YTH Live Global 2026 Innovation Challenge: Up to $5,000 for Youth Health Tech
Details are taken from the official Türkiye Scholarships, UGHE and Stipendium Hungaricum websites, checked on November 2, 2026. Confirm the current rules there before you apply.
