Learn Africa Scholarship Program for African women, 2026-2027

Applications are now opened for the 2026-2027 Learn Africa Scholarship Program. Promoted by the Women for Africa Foundation, the scholarship aims to promote the transfer of knowledge, exchange, and training of African undergraduate and graduate women through scholarships in Spanish universities that collaborate in the initiative. All the scholarships offered in this call will begin during the 2026-2027 academic year and may unfold over several years, depending on the scholarship applied for.

Selected students can pursue Master’s or PhD level training, then take those skills back home. That’s the whole point: learn something useful, apply it to benefit your community. To date, 462 African women have received scholarships through Learn Africa. This has been possible thanks to a growing network of universities, educational centers, and donors who actually put money behind their good intentions.

The 2026 edition shakes things up. More than 100 scholarships are up for grabs, including 28 for continuing students. EADA business school stepped up with its Larsson-Torras scholarship, adding to its online Master’s offer. Planeta Formación y Universidades doubled its contribution—from 10 to 20 scholarships—and now includes paramedical health programmes through EDUMED in Morocco. Two new partners joined: FUNIBER (a Master’s scholarship in Portuguese or French at Universidad Europea del Atlántico) and the Institute of Natural Resources and Agrobiology of Seville (IRNAS), offering an on-site research scholarship. Fields of study this year lean hard into health and new technologies, while Hispanic Studies Master’s and doctoral programmes keep gaining traction. Africa doesn’t do one-size-fits-all, and neither does this programme.

Program Details

• Host institution: Varies by scholarship (see the 2026 scholarships list for details).
• Fields of study: Health, new technologies, Hispanic Studies, paramedical health, natural resources, and more.
• Number of awards: More than 100 (including 28 continuity scholarships).
• Duration: Depends on the programme you apply for.
• Target group: Women who are nationals of and reside in an African country.

Learn Africa Scholarship Program Benefits

Selected candidates for this foundation scholarship will have the following benefits.

• Online scholarships cover tuition fees only.
• Face-to-face scholarships cover:
  • Tuition fees
  • Round-trip travel
  • Accommodation and meals (either in a University Hall or via a monthly allowance)
  • Health insurance
• PLANETA scholarships (at ESLSCA and EDUMED in Rabat): tuition fees only. No travel, insurance, lodging, or meals. You cover the rest yourself.
• EADA Larsson-Torras scholarship: 100% tuition + free accommodation during the programme. Travel, health insurance, daily expenses, and personal costs are on you.

What no scholarship covers (read this carefully):

• Re-enrollment fees for failed subjects (ordinary or extraordinary exams).
• Internet connection for online scholarships.
• Visa issuance and related costs.
• Legalization, recognition, and translation of university degrees and academic records (the host university will require these).
• Issuance of the final certificate after completing studies in Spain.
• Daily expenses: warm clothing, hygiene items, footwear, leisure, local transport—you name it.
• Absolutely no support for accompanying family members (children, parents, siblings, spouse, etc.).

Learn Africa Scholarship Program Eligibility

You’ll need to tick these boxes:

• Be a woman, and hold nationality of and residence in an African country.
• Be enrolled in an African university or have a university degree issued by an African institution. For postgraduate scholarships, a Bachelor’s degree is typically required. Check each scholarship’s specifics.
• Meet the specific requirements of the scholarship you apply for.
• Only one application per person. Choose wisely.

Technical and academic requirements

• Read the programme description and the host university’s website (linked with each scholarship) very carefully.
• If selected, you must provide the host university with duly legalized, certified, and translated copies of your degree, academic transcript, and any other required documents. Start this process as soon as you accept the scholarship—embassies and ministries are not known for speed.
• You’ll also need a certificate from your current university confirming your degree qualifies you for the programme (Master’s or PhD).
• Applying for an online scholarship? You’ll need a properly equipped computer: stable internet, updated browser, decent OS, webcam, and access to Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

Language requirements

• Before applying, make sure your language skills are up to scratch. A high level (B2 or C1, depending on the university) is mandatory. Prove it with an official certificate or a telephone interview.
• If you’re selected, you’ll get an email and possibly a phone call from the Women for Africa Foundation. You’ll need to communicate with our staff in the language of the scholarship you applied for.
• For Hispanic Studies Master’s or doctoral scholarships: minimum C1 Spanish, usually certified by Instituto Cervantes.

How to Apply for the Learn Africa Scholarship Program

Eligible candidates who would like to apply for this scholarsip program must follow the step by step guide below to submit their application:

1. Get all the necessary documents ready in advance (see “Required documents”)
2. Visit the Scholarships 2026-2027 page. You’ll see three scholarship categories highlighted in green:
   • 2026 Learn Africa scholarships
   • 2026 Learn Africa-Planeta scholarships at ESLSCA
   • 2026 Learn Africa-Planeta scholarships at EDUMED
3. Click on each category to explore the available scholarships. A full list will appear.
4. Click on any scholarship to view its details. Once the scholarship profile opens, follow the green links for further information.
5. After deciding which scholarship to apply for, hit the orange Apply button.
   • Already have an account? Go to “User access”. Forgot your password? Click “Recover password” and follow the prompts.
   • Don’t have an account yet? Go to “Register” to create one.
6. Log in with your username and password. The application form will then open.
7. From the drop-down menu, choose the scholarship you’re applying for. Note: Only one application per person is allowed.
8. Complete the form with your details.
9. Upload the required documents. Files must meet these criteria:
   • Allowed formats: png, gif, jpg, jpeg, pdf, doc, docx, ppt, rtf
   • Maximum size per file: 4MB
10. To finalize your application, click Submit.

Important: Double-check all information and attachments before submitting. Once submitted, no changes can be made. After submission, you’ll see a confirmation message: “Your request has been sent successfully,” along with a summary of the scholarship you applied for. If you see this message — congratulations, your application is complete!

You’ll also receive a confirmation email. If it doesn’t arrive, check your SPAM folder. From this point, simply wait for the selection results to be published on our website. If selected, you’ll receive a notification email. If not selected, you won’t hear from us.

Required Documents

1. Passport or national identity document
2. Photo
3. CV
4. Diploma / certificate / university degree (as required)
5. Academic record
6. Motivation letter (max one page, 1.0 spacing, written in the scholarship’s language)
7. Reference letter(s) (include the author’s phone and email)
8. Official language certificate (if required)
9. Community engagement statement (two paragraphs on how you’ll contribute to your home community after the scholarship)
10. Other documents if the scholarship asks for them (concept note, entrepreneurship project, etc.)

The deadline to submit your application is April 19, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. (Madrid time). For more details on the Learn Africa Scholarship Program, visit the official page.