Five verified education grants and scholarship calls close or open between now and early 2027, from a EUR 628 million European Union doctoral programme with a 24 November 2026 deadline to Mastercard Foundation scholarships for African students at the University of Cape Town and the American University in Cairo. Here is who can apply, when, and where.
Key facts
- University of Cape Town (UCT) Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program: postgraduate applications close on 31 October 2026.
- American University in Cairo (AUC) Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program: the spring 2027 fellowship cycle runs from 7 October to 2 November 2026.
- MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 (HORIZON-MSCA-2026-DN-01-01): EUR 628 million indicative budget, deadline 24 November 2026.
- The Erasmus Mundus catalogue lists 218 joint master’s programmes; most take applications between October and January.
- The EU’s Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme has a new 2026 call, with an online information session on 28 October 2026.
Education grants at a glance
| Programme | Who applies | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| UCT Mastercard Foundation Scholars (postgraduate) | Individual African citizens | 31 October 2026 |
| AUC Mastercard Foundation Scholars (master’s, PhD) | Individuals living in Africa, aged 35 or under | 2 November 2026 |
| MSCA Doctoral Networks 2026 | Consortia of universities, companies and other organisations | 24 November 2026 |
| Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters | Individual master’s applicants worldwide | Varies, mostly October to January |
| Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme 2026 | Higher education institutions | See the call on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal |
Mastercard Foundation scholarships: Cape Town and Cairo
University of Cape Town, deadline 31 October 2026
Undergraduate applications for 2027 have closed. The postgraduate window is still open. Applicants must be citizens of an African country, including South Africa, and apply for an eligible taught programme: a postgraduate diploma in Health Sciences, an honours degree or a coursework master’s. Part-time study and research-only degrees are excluded. UCT looks for academic talent, significant social and economic barriers, and a record of community service. Young women, refugees and people with disabilities are encouraged to apply, as both the university and the scholarship portal After School Africa note.
American University in Cairo, deadline 2 November 2026
AUC’s programme, starting in spring 2027, funds new master’s and PhD students who live in Africa, hold African citizenship, are 35 or younger and have a bachelor’s GPA of at least 3.2 out of 4.0. The award covers tuition for nine credits per semester, a stipend, a laptop, health insurance, housing for fellows from outside Cairo and return airfare for those living outside Egypt. AUC’s fellowship deadlines page lists the spring 2027 cycle as 7 October to 2 November.
Which EU education grants fit universities and training networks?
MSCA Doctoral Networks, deadline 24 November 2026
This is the big one. Marie Skłodowska-Curie Doctoral Networks fund international, intersectoral doctoral programmes run by consortia of universities, research centres, companies and public bodies. The European Commission lists an indicative budget of EUR 628 million and marks the dates as provisional. TU Dresden’s European Project Center confirms the 24 November closing date. Organisations from outside Europe, including African universities, can take part.
Intra-Africa Academic Mobility Scheme 2026
Funded through the EU’s Global Gateway, the scheme pays for student and staff mobility between African universities. The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) will explain the new call in an online session on 28 October 2026. Topics include thematic priorities by country and submission through the Funding & Tenders Portal. Check the portal for the final deadline before you start writing.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters
The EACEA catalogue currently lists 218 programmes. Scholarships go to outstanding students from anywhere in the world, but not every programme offers them, and each consortium sets its own dates.
Coming soon: the Erasmus+ 2027 call
Not yet published. The Media & Learning Association told members in October 2026 that the full call and Programme Guide were “expected later this year”. Last year’s guide appeared on 12 November 2025. The 2027 round matters for British partners too, since the UK is set to rejoin Erasmus+ from 2027.
What this means for educators and trainers
Pick the right lane among these education grants. Teachers, counsellors and career advisers can share the UCT and AUC calls with eligible students this week; two weeks is short for transcripts and reference letters. University research offices with African partners should test whether an MSCA consortium is realistic before 24 November, or plan for 2027. International offices in African universities should register for the 28 October EACEA session. Training providers eyeing Erasmus+ 2027 can line up partners and draft project ideas now, so the November guide becomes a checklist rather than a starting point. For context on Europe–Africa research funding, see Africa Moves to the Centre of Europe’s Research Agenda.
FAQ
Can individuals apply for MSCA Doctoral Networks?
No. Organisations apply as consortia; doctoral candidates are recruited later through vacancies the funded networks publish.
Are Mastercard Foundation scholarships open to non-Africans?
No. Both the UCT and AUC programmes require African citizenship, and AUC also requires applicants to live in Africa.
When will the Erasmus+ 2027 call open?
The Commission has not given a date; sector bodies expect it before the end of 2026, as with the 2026 call published in November 2025.
Sources: UCT; After School Africa; AUC programme; AUC deadlines; European Commission, MSCA; TU Dresden; EACEA, Erasmus Mundus; EU Agenda, Intra-Africa info session; Media & Learning Association; Erasmus+ Programme Guide.
