Ties between India and Africa in education go back decades. Students from Kenya, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, Rwanda and many other countries have long earned engineering, science, business and humanities degrees on Indian campuses. Many returned home to become teachers, engineers, civil servants and business owners, and their stories keep the tradition alive.
Today, an African student looking at India has a few clear funding routes: a dedicated government scholarship for Africa, merit-based tuition waivers through a national programme, short professional courses for working people, and discounts offered by individual universities. This guide explains each one, looks at what India has pledged to Africa in education, and shares practical advice on settling in, staying safe and finding community once you arrive.
India’s Education Pledge to Africa
At the third India-Africa Forum Summit in New Delhi in 2015, India announced 50,000 scholarships for African students over the following years. In 2022, India’s External Affairs Minister said that more than 32,000 of these scholarship slots had already been used. That figure is now a few years old, and the government has not always published a single updated total, so treat it as a sign of scale rather than a current count.
India has also run online learning projects for African countries, including the e-VidyaBharti platform, which has offered tele-education courses to students in a number of African nations. A fourth India-Africa Forum Summit was scheduled for New Delhi in late May 2026, but in May 2026 the Ministry of External Affairs announced it had been postponed because of an Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa, with new dates to be fixed later. Any fresh education pledges may come when the summit is finally held, so watch official channels for updates.
The India-Africa Maitri Scholarship
The main government award for African students is now called the India-Africa Maitri Scholarship Scheme. Indian mission notices describe it as the scheme formerly known as the Africa Scholarship Scheme. It is managed by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations, and applications go through the ICCR A2A portal.
Levels and Subjects
The scheme supports undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD study at Indian universities and institutes on an approved list. Most mainstream subjects, such as engineering, sciences, commerce, humanities and agriculture, are generally open, subject to the approved institution list. Medical, paramedical and nursing courses, physiotherapy, fashion, law and some five-year integrated degrees have been listed as not admissible.
What It Pays
According to a 2025-26 notice from one Indian high commission in Africa, ICCR pays tuition and hostel allowances, a one-way economy ticket to join the course and a return economy ticket at the end. The same notice said students must buy their own health insurance with a minimum cover of ₹5 lakh per year.
Who Can Apply
Recent conditions have included citizenship of an eligible African country, an age range of 18 to 40 for degree study and up to 50 for PhD, and a short English essay of around 500 words. TOEFL or IELTS scores have been optional in some missions’ notices. Engineering applicants need Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics in their final two years of school.
Slots Per Country
Each country receives a fixed number of slots, which can be small. In one example, the High Commission in Malawi announced that slots for Malawi would rise from 20 to 30 for 2026-27, while a smaller country received only three slots in 2025-26. Your chances depend heavily on how many slots your country has and how many people apply.
Comparing the Main Routes
The table sums up the main options for African students. It shows typical patterns from recent cycles rather than guaranteed terms.
| Route | Best Suited For | Points for African Applicants |
|---|---|---|
| India-Africa Maitri (ICCR) | UG, PG and PhD students | Fixed slots per country; applications through the A2A portal; most medical courses excluded |
| Study in India waivers | Strong academic records | Tuition cut of 100%, 50% or 25% by merit tier; you pay living costs, which may be ₹1 to ₹3 lakh (about USD 1,100 to 3,500) a year outside metros |
| ITEC courses | Working professionals and officials | Short training with travel, housing and allowance for selected candidates |
| AYUSH scholarships | Traditional medicine | Very few seats; a general pool open to many non-BIMSTEC countries |
| University discounts | Self-funded students | Partial discounts; some campuses use lower fee bands for African nationals |
Please read this table as general information only. We have no connection with any university, ministry, council or diplomatic mission, and nothing here is a scholarship award or admission. Fees, slot numbers and eligibility rules are changed every year, so check every detail on the official portal, with the institution and with the Indian embassy or high commission in your country.
Study in India and African Applicants
The Ministry of Education’s Study in India programme has made Africa one of its focus regions. When the Ind-SAT test was first held online in July 2020, seven of the twelve participating countries were African: Ethiopia, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Kenya, Zambia and Mauritius. The test helped rank foreign students for tuition waivers at partner institutions.
Under SII, partner institutions offer tuition waivers to foreign students by merit rank: 100% for the top quarter, 50% for the next, 25% for the next, and none for the rest, as described by the government in Parliament. The waiver covers tuition only. The testing arrangement for SII has changed across cycles, so read the current SII notice to see whether a test applies.
All applicants now need an SII ID, which also links to the e-Student visa introduced in early 2025.
A practical tip for African families: SII and the Maitri scheme can be pursued in the same season. If the Maitri slot for your country goes to another applicant, an SII waiver at a partner institution may still bring tuition down sharply. Keep both applications active until you have a firm written offer, and then withdraw politely from the route you do not need so that the seat can go to someone else.
ITEC for Working Africans
The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation programme, running since 1964, has trained many thousands of African officials and professionals. Courses are short and practical, covering areas such as public finance, IT, agriculture, renewable energy, parliamentary studies and English. Selected participants receive tuition, return airfare, accommodation and a living allowance. Nominations usually go through your government’s nodal ministry, so speak to your department or the Indian mission about how your country handles it.
Making Your A2A Application Stand Out
Because each African country has only a limited number of Maitri slots, the quality of your file matters. Universities review your documents first, and then the Indian mission decides who gets the award. A few habits make a real difference:
- Pick five realistic institutions. Spread your choices across highly competitive and moderately competitive universities rather than naming only the most famous ones.
- Match the course to your record. An applicant with strong science grades applying for engineering looks more convincing than one switching fields without explanation.
- Write the essay yourself. Explain clearly why you want this subject, why India, and how you will use the degree at home. Simple, honest English is better than borrowed phrases.
- Upload clean scans. Blurry certificates or missing pages can lead to rejection by the university before your file even reaches the mission.
- Check your email daily. Offer letters and acceptance deadlines are short, and a missed reply can pass your slot to the next candidate.
Budgeting When You Pay Your Own Way
Many African students come to India without a government award, using family savings or a partial university discount. Tuition for international students varies widely between public and private institutions, so collect the exact fee chart from each campus. Beyond tuition, plan for hostel rent, meals, insurance, books, a laptop, visa fees and at least one return flight. Smaller cities are often much cheaper for daily life than the big metros. Ask whether fees are fixed in US dollars or rupees, and set aside a reserve for emergencies, because sending money from home can sometimes take time.
Choosing a Course and Campus
African students tend to do well in programmes where Indian institutions are strong and where degrees are valued back home. Popular choices include:
- Engineering and computer science, which are taught widely in English.
- Business administration, commerce and finance.
- Agriculture, food technology and water management, which suit many African economies.
- Public health and pharmacy at institutions that admit foreign nationals.
- PhD research in sciences, social sciences and development studies.
Make sure the university is recognised by the UGC and that technical programmes hold the right approvals. Ask your home ministry of education whether degrees from that institution will be accepted for public jobs or further study.
Paperwork for the Journey
- Passport: valid for at least the length of your course, with blank pages.
- Admission or award letter: from the university, ICCR or the SII portal.
- Visa: a student visa from the Indian mission or, for SII-registered students, an e-Student visa through the official visa website.
- Yellow fever certificate: India requires proof of yellow fever vaccination from travellers arriving from countries listed as at risk, which includes many African nations. Check current health rules before you fly.
- Equivalence: the Association of Indian Universities may need to confirm that your school or degree results match Indian standards.
- Health cover: proof of insurance that meets your institution’s minimum.
After arrival, register with the Foreigners Regional Registration Office through e-FRRO, usually within 14 days. Your international office will normally guide you.
Finding Community and Staying Safe
Most African students say they found friends quickly, often through national student associations that exist in many Indian cities. Joining one in your first week helps with practical problems, from opening a bank account to finding food from home.
Daily Life Tips
- Live in university hostels during your first year, if possible, rather than private rentals.
- Keep copies of your passport, visa and FRRO registration on your phone and in print.
- Save the numbers of your international office, your embassy and the national emergency line 112.
- Learn a few phrases in Hindi or the local language; it helps with shopkeepers and transport.
- Use registered taxis or ride services, especially at night.
Dealing With Bias
Some African students have reported prejudice or unfair treatment in certain places. If something happens, report it to your university’s international office and, where needed, to the police and your embassy. Many universities have grievance cells, and the ICCR has regional offices that support its scholars.
Rules to Respect
Paid work is generally not allowed on a student visa. Overstaying, changing your course without permission, or missing FRRO deadlines can lead to fines or removal. Keep your registration current and inform your university before any travel out of India.
Avoiding Scholarship Scams
Fake “Indian government scholarship” offers circulate on social media every year. Remember:
- ICCR and SII applications are made on official portals and do not need paid agents.
- No real scholarship asks you to send money for “processing” or “visa guarantees”.
- Offer letters should be checked with the Indian mission in your country.
- Be wary of emails from free email addresses claiming to be from Indian ministries.
From Your Home City to an Indian Campus
For African students, India offers real chances to study at low cost, with a dedicated scholarship scheme, merit waivers, professional training and a long history of welcoming students from the continent. The key is to start early, find out how many Maitri slots your country has, register on the SII portal at the same time, and choose a recognised course that will be valued back home. Prepare your documents carefully, connect with fellow students once you land, and follow the visa and registration rules from day one.
Quick Answers for African Applicants
Is the India-Africa Maitri scholarship the same as the old Africa scholarship?
Yes, according to recent Indian mission notices, the Maitri scheme is the renamed version of the earlier Africa Scholarship Scheme, still run by ICCR through the A2A portal.
Can African students study medicine in India with an ICCR award?
Generally not. Recent Maitri notices list medical, paramedical and nursing courses as not admissible. Students who want MBBS usually need to qualify NEET-UG and fund their own seat.
When does the ICCR application window usually open?
In recent cycles, the A2A portal opened in February and closed around the end of April for the following academic year. Dates change, so follow your Indian mission’s announcements.