Scholarships Opportunities for South African Students 2027 (Deadlines + How to Apply)

If you are searching for scholarships opportunities for South African students that you can still apply for today here is the honest picture: there are fewer open than the long Top lists suggest, but some strong ones are still available. 

This guide separates what is open from what is closed For each open scholarship you will find who can apply, what you get, and the exact steps to apply. Every deadline was checked against an official page and I mark clearly anything I could not confirm.

Important: Nobody can guarantee that you will be selected These programmes are competitive and the information below can change so always confirm on the official page before you submit.

Quick Overview: Scholarships Still Open for 2027 Entry

This table shows what is open or opening soon as of 31 October 2026 Sort your plan by the deadline column.

What Are International Scholarships for South African Students?

An international scholarship pays for some or all of your study at a university outside South Africa Some cover everything: tuition, flights, accommodation and a monthly living allowance. Others, called partial scholarships, cover only part of the cost, such as a tuition discount.

South Africa’s Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) runs a portal that lists these opportunities DHET explains that most scholarships on the portal are for postgraduate study (master’s, doctoral and postdoctoral), and only a small number are for bachelor’s degrees.

It also warns that most of the scholarships it advertises are not managed by DHET, so the scholarship provider’s own information always overrides what the portal says.

Also read: MEXT Scholarships 2027: Eligibility, Benefits and How to Apply

A few schemes are different. For some, such as the Tokyo Metropolitan University programme below DHET itself nominates the South African candidates. That makes them especially relevant to you.

The Open Scholarships in Detail

UBC International Scholars Program (Canada, undergraduate)

This is for school-leavers who want a first degree at the University of British Columbia and need real financial help UBC describes it as for students with leadership qualities, strong community contributions, outstanding grades and significant financial need.

• What you get: Need-and-merit awards. UBC’s Vantage One Excellence Award can reach the full cost of the programme and living expenses. The amount depends on your financial need.
• Four award categories: the Karen McKellin International Leader of Tomorrow Award, the Donald A. Wehrung International Student Award, the International Impact Award and the Vantage One Excellence Award. You do not choose one; UBC considers you for those you qualify for.
• Tight timeline: the application is due 15 November 2026, and you also need a nominator and a teacher referee to submit their forms a few days earlier.

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships (Switzerland, PhD and research)

Offered by the Swiss Confederation and managed by the Federal Commission for Scholarships for Foreign Students South African applicants can apply for a PhD Scholarship or a Research Fellowship (6 to 12 months, for people already doing a PhD at home).

• What you get: CHF 2,450 a month for living costs, health insurance, a one-time CHF 600 rental deposit grant, a Half-Fare Travelcard and a return flight allowance.
• What it does not cover: tuition or semester fees, conference costs and field research. Budget for these.
• Start date: 1 September 2027. PhD scholarships are first awarded for 12 months and can be renewed twice, up to 36 months.

Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (Hong Kong, PhD)

Run by Hong Kong’s Research Grants Council, with 400 fellowships for 2027/28 It is open to full-time, research-based PhD candidates at eight participating universities, whatever their country of origin.

• What you get: an annual stipend of HK$344,400 and an annual conference and research travel allowance of HK$14,400, for up to three years.
• How it works: a two-stage process. You first submit one initial application to the scheme, then apply for admission to the university or universities you chose.

Gates Cambridge Scholarship (UK, master’s and PhD)

A scholarship for outstanding applicants from outside the UK who want to do postgraduate study at the University of Cambridge. Gates Cambridge runs two rounds South Africans apply in the international round, which is the later round for “all other eligible applicants”.

• Your deadline depends on your course. Gates Cambridge says to use the Course Funding Deadline shown in Cambridge’s Course Directory: either Tuesday 8 December 2026 or Wednesday 6 January 2027, with everything submitted by 11:59 pm UK time.
• Funding: the award is generally described as a full-cost scholarship. Check Gates Cambridge’s own scholarship page for the current breakdown, because I could not confirm exact amounts from an official source.

DHET–Tokyo Metropolitan University Scholarship (Japan, master’s and PhD)

This is a South African government programme DHET offers scholarships for South African students to study a master’s or PhD at Tokyo Metropolitan University from October 2027 Fields include biological sciences (PhD only), geography, civil and environmental engineering, applied chemistry for the environment, and tourism science.

• What you get: full tuition, return airfare plus one mid-term return flight, a monthly stipend, a settlement allowance, health insurance, visa costs, pre-departure orientation and psychosocial support.
• Length: two years for a master’s and three years for a PhD.
• Deadline: 8 January 2027. DHET says the call opens in November 2026 and that the website content and forms will be finalised in early November. Check back then.

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (Europe, master’s)

These are master’s degrees run by a group of universities in different countries The European Commission says students from all over the world can apply and scholarships are available for the best applicants There is no single deadline. Most consortia accept applications between October and January for courses that start the following academic year.

Also read: CM Punjab Honhaar Undergraduate Scholarship Phase IV 2026: Eligibility, Last Date & How to Apply

Manchester Global Futures Scholarships (UK, undergraduate and master’s)

The University of Manchester is offering more than 350 awards worth more than £6 million to international students starting in September 2027 South Africa is on the eligible list for Africa.

• Undergraduate: up to £36,000 (£12,000 a year over three years). For South African NSC and IEB students, awards are based on the results released in January 2027 and your personal statement.
• Undergraduate dates: round one by 25 February 2027 (results by 2 April) or round two by 8 April 2027 (results by 12 May). You must make Manchester your “Firm” UCAS choice by 15 May 2027.
• Master’s: third-party sites report £19,000 off tuition and a deadline of about 20 April 2027. I could not confirm this on Manchester’s own page, so check the South Africa scholarships page before you plan around it.
• This is a partial scholarship. It reduces your tuition bill; it does not pay for living costs.

Türkiye Bursları (Türkiye, all levels)

The Turkish government’s scholarship for international students Based on the standing calendar, applications run from 10 January to 20 February (that was the 2024 window). The official 2027 dates were not confirmed in the sources I could reach, so treat 10 January to 20 February 2027 as an expectation, not a fact. Watch turkiyeburslari.gov.tr.

Scholarships That Have Already Closed for 2027 Entry

Save yourself the time and do not chase these for 2027. Use the dates to plan for next year.

Eligibility Criteria

Every scholarship sets its own rules, so read the official page before you start These are the requirements for each open one.

UBC International Scholars Program

• You are an international student who will study in Canada on a Canadian study permit.
• You enter UBC directly from an accredited secondary school, and for the 2027 winter session you must have graduated no earlier than June 2026.
• You are applying for your first undergraduate degree.
• You can show significant financial need, using official documents.
• You show superior academic achievement (UBC says all As or an equivalent standard) and meet UBC’s English Language Admission Standard.
• Certain degrees are not eligible, including nursing, dual degrees and joint degrees.

Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

• You are a South African citizen.
• You hold a master’s degree or equivalent by 31 July 2027 (30 June 2027 if you plan to study at ETH Zurich).
• You were born after 31 December 1991.
• A Swiss academic supervisor supports your research and writes a letter of support. Applications without one are not considered.

Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme

Also read: JUSTCOOL PhD Scholarship 2027 in China For International Students

• You are applying as a new full-time PhD student at a participating university.
• You show strong academic results, research potential, communication skills and leadership, and you meet the university’s admission requirements.

Gates Cambridge

• Any nationality except UK citizens can apply, for Cambridge postgraduate courses that Gates Cambridge funds. Not every course qualifies, so check the eligibility page before you spend time on an application.

DHET–Tokyo Metropolitan University

• You are a South African citizen in good health.
• You have a minimum GPA of 2.30 on a 3.00 scale (use DHET’s GPA calculator). Master’s applicants need a bachelor’s degree or NQF Level 7 qualification; PhD applicants need a master’s degree.
• You can start in Japan in October 2027, speak English well, and show interest in Japan and commitment to South Africa’s development.
• Preference goes to previously disadvantaged applicants.

Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters

• You have a bachelor’s degree, or are in your last year and will graduate before the master’s starts.
• You meet the extra rules set by your chosen programme.

Documents You Need to Prepare

Start gathering these now Many take weeks to get especially certified copies and referee letters.

• Valid passport. DHET’s Japan programme needs it by April 2027. Check that your passport does not expire soon.
• South African ID copy.
• Academic transcripts for all years of study, plus degree certificates. Certified translations are needed if they are not in the programme’s language.
• CV with your education, awards, publications and experience.
• Motivation letter or personal statement. The Swiss scholarship limits the letter to two pages.
• Research proposal (PhD and research applicants). The Swiss scholarship allows up to five pages including a timeline.
• Letters of support or references. Ask referees early and give them your deadline. UBC needs a nominator and a teacher referee; the Swiss scholarship asks for two professors’ email addresses.
• Proof of English proficiency, where required.
• Supervisor letter (Swiss scholarship).
• Financial documents (UBC).
• Medical certificate (DHET–Tokyo Metropolitan University).

DHET also reminds applicants that they are responsible for checking that foreign qualifications will be recognised in South Africa. Contact the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) and your professional body early if you plan to work in a regulated profession.

How to Apply: A Beginner’s Method That Works for Any Scholarship

1. Go to the official source. Start at the provider’s own website or the DHET International Scholarships portal. Do not apply through a link someone sent you on social media.
2. Read the eligibility section line by line. If one requirement does not fit you, such as age or degree level, do not apply.
3. Write down the exact deadline, including the time zone. Several deadlines below are at noon in Hong Kong or 11:59 pm in Switzerland or the UK, not South African time.
4. List what you need and who must act. Referees, nominators, supervisors and universities often have to submit things themselves.
5. Create an account on the official portal. Use an email address you check daily, and keep your login details safe.
6. Fill in the form in a separate document first. Paste your answers in once they are final, because some portals lose unsaved work.
7. Upload clear PDF files with simple names, such as “Surname_Transcript.pdf”.
8. Submit at least a few days early. Portals get slow near deadlines.
9. Save proof. Download or screenshot your confirmation and keep the reference number.
10. Watch your email, including spam, for interview invitations or document requests.

Step-by-Step Guides for the Open Scholarships

How to apply for the Gates Cambridge Scholarship

1. Open the Course Directory on the Cambridge postgraduate site and pick your course.
2. Find the Course Funding Deadline in the right-hand column. It will be 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027.
3. Read the Gates Cambridge timeline and eligibility pages.
4. Complete your Cambridge graduate application and the Gates Cambridge funding question(s) inside it.
5. Make sure your referees submit before the deadline. All documents must be in by 11:59 pm UK time.
6. Expect the outcome by 8 March 2027, panels on 22 and 23 March, and offers by early April. If you get an offer, you have 72 hours to accept.

How to apply for the Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships

1. Read the official Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships page and check the eligibility rules.
2. Find a Swiss academic supervisor first. The Swiss authorities say this can take weeks or months. Email professors with your CV and a short research summary.
3. Register on the GO ESKAS (Grants Online) system, which is linked from the DHET listing.
4. Upload your CV, motivation letter (max two pages), research proposal (max five pages), supervisor’s letter and short CV, transcripts, and passport copy.
5. Enter the email addresses of two professors who will be asked to submit recommendation letters through the system.
6. Submit before 30 November 2026, 11:59 pm Swiss time. Email and paper applications are not accepted.
7. PhD applicants must also apply separately for admission to a Swiss doctoral programme.

How to apply for the UBC International Scholars Program

1. Choose your UBC programme and campus (Vancouver or Okanagan), and a second-choice programme.
2. Speak to your school about nomination. You need one nominator (for example a guidance counsellor or principal) and one teacher referee, and they must be different people. A school can nominate up to two students for UBC Vancouver and one for Okanagan.
3. Submit your UBC admission application first. The award application asks you to confirm it.
4. Create your account on the International Scholars Program application system and invite your nominator and referee. You cannot finish until both have submitted their forms.
5. Gather your family’s income, expenses and assets information, and use UBC’s cost estimator.
6. Write the four essays (about 150 to 250 words each) and list your extracurricular activities and awards.
7. Submit by 15 November 2026.
8. Upload your transcripts and English test results to UBC by 31 January 2027. UBC says this deadline replaces the date in its “Next Steps” email.
9. If invited, record the video interview (you get one week). Results come on a rolling basis from February to April, and housing applications close on 1 May.

How to apply for the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme

1. Choose up to two university, department and programme combinations from the eight participating universities.
2. Submit one initial application on the HKPFS Electronic System before 1 December 2026 at 12:00 noon Hong Kong time. More than one initial application can disqualify you.
3. Save the HKPFS Reference Number you receive.
4. Apply separately to each chosen university for PhD admission, quoting your reference number and following its own deadline. Some university deadlines fall very close to 1 December.

How to apply for the DHET–Tokyo Metropolitan University Scholarship

1. Go to the DHET International Scholarships portal and open the Tokyo Metropolitan University listing. Return in early November when forms are published.
2. Download the DHET application form, medical certificate form, research proposal form, recommendation form and completion checklist.
3. Use the GPA calculator to confirm you meet the 2.30 minimum.
4. Save every document as a clearly named PDF.
5. Email the form and documents to the address on the DHET page before 8 January 2027.
6. Expect screening, ranking, possible interviews, DHET nomination and then a final decision by the university. Respond to any request for extra documents within one week.

How to apply for an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master’s

1. Open the Erasmus Mundus Catalogue and find programmes in your field.
2. Visit each programme’s own website. It lists the consortium, entry rules, scholarship quotas and the deadline.
3. Apply directly through that programme’s application system. There is no central portal.
4. Prepare programme-specific documents, which often include a motivation letter, CV, transcripts, English proof and references.
5. Apply to more than one programme if you qualify, but keep a calendar, because each deadline is different.

Important Dates and Deadlines

• 15 Nov 2026: UBC International Scholars Program application due
• 30 Nov 2026: Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships
• 1 Dec 2026, noon HKT: Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (initial application)
• 8 Dec 2026: Gates Cambridge (courses with this funding deadline)
• 6 Jan 2027: Gates Cambridge (courses with this funding deadline)
• 8 Jan 2027: DHET–Tokyo Metropolitan University
• October 2026 to January 2027: most Erasmus Mundus deadlines (programme-specific)
• 31 Jan 2027: UBC document deadline
• February 2027: Australia Awards Africa 2028 intake opens (study would start in 2028)
• 25 Feb 2027: Manchester undergraduate round one
• 8 Mar 2027: Gates Cambridge international round outcomes by this date
• 8 Apr 2027: Manchester undergraduate round two
• July 2027: Commonwealth applicants (those who applied in 2026) hear outcomes
• 1 Sept 2027: Swiss scholarships start

How Applicants Are Selected

Selection is competitive and each scheme works differently. Here is what the providers say:

• Gates Cambridge: departmental ranking between December and February, then selection by panels in March.
• Swiss scholarships: assessed on your academic profile and research competence, the originality and method of your project, the quality of supervision and the potential for future research collaboration.
• HKPFS: applications are reviewed by one of two panels (sciences, medicine, engineering and technology, or humanities, social sciences and business). They weigh academic excellence, research potential, communication skills and leadership. Universities may interview you.
• DHET–Tokyo Metropolitan University: five stages, from eligibility screening and academic ranking to interviews, DHET nomination and the university’s final decision.
• UBC: UBC reviews your written application and financial documents, and may invite you to a video interview.

A nomination or a shortlist spot is never a guarantee of an award.

How to Check Your Application Status

There is no single tracker, so check in the right place:

• Your email, every day, including spam and junk folders. UBC, the Swiss authorities and Commonwealth-type schemes all contact applicants by email, and an offer can be withdrawn if you do not reply in time.
• The application portal you used (Cambridge applicant portal, GO ESKAS, HKPFS system, UBC award system). Log in and look for status updates.
• The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission’s CSC Central lets applicants view a submitted application using the reference and passcode emailed to them.
• Your DHET contact for DHET-managed schemes. The DHET portal lists a phone number (012 312 5393) and an email contact for enquiries.

Always keep your confirmation emails and reference numbers.