Study abroad: Mauritius scholarship what to check

African students looking for an opportunity to study in Mauritius have a new scholarship option to watch. The Government of Mauritius has opened applications for the Mauritius-Africa Scholarship Scheme 2027, covering full-time, on-campus study at public higher education institutions in the country.

The scheme is open to deserving students who are resident citizens of active member states of the African Union or African Commonwealth countries. Mauritian citizens are not eligible under the scheme. The scholarship covers undergraduate diploma and degree programmes as well as MPhil, MPhil/PhD and PhD programmes. (Higher Education Commission)

Who can apply?

The age requirements depend on the level of study.

For diploma and undergraduate degree applicants, candidates must be above 18 and must not have reached their 26th birthday by 1 January 2028. Undergraduate applicants must also meet the relevant academic requirements. For example, the guidelines require candidates for undergraduate degree programmes to have completed secondary education and normally have at least 21 points from three principal GCE or HSC A-Level subjects, or an equivalent qualification. Diploma applicants have separate minimum requirements, including specified O-Level or equivalent qualifications. (Higher Education Commission)

For MPhil, MPhil/PhD and PhD programmes, applicants must not have reached their 40th birthday by 1 January 2028. The academic requirements vary by programme and institution. MPhil applicants, for example, generally need a recognised undergraduate degree with at least an upper-second-class result or equivalent, while requirements for PhD entry depend on the higher education institution and programme. (Higher Education Commission)

Applicants should also remember that the scholarship is specifically for full-time, on-campus programmes. Part-time, distance-learning and mixed or blended programmes are excluded. (Higher Education Commission)

What applicants must do first

The first important step is not simply filling in the scholarship form.

Applicants must first apply for at least one full-time, on-campus programme at a public higher education institution in Mauritius. The 2027 guidelines say applicants can either provide an offer from their chosen institution or, where applicable, provide proof that they have paid the institution's application fee. (Higher Education Commission)

This matters because the scholarship application and university admission process are connected. For postgraduate applicants, the guidelines also require additional material, including acceptance from a proposed supervisor and an abridged research proposal. (Higher Education Commission)

Applicants should then prepare the scholarship application and supporting documents for their country's Nominating Agency. The documents listed by Mauritius include the completed application form, certified birth certificate, passport biodata page if available, certified educational certificates and transcripts, proof of application or conditional offer from a public Mauritian higher education institution, and a properly completed medical certificate. Postgraduate applicants have additional requirements. (Higher Education Commission)

The scholarship application is not meant to be sent directly to Mauritius by the applicant. It must go through the relevant Nominating Agency or another authorised institution. Applications without the required endorsement will not be considered. (Higher Education Commission)

Deadline and official steps

The official call gives important dates for the nominating agencies. They are required to submit soft copies by 17 March 2027 and hard copies by 31 March 2027. However, applicants should not automatically treat 31 March as their personal submission deadline. The official guidelines say the Nominating Agency will communicate its own deadline to prospective applicants. (Higher Education Commission)

There are also separate university application windows. These vary between institutions. For example, the University of Mauritius lists a tentative application window from 28 October 2026 to 31 March 2027, while the University of Technology, Mauritius lists a tentative window running from November 2026 to January 2027. Other institutions have different dates. Applicants therefore need to check the institution they want to attend rather than relying on one general date. (Higher Education Commission)

The safest approach is to follow the official checklist: choose an eligible programme, apply to the public Mauritian institution, prepare the required documents, contact the appropriate Nominating Agency for its local deadline and submission procedure, and submit through that agency.

The scholarship provides support toward tuition and study-related costs, a monthly living allowance and return airfare by the most economical route. The official guidelines state that the monthly living allowance is MUR 16,500, while tuition and related costs are supported up to specified limits depending on whether the beneficiary comes from a SADC or non-SADC country. (Higher Education Commission)

For students considering the opportunity, the key message is simple: use the official checklist, check the university's admission deadline, confirm your country's Nominating Agency deadline and do not rely on unofficial scholarship agents or social-media posts. The 2027 scheme has several stages, so preparing early is safer than waiting until the final dates.