Deadline 31st August 2021

The Sustainable Development Goals are our world’s call to action and our Equity and Merit Scholarships aim to empower young professionals in the Global South to address these.

Equity and Merit Scholarships are for academically excellent students who have the potential to make a significant contribution to sustainable development in their home countries.

The awards are intended for those who couldn't afford to study in Manchester without a scholarship. We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and all applications are considered on their merit. We particularly encourage women to apply. 

We offer two types of scholarship:  

• Full-time, on-campus master’s (one-year duration).
• Part-time, distance learning master’s (three to five years duration).

There are 30 scholarships (20 for full-time study and 10 for online study) available each year for a wide range of courses in engineering, environment, health sciences, development, education, textiles and law. The scheme is open to applicants from Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe. 

The scholarships cover full tuition fees, and for students who will be studying in Manchester, the award includes return international airfares, living expenses and visas.

Eligibility 

Our master’s scholarships are aimed at talented applicants, especially from disadvantaged backgrounds.

To apply for a scholarship, you must: 

• be a resident citizen of Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda or Zimbabwe, and have not previously studied outside Africa (training of six months or less does not count);
• have at least two years of professional experience related to your chosen field of study (this does not include unpaid internships or voluntary work);
• a bachelor’s degree (you must have graduated before September 2020) with an overall excellent grade. The awards are for academically outstanding students and typically this means that you are in the top 10% of your class;
• be committed to returning home and able to demonstrate the potential to make a positive impact on the future of your home country;
• have a clear idea of how studying with Manchester will benefit both your career and the wider community.

English Language Requirements

You do not need to provide an IELTS or TOFEL test result when you apply for the scholarship. However, if you are shortlisted for an interview then you will be required to take an approved English test.

Each master’s programme on the scholarship list has its own requirements in terms of English test scores. Please refer to the course profiles for more details.

In most cases, you will need a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 (with no sub-test less than 5.5) or TOEFL 90 (with no sub-test less than 22) to be awarded a scholarship. 

We don't grant any exemptions to these language requirements to applicants who have studied in English and we don't accept a certificate of English language proficiency from your university.

How to Apply

Applications open on Sunday, 1 August 2021 for entry in September 2022. 

Please do not use the form on the master's admissions page of our website.

To apply you will need:

• degree certificates and transcripts showing subjects taken and grades achieved;
• evidence of your English language ability as stated above;
• two up-to-date signed references. It is mandatory to have at least one academic reference to help us determine your ability to complete a master's at The University of Manchester. References must be on letter headed paper and addressed to 'Equity and Merit Scholarships at The University of Manchester. They do not need to be sent confidentially and there is no fixed format. 

Timeline for applications for 2021/22 scholarships

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