Looking for scholarships to study abroad in 2027? Every website claims "fully funded" and "apply now", yet several big deadlines have already passed. This guide sorts the main scholarships for Ghanaian and African students by timing, using official pages, so you know where to spend your energy this month.
No single list covers everything, so this focuses on well-established programmes. Dates are correct as of 16 October 2026, and you should always confirm them on the official site before you apply.
Closing next week: Commonwealth Master's Scholarships (UK)
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission closes applications at 16:00 BST on Tuesday 20 October 2026. Ghana is on the eligible-country list.
- Covers: tuition, return airfare, a monthly stipend (£1,712, or £2,000 in London) and a study travel grant.
- Who it suits: applicants with at least a 2:1 who could not otherwise afford UK study, aiming for a one-year taught master's (MBAs are excluded).
- The catch: the CSC takes no direct applications. You must also apply to a nominator, such as your national nominating agency, which may set an earlier deadline.
Closing soon: Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
This programme runs through partner universities, and each has its own rules and dates. At the University of Cape Town, postgraduate applications close on 31 October 2026 (undergraduate closed on 30 September). Applying for the scholarship is a separate step from applying for admission, so do both. Check your target partner's page for its own deadline.
Winter deadlines
Gates Cambridge. Open to citizens of any country outside the UK, it funds full-cost postgraduate study at Cambridge, with roughly two-thirds of awards going to PhD students. The deadline is 8 December 2026 or 6 January 2027, depending on your course. Selectors look at intellectual ability, your reasons for choosing the course, commitment to improving others' lives, and leadership potential.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters. These EU-backed master's degrees span universities in several countries. The European Commission's agency says most programmes take applications between October and January, and you apply directly to each programme. Not every listed programme offers a scholarship, so ask the consortium before you invest time.
DAAD In-Country/In-Region. This German-funded scheme supports development-related Master's and PhD study at selected universities in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana. The 2026/27 call closed on 27 November 2025. If the next call follows a similar rhythm, it could open this autumn, so watch DAAD Ghana's page.
Early 2027: Türkiye Bursları
Turkey's government scholarship offers university placement, a monthly stipend, tuition, health insurance, accommodation, a Turkish language course and a flight ticket, according to the official site. Past cycles ran from roughly 10 January to 20 February, but I could not confirm the 2027 dates, so check its application calendar. The window is short, so have documents ready in December.
Already closed: plan for next year
Chevening closed for 2027/28 on 6 October. Rounds have recently opened in August, so use the months ahead to research courses and draft your essays.
Ghana Scholarships Authority. Its portal posts government-to-government awards, such as Chinese and Thai-funded programmes, each with its own window. Sign up and check it regularly. The Authority states its services are free and that no agent has been engaged to help applicants.
How to use this list
- Pick two or three that fit your level and field, rather than applying to everything.
- Start with the slow parts. Transcripts and referee letters take weeks. The CSC, for example, rejects applications whose references miss the deadline.
- Apply for admission in parallel. Several schemes want an offer or an application to your chosen course.
- Never pay anyone to "guarantee" a scholarship.
The bottom line
Doors are closing for some 2027 awards, but others are still open or about to open. If you qualify for the Commonwealth scholarship, act today. If not, aim for Gates Cambridge, Erasmus Mundus and Türkiye Bursları, and use the closed rounds to prepare early for the next cycle.: Which scholarships can Ghanaian students still apply for in 2027? Check live deadlines for Commonwealth, Gates Cambridge, DAAD, Erasmus Mundus and Türkiye.
Sources: Commonwealth Scholarship Commission · Chevening Ghana · UCT Mastercard Foundation Scholars · Gates Cambridge · EACEA Erasmus Mundus Catalogue · DAAD Ghana · Türkiye Bursları · Ghana Scholarships Authority
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