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05 May 2026
Canada Start-Up Visa 2026 paused alternatives for African tech founders

Canada Start-Up Visa 2026 Paused: What African Tech Founders Should Do Until the New Entrepreneur Pilot Launches

Categories Canada, Immigration, Visa Updates, Work Permits

What this post covers

If you are an African founder who pinned a Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal landing on the Canada Start-Up Visa 2026 programme, the door is now closed for new commitment certificates. IRCC stopped accepting fresh designated-organisation commitment certificates after 31 December 2025, paused the optional work permit for new applicants on 19 December 2025, and pointed founders toward a still-undefined Entrepreneur Pilot expected later in 2026. This is a recap and an alternatives guide, not an active application playbook.

What changed for the Canada Start-Up Visa in 2026?

IRCC announced the changes via the official update on immigration measures for entrepreneurs. As of 1 January 2026, the Start-up Visa Program is paused. Designated organisations could no longer issue new commitment certificates after 31 December 2025, and the optional work permit for new SUV applicants ended on 19 December 2025.

Existing 2025 commitment certificate holders have a narrow window: applications must reach IRCC by 30 June 2026. Founders already in Canada on a current SUV work permit can still file extensions while their permanent residence applications are processed, but the SUV pipeline is otherwise frozen.

IRCC has signalled a new Entrepreneur Pilot to launch later in 2026 but has not published eligibility, intake caps or processing timelines. Until rules are public, African founders cannot plan around it.

Who the SUV pause hits hardest

The freeze stings African tech founders who built their 2026 plans around incubator partnerships with Canadian designated organisations — Communitech, Innovation Factory, DMZ, Highline Beta and others. A Ghanaian fintech CEO who had a letter-of-support outline ready to convert into a commitment certificate this quarter, a Kenyan health-tech team mid-conversation with a Vancouver venture capital fund, a Nigerian SaaS founder eyeing a Canadian market entry, and a Cameroonian agritech team deep in incubator due diligence all need to pivot.

The pause does not affect those already holding a 2025 commitment certificate — their applications are still in line as long as the 30 June 2026 filing window is met. Read about active alternatives like the Canada Self-Employed Persons Program for cultural and athletic founders.

What founders should do until the new pilot opens

If you do not hold a 2025 commitment certificate, the SUV is not a route for you in 2026. African founders should pivot to active programmes — the UK Innovator Founder Visa, France Pass’Talent Tech Founder pathway, Germany self-employment under §21 AufenthG, Portugal HQA visa, or Estonia’s e-Residency-plus-Startup-Visa stack. Each gives a real path to residence today.

For founders aiming at Canada, three holding patterns work: build commercial traction at home, layer in a Canadian customer pipeline, and prepare an Express Entry profile in case the new Entrepreneur Pilot draws from it. Track the Canada Express Entry CRS trends in case you can stack work experience and language scores in the meantime.

  • New commitment certificates: closed since 31 December 2025
  • 2025 commitment-certificate holders: file by 30 June 2026 or lose the slot
  • Optional SUV work permit: closed for new applicants since 19 December 2025
  • Existing SUV work permit holders: can still extend while PR is processed
  • New Entrepreneur Pilot: announced but with no published rules — do not plan around it yet
  • Designated-organisation cap: still 10 startups per year through 2026

Need help with your application?

Travel Expore helps African applicants navigate this process end-to-end — from documents to consulate appointments — with consultants serving applicants from Lagos to Nairobi to Johannesburg. Start your free eligibility check at https://linktr.ee/travelexpore.

Why the Canada Start-Up Visa 2026 pause matters for African founders

Canada was the most generous PR-on-arrival route for African startup founders for a decade. Its pause forces a serious rethink for any African team picking a country to scale into. Globally, the UK Innovator Founder Visa is now the cleanest English-speaking alternative; in Europe, France, Germany and Portugal each offer self-employment routes with real PR pipelines.

For African founders who hold a valid 2025 SUV commitment certificate, the priority is filing the full PR application before 30 June 2026. Solicitors recommend treating the next 8 weeks as a hard deadline: assemble the business plan, supporting evidence, language tests, settlement funds, and personal documents now — not in June.

Frequently asked questions about Canada Start-Up Visa 2026

Is the Canada Start-Up Visa 2026 still open?

No new applications. IRCC stopped accepting commitment certificates after 31 December 2025 and paused the SUV work permit for new applicants on 19 December 2025. Only applicants holding a valid 2025 commitment certificate can file PR applications, and those must reach IRCC by 30 June 2026.

What replaces the Canada Start-Up Visa for African founders?

A new federal Entrepreneur Pilot was announced for later in 2026, but rules are unpublished. Until then, African founders should consider the UK Innovator Founder Visa, France Pass’Talent, Germany §21 self-employment, Portugal D8 or HQA visas, and Estonia’s Startup Visa. Provincial entrepreneur streams in Ontario, Saskatchewan and BC can also fit some founders.

I have a 2025 commitment certificate — what is my deadline?

30 June 2026. You must file the full permanent residence application (with supporting documents, language tests, and settlement funds) before that date. Build in time for biometrics in Lagos, Accra, Nairobi or your local VFS Global centre.

Will the new Entrepreneur Pilot accept African founders?

IRCC has not published rules. Past pilots have prioritised Canadian designated organisations and language proficiency. Track the official IRCC update page for announcements.

Should I cancel my Canadian incubator conversations?

No — relationships still matter. Incubators may guide selection into the new Entrepreneur Pilot or partner with provincial PNP entrepreneur streams. Keep the warm contacts; just shift execution to Plan B routes.

Key takeaways

  • The Canada Start-Up Visa 2026 is paused; no new commitment certificates issued since 31 December 2025.
  • 2025 commitment-certificate holders must file PR applications by 30 June 2026.
  • New SUV work permits stopped on 19 December 2025; existing holders can still extend.
  • IRCC plans an Entrepreneur Pilot for later in 2026, but rules are not yet public.
  • African founders should pivot to UK Innovator Founder, France Pass’Talent, Germany §21, Portugal D8 or Estonia Startup Visa while the Canada Start-Up Visa 2026 freeze holds.

Get expert help with your Canada Start-Up Visa 2026 application

Travel Explore helps African applicants — from Lagos, Nairobi, Accra, Cape Town, Yaoundé, Dakar and beyond — navigate this process end-to-end. Talk to a consultant at https://linktr.ee/travelexpore.

Related reads on Travel Explore

Share this story

  • Canada Start-Up Visa is paused — what African founders should do until 2027.
  • Toronto plans on hold? 5 alternative founder visas Africans should pivot to in 2026.
  • 30 June 2026: the deadline that decides whether your Canada SUV file even makes it to IRCC.

05 May 2026
UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa 2026 guide for African professionals at multinationals

UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa 2026: £52,500 Intra-Company Route for African Professionals at Multinationals

Categories Immigration, Uk, Visa Updates, Work Permits

What this post covers

For African professionals already working at multinationals, the UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa 2026 — the headline route inside Britain’s Global Business Mobility framework — is the cleanest way to move from a Lagos, Nairobi, Cairo, Accra or Cape Town office to a London or Manchester posting. The salary floor is £52,500 or the going rate, the maximum stay is five years in a six-year window for standard earners, and high earners on at least £73,900 unlock a nine-year cumulative window.

What changed for the UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa in 2026?

The route was rebuilt from the old Intra-Company Transfer in April 2022 and quietly tightened in 2026. Sponsor licence holders now have to show stricter common-ownership or control evidence, especially for newer subsidiaries spun out of African parent companies in oil and gas, banking and telecoms.

From January 2026, all new grants are issued as eVisas. By the end of 2026, employers must verify worker statuses exclusively through eVisa share codes via the UKVI account — physical Biometric Residence Permits are out of circulation. The general salary threshold sits at £52,500 (or the going rate, whichever is higher), and only the first 48 hours each week count toward the salary calculation.

For high earners, the threshold for the longer nine-year cumulative period rose to £73,900. African senior managers, geophysicists, financial controllers, infrastructure engineers and biotech leads at multinationals are the typical fits.

Who fits the UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa 2026

Think a Nigerian operations director at Shell ready for a 24-month London assignment, an Egyptian biotech research lead at a Cambridge-headquartered group, a Kenyan financial controller at Standard Chartered moving to Bishopsgate, a South African data engineer at a global SaaS firm, or a Cameroonian project manager at Orange seconded to Paddington. The route assumes the worker has been with the overseas employer for at least 12 months and is moving into a real, defined assignment.

It is not the right route for first-time hires from outside the group, founders, freelancers or anyone whose UK employer is not group-linked to the overseas entity. For those cases, the UK Skilled Worker Visa is usually the fit.

Key requirements: salary, sponsor licence and the 5-year cap

On paper the rules are simple: hold a Certificate of Sponsorship from a UK Global Business Mobility — Senior or Specialist Worker sponsor licence holder, prove the linked-entity relationship, hit the £52,500 / going-rate salary, and meet maintenance funds. Most African applicants come in with sponsor-paid maintenance, which removes the personal funds test.

The 5-year cap in any 6-year period is the hidden constraint. Many African secondees plan two two-year postings followed by a switch to the Skilled Worker route in year five. High earners on £73,900-plus get the longer nine-year cap and more career flexibility.

  • Sponsor licence under Global Business Mobility — Senior or Specialist Worker (with linked entity)
  • Salary £52,500 or going rate (whichever is higher), with first 48 hours per week counted
  • 12 months of prior service with the overseas group (waived for high earners on £73,900+)
  • Maximum cumulative leave: 5 years in any 6-year period (9 in 10 for high earners)
  • eVisa default in 2026 — no physical BRP for new grants
  • RQF level 6 role appearing in Appendix Skilled Occupations

Need help with your application?

Travel Expore helps African applicants navigate this process end-to-end — from documents to consulate appointments — with consultants serving applicants from Lagos to Nairobi to Johannesburg. Start your free eligibility check at https://linktr.ee/travelexpore.

Why this route matters for African professionals in 2026

For African employees inside multinationals, this is one of the few UK work routes that does not require Resident Labour Market Tests, English language proof, or external sponsorship hunts. The application timeline is fast (often 3 weeks priority service), and dependants can join with full work rights. Read our UK Skilled Worker Visa 2026 explainer to see why GBM is more flexible for big employers.

Plan for the 5-year cap. The route does not lead directly to ILR, so most African workers transition to the Skilled Worker route after their assignment to start the clock. The GOV.UK Senior or Specialist Worker page spells out the cumulative leave maths in detail.

Frequently asked questions about UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa 2026

Does the UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa 2026 lead to ILR?

No, not directly. The route caps cumulative leave at 5 years in any 6-year period (9 years for high earners on £73,900-plus). Most African workers switch to the Skilled Worker route to qualify for indefinite leave to remain after 5 years of continuous Skilled Worker residence.

What is the minimum salary for 2026?

£52,500 or the going rate for the role under Appendix Skilled Occupations, whichever is higher. Only the first 48 hours of each working week count toward the salary calculation. Bonuses and allowances are treated under standard sponsor guidance.

How long do I need to have worked for the overseas group?

Standard applicants must have worked with the overseas group for at least 12 months. High earners on a salary of £73,900 or more are exempt from this requirement, which makes the route useful for senior African executives joining new acquisitions.

Can my family join me on the GBM Senior or Specialist Worker visa?

Yes. Partners and dependent children can apply as dependants. Partners have full work rights in the UK. Children study under the standard rules. Dependants need to evidence maintenance funds unless the sponsor confirms support.

How long does processing take?

Standard out-of-country processing runs 3 weeks; priority and super-priority services are available at extra cost. African applicants typically apply through VFS Global biometrics centres in Lagos, Nairobi, Accra, Johannesburg, Cairo or Cape Town.

Key takeaways

  • The UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa 2026 is the cleanest intra-company route for African professionals at multinationals.
  • Salary floor £52,500 or going rate; high earners on £73,900+ get a 9-year cumulative cap.
  • Sponsor must hold a GBM — Senior or Specialist Worker licence, and the entity link must be evidenced.
  • New grants are eVisas only from 2026; physical BRPs are gone by year-end.
  • Plan to switch to the Skilled Worker route to unlock the 5-year ILR clock.

Get expert help with your UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa 2026 application

Travel Explore helps African applicants — from Lagos, Nairobi, Accra, Cape Town, Yaoundé, Dakar and beyond — navigate this process end-to-end. Talk to a consultant at https://linktr.ee/travelexpore.

Related reads on Travel Explore

Share this story

  • £52,500, 5-year cap and an eVisa: the UK GBM Senior or Specialist Worker Visa 2026 in plain English.
  • Why African oil-and-gas, banking and tech executives at multinationals should pick this route.
  • Move from Lagos to London inside the same group — how the UK Senior or Specialist Worker Visa 2026 works.

05 May 2026
UK Innovator Founder Visa 2026 endorsement guide for African founders

UK Innovator Founder Visa 2026: 3 Endorsing Bodies, B2 English & the Path to British Citizenship for African Founders

Categories Immigration, Uk, Visa Updates, Work Permits

What this post covers

If you are an African startup founder eyeing London, the UK Innovator Founder Visa 2026 is the route to know. The Home Office has trimmed the endorsing body list to three approved bodies, raised the English language bar to CEFR B2, and locked in a fully digital eVisa rollout. There is no fixed minimum investment, but founders must prove their idea is innovative, viable and scalable to a UK Endorsing Service, Innovator International or Envestors panel.

What changed in the UK Innovator Founder Visa for 2026?

The biggest 2026 shift is the endorsing body shake-up. Until April 2026, the GOV.UK list ran longer; today only three Business Endorsing Bodies can issue endorsements for both the Innovator Founder route and Scale-up licences: UK Endorsing Services, Innovator International and Envestors Limited. The Global Entrepreneurs Programme can endorse Innovator Founder applicants, but only those already invited into that scheme.

From 8 January 2026 the Home Office raised the English language requirement to CEFR Level B2 across all four skills — reading, writing, speaking and listening — and applicants must prove this through a Secure English Language Test from an approved provider. New grants are issued as eVisas via the UKVI account, and physical Biometric Residence Permits are being phased out across 2026.

Crucially, there is no separate minimum investment threshold under the current Immigration Rules. What replaces a fixed sum is a credibility test from your endorsing body: where the funds come from, whether the team can execute, and whether the venture is genuinely scalable beyond a Lagos, Nairobi or Cape Town base.

Who is affected? Founders the route fits in 2026

The UK Innovator Founder Visa 2026 is built for African builders with serious traction. Think a Ghanaian agritech founder who has piloted in Tema and is ready to expand into European supply chains, a Kenyan health-tech CEO who has raised seed capital from Nairobi angels, a South African logistics entrepreneur with paying enterprise customers, or a Senegalese fintech team targeting diaspora remittance corridors.

It is not the right route for an early-stage idea on a slide deck. Endorsing bodies have tightened review since the Tier 1 Entrepreneur sunset, and they want signed letters of intent, defensible IP, a credible go-to-market plan and proof that you and any co-founders can run the business in the UK. African applicants with paying customers, accelerator alumni status (Y Combinator, MEST, Antler, Google for Startups Africa) or strong university IP tend to clear the bar fastest.

Key requirements, fees and the endorsement test

On paper the rules are simple. You must hold an endorsement letter from one of the three approved bodies, meet B2 English, hold maintenance funds (currently £1,270 if you are not exempt), and convince an Entry Clearance Officer that the business meets the innovation, viability and scalability tests. Application fees and the Immigration Health Surcharge sit on top, and partners and dependent children can join you. Read more on the Travel Explore guide to UK Skilled Worker thresholds in 2026 for context on how Britain prices skilled migration.

The endorsement is everything. UK Endorsing Services charges a fee structure for initial assessments and contact-point meetings at 12 and 24 months. Innovator International and Envestors Limited take similar approaches, with their own panels and review committees. Plan to spend three to six months iterating on your business plan with whichever body fits your sector.

  • Endorsement from an approved body — UK Endorsing Services, Innovator International or Envestors Limited
  • B2 CEFR English in all four skills, evidenced by a SELT
  • Funds: £1,270 maintenance unless exempt (no fixed business investment minimum)
  • Two contact-point meetings with your endorsing body at 12 and 24 months
  • eVisa as the default proof of status — access via your UKVI account

Need help with your application?

Travel Expore helps African applicants navigate this process end-to-end — from documents to consulate appointments — with consultants serving applicants from Lagos to Nairobi to Johannesburg. Start your free eligibility check at https://linktr.ee/travelexpore.

Why the UK Innovator Founder Visa 2026 matters for African founders

For founders coming from Lagos, Accra, Nairobi, Yaoundé or Cape Town, this route is one of the few PR-leading entrepreneur visas left in the Anglosphere after Canada paused its Start-Up Visa programme. Three years on the Innovator Founder route lead to indefinite leave to remain, then British citizenship a year later. Read our comparison of Canadian entrepreneur paths to see why the UK looks attractive again.

For African applicants, the trade-off is clear: higher endorsement scrutiny in exchange for an open-ended path to UK residence and the ability to bring family. Use authority data — the GOV.UK Innovator Founder page and Home Office guidance — to plan your application calendar around endorsement panels and SELT booking lead times.

Frequently asked questions about UK Innovator Founder Visa 2026

How much money do I need for the UK Innovator Founder Visa 2026?

There is no fixed minimum investment under the current Immigration Rules. Endorsing bodies will judge whether your funding is credible for the business plan and stage of growth. Many African applicants come in with seed rounds in the £25,000 to £200,000 band, but smaller pre-seed founders with strong revenue traction also clear endorsement.

Can my spouse and children join me on the Innovator Founder route?

Yes. Partners and dependent children can apply as dependants, and partners typically have full work rights in the UK. They will need their own English requirement at A1 for the initial application and A2 for extension, and you must show maintenance funds for each dependant.

How long does endorsement take in 2026?

Plan for two to four months from first contact with an endorsing body to a signed endorsement letter. UK Endorsing Services, Innovator International and Envestors Limited each run their own panel cycles. Build your application timeline backwards from a target arrival date in the UK.

Does the Innovator Founder visa lead to British citizenship?

Yes. The route grants three-year visas that lead to indefinite leave to remain after three years if you keep the business alive and pass the contact-point reviews. After 12 months on ILR, you can apply for naturalisation as a British citizen if you meet the Life in the UK and English requirements.

Can African founders apply from outside the UK?

Yes. You can apply from Lagos, Nairobi, Accra, Cape Town, Yaoundé, Dakar or any other VFS Global biometrics centre once you hold a valid endorsement letter. The Entry Clearance Officer reviews the same evidence pack as in-country applicants.

Key takeaways

  • The UK Innovator Founder Visa 2026 has narrowed to three Business Endorsing Bodies: UK Endorsing Services, Innovator International and Envestors Limited.
  • English moved to CEFR B2 in all four skills from 8 January 2026 — book your SELT early.
  • There is no fixed minimum investment, but endorsing bodies expect credible funding behind a scalable plan.
  • Dependants get full work rights, and the route leads to ILR after three years.
  • For African founders, the UK Innovator Founder Visa 2026 is one of the cleanest residency routes left after Canada paused its Start-Up Visa.

Get expert help with your UK Innovator Founder Visa 2026 application

Travel Explore helps African applicants — from Lagos, Nairobi, Accra, Cape Town, Yaoundé, Dakar and beyond — navigate this process end-to-end. Talk to a consultant at https://linktr.ee/travelexpore.

Related reads on Travel Explore

Share this story

  • The UK now has only 3 endorsing bodies for the Innovator Founder Visa — here is who they are.
  • No fixed investment minimum, but a tougher endorsement test: what African founders need in 2026.
  • Why African startup founders are switching from the Canada Start-Up Visa to the UK Innovator Founder route.

04 May 2026
Aga Khan Foundation Scholarships 2027 – African graduate student in cap and gown

Aga Khan Foundation ISP Scholarships 2027 for Africans: Master’s and PhD Funding Across Asia, Africa and Europe

Categories Immigration, Scholarships, Study Abroad, Visa Updates

What this post covers

The Aga Khan Foundation Scholarships 2027 (formally the International Scholarship Programme, or ISP) is one of the most underused funding streams for African Master’s and PhD students. Run by the Aga Khan Foundation across 16 countries — including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Mozambique, Madagascar, Mali and Egypt — the ISP combines a 50% grant and a 50% interest-free loan to fund graduate study at top universities anywhere in the world.

What is the Aga Khan Foundation Scholarships 2027?

The Aga Khan Foundation has run the International Scholarship Programme since 1969. The award is structured as a hybrid loan-grant: 50% of the value is a grant the student does not repay, and 50% is an interest-free loan repayable over 5 to 10 years after graduation. The 2027 cycle keeps that structure and emphasises support for development-relevant graduate study — education, health sciences, public policy, environment, agriculture, hospitality, journalism and media. Per the Aga Khan Development Network ISP page, applications open in early January each year and close on March 31.

Application is country-specific: applicants apply through the Aga Khan Foundation office in their country of origin or residence. Eligible African countries include Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Madagascar, Mozambique, Mali and Egypt, with applicants from other countries considered case-by-case via global offices.

Who is affected?

The ISP fits African graduates planning to pursue a Master’s or PhD at a top university and who can demonstrate a commitment to returning to their country to apply their training. The programme is well suited for a Kenyan public health graduate aiming for an MPH at Johns Hopkins, a Tanzanian education researcher targeting an EdD at Oxford, a Ugandan environment specialist heading to a Master’s in environmental policy at Cambridge, a Malagasy hospitality manager pursuing an MBA at INSEAD, a Mozambican agriculture researcher heading to a PhD at Wageningen, an Egyptian public policy graduate targeting an MPA at Harvard Kennedy, and a Malian media professional pursuing journalism at Columbia.

The unifying thread is graduate-level (not undergraduate) study, demonstrated financial need, and a clear plan to return and apply learning in the home country.

Key requirements & deadline

To qualify for the Aga Khan Foundation Scholarships 2027, African applicants need: a confirmed admission letter (or strong application in progress) for a Master’s or PhD at a recognised university, a strong undergraduate record (typically First Class or Upper Second), demonstrated financial need (the ISP does not fund applicants who can fully self-finance), evidence of leadership or community engagement, and a guarantor or co-signer for the loan portion. See our Commonwealth Scholarships 2026/2027 guide for parallel African scholarship pathways.

  • Award structure — 50% grant + 50% interest-free loan covering tuition, fees and basic living costs.
  • Deadline — March 31 each year for the following academic year.
  • Levels — Master’s and PhD only; undergraduate study is not funded.
  • Repayment — Loan portion repayable over 5 to 10 years after graduation, interest-free.

Need help with your Aga Khan Scholarship application?

Travel Expore helps African Master’s and PhD candidates navigate the Aga Khan Foundation Scholarships 2027 end-to-end — from country office liaison to recommendation letters — with consultants serving applicants from Nairobi to Dar es Salaam to Cairo. Start your free eligibility check at https://linktr.ee/travelexpore.

Why it matters for African students

The ISP matters because it fills a gap that fully funded scholarships often miss. Chevening, DAAD and Erasmus Mundus award fully funded packages but cap at one or two specific countries. The ISP funds graduate study at any recognised university, including US Ivy League, UK Russell Group, Canadian U15, top European business schools, and South Asian institutions. The hybrid structure means more applicants can access it than fully grant-based programmes — the loan portion is interest-free and repayable over a decade.

Per the Aga Khan Development Network, ISP alumni now number over 7,000 across the 16 eligible countries, with strong representation in education, health and public policy roles in their home countries.

Frequently asked questions about Aga Khan Foundation Scholarships 2027

What does the Aga Khan Foundation Scholarships 2027 cover?

Tuition, fees and basic living costs for Master’s and PhD study. The award is 50% grant and 50% interest-free loan. Travel costs may be included case-by-case.

What is the deadline for the Aga Khan Foundation Scholarships 2027?

March 31, 2027 (for the 2027/2028 academic year). Applications open in January at the Aga Khan Foundation country offices. Late applications are not accepted.

Which African countries are eligible for the ISP?

Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Madagascar, Mozambique, Mali and Egypt are the African countries with dedicated AKF country offices. Applicants from other African nations are considered case-by-case at the global level.

Does the Aga Khan Foundation Scholarships 2027 fund undergraduates?

No. The ISP funds Master’s and PhD study only. Undergraduate study is not eligible.

Do I need a guarantor for the Aga Khan Scholarship?

Yes. The 50% loan portion requires a guarantor or co-signer who is a credit-eligible adult in your home country.

Can I use the Aga Khan Foundation Scholarships 2027 at any university?

Yes. The award can be used at any recognised university worldwide. Strong applications typically include admission to a top-50 ranked institution in the field of study.

Key takeaways

  • The Aga Khan Foundation Scholarships 2027 is a 50% grant + 50% interest-free loan for African graduate students.
  • The application deadline is March 31, 2027 for the 2027/2028 academic year.
  • Eligible African countries include Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Madagascar, Mozambique, Mali and Egypt.
  • The ISP funds Master’s and PhD only — undergraduate study is not eligible.
  • The loan portion is interest-free and repayable over 5 to 10 years after graduation.

Get expert help with your Aga Khan Foundation Scholarships 2027 application

Travel Explore helps African applicants — from Nairobi, Dar es Salaam, Kampala, Antananarivo, Maputo, Bamako and Cairo — navigate this process end-to-end. Talk to a consultant at https://linktr.ee/travelexpore.

Related reads on Travel Explore

Share this story

  • African Master’s and PhD candidates — the Aga Khan ISP is the funding nobody talks about
  • 50% grant, 50% interest-free loan — the African graduate scholarship hiding in plain sight
  • Why Aga Khan beats Chevening for some African graduate paths in 2027

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