Source
Two of the biggest scholarships for Kenyan graduates have just closed for 2027/28: Chevening on 6 October 2026 and the Commonwealth Master's Scholarships on 20 October 2026. Still open or opening are Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters, where each programme sets its own deadline, Mastercard Foundation Scholars, which you apply for through a partner university, and the UN Young Professionals Programme, if Kenya is on its participating list. No genuine scholarship needs you to pay an agent.
Our guide to graduate trainee programmes in Kenya covered employers at home. This guide covers the routes abroad: scholarships to study, and programmes that start a global career. We checked each one on 5 November 2026, and details change, so read the provider's own page before you apply.
Looking for work while you prepare? Head over to www.fuzu.com
Which Scholarships Have Already Closed for 2027/28?
- Chevening (UK). This funds a one-year master's degree. The 2027/28 round closed on 6 October 2026 at 11:00, StreamlineFeed Kenya reported. Applicants needed at least two years (2,800 hours) of work experience after their first degree, three UK course choices and a commitment to return to Kenya for two years, according to The Kenya Times. Part-time work, volunteering and internships can count towards the hours, Business Today reported.
- Commonwealth Master's Scholarships (UK). These fund a full-time taught master's for people from eligible low and middle-income Commonwealth countries, including Kenya. The window ran from 8 September to 20 October 2026 at 16:00 BST, according to the CSC.
How Do Kenyans Apply for the Commonwealth Master's?
Not directly. The Commission works with national nominating agencies, and in Kenya that is the Ministry of Education, which was to nominate 19 Kenyan citizens for 2027, Pulse Kenya reported. A nominating agency can set an earlier deadline than the CSC, and a nomination does not guarantee an award. Applications through the CSC's online system carry no charge, according to Cardiff University.
Which Routes Are Still Open or Opening?
- Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (Europe). These are master's degrees delivered by universities in several European countries. There is no single portal, and each programme sets its own deadline, as one guide explains. The European Commission announced 37 new programmes in July 2026. Start with the official catalogue, and then read each programme's own site.
- Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program. You apply through a partner university, never to the Foundation. Each partner has its own deadlines, eligibility, and admission fees, the Foundation says. The programme is for academically talented young Africans from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. USIU-Africa in Kenya is a partner, and its FAQ page explains how its recruitment works.
What About the UN and the World Bank?
- UN Young Professionals Programme. This is an exam route into the UN Secretariat. The 2026 round was open until 30 November 2026, Opportunities for Africans reported. Only nationals of participating countries can apply, and the list changes every year, so check whether Kenya is on it before you prepare. You need a relevant bachelor's degree and must be 32 or younger in the exam year, and work experience is not required, according to UNJobNet.
- World Bank Group Young Professionals Program. The 2027 round ran from 1 to 30 September 2026. It is not an entry-level route. It asks for a master's degree or higher and two to six years of full-time experience, and it sets no age limit, according to UNJobNet. Older guides still repeat an age limit of 32, so check the programme's own page.
How Do You Get Ready Before the Next Round?
- Count your work hours. Chevening counts the time after your first degree, so start a record today of every job, volunteer role, and internship, with dates.
- Build the experience. Internships count, so check the latest openings on Fuzu's internship listings.
- Keep your documents ready. Transcripts, a CV, your passport, and two referees are asked for again and again.
- Shortlist courses early. Chevening asks for three UK course choices, and each Erasmus Mundus programme has its own requirements.
- Write in your own words. Chevening says that using AI software to generate answers is prohibited, according to a guide to its rules.
How Do You Avoid Scholarship and Overseas Job Scams?
- Apply only on the provider's own site or the university's portal. Pay a fee only if the university's own portal asks for one.
- Never pay a fee to someone who contacts you. "Slot", "processing" and "visa" fees are the usual traps. In one overseas jobs case, 29 people reported losses of about Ksh 15 million, Citizen Digital reported.
- Check every deadline at the source. Third-party sites often repeat old rules.
Our guide to spotting fake job offers in Kenya before you pay lists more warning signs. Pick one route from this list today, find its official page, and put its next date in your phone calendar.
