Displacement should not mean the end of education. Across the world, remarkable scholarship programs have been built specifically to support refugees, asylum seekers, and displaced students — funding full degrees, providing mentorship, and creating pathways to international study that many students believe are closed to them. This guide covers the most significant opportunities available in 2026 and how to access them.
The Challenge Displaced Students Face
The barriers are real: interrupted schooling, missing documentation, limited access to standardised tests, financial instability, and uncertainty about legal status. Many displaced students assume these barriers make scholarship applications impossible. In most cases, they do not — but they do require a different approach, and knowing which programs are designed for your situation.
1. DAFI Scholarship Program (UNHCR)
The Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative (DAFI) is one of the largest scholarship programs specifically for refugees. It funds undergraduate study in the country of asylum — meaning you do not need to relocate internationally to access it. Scholarships are provided through UNHCR offices and implemented by national partners.
Eligibility: Registered UNHCR refugees, typically under 28 years old at time of application, with strong academic records.
Coverage: Tuition, living allowance, and academic support.
How to apply: Through your local UNHCR office. Contact them directly — the process varies by country.
More information: unhcr.org/dafi-scholarships
2. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
One of the largest education scholarship programs in the world, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program works with leading African and international universities and explicitly includes refugees and forcibly displaced youth among its priority groups.
Eligibility: Young Africans with demonstrated financial need, academic talent, and commitment to giving back — including refugees and displaced students.
Coverage: Full tuition, accommodation, stipend, health insurance, travel, and mentorship.
How to apply: Through partner universities including University of Toronto, Arizona State University, Sciences Po, EARTH University, and many African universities.
More information: mastercardfdn.org/scholars
3. Sanctuary Scholarships (UK Universities)
More than 100 UK universities now offer Sanctuary Scholarships — dedicated awards for asylum seekers and refugees. These typically cover full tuition and accommodation for undergraduate and postgraduate study. The University of Edinburgh, University of Bristol, UCL, University of Manchester, and University of Sheffield are among the institutions with active programs.
Eligibility: Asylum seekers, refugees, and people with humanitarian protection status in the UK.
Coverage: Varies by institution — most cover full tuition, some include maintenance grants.
How to apply: Directly through each university’s student support or widening participation team.
Tip: Search “[University name] Sanctuary Scholarship” to find the specific program and contact at each institution.
4. Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme
The Aga Khan Foundation provides postgraduate scholarships for students from developing countries, with particular attention to students from disadvantaged backgrounds including those affected by conflict and displacement.
Eligibility: Citizens of select developing countries pursuing postgraduate study abroad, with demonstrated financial need and academic merit.
Coverage: Up to 50% grant, 50% loan — structured to be repayable over time.
How to apply: Through national Aga Khan Foundation offices.
Deadline: March of each year for most countries.
5. Hopes Program and Similar University Consortia
The Hopes Program is a consortium of universities in Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey that provides undergraduate education specifically to Syrian refugees. Similar university-led programs operate in Germany, Canada, and the United States under names including “Students at Risk” or “World University Service of Canada (WUSC) Student Refugee Program.”
The WUSC Student Refugee Program is particularly noteworthy — it resettles international students with refugee status to Canadian universities and provides financial support for their studies. Applications go through campus WUSC Local Committees.
6. Equity and Merit Scholarships at Individual Universities
Many universities that do not have a dedicated refugee scholarship program still offer equity scholarships, hardship funds, and access bursaries that displaced students are eligible for. These are often unadvertised. Contact the financial aid office of any university you are interested in and explain your situation directly — many have discretionary funds available.
Applying Without Complete Documentation
One of the biggest obstacles for displaced students is missing documentation — lost transcripts, inaccessible exam certificates, no official ID. Most scholarship programs designed for refugees have built-in flexibility for this. Key steps:
- Contact the scholarship administrator directly and explain your documentation situation before the deadline. Do not assume you are ineligible — ask.
- Obtain a letter from your UNHCR case officer or host country authority confirming your status and educational background.
- Many organisations accept self-declaration or statutory declaration in place of official transcripts where documents cannot be obtained.
- The International Baccalaureate and some national equivalency bodies offer credential recognition services for displaced students.
Start With These Resources
- UNHCR Scholarship Portal
- Scholars4Dev: Scholarships for Refugees
- Opportunity Desk
- Your country’s national UNHCR office
- The admissions or financial aid office of any university you want to attend
Displacement creates real barriers — but it does not close every door. The scholarships above exist specifically because the organisations behind them believe that circumstance should not determine potential. Apply anyway.
