African Development Bank Group – Shanghai Ocean University Scholarship Programmes

Who can apply

A national of an AfDB Regional Member Country in Africa, with experience in the fisheries or blue economy sector
Master's: a bachelor's degree in a related field, or any field with an interest in a career in fisheries or the blue economy; English at IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 80 minimum; under 35 at the time of application; outstanding academic performance, for example a GPA of 3.0 or higher
PhD: a master's degree in marine science, aquaculture, economics, environmental policy, development studies or a related field; English at IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 80 minimum; research experience and at least one published paper; strong analytical, research and policy development skills
Applies through the online 2026 AfDB-Shanghai Ocean University scholarship form; only shortlisted candidates are contacted
Flight tickets and visa fees are explicitly the candidate's own responsibility, not covered by the scholarship

A well-funded route, narrower than most

This is a genuinely narrow but well-funded route: the African Development Bank Group and Shanghai Ocean University, a research-focused institution specialising in marine science and aquaculture, jointly fund master’s and PhD study there for nationals of AfDB’s African member countries, aligned with the Bank’s own Ten-Year Strategy (2024 to 2033) for sustainable fisheries and aquaculture. SHOU itself collaborates with more than 40 international institutions and organisations in marine science and ocean governance, so the credential carries a genuinely international research network behind it, not just a single university’s name.

What the scholarship actually covers

The closing date, 10 December 2026, is one of the few live, months-away deadlines in the directory rather than an already-closed round, which makes it worth flagging on its own. The call document says successful candidates receive full tuition, accommodation, meals and a monthly stipend, plus access to SHOU’s faculty and research facilities and specialised professional training in marine and aquatic sciences. The one explicit exclusion is flights and visa fees, which the call states are the successful candidate’s own responsibility, so budget for them separately from the wider costs of a move to China covered in the guide to studying in China.

Which programmes you can choose

The call lists six colleges. Aquaculture and Aquatic Biology (College of Fisheries and Life Science), Fishing Science, Fishery Resources and Marine Science (College of Marine Living Resource Science and Management), Marine Science and Fishery Economics and Management (College of Oceanography and Ecological Science), and Food Science and Engineering are open at both master’s and PhD level. Applied Economics, Mechanical Engineering and Electronic Information Engineering are master’s only, while Marine Science with a Marine Engineering and Information focus is PhD only. Two master’s programmes, Applied Economics and Electronic Information Engineering, are marked “(Chinese)” in the table, so confirm the language of instruction before choosing either.

The master’s and PhD requirements differ

For the master’s you need a bachelor’s degree in a related field, or in any field if you have a genuine interest in a fisheries or blue economy career, English at IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 80 at minimum, to be under 35, and outstanding academic results, given as a GPA of 3.0 or higher for example. For the PhD you need a master’s in marine science, aquaculture, economics, environmental policy, development studies or a related field, the same English score, research experience with at least one published paper, and strong analytical, research and policy skills. Both routes ask for experience in the fisheries or blue economy sector, which is the real filter: a demonstrated interest in, or professional experience with, sustainable fisheries or marine resource management carries real weight here, not just strong grades in an adjacent science.

How to apply, and why this exists

Applications go through the AfDB Virtual Capacity Development Academy’s own online form, not through Shanghai Ocean University directly, and only shortlisted candidates are contacted. AfDB frames the whole partnership around Africa’s “blue economy transformation,” positioning it as institutional capacity-building for the continent’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors rather than a general study-abroad scholarship that happens to be hosted in China. Successful applicants must follow SHOU’s rules and codes of conduct, and the call states the fellowship does not confer employment status with the AfDB Group. A separate three-week summer school in marine cultivation and fisheries is listed in the same call, but this entry covers the master’s and PhD scholarships.