Scholarship Deadlines Calendar: What Closes This Summer
Most major funded schemes — Chevening, Stipendium Hungaricum and DAAD — do not close in summer, but for African students targeting European scholarships in 2027 the summer window decides whether autumn and winter deadlines are reachable. Chevening opens in late summer, DAAD's Q2 cycle may have a June closing date, and document preparation takes far longer than most students plan.
What Is (Possibly) Closing Right Now: Summer 2027
DAAD — Q2 Annual Call Window
The DAAD Study Scholarships for Master’s-level study have their main annual application call in approximately Q2 of the year (April–June). This means some DAAD application windows close in late spring or early summer — making DAAD potentially the only major European scholarship with a summer-relevant closing date for African applicants.
If you are interested in DAAD for Master’s study starting in 2028, check the DAAD portal now. If the Q2 2027 cycle has not yet closed, you may still have a window. If it has closed, note that the Q2 2028 cycle will open in approximately April 2028.
The DAAD stipend for Master’s study is €934/month (as of June 2026, VOLATILE), covering all eight African origins. Requirements: degree completed within the last six years, study/research plan, host supervisor contact in Germany.
- DAAD EPOS (development Master’s): also Q2 cycle, varies by designated course. €934/month at Master’s level, all eight African origins.
- DAAD doctoral: runs on a separate cycle from Study Scholarships — check the DAAD scholarship database for the doctoral-specific deadline.
What to do now: Visit daad.de today and find the current Study Scholarships cycle. If it is open, the window may close in the next few weeks.
Erasmus Mundus — Last Chances for October 2027 Entry
Most Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) programme cycles for October 2027 entry would have closed earlier in 2027 — typically in January or February. By summer, the window for the majority of EMJM programmes for this intake will have passed.
However, a small number of EMJM consortia have later deadlines extending into spring or early summer. If you are interested in an Erasmus Mundus programme that you have not yet checked, go to the Erasmus Mundus official portal now and filter for programmes that still show an open application window.
For Erasmus Mundus October 2028 entry, most applications will open in October-November 2027 and close in January-February 2028. Put a reminder in your calendar for October.
University-Specific Scholarships (Rolling/Summer Deadlines)
Some European universities run their own international scholarship schemes independently of the major governmental programmes. These have varied deadlines — some rolling, some with June or July closing dates. If you have already received an unconditional offer from a European university, contact the international office now to ask whether any merit bursaries or fee waivers are still open for the coming intake. These are not tracked centrally; you must ask directly.
Opening This Summer: Chevening 2028/29
The Chevening scholarship — open to all eight African origins for a one-year taught Master’s in the UK — historically opens in late August each year for entry the following September.
This means that in August 2027, the Chevening 2028/29 cycle application portal will likely open. When it does, you will have until approximately November to submit your application, choose three universities, secure two referees, and write your personal statement.
Chevening is highly competitive. The window between opening (August) and closing (November) is only about 12 weeks. Most successful applicants do not start from scratch in August — they have their personal statement drafted, their referees briefed, and their university choices researched months in advance.
What to do this summer if you plan to apply to Chevening: Draft your personal statement now. Map approximately 2,800 hours of relevant work experience (required). Contact two referees and brief them on the deadline. Research which three UK universities and programmes you will list. When the portal opens in August, you will be entering a refined application, not starting one.
Official site: chevening.org
Coming This Autumn and Winter
Chevening — Closes Approximately November
As described above, once Chevening opens in August it closes in approximately November. Do not leave the application for the final week — the portal experiences high traffic, and referee submissions sometimes arrive late. Build in a buffer of at least two weeks before the official closing date.
All eight African origins eligible: Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Egypt, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Stipendium Hungaricum — Effective Deadline: November-December
Stipendium Hungaricum closes at the Tempus Public Foundation level around 15 January each year. But the effective deadline for most African applicants comes earlier.
To access Stipendium Hungaricum, you must first be nominated by your country’s sending authority. Each country’s Ministry of Education (or equivalent) sets its own internal nomination deadline — typically in November or December. You cannot apply to Hungary directly; the nomination step is mandatory.
This means the practical calendar for Stipendium Hungaricum looks like this for most African origins:
| Stage | Typical Timing |
|---|---|
| National sending authority opens nominations | October–November |
| Submit documents to national authority | November–December |
| National authority nominates you to Tempus | December–January |
| Tempus portal closes | ~15 January |
| Tempus decisions | Spring |
If you are targeting Stipendium Hungaricum for the 2028/29 academic year, start contacting your national education ministry now to understand this year’s internal process and quota.
Eligible origins: Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Egypt. Not eligible: Zimbabwe, Zambia.
Official site: stipendiumhungaricum.hu
Commonwealth Scholarships — Varies, Autumn-Winter Typical
Commonwealth Scholarships (CSC) for UK study are nominated through UK universities and through national nominating bodies in Commonwealth member countries. Deadlines vary by award type and institution, but the cycle typically runs in the autumn-to-early-winter window. Check cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk for the current cycle’s timeline.
Eligible origins: Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda, Zambia. Not eligible: Zimbabwe, Egypt.
PTDF (Nigeria) — Watch for Spring Deadline
The Petroleum Technology Development Fund overseas postgraduate scholarship runs an annual cycle with a deadline that fell on 27 February 2026 for the 2026/27 cycle. If the pattern holds, the 2028 cycle would be expected to open in late 2027 and close in February 2028. Monitor scholarship.ptdf.gov.ng from October onwards.
Eligible: Nigerian citizens only. Level: MSc and PhD.
The Full Annual Scholarship Calendar
| Scheme | Typical Opening | Typical Closing | Level | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DAAD Study Scholarships | Q1 annually | Q2 (approx. June) | Master’s | All 8 origins; VOLATILE — verify daad.de |
| DAAD EPOS | Per course | Per course (Q2 approx.) | Master’s, PhD (exceptional) | All 8 origins |
| Erasmus Mundus EMJM | October–November | January–February | Master’s | All 8 origins; varies by consortium |
| Chevening | Late August | ~November | 1-yr Master’s | All 8 origins |
| Commonwealth CSC | Autumn | Autumn–Winter | Master’s, PhD | NG/GH/KE/SA/Uganda/ZM only |
| Stipendium Hungaricum (national) | Oct–Nov (country) | Nov–Dec (country) | BA, MA, PhD | NG/GH/KE/SA/Uganda/Egypt only |
| Stipendium Hungaricum (Tempus) | December | ~15 January | BA, MA, PhD | After national nomination |
| PTDF (Nigeria) | Late year (est.) | February (est.) | MSc, PhD | Nigeria only |
| GOI-IES (Ireland) | Annual | Annual | PG research | All 8 origins; ~60 awards |
| Deutschlandstipendium | Per university | Per university | BA, MA | All nationalities; via German uni offices |
| Malta MFA | Annual | Annual | Verify per cycle | GH/NG only |
All dates VOLATILE. Verify on official programme websites before acting.
What To Do This Summer: A Practical Checklist
Whether a deadline is imminent or months away, the summer is the right time to complete preparation work that cannot be rushed.
Documents that take time:
– Certified translations of degree certificates and transcripts (typically 2–4 weeks per document)
– Credential evaluations where required (MQRIC for Malta, KYSATS for Cyprus, DAAD/uni-assist assessment for Germany — these are weeks-long processes)
– UK TB test if targeting UK study (IOM clinics; results typically 3–5 working days, but appointment waits vary)
– Police clearance certificates in some countries (timeline varies)
Application materials that benefit from early drafting:
– Personal statement or motivation letter — effective versions go through multiple iterations
– Research proposal (doctoral candidates) — should be developed in dialogue with a potential supervisor
– Referee approach — referees need advance notice of at least 6 weeks; briefing them in summer for November deadlines is appropriate
Research that should happen now:
– University and programme selection — Chevening requires three university choices; knowing which three takes time
– Supervisor identification for doctoral applications — emailing potential supervisors in summer for positions starting in 2028 is not too early
How World Study Helps
World Study’s core advisory is free for most students — we work on commission from universities, not from you. If you are trying to match your scholarship eligibility, timeline, and academic record to the right European destination, reach us on WhatsApp — it is the fastest way to get a real, specific answer rather than a generic guide.
Use the eligibility check at world-study.africa/eligibility-check/ to see in under two minutes which destinations and scholarship tracks are open to your country of origin.
For the full breakdown of every confirmed scholarship scheme by level, see world-study.africa/scholarships/. The Master’s Scholarships in Europe for African Students and PhD Scholarships in Europe for African Researchers posts cover each programme’s requirements in detail.
Frequently asked questions
Chevening typically closes in November each year. The application usually opens in late summer — around August — for entry the following September. Exact dates change annually; always confirm the current cycle's opening and closing dates at chevening.org. Do not rely on this post or any third-party guide for precise dates — the official programme page is the only reliable source for each year's specific timeline.
Stipendium Hungaricum typically closes around 15 January each year. Before that, you must be nominated by your country's national sending authority (for example, Kenya's Ministry of Education), which sets its own internal deadline — often in November or December. The effective deadline for most African applicants is therefore November-December, not January. Confirm your country's specific internal dates with your national education authority.
DAAD Study Scholarships for Master's study have an annual call in approximately the second quarter of the year (Q2, which spans April to June). Some DAAD cycles therefore have deadlines that fall in late spring or early summer — making this one of the few major scholarship cycles with a summer relevance. Exact dates are VOLATILE and set per annual cycle; verify the current application window on daad.de. DAAD doctoral scholarships run on a separate cycle — check the DAAD scholarship database directly.
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (EMJM) deadline windows vary by programme consortium, but the majority open applications in October-November and close in January-February for October entry the following year. A few programmes have later deadlines extending into spring. By summer, most EMJM cycles for October intake have closed. Check the specific programme's official page on the Erasmus Mundus site — there is no single central deadline.
Summer is the right time to do three things: complete or refine your personal statement and research proposal; secure two referees and brief them; and obtain certified translations and credential evaluations (DAAD/uni-assist, KYSATS for Cyprus, MQRIC for Malta, etc.) that take weeks. Chevening opens in August — you want your supporting materials ready before the portal opens, not drafted in October while the window is closing.