Scholarships for Somali students: study abroad and at home (deeq waxbarasho)

Before you start

• It is free. Every scholarship below takes applications online at no charge. Türkiye Scholarships says so on its own site (Türkiye Bursları). Anyone asking for a fee to "secure" a place is not official.
• You need: your Grade 12 certificate and transcript (see exam results), a passport, a personal statement, and often an English or other language test.
• Start early. Most open once a year and close months before study begins.

Scholarships abroad

Türkiye Scholarships (Türkiye Bursları)

• Who: students from any country, for bachelor's, master's and PhD study in Türkiye.
• How: online application system, with an application calendar on the site (turkiyeburslari.gov.tr).

Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary)

• Who: students from partner countries. Somalia is on the partner list (Stipendium Hungaricum partners).
• How: apply through your country's nominating body and the online system (stipendiumhungaricum.hu).

Chevening (United Kingdom)

• Who: graduates with work experience, for a one-year master's degree in the UK. Chevening runs a programme in Somalia (Chevening in Somalia).
• Note: the 2027–2028 round has closed. There is no UK visa centre or TB test centre in Somalia, so winners travel to another country for both. Some travel costs may be refunded (same page).

Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)

• Who: the ICF Undergraduate Programme, launched in 2019, serves the bank's least developed member countries. It also runs master's (science and technology) and PhD programmes (IsDB Scholarships).
• Somalia is an IsDB member country (IsDB: Somalia).

Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program

• Who: young Africans with talent and limited means, at partner universities in Africa and abroad. Its stated aim is "developing Africa's next generation of leaders" (Mastercard Foundation).
• How: you apply to a partner university, not to the foundation.

Japan (MEXT)

• Japan's government scholarship is applied for through Japanese embassies (MEXT). For Somalia, ask the Embassy of Japan that covers Somalia.

Scholarships at home

The Hormuud Salaam Foundation says it has given scholarships to 232 students since its programme began in 2019, for students with strong results (Dawan, August 2026). Ask universities in Somalia whether they waive fees for top exam students. See universities in Somalia.

Tips that raise your chances

1. Read the eligibility page twice. Most rejections are for missing papers.
2. Write your own statement. Say what you will do for your community when you finish.
3. Get an English score early. See learn English for free.
4. Apply to several. Each takes a few hours.
5. Ask a past winner to read your statement.

Why it matters

Each Somali who studies abroad and brings their skills home strengthens the whole country. Scholarships are one of the fastest ways a young person from any family can reach the best training in the world.