Kenyan students now have a chance to study in India after the Government of India announced more than 100 fully funded scholarships for the 2026/2027 academic year.
The offer, shared through the High Commission of India in Nairobi and the Ministry of Education, targets students seeking undergraduate, master’s and PhD studies in different fields across Indian universities.
The scholarships will be offered through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), which has opened three different programmes for Kenyan applicants.
According to the Ministry of Education, the largest share falls under the India-Africa Scholarship Scheme, which has 100 slots set aside specifically for Kenyan students. The programme supports studies at undergraduate, master’s and PhD levels.
The second alternative is Quad STEM Scholarship Scheme, which is concerned with engineering. This scheme provides for the selection of only three students from Kenya to study for the Bachelor of Technology degree.
Arts students can also benefit from Lata Mangeshkar Dance and Music Scholarship Scheme. This scheme offers support for studies in dance and music at various levels, but the number of slots offered is few worldwide.
How to apply
Applications must be submitted online through the ICCR A2A Scholarship Portal before April 15.
Applicants are allowed to choose up to five universities from the list provided on the portal and rank them based on preference.
Requirements
To qualify, candidates must be at least 18 years old. The maximum age is 35 years for undergraduate and master’s applicants, while PhD applicants should not be older than 40 years.
Students applying for engineering courses must have studied Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics.
However, some courses are not included in the scholarship. These include medical and paramedical programmes such as nursing, physiotherapy and anaesthesia. Courses in fashion and law are also excluded.
The scholarships mainly target students in engineering, sciences, humanities and performing arts.
The notice also states that priority will be given to applicants who have not benefited from ICCR scholarships before.
The new opportunity comes as Kenya and India continue to strengthen ties in education and training, following past engagements between President William Ruto and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
