9 Great Kenyan Scholarships Available for Study in Kenya

Did you know that there are some great scholarships that you can apply for within Kenya if you are doing an undergraduate or postgraduate degree? Coming up is a list of 9 great Kenyan scholarships available for study in Kenya.

First, check out these tips on how to secure a good scholarship in Kenya.

1. Do your research – Find out what scholarships are available, what the eligibility requirements are, and if the course you are interested in is covered.
2. Maintain an excellent academic record – Most scholarships require that you have good grades when applying, so make sure your academic record is excellent.
3. Financial Need – If you are applying for a need-based scholarship, ensure that you have the necessary documentation to prove that you are not able to finance your studies.
4. Fulfill all the eligibility requirements – You must meet all the eligibility requirements listed for the scholarship you wish to apply for.
5. Have a record of extracurricular activities – Keep records of all the extracurricular activities that you have been involved in previously, as most selection committees will consider these during the vetting process.
6. Sell yourself through your application – When filling out the application, make sure your answers highlight your strengths and describe your potential accurately, as this will work in your favor.
7. Write a compelling essay – If you are required to write an essay, make sure it highlights exactly what you are asked to write about and that the reader will enjoy going through it.
8. Submit your application on time – Don’t wait until the last minute to submit your application. Give yourself enough time to complete and proofread it before submission.
9. Prepare for the interview – If the scholarship you are applying for requires an interview, prepare adequately beforehand.
10. Keep applying even if you don’t get the first one – Even if you don’t get accepted to the first scholarship you apply for, don’t give up. Keep applying!

Here are the 9 great Kenyan scholarships available for study in Kenya.

9. KCA University Work Study Program

• KCA University has a Work Study and Student Empowerment Program that helps academic and professional students facing financial challenges to complete their studies.
• These students work a maximum of 3 hours per day and not more than 20 hours per week at the university.
• The University takes in an average of 30 students each semester or trimester into this program.

8.Kenyatta University Scholarships

• Kenyatta University has several scholarships that assist students who are not able to fully finance their education. These include:
  1. OVS Scholarship Fund – This scholarship endowment fund assists orphans and vulnerable students to access university education.
  2. KU Internal Bursary – This bursary targets needy and vulnerable students who have unmet financial needs that may interrupt their studies.
  3. KU Foundation Scholarships – These scholarships are open to undergraduate and postgraduate students at the university.

7. Rattansi Educational Trust Bursaries

• This educational trust, which was started in 1956, provides bursaries to help finance education for needy students in colleges, and public and private universities. It sends the funds directly to the institutions for disbursement.
• These bursaries are available for students pursuing courses at the degree level at the more than 50 institutions that the trust partners with.

6. Africa International University (AIU) Scholarships

• Scholarships available at this university include:
  1. Founders Scholarship – This scholarship targets talented students with substantial financial need who have met the entry requirements for their chosen programs. There are 300 scholarships available for students from across Kenya, and 150 for international students. Recipients of this scholarship get a 50% scholarship and must prove that they can raise the remaining 50%.
  2. Work Scholarship – This scholarship program allows students to work at the university to raise money to meet part of their tuition fees and other expenses.
  3. Student Activities Scholarship – This scholarship is given to individuals who excel in sports, music, and drama.
  4. Academic Honor (Merit) Scholarship – This is given to students who display academic excellence.
  5. Teaching and Research Fellowship – This is a fellowship that provides support to doctoral students.
  6. Hardship Scholarship – This scholarship is given to bright students with a minimum grade of A- in KCSE who cannot afford AIU tuition fees. They receive a 100% scholarship towards their tuition fees and other academic-related expenses.

5, Africa Nazarene University Scholarships

• The Africa Nazarene University (ANU) Scholarships are some of the 9 great Kenyan scholarships available for study in Kenya. There are scholarships available for new and continuing students, as listed below.
• New Students
  1. ANU Nazarene’s Scholarship – Recipients get 20% off the tuition fee. This scholarship is available for members of the Church of the Nazarene.
  2. ANU Academic Excellence – Applicants with an A- grade and above in KCSE get 30% off their tuition fees, and those with a B+ grade get 15% off their tuition fees.
• Continuing Students
  1. Work-study Program
  2. Basketball Scholarship
  3. ASOSI Scholarship
  4. Ministerial Scholarship
  5. ANU Endowments and Designated Scholarship
  6. Barney Servanthood Awards School of Business Scholarships

4, Daystar University Scholarships

• Daystar University offers both need-based and merit scholarships to students who have obtained admission to the university. These include:
  1. Work-study Scholarship – This is a need-based scholarship that requires beneficiaries to work 10 hours per week.
  2. One-time Scholarship – This award aims to help students who have not completed paying their fees to sit for their end-of-semester exams.
  3. Selected Scholarship – This is a need-based scholarship that covers 75% of the tuition fees.
  4. Academic Merit Scholarship – This is given to first-year students who have applied for admission to the university and have a KCSE mean grade of A or A-.
  5. Book Award – This award is given annually to 12 students who have the highest GPA in their respective year of study.
  6. Sports Scholarship – This scholarship is given to students who have applied for admission to the university, have a KCSE mean grade of C+ and above, and demonstrate excellence in sports.

3. USIU – AFRICA Scholarships

• The scholarships offered by United States International University (USIU) – Africa are as follows:
  1. Full USIU-Africa Scholarship – This covers the full cost of tuition, books, room and board, and computer lab use.
  2. Partial USIU-Africa Scholarship – This scholarship covers 100% of the tuition fees.
  3. Sports Scholarships – These scholarships give needy students with sporting talent a 40% or 65% tuition fee discount.
  4. Diversity Scholarship – These scholarships target two under-represented and underprivileged bright students from ASAL regions of Kenya and one student from an informal settlement around the USIU-A premises.
  5. Scholarships for the Physically Challenged – This full-tuition scholarship opportunity targets two applicants who use orthopedic appliances for movement and qualify to join the university on academic merit.

2, University of Nairobi Scholarships

• The University of Nairobi offers several scholarships for bright and needy students, some funded by external donors. These scholarships are:
  1. Gandhi Smarak Nidhi Scholarships – These are postgraduate scholarships offered by the Gandhi Smarak Nidhi Board of Trustees.
  2. Aga Khan Foundation Scholarships – These scholarships target undergraduate and postgraduate students. They are funded by the Aga Khan Foundation.
  3. Rattansi Education Fund Scholarships – These undergraduate scholarships are funded by the Rattansi Education Trust.
  4. Rockefeller Foundation Scholarships – These scholarships are available for undergraduate and postgraduate students and are offered by the Rockefeller Foundation.
  5. Chinese Ambassador Scholarship Program – These scholarships target bright and needy undergraduate students. They are funded by the Chinese Embassy in Kenya.
  6. Mitsubishi Scholarship – These scholarships, funded by the Mitsubishi Corporation, target needy undergraduate students who display excellent academic performance in the Department of Biological Sciences.
  7. Professor Muriuki Scholarship – This scholarship is offered by the University of Nairobi. It targets needy Module One undergraduate students.
  8. Chandaria Education Scholarships – This scholarship is sponsored by the Chandaria Foundation. It also targets needy Module One undergraduate students.
  9. University of Nairobi Scholarships – Every academic year, the University of Nairobi awards over 100 scholarships to the best-performing students.

1. Strathmore University Scholarships

• Below is a list of scholarships available at Strathmore University.
  1. European Union Scholarships – These are open to students in their final year of secondary school who wish to study CPA, Diploma in Business Management, or Diploma in Business Information Technology (DBIT).
  2. Maths Contest Scholarship – This is awarded to the best form four boy and girl in the country’s top mathematics contest. Each of them gets a tuition fee scholarship to pursue ACCA, CPA, or DBIT.
  3. Strathmore University Merit and Need-based Scholarships – These are both partial and full scholarships and are offered to undergraduate and diploma students, as well as those pursuing professional courses.
  4. Sports Scholarships – These scholarships cover a percentage of the tuition fee for students who demonstrate talent in sports.
  5. Rebates – These include the Family Benefit that is given to parents with two or more children taking a degree course at the University. The student from that family with a higher average grade each academic year gets a rebate. The Academic Excellence Rebate is given annually to students who excel in class.
  6. Bursaries – These are grants based on criteria set by the donors, e.g. academic merit, need, etc.

These 9 great Kenyan scholarships available for study in Kenya are a great opportunity for students to get help with their education costs!