Equity and Merit Scholarships for international master’s students
The University of Manchester is committed to supporting a more equitable and sustainable future for all. Through our Equity and Merit Scholarships, we aim to empower talented individuals from the Global South to drive meaningful change in their home countries.
Equity and Merit Scholarships are open to academically excellent students from Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe, who can demonstrate the potential to make a significant contribution to sustainable development in their communities at local, national or regional level.
The awards are intended for applicants who would not otherwise be able to study in Manchester without financial support. We are committed to equal opportunity, and all applications are assessed on their merits. We particularly encourage women to apply.
We offer two types of scholarship:
- Full-time, on-campus master’s (one-year)
- Part-time, distance learning master’s (three to five years)
There are 30 scholarships (20 for full-time study and ten for online study) available for a range of courses in engineering, environment, health sciences, global development, education and law.
The scholarships cover full tuition fees, and for students who will be studying in Manchester, the award includes return international airfares, living expenses and visas.
Our master’s scholarships are aimed at talented applicants from disadvantaged backgrounds.
To apply for a scholarship, you must:
- be a resident citizen of Ethiopia, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda or Zimbabwe;
- hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognised institution with the required grade. Your degree must be awarded before September 2025. Please check the list of Eligible Qualifications for Equity and Merit Scholarships to ensure you meet our academic requirements;
- have at least two years’ professional experience related to your chosen field of study – this excludes unpaid internships or voluntary work;
- be committed to returning home and be able to demonstrate the potential to make a positive impact on the future of your home country;
- have a clear idea of how studying at Manchester will benefit both your career and the wider community;
- have not previously studied outside of Africa (training of six months or less does not count).
Course availability may change and the final list for the 2027/28 academic year will be confirmed in October 2026.
Chemical Engineering
Civil and Mechanical Engineering
- MSc Advanced Manufacturing Technology and Systems Management
- MSc Commercial Project Management
- MSc Construction Project Management
- MSc Engineering Project Management
- MSc Management of Projects
- MSc Mechanical Engineering Design
Computer Science
- MSc Advanced Computer Science
- MSc Artificial Intelligence
- MSc Cyber Security
- MSc Machine Learning
- MSc Robotics
Development
- MSc Development Economics and Policy
- MSc Digital Development
- MSc Global Development
- MSc Global Development (Development Management)
- MSc Global Development (Environment and Climate Change)
- MSc Global Development (Globalisation, Trade and Industry)
- MSc Global Development (Politics, Governance and Development Policy)
- MSc Global Development (Poverty and Inequality)
- MSc International Development: Public Policy and Management
- MSc Management and Implementation of Development Projects
- MSc Management and Information Systems: Change and Development
- MSc Organisational Change and Development
- MSc Research Methods with International Development
Education
- MA Education for Sustainable Environment
- MA Educational Leadership
- MA International Education
- MA International Education (Equity, Diversity and Inclusion)
- MA International Education (Higher Education)
- MA International Education (TESOL)
- MA TESOL
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
- MSc Advanced Control and Systems Engineering
- MSc Communications and Signal Processing
- MSc Electrical Power Systems Engineering
- MSc Renewable Energy and Clean Technology
Environment
- MSc Climate Change: Science, Society and Solutions
- MSc Data Science (Urban Analytics)
- MSc Data Science (Earth and Environmental Analytics)
- MSc Environmental Governance
- MSc Environmental Impact Assessment and Management
- MSc Environmental Monitoring, Modelling and Reconstruction
- MSc Geographical Information Science
- MSc Global Urban Development and Planning
- MSc Green Infrastructure
- MSc Pollution and Environmental Control
Humanitarian and Conflict Response
- MA Humanitarianism and Conflict Response
- MA Peace and Conflict Studies
- MSc International Disaster Management
Human Resource Management
- MSc Human Resource Development (International Development)
- MSc Human Resource Management (International Development)
Law
- LLM Corporate Governance
- LLM Intellectual Property Law
- LLM International Business and Commercial Law
- LLM International Economic Law
- LLM International Financial Law
- LLM Public International Law
- LLM Security and International Law
Medical and Health Sciences
- MSc Audiology
- MSc Bioinformatics and Systems Biology
- MSc Biological Sciences
- MSc Cell Biology
- MSc Clinical Immunology
- MSc Computer-Aided Drug Discovery for Cancer Therapeutics
- MSc Health Data Science
- MSc Infection Biology
- MSc Investigative Ophthalmology and Vision Science
- MSc Medical and Molecular Virology
- MSc Medical Microbiology
- MSc Model-based Drug Development – Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Modelling
Materials and Textiles
- MSc International Fashion Marketing
- MSc International Fashion Retailing
- MSc International Fashion Retailing (Entrepreneurship and Innovation)
- MSc Materials Engineering for Sustainability in Demanding Environments
- MSc Polymer Materials Science and Engineering
- MSc Textile Technology (Technical Textiles)
Online programmes (part-time option only)
- MPH Public Health (Online) 3- to 5-year option only
- MSc Analytical Chemistry and Measurement Science (Online)
- MSc Data Analytics and Social Statistics (Online)
- MSc Global Health (Distance Learning)
- MSc International Disaster Management and Humanitarian Response (Distance Learning)
- MSc Occupational Hygiene (Distance Learning)
- MSc Occupational Medicine (Distance Learning)
- MSc Pollution and Environmental Control (online)
- MSc Sustainable Electrical Power Systems Engineering (Online)
- MSc Transformative Oncology (Online)
Scholarship applications for September 2027 entry will open on 1 August 2026 and close on 31 August 2026.
A sample application form will be added here to help you prepare.
Eligibility
If you meet the eligibility requirements for the Equity and Merit Scholarship, we will:
- Invite you to apply for your chosen master’s course
- Ask you to provide a recognised English language qualification that meets the requirements for that course
Shortlisting
- You must hold an unconditional offer for your master’s course before you can be shortlisted for the scholarship.
We will contact all applicants to confirm the outcome of their application by June 2027.
Application timeline for 2027/28
| 1 to 31 August 2026 | Applications for the scholarship are open |
| September 2026 |
We review applications to check eligibility |
| 1 to 31 October 2026 |
Eligible applicants are invited to apply for their chosen master’s course |
| 30 November 2026 |
Deadline to submit your English language qualification |
| November 2026 to May 2027 |
Applications are assessed |
| June 2027 |
Scholarship decisions are announced |
| September 2027 |
Start of the academic year |
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