Ashinaga Africa Initiative Scholarship 2026-2027: Fully Funded Master's in France

Ashinaga Africa Initiative Scholarship 2026-2027

Ashinaga Fully-funded Undergraduate Scholarships 🌸

📅 Application deadline: 30 August 2026 ⏳ Last day to apply — submit your application today!

Are you an orphaned student from a Francophone African country dreaming of pursuing higher education abroad? The Ashinaga Africa Initiative (AAI) could be the life-changing opportunity you have been waiting for. Launched in 2014 by the Japanese foundation Ashinaga, this program offers full financial support to academically outstanding students who have lost one or both parents, enabling them to study at a university abroad and return home to drive change across sub-Saharan Africa.

In this article, we break down everything you need to know: what the scholarship covers, who is eligible, which documents are required, and how to submit your application online — completely free of charge.

🌸 Ashinaga Africa Initiative 2026-2027

Fully funded • 20 Francophone countries • Deadline 30th August 2026

📑 Table of Contents

• About the Ashinaga Africa Initiative
• Important Update on the Application Process
• Eligible Countries (Francophone Track)
• Eligibility Requirements
• Required Documents
• Selection Process
• 🎯 How to Apply
• Good to Know
• Frequently Asked Questions

About the Ashinaga Africa Initiative

The Ashinaga Africa Initiative was created to strengthen sub-Saharan Africa's growing role in global development by widening access to international higher education. The program specifically targets orphaned students who are committed to returning to Africa after graduation to contribute actively to their communities.

Selected scholars receive comprehensive support covering:

💰 What the scholarship covers

• Tuition fees
• Accommodation
• Travel costs
• Other necessary academic fees

Ashinaga believes in quality over quantity: the foundation invests heavily in each scholar it selects, which means roughly one student per country per year is admitted. Competition is therefore intense, and only candidates with excellent academic records stand a real chance.

Important Update on the Application Process

Since August 2024, Ashinaga no longer opens public applications for students in Anglophone countries. Instead, the foundation now works directly with selected partner high schools in each Anglophone country to identify eligible candidates.

However, applications remain fully open for Francophone and Lusophone countries, and this is where most Cameroonian and Central African candidates will apply.

Eligible Countries (Francophone Track)

Applicants must hold citizenship of — and have completed or be completing their secondary education in — one of the following 20 countries:

Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Comoros, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa), Côte d'Ivoire, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Seychelles, Chad, and Togo.

Eligibility Requirements

To apply for the Francophone track of the Ashinaga Africa Initiative, you must:

1. Have lost one or both parents;
2. Be a citizen of one of the 20 eligible countries listed above;
3. Hold a bachelor's degree (Licence) or be currently enrolled in the final year (L3), with graduation expected by June at the latest;
4. Lack the financial means to pursue a Master's degree in France;
5. Be fluent in French;
6. Have scored above 14/20 in the baccalauréat or above 75% in the equivalent state examination;
7. Have achieved excellent results throughout your bachelor's degree;
8. Be able to attend the online sessions of the Orientation Program from October to December (access to a computer and a stable internet connection for a few hours per week is required);
9. Be committed to returning to your home country — or elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa — to contribute to African society after graduation;
10. Have no dependents that could interfere with your studies;
11. Be in good health and able to study internationally.

Note: No exceptions are made to these criteria. Ashinaga applies the same standards to every applicant to guarantee fairness.

Required Documents

Prepare the following documents in PDF or JPG format before starting your application:

1. A passport-sized photo;
2. A copy of your passport or national identity card;
3. A copy of your birth certificate;
4. A copy of the death or disappearance certificate of your parent(s), or any alternative official document proving orphan status (court record, affidavit, or official letter from a local government authority);
5. A copy of your baccalauréat certificate (or equivalent proof of secondary school completion) with the detailed transcript of marks;
6. Proof of university enrolment and transcripts of all grades obtained to date;
7. (Optional) Certificates of extracurricular activities, training, employment, or other commitments.

Selection Process

All applications are assessed after the deadline. Shortlisted candidates are then invited to a final assessment, which includes an examination and individual interviews. During the interview, Ashinaga evaluates your knowledge and aptitude, the challenges you have overcome, and your future plans for sub-Saharan Africa.

You must bring all original academic and identification documents to the interview — failure to do so may lead to disqualification.

The host university in France is decided later, during the Ashinaga Study Camp, in consultation with the student, based on academic performance and course availability. The final decision rests with Ashinaga.

How to Apply

The application is done exclusively online and follows four simple steps:

1

Gather

all the required documents

2

Scan

or photograph them in PDF or JPG format

3

Complete

the online application form

4

Submit

your application is complete

🎯 Apply now — Francophone application form

Full details, FAQ and Lusophone application on the official Ashinaga website

If you encounter difficulties with the forms, you can contact the admissions team at admissions.fr@ashinaga.org.

⚠️ Warning: There is no application fee. Never pay anyone to apply or to submit an application on your behalf. Any request for payment is a scam.

Good to Know

• If you applied in a previous year and still meet the requirements, you are welcome to apply again.
• The Ashinaga scholarship cannot be combined with another similar scholarship covering your living expenses. If you already hold such funding, Ashinaga can only offer leadership support.
• If you have already received an admission offer from a French university with tuition fee exemption for September, you are still encouraged to apply.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the deadline for the Ashinaga Africa Initiative?

The application deadline is 30th August 2026. Applications are submitted exclusively online through the Francophone application form.

Who can apply for the Ashinaga Africa Initiative?

Students who have lost one or both parents, are citizens of one of the 20 eligible Francophone countries, hold a bachelor's degree (Licence) or are in their final year (L3), are fluent in French, and lack the financial means to pursue a Master's degree in France.

Is Cameroon eligible for the Ashinaga scholarship?

Yes. Cameroon is one of the 20 countries on the Francophone track, alongside Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, DR Congo, Senegal, Chad, Togo and others.

What does the Ashinaga scholarship cover?

Tuition fees, accommodation, travel costs and other necessary academic fees.

What is the registration form for?

The registration form allows Ashinaga to register applicants in its system and to determine whether the applicant meets all eligibility requirements and has a strong enough academic record. Only applicants assessed as eligible are invited to complete the Full Application.

What grades are required?

Above 14/20 in the baccalauréat, or above 75% in the equivalent state examination, plus excellent results throughout the bachelor's degree.

Is there an application fee?

No. There is no application fee. Never pay anyone to apply or to submit an application on your behalf — any request for payment is a scam.

Can students from Anglophone countries apply?

Not through the public application process. Since August 2024, Ashinaga works directly with selected partner high schools in each Anglophone country to identify candidates. Applications remain fully open for Francophone and Lusophone countries.

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