Funding

Fully Funded

Program dates

TBA

Bachelor's Scholarship•Global

DAFI Tertiary Scholarship Programme

UNHCR (The UN Refugee Agency)

Application Deadline

Rolling admission

Official Page

The Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative (DAFI) is UNHCR’s global tertiary scholarship programme, running since 1992 and funded primarily by the German Federal Foreign Office alongside private donors. It enables academically strong, socio-economically disadvantaged refugees and returnees to complete a first undergraduate degree at a university in their country of asylum or home country. Applications are administered locally by UNHCR offices and partners, so eligibility details, selection and deadlines are set country by country. Over its history the programme has supported tens of thousands of refugee students across dozens of countries.

Benefits & funding

  • Full scholarship for a first undergraduate degree; the exact package varies by country.
  • Typically covers tuition and study materials, plus living costs such as food, transport and accommodation.
  • Supports undergraduate courses of up to four years; longer courses (e.g. medicine) are normally not funded, and master’s study is not covered.

Eligibility

  • Recognized refugee or asylum seeker living in the country of application.
  • Admitted to (or applying for) an accredited university in the country of asylum; strong academic performance is prioritized.
  • Applicants are generally expected to be young (most under 28 at the time of applying).
  • Not already holding another higher-education scholarship; only one member per family may benefit.
  • Applicants confirmed for resettlement to a third country are not eligible.

Can you apply?

Worth a closer look

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  • Education required

    High School · Bachelor Enrolled

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  • Appears to have an age limit “under 28”

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Application process

  1. 1
    Check whether your country of asylum is running a current DAFI call via the local UNHCR office or partner.
  2. 2
    Secure admission to an accredited university and gather documents (UNHCR registration proof, certified secondary-school diploma, admission letter, and any required equivalence certificate).
  3. 3
    Submit the application through your country’s official DAFI portal or partner before the local deadline.
  4. 4
    Shortlisted candidates are assessed on academic merit and financial need; selected scholars are notified locally.

Program timeline

  1. Varies by country; each UNHCR operation opens its own annual window.

  2. Rwanda 2026-2027 round

    opened 15 July 2026, closes 7 August 2026.