The India-Africa Maitri Scholarship Scheme

Benefits & funding

• Return economy-class air fare to the airport nearest the host university or institute.
• Full tuition and the compulsory university charges, paid by ICCR to the institution.
• A monthly living allowance, a house-rent allowance, an annual contingency allowance for books and stationery, and a thesis or dissertation allowance for research students.
• A place in the campus hostel where the university provides one.
• Medical insurance is compulsory and paid by the student, with a minimum sum assured of INR 500,000 a year, quoted in the scheme notice as about USD 6,800.
• The student also pays hostel and mess charges, security and caution deposits, fees for obtaining certificates, and immigration registration charges.

Eligibility

• Open to nationals of African countries. Each award is tied to a country allocation, so the application is filed through the Indian Mission accredited to the applicant’s country.
• Minimum age 18. The 2026-27 announcement sets a maximum of 35 for undergraduate, postgraduate, certificate and diploma courses and 40 for PhD, with no upper limit for Hindi, Sanskrit and Indian performing-arts courses. Some Missions have published 40 for undergraduate and postgraduate study and 50 for PhD, so confirm the limit with the Mission handling the application.
• A passport valid for at least two more years at the start of the academic year.
• Undergraduate applicants need a completed 12th standard or its equivalent. Science and engineering applicants must have taken mathematics, physics and chemistry at school; biology-track applicants must have taken biology, physics and chemistry.
• Postgraduate applicants need a relevant bachelor’s degree, and doctoral applicants a master’s degree. Some universities ask MBA applicants for a GMAT score.
• English proficiency is tested through a 500-word essay in English or TOEFL / IELTS scores. Documents not in English need certified English translations.
• Medical and para-medical courses such as nursing, physiotherapy and anaesthesia, plus law, fashion and five-year integrated degrees such as BA-LLB, sit outside the scheme. B.Tech at the IITs is not open to scheme holders.
• Awards are tenable only at Indian state and central universities, not at private or deemed universities.
• Medical fitness is re-checked in India. A student found unfit returns home at their own expense and refunds what the Mission and ICCR have spent.

Application process

1. 1
   Check with the Indian Mission accredited to your country that it holds slots under the scheme for the coming academic year.
2. 2
   Register on the A2A portal for that academic year and complete the online application.
3. 3
   List up to five universities or institutes in order of preference, choosing only courses the scheme covers.
4. 4
   Upload the required documents — the 500-word English essay or English test scores, academic records, passport copy and a medical fitness certificate — with English translations where needed.
5. 5
   Universities scrutinise the applications and confirm their admission decisions on the portal.
6. 6
   The Indian Mission allocates its scholarship slots, and selected students accept the offer on the portal.
7. 7
   Final offer letters are issued, after which students complete visa formalities and travel to India.

Program timeline

1. 27 February 2026

   A2A portal opened for 2026-27 applications.

2. last date for applications under this scheme, as announced by Indian Missions.

   15 April 2026

3. universities confirm admission decisions on the portal.

   30 April 2026

4. scholarship slots allocated and student acceptances due.

   15 May 2026

5. final offer letters issued.

   10 June 2026

6. Late February 2027 (expected)

   the 2027-28 cycle opens, following the 2026-27 pattern.