Engineering remains one of the most transformative professions in Africa’s development story. Whether it is petroleum engineers powering energy systems, civil engineers designing resilient cities, or mechanical engineers innovating industrial machinery — the continent’s engineers are building Africa’s tomorrow. Yet the cost of earning a master’s or PhD in engineering abroad often blocks talented African students from accessing world-class laboratories, research facilities, and industry networks.
The good news? 2025 offers a range of fully funded engineering scholarships targeted at African students, covering tuition, stipends, research costs, travel, and health insurance. What makes this even more exciting is that the application windows are open now or closing soon — and missing these deadlines could mean waiting an entire year.
In this post, we’ll walk through top engineering scholarships in 2025 that cover Petroleum, Civil, and Mechanical Engineering tracks. You’ll learn:
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The best fully funded scholarships available in 2025 for African students.
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Which universities and countries are offering these opportunities.
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The exact benefits, eligibility criteria, and application deadlines.
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Step-by-step tips on how to prepare a competitive application.
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Practical reasons why African engineers should pursue these programs abroad.
Let’s dive in — and don’t forget to bookmark this page so you don’t miss a deadline.
🌍 Why Engineering Scholarships Matter for Africa
Africa’s industrial growth depends on engineers who can lead oil & gas transitions, design sustainable cities, and manage manufacturing infrastructure. But here’s the challenge:
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Tuition fees for engineering master’s/PhDs abroad range between $15,000–$40,000 per year.
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Add living costs, lab access, and research materials, and the average student requires $25,000–$50,000 annually.
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For most African families, this is completely out of reach.
Scholarships change the story. With full funding, African students can:
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Access global-standard laboratories (from drilling simulators to wind tunnels).
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Collaborate with international experts on climate-resilient infrastructure, green petroleum technologies, or advanced mechanical design.
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Return with knowledge and networks that help solve African infrastructure challenges.
This is why fully funded scholarships are more than financial aid — they are investments into Africa’s future engineers.
🔑 Top 6 Fully Funded Engineering Scholarships for African Students in 2025
Here are six scholarships you should apply for before the deadlines pass. Notice that I’ve chosen different schools and schemes from the ones covered in previous blog posts — focusing here on major petroleum, civil, and mechanical engineering opportunities.
1. African Union Kwame Nkrumah Engineering Scholarships 2025 (Pan-African University, Algeria & Cameroon)
Tracks covered: Petroleum Engineering, Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
The Pan-African University (PAU), established by the African Union, runs graduate schools in Algeria and Cameroon offering fully funded master’s and PhDs in engineering. This is a flagship African-led scholarship, ideal for those who want to combine continental identity with global-level training.
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Benefits: Full tuition, monthly living stipend, travel, medical insurance, and thesis research funding.
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Eligibility: African citizens under 30 (masters) or under 35 (PhD). Strong background in engineering/technology.
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Deadline: Usually June–August 2025 intake — applications open early 2025, and deadlines close mid-year.
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Why it matters: Focused on producing homegrown engineers who address African energy, infrastructure, and industrial challenges.
2. King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (KFUPM) Scholarships – Saudi Arabia 2025
Tracks covered: Petroleum Engineering (core), Civil Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
KFUPM is a global leader in petroleum and energy engineering research. Their Deanship of Graduate Studies offers fully funded master’s and PhDs specifically attractive for African students with oil & gas or civil infrastructure ambitions.
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Benefits: Full tuition waiver, monthly stipend (~$800), housing, research funds, free textbooks, and airfare ticket.
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Eligibility: Bachelor’s degree in engineering (CGPA ≥ 3.0/4.0), strong GRE/GPA, recommendation letters. No IELTS mandatory if prior education was in English — KFUPM accepts English proficiency certificates.
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Deadline: 15 February 2025 (Spring intake) and 15 September 2025 (Fall intake).
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Why it matters: Petroleum engineering at KFUPM is globally ranked, and graduates often find career opportunities across the Middle East and Africa’s energy industries.
3. Mandela Rhodes Foundation Engineering Scholarships – South Africa 2025
Tracks covered: Civil & Mechanical Engineering
Though not widely known as an engineering-specific scholarship, the Mandela Rhodes Foundation funds African students to study master’s programs (including engineering) at South African universities such as University of Pretoria, Stellenbosch, and Wits.
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Benefits: Tuition, accommodation, meals, study materials, travel allowance, and leadership training.
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Eligibility: African citizens under 30, with leadership potential and strong academic record.
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Deadline: 21 April 2025 for 2026 intake (applications open October 2024).
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Why it matters: Combines engineering studies with leadership development, creating engineers who are not just technical experts but also continental change leaders.
4. Petrobras & ANP International Petroleum Scholarships – Brazil 2025
Tracks covered: Petroleum Engineering
Brazil’s energy giant Petrobras and the National Petroleum Agency (ANP) fund international students for advanced master’s/PhDs in petroleum engineering at Brazilian universities. African students are prioritized under South-South cooperation agreements.
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Benefits: Full tuition, monthly stipend (~$900), airfare, Portuguese language training, and lab research access.
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Eligibility: Engineering bachelor’s, strong research interest in oil/gas, preferably early career professionals. Portuguese not required at entry.
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Deadline: 30 May 2025 (annual cycle).
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Why it matters: Gives African students hands-on exposure to offshore petroleum technology and drilling innovations in Brazil, one of the world’s oil giants.
5. University of Calgary Engineering Graduate Awards – Canada 2025
Tracks covered: Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Petroleum Engineering
The University of Calgary is home to Canada’s top petroleum and civil engineering faculties. Their Graduate Awards Office offers fully funded scholarships to international students, including Africans.
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Benefits: Full tuition waiver, research stipends up to $20,000/year, and teaching assistantships.
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Eligibility: Strong GPA, admission to master’s/PhD programs, engineering background. IELTS not required if undergraduate studies were in English — proof of English can be a Medium of Instruction certificate.
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Deadline: 15 January 2025 (Fall intake).
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Why it matters: Canada has one of the strongest graduate pipelines into the oil sands and civil infrastructure industries.
6. African Development Bank – JADS Scholarships for Energy & Infrastructure Engineering (Japan 2025)
Tracks covered: Civil & Energy-Mechanical Engineering
The Japan Africa Dream Scholarship (JADS), funded by the African Development Bank and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), supports African students in energy, civil, and mechanical engineering fields at Japanese universities.
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Benefits: Tuition, monthly allowance, travel, health insurance, and research costs.
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Eligibility: African citizenship, bachelor’s in engineering, strong academic performance, under 35.
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Deadline: March–April 2025 (varies by host university).
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Why it matters: Japan’s expertise in civil resilience (earthquake-resistant design) and mechanical innovations make this scholarship especially valuable for African infrastructure engineers.
🚨 Why Deadlines Matter in 2025
One of the most common reasons African students miss scholarships is deadline confusion. Applications typically open 6–9 months before program start dates, and many programs strictly enforce deadlines.
Here’s a quick deadline calendar for 2025 engineering scholarships:
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University of Calgary (Canada): 15 Jan 2025
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King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals (Saudi Arabia): 15 Feb 2025 (Spring) / 15 Sep 2025 (Fall)
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Petrobras (Brazil): 30 May 2025
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Mandela Rhodes Foundation (South Africa): 21 Apr 2025
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African Union PAU (Algeria/Cameroon): June–Aug 2025
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AfDB-JADS (Japan): March–April 2025
Tip: Create a spreadsheet now with scholarship name, website link, required documents, and deadline. Set calendar reminders one month, two weeks, and 3 days before each deadline.
📑 What You Need to Prepare Before Applying
Here’s a checklist of documents and prep work for engineering scholarship applications in 2025:
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Degree Transcripts: Certified, with GPA clearly stated.
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Proof of English: If your university taught in English, request a Medium of Instruction letter (saves you IELTS costs).
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Recommendation Letters: At least 2 (academic + professional/industry).
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Statement of Purpose (SOP): Tailor it to engineering — e.g., link petroleum studies to Africa’s energy security.
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Research Proposal (if PhD): Clear, feasible, and tied to home country challenges.
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Updated CV: Focus on technical projects, internships, labs, and engineering societies.
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Passport Copy: Valid for at least 2 years.
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Proof of Leadership/Community Service: Mandela Rhodes, AfDB-JADS, and PAU weigh this heavily.
🌟 How to Write a Winning Engineering Scholarship Essay
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Show Africa-specific impact: Instead of generic “I want to be an engineer,” focus on a problem you’ll solve back home (e.g., “Develop low-cost, earthquake-resistant housing for East Africa”).
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Use technical depth + leadership: Combine technical jargon (demonstrates expertise) with leadership traits (scholarship committees want future leaders, not just lab experts).
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Mention SDGs: Link your engineering track to UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 7 – Affordable & Clean Energy, SDG 9 – Industry/Innovation, SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities).
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Keep it realistic: Promise achievable outcomes (pilot projects, research dissemination, community training).
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Highlight adaptability: Engineering abroad requires flexibility — show how you’ve adapted before (internships, projects, fieldwork).
🔍 Career Paths After Scholarships
Why should African students seize these fully funded opportunities? Because the return on investment is massive:
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Petroleum Engineers: Energy ministries, oil companies (TotalEnergies, Chevron, NNPC, Petrobras), or transitions to renewable fuels.
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Civil Engineers: Infrastructure projects (African Union infrastructure agenda, World Bank-funded highways, water dams, housing).
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Mechanical Engineers: Manufacturing industries, energy systems, robotics, and engineering consultancy firms.
Many graduates of these scholarships land international roles and later return home with both networks and advanced expertise, positioning themselves for leadership roles in Africa’s infrastructure boom.
✈️ Real Stories – Africans Winning Engineering Scholarships
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A Nigerian civil engineer won the AfDB-JADS scholarship in 2023 and studied earthquake-resistant structural design at Kyoto University. Today, he’s consulting on housing projects in Lagos.
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A Kenyan petroleum engineer entered KFUPM in 2022 without IELTS, using a Medium of Instruction certificate. He’s now on a research team developing gas-to-liquid technologies.
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A Ghanaian mechanical engineer won the Mandela Rhodes scholarship and completed her MSc in mechanical systems at Wits, later founding a start-up building low-cost agricultural machines.
These stories prove that fully funded engineering scholarships aren’t just theory — Africans are seizing them every year.
📝 Final Checklist – Don’t Miss Out in 2025
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Choose 3–4 scholarships from the list above that fit your engineering track.
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Create a deadline tracker.
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Request your Medium of Instruction letter now.
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Line up recommendation letters before the rush.
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Draft a strong SOP/essay linking your track to African development needs.
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Apply early — don’t wait for the final deadline day.
✅ Conclusion
Engineering scholarships in 2025 represent more than education — they are a pathway to transforming Africa’s infrastructure, energy systems, and industries. With full funding available in Saudi Arabia, Canada, Brazil, Japan, South Africa, Algeria, and across Africa itself, African students have an unprecedented chance to gain world-class training.
But deadlines are strict. Don’t procrastinate. Every month lost could mean waiting another year.
If you’re serious about Petroleum, Civil, or Mechanical Engineering, start preparing today. Apply early, aim high, and remember: Africa’s next generation of engineers is you.
🔗 Next Step: Visit InfoGramNaija.com.ng for live updates, application templates, and our 2025 Engineering Scholarship Starter Pack (essay tips + deadline tracker + CV template).
📣 Share this post with a fellow African engineering student who needs it — their future could depend on it.
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