Windle Trust International Opens Applications for Master’s Scholarships in the UK and Uganda

Applications for Master’s Scholarships are now open!

If you are a resident of Uganda, Sudan, South Sudan or Somaliland, you may be eligible to apply for a postgraduate scholarship to study up to Master’s level.

What are we looking for? 

Whichever programme you study on, what we’re looking for does not change. We assess all candidates equally against our scholarship priorities. These are: 

Giving back: We ask scholarship recipients to put what they learn into practice in the future for the benefit of their communities, regions and to the broader Windle community. If you have a track record of community involvement, your application will be considered favourably. 

Student status: We give scholarships to people who have refugee status, have been internally displaced, marginalised, in need, or otherwise affected by conflict. 

Financial need: You should be able to demonstrate genuine financial need, and be unable to meet the costs of your study independently. 

Gender: To address the huge gender inequality in education among the communities in which we work, all else being equal, we seek to give priority to girls and women. One of our key focuses is on dealing with the disparity in communities, schools, and employment sectors by offering scholarship opportunities that empower women. 

Origin and coverage: We give scholarships to people who are resident in the regions of Africa in which we work. In practice this means that you should be resident in specific conflict-affected areas of Kenya or Uganda, or throughout the entireties of Sudan, South Sudan or Somaliland. 

All of our scholarships support the development of leadership and skills in African communities: you are expect to return to your current country within one month of the completion of the studies, or within the validity of your study visa, whichever is shorter.

Our scholarships must not be seen as a route to asylum and we will not support asylum claims from scholarship recipients under any circumstances.

Programme Specific Eligibility Criteria

Note: Meeting the minimum criteria is in no way a guarantee of sponsorship due to the large number of eligible candidates and limited available funds. These criteria reflect currently identified development priorities and may change in the future. These criteria should be read alongside the Scholarship Policy (2020) for overall criteria and priorities and are written to provide more specific criteria relevant to the Postgraduate Programme.

As we work collaboratively with a number of universities and scholarship awarding bodies to provide scholarship opportunities, Windle Trust International does not always make the final decision on which candidates scholarships are awarded to.

In addition to the Selection Priorities, Postgraduate Programme scholars must also meet the following minimum criteria and conditions:

Overall:

Priority is given to applicants of particular merit taking into account academic ability, need, development impact, leadership potential and personal qualities.

Status:

Applicants should be refugees, internally displaced or be otherwise affected by conflict.

Origin and location:

Applicants should be from the countries of East, Central or the Horn of Africa and be resident in Kenya, Uganda, Sudan, and South Sudan.

Uganda specific origin and location criteria

The programme is open to Ugandan candidates who demonstrate a clear, long-term link with the following regions of Uganda that have been affected by or are emerging from conflict:

• West Nile

• Karamoja

• Acholi

• Lango

• Teso

Refugees with legally documented refugee status may be resident in any part of Uganda.

In practical terms applications will be considered from Ugandans who:

• were born in the districts of these regions and/or

• have lived or worked there for at least three years and

• have demonstrated leadership and personal commitment to reducing marginalization and conflict and the underlying causes of these in the above regions.

Kenya specific origin and location criteria

The programme is open to Kenyan candidates who demonstrate a clear, long-term link with the following regions of Kenya that have been affected by or are emerging from conflict:

• Garissa

• Turkana

Refugees with legally documented refugee status may be resident in any part of Kenya.

Kenyan candidates will have demonstrated leadership and personal commitment to reducing marginalization and conflict and the underlying causes of these in the following counties in the Arid region of Kenya:

Garissa • Turkana • Baringo • Isiolo • Mandera • Marsabit • Samburu • Tana River • Wajir

In practical terms applications will be considered from Kenyans who:

• were born in Garissa or Turkana counties and

• are currently working in one of the above Arid region counties and

• have demonstrated leadership and personal commitment to reducing marginalization and conflict and the underlying causes of these in the above counties of the Arid region

Academic ability:

Applicants should have an excellent first degree, with a minimum grade equivalent to a British upper second (2:1) undergraduate degree or above.

Applicants must also be academically qualified to undertake the proposed course with success, and they must meet the normal course entry requirements as set by the university if higher than the above.

Please note the following:

For the purposes of eligibility applicants with degrees graded “First Class”, “Second Class, Upper Division”, “Distinction” or “Very Good” are considered to be the equivalent, with the exception of medical degrees that are not classified.

Non-medical degrees that are ungraded or unclassified must have achieved a minimum GPA of 4.0 out of 5.0 or 3.2 out of 4.0 to be considered.

Degrees graded “Second Class Lower Division”, “Good”, “Third class” or “Pass” are not eligible.

Candidates with degrees from Sudanese Institutions (other than medicine, dentistry and pharmacy) are required to have a BA/BSc honours degree.

Language ability:

Applicants must be capable of studying effectively in the language in which instruction will take place.

Due to requirements for admission to universities in the UK, as well as UK visa requirements, applicants short listed for placement in the UK or on courses taught in English may be required to sit an IELTS test or equivalent. Applicants will need to achieve a score equivalent to IELTS 6.5 or above with no less than 6.0 in any one skill. University English language requirements may be higher.

Applicants may be requested to participate in an English language assessment prior to selection.

Work experience:

Applicants for the Postgraduate Programme are required to have at least two years of professional or volunteer experience relevant to the subject they wish to study. This must have been completed proceeding graduation from the candidate’s undergraduate degree. Applicants may apply for selection prior to completing the two years of experience; however, they will be unable to be placed in a university until this requirement has been met.

What does a Postgraduate Programme scholarship include?

Whether in the UK, Africa or online, your Postgraduate Programme scholarship will include: 

• Fully funded academic tuition fees 
• Orientation on issues such as adapting to life in your host country, dealing with culture shock, managing finances, study methods and access to essential services. 
• A maintenance stipend for the entire period of study (1 year in the UK, 2 years in East Africa)
• Return airfare between the candidate’s country of residence and country of scholarship (for scholarships overseas) 
• Leadership development training 
• Attendance at themed conferences and workshops 
• Welfare and pastoral support throughout the programme of study 

Current opportunities

1- Refugee and IDP Scholarships in the UK

Applications are currently open for Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons currently resident in Sudan, South Sudan and Uganda to study for Postgraduate Master’s Scholarships in the UK in 2026.  

We are currently accepting applications for Master’s Scholarships to be studied at prestigious universities in the UK in 2026.

What can I study?

Scholarships are available for students in all subject areas that can be used to help build and support students’ communities.

Where can I study?

You will be advised on suitable universities and specific courses following your application.

What do you need to do?

• Complete and submit the application form for Windle Trust International. In addition to our usual Postgraduate Programme Eligibility Criteria, you must have official IDP or Refugee status to be eligible for these scholarships.
• If shortlisted for selection, attend an interview with Windle Trust International. Interviews will be held in your current country of residence, or online.
• If selected for support, you will be guided in university and further scholarship applications during their application windows.

Application period

• Windle Trust International application window: 15th May 2025 – 7th June 2025
• Windle Trust International interviews: 26th June – 8th July 2025

Costs involved

• Windle Trust International never charges fees for scholarship applications.

All potential candidates should take note of the following important documents: 

• The WTI Anti-Fraud and Corruption Policy 
• The WTI Complaints Policy 
• The WTI Privacy Policy 
• The WTI Safeguarding Policy 

2- The James Aryam Scholarships

Applications are currently open for residents of Sudan, South Sudan and Somaliland, as well as Sudanese refugees in Uganda, for scholarships to study their Master’s in Uganda. 

In collaboration with Windle International Uganda, we are currently accepting applications from candidates for full Master’s scholarships, including tuition fees, a monthly maintenance stipend and relocation costs.

What can I study?

Scholarships are available for students wanting to study taught Master’s courses related to:

• Education
• Public Health
• Nutrition

Where can I study?

Scholarships are available for those who have applied to:

• Makerere University
• Bugema University
• Uganda Martyrs University

• University of Kisibu
• Uganda Christian University

What do you need to do?

• Read the full Eligibility Criteria and ensure that you are eligible for scholarship. Exceptions are not made to the eligibility criteria.
• Complete and submit applications to the universities listed above, for August 2025 admissions. WTI recommends applying to at least two universities.
• Complete and submit the application form for Windle Trust International, available below. It is mandatory to upload evidence of university application submission to your WTI application form.
• If shortlisted for selection, attend an interview with Windle Trust International. Interviews will be held in your current country of residence, or online.

Application period

• Windle Trust International application window: 15th May 2025 – 7th June 2025
• Windle Trust International interviews: June-July 2025

Costs involved

• Windle Trust International never charges fees for scholarship applications.
• Applications to universities are likely to incur application fees. WTI is unable to support with university application fees, and expects candidates to bear this cost.

We are committed to a policy of equal opportunity and non-discrimination and encourage applications from a diverse range of candidates, specifically including women, refugees, minorities, candidates with a disability and candidates otherwise affected by conflict. 

Where we work

Windle Trust International works with people in East Africa and the Horn of Africa.

Our programmes span Sudan, South Sudan, Somaliland and the UK. Across Windle Trust International, we work with communities affected by conflict, including internally displaced people, refugees, and other marginalised communities.

Windle International
CMS House
Watlington Road
Oxford
OX4 6BZ

Headquarters and Support Offices

• Windle International HQ – Oxford, United Kingdom
• Windle International Nederland
• Windle International USA