Let’s be real for a second. One of the biggest barriers standing between talented African students and world-class education isn’t intelligence it’s resources. The cost of a laptop alone can be the difference between a student thriving academically or falling behind. That’s why this list is different from the typical scholarship roundups you’ve probably seen before.
These aren’t just scholarships that cover tuition. These are fully funded opportunities that go the extra mile covering your living expenses, providing monthly stipends, and in many cases, handing you the actual tools you need to succeed, including laptops and smartphones. If you’re an African student searching for scholarships that truly set you up for success, keep reading, because this one was written specifically for you.
Why Scholarships With Tech Support and Stipends Matter More Than Ever
Before we dive into the list, let’s talk about why this combination — free devices plus monthly stipends is such a game changer for African students specifically.
Access to technology remains deeply unequal across the African continent. In many countries, a mid-range laptop costs the equivalent of several months’ salary for an average household. When a scholarship program recognizes this and actively provides devices, it’s not just a nice gesture it’s a fundamental acknowledgment that equal opportunity requires equal access to tools.
Monthly stipends matter for similar reasons. Even when tuition is covered, students who have to work multiple jobs to cover food, transport, and accommodation rarely perform at their full academic potential. A stipend removes that pressure and allows students to focus entirely on their studies, research, and personal development.
Now, let’s get into the scholarships.
1. The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program
This is arguably the most well-known fully funded scholarship for African students, and for good reason. The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program operates across multiple partner universities in Africa, the United States, Canada, and other regions. It covers full tuition, accommodation, meals, airfare, and provides a monthly living stipend.
What makes it stand out on this list is that many of its partner institutions including the African Leadership University, University of Toronto, and Arizona State University provide scholars with laptops and technology resources as part of the onboarding package. The program is specifically designed for academically talented young Africans who demonstrate leadership potential and come from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
The application process is competitive, but the support you receive once selected is unmatched. Beyond the financial package, scholars get access to mentorship, networking events, and career development programs that follow them long after graduation.
2. The Tony Elumelu Foundation Entrepreneurship Program
If you’re an African student or young professional with an entrepreneurial mindset, this one deserves your full attention. The Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) Entrepreneurship Program offers selected African entrepreneurs a seed capital grant of $5,000 USD, along with business training, mentorship, and critically access to technology tools including laptops provided through the program’s digital learning platform.
The program runs annually and has already supported over 20,000 young African entrepreneurs across 54 African countries. Participants go through a 12-week online business training program and receive their seed funding upon completion. For students looking to launch businesses while studying, this is one of the most practical fully funded opportunities available right now.
3. Google Generation Scholarship (Africa)
Google has been quietly running one of the most impactful tech scholarship programs for African students, and not enough people are talking about it. The Google Generation Scholarship targets students from underrepresented groups in technology including women, students with disabilities, and students from low-income backgrounds across sub-Saharan Africa.
Selected scholars receive a financial award to support their studies, and through Google’s broader ecosystem of programs, many recipients gain access to Chromebooks, Google One storage, and access to Google’s suite of professional tools. The program also connects students to Google’s global network of engineers and tech professionals, which is an invaluable career resource.
If you’re studying computer science, information technology, software engineering, or a related field, this scholarship should be at the top of your application list.
4. The Anzisha Prize
Designed for Africa’s youngest entrepreneurs those between 15 and 22 years old the Anzisha Prize is a fully funded fellowship that provides cash prizes, mentorship, and technology resources to young African innovators. Fellows receive funding ranging from $10,000 to $25,000, along with access to devices and digital tools needed to grow their ventures.
What’s particularly exciting about the Anzisha Prize is that it doesn’t just fund ideas it funds real businesses that are already making an impact in their communities. If you’re a young African student who has already started something, this program recognizes and rewards that initiative in a way that very few scholarships do.
5. The African Development Bank (AfDB) Fully Funded Scholarship
The African Development Bank runs several scholarship programs targeting African students pursuing postgraduate studies in fields related to development, economics, engineering, agriculture, and technology. Their flagship program the Japan-Africa Dream Scholarship (JADS) is fully funded and provides monthly stipends, tuition coverage, and in many cases, provides scholars with the equipment needed for their research and studies.
The AfDB also runs the Robert S. McNamara Fellowships Program in partnership with the World Bank, which supports African researchers with full funding and research resources. Both programs are highly competitive, but the level of support offered makes the application effort absolutely worth it.
6. MTN Foundation Scholarship Program
The MTN Foundation Scholarship is one of the most impactful corporate-funded scholarship programs specifically targeting African students. Operating primarily across Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, and other MTN markets, the program provides full tuition support, monthly stipends, and in several documented cohorts has provided scholars with smartphones and data bundles to support their studies.
Given that MTN is a telecommunications company, their investment in keeping scholars connected is a natural extension of their business mission. For students studying STEM, business, or social sciences at accredited African universities, this scholarship is worth exploring through your country’s MTN Foundation portal.
7. The Aga Khan Foundation International Scholarship Programme
The Aga Khan Foundation offers fully funded scholarships to outstanding students from developing countries, including several African nations, who have no other means of funding their postgraduate education. The scholarship covers tuition, living expenses, and a monthly stipend, and is structured as a 50% grant and 50% loan with the loan portion being highly flexible and low-pressure.
Many Aga Khan partner universities and institutions provide scholars with technology resources as part of their student support packages. The foundation also has a strong network of alumni across Africa, which means the connections you make through this program can shape your career for decades.
8. DAAD Scholarships for African Students (Germany)
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers a range of fully funded scholarships for African students to pursue graduate and postgraduate studies in Germany. These scholarships cover tuition, travel costs, health insurance, and provide a monthly stipend of approximately €850 to €1,200, depending on the program level.
Through DAAD’s partnership programs with African universities and research institutions, many scholars also receive laptops and research equipment as part of their academic support package. Germany is an increasingly popular destination for African students because of its strong engineering, science, and research programs and the fact that many programs are taught in English makes it even more accessible.
9. Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP)
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission offers fully funded scholarships for students from Commonwealth countries which includes a significant number of African nations to study in the United Kingdom. The scholarship covers tuition, airfare, accommodation, and provides a monthly living allowance.
What many applicants don’t realize is that UK universities provide enrolled students with access to institutional laptops, software licenses, and extensive digital resources through their libraries and IT departments. For Commonwealth scholars, this access is part of the full package. Fields like public health, education, engineering, and social development are particularly prioritized.
10. Equity Bank Foundation Scholarship (East Africa)
Closer to home, the Equity Bank Foundation Scholarship operating primarily in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and DRC is one of the most impactful undergraduate scholarship programs in East Africa. The Wings to Fly and Elimu Scholarship programs under the Equity Foundation provide full secondary and university scholarships, monthly stipends, mentorship, and in recent years, have included tablets and smartphones as part of the scholar support package.
The program targets students from extremely disadvantaged backgrounds and has produced thousands of graduates who are now leading in business, medicine, engineering, and public service across the region. If you’re in East Africa and meet the eligibility criteria, this scholarship has the potential to completely transform your trajectory.
How to Maximize Your Chances of Winning These Scholarships
Getting a scholarship of this caliber isn’t just about having good grades. Here are a few things that genuinely make a difference in competitive applications:
Your personal statement is your most powerful tool. Write about your specific experiences, the challenges you’ve overcome, and most importantly what you plan to do with the opportunity. Scholarship committees read thousands of applications, and the ones that stand out are the ones that feel real and specific, not generic.
Apply early and apply to multiple programs simultaneously. Many of these scholarships have overlapping timelines, and there’s no rule against applying to several at once. Diversify your applications the same way you would diversify any investment.
Get strong recommendation letters from people who actually know your work professors, community leaders, or employers who can speak specifically to your abilities and character. A generic letter from a high-ranking official who barely knows you is worth far less than a detailed, personal letter from someone who has watched you grow.
Final Thoughts
Opportunity is not equally distributed but scholarships like these exist to change that. If you’re an African student with ambition, talent, and a genuine desire to make an impact, the resources you need are out there. The programs listed here represent billions of dollars in investment specifically aimed at students like you.
Don’t let another application cycle pass without putting your name in the ring. Research each program carefully, tailor your application to each one’s specific values, and start early. Your laptop, your stipend, and your future are waiting all you have to do is apply.