The Government of Mauritius is awarding scholarships to deserving students who are resident citizens of member states of the
African Union or African Commonwealth countries, as per the following criteria:
- For undergraduate programmes, applicants should be above 18 years of age and should not have reached their 26th
birthday by 01 January 2024. - For PhD programmes, applicants should not have reached 40 years by 01 January 2024.
- Applicants must have already applied for a full-time on-campus programme (Diploma, Degree, MPhil or PhD) at a public
Higher Education Institutions in Mauritius (listed in Section 8 in the appropriate Guidelines for Applicants) for the academic
year starting in 2023. - The scholarship will be for a maximum duration as indicated in the table below or the minimum course duration whichever
is lesser.
- Introduction
The Government of the Republic of Mauritius is offering scholarships to deserving students who are resident citizens of member states of the African Union or of African Commonwealth countries for full-time, on-campus MPhil/PhD programmes tenable in public Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Mauritius.
1. Eligibility Criteria
Nationality
Candidates must be resident citizens of member states of the African Union or of African Commonwealth countries. Mauritian nationals and foreign nationals residing in Mauritius are NOT eligible to apply under this Scheme.
AgeLimit
Applicants should not have reached 40 years by 01 January 2024.
1.3 Required Qualifications
1.3.1 For PhD programme: a first-class undergraduate degree from a recognised University or an MPhil and meeting the requirements of the awarding body.
1.3.2 For MPhil / PhD programme: A recognised undergraduate degree with at least an upper second class degree (or CPA / GPA greater than 60%) and preferably with a master’s degree.
Applicants should also secure a seat in one of the HEIs and submit evidence thereof along with their application.
Note:
- The onus to provide an equivalence of qualifications rests upon the applicants
- At the time of the application, candidates must provide the name and written acceptance of their proposed supervisor(s). The list of research themes/ research interests can be consulted from the websites of the different HEIs.
- Candidates should submit an Abridged Research Proposal for MPhil/PhD as per the format below along with their application.
Abridged Research Proposal for MPhil/PhD
| 1 | Title of Research | |
| 2 | Aims/Objectives of your Research (max 200 words) | |
| 3 | Background and significance of your research (max 200 words) | |
| 4 | The proposed budget for your research | |
| 5 | Brief description of Methodology, indicating clearly how you intend to conduct the research and the data collection (Max 300 words) | |
| 6 | Tentative timeframe of your study with an emphasis on data collection. | |
| 7 | Any equipment, Lab, and software… that will be required | |
| 8 | Name and contact details of identified supervisors in Mauritius |
1.4 Self-financing African students already studying in Mauritius will NOT be eligible to apply for the same programme level under this Scholarship Scheme.
1.5 Scholarships will NOT be awarded for:
- Applicants already holding a PhD;
- Part-time courses; or
- Distance Education programmes;
Application Procedure
The Application Form
The application form obtainable from the websites below must be filled in electronically, printed and then signed:
http://ministry-education.govmu.org or http://highereducationmauritius.com
Application to Higher Education Institutions (HEIs)
2.2.1 An applicant must have paid the appropriate application fee and obtain a conditional offer (letter of admission) from their chosen Mauritian public HEI and submit this along with the scholarship application;
- Note: The application fee shall be refunded to successful applicants.
2.2.2 Applicants must submit the completed Mauritius-Africa Scholarship Application Form along with documents as per the Checklist (Section 7) in this document to their respective Nominating Agencies. This should be done by a deadline to be determined by the Nominating Agency and communicated to prospective applicants.
2.2.3 Candidates must also submit the fully completed Application Form and certified copies of the following documents as part of their application to their local Nominating Agency:
- Birth Certificate;
- Relevant educational certificates and transcripts. Applicants must produce original certificates to the Ministry within two weeks of their arrival in Mauritius.
- Medical certificate to be filled and stamped by a registered medical practitioner in Section 6 of the Application Form; and
- Copy of passport biodata page (if available).
Note:
- The authenticity of all educational certificates will be checked by the Mauritian authorities and applicants must produce original certificates upon arrival in Mauritius.
- Non-submission of the documents mentioned above, or incorrect or incomplete filling of the application form will result in disqualification of the applicant;
- The Declaration in Section 4 of the Application Form must be signed by the applicant;
- Certified copies of academic certificates and transcripts, if not in French or English, must be submitted along with a certified translation in one of these two languages;
- In Section 3 of the Application Form, applicants should indicate the title of their proposed research and the institution(s) where they have secured a seat or for which they have submitted an application for enrolment; and
- All applications must be made exclusively through the Nominating Agency in the country of citizenship of the applicant, along with the necessary supporting documents.
Application Enquiries
Applicants are advised to contact the Nominating Agency in their country of citizenship, or in the absence thereof, the respective Ministry of Education, to obtain details on the application procedure to be followed when submitting applications.
Shortlisting by the Nominating Agency and Evaluation Process
3.1 Applications for the Scholarships are to be made to the Nominating Agency in the applicant’s country of origin and are NOT to be sent directly to Mauritius by the applicant. The Nominating Agency, which is typically part of the Ministry of Education, will select and nominate candidates for MPhil/PhD programmes (indicating clearly the level of studies for each nominated candidate). The Nominating Agency of the country of citizenship of the candidates, or the Ministry of Education, will subsequently transmit the application forms to Mauritius.
3.2 Applications from candidates who do not have the endorsement of their Nominating Agencies or that of the Ministry of Education, will NOT be considered.
3.3 Candidates who have not been informed of their selection for the award of a scholarship within six months of application deadlines should consider that they have not been selected.
3.4 Selection of candidates for the Scholarship will be based on merit.
3.5 The list of successful applicants for each Member State will be communicated to their respective Nominating Agencies and a communiqué will be placed on the Mauritian Ministry of Education’s website once the selection exercise has been completed. The Mauritian Ministry of Education will, in parallel, issue the successful applicants with a Scholarship Agreement Form which is to be signed and submitted to the Mauritian Ministry of Education, upon appointment, within two (2) weeks of their arrival in Mauritius. Candidates must provide the original of all qualifications submitted. The process of verifying the authenticity of qualifications will be initiated at this point. If found not authentic, the scholarship will be terminated.
3.6 The final decision to award a scholarship rests with the Ministry of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology. This decision shall be final and binding. The Ministry of Education reserves the right not to respond to queries regarding the scholarship process.
Financial Conditions of the Scholarship
Tuition fees and course-related costs
4.1.1 This scholarship provides for an annual payment of fees and other studies-related costs (e.g. general/annual fees and miscellaneous fees, etc) as per the grid below:
| SN | Beneficiaries from | Applicable Rate | Total fee payable up to |
| SADC Countries | Local Fees | MUR100,000 | |
| 2 | Non-SADC Countries | International Fees | MUR160,000 |
(as at 15 November 2022, 1 USD = MUR 44.25)
4.1.2 Awardees will NOT be allowed to transfer to another HEI or shift course of study once they have been granted a Scholarship.
4.1.3 Education fees and other studies-related costs in excess of the amounts mentioned above shall be borne by the awardee.
4.1.4 All costs associated with any examination re-sit or repeat of any academic year will be borne by the student.
4.1.5 The scholarship for MPhil/PhD studies will be for a maximum duration of four (4) years, plus a maximum period of 6 months for a transfer from MPhil to PhD.
4.1.6 The scholarship for PhD studies will be for a maximum duration of THREE (3) years.
4.1.7 No request for an extension of the scholarship will be entertained. The applicant will have to bear the cost of any expenses incurred beyond the time frames mentioned above.
4.1.8 No request for additional grants will be entertained.
4.1.9 Any costs pertaining to fieldwork overseas or the purchase of books will have to be borne by the student.
Living allowance
4.2.1 Awardees are expected to come to Mauritius with sufficient funds (approximately USD 1000) to meet expenses during the initial phase of their stay (about three (3) months), while formalities are being completed locally.
4.2.2 A monthly living allowance of MUR 14,200 will be paid to awardees as part of support to meet their living expenses. Students are expected to supplement this amount to cover the cost of living in Mauritius. This allowance will be credited to the awardee’s bank account in Mauritius on a monthly basis, subject to the submission of evidence of enrolment and satisfactory attendance in the study programme by the HEI.
4.2.3 The payment of allowances during the final year of enrolment in the study programme will cover, on a pro-rata basis, a period of two (2) weeks following the final day of examinations.
4.2.4 An awardee should inform the Ministry of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology in writing, at least two (2) weeks in advance, in case he/she has to leave Mauritius for any reason.
Other conditions
The awardees should:
- abide by the latest government regulations regarding vaccination against Covid;
- abide by the protocols set up by Mauritian authorities for passengers travelling to Mauritius;
- be available to commence their academic studies in Mauritius by the start of the academic year of the respective institution in which they have been admitted;
- not be in receipt of or not have received a scholarship from any other public source in Mauritius (including from Higher Education Commission, Mauritius Research and Innovation Council, Higher Education Institutions, etc.); and
- undergo a medical check-up as per the Passport and Immigration Office requirements (http://passport.govmu.org), in any of the public hospitals in Mauritius and the tests results shall be submitted to the Passport and Immigration Office, with a copy to the Ministry, not later than one month after arrival in Mauritius.
Note: The Ministry reserves the right to request an applicant to undergo any such other medical tests as it deems fit.
Travel to and from Mauritius
Student Visa and Travel Documents
5.1.1 Prior to an awardee’s arrival in Mauritius, the HEI where the student has secured a seat will apply for a student visa with the Passport and Immigration Office (PIO) in Mauritius.
5.1.2 For visa application procedures, the awardee must liaise with the HEI where s/he has secured a place and ensure that s/he is the holder of a provisional entry permit issued by the PIO.
5.1.3 The PIO will process the student visa application and issue a provisional entry permit valid for three (3) months to enable the student to travel to Mauritius.
5.1.4 Issuance of a provisional entry permit and student visa is subject to the immigration laws and policies prevailing in Mauritius.
5.1.5 Students must have a passport valid for the full duration of the course enrolled.
5.1.6 The scholarship also covers return airfare by the most economical route. This will be valid for travel from the country of origin at the beginning of the studies and back to the country of origin upon successful completion of studies.
5.1.7 Awardees will have to make their own arrangements to pay for their one-way air tickets and then apply for a refund upon arrival in Mauritius by providing the necessary original receipts issued in their name and documentation. Those awardees travelling from countries that require a return ticket as a condition of their exit immigration at the point of departure will have to make arrangements for the same at their own cost.
The cost of cancellation penalty fees for this return ticket will be refunded to the awardee by the authorities in Mauritius.
Note: Reimbursement of air ticket cost.
The authorities in Mauritius will refund airfare from the awardee’s country to Mauritius by the most economical route.
5.1.8 Students should inform in writing the HEI to which they have been admitted of their travel schedule well in advance.
5.1.9 Students who choose to have their family members or relatives or friends join them for visits to Mauritius will be fully responsible for their airfare, living expenses and any other expenses related to such visits.
5.1.10 If an HEI terminates the enrolment of a student or if a student decides to return to his/her country of citizenship before the completion of the course, he/she will NOT be entitled to a return ticket. This cost will have to be borne by the student himself/herself.
5.1.11 The student will not be entitled to a refund of any expenses related to his/her travel during vacation time.
5.1.12 The awardee will sign an undertaking to leave Mauritius as soon as his/her programme of study comes to an end.
Health and Travel Insurance
Beneficiaries are entitled to free health care in public hospitals in Mauritius. Arrangements for any health insurance and travel insurance will have to be made by the awardees themselves.
Accommodation
Awardees will have to make prior arrangements with the HEI in Mauritius with regard to accommodation facilities available.
Other conditions of the Scholarship
Submission of Progress Reports
The HEI will submit semester/annual academic progress reports and quarterly attendance reports for the continuation of scholarship disbursements. These reports will be submitted to the Higher Education Commission and copied to the Ministry of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology.
Renewal of Scholarship
6.2.1 Scholarships will be renewable yearly, subject to the successful completion of the previous year of study and subsequent enrolment into the following year.
6.2.2 The Government of Mauritius will discontinue scholarship disbursements in case the student is not promoted to the next academic year. Scholarship disbursement will only be resumed upon submission of documents certifying that the awardee has cleared any academic backlog and is enrolled in the following academic year or if the progress of research work is behind schedule.
Termination of scholarship
The scholarship may be terminated at any time for reasons of unsatisfactory conduct, submission of fake documents, poor progress or attendance, breach of the HEI Rules and Regulations or any breach of the Mauritian laws. The awardee will have to leave the country within 2 weeks of termination.
Checklist of Documents to be submitted to Nominating Agency
- Completed Application Form
- Certified copy of Birth Certificate
- Certified copy of biodata page of passport
- Certified copies of educational certificates
- Certified copies of transcripts
- Copy of letter of offer for a seat approved by the doctoral school from a public Higher Education Institution in Mauritius ;
- Medical certificate to be duly filled and signed by a registered Medical Practitioner in Section 6 of the Application Form. This should be appropriately stamped; and
LIST OF PUBLIC HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS (HEIs) WHERE SCHOLARSHIP IS TENABLE
PhD applicants are requested to contact potential Supervisors on the following link/emails.
| Institution | Link/emails | |
| University of Mauritius | http://www.uom.ac.mu/Images/Files/Research/themes.pdf | |
| University of Technology, Mauritius | Director General | Registrar |
| directorgeneral@umail.utm.ac.mu | registrar@umail.utm.ac.mu | |
- ‘Mauritius-Africa Scholarship Scheme – Edition 2023’
Call for Application | Guidelines for Applicants: Diploma and Undergraduate degree, MPhil /PhD Programmes | Application Form: Undergraduate, Postgraduate