Scholarship Overview
- UNHCR provides, on a limited basis, scholarships for refugees at the tertiary level in universities and polytechnic institutions through the Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative Fund (DAFI). Funding for this programme is provided by the Federal Government of Germany.
- The purpose of the DAFI Programme is to contribute to the self-reliance of refugees by providing them with a professional qualification for future employment. Scholarships are granted only for studies in the country of asylum. Preferably, UNHCR would like to see the graduates return home and contribute to the reconstruction of their home country, or to the development of the country of asylum or the refugee community at large.
Host School
Fields of Study
What does the scholarship cover?
How many scholarships are given?
Which countries are targeted?
In 2006/2007, the following countries are participating in the DAFI programme:
In Africa:
- Benin, Botswana, Cameroon, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
In Asia:
- India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Syria, Thailand and Yemen.
In Central- and South America:
- Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Panama, and Uruguay.
In Eastern Europe:
- Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Georgia, Russian Federation, and Serbia & Montenegro.
Am I Eligible to Apply?
In order to be eligible, a candidate should:
- be a refugee with recognised refugee status;
- have successfully completed secondary schooling to a high standard in campbased
- refugee schools, or in national schools of the country of origin or asylum;
- have no other means of support for university studies;
- select a course of study that is likely to lead to employment in the country of origin;
- not be older than 28 years at the beginning of studies (An exemption could be applied to health and education courses of shorter duration provided to health staff and teachers with previous working experience or employment);
- select a choice of study course with maximum three to four years duration.
How to Apply – Next Steps
- If there is a current DAFI programme in your country of asylum and you meet the above-mentioned criteria, you should complete an application form (Application for Educational Assistance) to be submitted to UNHCR directly. Forms are available at UNHCR offices. All UNHCR offices will receive your application.
Closing Date
How do I get more information?

saadi says
respected sir
how can i apply for the scholarship plz send the procedure
BRIGHTON says
sir i want to apply for this scholarship for Masters in International Relations but i dont know the way
farman ali says
hi i am a doc veterinary doctor i have seen a lot of comments on this page i will just say that my family from now on feels my education expenses as burden so plz pick out a way for me because i am also a pakistani.plz send me full procedure for i have to apply to this scheeme.thanx
cell no=03329442804
noorkhan says
hello . this is noor khan from swat vally of nwfp.i did my fsc in 2008.now i m stding in bs(sc) 1st semester.as u know the siuation of swat.sir i need scholar ship for contenu ma stdies.i hav alot of financail problems and for that purpose i need hlp.tnx nayab_nur@yahoo.com is my email address.waiting 4 ur responce
suliman khan says
sir i want to apply for this scholarship but i dont know the way