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?

muhammad shoaib says
hiii…….
my name is muhammad shoaib.ibelong from south waziristan agrncey.(FATA,Pakistan).i am a textile engineering student in National Textile University Fasilabad.(pakistan) I am in second semester.In our area there is a milatory operation started aganist terrorist.it is diffcult for me to continue my studies.plzzzz help me in my studies.
thanks.
nixxon chingasiyeni says
I am going for my third semester of the five semester i have at the Cape Peninsula university of Technology in South Africa .i dont know what to do or who to ask for assistants .My mother who was providing me with a full time course money has passed away 2 weeks ago please help me ,my regestration date has arealdy finish but still attending classes please if you can do something quik help me i am so desperate .i am an asylum seeker from zimbabwe and have done my high school level here .please help me
Ghebrengus Tesfamariam says
I am 26 years old Eritrean Nationality I am graduate of Comprehensive nurse midwife with 3years Diploma program I am living in Sudan as refugee registered with UNHCR and have refugee card I am looking for Degree scholarship .I am looking forward to hearing from you soon.
I would like to thank you the help you can give me .
HUSSANZEB says
MY NAME IS HUSSAN ZEB. I PASSED MY PRE ENGINERING IN 2009. I AM A RESIDENT OF SWAT VALLEY. DUE TO CRISES IN SWAT OUR FINANCIAL PROBLEM HAVE INCREASED AND DUE TO THE ON GOING TERRORISM IN SWAT I COULD NOT CONTINUE MY STUDY HERE SO THAT WHY I NEED SCHOLORSHIP TO CONTINEU MY UNDERGRADUATE ABROAD.
SIR HOW CAN I GET DAFI SCHOLORSHIP? I WILL BE VERY THANKFULL OF YOUR KIND ASSISTANCE.
MY EMAIL IS HUSSANZEB_1990@YAHOOMAIL.COM . I WILL BE WAITING FOR YOUR RESPONSE
shah nawaz says
my name is shahnawaz.i did my matriculation/early schooling from waziristan and currently a student of pre engineering.as i belong to the trubled south waziristan agency Pakistan.as known to all, south waziristan is a battle field for the war against terror.we have been safely evacuated from our area by the Pakistan Army but due to financial and other problems my studies has been disconnected.kindly help me out and tell me if i can avail any kind of scholarships for further studies , locally or abroad…waititng for your response…..
email: mahsoud1@hotmail.com