Studying abroad is a dream for many students across Latin America (LATAM) and Africa — but funding is often the biggest barrier. Many believe scholarships are either too competitive or reserved only for top academic performers. In reality, there are numerous scholarships specifically designed for LATAM and African students, yet many remain overlooked because they are not widely promoted.
This guide highlights lesser-known scholarships, alternative funding sources, and practical research strategies to help students from LATAM and Africa secure financial support in 2025–26.
Why “Hidden” Scholarships Can Improve Your Chances
Well-known scholarships such as Chevening, Fulbright, DAAD, and Erasmus Mundus attract large applicant pools each year. While these are valuable opportunities, they are not the only options available.
Less-visible scholarships are often:
- Less widely advertised
- Offered by niche organisations
- Country-specific or region-specific
- Linked to universities, NGOs, foundations, or corporate initiatives
- Targeted toward particular fields or demographics
Exploring these options can diversify your funding strategy and increase your chances of receiving support.
1. University-Specific Scholarships That Many Students Overlook
Many universities offer targeted scholarships for LATAM and African applicants, but these opportunities are often buried within institutional websites.
1.1 Regional Excellence Scholarships
Universities in the United States, United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and Canada frequently offer scholarships for students from developing regions.
Examples include:
- Uppsala University Global Scholarship (Sweden)
- Sciences Po Emile Boutmy Scholarship (France)
- University of Alberta region-based scholarships (Canada)
How to find them:
• Search: “[University name] + scholarships for international students + region”
• Check faculty-level pages such as engineering, business, or health sciences
• Look for keywords such as “global talent,” “emerging economies,” “regional award,” or “international excellence”
2. Government and Embassy Scholarships You May Not Know About
Many governments operate scholarship or co-funding schemes in partnership with universities. These opportunities are sometimes listed only on official portals.
2.1 LATAM-Specific Programmes
- COLFUTURO (Colombia)
- CONACYT (Mexico)
- Becas Chile
2.2 Africa-Specific Programmes
- Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
- African Union scholarship programmes
- Mandela Rhodes Foundation
Tip: Visit the embassy website of the country where you intend to study. Embassy pages sometimes list bilateral or targeted scholarship schemes.
3. NGO and Foundation Scholarships
NGOs and private foundations offer substantial educational funding, often aligned with specific missions such as social justice, leadership, or STEM advancement.
Examples include:
- Ford Foundation fellowships
- Open Society Foundations grants
- Allan Gray Orbis Foundation (Africa)
- Schlumberger Foundation – Faculty for the Future
- Canon Collins Trust
- FUNED (Mexico)
These programmes typically prioritise applicants whose academic goals align with the organisation’s mission.
4. Corporate Scholarships
Multinational companies sometimes sponsor students from emerging markets as part of diversity, workforce development, or social impact initiatives.
Examples include:
- Google Africa scholarships
- Microsoft diversity initiatives
- IBM skills programmes
- TotalEnergies scholarships
- ExxonMobil scholarships
- Coca-Cola Latin America scholarships
These programmes are often linked to:
- STEM fields
- Innovation and technology
- Leadership
- Sustainability
- Data science and AI
Some corporate scholarships also include internships or mentorship components.
5. Scholarships from International Organisations
International institutions fund students pursuing development-focused disciplines.
Examples include:
- World Bank scholarships (JJ/WBGSP)
- OAS academic scholarships
- African Development Bank scholarships
- Fulbright LASPAU (Latin America)
- UNICEF and UNESCO fellowships
These programmes commonly support fields such as economics, public policy, sustainability, gender studies, and development.
6. Professional Association Scholarships
Students in technical or professional disciplines should explore funding through professional bodies.
STEM Associations
- IEEE scholarships
- ASME and ASCE scholarships
- Institute of Physics awards
- Royal Society grants
Business and Management
- CFA Institute scholarships
- ACCA scholarships
- Regional business school scholarships
Professional associations often provide funding tied to academic performance, research, or industry engagement.
7. Religious and Cultural Organisation Scholarships
Some faith-based and cultural organisations offer scholarships focused on leadership, peacebuilding, or community development.
Examples include:
- Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) scholarship
- World Council of Churches scholarships
- Jewish educational foundations
- Catholic fellowship programmes
Many of these programmes prioritise social impact and community engagement rather than religious affiliation.
8. Country-Specific Small Grants
Several European governments and regional organisations offer funding to attract international talent.
Examples include:
- VLIR-UOS (Belgium)
- NORPART (Norway)
- Stipendium Hungaricum (Hungary)
- Government scholarships in the Czech Republic and Poland
These programmes often provide full or partial funding and may focus on specific regions or academic fields.
9. Specialised Scholarships for Women
Women from developing regions have access to dedicated funding opportunities.
Examples include:
- AAUW international fellowships
- PEO international peace scholarships
- Women Techmakers programmes
- FINCAD women in finance scholarship
- African Women’s Development Fund
These scholarships frequently support leadership, STEM, entrepreneurship, and community development.
10. How to Search Strategically for Hidden Scholarships
Finding lesser-known funding opportunities requires a structured approach.
10.1 Use Specialised Scholarship Platforms
Consider platforms such as:
- ScholarshipPortal (Europe)
- DAAD scholarship database
- Campus Bourses (France)
- GrantForward
- OpportunityDesk
Filter by:
- Region
- Field of study
- Academic level
- Funding type
10.2 Use Targeted Google Searches
Refine searches using specific phrases such as:
- “Scholarships for Latin American students 2025 filetype:pdf”
- “Africa scholarship programme”
- “University bursary + international applicants + 2025”
- “Funding for developing countries + postgraduate”
Using “filetype:pdf” can help surface announcements published as downloadable documents.
10.3 Monitor LinkedIn and X (Formerly Twitter)
Search hashtags such as:
- #ScholarshipAlert
- #StudyAbroad
- #FundingOpportunities
- #AfricaScholarships
- #LATAMStudents
Organisations often share calls for applications through social media.
10.4 Explore Professors’ and Research Pages
Many funded postgraduate opportunities arise through research grants or assistantships.
When contacting professors, include:
- Your CV
- A concise research proposal or interest statement
- Clear alignment with their work
This approach is particularly effective for master’s by research and PhD programmes.
10.5 Join Alumni and Student Communities
Engage with:
- WhatsApp or Telegram groups
- Reddit communities
- Facebook scholarship groups
- University Discord servers
Peer networks often share funding information informally.
11. Practical Tips to Strengthen Your Applications
- Apply early and track deadlines carefully
- Tailor your statement of purpose to align with the scholarship mission
- Highlight leadership, community impact, and long-term goals
- Maintain a strong academic and extracurricular profile
- Apply to multiple relevant scholarships
- Secure strong recommendation letters from professors, employers, or community leaders
12. Notable Scholarship Programmes for LATAM and African Students
For LATAM Students
- OAS scholarships
- Santander universities scholarships
- Fulbright LASPAU
- FUNED and CONACYT (Mexico)
- COLFUTURO (Colombia)
- Fundación Carolina (Spain)
For African Students
- Mandela Rhodes Foundation
- Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
- MEXT (Japan)
- Commonwealth shared scholarships
- IsDB scholarships
- TWAS research grants
Global Opportunities
- Rotary peace fellowships
- Joint Japan/World Bank scholarships
- Erasmus+ partnerships
- Corporate technology scholarships
Final Thoughts
You do not need to rely solely on widely known global scholarships. Many lesser-known opportunities provide partial or full funding for international education.
Students from LATAM and Africa may benefit from region-focused initiatives designed to increase global representation and diversity in higher education. By exploring university-specific awards, NGO foundations, corporate funding, and government programmes — and by using targeted research strategies — you can uncover funding sources that many applicants overlook.
Strategic research, early preparation, and tailored applications can significantly improve your chances of securing financial support.
The key takeaway: Hidden scholarships are often easier to overlook than to win. A broader, more targeted search strategy can uncover funding opportunities that many other applicants never find.
