The Government of Mauritius has opened the Mauritius-Africa Scholarship Scheme (MASS) 2027 for citizens of African Union and African Commonwealth countries. It covers tuition fees, a monthly living allowance and a return airfare for full-time study at a public university in Mauritius, from diplomas and bachelor’s degrees up to MPhil and PhD.
Important: you can’t apply directly to Mauritius. Applications go through your country’s Nominating Agency, usually part of the Ministry of Education, which can nominate up to 15 candidates. Agencies must send soft copies to Mauritius by 17 March 2027 and hard copies by 31 March 2027, and they set their own earlier deadlines for applicants, so contact yours now.
At a Glance
| Funder | Government of Mauritius (Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Research) |
| Who can apply | Resident citizens of African Union member states or African Commonwealth countries (not Mauritians) |
| Levels | Undergraduate diploma or degree, National Diploma in Nursing, MPhil, MPhil/PhD and PhD |
| Where | Public universities and institutions in Mauritius, full-time on campus |
| Benefits | Tuition up to a set limit, MUR 16,500 a month living allowance, and return economy airfare |
| Deadline | Set by your Nominating Agency. Agencies submit to Mauritius by 31 March 2027 (soft copies by 17 March). |
Benefits
- Tuition and course costs paid each year, up to MUR 100,000 (local fees) for students from SADC countries and up to MUR 160,000 (international fees) for students from non-SADC countries. At the official rate of 1 USD = MUR 47.88, that’s about US$2,090 and US$3,340.
- A monthly living allowance of MUR 16,500 (about US$345), described as part support
- A return economy airfare between your home country and Mauritius. You pay for your ticket first and then claim it back.
Not covered: fees above the limits, and accommodation, which you arrange with your university. You also need at least US$1,000 on arrival to cover your first three months while paperwork is completed.
Scholarship Duration
- Undergraduate diploma: up to 3 years
- National Diploma in Nursing: up to 3 years and 6 months
- Undergraduate degree: up to 4 years
- MPhil: up to 2 years, plus 6 months for the thesis defence
- MPhil/PhD: up to 3 years, plus extra time for the MPhil transfer and PhD defence
- PhD: up to 3 years, plus 6 months for the thesis defence
Eligibility
- You must be a resident citizen of an active African Union member state or an African Commonwealth country. Mauritians aren’t eligible.
- Undergraduates: over 18, and you mustn’t have turned 26 by 1 January 2028.
- MPhil and PhD: you mustn’t have turned 40 by 1 January 2028.
- You must have already applied for a full-time on-campus programme at a public institution in Mauritius for 2027, such as the University of Mauritius, the University of Technology Mauritius, the Open University of Mauritius, the Mauritius Institute of Education or Polytechnics Mauritius.
- Part-time, distance and blended programmes don’t qualify.
How to Apply
- Apply to a full-time programme at a public university in Mauritius for 2027. Keep proof of your application or your fee receipt. Successful scholars get the application fee refunded.
- Download the Guidelines for Applicants, the application form and the list of Nominating Agencies from the Ministry’s MASS page (link below).
- Complete the form and gather all documents on the checklist.
- Submit everything to your country’s Nominating Agency by its deadline. The agency endorses Section 5 and forwards up to 15 candidates to Mauritius.
- If you haven’t heard anything within six months of the deadline, assume you weren’t selected.
Official MASS 2027 page (Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Research, Mauritius)
Tips
- Contact your Nominating Agency early. Its deadline will be well before 17 March 2027.
- Apply to the university first. A scholarship is only given once a university confirms your place.
- Budget realistically. MUR 16,500 a month is only part of your living costs, so plan how you’ll cover the rest.
- Don’t send your application straight to Mauritius. It will be rejected.
