UNHCR DAFI Scholarship for Refugee Students at African Universities: How to Apply
By Muntasir Minhaz • Published Aug 07, 2026 • African Scholarships & Student Funding
DAFI, the Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative Fund, is run by UNHCR to pay for undergraduate study for refugee students in their country of asylum or home country, including in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia. You apply through your local UNHCR office or its partner organization, not through a university directly.
🎓 Funds bachelor's degrees and some short-cycle tertiary diplomas
📩 Apply through your local UNHCR country office or its designated implementing partner
⏱️ You must usually be under 28 and have completed secondary school to a high standard
💵 Covers tuition, study materials and, depending on the country, food, transport and accommodation
What DAFI is
DAFI stands for the Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative Fund. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, runs the program to let refugees earn a university degree in their country of asylum or their home country if they have returned there.
The program funds bachelor's degrees, classified as ISCED level 6, and in some countries also funds shorter tertiary diplomas at ISCED level 5, according to UNHCR . DAFI operates in more than 50 countries, including Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Ethiopia, all of which host large refugee student populations.
Who can apply
You must be a registered refugee or asylum seeker recognized by UNHCR or the host government in an eligible country.
You are usually required to be under 28 years old at the time of application.
You need to have completed secondary education to a high enough standard to qualify for university admission.
You must show financial need and a lack of any other funding source for your studies.
Only one member of a family can hold a DAFI scholarship at a time, so that the limited places reach more households.
You cannot apply if you already hold another higher education scholarship, or if you have been confirmed for resettlement to a third country.
What the scholarship covers
The exact package differs by country, since UNHCR country offices adapt the program to local costs and university fee structures.
In most locations DAFI covers tuition and study materials.
Depending on the country, it can also cover food, transport to campus and accommodation. Some country offices add a stipend for other living costs. Check the specific terms published by your country's UNHCR office rather than assuming the same package applies everywhere.
How to apply, step by step
Confirm that DAFI operates in your country of asylum by checking your local UNHCR office's website or visiting in person.
Watch for the annual call for applications. Many country offices, such as UNHCR Rwanda , publish their calls on their national pages with the exact documents and deadline for that academic year.
Gather your refugee registration documents, secondary school certificates and any proof of household income or need.
Submit your application through the channel your country office specifies, which is often an implementing partner NGO rather than UNHCR staff directly.
Take part in any interview, written test or shortlisting process the country office runs, since demand usually exceeds available places.
Applying every cycle
DAFI calls open on a yearly cycle tied to each country's academic calendar, and deadlines differ by location rather than following one continent-wide date. Read the full eligibility notice for your country each cycle, since age limits, required grades and covered costs can change year to year. The Global Compact on Refugees page on DAFI gives an overview of how the program fits into UNHCR's wider education work if you want more background before you apply.