KDU Global and IUCEA Scholarship 2026: South Korea Opens Doors for East African Undergraduates (7th Cohort)
Applications are officially open for the KDU Global – IUCEA Undergraduate Scholarships 2026, and this is not your average funding call. Now in its seventh cohort, this joint initiative between Kyungdong University Global — a fully accredited private university in South Korea — and the Inter-University Council for East Africa (IUCEA) is offering both full and partial scholarships to ambitious students from all eight East African Community member states: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and the Federal Republic of Somalia.
The scholarship covers four-year undergraduate degree programs taught entirely in English across five high-demand disciplines — International Business Administration, International Hotel Management, Smart Computing (spanning Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Data Science, Cybersecurity, and IoT), Artificial Intelligence, and Korean Business AI. Classes are set to begin on August 31, 2026, at the Kyungdong University Global Campus in South Korea.
The number of full scholarships is limited, and seats are competitive. Partial scholarships are also available, making this a two-track opportunity designed to cast a wider net for talented students across the region.
What the Money Actually Looks Like: Full vs. Partial Scholarship Breakdown?
Understanding exactly what is covered — and what is not — can make or break your decision to apply. Here is a transparent look at both scholarship tiers.
Full Scholarship Benefits (Limited Seats Available):
- Complete tuition coverage worth USD 8,000 per year for the full four-year program duration, funded by KDU Global
- Dormitory accommodation worth USD 4,400, covered for the first two years by KDU Global
- Round-trip airfare provided at the start and end of the four-year program, funded by IUCEA
- Monthly health insurance support for all four years, covered by IUCEA
- Application processing and handling fee of USD 250 paid by IUCEA after selection
Partial Scholarship Benefits:
- First semester tuition (USD 4,000) waived entirely by KDU Global, with no academic conditions attached
- From the second semester onward, the tuition discount depends on your grades at KDU Global:
- Score an average of 95 or above: 100 percent tuition waiver (you pay nothing)
- Score between 90 and 94: 70 percent waiver (you pay USD 1,200)
- Score between 80 and 89: 50 percent waiver (you pay USD 2,000)
- Score between 75 and 79: 30 percent waiver (you pay USD 2,800)
- Under the partial track, students or their families cover accommodation, airfare, application fees, and health insurance independently
One practical detail worth noting: South Korea permits international students to work part-time during their studies. KDU Global actively assists students in finding part-time employment, and the university reports that over 99 percent of its current student body holds a part-time job alongside their coursework.
Who Can Actually Apply: Eligibility Criteria You Must Meet?
Before you start gathering documents, confirm that you check every box below. Missing even one requirement can disqualify your application outright, so read carefully.
- You must be a citizen and current resident of one of the eight EAC partner states: Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, or the Federal Republic of Somalia
- You must have completed your pre-university education (secondary school or equivalent) in your home country in 2024, 2025, or 2026
- Your academic records must show a minimum grade of B in both Mathematics and English modules
- You need a valid English proficiency score — either IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL iBT 71 or higher (Duolingo, EFSET, and PTE scores are not accepted)
- You must be 22 years old or younger at the time of application
- Full scholarship applicants must present a six-month bank statement and balance certificate from a sponsor showing a minimum of USD 5,000 (sponsor must be a parent, the applicant, or a biological sibling if parents are deceased)
- Partial scholarship applicants must present the same banking documentation showing a minimum of USD 16,000 from an eligible sponsor
- No alternative sponsor accounts outside the parent, self, or sibling categories will be accepted under either track
Final Application Submission Deadline
Every document — both the online form and the single combined PDF sent via email — must reach IUCEA no later than April 30, 2026.