Updated: October 17, 2026 | Reading time: 12 min | Written by: StudyTribune Team
The Wageningen Africa Scholarship Programme is the best-funded way for an African student to do a master’s degree in the Netherlands, and the deadline is 1 December 2026. It pays tuition, a living allowance, travel, visa costs and health insurance for the full 24 months, and it is the best-funded Netherlands route for African students now that the Orange Knowledge Programme has ended. Its sister award, the Anne van den Ban Fund, offers the same package to students from 64 developing countries. This guide to the Wageningen Africa Scholarship Programme and the Anne van den Ban Fund for the September 2027 intake explains who qualifies, the full country list, how the invitation and lottery work, and the traps that disqualify strong applicants.
Quick answer: you do not apply for the scholarship. You submit a complete MSc application before 1 December 2026, with your English test result and finished bachelor’s diploma included. If you meet all the rules (a first class degree and a GPA of 80% or higher for the ASP), you may be invited to a selection that ends in a lottery. ASP offers go out on 7 April 2027 and Anne van den Ban Fund results in May.
Table of Contents
Wageningen Africa Scholarship Programme and Anne van den Ban Fund at a Glance
Wageningen University (WUR) runs three invitation-based scholarships for the 2027-2028 year. The Wageningen Africa Scholarship Programme and the Anne van den Ban Fund are the two full packages. The table is based on WUR’s official scholarship page.
| Africa Scholarship Programme (ASP) | Anne van den Ban Fund (ABF) | Excellence Programme | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Citizens of any African country | Citizens of 64 listed developing countries | Citizens of 21 listed countries such as Brazil, Mexico, Japan, Turkey and the USA |
| Covers | Tuition, living allowance, travel, visa and insurance for 24 months | Tuition, living allowance, travel, visa and insurance for 24 months | Tuition fee waiver only |
| Academic bar | First class honours and a GPA of 80% or higher | Not stated on the WUR page; assume it is competitive | First class honours equivalent and a GPA of 80% or higher |
| How you get it | By invitation after a complete MSc application; lottery for the final stage | By invitation only; you cannot apply directly | By invitation; lottery for the final stage |
| Results | Offers on 7 April 2027 | During May 2027 (exact date to be announced) | Offers on 7 April 2027 |
All three are for prospective students only, for an on-campus MSc starting in September, and not for students already enrolled at Wageningen.
What the Wageningen Africa Scholarship Programme Covers
- Travel to and from the Netherlands.
- A living allowance for the duration of the programme (24 months).
- Tuition fees for 24 months.
- Visa costs and health insurance.
The same package applies to the Anne van den Ban Fund. By comparison, a Wageningen Excellence scholarship waives tuition only, and WUR says that after the waiver the first-year invoice for the remaining costs (living allowance, insurance and the residence permit fee) is about €16,500. That shows how much more the ASP and the ABF are worth.
Wageningen Africa Scholarship Programme Eligibility
WUR lists five requirements for the Africa Scholarship Programme. You must meet all of them:
- You are a citizen of an African country. Unlike the ABF, there is no country list within Africa.
- You submitted a complete MSc application before 1 December 2026.
- You are unconditionally admitted to the programme.
- You are an excellent student: a First class honours degree and a GPA of 80% or higher in your bachelor’s degree.
- Preference goes to students who do not yet have a master’s degree.
The two traps that disqualify applicants
- The English test. Your official English language test results must be available before 1 December 2026 so they can be uploaded with your application. Results can take several weeks.
- The diploma. You must have completed your bachelor’s degree before 1 December 2026 and uploaded the diploma. Students who finish later are not eligible for this round.
WUR assesses only complete applications submitted before the deadline. If you are not sure you meet the requirements, read our guide to the English proficiency certificate and our scholarships without IELTS to plan the test.
Anne van den Ban Fund Eligible Countries (64 Countries)
The Anne van den Ban Fund (ABF) is open to applicants who hold the nationality of at least one of 64 listed countries. The scholarships are assigned in close cooperation with the university and are combined with the WU Fellowship Programme. It is by invitation only, and you cannot apply directly.
African countries (45): Angola, Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Other countries (19): Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, East Timor, India, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Lebanon, Myanmar, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Palestine, Papua New Guinea, Syria, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Yemen.
Not on the ABF list: South Africa, Algeria, Botswana, Gabon, Libya, Mauritius, Seychelles, Cape Verde, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. African citizens from those countries can still qualify through the Africa Scholarship Programme. The ABF page lists no GPA threshold, but the ASP and Excellence both ask for 80% or higher, so treat that as the competitive level.
How the Wageningen Africa Scholarship Programme Selects Winners: Invitation, Committee and Lottery
There is no scholarship form. The sequence is:
- You submit a complete MSc application before 1 December 2026.
- The WU Scholarship Selection Committee checks whether you meet the requirements.
- Around March to April 2027, selected applicants are told by email that they have reached the final stage.
- A lottery determines the recipients, and on 7 April 2027 the ASP scholarship is offered to the selected students. The remaining candidates go on a waiting list.
- For the Anne van den Ban Fund, results are communicated to selected candidates only, during May 2027.
That means merit gets you into the pool and luck decides the final award. You can raise your chances only by being eligible, applying early and choosing your programme with care.
Wageningen Africa Scholarship Programme Timeline for 2027
| Date | What happens |
|---|---|
| Before 1 December 2026 | Submit a complete MSc application: English test result and bachelor’s diploma included. Only complete applications are assessed |
| 21 January 2027 | WUR Virtual Open Day (after the deadline, so choose your programme before it) |
| 1 February 2027 | NL Scholarship invitations start for eligible admitted candidates |
| March to April 2027 | Selected applicants are told by email that they are in the final stage; the lottery is held |
| 7 April 2027 | ASP and Excellence scholarships are offered; other finalists go on a waiting list |
| 1 May 2027 | NL Scholarship application deadline (for invited candidates) |
| May 2027 | ABF selection results communicated to selected candidates only |
| 1 July 2027 | Deadline to pay the first-year invoice if you hold only a partial award, or a Wageningen NL Scholarship |
| September 2027 | MSc programme starts (the scholarships are for the September start only) |
Choosing Your MSc Programme
The scholarships apply to on-campus MSc programmes with a September start, and WUR’s research themes include sustainable food systems, biodiversity, health, climate-proof futures, biobased and circular society, and sustainable water and land use. Your first task is to choose a programme and meet its admission requirements, because you must be unconditionally admitted. WUR’s Virtual Open Day is on 21 January 2027, which is after the scholarship deadline, so use the MSc programme pages and the admission requirements now. If the programme asks for references, our guide to a recommendation letter for a scholarship and our personal statement guide will help.
If You Do Not Win the Wageningen Africa Scholarship Programme: Other Options
- NL Scholarship at Wageningen. WUR offers eight NL Scholarships of €5,000 (up to three per student) for students with a GPA of 80% or higher from selected countries, including India and South Africa. Eligible admitted candidates are invited from 1 February 2027 and must apply before 1 May 2027. It is not a full scholarship and cannot be used to meet the payment requirement. See our NL Scholarship guide.
- Excellence Programme. A tuition waiver for students from 21 listed countries, none in Africa.
- Home-country schemes. WUR lists national scholarships for 19 countries, including India (NOS), China (CSC), Saudi Arabia, Thailand and others.
- Other fully funded routes. Read our top 25 fully funded scholarships for developing countries, our Europe scholarships hub and our Schengen scholarships guide.
How to Apply for the Wageningen Africa Scholarship Programme
- Choose an eligible on-campus MSc programme. Browse WUR’s MSc programmes and shortlist the one that fits you. The scholarships are for the September start only.
- Check that you meet the academic rules. Confirm a First class honours degree and a GPA of 80% or higher, and that your nationality is African (ASP) or on the ABF list.
- Book your English test early. Your official English test results must be available before 1 December 2026, and results can take several weeks.
- Complete your bachelor’s and get the diploma. You must have finished your bachelor’s degree before 1 December 2026 and upload the diploma.
- Submit a complete MSc application before 1 December 2026. Upload every required document. Incomplete applications are not assessed for scholarships.
- Wait for an invitation. There is no separate scholarship form. If you meet all requirements, you may be invited to the selection procedure.
- Prepare for the lottery stage and the results. Finalists are told around March to April 2027, ASP offers are made on 7 April 2027 and ABF results come in May 2027.
Common Mistakes with the Wageningen Africa Scholarship Programme
- Looking for a scholarship form. There is none. The MSc application is the scholarship application.
- Submitting an incomplete application on 1 December. Only complete applications are assessed.
- Booking the English test late. Results must be uploaded before the deadline.
- Applying while still finishing the bachelor’s degree. The degree must be complete before 1 December 2026.
- Counting on the ABF without checking the country list. Some African countries, such as South Africa and Algeria, are not on it.
- Ignoring the lottery. Even eligible applicants may not win, so apply to other scholarships as well.
- Assuming the NL Scholarship pays your invoice. It cannot be used to meet WUR’s payment requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Wageningen Africa Scholarship Programme
What is the Wageningen Africa Scholarship Programme?
The Wageningen Africa Scholarship Programme (ASP) funds talented African students for a master’s degree at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. It covers travel, a living allowance, tuition and visa and health insurance costs for the duration of the programme (24 months).
What does the Wageningen Africa Scholarship Programme cover?
Travel to and from the Netherlands, a living allowance for 24 months, tuition fee coverage for 24 months, and visa and health insurance costs. It does not require a separate scholarship application.
What is the deadline for the Wageningen Africa Scholarship Programme?
You must submit a complete MSc application before 1 December 2026. The deadline covers the application, English language results and your bachelor’s diploma. Only applications submitted before that date are assessed.
Do I apply directly for the Wageningen Africa Scholarship Programme?
No. You apply for your MSc programme, and if you meet all the requirements you can be invited to the selection procedure. The WU Scholarship Selection Committee runs the selection, and finalists go through a lottery.
What GPA do I need for the Wageningen Africa Scholarship Programme?
You need a First class honours degree and a GPA of 80% or higher in your bachelor’s degree. Preference is given to students who have not yet obtained a master’s degree.
Can I apply if I finish my bachelor’s after 1 December 2026?
No. You must have completed your bachelor’s degree before 1 December 2026 and uploaded the diploma as part of your complete master’s application before the deadline.
What is the Anne van den Ban Fund?
The Anne van den Ban Fund (ABF) is a Wageningen scholarship for talented students from developing countries. It has the same package as the ASP and is combined with the WU Fellowship Programme. It is by invitation only, and results come in May 2027.
Which countries are eligible for the Anne van den Ban Fund?
The fund lists 64 countries, including Bangladesh, Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, India, Kenya, Morocco, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Palestine, Rwanda, Tanzania, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia. South Africa and Sri Lanka are not on it, but South Africans can use the ASP.
Can I apply for both the ASP and the ABF?
You do not apply for either. If you meet the criteria of both, you can be considered for both through the same complete MSc application. African citizens from ABF countries qualify for the ASP as well.
When will I know if I won the Wageningen scholarship?
Finalists for the ASP are told around March to April 2027, and offers go out on 7 April 2027. ABF results are communicated during May 2027, to selected candidates only.
Is the Wageningen Africa Scholarship Programme a full scholarship?
Yes. It pays tuition, a living allowance, travel, visa costs and health insurance for the full 24 months of the programme.
What can I do if I do not win a Wageningen scholarship?
Apply for the NL Scholarship if your nationality is eligible (India and South Africa are among them), look at your home-country schemes that WUR lists, and read our Netherlands and fully funded scholarship guides. Remember that even with tuition waived, the first-year costs for a student without a living allowance are about €16,500.
Related Reading
- NL Scholarship (Netherlands)
- Top 25 fully funded scholarships for developing countries
- Europe scholarships for international students
- Schengen scholarships
- Stipendium Hungaricum scholarship
- 50+ fully funded scholarships guide
- Scholarship CV guide
- Scholarship deadlines: apply now
Official sources: the Wageningen University master’s scholarships page and the WUR master’s application and admission pages.
Conclusion
The Wageningen Africa Scholarship Programme and the Anne van den Ban Fund reward applicants who finish early: a complete MSc application, an English test result and a finished bachelor’s diploma, all before 1 December 2026. Check the requirements on WUR’s page, apply for backups such as the NL Scholarship, and confirm every date before you submit.