To find and apply for Ministry of Education scholarships, start on the Ministry’s official scholarships page, open the latest notice, and check the issuing institution’s portal before you prepare documents. The notice—not a social-media poster—must confirm the eligible study level, qualifications, benefits, deadline, time zone and submission route. This guide includes opportunities we verified on 28 July 2026 and shows you how to avoid expired calls, incomplete applications and scholarship scams.
Table of Contents
Current Ministry of Education scholarships and deadlines
The current Ministry of Education scholarships page displays several international scholarships and related study opportunities. We opened the underlying notices and checked the destination pages where available. Deadlines can change after a Ministry notice is published, so the issuing institution’s live portal should be checked immediately before submission.
| Opportunity | Who it is for | Verified deadline/status | Official action |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tunisian Universities 2026/2027 | Kenyan undergraduate applicants for Computer Science or Mathematics. The notice provides five scholarship places and one self-sponsored place. | 31 July 2026 at 5:00 p.m. The Ministry notice requires a 2025 or 2026 high-school certificate, at least KCSE mean grade B plain, strong relevant subjects and good French. | Read the Ministry notice, complete the stated forms and submit to the Director, Higher Education at Teleposta Towers as directed. |
| Slovak Talent Scholarship 2026/2027 | International applicants for selected full-time bachelor’s, combined bachelor’s/master’s or master’s programmes in Slovakia. | The issuing portal says applications are open and the deadline was extended to 8 September 2026 at 23:59 CEST. The older Ministry PDF shows 31 July. | Use the official Slovak scholarship portal. A separate application to an eligible university is also required. |
| Bishop Williams Memorial Fund | Visiting researchers. The Ministry notice refers to fields previously including agriculture, nursing, medicine, education and computer science. | 9 October 2026. Applicants must be under 35 years old on 1 October 2026. | Download the current forms from the issuer’s documents page and follow the Ministry notice’s email and original-document instructions. |
Fresh portal check: the Slovak issuer’s live page extends the deadline to 8 September 2026, while the Ministry PDF still states 31 July 2026. Use the live issuer portal for the current deadline, but save both records with your application.
The Ministry page also lists Bahria University admissions in Pakistan with a 31 July 2026 deadline. This is a related study opportunity, not a full scholarship: the notice says the application fee is waived and international students receive local tuition rates, excluding medical and dental programmes.
What the official scholarship page covers
The official Ministry of Education scholarships page acts as a noticeboard. It may carry undergraduate, postgraduate, fellowship and research opportunities from foreign governments, universities, embassies and partner institutions. Each notice has its own eligibility rules and application route. The Ministry page is therefore a starting point, not a universal application portal.
| Opportunity type | Typical applicant | Application route | Main check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Government-to-government scholarship | Kenyan students meeting the named academic and nationality rules | Ministry form, issuing-country portal or both | Nomination route, certified documents and deadline |
| University scholarship | Applicants admitted to or applying for a named programme | University or scholarship portal | Whether admission and scholarship applications are separate |
| Fellowship or research programme | Graduates, professionals or researchers | Issuer form and email/online submission | Age, experience, proposal and research field |
| Secondary-school scholarship | Eligible learners entering or continuing school | Programme-specific form, school or Sub-County office | Current cohort, vulnerability criteria and interview process |
For other Ministry systems, use our Ministry of Education portals guide. Scholarship applications should never be submitted through an unrelated learner-registration or placement portal.
How to find a genuine scholarship
- Open the Ministry of Education scholarships page and sort your attention by the newest notice and the deadline.
- Open the PDF or notice and confirm the exact scholarship title, academic year, country, study level and issuing institution.
- Follow the issuer link in the notice. Check whether the issuer has extended the deadline, opened registration or changed the document list.
- Confirm whether you must apply for university admission separately. A scholarship application does not automatically create an admission application.
- Write the deadline in Kenyan time and in the stated time zone. Submit early enough to correct an upload or payment problem.
- Save the notice, completed form, uploaded files and submission confirmation in one folder.
Do not rely on an old screenshot, forwarded PDF or blog summary. If a notice has expired, move it to your reference folder and look for a new call. An old form is not evidence that the next application window is open.
Check eligibility before applying
Read every eligibility line before you start. A strong application can still be rejected if the course, age, nationality, graduation year or submission route does not match the notice.
- Study level: secondary school, undergraduate, master’s, doctoral, fellowship or visiting researcher.
- Academic threshold: KCSE/KJSEA achievement, degree class, subject grades, test score or professional qualification.
- Course and institution: some awards cover only named programmes or selected universities.
- Age and graduation year: calculate age using the exact date in the notice, not the application date unless stated.
- Nationality and residence: confirm whether the award is for Kenyan citizens, refugees, international applicants or a narrower group.
- Language: check whether English, French or another language is required and whether proof is needed.
- Financial coverage: distinguish tuition, stipend, accommodation, insurance, travel and application costs. “Scholarship” does not automatically mean every cost is paid.
- Application channel: online portal, email, Ministry office, Sub-County Education Office or a combination.
Documents to prepare
The exact notice controls the document list. For Ministry of Education scholarships that require the standard form, it asks for personal and contact details, county and constituency, proposed course, education history, previous scholarships and copies of academic certificates and a testimonial. Use that form only when the current notice tells you to do so.
| Document group | Examples | Check before upload |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Passport, national ID, birth certificate, recent passport photo | Name and date of birth match every record |
| Academic | Certificates, transcripts, KJSEA/KCSE record, admission letter or proof of application | Correct level, complete pages and certification where required |
| Application | Official form, CV, motivation letter, study plan or research proposal | Use the current template and answer every required field |
| Supporting evidence | Recommendation, testimonial, vulnerability evidence or guardian consent | Signed, dated and issued by the correct person or office |
Scan documents clearly and name files in a simple format such as Surname-Passport.pdf or Surname-Academic-Certificate.pdf. Do not alter results, signatures or official stamps. Where certified copies are required, use the certification route stated in the notice.
How to submit a scholarship application
- Download the official notice and create a one-page checklist of eligibility, documents, deadline and submission route.
- Complete the current form exactly as instructed. Use consistent names, dates, contacts and qualification details.
- Prepare separate admission and scholarship applications where the notice requires both.
- Upload or attach only the requested file types and sizes. Check that every page opens and is readable.
- Submit through the exact portal, email or office named in the notice. Do not send sensitive documents to a contact copied from social media.
- Save the confirmation page, email, reference number, delivery receipt or stamped copy.
Expected result: depending on the programme, you may receive an automated confirmation, a reference number, a stamped physical copy or no immediate response. The notice should explain the next stage, such as verification, shortlisting, interview, nomination or university enrolment.
Failure recovery: if the portal fails, take a screenshot that does not expose passwords or full identity numbers, retry on a stable connection and use the official contact in the notice before the deadline. Do not create several accounts or send repeated applications unless the issuer instructs you to do so.
Secondary school scholarships and Elimu status
The 2026 Elimu Scholarship Programme was a Ministry of Education and Jomo Kenyatta Foundation opportunity for needy and vulnerable learners joining senior school after the 2025 KJSEA. The official notice set a 23 December 2025 deadline, and the JKF scholarship page now states that the 2025/26 application is closed. Do not submit the old form or pay anyone claiming to reopen it.
The 2026 notice covered school fees, transport to and from school, a school kit, pocket money, mentorship and psychosocial support for selected beneficiaries during the three-year senior-school period. Future cohorts may use different criteria, dates or implementers, so monitor the official JKF scholarship page and the Ministry site rather than assuming the 2026 rules will repeat.
A scholarship does not replace school selection or placement. Families handling the transition can use our Senior School and Grade 10 guide, Grade 10 selection portal guide and KJSEA Grade 10 placement guide.
Scholarship scam and data-safety checks
- Start Ministry of Education scholarships research from education.go.ke or the issuing institution’s official domain.
- Match the title, academic year, deadline and contact details across the Ministry notice and issuer page.
- Be cautious when the only application route is a personal WhatsApp number, social-media inbox or shortened link.
- Never share a password, one-time password, full bank-card details or mobile-money PIN.
- Do not assume every charge is fraudulent or every scholarship is fully funded. Some programmes may require a university application, certified documents or an external test. The official notice must state the requirement.
- Check the email domain carefully. A display name can be copied even when the address is fake.
- Keep full identity documents out of public groups. Send them only through the stated secure route.
How schools and teachers can help
A teacher, principal or school administrator can help a learner interpret the notice, obtain school records, prepare a truthful testimonial where requested, scan documents and track the deadline. The school should not promise selection or collect unofficial “processing” money. Where a scholarship requires a Sub-County Education Office, interview panel or authorised certification, route the applicant to that office rather than improvising the process.
For Grade 10 admission documents after placement, use the separate Grade 10 admission letter guide. Keep admission, scholarship and school-reporting documents in separate folders to avoid uploading the wrong file.
Common application problems and fixes
| Problem | Likely cause | Safe action |
|---|---|---|
| Ministry deadline differs from issuer portal | An extension or later amendment | Use the latest dated issuer notice, save evidence and confirm through the official contact |
| No submission confirmation | Email delay, portal timeout or incomplete final step | Check spam and portal status, then contact the issuer before resubmitting |
| Document rejected | Wrong format, missing page, poor scan or no required certification | Re-scan from the original and follow the exact file and certification rule |
| Old form circulating | Expired cohort or copied advert | Check the current academic year and download a fresh form from the official page |
| Scholarship awarded but no admission | Scholarship and university applications are separate | Follow the institution’s admission process and the scholarship conditions immediately |
Update log
- 28 July 2026: added the Tunisian Universities, Slovak Talent and Bishop Williams opportunities; verified the Slovak issuer’s extended 8 September deadline.
- 28 July 2026: moved the Irish Aid Fellowship, whose Ministry deadline was 26 July 2026, out of the current-opportunities table.
- 28 July 2026: confirmed that the 2026 Elimu Scholarship application is closed on the JKF scholarship page.
Frequently asked questions
Are Ministry of Education scholarships fully funded?
Not always. Some notices cover tuition, stipends, travel or accommodation, while others are partially funded or offer reduced fees. Check the benefits and exclusions in the current notice before accepting an offer.
Can I apply after the deadline?
Only when the issuing institution publishes an extension or reopens the call. A late email or physical delivery is not valid simply because the Ministry page still displays the notice.
Is the Elimu Scholarship 2026 still open?
No. The official JKF scholarship page states that the 2025/26 Elimu Scholarship application is closed. Wait for a new official announcement rather than using the old application form.
Do I need university admission before applying?
It depends on the scholarship. The Slovak Talent Scholarship requires a separate university application and final enrolment, although applicants can begin the scholarship process after applying to an eligible institution. Other programmes may require an admission letter at the start.
Can I use the Ministry standard form for every scholarship?
No. Use the Ministry standard scholarship application form only when the notice requires it. Some opportunities use an issuer portal, university form or programme-specific template.
How will I know whether I was shortlisted?
Follow the method stated in the notice or portal. Shortlisting may be communicated by email, phone, an online account, an interview invitation or an official list. Treat messages from unverified contacts as suspicious.
Related TeachersKE guides
- Ministry of Education portals in Kenya
- Senior School and Grade 10 in Kenya
- Grade 10 school selection portal
- KJSEA Grade 10 placement
- Grade 10 admission letter
Official sources
- Scholarships — Ministry of Education, live scholarship listings, checked 28 July 2026.
- Standard Scholarship Application Form — Ministry of Education, undated form, checked 28 July 2026.
- Scholarships in Tunisian Universities for the Academic Year 2026/2027 — Ministry of Education, July 2026, checked 28 July 2026.
- Slovak Scholarships for Talented Students from All Over the World 2026/2027 — Ministry of Education and Embassy of the Slovak Republic, July 2026, checked 28 July 2026.
- Scholarships for Talented Students from All Over the World — Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic, live portal, checked 28 July 2026.
- Bishop Williams Memorial Fund Scholarship Announcement — Ministry of Education, July 2026, checked 28 July 2026.
- Bishop Williams Memorial Fund Documents — Nippon Sei Ko Kai, 2027–2029 application cycle, checked 28 July 2026.
- Study Opportunities in Bahria University, Pakistan — Ministry of Education, June 2026, checked 28 July 2026.
- Announcement for the Elimu Scholarship Programme 2026 — Ministry of Education, December 2025, checked 28 July 2026.
- JKF Scholarships — Jomo Kenyatta Foundation, current status page, checked 28 July 2026.
