Graduate Horizons 2027: Master’s Scholarship Application Support for African Students Affected by Displacement
Overview
Graduate Horizons is an online global mentorship and application support programme provided by the Refugee-Led Research Hub. The initiative is designed to assist prospective Master’s students affected by forced displacement, including applicants from Africa, in applying for funded graduate programmes beginning in 2027. Operating as a free support service rather than a direct scholarship provider, the programme runs from November 2026 to April 2027 and connects participants with RLRH staff and mentors through platforms such as email, WhatsApp, and Zoom.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants must be people affected by displacement, which includes current or former refugees, asylum seekers, internally displaced persons, stateless persons, and individuals affected by other forms of displacement or intergenerational dislocation. Participants can be based anywhere in the world and must have completed, or be in their final year of, a Bachelor’s degree. Typical academic requirements include results equivalent to approximately 75%, a UK 2:1 degree classification, a 3.0 GPA out of a 4.0 scale, or an equivalent qualification in the applicant's education system. Candidates must be capable of studying in English or French, writing to a professional standard without relying on artificial intelligence, and intending to submit graduate applications within the following six months for 2027 enrolment. Applications are specifically encouraged from groups under-represented in higher education, such as women, LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming people, and persons with disabilities, though the displacement requirement remains essential.
What you get
Participants receive structured support over approximately six months through group workshops, application clinics, guidance sessions, and individual support where needed, with the goal of submitting at least three Master’s applications by the end of the programme. Support includes developing a graduate admissions action plan, taking short courses to strengthen profiles, identifying suitable Master’s degrees and scholarships, understanding application requirements, preparing and submitting scholarship and university applications, ensuring required supporting documents are ready, and accessing RLRH office hours. The programme grants access to application support for more than 250 Master’s degree scholarships across more than 25 universities worldwide, with a particular focus on institutions having deadlines between December 2026 and April 2027, including members of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program network.
How to apply
Applicants must complete an application form that is expected to take roughly 1.5 to 2 hours to finish. Prospective applicants are advised to prepare their responses and submit the form prior to the deadline. Additionally, the Refugee-Led Research Hub is hosting optional information sessions covering identical material on 8 October 2026 at 10:00 a.m. BST, 15 October 2026 at 1:00 p.m. BST, and 22 October 2026 at 3:00 p.m. BST, with recordings available for those unable to attend by contacting the Graduate Horizons team.
Key dates
The application deadline is Sunday, 25 October 2026 at midnight. The programme is scheduled to run from the first week of November 2026 through April 2027. Information sessions are scheduled for 8 October 2026, 15 October 2026, and 22 October 2026. Target university application deadlines supported by this round fall between December 2026 and April 2027 for 2027 enrolment.