As of April 6, 2026, several fully sponsored scholarships, study abroad programmes, mentorships, and other global opportunities are currently open. These opportunities offer funding, international exposure, skill development, and valuable networks for students and young professionals. Here are 20 you can apply for right now.
1. Remarkable 2026 Mentorship Program for Young Nigerians (Fully-funded)
The Remarkable ‘26 Mentorship Program is a 12-month transformational mentorship program for 50 high-potential professionals and entrepreneurs in Nigeria. It is an experience designed to equip young African students and professionals with the clarity, skills, and strategic direction needed to thrive in today’s competitive landscape.
Click here to apply | Deadline: Apr. 8
2. Code for Africa Fact-checking Fellowship Program 2026
Are you a journalist driven by a passion for truth? Apply for the CfA/AFCA Fact-checking Fellowship Program 2026 and help expose misinformation while reinforcing information integrity across Southern Africa. Code for Africa (CfA), through its African Fact-checking Alliance (AFCA), is offering stipend-based fellowships to journalists and fact-checkers in Southern Africa. The fellowship seeks to equip participants with the skills and tools to investigate, debunk misinformation and disinformation and strengthen information integrity in the region.
Click here to apply | Deadline: Apr. 10
3. CBAI Summer Research Fellowship in AI Safety 2026 (Fully-funded)
Applications are invited for the CBAI Summer Research Fellowship in AI Safety 2026. The Cambridge Boston Alignment Initiative Summer Research Fellowship in AI Safety is an intensive, fully-funded, nine-week research program hosted in Cambridge, Massachusetts, from June 8 to August 10.
Click here to apply | Deadline: April 12
4. Coimbra Group Scholarship Programme 2026 for early-career researchers from Sub-Saharan Africa
The Coimbra Group Scholarship Programme is now open for applications. Universities of the Coimbra Group offer short-term research visits (1-3 months maximum) to African early-career researchers from higher education institutions in Sub-Saharan Africa. The programme aims to support these scholars in continuing research related to their work at their home institution while fostering academic and research collaborations with scientists and institutions based in Europe.
Click here to apply | Deadline: May 10
5. Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program 2026 – Window 2
Applications are open for the Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program 2026. The World Bank’s Development Economics Vice Presidency (DEC) provides scholarships to students and young researchers, contributing to the World Bank’s mission of forging new dynamic approaches to capacity development and knowledge sharing in the developing world.
Click here to apply | Deadline: May 29
6. CIVICUS Digital Action Lab Cohort 3
The Digital Action Lab Cohort 3 is an initiative designed to support civil society organisations to develop, test, and scale innovative digital solutions that strengthen civic space, inclusive democracy, and citizen engagement.
Click here to apply |Deadline: Apr. 30
7. Walter Sullivan Award for Excellence in Science Journalism – Features 2026 ($5,000 prize)
The Walter Sullivan Award for Excellence in Science Journalism – Features is given annually to an individual journalist or a group of journalists in recognition of a feature story or series in any medium, except books, that makes information about the Earth and space sciences both accessible and interesting to non-scientists.
Click here to apply | Deadline: Apr. 19
8. SCAR Visiting Scholar Scheme 2026 (up to $5,000)
The core purpose of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) Visiting Scholar Scheme (previously Visiting Professor Scheme) is to build capacity in countries with smaller or less-developed Antarctic research programmes. This will be the primary aspect evaluated and candidates should consider whether their proposed visit fits with these criteria. Visits can be either to smaller and developing programmes or from smaller and developing programmes, so the capacity building process can be proposed in either way.
Click here to apply | Deadline: Sept. 18
9. David Perlman Award for Excellence in Science Journalism—News 2026 ($5,000 prize)
Applications are open for the David Perlman Award for Excellence in Science Journalism—News 2026. The David Perlman Award for Excellence in Science Journalism—News recognizes excellence in science news reporting produced under deadline pressure. It is named for the late David Perlman, longtime science editor of the San Francisco Chronicle.
Click here to apply | Deadline: Apr. 19
10. Women in AV & Tech Startup Prize 2026 ($15,000 cash prize)
Applications are open for the Women in AV & Tech Startup Prize 2026. The Women’s Entrepreneurship Prize is a global competition supporting early-stage women founders with bold ideas and serious execution potential.
Click here to apply | Deadline: Apr. 22
11. Ketchum PRISM Fellowship 2026 for Excellence in Public Relations Research, Insights, Strategy, and Measurement
The Ketchum PRISM Fellowship for Excellence in Public Relations Research, Insights, Strategy, and Measurement provides a public relations/communications or business school graduate student with the opportunity to gain practical experience in public relations research at Ketchum and learn the meaning of “research that matters to the practice.”
Click here to apply | Deadline: Apr. 22
12. McCain Global Leaders Ukraine Fellowship 2026 (Funded)
Applications are open for the McCain Global Leaders Ukraine Fellowship 2026. The McCain Global Leaders Ukraine Fellowship honors Senator John McCain’s legacy of character-driven leadership, serving a cause greater than ourselves, and his strong support of a free and independent Ukraine by bringing together a diverse, cross-sectoral cohort of Ukrainian leaders for a pilot leadership initiative centered on post-war reconstruction.
Click here to apply | Deadline: Apr. 30
13. SystemSpecs Children’s Day Essay Competition 2026 (N1,000,000 + more)
Applications are open for the SystemSpecs Children’s Day Essay Competition 2026. The competition was inititiated to provide a platform for students across Nigeria to create and share original ideas that can transform the country positively by leveraging technology.
Click here to apply | Deadline: Apr. 17
14. Mark Foundation Emerging Leader Awards 2026 (up to $1,000,000)
The Mark Foundation Emerging Leader Awards support innovative cancer research from the next generation of leaders. These grants are awarded to outstanding early career investigators to support high-impact, high-risk projects that are distinct from their current research portfolio.
Click here to apply | Deadline: Apr. 30
15. CODESRIA/ZASB 7th Summer School in African Studies and Area Studies in Africa 2026
Applications for the 7th Summer School in African Studies and Area Studies in Africa 2026 are now open. The Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) and the Centre for African Studies in Basel (ZASB) invite applications for their 7th Summer School in African Studies and Area Studies in Africa. This Summer School is supported by the Oumou Dilly Foundation (Switzerland) in collaboration with CODESRIA and aims to strengthen the connections between the CODESRIA’s scholarly community and those from the African Studies community in Switzerland.
Click here to apply | Deadline: May 1
16. AYuTe Africa Challenge Nigeria 2026 ($40,000 total prize)
Applications are open for the AYuTe Africa Challenge Nigeria 2026. The AYuTe Africa Challenge Nigeria is an enterprise development program initiated by Heifer International and implemented by Wennovation Hub to identify, nurture, and support innovative, relevant and technology-driven agric-centric enterprises to grow, scale and thrive.
Click here to apply | Deadline: Mar. 14
17. Queen’s Commonwealth Writing Competition 2026
The Queen’s Commonwealth Writing Competition is the world’s oldest international writing competition for schools, which has been proudly delivered by the Royal Commonwealth Society since 1883. Each year, the theme is drawn from Commonwealth values and principles. It encourages young people to engage with pressing issues of the day, such as the environment, equality, and youth leadership, to foster an open-minded and empathetic worldview. This year’s inspiring theme is Common Ground: Better Together.
Click here to apply | Deadline: Apr. 30
18. Pitch by Deel Startup Competition 2026
Enter with your 3-minute pitch to win a $1,000,000 investment for your startup. The Pitch is a global tournament built to reward the world’s best founders. Apply to participate live at one of seven regional events. The Pitch is your chance to showcase your startup on a global stage. Network with elite founders and celebrity judges and win funding to accelerate your growth
Click here to apply | .Deadline: Varies by Region
19. ROGEAP Regional Solar Business Plan Competition 2026 ($10,000 prize)
Applications are open for the ROGEAP Regional Solar Business Plan Competition 2026. The Regional Off-Grid Electricity Access Project (ROGEAP) Project Fund Manager (PFM) has launched the Regional Standalone Solar Business Plan Competition, inviting entrepreneurs, start-ups, and established companies in the off-grid solar sector to present innovative business solutions that can accelerate access to sustainable electricity across West, the Sahel and Central Africa.
Click here to apply | Deadline: Mar. 21
20. Nelson Mandela Essay Prize Competition 2026
Applications are open for the Nelson Mandela Essay Prize Competition 2026. The Academics Stand Against Poverty (ASAP), ASAP East and Southern Africa (ASAP-ESA), in collaboration with the University of Zambia’s Graduate School of Business and the University of Lusaka (UNILUS), proudly announces the inaugural Nelson Mandela Essay Prize Competition for 2026.
Click here to apply | Deadline: Jun. 14
For more opportunities, visit Opportunity Desk
