Apply Now: India-Africa Maitri Scholarship Scheme (Botswana)

Deadline: 30-Apr-2026

The Department of Tertiary Education Financing under Botswana’s Ministry of Higher Education is offering 75 fully funded scholarships for qualified Botswana citizens under the Indian-Africa Maître Scholarship Scheme for the 2026/2027 academic intake in India. The scholarship supports non-medical Undergraduate, Master’s, and PhD programmes and covers tuition, hostel accommodation, living allowance, return airfare, and compulsory institutional charges.

What Is the Indian-Africa Maître Scholarship Scheme?

The Indian-Africa Maître Scholarship Scheme is a fully funded international scholarship opportunity for citizens of Botswana who want to pursue higher education in India.

The scheme is administered through Botswana’s Department of Tertiary Education Financing (DTEF) under the Ministry of Higher Education, and funded by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).

For the 2026/2027 academic intake, a total of 75 scholarship slots are available.

Scholarship Coverage

The scholarship provides major study support for selected students.

What the scholarship covers

• Tuition fees
• Hostel accommodation
• Living allowance
• Return airfare
• Other compulsory institutional charges (as per programme rules)

Costs Not Covered

Applicants should note that some costs remain their responsibility.

Scholars must pay for

• Medical insurance policy with a minimum annual coverage of INR 500,000
• Laboratory chemicals and related incidental costs for students in science programmes

Levels of Study Supported

The scholarship supports non-medical programmes only at participating universities in India.

Eligible study levels

• Undergraduate
• Postgraduate / Master’s
• PhD / Doctoral

Programmes Not Eligible

This scheme does not support certain fields.

Excluded programmes

• Medical programmes
• Paramedical programmes
  • Nursing
  • Physiotherapy
  • Anesthesia
• LLB
• Fashion
• Integrated degree programmes

Applicants should review the websites of participating Indian universities before applying.

Who Is Eligible?

Applicants must be qualified citizens of Botswana and meet academic, health, and age requirements.

General eligibility requirements

• Must be a citizen of Botswana
• Must be in good health
• Must meet the academic requirements for the chosen study level
• Must meet the age limit for the relevant programme level

Undergraduate Eligibility

To apply for undergraduate studies, applicants must:

• Have completed BGCSE / IGCSE or an equivalent qualification
• Have completed this qualification within two years of application
• Achieve at least:
  • 47 points for general applicants
  • 43 points for:
    • OVC
    • RAC
    • SEN applicants

Undergraduate age requirement

• Must be at least 18 years old
• Must be not older than 40 years by 1 July 2026

Master’s Eligibility

Applicants for master’s programmes must:

• Meet the required academic qualifications
• Hold a strong relevant prior degree
• An A-level certificate is considered an added advantage

Master’s age requirement

• Must not be older than 40 years

PhD Eligibility

Applicants for doctoral studies must:

• Meet the required academic qualifications
• Hold strong prior academic credentials relevant to the proposed field of study
• An A-level certificate is also noted as an added advantage

PhD age requirement

• Must not be older than 50 years

Why This Scholarship Matters

This is a strong international study opportunity because it offers:

• Full funding
• Access to Indian universities
• Support across Undergraduate, Master’s, and PhD levels
• Coverage of major academic and living costs

It is especially valuable for Botswana students seeking affordable overseas education in non-medical fields.

How to Apply

Step-by-step guide

1. Confirm your eligibility
   • Check citizenship, age, health, and academic requirements
2. Choose an eligible course
   • Select a non-medical Undergraduate, Master’s, or PhD programme
3. Review university requirements
   • Visit participating Indian university websites for:
     • Available courses
     • Entry requirements
     • Admission conditions
4. Avoid excluded programmes
   • Do not apply for medical, paramedical, LLB, Fashion, or integrated degree programmes under this scheme
5. Prepare documents
   • Likely documents may include:
     • Academic certificates
     • Transcripts
     • Passport/ID
     • Proof of citizenship
     • Health documents
     • Admission-related documents
     • Any other DTEF-required forms
6. Arrange for medical insurance planning
   • Budget for the required INR 500,000 annual medical insurance coverage
7. Submit through the official DTEF process
   • Follow the official application instructions from Botswana’s Department of Tertiary Education Financing

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Applying for excluded programmes
• Ignoring the age limit
• Failing to check Indian university entry requirements before applying
• Assuming medical insurance is covered by the scholarship
• Forgetting extra costs for science lab chemicals
• Submitting an undergraduate application with scores below the required threshold
• Applying with an older BGCSE/IGCSE qualification beyond the two-year limit

FAQ

1. How many scholarships are available?

There are 75 fully funded scholarship slots for the 2026/2027 intake.

2. Which levels of study are supported?

The scheme supports:

• Undergraduate
• Master’s / Postgraduate
• PhD

3. Does the scholarship cover medical courses?

No. Medical and paramedical programmes are excluded, along with LLB, Fashion, and integrated degree programmes.

4. What does the scholarship cover?

It covers:

• Tuition fees
• Hostel accommodation
• Living allowance
• Return airfare
• Other compulsory institutional charges

5. Is medical insurance included?

No. Students must secure their own medical insurance with at least INR 500,000 annual coverage.

6. What is the undergraduate age limit?

Undergraduate applicants must be:

• At least 18 years old
• Not older than 40 years by 1 July 2026

7. What minimum score is needed for undergraduate applicants?

• 47 points for general applicants
• 43 points for OVC, RAC, or SEN applicants

Final Takeaway

The Indian-Africa Maître Scholarship Scheme 2026/2027 is a valuable fully funded study opportunity for Botswana citizens who want to pursue non-medical higher education in India.

With 75 scholarship slots and coverage for tuition, accommodation, living costs, airfare, and institutional charges, it offers strong support across Undergraduate, Master’s, and PhD levels. The most important steps for applicants are to choose an eligible course, verify age and academic requirements, and carefully review the admission rules of participating Indian universities before applying.

For more information, visit Republic of Botswana.