Key facts
- Status
- Check with the provider
- Provider
- DAFI
- Study level
- Undergraduate, Postgraduate
- Academic year
- 2027
- Last checked
- September 2026
DAFI application windows are set country by country, usually between November and March for the following academic year.
VerifiedThe DAFI scholarship, the Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative, is UNHCR’s flagship higher education programme for refugees. Funded mainly by the German government, it has supported more than 25 000 refugee students since 1992 to complete undergraduate degrees in their countries of asylum, including South Africa, covering everything from tuition to a living allowance.
About the DAFI Scholarship
- Covers tuition and registration fees, books and study materials, a monthly living allowance, transport and, where needed, accommodation.
- Adds academic support, mentoring, psychosocial support and DAFI student clubs.
- Funds a first undergraduate degree or diploma at a public university or college in the country of asylum; postgraduate study is not funded.
- Priority for fields that lead to employment and for gender balance among scholars.
DAFI Scholarship eligibility requirements
- A recognised refugee in the country of application; some countries also admit asylum seekers and returnees.
- Completed secondary school with strong results, and accepted or applying to a public tertiary institution.
- Usually aged 28 or younger at the start of the degree.
- Not holding another scholarship and not already holding a degree.
- Committed to full-time study and to contributing to the refugee and host communities.
How to apply for the DAFI Scholarship
- Check the DAFI page on unhcr.org and the DAFI scholarships platform for the South Africa call.
- Register on the platform or with the partner named in the call and complete the application with your refugee documentation, Matric or equivalent results, proof of university acceptance or application, proof of income and a motivation letter.
- Submit before the country deadline. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed by UNHCR and the partner before selection.
DAFI Scholarship closing date
Set per country each year, usually between November and March. The 2027 South Africa date has not been published.
Contact details
- UNHCR South Africa, Pretoria: 012 354 8303
- UNHCR opportunities portal: opportunities.unhcr.org
Refugee students in South Africa should also see the UCT international and refugee scholarship and the Mastercard Foundation scholarship.
FAQs
1. When does the DAFI scholarship close for 2027? +
Each country sets its own window, usually between November and March for the following academic year. UNHCR South Africa and its partners publish the 2027 call on the UNHCR opportunities portal and the DAFI platform; check from November 2026.
2. What is DAFI? +
The Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative, UNHCR's scholarship programme funded mainly by Germany, which has supported more than 25 000 refugee students to complete undergraduate degrees since 1992.
3. What does it cover? +
Tuition and registration, books and study materials, a monthly living allowance, transport, and academic and psychosocial support for the full undergraduate degree at a public institution in the country of asylum.
4. Who qualifies? +
Recognised refugees, and in some countries asylum seekers and returnees, who have completed secondary school with strong results, are usually 28 or younger, are not receiving another scholarship and can commit to full-time study and to contributing to their community.
5. How do I apply in South Africa? +
Through the UNHCR South Africa office or its DAFI partner organisation when the call opens, using the online DAFI platform, with your refugee documentation, Matric or equivalent results, proof of university acceptance and a motivation.
6. Does it fund postgraduate study? +
No. DAFI funds a first undergraduate degree or diploma only.
Update note (checked September 2026): DAFI application windows are set country by country, usually between November and March for the following academic year. The 2027 call for South Africa had not been published when we checked. Watch the UNHCR opportunities portal and the DAFI scholarships platform from November 2026, and contact UNHCR South Africa or its DAFI partner to confirm the date. The details below are from the current programme rules.
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