The DAFI Scholarship 2026 special intake is open for academically strong refugee students who want to complete a full-time undergraduate qualification in South Africa. The Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative supports qualifying refugees studying in their country of asylum, with applications for this intake closing on 4 August 2026.
At a glance
Sponsor/host: UNHCR DAFI Programme, funded by the German Government and administered in South Africa through StudyTrust
Opportunity type: Refugee undergraduate scholarship
Who it’s for: Valid Refugee Permit / Section 24 Permit holders who need financial support for tertiary education
Study level: Full-time undergraduate study only
Institution type: Public or government tertiary institution
Academic guideline: Approximately 65% or above
Closing date: 4 August 2026
Last verified: 21 July 2026
High-value notes (read this first)
This is a special 2026 intake rather than a general South African citizen bursary. Applicants must hold a valid refugee permit or Section 24 permit. Asylum-seeker documentation that does not meet the stated permit requirement may not qualify.
DAFI does not fund Master’s or Doctoral study. Medicine and Engineering applications are considered case by case and require outstanding academic performance.
About the sponsor
The DAFI programme is UNHCR’s tertiary refugee scholarship initiative. It has been supported by the German Government since 1992 and helps refugee students complete undergraduate qualifications in their country of asylum while developing leadership, community engagement and self-reliance.
Current application notice: DAFI Scholarship 2026 advert
UNHCR programme information: UNHCR DAFI programme
What it covers
- Annual registration and tuition fees
- Annual book allowance
- Monthly subsistence allowance for food, rent and local travel
- Monthly data allowance
- Medical aid
- Laptop for new students
The scholarship is initially awarded for one academic year and may be renewed depending on funding availability, academic performance and participation in DAFI activities.
Eligibility
- Must hold a valid Refugee Permit / Section 24 Permit
- Must have completed secondary school with above-average results
- Should generally have an academic average of at least 65%
- Must have no other adequate means of financing tertiary education
- Undergraduate applicants should be younger than 35
- Must be accepted or provisionally accepted for full-time study at a public/government institution
- Must be applying for undergraduate study; Master’s and PhD study are excluded
- Medicine and Engineering applicants are considered case by case based on exceptional academic performance
Documents to prepare
- Valid Refugee Permit / Section 24 Permit
- Secondary-school certificate and complete academic results
- University or public-institution acceptance or provisional-acceptance letter
- Identity and contact information requested on the DAFI platform
- Financial and household information demonstrating the need for support
- Any motivation, reference or supporting documents requested by the online platform
Closing date
4 August 2026.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying without the required valid refugee permit
- Applying for postgraduate study
- Submitting outside the official DAFI online platform
- Leaving out academic records or proof of acceptance
- Assuming that selection or renewal is automatic
How this opportunity was verified
Verified against StudyTrust’s current DAFI Scholarship page, the official DAFI special-intake advert hosted by the University of Cape Town, and UNHCR’s DAFI programme information. The current advert confirms the 4 August 2026 deadline, eligibility criteria, benefit package and official application portal.
How to apply
- Open the official DAFI online scholarship platform.
- Create or access your applicant profile.
- Complete the application using your valid refugee documentation.
- Upload your academic, acceptance and financial-support documents.
- Submit through the online platform before the closing date.