Welcome
students
from
Africa

In partnership with the British Council and the GREAT British Campaign, this scholarship programme offers financial support of £10,000 to eligible students from the following countries pursuing one year of postgraduate study at the University of Derby, as part of our September 2025 intake.

A separate application is required through an online form once you have received your offer. Applicants must be from one of the following eligible countries:

• China
• Ghana
• India (Big Data Analytics MSc, Cyber Security MSc and Information Technology MSc only)
• Nigeria (2 scholarships available)
• Pakistan (2 scholarships available)
• Thailand

GREAT Scholarships full details

Full tuition fee and stipend for talented and motivated postgraduate students studying either Master of Public Health, MBA Global or MSc GeoEnergy from Commonwealth countries:

• Bangladesh
• Belize
• Botswana
• Cameroon
• Dominica
• Eswatini
• Fiji
• Gabon
• Ghana
• Grenada
• Guyana
• India
• Jamaica
• Kenya
• Kiribati
• Lesotho
• Malawi
• Malaysia
• Maldives
• Mauritius
• Montserrat
• Mozambique
• Namibia
• Nauru
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Papua New Guinea
• Rwanda
• Saint Helena
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and The Grenadines
• Samoa
• Sierra Leone
• Solomon Islands
• South Africa
• Sri Lanka
• Tanzania
• The Gambia
• Togo
• Tonga
• Tuvalu
• Uganda
• Vanuatu
• Zambia

More information can be found on the Commonwealth Shared Scholarship website. 

International Foundation Programme

West African Senior School Certificate Examination, NECO Senior School Certificate or General Certificate of Education Ordinary.

Students with five passes at grade C or above would usually be eligible for the IFY.

UKVI IELTS 4.5 with a minimum of 4.0 in all components (CEFR B1) is also required.

Undergraduate

Students with a minimum CGPA of 2.5 in the National Diploma can typically be considered for direct entrance onto Bachelor programmes.

Students with a minimum CGPA of 2.5 in the Ordinary National Diploma can typically be considered for direct entrance to the first year of Bachelor programmes.

Students with a minimum CGPA of 2.5 in the Higher National Diploma can typically be considered for direct entrance onto the final year of Bachelor programmes.

The West African GCE Advanced Levels are comparable in terms of grading and equivalence to UK A levels.

Postgraduate

Bachelor degrees from NARIC or government recognised institutions can normally be accepted for master’s studies.

A score of 60-70% or Second Class Honours (Upper Division) is considered comparable to a UK 2:1

A score of 50-59% or Second Class Honours (Lower Division) is considered comparable to a UK 2:2

English

Undergraduate

WAEC C6 – (Equivalent to IELTS 6.0)
WAEC C4 – (Equivalent to IELTS 6.5)
WAEC B3 - (Equivalent to IELTS 7.0)

Postgraduate

We accept WAEC C6 for an IELTS equivalent of 6.0 or 6.5 for PG plus 4 years study at University taught in English
For IELTS 7 or above an IELTS is required
If you do not meet the criteria above then you will require an Academic IELTS

International Foundation Programme

West African Senior School Certificate Examination / General Certificate of Education Ordinary Level.

Student with five passes at Grade C in either of the above awards would usually be eligible for the International Foundation Year.

UKVI IELTS 4.5 with a minimum of 4.0 in all components (CEFR B1) is also required.

Undergraduate

Students with a minimum CGPA of 2.5 in the Ordinary National Diploma can typically be considered for entrance to the first year of Bachelor programmes.

Students with a minimum CGPA of 2.5 in the Higher National Diploma can typically be considered for entrance to the final year of Bachelor programmes.

The General Certificate of Education Advanced Levels is comparable in terms of grading and equivalence to UK A levels.

Postgraduate

We require a Bachelor degree from a NARIC or government recognised institution. The majority of universities use the UK grading system.

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology do not have a 3rd class descriptor.

English

Undergraduate

WASSCE C6 – (Equivalent to IELTS 6.0)
WASSCE C4 – (Equivalent to IELTS 6.5)
WASSCE B3 - (Equivalent to IELTS 7.0)

Postgraduate

We accept WASSCE C6 for an IELTS equivalent of 6.0 or 6.5 for PG plus 4 years study at University taught in English
For IELTS 7 or above an IELTS is required
If you do not meet the criteria above then you will require an Academic IELTS

International Foundation Programme

Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education

Students with minimum grades of C in five subjects would usually be eligible for the International Foundation Year.

UKVI IELTS 4.5 with a minimum of 4.0 in all components (CEFR B1) is also required.

Undergraduate

Students with a minimum score of 60% in the University Diploma / Ordinary Diploma / Ordinary Technician Diploma can typically be considered for direct entrance to bachelor programmes.

Students who have successfully completed one year of a Kenyan degree programme can typically be considered for direct entrance to bachelor programmes.

Students with a minimum score of 60% in the Higher Diploma / Higher Technician Diploma can typically be considered for entrance to the final year of a Bachelor programme.

Postgraduate

We require a Bachelor degree from a NARIC or government recognised institution, a typical offer would be:

A score of 60% is considered comparable to a UK 2:1
A score of 50% is considered comparable to a UK 2:2

Degrees issued by private institutions must have national recognition from CHE. You can download the list of approved private degrees here.

English 

The following awards offer English language exemptions:

Undergraduate

KCSE with a grade C – (Equivalent to IELTS 6.0)
KCSE with a grade C – (Equivalent to IELTS 6.5)
KCSE with a grade B - (Equivalent to IELTS 7.0)

Postgraduate

Accept KCSE with a C for an IELTS equivalent of 6.0 or 6.5 for plus 3/4 years study at University taught in English
For IELTS 7 or above an IELTS is required

N.B. Some programmes will require IELTS with no exemptions.

• Botswana Accountancy College (Botswana)