Apply: https://gradadmissions.ntu.edu.sg/apply/

Deadline: 31 July 2026

Eswatini graduates eyeing a doctorate abroad have a two-week window left to apply for one of Asia’s most generous PhD scholarships.

Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore is accepting applications for the Nanyang President’s Graduate Scholarship (NPGS) until 31 July 2026, covering full tuition, a monthly stipend, and a range of allowances for students admitted into its January 2027 intake.

The NPGS is NTU’s top scholarship for incoming PhD students, awarded by the university’s President to candidates who show strong academic results, research potential, and leadership. It is open to applicants of all nationalities, and there is no bond or service obligation attached.

Eligibility

• Open to all nationalities
• An Honours degree at the level of Highest Distinction, or its equivalent
• Final-year undergraduates may also apply, provided their university confirms in writing that they are on track to graduate at that level
• No bond or service obligation attached

What it pays

• Monthly stipend: S$5,300 for Singapore citizens, S$4,800 for Singapore permanent residents, S$4,300 for international students
• Full tuition fees covered
• Annual book allowance: S$500
• One-time IT allowance: S$1,500
• Overseas conference allowance: up to S$5,000 per year
• One-time thesis allowance: S$600, paid in the final year

The award runs for one year initially and can be renewed for up to four years, depending on academic progress and the availability of research funding in the student’s department.

One condition applies specifically to international scholars: they are required to take on teaching or laboratory supervision duties through NTU’s Graduate Assistantship Programme for the duration of their studies.

Because the NPGS is awarded by nomination rather than open competition, candidates who make it through the initial screening will be called for an interview before a final decision is made. Applicants need to prepare a research proposal, two referee reports, identification and academic documents, a resume, and, where relevant, standardised test scores such as the GRE, IELTS or TOEFL.

Applications close on 31 July 2026 and can be submitted through NTU’s graduate admissions portal. A separate deadline applies to those applying through NTU’s National Institute of Education, which closed its own exercise on 25 June 2026.

For Eswatini graduates considering a research career, the scholarship offers a rare combination: full funding, no bond, and access to one of Asia’s highest-ranked universities.

Ongoing Scholarships

1. DAAD HELMUT-SCHMIDT PROGRAMME 2027/28, Germany — Master’s In Social Protection

Deadline: 31 July 2026

Apply at: daad.de/go/en

The DAAD Helmut-Schmidt Programme 2027/28 includes the Master’s in Social Protection as one of its scholarship-linked study options for applicants from developing countries, including Eswatini. Offered through the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), the programme is part of a broader scholarship scheme designed to prepare future leaders in public policy-related fields, among them social policy, administration, law, and economics.

What the Programme Is

The Master’s in Social Protection sits within the Helmut-Schmidt-Programme’s wider framework of master’s scholarships in Germany, all of which are focused on strengthening future leadership in public governance and related disciplines. The degree is specifically intended for students and professionals with a genuine interest in policy development, welfare systems, and social development fields that are directly relevant to the work of public servants, NGO practitioners, and development professionals in Eswatini and across the African continent.

The programme is hosted at the University of Applied Sciences Bonn-Rhein-Sieg (H-BRS) and is delivered over four semesters through a blended learning model, combining in-person study in Germany with online and practical components. This format equips graduates with both the technical and methodological skills needed to design, reform, analyse, and manage social protection policies in their home countries.

What the Scholarship Covers

The Master’s in Social Protection is a fully funded scholarship under the DAAD Helmut-Schmidt framework. The scholarship package includes:

• A monthly stipend of €992 (approximately E19,000 per month)
• Full tuition fee exemption
• Health insurance cover in Germany
• Fixed travel allowances for travel between Germany and the scholar’s home country
• A study and research grant
• Rent subsidies and family supplements where applicable
• A mandatory German language course of up to four months in Germany, held prior to the commencement of studies

It is important to note that due to the blended learning concept of the Social Protection programme, a reduced sur place rate of €500 per month applies during the fourth semester, which is completed online from the student’s country of origin or another developing country.

Who Can Apply?

The programme is open to applicants from developing countries with an academic and professional background in public policy, governance, social development, or related disciplines. To be eligible under the broader Helmut-Schmidt-Programme framework, applicants must hold a well-qualified first university degree with above-average grades in the upper third of their cohort, have practical experience relevant to the programme through professional work, internships, political activities, or community engagement, and demonstrate a genuine commitment to contributing to the social, political, and economic development of their home country upon completion of studies.

The applicant’s most recent degree must not date back more than six years at the time of application. Candidates who have spent more than 15 months in a country not on the DAC list are not eligible.

Application Deadline and Process

For the 2027/28 cycle, the application window runs from 1 June 2026 to 31 July 2026. Applications must be submitted directly to the Social Protection master’s programme at the University of Applied Sciences Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, not to the DAAD. Applicants are strongly advised to begin preparing their documents early, as the deadline is firm and the documentation requirements are detailed.

For contact and programme-specific details, visit www.ma-socialprotection.de or email msc-socialprotection@h-brs.de. For full Helmut-Schmidt-Programme scholarship details, visit daad.de/go/en.

Prospective applicants are strongly advised to verify all details directly on the official scholarship or university website before applying. Likusasa Letfu acts solely as an information-sharing platform and bears no liability for any direct or indirect consequences arising from the use of the content provided.

Why This Programme Matters

For professionals and graduates in Eswatini working in or aspiring to work in social protection, welfare policy, public administration, or development, this programme represents a rare and valuable combination of world-class German academic training and practical policy-focused education. Graduates leave equipped to design effective, sustainable social protection systems and are well-positioned for careers in public service, international organisations, and the NGO sector. Given the strict deadline of 31 July 2026, eligible candidates are encouraged to act without delay.

2. 2. Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Still Open for Eswatini Applicants

Deadline: 3 August 2026 (Global Deadline) & 31 July 2026

Apply at: apply.iie.org/huberthhumphrey

Mid-career professionals in Eswatini looking for a fully funded year of leadership training in the United States now have a narrowing window to apply. The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship, funded by the U.S. Department of State and considered one of the most respected professional exchange programmes in the world, is open for Eswatini applicants for the 2027–2028 cycle, running August 2027 to June 2028. The global deadline is 31 July 2026.

The programme brings together mid-career leaders from across the world at 11 host universities in the United States, where fellows combine classroom study with professional affiliations and leadership seminars. The year concludes with the Global Leadership Forum in Washington, D.C., bringing fellows together from every participating country to share what they’ve learned and build lasting professional ties.

Not a degree, but arguably more useful

The Humphrey Fellowship does not award an academic qualification. What it offers instead is practical: sharpened leadership strategy, direct exposure to global best practice, and a professional network that spans continents — assets that translate immediately into stronger institutions back home. Fellows are required to return to Eswatini once the programme ends, a condition built into the fellowship’s design rather than a limitation of it. Every fellow who comes home represents a direct investment in the country’s capacity across education, governance, public health, media and the environment.

Eligibility

• Eswatini citizenship or residency
• A bachelor’s degree of at least four years’ duration
• A minimum of five years of full-time professional experience
• Demonstrated leadership ability and evidence of policy-level impact in one’s field
• A clear record of commitment to public service
• English proficiency, shown through a TOEFL iBT score of at least 71 or an IELTS score of at least 6.0
• Preference given to candidates with little or no previous experience travelling to the United States, making the fellowship especially accessible to professionals without prior international exposure

What the fellowship covers

• Round-trip international airfare
• Full tuition for coursework at the host university
• A monthly living stipend
• A books and computer allowance
• Medical insurance for the duration of the fellowship
• Funding for professional development activities
• A six-week professional internship at a U.S. institution, giving fellows hands-on application of what they’ve studied

Fields open to Eswatini applicants

Eswatini candidates may specialise in areas tied closely to the Kingdom’s development priorities: communications and journalism, educational administration, planning and policy, law and human rights, public health policy and management, and agriculture, environment and climate change.

Applying

The global deadline is 31 July 2026, though the U.S. Embassy in Eswatini may set its own earlier internal cut-off — applicants are strongly urged to confirm the local submission date directly with the Embassy before proceeding. Applications go through the official portal at apply.iie.org/huberthhumphrey and require academic transcripts, proof of professional experience, recommendation letters, TOEFL or IELTS scores, and a statement of purpose.

Why it matters for Eswatini

Beyond individual advancement, the Humphrey Fellowship functions as a national resource. Professionals who complete the year return with internationally tested expertise, first-hand exposure to best practice in their sector, and a global circle of peers and mentors. In fields like public health, education policy, environmental management, law and media, the impact of a returning Humphrey Fellow tends to reach well past the individual — into institutions, communities and policy frameworks for years afterward.

Enquiries can be directed to the U.S. Embassy in Eswatini at pdmbabane@state.gov or by telephone on +(268) 2417-9000. Given the possibility of an earlier local deadline, applicants are encouraged to act without delay.