ICCR India-Africa Maitri Scholarship Scheme (Ghana)
Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India
Indian government scholarships with 70 slots for Ghanaians to study undergraduate, postgraduate or PhD programmes at 131 Indian universities, covering tuition, a stipend, accommodation and return airfare. The 2026-27 round closed 15 April 2026.
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Eligibility
- Who can apply
- Ghana, Africa
- Education required
- Secondary completed
- Age
- from 18 up to 40 ('The minimum age for any level of courses is 18 years (as on 01 July 2026). The maximum age for UG, PG, Certificate and Diploma level courses is 35 years (as on 01 July 2026). The upper age limit for PhD applicants is 40 years.' There is no upper age limit for courses in Hindi, Sanskrit or Indian performing arts unless the institution sets one.)
- Fields
- Any field of study
- Language
- English proficiency must be evidenced: 'Applicants may be required to submit a 500-word essay in English to demonstrate language proficiency. Submission of TOEFL, IELTS, or equivalent English proficiency scores is also accepted.' All supporting documents must be submitted in English or accompanied by certified English translations.
- Also required
- Ghanaian nationals holding a passport valid for at least two years as of 1 July 2026
- Apply only through the ICCR Admission to Alumni (A2A) portal — no in-person, email or postal submissions; up to five universities may be selected in order of preference
- No scholarships for Medical Science, para-medical courses such as nursing, physiotherapy, anaesthesia and lab technician, law, or integrated courses such as BALLB (5 years) and B.Sc. & M.Sc. (5 years); no admission for foreign students to B.Tech at the IITs
- Science and engineering undergraduate applicants must have studied Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry at Senior High School (Standard XII); biology-major applicants must have studied Biology, Physics and Chemistry
- A GMAT score is mandatory for MBA courses at some universities/institutions
- Selected students must upload a Medical Fitness Certificate with test reports and vaccinations issued by a registered doctor
- Undergraduate admits must present their WASSCE checker at interview; postgraduate and PhD admits must present original certificates and degrees
- Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy courses fall under the separate AYUSH Scholarship Scheme
- No change of course, university or city is entertained at the interview stage
About this opportunity
The India-Africa Maitri Scholarship Scheme is the Indian Council for Cultural Relations' main award for African students, and Ghana has one of the larger allocations: 70 slots, announced through the High Commission of India in Accra. It covers undergraduate, postgraduate and PhD programmes across STEM and non-STEM streams at 131 reputed Indian universities and institutes. A separate Lata Mangeshkar Dance and Music Scholarship Scheme runs alongside it with 100 slots globally: 75 for Indian culture including dance and music, theatre, performing arts, sculpture, Indian languages and Indian cuisine, capped at 10 slots per country, plus 25 places on a one-year Yoga diploma at four named institutes, capped at 2 per country, offered on a first-come first-served basis.
Benefits are comprehensive: return economy class airfare to the airport nearest the place of study plus a 3-tier AC train fare where needed, full tuition fees paid to the university, a monthly stipend, house rent allowance, contingent and thesis/dissertation allowances, and accommodation in campus hostels or other locations decided by the university. Read the scheme norms carefully, because the same announcement lists hostel and private accommodation charges, mess charges, security and caution deposits, certificate and registration fees and immigration registration costs as payable by the student.
Eligibility for Ghanaians: a Ghanaian passport valid for at least two years as of 1 July 2026, a minimum age of 18, a maximum of 35 for undergraduate, postgraduate, certificate and diploma courses, and 40 for PhD applicants. English proficiency may be shown by a 500-word essay in English, or by TOEFL, IELTS or an equivalent score. Applications are made only through the ICCR A2A portal, where you may select up to five universities in order of preference — no email, post or in-person submissions. Medical Science and para-medical courses, law, integrated courses such as BALLB and five-year B.Sc./M.Sc., and B.Tech at the IITs are excluded, and AYUSH disciplines are covered by a separate scheme. Science and engineering undergraduate applicants need Mathematics, Physics and Chemistry at Senior High School level, and a GMAT score is mandatory for MBA courses at some universities.
- Level
- Undergraduate, Master's, PhD
- Where
- India
- Number of awards
- 70 slots for Ghana under the India-Africa Maitri Scholarship Scheme (G0179); the parallel Lata Mangeshkar Dance & Music Scholarship Scheme has 100 slots globally — 75 for Indian culture and performing arts, capped at 10 per country, and 25 one-year Yoga diploma places at four institutes, capped at 2 per country, offered first come first served
- Difficulty
- Medium · about 6 weeks to prepare
Funding
Fully funded
- tuition
- stipend
- accommodation
- travel
'Return economy class airfare to the airport nearest to the place of study & 3 tier AC train fare (if so required) to the place of study in India' plus 'Stipend, HRA, Contingent Allowances, Thesis/ Dissertation Allowance, Airfare, Tuition fee/ OCF paid to Universities (Norms attached)'. The benefits summary also lists 'Accommodation in campus hostels/other locations decided by the University'. Read this alongside the announcement's own list of charges payable by the student: 'Hostel/private, Accommodation charges, mess charges, security deposit, caution money, fees for obtaining all certificate, registration fee/penalties for registration/updation with immigration authorities, any other fees/charges which are not covered under scholarship norms.' No cash figures for the stipend are given on the page — check the attached scholarship norms on the A2A portal.
What you will need
- Passport or national ID
- Academic transcripts
- Degree certificate
- Essays
- Language test (e.g. IELTS/TOEFL)
- Medical certificate
- Video submission
Applications are submitted on the A2A portal with a passport valid at least two years, academic transcripts and certificates, and evidence of English — either a 500-word essay in English or TOEFL/IELTS or equivalent scores. All documents must be in English or accompanied by certified English translations. Applicants for performing arts courses must upload a recent video or YouTube link of a performance. Selected students must upload a Medical Fitness Certificate with test reports and vaccinations. Uploading false information or documents leads to legal action and cancellation of admission.
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