China has opened 15 government-funded scholarships for Kenyan students for the 2027/2028 academic year. They cover undergraduate, master's and PhD studies at Chinese universities. Capital FM reported that the Ministry of Education received word of the offer from the Chinese Embassy in Kenya. The awards will be decided through a competitive selection process.
Each level of study has its own entry rules. Undergraduate applicants must be under 25 and hold at least a B (Plain) mean grade in KCSE or its equivalent. They must also have finished secondary school within the last three years. Master's applicants must be under 35 and hold at least a Second-Class Upper Division bachelor's degree. PhD applicants must be under 40 and hold a relevant master's degree from a recognised university.
Undergraduate applicants must also sit the online China Scholastic Competence Assessment (CSCA) on December 19, 2026. Chinese Language and Mathematics are compulsory, while Physics and Chemistry are optional. Undergraduate applications without a CSCA score report will not be considered. Applicants should check with their chosen universities which subjects their courses require.
Applicants must first obtain pre-admission documents from their preferred Chinese universities. They then apply on the China Scholarship Council's official website under Programme Category Type A, Agency Number 4041. Undergraduates need a study plan of at least 200 words. Postgraduates need a research proposal of at least 800 words. Master's and PhD applicants also need two recommendation letters from professors or associate professors. Every applicant must provide a medical examination form and a Certificate of Good Conduct.
Hard copies go to the Director of Higher Education at the Ministry of Education. Applicants can send them by post or deliver them to Room 2701 on the 27th floor of Telposta Towers in Nairobi. The ministry said every applicant must pass its preliminary selection. Foreign academic certificates must be recognised by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Shortlisted candidates will sit written exams and attend interviews organised by the Chinese Embassy.
The embassy warned applicants not to use intermediaries. It said the ministry is "the only dispatching agent" for the programme. It added that applicants are responsible for the documents they submit and that fraudulent applications will be permanently rejected. The embassy also said applicants who speak better Chinese will get preference during selection.