Africa-Press – Eswatini. The High Commission of India has announced 40 fully funded scholarships for emaSwati to pursue studies in India under the India-Africa Maitri Scholarship Scheme for the 2026–27 Academic Year.
The announcement was made in a press release issued on February 23, 2026,High Commission of India in Mbabane.
The Mission confirmed that the entire process from application to admission is conducted online through the ICCR A2A Scholarship Portal, ensuring accessibility and transparency for applicants across the country.
The application portal opens on 27 February 2026 and closes on 15 April 2026. Universities are expected to communicate their decisions by 30 April 2026, while successful applicants must confirm acceptance by 15 May 2026. Authorities noted that the schedule remains tentative.
Administered by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), the scholarships support studies from undergraduate to PhD level at accredited Indian universities and institutes. Applicants for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes must be between 18 and 40 years of age, while PhD applicants may be up to 50 years at the time of admission.
Certain programmes are not admissible, including medical and paramedical courses, fashion, law, and integrated degree programmes. For B.E./B.Tech studies, Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics are compulsory subjects in Forms IV and V, with certified academic transcripts from Form III to Form V or equivalent required.
Applicants may apply to up to five universities in order of preference. A 500-word essay in English is mandatory to assess language proficiency, though TOEFL/IELTS scores may also be submitted. Universities may conduct online interviews, and unsuccessful candidates will be informed directly.
The scholarship package includes return economy-class airfares, reinforcing India’s commitment to deepening educational cooperation with the Kingdom of Eswatini. Final awards are subject to verification by the High Commission, including health clearance and the submission of complete and authentic documentation.
