GOVERNMENT STUDY LOAN OPPORTUNITY FOR RWANDAN STUDENTS TO STUDY ABROAD – JANUARY 2027 INTAKE

Global Path October 02, 2026

GOVERNMENT STUDY LOAN FOR RWANDAN STUDENTS TO STUDY ABROAD – JANUARY 2027 INTAKE

The Higher Education Council (HEC) has announced the opening of applications for Government Study Loans for Rwandan students who wish to pursue studies abroad starting in the January 2027 intake.

The study loans are awarded competitively. Applicants will be considered based on eligibility requirements, national priority areas, the availability of eligible programmes that are not offered by local Higher Learning Institutions, and the funds available in the Government budget.

Applicants are advised to carefully check whether their intended programme falls within the eligible priority areas before applying.

Who is eligible to apply?

Applicants must meet the following requirements:

Be a Rwandan citizen.
Have secured admission to a recognized/accredited foreign Higher Learning Institution.
Meet the academic and other requirements specified by HEC.
Have a valid admission letter for the programme and institution for which the study loan is requested.
Meet any additional eligibility requirements applicable to their level of study.

Important information for Bachelor's applicants

For Bachelor's degree applications, only candidates who:

Completed Senior Six in 2026, and
Secured admission to a recognized foreign university

are eligible to apply.

Candidates admitted to local universities are not eligible under this call.

Also, students who are already enrolled in foreign universities are not eligible to apply.

Priority fields of study

The Government Study Loan is available for programmes in the following national priority areas:

Aviation
Health Sciences
Information Technology
Nuclear
Sports
Infrastructure

These priority areas apply to Bachelor's, Master's and Doctorate levels, as indicated in the announcement.

Applicants should also ensure that their chosen programme is not offered by local Higher Learning Institutions, where applicable.

Documents required

Eligible applicants are required to submit the following documents:

An application letter addressed to the Director General of HEC.
A valid admission letter from a recognized foreign Higher Learning Institution.
Certified copies of academic certificates and transcripts from the previous level of study.
A copy of the National ID.
An updated Curriculum Vitae (CV).
A recommendation letter:
- From the employer for employed applicants, or
- From an academic supervisor, lecturer or teacher for unemployed applicants.
A personal statement explaining:
- Why the applicant wants to pursue the programme;
- How the programme relates to their professional development; and
- How it contributes to Rwanda's development priorities.
Supporting documents for the requested costs, where applicable, including tuition-fee schedules/invoices, accommodation costs, medical insurance requirements, research fees and other study-related costs.

Information to include in the application letter

The application letter should clearly indicate:

Programme of study
Name and country of the institution
Mode of study, preferably full-time or part-time
Starting and ending dates of the programme
Total duration of the programme
Academic level: Bachelor's, Master's or PhD, where applicable
Amount requested
Detailed breakdown of the requested costs, such as tuition fees, living allowance, accommodation, medical insurance, research/thesis fees and other applicable study-related expenses

How to apply

All applications must be submitted online through the HEC Management Information System (HECMIS).

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

after the deadline will not be considered.

Important things applicants should know

The Government Study Loan is not automatically granted simply because an applicant has received admission to a foreign university.

Selection is competitive and depends on meeting all eligibility requirements, the applicable priority areas and the availability of Government funds.

The amount approved by HEC may also be different from the amount requested by the applicant. The approved amount will depend on applicable Government sponsorship cost structures, policies and available funds.

Applicants are responsible for ensuring that all information and documents submitted are complete, accurate and authentic. Providing false or misleading information or documents may result in disqualification and/or cancellation of the study loan.