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Eligibility Criteria

The following are the eligibility criteria for applicants to EAC-SMS:  

1.    Be a national and resident of a partner state in the East African Community exclude Rwandan. (Provide national ID/Passport/Birth Certificate).

2.    To be eligible in the following programs:

·         Bachelor’s in Land Survey     

·         Bachelor’s in Statistics Applied to Economics         

·         Bachelors in Accounting        

·         Bachelor’s in Rural Development Economics                     

·         Bachelors in Land Management and Valuation                  

·         Bachelors in Information Science and Library Management                                 

·         Bachelors in Food Biotechnology

·         Master of Science in Geo-Informatics

·         Master of Science in Food Science and Technology

·         Master of Science in Bio-medical Laboratory Science

3.    Excellent academic performance records as per  programs’ entry requirements provided by participating universities.

4.    Possess at least an Upper Second-Class Honours or “Distinction” or equivalent if applying for Master’s and PhD programs.

5.    Age limit (less than 35 Master’s)

Responsibilities

A . IUCEA– Inter-University Council for East Africa

1.    Provide medical insurance. 

2.    Provide transport facilitation by road whenever applicable at the beginning and end of the academic program.

3.    Provide Master’s and PhD students with a lump sum for research (after completion of coursework and approval of thesis proposal).

B . Member Universities

1.    Offer scholarships through tuition and examination fee waivers. 

2.    Offer admission and induction to the scholarship awardees.

3.    Provide a contact person to be a liaison between IUCEA and parents/guardians. 

Monitor and provide regular progress reports on the performance of scholarship beneficiaries

C . Students

1.    Cater for accommodation and living expenses. 

2.    Cater for other university fees except tuition and examination fees provided in the scholarship. 

3.    Provide any other material/ information as may be required. 

4.    Gather the necessary documents from the universities of their choice in the region that offer programs under the scholarship scheme. (cfr Table 2)

5.    Submit regular progress reports on their academic performance and social welfare to IUCEA, the University, and Parents as required under the Scheme.  

Application Process

The application process is two-fold, and each MUST be completed separately.:  

1.    Application for admission: An applicant shall made online via: www.ines.ac.rw

2.    Application for the EAC-SMS Scholarship: Application for the EAC-SMS scholarship shall be made through the IUCEA website as follows:

a) Register online for the scholarship through the link: https://www.iucea.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/090525-SCHOLARSHIP-APPLICATION-FORM.docx

b) Download and complete the Scholarship Application Form here: https://www.iucea.org/call-for-applications-east-african-community-student-mobility-scholarships-scheme-eac-sms/

 

The following are the required documents which will support the application:

·         A letter of motivation for applying for the scholarship.

·         Up-to-date and signed Curriculum Vitae.

·         Certified copies of all academic certificates and transcripts. 

·         A copy of the university Application Form and its attachments

·         A recent passport photograph in the colour of your head and upper shoulders. 

·         Evidence of Nationality of a Partner State in the East African Community, such as a copy of the national identity card/ passport/birth certificate. 

·         Proof of Residency (provide a certificate from the local government) 

·         Provide evidence of any awards, e.g., leadership, community service, etc.

·         Any other evidence required in the application form, e.g., medical reports, letters of reference, etc. 

Submit the required documents in PDF format, zipped in one folder, electronically to eacsms@iucea.org  and execsecretary@iucea.org .  Indicate the subject line of your submission email with YOUR NAME, EAC-SMS Application, MONTH & YEAR, e.g., Amani Africa, EAC-SMS Application, 30^th  June 2025.

NOTE:

·         Applicants for EAC-SMS scholarships are not required to apply for admission directly to universities instead they  should submit  their applications for scholarship  with all documents required for admission to IUCEA.

·         IUCEA will receive and process all application documents for qualified candidate and submit  the relevant documents for admission directly to universities.

·         There is no need for applicants of EAC-SMS to pay for application fees to universities

Application Fee is 25000Frw shall be paid on the following bank account: 4400644626 BPR of INES RUHENGERI

Application Deadlines

·         Application deadlines at INES-Ruhengeri is 15^th June 2025 by midnight Kigali Time

·         The deadline for applying for the EAC-SMS scholarship at IUCEA is 30^th  June 2025, EAT by midnight.

Note:

·         Applicants with academic qualifications obtained from foreign institutions must be equated by the authorised national agency (National Council/ Commission for Higher Education) in their respective countries. 

·         Applicants with supporting documents (transcripts, certificates, among others) in languages other than English must submit both the originals and copies translated into English by an accredited language translation provider.  

·         Candidates may apply to more than one University. But only one scholarship can be offered.

·         Candidates who meet the scholarship requirements and have already been admitted to any university offering the scholarship can still apply to EAC-SMS.