DAFI Scholarship South Africa 2025

The German Government has funded the annual Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative (DAFI) for several years.

It is designed to assist young refugees worldwide in starting or continuing their higher education.

The DAFI Scholarship Programme aims to support academically talented young refugee men and women who meet the criteria for higher education in their host countries.

The DAFI scholarship seeks to empower both young men and women equally, enabling them to contribute knowledge, skills, and leadership to their refugee communities.

It also promotes peaceful coexistence, social cohesion, and the development of host communities during periods of displacement.

Sponsored students are expected to contribute to their communities and society not only through their academic and professional endeavors but also through personal engagement, supporting and inspiring other community members, particularly refugee children and youth.

About the DAFI Scholarship

The DAFI scholarship is awarded for one academic year, subject to performance, but may be extended based on the availability of funds, satisfactory academic progress, and participation in DAFI programme activities such as the DAFI Alumni Club and community engagement projects.

The DAFI Scholarship will cover the following expenses (with caps):

  1. Annual registration/tuition fees
  2. Annual book allowance
  3. A monthly subsistence allowance for basic expenses such as food, local travel, and rent during the semester
  4. A monthly data allowance
  5. Medical Aid

DAFI Scholarship Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the DAFI Scholarship, candidates should generally meet the following criteria:

  1. Hold a valid Refugee permit/Section 24 permit.
  2. Have successfully completed secondary school with above-average grades.
  3. Lack other means of support for tertiary education.
  4. Be under 35 years of age for undergraduate applications.
  5. Have applied for admission to a government or public institution for full-time studies. A valid admission or provisional admission letter must be uploaded.
  6. Scholarships for specific courses such as medicine or engineering are granted on a case-by-case basis and usually only to students who have demonstrated exceptional academic performance.

How to Apply for the DAFI Scholarship

The UNHCR has centralized the application process for the global DAFI Scholarship Programme through the DAFI Online Platform.

This platform, confirmed by the HQ Education Unit, will streamline application and data management processes for the DAFI scholarship programme.

The DAFI Online Platform will be used for:

  1. Application for DAFI Scholarships: All applications will be submitted online via the platform.
  2. Pre-screening/Shortlisting: The platform will screen applications to determine eligibility for the next selection phase.
  3. Reviewing and Selection: Applications will be reviewed and selected through the platform.
  4. Awarding Scholarships: Selected candidates will be notified of their awards through the system.
  5. Managing DAFI Scholarship Data: Online data management for the scholarship programme.

Submit your application documents, along with relevant scanned documents, via email to: dafi@boscodelhi.org.

Download the DAFI Scholarship Application form here.

DAFI Scholarship Application Requirements

Due to financial constraints, only a limited number of scholarships are available.

Meeting the minimum criteria does not guarantee a scholarship.

Applicants who are not selected are encouraged to seek alternative sponsorship opportunities.

The DAFI Scholarship selection process occurs once a year and is conducted by the DAFI Selection Committee, which includes representatives from UNHCR, StudyTrust, UNISA, and the German Embassy.

The primary selection criteria are academic potential and background conditions.

Applicants must have achieved an average of 65% or higher in their undergraduate degree.

The DAFI programme does not support studies at the Master’s level.

DAFI Scholarship Contact

For inquiries related to the DAFI Scholarship, please email: dafi@boscodelhi.org

DAFI Scholarship Closing Date

The deadline for the 2025 DAFI Scholarship applications has not yet been released.