Africa University TAGDev 2.0 Scholarships 2026/2027 — Fully Funded for Young Africans in Agriculture, Agribusiness & Entrepreneurship

Omran Aburayya
2 hours ago
6 min read

If you are a young African with a burning passion for agriculture, agribusiness, or entrepreneurship — and you dream of accessing world-class university education without the burden of financial constraints — then the TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship Programme at Africa University, Zimbabwe, is calling your name. Applications for the 2026/2027 academic year are now officially open! This fully funded, life-changing scholarship is implemented by the Regional Universities Forum for Capacity Building in Agriculture (RUFORUM) in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, and it is far more than just financial support — it is a platform designed to forge the next generation of agricultural champions, community transformers, and entrepreneurial leaders who will drive Africa's food security and economic growth agenda. Whether you are a recent secondary school graduate or a degree holder ready to level up, this is your gateway to a future that matters.

🎓 Scholarship at a Glance

Location: Mutare, Zimbabwe
Host Institution: Africa University (A United Methodist-Related Institution)
Implementing Partners: RUFORUM & Mastercard Foundation
Study Level: Undergraduate (BSc Honours) and Postgraduate (MSc)
Target Group: Economically disadvantaged but academically competent young Africans; with special priority given to women, refugees and displaced persons (RDPs), and persons with disabilities (PWDs)
Fields of Study: Agribusiness Management, Software Engineering, Agribusiness (MSc), Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Creativity (MSc)
Value & Coverage: Fully funded — covers tuition, research costs, living stipend, hostel, laptop, transport, internships, field attachments, community engagement, workshops, conferences, and entrepreneurship training
Award Duration: Rolling/renewable annually based on satisfactory academic performance
Application Deadline: 1st May 2026
Start Date: 2026/2027 Academic Year
Eligible Nationals: African nationals currently residing in Africa
Call ID: RU/2026Africa Uni/TAGDev 2.0

📚 Scholarship Overview

The TAGDev 2.0 — which stands for Transforming African Agricultural Universities to Meaningfully Contribute to Africa's Growth and Development — is a bold, continent-wide, 10-year initiative running from 2023 to 2033. It is implemented across a powerful consortium of 12 African universities spanning Southern, Eastern, West, and North Africa, with Africa University serving as the Southern Africa anchor.

The programme is designed to strengthen universities and technical institutions across Africa by equipping students with the knowledge and skills needed to support inclusive, equitable, and climate-resilient agricultural transformation. Africa University, located in Mutare, Zimbabwe, is a United Methodist-affiliated institution with a strong track record in agriculture and development-oriented education. The multi-country structure means applicants can target institutions best matched to their academic background rather than being confined to a single university's intake. At Africa University specifically, the scholarship focuses on both technology-enabled agribusiness and entrepreneurship, reflecting the university's unique positioning at the intersection of agriculture and the digital economy.

👩🏻‍💻 Eligible Programmes & Curriculum Overview

Africa University offers four scholarship-eligible programmes for the 2026/2027 intake:

Undergraduate Programmes:

BSc (Hons) in Agribusiness Management — Covers agricultural value chains, enterprise management, agri-markets, and business development within the food and farming sectors.
BSc (Hons) in Software Engineering — A unique inclusion that reflects TAGDev's vision for digital transformation in agriculture; scholars in this programme are expected to apply their technical skills in agri-tech and rural digital solutions.

Postgraduate Programmes:

MSc in Agribusiness — Advanced study in agricultural enterprise, market systems, value chain analysis, and agri-finance.
MSc in Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Creativity — Designed to produce entrepreneurial thinkers capable of designing and scaling innovative solutions in Africa's agrifood systems.

All programmes are taught in English, which is the sole language of instruction at Africa University. The scholarship experience goes well beyond the classroom — scholars participate in field attachments, community outreach, internships, and entrepreneurship training that collectively build the practical competencies Africa's agricultural transformation demands.

🎁 Scholarship Benefits

This is a comprehensive full-board scholarship. Scholars at Africa University receive the following:

Full tuition fees — 100% covered, no application fee required for TAGDev applicants
Research costs — including materials and academic resources
Workshop and conference costs — including international conferences covered directly by the RUFORUM Secretariat
Living stipend — monthly support for personal expenses
Hostel accommodation — on-campus housing fully provided
Laptop — to support learning and digital engagement
Transportation costs — for commuting and study-related travel
Internship and field attachments — hands-on industry exposure
Community engagement activities — structured outreach and service learning
Entrepreneurship training — building business skills alongside academic study

Special Additional Support for RDPs and PWDs:

Refugee and Displaced Persons (RDPs) within Zimbabwe will receive support with arrangements to campus
Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) will receive assistive devices to support learning and movement throughout their studies

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship at Africa University, applicants must meet the following:

General Eligibility:

Be an African national currently residing in Africa
Be from an economically disadvantaged background, marginalized community, refugee settlement within Zimbabwe, or be a Person with Disability
NOT be a current holder of any other scholarship (double scholarship holders will be automatically discontinued)
NOT be a previous TAGDev scholarship beneficiary

Age Requirements:

Under 30 years of age for undergraduate programmes
Under 35 years of age for master's programmes (at the time of application)

Academic Requirements — Undergraduate:

For BSc Agribusiness Management: At least 2 GCE A-Level passes in relevant subjects (Geography, Agriculture, Chemistry, Physics, Maths, Business, Economics, etc.) plus 5 O-Level passes at grade C or better, including English and Mathematics. A relevant recognized Diploma is also accepted.
For BSc Software Engineering: At least 2 A-Level passes in Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Accounts, Business Studies or Economics, plus 5 O-Level passes including English and Mathematics. An approved Diploma in a relevant field is accepted.
Secondary school completion must be within the 2022–2025 window (not more than 4 years from this call).
Applicants from outside Zimbabwe must present equivalent qualifications and demonstrate English proficiency.

Academic Requirements — Postgraduate:

For MSc Agribusiness and MSc Entrepreneurship, Innovation and Creativity: A first degree in a relevant field. Non-Zimbabwean applicants must demonstrate equivalent qualifications and English language proficiency.

Personal Qualities:

Demonstrable interest in agriculture, agribusiness, and entrepreneurship
Evidence of leadership qualities
Commitment to working in agriculture and agricultural value chains
Strong commitment to community transformation
Plans to remain on the African continent after graduation

📝 Application Procedure

The application is a two-stage concurrent process — both stages must be submitted at the same time:

Stage 1 — Apply for University Admission at Africa University:

Apply online via the Africa University application portal at www.africau.edu
TAGDev 2.0 applicants are exempt from paying the application fee
Upload the following certified documents:
- Certified copies of academic and professional certificates
- Birth certificate
- National ID or valid passport
- Marriage certificate (where applicable)
Attach a supporting statement explaining why you should be considered for the TAGDev 2.0 scholarship
Postgraduate applicants only: Submit an autobiographical statement of no more than 1,500 words describing your professional activities, employment record since your first degree, and how they relate to your career objectives, aspirations, and goals

Alternatively, applications may be emailed to: studentrecruitment@africau.edu OR applications@africau.edu

Tel: +263 8688002151 | Cell: +263 712609487

Stage 2 — Apply for the TAGDev Scholarship via RUFORUM RIMS:

Visit the RUFORUM Information Management System (RIMS) at https://rims2.ruforum.org/
Click "Register Here" to create your account
Activate your account via the email sent to you (check Spam/Junk if not in inbox)
Log in and navigate to Calls → Scholarship Calls
Select Call ID: RU/2026Africa Uni/TAGDev 2.0
Click "Apply" and fill in the application form — save your progress regularly using "Save Draft"
Download and submit the completed form together with your university admission application

For scholarship application assistance: mcf@ruforum.org

For Africa University programme queries: tagdev@africau.edu | +263 77 441 1637

TAGDev webpage at Africa University: tagdev.africau.edu

✨ Extra Tips

Scholarship renewal is not automatic. The award is renewed annually but is conditional on maintaining satisfactory academic performance. Retaking more than four courses in any academic year will result in scholarship withdrawal.
Academic integrity is non-negotiable. Falsification of application documents or any form of misconduct (including examination malpractice) leads to immediate and permanent disqualification.
Alumni commitment matters. Successful scholars are expected to remain connected with RUFORUM and Africa University as part of the TAGDev Programme Alumni network, serving as ambassadors for agricultural transformation.
Act early. With a deadline of 1st May 2026 and a two-stage concurrent process, leaving your application to the last minute is a risky move. Begin gathering your documents today.
Women, refugees, internally displaced persons, and persons with disabilities are highly encouraged to apply — the programme explicitly prioritises these groups in its selection process.