TAGDev 2.0 Scholarships 2026/2027 at Malawi University of Science and Technology — Fully Funded
- Omran Aburayya
- 22 hours ago
- 4 min read
If you are a young Malawian — or a refugee residing in Malawi — with a passion for agriculture, agribusiness, food science, or entrepreneurship, and you come from an economically disadvantaged background but carry the ambition to transform your community, then this is your moment. The TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship Programme for the 2026/2027 Academic Year at the Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST) is now open for applications. Backed by the powerhouse partnership of RUFORUM and the Mastercard Foundation, this fully funded scholarship covers everything from tuition to your laptop — and asks only one thing in return: that you become a changemaker.
🎓 Scholarship at a Glance
Location: Limbe, Malawi
Host Institution: Malawi University of Science and Technology (MUST)
Study Level: Undergraduate (BSc) and Postgraduate (Master's)
Target Group: Economically disadvantaged young Malawians; refugees and internally displaced persons residing in Malawi; persons with disabilities. Female candidates are highly encouraged to apply.
Fields of Study / Focus:
BSc in Food Science and Technology
Master of Engineering in Applied Chemical Engineering
Master of Science in Entrepreneurship
Award Value & Coverage: Fully comprehensive — see Benefits section below
Award Duration: Rolling basis, renewed annually upon satisfactory academic performance (minimum Grade B)
Application Deadline: 1st May 2026
Start Date: 2026/2027 Academic Year
Eligible Nationalities: Nationals of Malawi; refugees and displaced persons resident in Malawi
Call ID: RU/2026 MUST/TAGDEV2.0
📚 Scholarship Overview
The TAGDev 2.0 programme was built on the profound success of TAGDev 1.0, which was launched in 2016 at Egerton University in Kenya and Gulu University in Uganda. Because of that programme's impact, its model was adopted by 26 additional universities across 21 countries in Africa, and over 400 courses were revised to include entrepreneurship.
Now in its second phase, TAGDev 2.0 builds on this earlier collaboration by expanding institutional reach and reinforcing a pipeline of technically skilled, locally embedded graduates who can contribute to food security and rural economic growth across the continent. The programme runs from 2023 to 2033 — a bold, decade-long investment in African youth.
At MUST specifically, the scholarship targets students across three cutting-edge programmes: Food Science and Technology at the undergraduate level, and Applied Chemical Engineering and Entrepreneurship at the master's level. These programmes are strategically chosen to address critical gaps in Malawi's agrifood systems — from food processing and safety, to industrial chemistry, to enterprise development.
As Tina Muparadzi, Executive Director of Education and Transitions at the Mastercard Foundation, described it: "TAGDev 2.0 represents a bold commitment to transforming the lives of Africa's most vulnerable young people through the power of education... This program is a catalyst for sustainable agricultural development."
MUST itself is described as a world-class center of science, technology, research, and entrepreneurship — an institution purpose-built to produce graduates who solve Africa's most pressing challenges.
🎁 Scholarship Benefits
This is a full board comprehensive scholarship with both direct and indirect costs covered. Successful scholars receive:
Tuition fees — fully paid
Research costs — including field and lab work
Workshop and conference costs — including international conference participation (covered directly by RUFORUM Secretariat)
Living expenses — monthly stipend
Accommodation — hostel costs
Laptop — provided to each scholar
Internship attachment — hands-on industry exposure
Community engagement and field attachment
Entrepreneurship training — equipping graduates to create their own enterprises and jobs
Support for Refugees & Displaced Persons (RDPs): Travel documents assistance
Support for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs): Assistive devices for learning and mobility
In exchange, scholars are expected to be high achievers, community-driven, and to remain connected to RUFORUM and MUST as alumni and programme ambassadors.
✅ Eligibility Criteria
General Requirements:
Be a national of Malawi or a refugee/displaced person residing in Malawi
Come from an economically disadvantaged or marginalized background, or from conflict/post-conflict areas
Be under 30 years old for undergraduate applications, or under 35 years for master's applications at the time of applying
For undergraduate applicants: must have completed secondary school/diploma between 2021 and 2024
Must NOT currently hold any other scholarship (double scholarships lead to automatic discontinuation)
Must NOT be a previous TAGDev scholarship beneficiary
✅ Academic Requirements by Programme:
BSc Food Science & Technology
MSCE/O-Level/IGCSE/GCE with at least 6 credits including:
Biology
Physics
Chemistry
Mathematics
English
Grade ≤4 in key science subjects (MSCE) or minimum grade B for IGCSE
MEng Applied Chemical Engineering
BEng (Hons) in Chemical Engineering (Second Class Upper)
OR BEng in Chemical Engineering + at least 1 year of industry experience
OR BSc in Chemistry (credit) + postgraduate diploma in engineering
OR BSc in Chemistry + at least 3 years of experience in the chemical industry
Character & Commitment Requirements:
Demonstrated interest in agriculture, agribusiness, and entrepreneurship
Leadership qualities and community transformation commitment
Commitment to working in agricultural value chains
📝 Application Procedure
The application is a two-stage process that must be done concurrently:
Stage 1 — Apply for University Admission at MUST
Download the application form from www.must.ac.mw or from MUST's social media channels (Facebook, X/Twitter, LinkedIn)
— OR — collect a hard copy from the University Campus or any District Education Office
Complete the form and submit it to:
University Registrar
Malawi University of Science and Technology
P.O. Box 5196, Limbe, Malawi
— OR — submit electronically to: registrar@must.ac.mw
Stage 2 — Apply for the TAGDev 2.0 Scholarship via RIMS
Visit the RUFORUM Information Management System (RIMS) portal: https://rims2.ruforum.org/
Register by clicking "Register Here" — an activation email will be sent to your inbox (check Spam/Junk)
Log in with your credentials
From the Applicant Dashboard, go to Calls → Scholarship Calls
Select Call ID: RU/2026 MUST/TAGDEV2.0
Click Apply and complete the application form
Save your progress regularly using "Save Draft"
Download and print the completed form
Submit it alongside your university admission application (hard copy or via the university online portal)
Submission Deadline: 1st May 2026
📞 Contact Information
For scholarship and programme queries at MUST:
Dr. Petros Chigwechokha
TAGDev 2.0 Programme Coordinator, MUST
+265 999 27 71 87
Dr. Duncane Batizani
Assistant Registrar, Academics
+265 997 156 170
For RIMS portal assistance:
✨ A Final Word to Applicants
The TAGDev 2.0 scholarship is more than financial support — it is an invitation to join a continent-wide movement of young Africans reshaping agriculture from the ground up. With the deadline of 1st May 2026 fast approaching, prospective applicants should begin gathering their documents and submitting their admission applications to MUST immediately. Priority consideration is given to women, refugees, displaced persons, and individuals with disabilities — so if that is you, do not hesitate. Your education, your community, and Africa's food future may depend on this step.
