Italian Universities Offer Fully Funded Master’s Degrees to Refugee Students in Kenya
Kakuma, 1 October 2026
The UNICORE programme opens applications on 2 March 2026, offering qualified refugees in Kenya fully funded master’s scholarships and a legal pathway to study at Italian universities.
Clear Criteria for Aspiring Candidates
The University Corridors for Refugees (UNICORE) initiative has established strict eligibility criteria to ensure that highly qualified candidates benefit from this academic pathway [1]. To qualify for the 2026 intake, applicants were required to hold recognized refugee status [1]. Academically, candidates must have obtained their undergraduate university degree in or after 2021, with the absolute cutoff for completing their degree set as 17 April 2026 [1]. Additionally, a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0, or its academic equivalent, was mandatory to satisfy the entry standards of the participating Italian institutions [1].
Comprehensive Financial Support in Italy
For successful applicants, the UNICORE scholarship offers a robust financial package designed to remove the economic barriers that frequently restrict displaced students from accessing higher education [1]. The programme provides a full tuition fee waiver, removing the primary financial hurdle of international postgraduate study [1]. Beyond academic fees, selected scholars receive vital financial support to cover day-to-day living expenses, alongside an additional study grant designed to ease their transition and integration into Italy [1].
Navigating the Application Process
The application window for the 2026 academic cycle officially opened on 2 March 2026, the date on which participating Italian universities published their individual academic calls [1]. Prospective students were required to submit their applications online through the official UNICORE portal before the system closed on 17 April 2026 [1]. Detailed application guidelines and portal access remain available through the dedicated UNHCR platform at https://universitycorridors.unhcr.it/ to assist candidates with understanding the requirements for future application cycles [1].