Canadian University Scholarships Open Opportunities for Young Refugees in Kenya
Kakuma, 13 October 2026
Young refugees in Kenya can secure Canadian university degrees and permanent resettlement through the Student Refugee Program, offering a transformative pathway to higher education.
Program Overview and Timeline Analysis
Higher education pathways for displaced youth represent a vital economic and social bridge. The World University Service of Canada Student Refugee Program (WUSC-SRP) facilitates university placement and permanent resettlement in Canada for eligible refugee students living in Kenya [1]. For the 2027–2028 academic intake, the recruitment process was conducted earlier in 2026 [1]. The application window for the English-language stream opened on 13 February 2026 and closed on 13 March 2026 at 5:00 PM East Africa Time (EAT) [1]. Meanwhile, the French-language stream operated on a separate timeline, opening on 20 February 2026 and concluding on 9 March 2026 at 5:00 PM EAT [1].
Eligibility Criteria and Required Documentation
To qualify for selection under the WUSC-SRP 2027–2028 intake, applicants must meet specific administrative, demographic, and academic prerequisites [1]. Candidates are required to hold an original United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) Proof of Registration alongside an official Government of Kenya Refugee ID Card [1]. Applicants must be between 18 and 25 years of age, currently reside in Kenya, and demonstrate continuous residence within the country for a minimum of three years [1]. Furthermore, eligible candidates must be unmarried with no children, reflecting the individual resettlement structure of the initiative [1].
Academic and Personal Readiness
Academic credentials form a critical core of the application process. Candidates must have completed secondary school and possess original certificates, official result slips, and supplementary academic documentation [1]. Oral and written proficiency in either English or French is compulsory, depending on the chosen application track [1]. Applicants are expected to demonstrate self-reliance, personal maturity, and readiness for integration into Canadian academic and civic life, while facing existing socio-economic barriers to completing tertiary education in their current context [1].
Application Access and Digital Submission
Submissions for the program were conducted online through designated online forms [1]. Information regarding the English call was published on WUSC’s dedicated portal (https://srp.wusc.ca/students/call-for-applications-2027-28-kenya/), with online submissions processed via a specialized portal (https://forms.gle/gx97WkoMzHEC78tU8) [1]. Applicants applying under the French track accessed details through WUSC’s Francophone portal (https://srp.wusc.ca/fr/etudiants/appel-de-candidatures-cohorte-francophone-du-per-2027-2028/) and submitted their materials using a separate portal (https://forms.gle/xibL7pYUfqsyNPvH9) [1]. Community organizations focused on digital literacy support youth navigating digital submission requirements in refugee settlements [2].