Fully Funded Italian Master's Scholarships Open for Refugees in Kenya
Kakuma, 22 July 2026
The UNICORE programme offers refugee students in Kenya life-changing, fully funded master’s degrees in Italy, covering all tuition, travel, and living expenses to support academic advancement.
Academic Requirements and Scholarship Benefits
The University Corridors for Refugees (UNICORE) programme represents a critical educational pathway for qualified students residing in Kenya who seek to advance their academic careers in Europe [1]. For the 2026 academic cohort, the application window opened on 2 March 2026 and closed on 17 April 2026 [1]. To qualify for this highly competitive scheme, applicants were required to hold officially recognised refugee status [1]. Additionally, candidates had to possess a university degree earned in or after the year 2021, completed no later than the application deadline of 17 April 2026, with a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or its equivalent [1].
From Kenya to Naples: The Academic Journey of Mohamed Anur Kuku
The tangible impact of the UNICORE initiative is best illustrated by the achievements of its alumni, such as Mohamed Anur Kuku, a Sudanese refugee student who previously resided in Kenya [2]. Kuku successfully relocated to Italy through the UNICORE programme to study at the Università degli Studi di Napoli L’Orientale (UNIOR), an institution that has actively supported the refugee corridor initiative since 2021 [2][3]. He recently graduated with a master’s degree in International Relations, achieving an outstanding final grade of 107 out of 110 [2][3]. During his studies, Kuku focused on international human rights, culminating in an English-language thesis titled ‘The Armed Conflict in Sudan: Applicable Humanitarian Laws on the Protection of Civilians and the Main Violations Committed. A Case Study of Sudan’s Conflict of 2023–Present’ [2].
A Collaborative Network for Long-Term Integration
To complement his theoretical studies, Kuku completed a curricular internship with the DEDALUS cooperative, gaining valuable hands-on experience in the European professional landscape [2]. This multi-faceted approach to refugee education—combining rigorous academics, financial support, legal assistance, and practical work experience—demonstrates how the UNICORE programme successfully bridges the gap between displacement and self-reliance [1][2]. By fostering strong partnerships between universities, regional governments, and civil society, the initiative continues to offer a vital, legal, and safe pathway for displaced youth in Kenya to achieve their professional aspirations in Europe [1][2].