DAFI Tertiary Scholarship Programme

“As refugee women, we are sometimes perceived as being powerless, with no means, nothing. We are determined to reinforce female leadership and foster creativity among women.”

- Joséphine, DAFI Women Power Club in Burundi

Read the 2023 annual report

Joséphine poses next to a curtain across a window, with the light on her face

Joséphine, 24, originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), is a final-year student of Clinical Psychology at Université Lumière de Bujumbura, on a DAFI scholarship.

Higher education is a priority for UNHCR, as outlined in Education 2030: A Strategy for Refugee Education, forming an integral part of UNHCR’s protection and solutions mandate.

Higher education makes it possible for thousands of refugee youth to develop skills and earn qualifications to allow them to become change-makers who can take the lead in identifying solutions to the challenges that affect them and their communities.

The DAFI scholarship programme constitutes one of the five core pillars of the strategy to achieve 15 per cent enrolment of young refugee women and men in higher education by the year 2030 – the 15by30 Roadmap.

The DAFI (Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative) scholarship programme offers qualified refugee and returnee students the possibility to earn an undergraduate degree in their country of asylum or home country.

In 2023, 9,312 refugees from 54 countries of origin were enrolled in higher education on DAFI scholarships in 59 countries around the world. The DAFI programme, which has been operating for over three decades, remains the cornerstone of UNHCR’s strategy to achieve and exceed 15 per cent enrolment of refugees in higher education by 2030 (the 15by30 target).

Out of 15,600 applications received in 2023, 1,942 new DAFI scholarships were awarded (12 per cent), reflecting increased demand and an urgent need for greater investment in higher education scholarships and opportunities for refugees.

Through the dedicated support of the Government of Germany, along with the support of the government of Denmark, as well as other private partners and foundations, the programme has supported over 26,300 young refugees to undertake tertiary studies since 1992.

To highlight the pivotal role of the DAFI programme as so much more than a scholarship, the 2023 report focuses on tremendous steps taken by programme partners to strengthen the critical link between higher education and sustainable livelihoods as well as self-reliance.

This includes actions to:

promote career readiness and the development of in-demand skills
facilitate pathways to internship opportunities and employment placements; to prepare scholars to thrive as entrepreneurs and business owners
partner with local public and private sector partners to cultivate spaces for networking and to advance professional placement opportunities
in some cases, advocate with government actors to improve the implementation of policies to include refugees in education systems and the labour market.

Throughout, DAFI scholars and alumni have taken on leadership roles to enhance programming, support their peers and engage with policymakers to strengthen pathways from education to livelihoods.

To learn more, please see the 2023 DAFI Programme Annual Report.

The strategic priorities of the DAFI programme are to:

Promote refugee self-reliance

through increased access to opportunities for employment and entrepreneurship

Empower students to contribute knowledge, skills and leadership

and to facilitate peaceful coexistence with host communities during displacement and upon return

Strengthen the protective impact of education

by encouraging lifelong learning

An icon of a little hand reaching for a bigger hand

Provide role models for refugee children and youth

to demonstrate the impact of education on individuals, communities and societies

The scholarship covers a range of costs, including tuition, fees, study materials, food, transportation, accommodation and other expenses.

To amplify academic achievement and skills development, DAFI scholars receive additional support through close monitoring, academic preparatory and language classes based on students’ needs, as well as mentoring and networking opportunities. DAFI student clubs and alumni groups are active in many countries and make valuable contributions in the communities that host them.

DAFI programme currently operates in:

Africa: Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Cote d'Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
The Americas: Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico.
Asia: Afghanistan, India, Islamic Republic of Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Thailand.
Europe: Azerbaijan, Russian Federation, Slovakia, Serbia, Ukraine, Republic of Türkiye.
The Middle East & Northern Africa: Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Syria, Yemen.

Are you a refugee looking for a scholarship?

If you are an eligible candidate and DAFI exists in your country, you can request a DAFI Application form from your UNHCR country office. All applications need to be directed to the respective UNHCR country offices.

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