The DAFI programme (The Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative)

UNHCR provides, on a limited basis, scholarships for refugees at the tertiary level in universities and polytechnic institutions through the Albert Einstein German Academic Refugee Initiative Fund (DAFI). Funding for this programme is provided by the Federal Government of Germany. The purpose of the DAFI Programme is to contribute to the self-reliance of refugees by providing them with a professional qualification for future employment. Scholarships are granted only for studies in the country of asylum. Preferably, UNHCR would like to see the graduates return home and contribute to the reconstruction of their home country, or to the development of the country of asylum or the refugee community at large.

Who can apply?

In order to be eligible, a candidate must:

• be a refugee with recognised refugee status;
• have successfully completed secondary schooling to a high standard;
• have no other means of support for university studies;
• select a course of study that is likely to lead to employment in the country of origin with maximum three to four years duration;
• not be older than 28 years at the beginning of studies;
• have no other family member receiving a DAFI scholarship.

Who cannot apply?

• Asylum seekers who have not (yet) been recognised as refugees;
• Refugees seeking resettlement in a third country.

What are the main selection criteria?

The DAFI Programme is targeting socio-economically disadvantaged and academically deserving refugee students in the first country of asylum. Priority will be given to:

• students who had to interrupt their studies due to displacement, and who possess proof of previous university or college studies in their country of origin;
• qualified refugees who have no means of financial support for university studies, or who are excluded from application for scholarships available to nationals;
• refugee students who have proficiency in the language commonly taught at universities or colleges in their country of asylum;
• students who interrupted their DAFI scholarship in the country of asylum due to repatriation to the country of origin. Subject to prevailing conditions and available funds, these students may be supported to continue and/or complete their studies in their country of origin;
• students who choose shorter and inexpensive courses with high chances of employment (such as computer studies, paramedical and teaching professions, etc).

Other protection related aspects taken into account throughout the selection are:

• gender-balance
• individuals with special needs, such as physical disabilities;
• students’ commitment to community support, voluntary work etc.
• fair distribution of scholarships among urban and camp-based refugees
• ethnic and religious diversity

As of 2018, DAFI scholarships are available in 50 countries, namely:

Sub-Sahara Africa: Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia & Zimbabwe.

Middle East & Northern Africa (MENA): Algeria, Egypt, Kurdistan Region of Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Mauritania, Morocco, Syria & Yemen.

Asia & Pacific: Bangladesh, India, Iran, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan & Tajikistan.

The Americas: Ecuador.

Europe: Azerbaijan, Russian Federation, Turkey & Ukraine.

What expenses can the scholarship cover?

The DAFI Programme might cover the costs mentioned below in full or partially, depending on the specific needs of refugee students and the country programme:

Registration/Tuition Fees: The scholarship usually covers registration and tuition fees. In many countries, refugees pay the same fees as national students. In others, refugees have to pay the registration fees applicable to foreigners, which are considerably higher. When applying for admission to a university, refugees should clearly indicate in the application that they are refugees. Registration and tuition fees are generally paid directly to the institution.

Subsistence Allowance: Students will receive a subsistence allowance to cover costs such as living allowance (food), books allowance, boarding/housing allowance, medical allowance, or local travel allowances. Not all of the allowances are automatically applicable to each country but are rather based on local circumstances. The level of allowances should reflect real needs and actual costs of living in the given country, and permit the student to cover his/her basic needs. Adjustments may be made to the subsistence allowance during long vacations. Boarding or housing allowance covers the costs of housing on university campus, or a similar boarding outside the campus. In cases where students live with their parents, a boarding allowance will not be paid. Local travel allowance covers the daily travel between the university and home, if applicable.

Varying across countries and depending on the context and DAFI students’ needs, DAFI programme includes access to mentoring support, participation in a DAFI students’ association/club, social and cultural events, or language and skills trainings.

Can I apply for a partial scholarship?

Yes. A partial sponsorship under the DAFI Programme is possible if the candidate has some other source of funding, for instance, for registration and tuition fees. In this case, a selected student would only receive a subsistence allowance. In other cases, students may be able to sustain themselves, but may only need support to pay for registration/tuition fees.