Burkina Faso National Excellence Scholarship (Bourses du Gouvernement Burkinabè)
by Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation (MESRSI) / CIOSPB · Public and Private Universities in Burkina Faso, and Partner Institutions in Morocco, Tunisia, France, and Senegal
🕐 Last updated: June 18, 2026
🏆 Fully Funded🟩 Active🎓 Undergraduate (Licence), Master's, and Doctorate (PhD)🌍 Burkina Faso📌 Merit-based and Social-need based
Varies; approximately 40,000 to 175,000 FCFA per month depending on study level and country of residence
Duration
Duration of the degree program (3 years for Bachelor, 2 years for Master, 3 years for PhD)
Deadline
August to October annually (Varies by specific call)
Level
Undergraduate (Licence), Master's, and Doctorate (PhD)
Acceptance
Check official website for annual statistics
Difficulty
High for international programs; Moderate for domestic enrollment
Quick Summary
Burkina Faso National Excellence Scholarship (Bourses du Gouvernement Burkinab), administered by Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation (MESRSI) / CIOSPB, is one of the funding options available to burkinab students and researchers in Burkina Faso. The award covers Provides a monthly living allowance, full tuition coverage, health insurance, and specific grants for educational materials and research. and is open to undergraduate (licence), master's, and doctorate (phd) students studying all fields, with priority in stem (science, technology, engineering, mathematics), health sciences, and agricultural sciences. The scholarship runs for duration of the degree program (3 years for bachelor, 2 years for master, 3 years for phd) and may be renewed annually based on academic performance. Eligibility is generally based on open to Burkinab citizens with excellent academic records. Applicants must meet age limits: typically under 22 for Bachelor's, 30 for Master's, and 35 for PhD. The application deadline is August to October annually (Varies by specific call), with an acceptance rate of approximately Check official website for annual statistics. EduAtlasHub tracks updated deadlines, coverage details and eligibility requirements for this scholarship as they change.
✨ Should I Apply for Burkina Faso National Excellence Scholarship (Bourses du Gouvernement Burkinabè)?
Instant AI-powered application intelligence
72%
Eligibility Match
20%
Win Probability
6/10
Difficulty
10/10
Reward Score
20-35 hrs
Time Required
Competitive (High for local scholarships, Low for international excellence scholarships)
Competition
🌍 Overview
💰
Award Amount
Varies; approximately 40,000 to 175,000 FCFA per month depending on study level and country of residence
⏳
Duration
Duration of the degree program (3 years for Bachelor, 2 years for Master, 3 years for PhD)
📅
Deadline
August to October annually (Varies by specific call)
🔬
Fields
All fields, with priority in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), Health Sciences, and Agricultural Sciences
🏆
Awards/Year
Varies; several thousand for domestic students and hundreds for international placements
🌏
Study Country
Burkina Faso
🏛️
Provider
Ministry of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation (MESRSI) / CIOSPB
📊
Acceptance
Check official website for annual statistics
The Burkina Faso Government Scholarship, managed by the Centre National de l'Information, de l'Orientation Scolaire et Professionnelle et des Bourses (CIOSPB), is designed to support the country's most promising students. It covers both domestic studies within Burkina Faso and international studies in partner countries through bilateral cooperation, aiming to build high-level human capital for national development.
👥 Who Should Apply
Open to Burkinabè citizens with excellent academic records. Applicants must meet age limits: typically under 22 for Bachelor's, 30 for Master's, and 35 for PhD.
🏛️ Host University
Public and Private Universities in Burkina Faso, and Partner Institutions in Morocco, Tunisia, France, and Senegal
🤝 Sponsor
Gouvernement du Burkina Faso
🔬 Fields of Study
All fields, with priority in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics), Health Sciences, and Agricultural Sciences
✨ Key Benefits
Provides a monthly living allowance, full tuition coverage, health insurance, and specific grants for educational materials and research.
🎯 Target Students
Burkinabè students and researchers
🏷 Tags
Burkina FasoGovernment ScholarshipCIOSPBWest AfricaSTEM ScholarshipExcellence Award
📊 Statistics & Competitiveness
Over 20,000
Applicants Last Year
Varies by annual budget allocation
Winners
Check official website for annual statistics
Acceptance Rate
Competitive (High for local scholarships, Low for international excellence scholarships)
Competition Level
Win Probability
20%
Match Score
72%
Competition
75%
💸 Funding Breakdown
Tuition
Yes
Living Stipend
Yes
Total Award
Varies; approximately 40,000 to 175,000 FCFA per month depending on study level and country of residence
✈️ Travel: Yes (for international scholarship holders)🏠 Accommodation: Subsidized in university residences or included in monthly stipend💊 Health Insurance: Yes🔄 Renewable: Yes💳 App Fee: Free
🎓 Tuition Coverage
Yes
🏠 Living Stipend
Yes
🏡 Accommodation
Subsidized in university residences or included in monthly stipend
✈️ Travel Allowance
Yes (for international scholarship holders)
💊 Health Insurance
Yes
🎁 Other Benefits
Initial equipment allowance (Trousseau), research grants for PhD students, and return airfare for international awardees
🔄 Renewable
Yes
📋 Renewal Conditions
Maintaining satisfactory academic progress and passing to the next academic year without failure
✅ Eligibility Requirements
🌍 Eligible Nationalities
Must be a Burkinabè national, hold a Baccalauréat (for UG) or relevant degree, and meet age requirements
🎓 Academic Level
Undergraduate (Licence), Master's, and Doctorate (PhD)
📊 Minimum GPA
Equivalent to 12/20 (Mention Assez Bien) for domestic; 14/20 (Mention Bien) for international excellence quotas
🗣️ English Requirement
Not required for Francophone programs; varies for other international destinations
🍢 Age Limit
22 years for Bachelor's degree; 30 years for Master's; 35 years for PhD
💼 Work Experience
Not required for most levels, except specific professional Master's programs
🏆 Leadership
Not mandatory but considered for high-level excellence quotas
💰 Financial Need
Considered for the 'Bourse Sociale' category
🎯 Target Students
Burkinabè students and researchers
📝 Application Requirements
Essay / SOP
Often required for international cooperation scholarships
Rec Letters
Required for Master's and PhD candidates
Interview
Required for specific international bilateral programs
Application Fee
Free
Documents Required
Academic Transcripts
Passport / National ID
Required for Master's and PhD candidates Recommendation Letters
CV / Resume
Not required for Francophone programs; varies for other international destinations
Interview: Required for specific international bilateral programs
Min GPA: Equivalent to 12/20 (Mention Assez Bien) for domestic; 14/20 (Mention Bien) for international excellence quotas
📋 Application Process
Ensure all academic transcripts are officially certified; focus on achieving a high ranking in the national Baccalauréat exam; apply through the CIOSPB portal early.
💡 Insider Tip: Monitor the official CIOSPB Facebook page for immediate updates on bilateral scholarship openings for countries like Morocco or Tunisia.
🗾️ Application Roadmap
1
Research eligibility and gather requirements
Start Early
2
Collect all required documents
Start Early
3
Request recommendation letters early
4
Write compelling essays and personal statement
⚠ High Risk Stage
5
Submit complete application before deadline
6
Await shortlisting and attend interview if required
⚠ High Risk Stage
📅 Key Dates & Timeline
📅 Opens
July or August
⏰ Deadline
August to October annually (Varies by specific call)
🎤 Interview
Required for specific international bilateral programs
🎓 Study Starts
October or November
July or August
Applications Open
Gather documents and begin essays
August to October annually (Varies by specific call)
Application Deadline
Submit complete application - no late entries
Required for specific international bilateral programs
Shortlisting and Interview
Selected candidates invited for interview
After results
Award Announced
Successful applicants notified
October or November
Studies Begin
Commence degree at host institution
⚖️ Selection Process
📋 Selection Criteria
Academic excellence, age, relevance of the study project to national development priorities, and social status.
⚡ Similar Scholarships
Scholarship
Country
Coverage
Level
Burkina Faso National Excellence Scholarship (Bourses du Gouvernement Burkinabè)Current
Burkina Faso
Full Funding
Undergraduate (Licence), Master's, and Doctorate (PhD)
Open to Burkinabè citizens with excellent academic records. Applicants must meet age limits: typically under 22 for Bachelor's, 30 for Master's, and 35 for PhD.
This scholarship covers: Provides a monthly living allowance, full tuition coverage, health insurance, and specific grants for educational materials and research.. It is a fully funded scholarship.
The deadline is August to October annually (Varies by specific call). Always verify with the official website as dates may change annually.
Competition level: Competitive (High for local scholarships, Low for international excellence scholarships). Acceptance rate: Check official website for annual statistics. Strong academic record and clear motivation are essential.
Yes
Typically required: academic transcripts, passport, Not required for Francophone programs; varies for other international destinations, Required for Master's and PhD candidates recommendation letters, CV. Check official website for the complete list.