Many African students don’t realise just how transformative travel grants can be. They’re not just about getting to a place: such grants open doors to presenting your research, networking with peers and experts, accessing resources (libraries, archives, labs), and participating in capacity-building workshops or training.
If you’re a master’s or early-career student in Africa, travel grants can make the difference between your work staying local and becoming known regionally or internationally.
This article explores what travel grants are, why they are important, some concrete sources available to African students right now, and tips on how to improve your chances of getting one.
What is a Travel Grant?
A travel grant (or travel scholarship) is funding offered to cover (all or part of) costs associated with travel for academic purposes. Common expenses covered include:
- Flight, bus or train fares
- Accommodation and meals while at your destination
- Conference registration fees
- Visa & local transport fees
- Sometimes incidental expenses (ground transfers, insurance, etc.)
They usually require you to be presenting a paper, poster, or otherwise contributing to a conference, workshop or training, or engaging in research that requires presence in another place (fieldwork, archives, collaboration).
Why Travel Grants are Valuable for African Students
- Visibility & recognition: Presenting at conferences increases visibility for your work and can lead to collaborations, publications or further opportunities.
- Learning & capacity: You gain exposure to new methods, ideas, and academic practices which strengthen your research skills.
- Networking: Connecting with scholars, mentors, and peers is often a stepping stone to future funding, joint projects, or internships.
- Resource access: Some travel grants enable you to access specialized libraries, archives, labs etc., which may not be available at home.
- CV enhancement: Conferences, international collaborations, and travel grant awards look very strong on applications for PhDs, fellowships or jobs.
5 Travel Grant Examples & Where to Apply
Here are several opportunities specifically relevant to African students. Always check the latest deadlines and criteria.
| Grant / Program | What it Offers / Who it’s for | Key Details / Link | Link |
| Connect Africa Scholarships (SANTHE – Sub-saharan Network for TB/HIV Research Excellence) | Grants in the range of US$2,000–10,000 for early-career scientists and students in Africa. Covers travel to conferences, scientific training courses, learning new techniques, building collaborations. | Must be African national, connected to a SANTHE-affiliated site or applying to travel to one. | Connect Africa Scholarship |
| Google Travel & Conference Grants | For students in Africa (especially in CS & technical fields) with a paper accepted at a top-tier conference. Grants of US$1,000–3,000 covering registration, travel, accommodation etc. | You usually need to be first author (or joint first), have your paper accepted, and check the deadlines & required documents. | Google Travel & Conference Grants |
| UAPS Travel Awards at the African Population Conference | Awards to young/graduate students in health, environment, population & development fields. Helps with costs of presenting accepted papers at the conference. | For example: 9th African Population Conference had a travel award for early / mid-career scholars under 30, with accepted abstracts. | UAPS Travel Awards |
| KENET Travel Grants (Kenya Education Network) | For graduate students and faculty in STEM & related fields in Kenya. Grants to present at conferences indexed in reputable citation databases. | Must be from a KENET member institution, paper accepted, application ahead of travel date. Check their site for current calls. | KENET Travel Grants |
| IAMCR Travel Grants | Up to US$1,500 per grantee (early-career scholars). For accepted papers at IAMCR conferences. Those from low- and middle-income countries are especially eligible. | Membership often required; abstract acceptance proof is necessary. Keep an eye on IAMCR ‒ they announce via website and mailing lists. | IAMCR Travel Grants |
How to Improve Your Chances of Getting a Travel Grant
- Start early: Conferences often have early deadlines for both abstracts and funding applications.
- Choose conferences wisely: Presenting at well-recognized conferences and journals increases credibility. Some grants require indexed proceedings (e.g. Scopus, Web of Science).
- Prepare a strong abstract/paper: Acceptance of your work is often required. Clarity, novelty, relevance count.
- Detailed budget & justification: Be very explicit about costs (travel, accommodation, registration, visa etc.), and why the travel is necessary.
- Attach supporting documents: Proof of paper acceptance, recommendation letters (from your supervisor), transcripts, prior work, etc.
- Highlight impact: Explain how attending the conference / training will benefit you, your institution, and possibly wider community.
- Follow application guidelines strictly: Each grant has its own eligibility, required forms, deadlines etc. Missing one requirement can disqualify you.
- Apply to multiple grants: Don’t rely on just one. Sometimes partial grants + institutional support together can cover your full cost.
Common Challenges & How to Overcome Them
- Visa issues and travel logistics: Start the visa process early; have all documents ready. Some grants can help with visa fees.
- Matching or upfront costs: Some grants disburse funds after travel; you may need to cover part of the cost beforehand or seek university seed funding.
- Uncertainty of acceptance: Sometimes you need proof of abstract acceptance before grant approval. If not yet accepted, see if conditional proof is accepted.
- Competition & limited funds: Many good applications may not get funding due to budget constraints. Make your application stand out via clarity, strong justification, and alignment with the grant’s aims.
Final Thoughts
For many African students, travel grants are more than perks—they’re catalysts for growth, collaboration, and visibility.
They can help you go from doing research in your department or community, to sharing it with the world. Keep an eye on grant calls, build a strong track record, and always try to apply when chances arise.
