The Refugee-Led Research Hub (RLRH) is inviting applications for Graduate Horizons, a free global mentorship programme supporting prospective Master’s students affected by forced displacement to apply for funded graduate programmes beginning in 2027. The programme is designed to help participants identify suitable Master’s degrees and scholarships, strengthen their applications and submit competitive applications with guidance from RLRH staff and mentors. Graduate Horizons provides access to application support for more than 250 Master’s degree scholarships across 25+ universities worldwide. In the previous programme cycle, Graduate Horizons learners received more than 200 university offers. Programme Overview Programme: Graduate HorizonsProvider: Refugee-Led Research Hub (RLRH)Level: Master’s degreeTarget intake: 2027Location: OnlineDuration: November 2026 to April 2027Cost: FreeApplication deadline: 25 October 2026 at midnightEligible applicants: People affected by displacement, including applicants from Africa Participants can be based anywhere in the world. They will be matched with an RLRH mentor or staff member and can receive support through platforms including email, WhatsApp and Zoom. What Does Graduate Horizons Offer? Graduate Horizons is an application support and mentorship programme, rather than a scholarship itself. Its purpose is to help participants become stronger applicants for funded Master’s opportunities. Over approximately six months, participants will receive structured support through group workshops, application clinics and guidance sessions, with additional individual support where needed. The programme aims to help each participant submit at least three Master’s applications by the end of the programme. Support includes: Developing an action plan for graduate admissions. Short courses to strengthen applicants’ profiles. Identifying suitable Master’s degrees and scholarships. Understanding application requirements. Preparing scholarship applications. Completing and submitting applications. Ensuring required supporting documents are prepared. Accessing RLRH office hours for individual questions and guidance. Universities and Scholarship Opportunities For this application round, Graduate Horizons will particularly support applications to universities with deadlines falling between December 2026 and April 2027. The highlighted institutions include: University of Oxford, UK University of Cambridge, UK Sciences Po, France University of California, Berkeley, USA Carnegie Mellon University-Africa, Rwanda University of Global Health Equity, Rwanda Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique, Morocco African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS), South Africa American University in Cairo, Egypt American University of Beirut, Lebanon These institutions are members of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program network. RLRH also indicates that participants interested in other universities and scholarships with upcoming deadlines can receive support. Who Is Eligible? Graduate Horizons is specifically designed for applicants who have been affected by displacement. Eligible backgrounds may include current or former: Refugees Asylum seekers Internally displaced persons (IDPs) Stateless persons People affected by other forms of displacement or intergenerational dislocation Applicants must also have completed, or be in the final year of, a Bachelor’s degree. Typically, applicants should have academic results equivalent to approximately 75%, a UK 2:1 degree classification, or a 3.0 GPA out of 4.0, or the equivalent qualification in their education system. Applicants must be capable of studying in English or French and writing to a professional standard without relying on AI. They should also intend to submit applications to graduate programmes within the following six months for 2027 enrolment. Who Is Particularly Encouraged to Apply? RLRH encourages applications from groups that remain under-represented in higher education, including women, LGBTQ+ and gender non-conforming people, and persons with disabilities. However, the programme’s displacement requirement is essential. Individuals who have not been affected by displacement are not eligible for Graduate Horizons. Application Deadline Applications for this round close at midnight on Sunday, 25 October 2026. The programme is scheduled to run from the first week of November 2026 through April 2027. The application form is expected to take approximately 1.5 to 2 hours to complete, so applicants should allow sufficient time to prepare their responses and submit the form before the deadline. Information Sessions RLRH is also hosting information sessions for prospective applicants. The sessions cover the same information, so applicants only need to attend one. The scheduled sessions are: 8 October 2026 – 10:00 a.m. BST 15 October 2026 – 1:00 p.m. BST 22 October 2026 – 3:00 p.m. BST Applicants unable to attend can contact the Graduate Horizons team about accessing a recording. How to Strengthen an Application Applicants should begin by identifying Master’s programmes that align closely with their academic background, professional goals and long-term interests. They should also research scholarship eligibility requirements and upcoming deadlines before selecting their target programmes. A strong application should clearly explain the applicant’s academic journey, experience of displacement where relevant, future ambitions and reasons for pursuing postgraduate study. Applicants should take advantage of the programme’s workshops and application clinics and prepare academic documents, CVs, references and personal statements well in advance. Why Join Graduate Horizons? Graduate Horizons can be particularly valuable for displaced African students who may have the academic qualifications to pursue postgraduate study but lack access to specialised scholarship application guidance. The programme provides structured mentorship, practical application support and exposure to a wide range of funded Master’s opportunities. By helping participants identify suitable programmes and submit stronger applications, RLRH aims to expand access to graduate education for people affected by displacement. About the Refugee-Led Research Hub The Refugee-Led Research Hub (RLRH) supports people with lived experience of displacement to develop academic and professional careers in areas including human rights, forced migration, politics, law and other fields. RLRH provides academic and professional development programmes and supports access to graduate education and advanced professional opportunities. Its network includes more than 1,400 individuals across more than 100 countries. Important Disclaimer Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the programme provider and does not award the Master’s scholarships. Graduate Horizons provides mentorship and application support to help eligible participants apply for funded Master’s opportunities. Applicants should not send applications or CVs to GSO. Applicants should verify the latest eligibility criteria, participating universities, scholarship requirements and deadlines directly with RLRH before applying. VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and WPChannel Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) does not take ownership or credit for the opportunities shared on this platform. All opportunities are sourced from official announcements and external sources for informational purposes only. Applicants are encouraged to verify all details, deadlines, and eligibility requirements from the official source before applying. Opportunities may be updated or changed by the providing organisations.