Direct Aid and INES-Ruhengeri Open Scholarship Applications for Vulnerable and High-Achieving Students.

If you just finished senior six and you're wondering how you'll ever afford university, this one's worth your full attention. Direct Aid, in partnership with INES-Ruhengeri, has opened a scholarship program for higher education, and it's aimed squarely at students who did well in school but don't have the money to back it up.

But here's the thing. The deadline is close. Online applications close on Saturday, September 19, 2026, at 5 PM. So if you're reading this, don't put it off until tomorrow. Read through, check if you qualify, and apply today.

Quick Facts

• Sponsorship: DirectAid
• Category: Undergraduate
• Deadline: September 19, 2026, 5 PM

What This Scholarship Is About

The goal is simple: support students who are academically promising but come from vulnerable backgrounds. Direct Aid and INES-Ruhengeri want to make sure that a lack of money doesn't stop a capable student from going to university.

Applications are open to various fields of study, but priority goes to students pursuing:

1. Health Sciences
2. Engineering and Technology
3. Science and Information Technology
4. Other related fields

So if you're heading into any of these areas, your chances look even better.

Allowed Departments

This scholarship covers a wide range of programs at INES-Ruhengeri. Here's the full list of departments you can apply under:

• Business Administration
• Statistics Applied to Economy
• Biology and Chemistry
• Mathematics and Computer Science
• Architecture
• Pharmacy
• Land Survey
• Biomedical Laboratory Sciences
• Biotechnologies
• Computer Science
• Electrical Engineering
• Water Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Renewable Energy Engineering
• French and English
• Enterprises Management
• Public Administration and Governance
• Mathematics and Science Education
• Bachelor of Science in Economics (BSc. ECO)
• Electrical Power Engineering
• Applied Economics
• Anesthesia
• General Nursing
• Midwifery
• Land Management and Valuation
• Information Sciences and Library Management
• Law

If your dream program is on this list, you're eligible to apply, no need to limit yourself only to Health Sciences or Engineering. Just remember, priority still goes to Health Sciences, Engineering and Technology, and Science and IT.

Who Can Apply

Before you get excited and start filling out forms, check yourself against these criteria first. The scholarship isn't for everyone; it's specifically built for students who meet all of the following:

• You passed your senior six national exams with at least 65%
• You come from a poor family (this will need to be proven with documentation, more on that below)
• You are 22 years old or younger
• Being female is considered an advantage in this selection, though it's not a strict requirement

If you tick these boxes, you're in a strong position to apply.

How to Apply

The whole process happens in two stages. First online, then in person.

Step one: Apply online through the official INES Digital Campus portal: https://digitalcampus.ines.ac.rw/#apply

Step two: Once you get feedback confirming your online application went through, you'll need to submit hard copies of these documents directly at INES Ruhengeri:

1. Original national exam results certificate
2. Certificate of birth
3. The Direct Aid Scholarship application form
4. A residence form signed by the Executive Secretary of your Cell, confirming your poverty status
5. Two coloured passport photos

Make sure every document is ready before you head there. Missing paperwork at this stage can cost you the opportunity, and with dates this tight, there's no room for back and forth.

Important Dates to Remember

Write these down or set a reminder on your phone right now:

• Saturday, September 19, 2026, 5 PM: online applications close
• Monday, September 21 and Tuesday, September 22, 2026: submission of hard copy documents at INES Ruhengeri

Miss the first date and the second one won't matter.

A Word of Encouragement

Scholarships like this don't come around often, and honestly, a lot of qualified students miss out simply because they didn't hear about it in time or assumed they wouldn't qualify. If you meet the criteria above, don't talk yourself out of applying. Go through the process, get your documents together, and give yourself a real shot at higher education without the financial weight holding you back.

If you know someone, a sibling, a neighbor, a classmate, who just finished senior six and fits this description, share this with them. It might be exactly what they need right now.

This notice was issued by INES-Ruhengeri and signed by Fr Dr Jean Bosco Baribeshya, Vice Chancellor, on September 15, 2026, in Musanze.