Michael Makuei Lueth, Minister of Information during a cabinet meeting on 10th July 2020. | File Photo/Eye Radio

The Egyptian government has placed age limits on students applying for the 400 scholarship slots that it advertised for South Sudanese students, an official source has confirmed, in a move that is said to make it difficult for South Sudanese to land the opportunities.

Information Minister Michael Makuei said the circular from Cairo indicates that undergraduate students should be below 20 years old.

Meanwhile, those pursuing postgraduate studies should be aged at least 27, and PhD students should be below 33 years.

The official said this has made it harder for scholars to successfully get a chance, as many South Sudanese students are studying late due to the years of conflict.

Makuei also said the Egyptian government has also preconditioned South Sudanese students pay $100 for registration.

“The government of Egypt has given us 400 scholarships, they were fully funded, but now there are a lot of changes in the system,” Makuei told the press on Friday.

“They are demanding that students pay 100 USD for registration, and some other fees be paid by the student in addition to that they have come to make further clarification.”

“That any student going for undergraduate study shouldn’t be above 19 years and for master’s degree his or her age have to be 26 and for the PhD study should be above 32 years old of age so this is the limitation was made by the Government.”

In April 2023, the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology announced that the Egyptian government confirmed hundreds of fully funded scholarships for South Sudanese undergraduate students.

The collection of application forms was supposed to end on May 3, 2023, according to the ministry.

Addressing the media, Minister Makuei said Juba will send a delegation to Egypt to discuss the matter.

“However, after the presentation, the cabinet decided that the serves cluster set up a committee to travel to Egypt to discuss this matter with the Egyptian government and see how best this issue can be tackled.”

Makuei clarified that the circular was not made only for South Sudan but for all African students studying in Egypt.