By: Mohamed J. Bangura
The Embassy of the Republic of Sierra Leone in Moscow has announced the commencement of disbursement of stipends and allowances to Sierra Leonean government scholarship students studying in the Russian Federation for the 2025/2026 academic year.
In a public notice dated September 8, 2026, the Embassy confirmed that the funds had been credited to its account and that disbursement to eligible students will begin on Friday, September 11, 2026.
Students will be able to collect their allowances between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. at the Sierra Leone Embassy in Moscow.
The payment is expected to provide relief to Sierra Leonean scholarship beneficiaries across Russia, many of whom rely on their quarterly stipends to cover essential expenses, including accommodation, food, transportation, educational materials and other living costs.
The stipend programme forms part of the Government of Sierra Leone’s support for students pursuing higher education abroad under government scholarship arrangements. The allowances are facilitated through the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education as part of the government’s broader human capital development efforts.
To ensure transparency, accountability and proper documentation, the Embassy has instructed students to appear in person when collecting their stipends, except in cases where a valid reason prevents them from doing so.
Students are required to present four key documents and pieces of information: a valid Sierra Leonean passport showing a valid Russian visa, an up-to-date academic progress report for the 2025/2026 academic year, a valid university identity card, and the name and contact number of the Dean of Foreign Students at their respective universities.
The Embassy said the academic progress reports are particularly important as they will assist the Mission in compiling reports for submission to the Ministry of Technical and Higher Education.
The reports will enable the Ministry to monitor the academic performance of scholarship beneficiaries and provide the necessary justification for continued stipend support in subsequent academic years.
The Embassy has also set November 30, 2026, as the deadline for students to collect their allowances. The Mission warned that any funds remaining unclaimed after the deadline will be returned to the Consolidated Fund in Freetown.
The payment comes at an important time for Sierra Leonean students in Russia as they continue their academic programmes and prepare for the new academic year.
The students are pursuing studies in various fields, including medicine, engineering, agriculture, science and other disciplines considered critical to Sierra Leone’s future development.
The government’s investment in overseas scholarships is aimed at developing a skilled workforce capable of contributing to the country’s economic and social transformation upon completion of their studies.
Timely payment of student allowances is therefore an important component of ensuring that beneficiaries can concentrate on their academic work without facing unnecessary financial difficulties.
The Embassy’s announcement also highlights the importance of effective communication between Sierra Leone’s diplomatic missions and citizens studying abroad.
The Mission has encouraged students to cooperate fully with the payment process and use official channels to communicate any challenges they may encounter.
The Embassy further thanked the students for their understanding and cooperation as arrangements are made for the commencement of the disbursement.