Below is a list of Top Scholarships for African Students to apply for.
As an international or especially African student, studying in the U.S., UK, Australia, Canada, or any other country can be costly. In addition to tuition and other study-related expenses, you’ll probably need to provide proof of sufficient funds to cover your living expenses.
Luckily, there are scholarships available specifically designed to help African students meet their educational costs abroad! The process of applying for these scholarships can seem daunting at first, but when broken down into steps, it’s not difficult at all!
We’ve compiled a list of the top international scholarships for African students to help you get started on your search!
Speak Global Scholarship
Are you a student or recent graduate from Sub-Saharan Africa interested in studying, researching, or teaching abroad? If so, SPEAK Global is offering an annual scholarship of $2,500 to support your expenses. You’ll also have access to a network of advisors who can help with all aspects of international study including funding, scholarships and grants.
To be eligible for this scholarship you must be currently enrolled at an accredited university in Sub-Saharan Africa; you must not have received previous funding from SPEAK Global; and you must plan to attend one of our SPEAK Global partner universities outside of Sub-Saharan Africa.
For more information on eligibility requirements, Click here.
Read also: Fully Funded Scholarships for Undergraduate Students
Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation Scholarships
If you’re an international student from a low-income country and want to study abroad, consider applying for one of these scholarships. It will cover your tuition, room and board, books, travel expenses, local transportation in your new city or country of study, and more.
There are currently eight countries—Belgium, Botswana, Canada, Ghana, Kenya (for graduates only), New Zealand (Maori students only), South Africa (students from Lesotho may apply), and Zambia—with designated scholarship programs administered by a government agency or foundation.
- To be eligible you must be pursuing a degree at an accredited institution outside of your home country that is rated good or higher by a recognized organization like World University Rankings.
- You can’t already hold citizenship in any developed nation other than Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, or the United States.
- You also cannot have previously held permanent residency status in any developed nation other than Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand and/or United States as well as five years’ residence there before applying for citizenship.
The scholarship is worth $4 million over four years which comes out to $1 million per year; it’s renewable for up to two additional years if you maintain satisfactory academic progress each year.
- This scholarship will pay your tuition, room and board, books, travel expenses, local transportation in your new city or country of study, and more.
- You’ll also receive a $10,000 allowance for your first year of study abroad and a $5,000 allowance for each subsequent year of study abroad (up to a total of $25,000).
- All students are required to participate in an internship program in their host country or region during at least one summer term (or equivalent) between their first and second years of study abroad .
The Gates Millennium Scholars Program is awarded by Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. It was created by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation with help from Morehouse College.
Apply for: Bucharest Summer University Scholarship here
University of Cambridge Graduate Scholarships in Mathematics
The University of Cambridge offers a number of scholarships, including those available to international students. There are over 200 scholarship opportunities made available through the university, ranging from £2,000 to £30,000 in value.
Individuals applying for scholarships will need to demonstrate their potential in an area of study related to their degree program. In addition, students must be studying at one of Cambridge’s many partner institutions and will also be evaluated based on personal qualities and interests as they relate to their academic pursuits.
These non-degree related awards are offered by colleges or faculty councils that oversee areas such as Mathematics, Medical Sciences or Physical Sciences. In order to apply for a Graduate Scholarship at Cambridge you should be pursuing master’s or doctoral level study. Applicants may be asked to submit letters of recommendation, but these are not always required.
To learn more about specific scholarship requirements and deadlines contact your school directly.
You can find more information about University of Cambridge scholarships here.
Erasmus Mundus Master Course Scholarship
If you’re an international student from a country that is not part of European Union, but you’re keen on studying in Europe, then you can apply to one of those Erasmus Mundus Master Courses scholarships. As the name suggests, students have access to a network of masters and exchange programs available in other countries.
In order to be eligible for these scholarships, applicants need to have completed at least three years at their university and have proof that they will be able to pay tuition fees themselves. You can also submit your project idea if you think you have something original to contribute as a scholar or researcher.
However, there are plenty more where you can go outside Europe, too – South America (including Brazil), North America (the United States and Canada), Asia (India) and Australia all offer various scholarship opportunities to international students. But again, it depends on your specific field of study. Some universities even offer scholarships that are open only to applicants who are over 30 years old – because older people bring more life experience with them when it comes to education and research projects!
For more information, click here.
The Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP)
If you’re an international student and have citizenship in a Commonwealth country, then you may be eligible to apply for CSFP scholarships. Like other international scholarships, CSFP awards are only available to students enrolled in master’s or doctoral degree programs at accredited institutions worldwide.
One of these scholarships, called Partnerships for Higher Education in Africa (PHEAA), provides one-year full tuition awards at universities in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa. Another scholarship program offered by CSFP is the PIE Fund, which supports US studies at over 100 universities across England—from large institutions like Cambridge University to small colleges like Sheffield Hallam University.
There are also scholarships for African students studying in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
To learn more about all of these scholarship opportunities, visit our guide on How to Apply for Scholarships as an International Student.
For more information, click here.
The Borlaug Fellowship Program
The Borlaug Fellowship Program offers up to $40,000 in funding towards PhD candidates who are interested in studying challenges of food security and agriculture. You must be a citizen of an eligible Sub-Saharan African country to apply, but you do not need to be a U.S. citizen or a resident of that country. You also must submit your application by March 1st in order to be considered that year.
If you are unable to complete your PhD within 2 years, you will not receive funding beyond those two years. This scholarship is sponsored by George Washington University and several other colleges, as well as NGOs like Bread for Life Institute for Development (BFLID) and Ethiopian Community Development Council (ECDC).
You can learn more about Borlaug Fellowship Program here.
World Learning Opportunities Fund (WLOF).
In order to qualify, applicants must be either citizens of an African country or studying in an institution located in one of these countries. They must also have been enrolled as full-time students at their institution and have completed at least four semesters in total prior to applying.
To apply, international students will need to submit a transcript of their academic record and a research proposal based on originality and creativity. An interview may be required depending on how many applications they receive. Applications are reviewed by a WLOF evaluation team who will determine scholarship awards with final approval from WLOF’s board members. Applicants are expected to complete their studies within two years from when they were accepted into their program of study. Failure to do so will result in cancellation of funding.
Scholarship funds are non-transferable and only given once per year. All candidates must reapply each year if they wish to continue receiving scholarship funding. This scholarship is renewable provided that recipients maintain satisfactory academic progress during their time at university and participate actively in community service activities upon completion of their degree program. Scholarship winners are selected based on merit and financial need. Financial need is determined by subtracting all other scholarships received from tuition costs (including living expenses). There is no application fee associated with this scholarship.
Scholarship winners will receive $2,000 USD annually towards tuition fees, books, supplies and living expenses while attending college.
For more information, click here.
Apply for: Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) here
The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Leadership Fellows Program by the U.S. Department of State
This U.S. government scholarship is intended to help foreign students study at American universities, with a focus on helping them develop leadership skills and prepare them to contribute to their home countries upon their return. All U.S.-based scholarships are full-tuition awards and include an $8,000 annual stipend; YALI Fellows also receive professional development training via online modules that last one year before they attend an orientation session in Washington D.C.. Applicants must be between 18 and 30 years old, have a minimum GPA of 3.0 (or its equivalent) and demonstrate significant leadership potential through extracurricular activities or work experience.
To apply, you must submit a completed application form along with transcripts from your undergraduate studies (if applicable), proof of English proficiency (if applicable), and two letters of recommendation.
For more information about eligibility requirements or how to apply, Click here.
Chevening Awards
Chevening is a United Kingdom-based scholarship program that offers a wide range of scholarships to Africans. Chevening awards have provided aid to over 12,000 participants from 130 countries since 1965. Applicants must be nominated by an official organization and complete their applications within specific time periods.
Most scholarship opportunities come with funds to cover tuition and housing costs, as well as travel expenses for award winners and their parents or guardians. In addition, some awards include mentoring opportunities and pre-departure training programs. If you’re applying on behalf of your organization, make sure it’s formally recognized by your country’s government as a non-profit institution; otherwise, you can apply on your own behalf only if you are selected as an individual candidate.
For more information, click here.
