10 SCHOLARSHIPS FOR AFRICAN STUDENTS
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- Feb 4, 2020
- 9 min read
Updated: Apr 23, 2021

Schlumberger Foundation Faculty for the Future Fellowship
Each year, since 2004, the Faculty for the Future fellowships, launched by the Schlumberger Foundation, are awarded to women from developing and emerging economies who are preparing for PhD or post-doctoral study in the physical sciences and related disciplines at top universities for their disciplines abroad. Grant recipients are selected for their leadership capabilities as for their scientific talents and are expected to return to their home countries to continue their academic careers and inspire other young women.
Value of Award
Faculty for the Future grants are awarded based on the actual costs of studying and living in the chosen location and is worth USD 50,00 for PhDs and USD 40,000 for Post-doctoral study.
Requirments
Be a woman;
Be a citizen of a developing country or emerging economy;
Wish to pursue a PhD degree or post-doctoral research in the physical sciences or related disciplines;
Have applied to, have been admitted to, or are currently enrolled in a university/research institute abroad;
Wish to return to their home country to continue their academic career upon completion of their studies;
Be very committed to teaching and demonstrate active participation in faculty life and outreach work to encourage young women into the sciences;
Hold an excellent academic record,
Timeline
From 10 September to 16 November
Sustainable Energy Development Scholarship Program
The purpose of the Education for Sustainable Energy Development [ESED] scholarship is to support outstanding students from developing countries pursuing advanced studies in sustainable energy development and to encourage meaningful contributions to the collective body of knowledge about this subject. These scholarships are available to up to 10 outstanding students from developing countries and economies in transition, for a period of up to two years for a master’s degree, awarded annually.
Value of Award
Scholarships of US$ 23,000 per year.
Requirements
To be eligible to apply for this scholarship, students must;
plan to undertake studies at the master’s level in areas directly related to sustainable energy development
be citizens of the developing countries and territories identified for OECD official development aid in the DAC List of ODA Recipients
Timeline
Deadline from previous year - March 17
Rhodes Trust Scholarships for African/International Students to Study at University of Oxford
The Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest (first awarded in 1902) and perhaps most prestigious international scholarship programme, enabling outstanding young people from around the world to study at the University of Oxford. The Rhodes Trust Scholarships is a postgraduate award supporting exceptional students from around the world to study at the University of Oxford. Each year, the Rhodes Trust Scholarships are offered to more than 90 Rhodes Scholars selected from 20 Rhodes constituencies (64 countries) worldwide to study for a postgraduate degree at the University of Oxford. They are outstanding young women and men of diverse backgrounds and interests who show strong potential to be public-spirited leaders for the world’s future.
Value of Award
The Rhodes Scholarship is for two years in the first instance. The Rhodes Scholarship covers Oxford University (and College) fees as well as providing an annual stipend. For the 2019/20 academic year, the stipend will be £15,900 per annum (£1,325 per month).
In addition to the above, the Rhodes Trust will cover two economy class flights - to and from the UK - for the beginning and end of studies in Oxford. Scholars receive a settling-in allowance on arrival (£225 in 2017-18). The International Health Surcharge, which enables international students to access the UK's National Health Service, is covered for the duration of a Scholar's tenure. Following selection for the Scholarship, the Rhodes Trust will also cover the application fee required to apply to study at the University of Oxford.
Several research grants are also available to Rhodes Scholars, on application, which enables Scholars to, for example, attend international conferences or conduct additional fieldwork.
Requirements
The following eligibility criteria apply to all applicants for the Rhodes Scholarships:
Citizenship & residency: You must meet the citizenship/residency requirements of one of the Rhodes constituencies: Australia, Bermuda, Canada, China, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Israel, Jamaica & the Commonwealth Caribbean, Kenya, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Southern Africa (including South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia and Swaziland), SJLP (including Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine), United Arab Emirates, United States, West Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Age: You must have reached your 18th birthday and not have passed your 24th birthday on 1 October in the year of application. There is some variation on the upper age limit across constituencies depending on the local environment. Please check carefully the specific age requirements for your constituency before applying. Successful candidates will arrive in Oxford the October following the selection process. The Scholarship may not be deferred.
Education: Rhodes Scholars must have completed a bachelor’s degree before coming up to Oxford, to a sufficiently high standard to meet both the Rhodes and the Oxford criteria. Please consult the detailed information provided by the constituency to which you are applying to on how to apply for a Rhodes Scholarship and the prospectus pages of the University of Oxford. NB: Some constituencies require completion of your undergraduate degree in the year of application for the Scholarship.
Timeline
The deadline varies across the region, usually 31st August till October 31st.
Australia Awards Scholarships (Masters and Short Courses) for 1,000 African Students
There are two categories of Awards: Australian Awards Scholarships for master’s to undertake higher degree studies in Australia at the Master's level and the Australia Awards Scholarships for Short Courses, to undertake short-term, targeted professional training courses, in Australia and/or in Africa, in a range of development-focused sectors. Australia Awards Scholarships, a cornerstone of the Australian Government’s development assistance program for Africa, provide access to postgraduate education, training, and professional development opportunities for suitably qualified Africans from eligible countries. On their return to the workplace, Australia Awards Scholarships Alumni are expected to contribute actively to development in their home countries.
Value of Award
This is a full government-sponsored scholarship
Requirements
The following requirements apply
Citizen of an eligible African country
Minimum academic requirement: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
Mid-level to senior-level professional, currently employed in a relevant field
Meet relevant post-graduate work experience requirements
Demonstrate a clear vision of how the knowledge gained through the scholarship will be used to improve policy, practice or reform in their home country
Satisfactory English proficiency to enable full participation in a training course delivered in English
Satisfy all requirements of the Australian Government for the appropriate student visa (subclass 500).
Timeline
The application last year opened on 1st September and the application. The deadline for Masters was 3rd December and application deadline for Short Courses was on the 15th of January 2019.
Commonwealth Shared Scholarship Scheme
The Commonwealth Shared Scholarships, set up by the Department for International Development (DFID) in 1986, represents a unique partnership between the United Kingdom government and UK universities. To date, more than 3,500 students from developing Commonwealth countries have been awarded Shared Scholarships.
Value of Award
UK universities have offered to support the scholarships by contributing the stipend for the students from their own resources, or those which the university has been able to generate from elsewhere.
The CSC funds the cost of tuition fees (at the overseas rate), return airfares, and other allowances. Participating universities are required to support the student stipend for the award holder (at the rate set by the UK government).
Requirements
To apply for a Commonwealth Shared Scholarship scheme, candidates must:
Be a citizen of or have been granted refugee status by an eligible Commonwealth country, or be a British Protected Person
Be permanently resident in an eligible Commonwealth country
Be available to start your academic studies in the UK by the start of the UK academic year in September/October of the year of application
By October of the year of application hold a first degree of at least upper second class (2:1) standard, or a second-class degree and a relevant postgraduate qualification (usually a master’s degree). The CSC would not normally fund a second UK Master’s degree. If you are applying for a second UK Master’s degree, you will need to provide justification as to why you wish to undertake this study.
Not have studied or worked for one (academic) year or more in a high-income country
Be unable to afford to study in the UK without this scholarship
Timeline
Deadline from the previous year - March 14
Africa London Nagasaki (ALN) Scholarship
The ALN scholarship fund supports African scientists wishing to undertake a master’s degree related to the control of infectious diseases in Africa. The scholarship funds a candidate to undertake a Master of Tropical Medicine at the School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health (TMGH), Nagasaki, Japan or an MSc in a subject relevant to the control of infectious disease in Africa at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), London, UK. Both residential and distance learning MSc courses are available at LSHTM. Candidates offered a course at the School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health; Nagasaki will be required to reside in Japan for the duration of the course.
Value of Award
Award of US$50,000 each to cover tuition fees, travel and living expenses.
Requirements
Candidates applying for a Scholarship at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine must:
be of African nationality and normally be resident in sub-Saharan Africa,
be fluent in English. If the applicant’s first language is not English or if the studies at university have not been conducted wholly in the medium of English candidates must take and pass one of the approved internet-based tests (IELTS, TOEFL or a Pearson Test of English) (http://www.lshtm.ac.uk/prospectus/english.html). The standard of English needed to pass the tests is high and is in line with the level of English required by the UK Border Authority in order to issue a student visa.
have a first or upper second-class BSc degree or equivalent from an established university in a relevant area of science (a medical degree is not essential),
usually, have had at least two years’ prior research experience in an area relevant to the study of infectious diseases, and
have the support of the head of their institution for undertaking their chosen course.
Candidates applying for a Scholarship at the School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki, must:
be of African nationality and normally be resident in sub-Saharan Africa,
be fluent in English,
have obtained an MB ChB or equivalent medical qualification from a recognized university,
have had at least two years of clinical experience following graduation,
Timeline
Deadline is usually 31 August
Oxford Pershing Square Scholarship
Established in 2014, the Pershing Square Foundation awards up to five full scholarships to support outstanding students on the 1+1 MBA, covering both the master’s degree and the MBA year.
Recipients are exceptional individuals who can demonstrate the potential and commitment to finding scalable and sustainable solutions to world-scale social challenges. You can pursue any of the partnering master’s degrees and combine it with our MBA. It is also available if you are currently studying one of the master’s partnering programs and wish to apply to the MBA programme.
Value of Award
You will also be invited to a spring ‘trek’ to New York City hosted by the Pershing Square Foundation, where you can participate in meetings and workshops with leading innovators and change-makers. You will have the opportunity to attend prestigious conferences and events throughout the year, including the Ditchley Conferences and the Skoll World Forum.
As a Pershing Square scholar, you will receive funding for both your master’s degree and MBA programme course fees.
The scholarship also provides at least £15,009 towards living expenses for both years of study.
Requirements
Scholarships are awarded to individuals with:
Academic achievement demonstrated through degree results, GMAT or GRE score, previous university prizes and awards, and other academic achievements
Leadership potential demonstrated through experience and motivation
Strong personal character, integrity, and commitment
Intention to focus on addressing world-scale social challenges in your career, either in an existing organisation or through the development of a new enterprise
Ability to envision how to achieve scalable and sustainable solutions to these challenges
Articulated vision on how the Oxford 1+1 MBA will allow you to fulfill your objectives
Timeline
The application usually closes in January
UK Clutton-Brock Scholarship for master’s & PhD Zimbabwean Students
The object of this scholarship scheme is to establish – as a permanent memorial to the late Guy Clutton Brock, Hero of Zimbabwe and graduate of Magdalene College – scholarships at postgraduate level at the University of Cambridge for the benefit of students from Zimbabwe.
Value of Award
Each category of scholarship provides:
the University composition fee (home rate: PhD; overseas rate: MPhil);
approved College fees
a maintenance allowance for a single student; and
a contribution to a return economy airfare.
Requirements
The Scholarships are open to citizens of Zimbabwe, normally under the age of 35 and normally resident in Zimbabwe, who already have, or expect to obtain before 1 October 2016, a first-class or high second class degree or its equivalent from a recognized University. Preference will be given to students wishing to study subjects relevant to the development of Zimbabwe.
Timelin
Deadline from previous years- December 2
Africa Initiative for Governance (AIG) Masters Scholarships for African Students to Study at the University of Oxford
Every year, Africa Initiative for Governance (AIG) will fund five scholarships for outstanding individuals from Nigeria and Ghana to pursue the Master of Public Policy degree at the Blavatnik School of Government (BSG), University of Oxford. AIG Scholars will be expected, upon graduation, to return to their home country and apply their learning experience as change agents in their country’s public sector.
Value of Award
The AIG Scholarships are fully funded covering fees, accommodation, and living expenses, does not cover travel or visa expenses, however.
Requirements
Be a citizen of Nigeria or Ghana
Be between the ages of 25 and 35 years (must not be 36 years old by December 31, 2020)
Have a first-class or second-class upper undergraduate degree with honors (or equivalent international qualifications), as a minimum, in any discipline. For applicants with a degree from the USA, the minimum GPA sought is 3.7 out of 4.0
Be preferably top 10% of graduating class (First, Second or master’s degree) – evidence to be provided
Provide evidence of game-changing leadership and the resultant impact
Show skills and interests outside of academics (evidence to be provided)
Timeline
The application usually runs between July to September 23
The Beit-Blavatnik-Wadham Scholarship
In partnership with the Blavatnik School of Government and Wadham College, the Beit Trust is offering a new scholarship at Oxford University. It is a master’s in public policy (MPP), an intensive one-year postgraduate degree for current and future leaders.
Value of Award
The successful scholar will study at the Blavatnik School of Government and be accommodated at Wadham for the academic year. Fees and a stipend for living expenses are covered.
Requirements
Applicants must be citizens of, and should normally be resident in Zambia, Zimbabwe or Malawi. They must demonstrate an intention to return to their home country on completion of their course.
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This piece was put together by Chidinma Onuoha
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