If you’re looking for scholarship opportunities for African students in the 2024/2025 academic session, you’re at the right place.
Access to quality education is a fundamental right that empowers individuals and drives societal progress. However, for many Africans, financial barriers often hinder their ability to pursue higher education.
This article discusses ten scholarship opportunities African students can leverage to fulfill their academic dreams. You’ll also learn a simple step-by-step process to apply for them.
Top 10 Scholarships for African Students
Here are the top ten scholarship opportunities for African students in 2024/2025:
1. MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program for African Students
The MasterCard Foundation Scholars program is one of the most popular scholarships available to African students every year. It provides financial support to academically talented yet economically disadvantaged young Africans to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate studies at partner universities worldwide.
The scholarship is offered at selected universities in the US, UK, Europe, Canada, and even Africa. MasterCard scholarships are fully funded, covering tuition, travel, food, books, housing, etc.
Learn more about the MasterCard scholarships here.
2. New Zealand Scholarships for African Students
The New Zealand government offers various scholarships for international students, including those from African countries, to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate studies in New Zealand.
These scholarships are administered by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and are aimed at building human resource capacity in developing countries. You can learn more about the scholarships here.
3. University of Birmingham Scholarships
The University of Birmingham is one of the top schools out there that offers scholarships to African students. Whether you want to study an undergraduate, graduate, or PhD program, the University of Birmingham has a scholarship offer for you.
If you’re Nigerian, the school has a scholarship program specifically tailored for Nigerians. It offers about £4,000 to 12 Nigerians every year to help pay their first-year tuition. Learn more about the University of Birmingham scholarships here.
Also Read: 10 Degrees that Can Easily Land You a High-Paying Job Abroad
4. Trudeau Foundation Scholarships
The Trudeau Foundation Scholarships, officially known as the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarships, are prestigious awards in Canada aimed at supporting doctoral students pursuing research in the social sciences and humanities.
Trudeau scholarships offer up to $60,000 every year for three years to help cover tuition, travel, and living expenses. You can learn more about the program here.
5. Commonwealth Scholarships for Developing Countries
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission offers scholarships for students from Commonwealth countries, including African nations, to pursue Master’s and Ph.D. studies in the UK. These scholarships are awarded to talented students with the potential to make a positive impact on the global stage.
Most Commonwealth scholarships are fully funded, meaning your tuition, travel, and living expenses are taken care of. You can click here to learn more about Commonwealth scholarships.
6. African Leaders University Scholarships (ALU)
The African Leaders University Scholarships are for students who have demonstrated leadership potential and academic excellence. The scholarships are designed to cover your tuition and living expenses for an undergraduate program in any of the ALU campuses.
You can learn more about the ALU scholarships here.
7. JJ/WBGSP Scholarship
The Joint Japan/World Bank Graduate Scholarship Program (JJ/WBGSP) is a scholarship program for students from developing countries. It enables you to pursue graduate studies in one of 52 Participating Master’s Programs in 27 universities in the U.S., Europe, Africa, Oceania, and Japan.
JJ/WBGSP scholarship focuses on key areas of development, including economic policy management, tax policy, and infrastructure management. You can learn more about the scholarship here.
8. University of Exeter PhD Research Excellence Program
The University of Exeter PhD Research Excellence Program is a competitive scholarship scheme. It’s designed to attract the brightest and most talented students to pursue doctoral research at the University of Exeter, United Kingdom.
The school has over £5 million worth of scholarships available to international students. This is spread across different scholarship programs. However, the PhD Research Excellence Program is definitely one of its most popular programs, as it offers up to 15 fully-funded studentships yearly.
Learn more about the University of Exeter scholarships here.
9. UCL Global Masters Scholarship
If you’ve always wanted to study in London, the UCL Global Masters Scholarship presents a good opportunity for you to do so at $15,000 less the cost.
The UCL scholarship aims to attract and retain highly talented students from around the world by providing them with financial assistance to cover tuition fees and living expenses.
Here’s a link for you to learn more about this scholarship program.
10. Erasmus Mundus Master’s Programme in Human Rights Policy and Practice
The Erasmus Mundus Master’s Programme in Human Rights Policy and Practice is an interdisciplinary program that offers advanced education in the field of human rights. The program is offered by a consortium of four top European universities:
- University of Roehampton, London, UK
- University of Gothenburg, Sweden
- University of Tromsø – The Arctic University of Norway, Norway
- University of Deusto
The Erasmus Mundus program comes with a fully-funded scholarship that covers your tuition, travel, and living expenses. You can learn more about the scholarship here.
Now that you know the top ten scholarship opportunities available for African students in 2024, let’s look at how you can apply for them.
How to Apply for Scholarships
Here’s a step-by-step guide you can use to apply for any scholarship:
1. Check the Eligibility
The first thing you must do before applying for any scholarship is to check if you’re eligible for it. Carefully study the requirements and take notes of them. Some scholarships require you to have outstanding academic achievement, be in a specific field of study, be from a particular region, etc.
Most scholarships are only available to those who are economically disadvantaged. Therefore, you have to prove that you have a financial need before you can access them.
2. Prepare the Required Documents
Gather all the necessary documents required for the scholarship application.
Some common documents you should have are academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, a personal statement or essay, a resume or curriculum vitae (CV), standardized test scores (SAT, ACT, GRE, TOEFL, IELTS), and proof of financial need (if applicable).
3. Complete the Application Form
Once you’re eligible and your documents are ready, apply for the scholarship by filling out the application form. Make sure to follow all instructions and double-check for errors before submitting your application.
4. Prepare for Interviews
Some scholarships may require an interview as part of the selection process.
If you are selected for an interview, prepare by researching the school or scholarship provider. Practice common interview questions and articulate your goals and achievements, as those are where most questions will come from.
5. Wait for Acceptance
Once you’ve submitted your application and done your interviews, wait for acceptance into the program. If you’re accepted, follow the instructions given to plan your next steps.
Also Read: 7 Best Jobs You Can Get as an International Student in Canada
Conclusion
Many scholarship opportunities are available for Africans in the 2024/2025 academic session. The ones listed in this article are among the most popular. Take advantage of these scholarship opportunities for Africans, do more research, and apply to as many as you’re eligible to apply for. Hopefully, you’ll get the opportunity to fulfill your academic dreams with the scholarships listed here.
