Top 10 International Scholarships for African Students

Africa receives substantial development aid, including scholarships for African students to pursue education abroad. These scholarships aim to foster human resource development and enhance capacity building in the region. In this blog post, we will highlight the top 10 international scholarships specifically targeted towards African students.

1. MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program for Africa (USA, Canada, Africa): The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program aims to educate and empower academically qualified yet economically disadvantaged young Africans. With a $500 million budget, this program provides financial support for fees, accommodation, transportation, and stipends, enabling students to contribute to Africa’s transformation.
2. Australia Awards in Africa (Australia): The Australian Government offers scholarships and fellowships under Australia Awards for African professionals seeking to pursue Masters-level studies in Australian universities. The scholarship benefits typically include full tuition fees, return air travel, living expenses, and health coverage.
3. Nottingham Developing Solutions Scholarships (UK): These scholarships are designed for international students from Africa, India, or Commonwealth countries who wish to study at the University of Nottingham in the UK. Annually, 105 scholarships are offered, with 30 covering full tuition fees and 75 providing 50% tuition fee support.
4. The University of Edinburgh Southern African Scholarships (UK): The University of Edinburgh offers one scholarship for postgraduate Masters study to students from specific Southern African countries. The scholarship covers tuition fees and university accommodation for one academic year.
5. Westminster African Education Scholarships (UK): Intended for education professionals involved in higher education in sub-Saharan Africa, this scholarship covers full tuition fees, accommodation, living expenses, and flights to and from London.
6. Loughborough University Graduate School Development Trust Africa Scholarships (UK): Loughborough University offers full-fee scholarships for postgraduate students permanently residing in Africa. The scholarships cover 100% of course fees for a chosen postgraduate taught course.
7. Oppenheimer Fund Scholarships: The Oppenheimer Fund Scholarships support South African students who want to pursue full-time graduate degrees at Oxford University, offering grants for living costs.
8. Ferguson Scholarships for Africans at SOAS London: The Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable trust provides scholarships to African students who wish to undertake a taught masters course at SOAS London. Each Ferguson Scholarship is valued at £20,619 for one year.
9. Eldred-Waverley Scholarship at Linacre College: This scholarship funds students from sub-Saharan Africa to study the MSc African Studies at Oxford, covering University and college fees, living costs, and return flights to/from the UK.
10. DRD Scholarships for Sub-Saharan Africans (Germany): The DRD offers limited DAAD merit scholarships to Sub-Saharan African applicants pursuing development-related Masters and PhD studies. The scholarships include monthly allowances and travel expenses.

Conclusion:

These top 10 international scholarships play a vital role in developing Africa’s human resources and capacity building by providing opportunities for African students to pursue higher education abroad. By empowering these students with knowledge and leadership skills, they can contribute to the economic and social progress of the African continent.