Having a university education in Africa may be seen as a very solid foundation and a lot of people are beginning to see it as a means to an end. This is true for a lot of reasons, schooling and finishing with a good grade point from universities across Africa means that you could get scholarships to further your education in reputable institutions across the world.
Some of these scholarships are government sponsored, while some others are sponsored by the host university. Conversely, some scholarships are spearheaded by international agencies like the commonwealth. Regardless of the organizers, scholarships are usually given to the most deserving people. It is also worthy to note that some of these scholarships are reserved for certain demography of students.
In all, here are eleven different scholarships that fellow Africans have benefited from that you could try out:
Africa London Nagasaki (ALN) Fund – Graduate scholarships for African scientists to gain funding for a master’s degree in an area related to disease control in Africa. Scholarship winners can choose to study at London’s Institute of Tropical Medicine, the London School of the Hygiene and Tropical Medicine or Nagasaki University in Japan. The scholarship is strictly for students who intends to study about infectious diseases that are ravaging Africa and the recipients of the scholarship are expected to stay either in Nagasaki, Japan or London, United Kingdom during the entire duration of the study.
Commonwealth Distance Learning Scholarships – This is an International scholarship for African students within the Commonwealth states to study for a master’s degree by distance learning from selected universities in the UK and worldwide. The programme is funded by the United Kingdom Department for International Development. This scholarship can be taken via online distant learning or in person at a physical campus location. The scholarship was set up to increase the body of knowledge in commonwealth states. The purpose of the scholarships is set out in the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan with the following key principles to promote mutual cooperation and share educational experience among all Commonwealth countries and to recognize and promote the highest level of intellectual achievement.
The Fulbright Foreign Student Program – This scholarship enables graduate students, young professionals and artists from abroad to study and conduct research in the United States. The Fulbright Foreign Student Program operates in more than 155 countries worldwide. Approximately 4,000 foreign students receive Fulbright scholarships each year. The program is designed primarily to strengthen capacities of African universities through higher degree training and to develop the potential of their academic staff. It is targeted at young and exceptionally promising faculty members who wish to conduct their doctoral research in the United States. The Fulbright Program for Foreign Students is administered by binational Fulbright Commissions/ Foundations or U.S. Embassies. All Foreign Student Program applications are processed by these offices. Program eligibility and selection procedures vary widely by country. The scholarship Funding for tuition fee, airfare, living Stipend and health Insurance for the whole duration of the program
Women Techmakers Scholars Program – Formerly called the Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship programme, the women Techmakers Scholars Program is a Scholarship program for women from Africa (as well as Europe and the Middle East) to study computer science, computer engineering or a closely related technical field at any study level at a university in one of the aforementioned regions. Beyond being an academic scholarship, the women techmakers scholars program aims at creating a community of women scholars who are vast in the tech industry. Recipients of the scholarship will also partake in mentorship, retreats and several other workshop as part of the scholarship programme.
New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships – These are prestigious scholarships that recognize New Zealand’s history and ties to the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth Scholarships are part of the Commonwealth Scholarship and Fellowship Plan (CSFP) – an international programme under which Commonwealth countries offer scholarships and fellowships to citizens of other Commonwealth states. The New Zealand Commonwealth Scholarships are funded by the New Zealand Aid Programme, the New Zealand Government’s overseas aid and development programme. They are managed by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT).
The Orange Knowledge Programme – The Orange Knowledge Programme (Nuffic) offers scholarships for participants living and working in Africa and the Middle East. This programme aims to advance the quality, knowledge and capacity of both individuals and institutions of higher and vocational education. A wide range of governmental, private and local NGO’s are eligible. Examples include educational institutions, planning agencies, national ministries, community-based organization and private enterprises. The key priorities for the programme are Food Security, Water, Security and Rule of Law, and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights. Cross-cutting themes relevant to all activities of the programme include Private Sector Development, Climate, and Gender and Inclusive Development (with specific attention to marginalized and discriminated groups).
Nuffic (The Netherlands Organisation for International Cooperation in Higher Education) offers fellowships for training courses in The Netherlands. These fellowships seek to develop and strengthen the skills, instincts, and abilities of professionals to enable their organizations and communities to succeed in an ever-changing world. The Nuffic programme is initiated and (almost) fully funded by the budget for development cooperation at the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Nuffic Fellowships (OKP, MSP, and StuNed) will cover the tuition fee, return flights from an international airport to Amsterdam, insurance, accommodation and a small Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA). In order to qualify for a Nuffic Fellowship, you must first obtain academic admission at The Hague Academy. Once your application has been assessed and admitted, you will receive further instructions to complete fellowship application.
The European Union’s Erasmus Mundus scholarship – This scholarship aims to enhance quality in higher education through scholarships and academic co-operation between the EU and the rest of the world. The programme offers full-time scholarships and/or fellowships that cover monthly allowance, participation costs, traveling and insurance costs of the students. Scholarship amounts can vary according to the level of studies, the duration of studies, and the scholar’s nationality (scholarships for non-EU students are higher than for EU students). The European Commission is responsible for the running of the Erasmus Mundus Programme. It manages the budget and sets priorities, targets, and criteria for the Programme. Furthermore, it guides and monitors the general implementation, follow-up and evaluation of the Programme at the European level. The Education, Audio-visual and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) is responsible for the implementation of the Programme. Students from all over the world can apply for a full-degree scholarship through an Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degree (EMJMD). Scholars and guest lecturers can also get involved.
Chevening Scholarship – The Chevening scholarship for developing is a fully funded annual scholarship given to individuals with strong academic background and demonstrable leadership potentials. Beneficiaries of the scholarship become part of over 44,000 alumni of the scholarship. The scholarship offers financial support to study for a master’s degree at any of the United Kingdom leading universities. The Chevening scholarship is funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with further funding from partners and universities in the UK and overseas. The scholarship is different in the mode of selection; beneficiaries must have been offered a master’s programme admission before the scholarship can be applied for. The requirement of the Chevening scholarship shows the intent of the commonwealth office to develop the member nations. As such, each beneficiary of the Chevening scholarship is required to return to their country of citizenship for a minimum of two years after the completion of the programme. The applicant must also have at least two years working experience before applying for the scholarship. (This varies by countries).
The Aga Khan Foundation – This board provides a limited number of scholarships each year for postgraduate studies to outstanding students from developing countries who have no other means of financing their studies. Scholarships are awarded on a 50% grant: 50% loan basis through a competitive application process once a year. The Foundation gives priority to requests for Master’s level courses but is willing to consider applications for PhD programmes. Applications for short-term courses are not considered. The Foundation assists students with tuition fees and living expenses only. The cost of travel is not included in AKF scholarships. Funding for PhD programmes is only provided for the first two years of study, after which the students are expected to find alternative sources of assistance. Half of the scholarship amount is considered as a loan, which must be reimbursed with an annual service charge of 5%. A guarantor is required to co-sign the loan agreement. The payback period is five years, starting six months after the study period funded by the Aga Khan Foundation. Preference is given to students under 30 years of age.
VLIR-UOS Scholarship- Awards scholarships to students from 31 eligible countries in Africa, Asia and Latin-America, to follow an English-taught training or master programme at a Flemish university or university college in Belgium. VLIR-UOS only provides full scholarships for the total duration of the training or Master. The scholarships cover allowance, accommodation, insurance, international travel and tuition fee. The maximum age for a Master programme candidate is 35 years for an initial masters and 40 years for an advanced master. The candidate cannot exceed this age on January 1 of the intake year. Priority is given to candidates who are employed in academic institutions, research institutes, governments, the social economy or NGOs, or who aim at a career in one of these sectors.
However, master candidates employed in the profit sector or newly graduated candidates without any work experience can be eligible for the scholarship as well, depending on their motivation and profile. The training candidate should have relevant professional experience and a support letter confirming (re)integration in a professional context where the acquired knowledge and skills will be immediately applicable.
The Eiffel Excellence Scholarship – The scholarship programme was established by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development to enable French higher education establishments to attract top foreign students to enrol in their master’s and PhD courses. It helps to shape the future foreign decision-makers of the private and public sectors, in priority areas of study, and encourages applications from emerging countries at master’s level, and from emerging and industrialized countries at PhD level. Having been offered Since 1999, only foreign nationals are eligible to apply for the scholarship from the French Government. In the case of dual nationality applicants, those with French nationality are ineligible. For master’s courses, candidates must be no older than 30 on the date of the selection. At PhD level, candidates must be no older than 35 on the date of the selection committee meeting.
The Eiffel Programme does not apply to French-run master’s courses abroad, as non-PhD scholarship holders must complete at least 75% of their course in France. It does not apply to training under an apprenticeship contract or a professional training contract either. The Eiffel scholarship includes a monthly allowance of €1,181 (a maintenance allowance of €1,031 and a monthly stipend of €150). In addition, the following expenses are directly covered; one international return journey; social security cover; cultural activities. Scholarship holders may also receive an additional housing allowance, under certain conditions. A 2-month preliminary intensive language training course is required. The total duration of the course undertaken (including compulsory work experience or internships in France or abroad) must be clearly indicated by the educational establishment in the application form.
With these scholarships, it is obvious that every African scholar has a shot at schooling outside of the continent. The good thing about a number of these scholarships is that it ensures that beneficiaries return to their home countries and help it develop.
If you are rounding up your undergraduate programme, you should hunt for information about some of these scholarships. There is a need to get the best of result to stand a chance, much more you must have access to unhindered information.
