MINDS Scholarship Programme for Leadership Development (Study in Africa)

The MINDS Scholarship Programme for Leadership Development funds Africans to study in another African country, building leaders with genuinely pan-African networks. Run by the Mandela Institute for Development Studies, it covers tuition, accommodation, meals, a return flight and a stipend worth up to about USD 15,000 per year for honours and master’s degrees.

Applicants must be African citizens aged 18 to 45, already accepted at a MINDS-preferred university outside their home country, with at least 70 percent in recent studies and clear leadership evidence. Applications are open year round on a rolling basis, so the smart move is to apply as soon as your admission letter is in hand.

• Nationals of an African country who are residing in Africa and want to study in another African country (refugees hosted in an African country may study in their host country).
• Aged 18 to 45 at the time of application.
• Formally accepted by one or more MINDS-preferred institutions outside your country of citizenship or residency; partner universities span East, West, Southern and North Africa.
• Admitted to start a full-time one- or two-year honours or master's degree in the upcoming academic year; any field of study is welcome.
• At least 70 percent in every subject or course over the last two completed years of study.
• Clear evidence of leadership experience or potential and a commitment to Africa's development, demonstrated through the application questions.
• A complete application with every required document; incomplete files are disqualified.

• Tuition fees, accommodation and meals covered at your host university.
• One return flight between your home country and the study country for the duration of the programme.
• A fixed stipend toward day-to-day expenses, with medical aid where applicable; total support up to about USD 15,000 per year.
• Tailored leadership development activities throughout the scholarship, built around a pan-African development mindset.
• Membership of a scholar network drawn from across the continent since 2017, with cohort gatherings and alumni activities.
• A rare programme that funds Africans to study within Africa, keeping costs realistic while building cross-border networks.

• Online application through the MINDS scholarship portal (each file in PDF, maximum 2 MB).
• Copy of the data page of your passport.
• Certified academic transcripts or results for the last two years of study.
• Official university acceptance letter addressed to you, stating the degree, its start year and its duration.
• Valid study permit or visa, or proof that you have applied for one.
• Curriculum vitae of no more than four single-sided pages (optional but recommended).
• Two reference letters of up to three pages each, addressing your integrity, leadership and commitment to Africa's development.

• Secure admission first at a MINDS-preferred university outside your home country; the acceptance letter is the entry ticket to the scholarship.
• Check the preferred-institution list and eligibility questions on the MINDS website before starting.
• Create an account on the MINDS scholarship portal, complete the form and upload all documents in the required format.
• Applications are open throughout the year and reviewed on a rolling basis, so apply as early as possible once you hold your admission letter.
• Shortlisted candidates go through further assessment, and awards are confirmed ahead of the academic year.
• Prepare a motivation that connects your studies to concrete plans for your community and the continent, since pan-African impact is the core selection lens.