The MINDS Scholarship Programme for African Students 2025 Leadership Development in Africa was successfully launched in 2017, bringing to the realization our vision of developing young leaders with a continent-wide development mindset and leaders who can facilitate greater cooperation between African countries.
The Scholarship Programme enables African students to study in an African country other than their home country and in this way immerse themselves in richness and diversity that the country and its communities has to offer. MINDS Scholarships are applicable to full-time studies of a one or two-year Honors or Master’s degree at one of the MINDS preferred institutions.
SUMMARY:
- Scholarship Sponsor(s): MINDS – Africa
- Host Institution(s): Universities in African Countries
- Funding Amount: Fully-funded
- Number of Awards: Several
- Study Level: Postgraduate Studies
- Nationality: African Countries
How The MINDS Scholarship Programme for African Students 2025 Works
The MINDS Scholarship Programme offers scholarships to African students who wish to pursue postgraduate studies outside their home countries, specifically within Africa. It combines academic support with tailored leadership development activities, aiming to produce leaders focused on Africa’s development and regional cohesion.
The scholarships are available for full-time one- or two-year Honors or Master’s degree programmes at one of the MINDS preferred institutions. The scholarship does not specify any particular course of study, allowing applicants to pursue diverse academic interests. Depending on whether a partial or full scholarship is granted, MINDS may cover the following expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and meals
- One return ticket per study duration
- A fixed stipend
MINDS welcomes applications from individuals who demonstrate a Pan-African outlook, strong leadership abilities, and a solid academic background. Eligible students are encouraged to apply and seize the opportunity to study outside their home countries while contributing to the continent’s development.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for a MINDS Scholarship, you must:
- Be a national of an African country, residing in any African country
- Have been formally accepted by one or more MINDS preferred institution/s outside of your country of citizenship and/ or residency
- Have been formally accepted by one or more MINDS preferred institution/s to pursue postgraduate studies within the following year
- Have obtained at least 70% in each subject/ course in the last two completed years of study
- Produce evidence of demonstrated leadership abilities or potential guided by the questions/ requirements set out in the application form
- Submit a complete online application form (see below) with the required supporting documentation.
List of Preferred Institutions
To be eligible to receive a MINDS Scholarship, an applicant must have been accepted to study at one of the following institutions:
EAST AFRICA
- African Leadership University, Rwanda
- Carnegie Mellon University in Rwanda, Rwanda
- Makerere University, Uganda
- Strathmore University, Kenya
NORTH AFRICA
- Al Akhawayn University, Morocco
- Université Cadi Ayyad, Morocco
- Université Mohammed V, Morocco
SOUTHERN AFRICA
- African Leadership University, Mauritius
- University of Cape Town, South Africa
- University of Mauritius, Mauritius
- University of Witwatersrand, South Africa
WEST AFRICA
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology, Ghana
- Pan-Atlantic University (Lagos Business School), Nigeria
- University of Development Studies, Ghana
Where will the award be taken?
The scholarship must be used for studies at one of MINDS’ preferred institutions across East, Southern, North, or West Africa, including countries such as Rwanda, Uganda, South Africa, Morocco, Ghana, and Nigeria.
How Many Awards?
The exact number of scholarships is not specified, but two scholarships are available for South African citizens wishing to study elsewhere in Africa.
How Long Will the Award Last?
The scholarship covers full-time studies for one or two years, depending on the program (Honors or Master’s degree).
Application Procedures
How-to-Apply: If you meet the eligibility criteria above, you can submit your application by clicking on the link. Please have the following documents scanned, saved and ready for uploading. All documents uploaded must be in PDF format. Each attachment should not exceed 2MB in size.
- A copy of the data/ bio page of your passport.
- A certified academic transcript/ results slip of the last two years of study.
- A copy of the official acceptance letter from the university. The letter must:
- Be addressed to the applicant.
- State the degree which the applicant has been accepted to study.
- State the academic year at which the degree will commence.
- State the duration of the course (e.g. one year).
- A copy of a valid study permit or visa OR proof of application. (Optional)
- A detailed CV/ Resume of not more than four (4) single sided pages.
- Two reference letters (of not more than 3 pages each) addressing the applicant’s demonstration of integrity, their competency and/or potential as a leader and their commitment to the development of the African continent.