Mandela Rhodes Foundation Scholarship for African Students (Fully-Funded)

The Mandela Rhodes Scholarship provides financial support for the core costs of postgraduate study and includes a leadership development programme. The programme is delivered through week-long residential workshops during the student’s time in residence, based on reconciliation, education, entrepreneurship, and leadership.

The scholarship is aimed at applicants who can study at a postgraduate level in English and who are citizens of an African country. It supports a one-year Honours degree or a two-year Masters degree in any field at a recognised South African institution of higher education, and it also includes the leadership development programme workshops.

Selection focuses on demonstrated potential to live leadership principles. The recruitment criteria include leadership, reconciliation (combined with reparation), education, and entrepreneurship, as well as a commitment to personal internal work of leadership to develop self-awareness, learn from cohort diversity, and explore complexity in self, others, and systems.

Support covers tuition and registration fees and specified allowances, with allowances paid twice a year. Students are required to provide proof of registration at the start of the year and a progress report two weeks after the start of the second semester. The foundation does not cover visa application costs; applying and paying visa costs is the student’s responsibility, and visa delays may affect the ability to start the academic and leadership programmes on time.

• You can study at a postgraduate level in English.
• You are a citizen of an African country.
• You are between the ages of 19 and 29 in the year of applying.
• By 1 Jan, you will have an undergraduate degree with excellent academic results (above 70% or upper-second class Honours).
• You aspire to be an ethical leader and be committed to using your talents to advance equality, freedom and human dignity in Africa.
• You admire Nelson Mandela’s ability to bridge divides and bring people together around your common humanity.
• You are prepared to reflect deeply on your own leadership and undergo a process of personal change and growth.
• If you do not agree with one or more of the character statements, you can still apply.

• Tuition for a one-year Honours degree or a two-year Masters degree in any field at a recognised South African institution of higher education.
• Tuition and registration fees.
• Allowances for study materials.
• Allowances for research and conferencing grants that can be made available on request.
• Medical aid allowance.
• Accommodation and meals allowances.
• Personal allowance.
• Economy class travel to and from your home country to your South African university at the beginning and end of your degree.
• Economy-class flights for international scholars from their home countries to their institutions at the start and end of their studies.
• Leadership development programme through week-long residential workshops during time in residence.

1. Apply online using the applications platform to access your application and upload your documents and essays.
2. Ensure your three recommendation letter writers also use the platform to upload their letters directly.
3. Give recommenders enough time to write, sign onto the platform, and upload their letters.
4. Do not expect your application to be submitted without the recommendation letters; your application will not be considered without them.
5. Upload all application documentation by the deadline; your recommenders must have uploaded their references by then for your application to be complete.

• Your uploaded documents and essays via the applications platform.
• Three recommendation letters uploaded directly by your recommenders via the applications platform.
• A copy of your passport (as required by the application form).
• Proof of registration at the start of the year (required for the scholarship’s allowance payments).
• A progress report from your university two weeks after the start of the second semester (required for the scholarship’s allowance payments).