Mandela Rhodes Foundation Scholarships for African Postgraduate Students

The Mandela Rhodes Scholarship pays for postgraduate study and includes a leadership development programme at universities in South Africa. It is run by the Mandela Rhodes Foundation and is open to African students. The award covers a one-year Honours degree or a two-year Masters degree in any field offered by the participating universities. It is aimed at young Africans who want to study in South Africa while developing leadership skills.

• Host: Mandela Rhodes Foundation
• Level: One-year Honours or two-year Masters
• Study destination: South Africa
• Deadline: 14 April
• Number of awards: Not specified
• Covered: Tuition and registration fees, study materials, research, medical aid, accommodation and meals, personal allowance, economy class travel

• AFDA, the School for the Creative Economy
• Cape Peninsula University of Technology
• Durban University of Technology
• Mangosuthu University of Technology
• Monash University
• Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University
• North West University
• Rhodes University
• Tshwane University of Technology
• University of Cape Town
• University of Fort Hare
• University of Free State
• University of Johannesburg
• University of KwaZulu-Natal
• University of Limpopo
• University of Pretoria
• University of Stellenbosch
• University of the Western Cape
• University of the Witwatersrand
• University of Venda
• University of Zululand
• Vaal University of Technology
• Walter Sisulu University

Any field is accepted, as long as the programme is a one-year Honours degree or a two-year Masters degree offered by a participating university in South Africa. The scholarship does not fund MBAs, any type of block course, or courses delivered predominantly online.

Not specified

African citizens

The scholarship covers tuition and registration fees. It also provides allowances for study materials, research, and medical aid, plus accommodation and meals. You receive a personal allowance and economy class travel to and from your home country to your South African university at the beginning and end of your degree. Research and conferencing grants can be made available on request.

Not covered: application fees for university, SAQA verification costs, and visa application costs.

• You must be a citizen of an African country.
• You must be between the ages of 19 and 29 in the year of applying.
• By 1 Jan 2028, you must have an undergraduate degree with excellent academic results (above 70% or upper-second class Honours).
• You must be able to study at a postgraduate level in English.

You must apply online. You can log onto the applications platform to access your application and upload your documents and essays. The three people who write your recommendation letters must also log onto the platform to upload their letters directly. You must give them plenty of time to write their letters, sign onto the platform, and upload them. Your application cannot be submitted without the letters and will not be considered.

The deadline is 14 April, by which time all application documentation needs to have been uploaded. Your recommenders (referees) must have uploaded their references by then in order for your application to be complete.

You do not have to have applied or been accepted to a university yet, but it is highly recommended that you apply as soon as possible. If you do not get accepted into a South African institution, you will not be able to accept the scholarship if awarded.

Visit the official website to access the application form and for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship.

This scholarship suits African citizens aged 19 to 29 who hold an undergraduate degree with strong results (above 70% or upper-second class Honours) and want to pursue a one-year Honours or two-year Masters degree in South Africa. It is also for those who can study in English and are ready to combine postgraduate study with a leadership development programme.

• Who can apply for the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship? African citizens between the ages of 19 and 29 in the year of applying who have an undergraduate degree with excellent academic results (above 70% or upper-second class Honours) by 1 Jan 2028 and can study in English.
• What does the scholarship cover? Tuition and registration fees, allowances for study materials, research and medical aid, accommodation and meals, a personal allowance, and economy class travel to and from your home country at the beginning and end of your degree.
• What is the application deadline? The deadline is 14 April. You must apply online through the official website.
• Do I need to be accepted to a university before applying? No, you do not have to have applied or been accepted, but it is highly recommended that you apply as soon as possible. If you do not get accepted into a South African institution, you will not be able to accept the scholarship if awarded.
• What fields of study are eligible? Any field, as long as it is a one-year Honours degree or a two-year Masters degree offered by a participating university in South Africa. MBAs, block courses, and courses delivered predominantly online are not funded.

• Read the official guidelines and eligibility criteria carefully before you start your application.
• Gather your academic transcripts, degree certificates and identification documents early.
• Check the English language requirements for postgraduate study and prepare any needed test scores.
• Apply to your chosen South African university as soon as possible to avoid delays.
• Submit your scholarship application well before the deadline to avoid technical issues.