Key Facts
- Status
- Check Provider for Dates
- Provider
- Field of Study
- Study Level
- Academic Year
-
2027
Eligibility Requirements
- African national residing in Africa
- Aged 18 to 45
- Accepted to study at a MINDS-approved institution outside your home country
- Full-time Honours or Master's applicant
- Minimum 70% average per subject over the last 2 years
- Evidence of leadership ability or potential
Documents Needed
- Certified copy of your passport
- Certified academic transcripts covering the last 2 years of study
- Official university acceptance letter
- CV (maximum 4 pages)
- Proof of study permit/visa application, where applicable
- Two reference letters
About Minds Scholarship
The MINDS Scholarship Programme for Leadership Development funds full-time Honours or Master's study for African students at a university outside their own country, provided it is somewhere else on the African continent. MINDS (the Mandela Institute for Development Studies) is a Pan-African non-profit institute launched in 2017, built around the idea that a network of leaders trained across different African countries will help drive greater continental integration and cooperation.
Unlike most corporate or government bursaries, MINDS does not prescribe a specific field of study - any postgraduate discipline is eligible, provided the candidate demonstrates strong academic performance and genuine leadership ability or potential.
Funding Details
The scholarship provides partial or full funding, depending on the award, covering tuition fees, accommodation, one return flight for the duration of study, a fixed living stipend, and mandatory medical insurance, for 1 to 2 years of postgraduate study.
Where You Can Study
You must study at one of MINDS' approved partner institutions, located across Southern, East, North, and West Africa (including universities in South Africa, Mauritius, Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya, Morocco, Egypt, and Ghana, among others) - and it must be outside your own country of citizenship or residence.
About Mandela Institute for Development Studies (MINDS)
The Mandela Institute for Development Studies (MINDS) is a continental, Pan-African non-profit institute focused on building a network of young African leaders equipped to tackle the continent's development challenges. I…
View full provider profile →Fields of Study & Who Can Apply
- Nationals of any African country, currently residing in Africa
- Aged between 18 and 45
- Already accepted to study at a MINDS-approved institution outside your country of citizenship or residence
- Applying for full-time Honours or Master's study
- Minimum 70% average in each subject over the last 2 years of study
- Demonstrated leadership ability or potential
Application Procedure
Apply directly with the provider using the official application link below, before the closing date.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does MINDS stand for?
The Mandela Institute for Development Studies, a Pan-African non-profit institute named after Nelson Mandela.
Can I study in my own country?
No - the scholarship specifically funds study at an approved institution outside your country of citizenship or residence, elsewhere in Africa.
Does MINDS prescribe a specific course?
No - any full-time Honours or Master's programme at a MINDS-approved institution is eligible.
What does the scholarship cover?
Tuition fees, accommodation, one return flight, a fixed living stipend, and mandatory medical insurance, for a partial or full award.
How do I apply?
Online at scholarship.minds-africa.org, after checking your eligibility on the MINDS website - applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
When do applications close?
MINDS accepts applications year-round with no fixed closing date; the institute aims to respond within about two months of a completed submission.
