The Beit Trust Postgraduate Scholarships award scholarships at British and South African universities, through generous academic partnerships with leading institutions.
About Beit Trust
The Trust was established in 1906 by the Will of Alfred Beit, a financier, philanthropist and director of the British South Africa Company. He had many interests, including the development of the railway system in what was then Rhodesia. On his death in 1906, at the age of 53, he left a substantial legacy to a wide range of charitable causes.
During his lifetime, Beit recognised that Northern and Southern Rhodesia (now Zambia and Zimbabwe) would be unable to attract sufficient capital for their own development. His Will therefore established The Beit Railway Fund, to promote the development... continue reading
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Beit Trust Postgraduate Scholarship
Aim and Benefits of Beit Trust Postgraduate Scholarship
- Full tuition and academic fees, paid directly to the university.
- Living allowance.
- UK Visa and Health Surcharge, TB test and Biometric costs.
- Additional allowances for Arrival, Laptop, Departure.
- Economy-class flights to and from your study destination.
Requirements for Beit Trust Postgraduate Scholarship Qualification
By Act of Parliament, the Beit Trust supports only applicants who:
- Are nationals of Zambia, Zimbabwe, or Malawi.
- Are permanent residents of one of these countries.
- Live in and/or intend to return to their country after completing their studies.
- The Trust cannot consider applications from those who have already begun a course.
Interview date, Process and Venue for Beit Trust Postgraduate Scholarship
The Beit Trust supports applicants who meet specific criteria, and understanding these will help you determine your eligibility and strengthen your application.
Your application will be evaluated based on the following:
Academic Achievement
- Preference is given to applicants with a Distinction or Merit (Upper Second Class) in their undergraduate degree.
- Applicants with a Lower Second Class or Credit/Pass degree are not excluded, but will face strong competition.
- The Trust recognises that some medical degrees are not graded in this way and will take this into account.
Postgraduate Qualifications
- Applicants who already hold a postgraduate degree are generally not considered, except in exceptional cases.
- The Trust aims to support candidates who have not yet had the opportunity to pursue postgraduate study.
Professional Work Experience
- Relevant work experience in your proposed field of study is highly valued.
- As a guideline, at least three years of professional experience, supported by a positive employer reference, can significantly strengthen your application.
- Work experience is also considered an indicator of leadership potential in your field.
Voluntary Work
- The application form includes a section on voluntary work as evidence of community engagement.
- While not essential, voluntary work can enhance your application. However, it is not a substitute for professional experience.
Leadership Qualities
- The Trust places strong emphasis on leadership as a sign of your potential to contribute to the economic and social development of your country.
- Examples of leadership in academic, professional, or community settings would help you.
References
- References help provide a well-rounded view of your capabilities.
- Referees are most effective when they can offer evidence-based examples of your leadership, achievements, and professional potential.
Course Relevance
- Your proposed course of study should align with the Trust’s focus on developmental disciplines, such as:
- Medicine and Health
- Engineering
- Education
- Economic Growth
- Agriculture
- Conservation
- These categories are not exhaustive, but the Trust does not support MBA programmes.
Commitment to Return
- Your stated intention to return to your home country after your studies is a key consideration.
Choice of University
- You must apply to one or more of the Beit Trust’s partner universities, listed in the next section.
- Applying to multiple partner universities may improve your chances of selection.
Medical and Veterinary Applicants
You must have completed:
- 18 months of internship
- At least one year of in-country posting
Experience in rural practice could strengthen your application.
Documents Required for Application
You must upload all documents in one sitting. You cannot save and return to the application form later, but you can preview it before filling it in.
Prepare the following:
- Degree certificates and transcripts
- Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Personal Statement (max 300 words) on how your studies will benefit your country
- Clear recent photograph (not a passport photo)
- Copy of valid passport, showing issue/expiry dates and sufficient blank pages
- Three references: Academic, Character, Employer (the latter, if applicable).
Send referees the reference link once you’ve submitted your application – you will receive
this automatically. If referees cannot use the link, you may download and forward the
appropriate form to them:
Download Academic Reference Form – Download Character Reference Form – Download Employer Reference Form
Completed reference forms should be emailed directly to: [email protected]
Check also:
Tony Elumelu Foundation African Entrepreneurship Programme 2026
Application Deadline
February 13, 2026How to Apply
Interested and qualified? Go to
Beit Trust on scholarships255225.typeform.com to apply
- Submit only one application
- Apply to more than one Partner University to improve your chances.
- Your application may include up to four degree courses, at UK and/or South African Partner Universities.
- Upload all required documents.
For UK Partner University applications:
- Apply directly to UK Partner Universities, via their websites.
- Inform the university you are also applying for Beit Trust funding.
- Once you have received all offers, apply for a Beit Scholarship via the application link , before the closing date.
- Conditional offers are acceptable.
For South African Partner Universities
- Due to South African Partner University applications opening after the Beit Trust scholarship deadline, you may apply without a confirmed university offer but must provide a PDF list of the universities and courses you intend to apply to, where the application form asks for the university offer.
- You must provide a SAQA Certificate of Evaluation to verify your foreign qualifications, which must be equivalent to an NQF8 for Master’s study. For detailed instructions on how to obtain this certificate, please visit: https://www.saqa.org.za/services/evaluation-of- foreign-qualifications/. Allow up to 90 days to receive the certificate. The cost is approximately R2,500.
- Apply via the online application link, below.
- If awarded a scholarship, you must then apply directly to the South African Partner University/s. If you do not receive an offer, the scholarship will be withdrawn.
For more details, visit Beit Trust Scholarship webpage
