Mandela Rhodes Foundation Postgraduate Scholarships for Young Africans 2024

Mandela Rhodes Foundation Postgraduate Scholarships is a life-changing leadership journey. The scholarship combines financial support with a leadership programme that will challenge you, grow you, and connect you to young African changemakers – just like you.

Financial support

The Mandela Rhodes Scholarship offers comprehensive funding for the core costs associated with your studies. It covers 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. This includes tuition and registration fees, allowances for study materials, research, and medical aid, accommodation and meals, 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. You will also receive a personal allowance.

The leadership development programme

The programme is built on our founding principles of reconciliation, education, entrepreneurship, and leadership, and a belief that leadership begins with inner transformation. The Mandela Rhodes Foundation (MRF) aim to keep Nelson Mandela’s legacy alive by equipping young African leaders with the competence and courage to transform the continent into a place where everyone has equal opportunity to thrive. The programme is delivered primarily through a series of week-long residential workshops which you will attend during your time in residence.

• Table of Content
• About Mandela Rhodes Foundation
• Postgraduate Scholarships
• Aim and Benefits of Postgraduate Scholarships
• Requirements for Postgraduate Scholarships Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for Postgraduate Scholarships
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Mandela Rhodes Foundation

The Mandela Rhodes Foundation is one of Nelson Mandela’s three official legacy organisations, founded in 2003 in partnership with the Rhodes Trust. Our purpose is to build exceptional leadership capacity in Africa. We find, fund, and empower young Africans who aspire to use their talents to serve their societies and our continent. We do this by providing a postgraduate scholarship for young leaders to study in South Africa and participate in a residential Leadership Development Programme. Our programme is built on Nelson Mandela’s belief that leadership begins with inner transfo... continue reading

Postgraduate Scholarships

Aim and Benefits of Postgraduate Scholarships

• Tuition and registration fees as set by your university or institution
• A study materials allowance as set by the MRF
• Accommodation and meal allowances as set by the MRF
• A medical aid allowance as set by the MRF
• A personal allowance as set by the MRF
• Research and conferencing grants can be made available on request
• Economy-class flights for international scholars from their home countries to their institutions at the start and end of their studies

Requirements for Postgraduate Scholarships Qualification

Requirements

• I can study at a postgraduate level in English. Take this free test if you’re unsure.
• I am a citizen of an African country
• I am between the ages of 19 and 29
• By 1 Jan 2025, I will have an undergraduate degree with excellent academic results (above 70% or upper-second class Honours)

Interview date, Process and Venue for Postgraduate Scholarships

Timeline:

• March: Applications open on Thursday, 14 March 2024. Candidates can add recommenders on the platform and begin uploading their documentation and working on their personal essays. See ‘requirements’.
• April: Applications close by the end of Sunday, 21 April 2024. No late or incomplete applications will be accepted under any circumstances.
• June: You will be notified by the end of June whether or not you are through to Round Two.
• July: You will be notified by the end of July whether or not you are through to Round Three.
• August: You will be notified by the end of August if you are invited for an interview in the Final Round, or if you have been unsuccessful.
• October: Interviews will be conducted in South Africa in October. If you are in the final round and you are based outside South Africa, you will be flown in for an in-person interview with our selection committee. You will be notified by the end of October if you are selected as a Mandela Rhodes Scholar.
• October-December: Selected Mandela Rhodes Scholars must do their best to secure acceptance at their university of choice, and their study visa for travel to South Africa in January.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

For more details, visit Mandela Rhodes Foundation website.