Top 10 International Scholarships for African Students

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Africa is one of the top regions in the world that receive a lot of development aid. Some of these aid are in the form of development scholarships for African students to pursue education abroad.  This is done to develop the human resource and improve capacity building in the region. scholars4dev.com lists the top 10 international scholarships specifically targeted to African students.

MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program for Africa (USA, Canada, Africa)
The vision of The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program is to educate and develop academically qualified yet economically disadvantaged young people in Africa who will contribute to the transformation of the continent. This $500 million program will provide students in secondary school and university with the knowledge and leadership skills needed to contribute to economic and social progress across Africa.  Scholars receive financial support for fees, uniforms, books and supplies, transportation, accommodation, and stipends.

See also African Leaders of Tomorrow Awards at Canadian Universities

Australia Awards in Africa (Australia)
The Australian Government offers scholarships and fellowships under Australia Awards for African professionals to undertake Masters-level studies in Australian universities. The scholarship benefits generally include: full tuition fees, return air travel, establishment allowance, contribution to living expenses (CLE), Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC),  etc.

Nottingham Developing Solutions Scholarships (UK)
The Developing Solutions Scholarships are designed for international students who want to study in the University of Nottingham in UK and make a difference to the development of their home country.  The scholarships are open to citizens of Africa, India or one of the countries of the Commonwealth.  105 scholarships – 30 full tuition fee and 75 of 50% towards tuition fee are being offered annually.

The University of Edinburgh Southern African Scholarships (UK)
The University of Edinburgh will offer one scholarship for postgraduate Masters study in any subject offered by the University to students from certain Southern African countries. The scholarship covers the overseas rate of tuition fee and University accommodation and is tenable for one academic year.

Westminster African Education Scholarships (UK)
The Africa Education scholarship is intended to benefit an education professional involved in higher education in sub-Saharan Africa. The scholarships cover full tuition fee award, accommodation at International Students House, living expenses and flights to and from London.

Loughborough University Graduate School Development Trust Africa Scholarships (UK)
The Loughborough University Graduate School Development Trust Africa Scholarships full-fee scholarships for international full-time taught postgraduate students who are currently domiciled (permanently living) in Africa. The scholarships will cover 100% of the course fees for your chosen postgraduate taught course for one year.

Oppenheimer Fund Scholarships
The Oppenheimer Fund Scholarships support students who have previously studied at South African universities and who wish to pursue full-time graduate degrees at Oxford University.  The scholarship will provide a grant for living costs (at least £13,863).

Ferguson Scholarships for Africans at SOAS London
The Allan and Nesta Ferguson Charitable trust offers four Ferguson scholarships to African Students (African nationals and resident in Africa), who wish to undertake a taught masters course at SOAS.  Each Ferguson Scholarship is valued at £20,619 in total and lasts for one year.

See also Governance for Development in Africa Scholarships at SOAS London which are scholarships for for African students undertaking full‐time MSc programme in the field of Governance for  Development in Africa.

Eldred-Waverley Scholarship at Linacre College
The Eldred-Waverley Scholarship at Linacre College funds students from sub-Saharan Africa to study the MSc African Studies at Oxford.  The scholarships cover 100% of University and college fees, a grant for living costs (at least £10,397) and a return flight to/from the UK.

DRD Scholarships for Sub-Saharan Africans (Germany)
The DRD offers a limited number of DAAD merit scholarships per year for applicants from Sub-Saharan African countries with an excellent academic record, to pursue development-related Masters and PhD studies.  Scholarships include monthly allowances of 650 Euro for Master candidates and 900 Euro for PhD candidates plus travel allowances.