Mandela Rhodes Scholarship

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. The leadership development programme Our programme is built on our founding principles of reconciliation, education, entrepreneurship, and leadership, and a belief that leadership begins with inner transformation. We 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. Our programme is delivered primarily through a series of week-long residential workshops which you will attend during your time in residence. 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. Young African, could you be a Mandela Rhodes Scholar? We look for young leaders who aspire to the principles below and who have demonstrated the potential to live them out. Leadership Do you aspire to be a visionary leader who has moral authority? Do you see leadership as more than just personal ambition - as a way to pursue the advancement of equality and freedom, human rights and human dignity? And do you want to guide and inspire others to reach their full potential? Reconciliation Do you believe that reconciliation - combined with reparation - is the key to harnessing an imperfect past to develop a more just world? And are you prepared to start the process by looking at your own internal landscape? Education Do you have excellent academic results but believe that your education should not only benefit you but make a difference for others? And do you agree that intellectual excellence must be accompanied by character and a rounded personality? Entrepreneurship Do you want to see Africa take its rightful place as an equal and competitive presence in the global world? Have you demonstrated individual effort, innovation and creativity to this end? Read the Characteristics sought in a Mandela Rhodes Scholar. What costs are covered? 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 Where Can I study? 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

To be eligible for the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship, applicants must be: between the ages of 19 and 29 a citizen of any African country possess a first degree with above average academic results, typically 70% or upper second The scholarship's selection criteria prioritize individuals who have demonstrated the potential to embody the foundation's founding principles of reconciliation, education, entrepreneurship, and leadership by assuming leadership and making an impact in their community or on their campus. Successful applicants will be committed to engaging with the personal, internal work of leadership, including developing self-awareness, learning from diversity, and exploring the complexity of oneself and others. Applicants from outside of South Africa may need to complete SAQA verification to start their studies at a South African university, which can be found under "Step 3: Get your documents ready" below the relevant FAQs.

Please note that applications for the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship for 2024 are closed. Applications run from March to November of each year, for the following year’s intake. Applications for 2025 open on 14 March 2024 and close on 21 April 2024. You can apply online, and access the application platform through the Mandela Rhodes website .