Applications are now open for the 2024/25 Mandela Rhodes Scholarship for young African changemakers!

The Mandela Rhodes Scholarship is a life-changing leadership journey.

The Mandela Rhodes Scholarship 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?

See if you qualify:

I can study at a postgraduate level in English. 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)

How are Mandela Rhodes Scholars selected?

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?

Are you ready to grow?

To benefit from our programme you must be curious about doing the personal, internal work of leadership. This means a commitment to developing self-awareness by engaging with difficult parts of yourself, an openness to learning from the diversity and differences in your cohort, and a willingness to explore and embrace complexity within yourself, others, and the systems around you.

For scholars from outside South Africa…

Important: Applicants from outside South Africa may need to complete SAQA verification to start their studies at a South African university. Please see the relevant FAQs and the information under “Step 3: Get your documents ready” below.

Mandela Rhodes Scholarship Testimonials

“The programme gave me insight into myself, how I react to situations and people, and has put me in touch with people I would never have met. It has been an inspiring and energising year.”

— Sheena Talma (Seychelles & Rhodes University, 2017)

“The Mandela Rhodes Scholarship has allowed me reflection time and space to find a common purpose in my career and my life. […] When I think of the MRF I think of family.”

— Tristram Atkins (South Africa & AFDA, 2007)

“I found a sense of belonging through spontaneous connections with total strangers. This experience filled the gap between my doubts and dreams about Africa, and gave me strength to stand up and start making that dream come true.”

— Joel Obe (DRC & TUT, 2015)

“The workshops and constant debates challenged my beliefs and provided me with new lenses to view the world, further stoking the fire in my heart to be part of the change in Africa.”

— Mary Opondo (Kenya & UJ, 2011)

“The programme gave me insight into myself, how I react to situations and people, and has put me in touch with people I would never have met. It has been an inspiring and energising year.”

— Sheena Talma (Seychelles & Rhodes University, 2017)

“The Mandela Rhodes Scholarship has allowed me reflection time and space to find a common purpose in my career and my life. […] When I think of the MRF I think of family.”

— Tristram Atkins (South Africa & AFDA, 2007)

Apply now for the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship

Mandela Rhodes Scholarship applications timeline runs from March to November of each year, for the following year’s intake. Applications open on 14 March 2024 and close 21 April 2024. You will apply online, and access our application platform through our website.

Applications for 2024 are now open

Applications for 2024 will close 21 April 2024

VISIT THE PAGE HERE AND APPLY

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