Mandela Rhodes Foundation (MRF) Postgraduate Scholarships 2024 for study in South Africa (Fully Funded)

Application Deadline: 20 April 2023

The Mandela Rhodes Scholarship 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.

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The Mandela Rhodes Scholarship is much more than financial support for your studies.

It is a unique opportunity for young leaders from anywhere on the African continent to further their education in South Africa. While completing postgraduate study in any field of your choice, our leadership development programme will empower you to solve some of Africa’s most difficult challenges. You will begin a life-changing leadership journey, and find a community of people who share your passion for the positive transformation of Africa.

Tuition costs for any one-year Honours degree or two-year Masters degree in any field at a recognised South African institution of higher education.
The financial support covers tuition and registration fees, and provides allowances for study materials, research, and medical aid, as well as accommodation and meals.
The scholarship includes a compulsory Leadership Development Programme of either one year or two years depending on your course. The programme is primarily delivered through a series of week-long in person workshops with your Class of Mandela Rhodes Scholars.
The programme gives you access to a mentorship programme, and a community of young leaders from across the African continent.

Eligibility Requirements

I am a citizen of an African country

I am between the ages of 19 and 29

By 1 Jan 2024, I will an undergraduate degree with excellent academic results (above 70% or upper-second class Honours)

I can study at a postgraduate level in English.

Cost 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

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.