7 Excellent Scholarships for International Students at South African Universities

Scholarship information for International Students wishing to study at South African Universities

Are you an international student who would like to study at a South African university? Below is a list of some of the scholarships for international students at South African Universities.

1. University of Cape Town Postgraduate Research Scholarships

• The University of Cape Town offers postgraduate research scholarships in the Faculty of Health Sciences. UCT, being a leading public research university, offers great opportunities for individuals who are interested in research in various fields. These scholarships were established to provide financial support for Masters and PhD scholars. Recipients of this scholarship will assist a research team in the Department of Child Health and Paediatrics.

2. University of Pretoria – Masters in Human Rights and Democratization in Africa

• The Centre for Human Rights at the University of Pretoria hosts this scholarship in partnership with 13 leading African Universities. The scholarship is valid for a one-year master’s course, a LLM or MPhil in Human Rights and Democratization in Africa. This is a unique program suitable for individuals with law degrees (LLB), or honors degrees in disciplines relevant to human rights and democratization. Between 25 and 30 individuals are admitted yearly.

3. Monash University Scholarships

• The Monash University campus in South Africa offers scholarships for international students from all over the African continent. Scholarships are offered annually, and are awarded based on academic merit. Both South African and international students are encouraged to apply for these scholarships, which are offered both to high achievers and those unable to pursue their education due to financial constraints. These scholarships are available for undergraduate studies in all subjects offered at the university.

4. African Leadership Academy (ALA) Fellowship for Young African Leaders

• The ALA fellowships are two-year posts for young professionals from all over Africa who have completed their undergraduate studies within the past five years. All the ALA fellows work with talented and passionate students from all over Africa as teaching fellows, or professional staff fellows. Each fellow receives housing, a stipend for living expenses, and a grant for a professionally relevant travel excursion.

5. MasterCard Foundation Scholarships at University of Pretoria (UP)

• The MasterCard Foundation Scholarship targets individuals who are academically qualified but are economically disadvantaged and are thus unable to pursue further studies. Young people in South Africa, SADC countries, and the rest of Africa are welcome to apply for these scholarships. The scholarships apply to undergraduate courses in the faculties of Economic and Management Sciences, Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Engineering, Education and Humanities. Postgraduate students who intend to pursue courses in the faculties of Engineering, Economic and Management Sciences and Natural and Agricultural Sciences are also welcome to apply.

6. MasterCard Foundation Scholarships at University of Cape Town (UCT)

• In partnership with the MasterCard Foundation, UCT provides scholarships to individuals from Sub-Saharan Africa who are high academic achievers but lack the finances to pursue their studies. Each recipient receives a comprehensive scholarship with academic support, internship opportunities, career guidance, transition to work support and access to a global alumni network. In 2018, there will be 58 scholarship opportunities available, i.e. 13 undergraduate scholarships, 15 honors scholarships and 30 master’s scholarships.

7. Mandela Rhodes Scholarships for African Students

• These scholarships for international students are open to individuals who want to study for postgraduate (masters and honors) degrees at South African universities. The Mandela Rhodes program combines financial support for postgraduate students with a high-quality leadership program that aims to develop exceptional leadership capacity in Africa. Through this scholarship program, a scholar gets to study for a maximum of two years at a South African university and receive an accredited postgraduate degree. There are several scholarships available.

The list above highlights some of the scholarships for international students at South African universities. If you are interested in studying in South Africa, therefore, this list should be of great help!