MINDS Scholarship Bursary 2025: Applications Open Year-Round! Funding Your Future
Hey future African leader! Dreaming of making a real impact across our amazing continent? The Mandela Institute for Development Studies (MINDS) has a fantastic opportunity just for you! The MINDS Scholarship Programme is all about empowering young, talented Africans to pursue postgraduate studies outside their home country, helping you develop a pan-African mindset and leadership skills to drive our continent forward. Ready to study in another African country and become part of a network of future leaders? Let’s dive in!
The MINDS Scholarship Programme for Leadership Development is designed to help promising African students like you gain a postgraduate qualification (Honours or Master’s degree) at approved institutions anywhere in Africa, as long as it’s not your country of citizenship or residence. This unique bursary aims to immerse you in the diverse cultures and communities of another African nation, fostering greater cooperation and leadership across the continent. It’s not just about getting a degree; it’s about building a network of change-makers committed to Africa’s development.
Who Can Apply?
Ready to see if you’re a good fit? Here’s what MINDS is looking for in their scholarship candidates:
- You must be a national of any African country.
- You need to be accepted for a full-time postgraduate (Honours or Master’s) degree for the upcoming academic year.
- You must have achieved a fantastic academic record, with a minimum of 70% for each subject or course in your last two years of study.
- Show off your leadership potential! You’ll need to provide evidence of demonstrated leadership abilities or potential as guided by the application questions.
- Crucial Tip: This bursary is designed for cross-country study within Africa. This means you MUST apply to study in an African country that is neither your country of citizenship nor your country of residence. For example, if you’re a South African citizen living in Nigeria, you cannot apply to study in South Africa or Nigeria.
What Does It Cover?
Worried about the costs? The MINDS Scholarship is super generous and can provide partial or full cover for:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation
- Meals
- One return air ticket for the duration of your studies
- A fixed monthly stipend (the exact amount will be shared with successful applicants)
How to Apply?
Ready to take the leap? Applying for the MINDS Scholarship is straightforward and done completely online. Here’s your step-by-step guide:
- Head over to the official MINDS Scholarship Application Portal: MINDS Scholarship Application
- You’ll need to Register an Account first.
- Once registered, simply Login and complete your application.
Make sure you have clear, digital copies (PDF format, under 2MB each) of these compulsory supporting documents ready to upload:
- Your passport bio/data page.
- Certified copies of your academic transcripts/results for the last two years of study.
- Your official university acceptance letter (it must be addressed to you, state the degree, academic year, and course duration). If any of this info isn’t in the letter, provide other official university documents as proof.
- A detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV) / Resume (maximum 4 single-sided pages).
- A valid study permit or visa for your chosen country, OR proof that you’ve applied for one.
- Two letters of reference. These letters should highlight your integrity, competence, leadership potential, and commitment to Africa’s development (maximum 3 pages each).
Heads up: Applications are open throughout the year, so you can apply whenever you’re ready! MINDS will usually get back to applicants within two months of submission. MINDS encourages applications to institutions outside South Africa, as competition for South African universities can be higher due to many applications. However, there are a limited number of scholarships for South African citizens to study in another African country. There are also specific scholarships available for Actuarial Sciences, Business Sciences, and Accounting at approved institutions in South Africa, Kenya, and Nigeria.
If you have any questions, you can contact MINDS directly via email: info@minds-africa.org.
If becoming a continental leader and studying in another African country sounds like your dream bursary, don’t hesitate! This is a fantastic chance to shape your future and Africa’s. Apply now and don’t forget to explore more incredible bursaries right here on Bursaries Room!
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