ACU Library

Scholarships & Awards (Africa - UK)

Various scholarships are available to international students planning to study in the UK. Some are specifically intended for applicants from particular countries. Although there are few such awards that are exclusively for African candidates, there are many general schemes (i.e. open to any potential international student) that could be appropriate. These include:

  • international/inter-governmental award schemes,
  • university bursaries
  • grants provided by charities/trusts.

It should be noted that in general terms there are relatively few undergraduate awards. More opportunities exist for postgraduate study. At both levels however students are encouraged to consider applying to a range of potentially relevant schemes, especially as competition for financial support is, understandably, intense. (Although few scholarships may be offered in certain subject areas, particularly those which are very specific, many of the open awards offered by universities are worth considering.)

A summary of some possible sources is given below. Please note however that this is intended simply as an introductory checklist - not an exhaustive guide - to the various grants that may be available. Further details of each award should be obtained by writing direct to the contact address given, or to the relevant university itself (Admissions/International Office). Some of the websites listed also give useful summaries, and e-mail contacts. Criteria, application procedures and deadlines inevitably vary. In all cases, however, students are encouraged to apply for possible awards as early as possible. Although applications for a few grants may be considered at any time, application dates for most awards are invariably well in advance (ie several months beforehand). (Some small supplementary grants are occasionally available to students already in the UK seeking financial aid towards the completion of their academic work. Details listed below, however, relate largely to those schemes that potential students could consider well before arrival - and enrolment - at a British university.)

British Council offices/libraries are frequently the most significant source of information for international students in their own country. Within Africa, for example, many Commonwealth countries maintain British Council offices. These include: Botswana, Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The British Council website incorporates useful information both about the range of education opportunities in the UK as well as details of its own role, publications and links.

Detailed information on the various awards administered by the ACU is available on the ACU's website and the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission website.

REFERENCE SOURCES

A range of directories (printed and electronic) is now produced listing information on awards and grants. Students are encouraged to check such sources for full details of awards currently available. Copies of some of these may be available in academic/reference libraries, including the British Council. (Most are priced, except where indicated.)

  • ACU
    International Awards 2001+ (£40; £28 for international students.)
    Available: ACU, 36 Gordon Square, London WC1H 0PF; www.acu.ac.uk

  • British Council; Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO); UKCOSA.
    Studying in the UK: sources of funding for international students.
    Available (free): British Council, Bridgewater House, 58 Whitworth St, Manchester M1 6BB; www.britishcouncil.org/education/funding

  • The Directory of Social Change.
    Directory of Grant Making Trusts (Directory of Social Change)
    (Formerly published in 3 vols, with CD-ROM, by Charities Aid Foundation)

    The Educational Grants Directory
    Available: Directory of Social Change, 24 Stephenson Way, London NW1 2DP; www.dsc.org.uk

  • Unesco.
    Study Abroad
    Available: Unesco Publishing, Promotion and Sales Division, 1 rue Miollis, F-75732, Paris, Cedex 15, France; www.unesco.org and www.unesco.org/education/studyingabroad/networking/studyabroad.shtml

There is also a series of useful guidance notes for international students available on UKCOSA's site. A useful web-based directory of awards (Scholarship Search UK) is also available.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Undergraduate

  1. International

    Rotary Foundation Scholarships (Academic-Year/Multi-Year/Cultural) - for study outside candidate's own country
    Level: Undergraduate/Postgraduate
    Subject: Open
    Eligibility: 2 years university study, or appropriate professional experience required
    Applications: Local Rotary clubs; or Scholarships Department, Rotary Foundation, One Rotary Center, 1560 Sherman Avenue, Evanston, Illinois, USA 60201;
    www.rotary.org/foundation/educational/amb_scho

  2. University Bursaries

    Many universities offer awards which are open to potential international students generally. The annual number of such awards and their value varies between institutions, as do the specific eligibility requirements. Applications should be made direct to the university in each case (International/Admissions Office). International award schemes open to undergraduate students are offered at the following universities, among others:

    Brunel, Buckingham, Cambridge (college awards), East Anglia, Hull, Keele, Lancaster, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London (LSE, Royal Holloway, UCL), Napier, Oxford (college awards), York

    Cambridge
    Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Overseas Students Bursaries - for study at Univ. of Cambridge
    Level: Undergraduate/Postgraduate
    Subject: open
    Eligibility: undergraduates will be nominated to the Trust by the college which has offered them a place.
    Applications: nominated (as above) - further details from Administrator, Cambridge Commonwealth Trust, PO Box 252, Cambridge CB2 1TZ

  3. Charities/Trusts

    Various trusts offer occasional supplementary grants for those already studying in the UK (e.g. Africa Educational Trust, British Federation of Women Graduates Charitable Foundation, Sir Ernest Cassel Educational Trust, Churches Commission on Overseas Students, etc.). Application for such awards (frequently small single grants) should be made direct to the charity concerned - usually towards the end of the student's period of study. (See ACU's separate information page: Postgraduate Funding (UK): Supplementary/Completion Grants)

    (General)
    World Council of Churches Scholarships - for study outside candidate's own country
    Level: Primarily to assist churches and church-related organisations in their personnel training
    Subject: open, but generally development-oriented
    Eligibility: no specific educational requirements, but basic training and some work experience necessary. Open to candidates directly involved in church-related/community work
    Applications: WCC Scholarships, PO Box 2100, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland
    www.wcc-coe.org

SCHOLARSHIPS

NB some of those listed above apply equally to postgraduate study

Postgraduate

  1. International

    Commonwealth Scholarships (CSFP) - for study within the Commonwealth
    Level: Primarily for postgraduate study or research
    Subject: open
    Eligibility: Commonwealth citizens/British protected persons who have completed a first degree or master's degree within last 10 years, and who are permanently resident in Commonwealth countries other than UK. Candidates should hold good honours degree or equivalent.
    Applications: through Commonwealth Scholarship Agency in country of candidate's permanent residence:

    • Botswana:
      Secretary, Department of Student Placement and Welfare, Ministry of Education, P/Bag 005, Gaborone, Botswana (tel: 267 312706; fax 267-312891)
    • Cameroon:
      Cameroon Commonwealth Scholarship Agency, Ministry of Higher Education, Department of Assistance & Counselling, PO Box 1457, Yaounde, Cameroon (tel: 237 23 10 01; fax: 237 23 97 24; e-mail: Celcom@minesup.gov.cm)
    • The Gambia:
      Secretary, Scholarship Advisory Board, Department of State for Education, Willy Thorpe Place Building Banjul, The Gambia (tel: 220 224180; fax: 220 224180; e-mail: madijatta58@hotmail.com)
    • Ghana:
      Registrar, Scholarships Secretariat, PO Box M-75, Accra, Ghana (tel: 233-21-662681)
    • Kenya:
      Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Harambee Avenue P O Box 30040, Nairobi, Kenya (tel: 254-2-334411; fax: 254-2-214287)
    • Lesotho:
      Director, The National Manpower Development Secretariat, PO Box 517, Maseru 100, Lesotho (tel: 09266-323842; fax: 09266-310511; e-mail: manpower@ilesotho.com)
    • Malawi:
      Senior Human Resource Development Officer, Department of Human Resource Management and Development, PO Box 30227, Lilongwe 3, Malawi (tel: 265-01789522; fax: 265-01789006)
    • Mozambique:
      Head of Scholarships, Minister of Education, Maputo, Mozambique (tel: 258 1 49 09 25, fax: 258 1 49 09 79/49 21 96)
    • Namibia:
      Permanent Secretary, Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Cooperation, Vocational Training, Science and Technology, Bursaries and Qualifications Division, Private Bag 13391, Windhoek, Namibia (tel: 264-61-2706171; fax: 264-61-2706122)
    • Nigeria:
      Deputy Director, Federal Scholarship Board, Federal Ministry of Education, Block 353, Yaounde Street, Wuse Zone 6, PMB 134, Garki-Abuja, FCT, Nigeria (tel: 234-9-5230493/5230574; fax: 234-9-523-7995; e-mail: fedscholarshipabj@yahoo.com)
    • Sierra Leone:
      Chief Education Officer, Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, New England, Freetown, Sierra Leone (tel: 232-22-240380/240865/24023; fax: 232-22-240380; e-mail: rapsa1984@yahoo.co.uk)
    • South Africa:
      Ms Jana van Wyk, SAUVCA National Office, PO Box 27392, Sunnyside 0132, Pretoria, South Africa (tel: 27-12-481-2842; fax: 27-12-481-2843; e-mail: jana@sauvca.org.za)
    • Swaziland:
      Principal Secretary, Swaziland Government Ministry of Public Service & Information, PO Box 170, Mbabane, Swaziland (tel: 268-4043521; fax: 268-4045379; e-mail: hrd@africaonline.co.sz)
    • Tanzania:
      Principal Secretary, Ministry of Science, Technology and Higher Education, PO Box 2645, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (tel: 255-22-2668322, 2666376, 2667447; fax 255-22 2666097)
    • Uganda:
      Permanent Secretary, The Central Scholarships Committee (CSC), Ministry of Education and Sports, Crested Towers, P O Box 7063, Kampala, Uganda (tel: 256-41-234440; fax: 256-41-230437)
    • Zambia:
      The Secretary, Bursaries Committee, Ministry of Higher Education, PO Box 50093, Lusaka, Zambia (tel: 250726; fax: 254720; e-mail: Burscom@Zamnet.zm)
    • Zimbabwe:
      Ministry of Education and Sports, PO Box UA275, Union Avenue, Harare, Zimbabwe (tel: 263-4795891/5; fax: 263-04-792109; e-mail: thesecretarymhet@mhet.ac.zw)

    British Chevening Scholarships (funded by UK Government. Foreign & Commonwealth Office) - for study in UK
    Level: Emphasis on postgraduate/post-experience, but some awards for shorter vocationally-oriented courses
    Subject: Open
    Eligibility: Applications must be made in applicant's own country and must be supported by local UK diplomatic mission
    Applications: Local British High Commission/British Council office for further details
    www.chevening.com

    British Council Fellowship Programme - for study in UK
    Level: Postgraduate study or research
    Subject: open (-contact local British Council Director for details of which subject areas currently eligible)
    Eligibility: National and resident of the country from which application is made
    Applications: through British Council office in applicant's own country

    DFID Shared Scholarship Scheme (funded by UK Government. Department for International Development) - for study in UK
    Level: Primarily postgraduate: taught master's degree programmes
    Subject: restricted to subjects related to economic and social development of Scholar's own country
    Eligibility: Open only to students from developing Commonwealth countries who are not already living in, and have not already studied in, a developed country. Employees of a government department or parastatal organisation are ineligible (university employees are, however, exempted from this restriction). Priority to those under 30 (age limit normally 35).
    Applications: direct to participating higher education institutions in the UK (i.e. not to ACU).
    www.csfp-online.org

    International Federation of University Women (IFUW) Grants/Fellowships - for study outside candidate's own country
    Level: Research
    Subject: Humanities, natural sciences, social sciences
    Eligibility: Women graduate members of IFUW
    Applications: IFUW, 8 rue de l'Ancien-Port, 1201 Geneva, Switzerland
    www.ifuw.org

    Overseas Research Students Awards Scheme (ORS) (funded by UK Government. Department for Education and Employment) - for registered research students in UK liable to pay 'full' overseas fee rate
    Level: Research
    Subject: open
    Eligibility: Registered research students (paying 'full' overseas fee rate)
    Applications: direct to higher education institutions/universities where applicant intends to study (General information only can be obtained from the Secretary, ORS Office, Universities UK, Woburn House, 20 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HQ;
    www.UniversitiesUK.ac.uk/ors

    Unesco International/Regional/Local Fellowships - to further training, higher education or research
    Level: Postgraduate/Training
    Subject: Related to promotion of country's economic and social development (especially: education, science & technology, social & human sciences, etc.)
    Eligibility: Nationals of Unesco member states
    Applications: National Commissions for Unesco
    www.unesco.org



    Subject-based:

    Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851
    1851 Research Fellowships - for research
    Level: Postgraduate (final stages of PhD)/postdoctoral
    Subject: Sciences: physical, biological, mathematics, applied sciences and engineering
    Eligibility: Commonwealth citizens under 30 - with postgraduate experience.
    Applications: direct to university where applicant intends to study
    www.royalcommission1851.org.uk

    Royal Society Scholarships/Fellowships - for research in UK
    Level: Postgraduate/Postdoctoral
    Subject: Natural sciences
    Eligibility: (some awards specifically for exceptional Commonwealth graduates - e.g. Rutherford Scholarship)
    Applications: Executive Secretary, The Royal Society, 6 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5AG;
    www.royalsoc.ac.uk

    WHO
    World Health Organization Fellowships amd Research Training Grants -for study (including current practice) in countries outside candidate's own
    Level: Postgraduate/Postdoctoral
    Subject: Health sciences, Public health, Medicine and Surgery
    Eligibility: Nationals from countries which are WHO member states
    Applications: National health administration (normally ministry of health) in candidate's own country;
    www.who.int

  2. University Bursaries

    Many awards for international students are available through the universities themselves. The following is a checklist of some of these; applications should again be made direct to the university in each case (International/Admissions Office).

    'Open' awards (subject not specified)
    Birmingham, Bristol, City, Cambridge (college awards), Dundee, Durham, E.Anglia, Edinburgh, Essex, Exeter, Glasgow, Hull, Keele, Lancaster, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London (UCL), Manchester, Napier, Newcastle, Oxford (college awards), Plymouth, Reading, Southampton, St Andrews, Staffordshire, Stirling, Strathclyde, Surrey, York,

    Subject-specific awards include:
    Birmingham (humanities- particularly Commonwealth history); Leeds (development studies-W.African applicants specifically eligible); London (SOAS) (African studies)

    Also see Cambridge: Cambridge Commonwealth Trust - as above.

  3. Charities/Trusts

    As above. See also ACU's separate page: 'Postgraduate Funding (UK): Supplementary/Completion Grants'
 
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