I'm a South African student exploring opportunities to study overseas. Does anyone know of international scholarships that are available for South African students? Would love to hear about any resources or success stories you might have.
There are indeed scholarships that specifically cater to South African students looking to study abroad. Here are a few options:
- The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program offers scholarships for sub-Saharan African students for undergraduate and graduate studies. It provides not only full tuition, but also stipends for housing, food, books and supplies, transportation, and health insurance.
- The Mandela Rhodes Foundation offers postgraduate scholarships for African students in diverse fields to study at African universities, but if you're interested in studying outside of Africa, you can look for similar opportunities elsewhere in the world.
- The Canon Collins Trust Scholarship funds postgraduate studies for students from Southern Africa (including South Africa) in various fields, with focus areas varying by year.
- The Rhodes Scholarships for South Africa are prestigious awards that fund two or three years of postgraduate study at Oxford University, with 10 scholarships designated each year specifically for South African students.
- The Commonwealth Scholarships are offered for students from commonwealth countries, including South Africa, to pursue masters, Ph.D., and split-site (Ph.D.) studies.
- Rotary Foundation Global Grants fund graduate-level coursework or research for one to four academic years.
It's important to start your scholarship search process early, because many of these scholarships have deadlines that are much earlier than college application deadlines. You'll have to complete not only a college application, but also a separate scholarship application.
Keep in mind that many universities also offer scholarships to international students that aren't country-specific, so you should also look into the financial aid options at the schools you're interested in. You might be pleasantly surprised to find more opportunities than you expected.
It might also be beneficial to reach out to educational institutions, student counselors, and details on university websites for any scholarships that particularly aim at South African students.
Remember that scholarships are extremely competitive, so you'll want to make sure you're presenting the strongest application possible. Don't miss out on any requirements for each individual scholarship, pay attention to what each program values in its recipients, and tailor your application to highlight those qualities in yourself.
Success comes easier to those who are prepared to work for it. All the best in your pursuit of education abroad!
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