Scholarships for African Single Parents: You know Education is the key to unlocking different opportunities and potentials. However, most less privileged are unable to acquire a quality education due to financial constraints.
In light of that different organizations have deemed it fit to assist the less privileged most especially African Single Parents. There are several scholarships for African single parents you might not know exist. To enlighten and expose you to amazing life changes and opportunities I am here to help you.
In this blog post, I will list the 10 top scholarships for African single parents. Likewise, I will guide you on how to apply. Therefore, if you want a great turnaround in your life why not sit back and continue reading while I show you the way?
Before jumping to read this post, you might like to know the most expensive universities in the world.
List of 10 Top Scholarships for African Single Parents
Below is the list of genuine scholarships for African single parents I bet you didn’t know about before.
The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program
The MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program is one of the scholarships for African single parents. It aims to support African single parents so that they can continue their education and create a better future for themselves and their family members.
It is the largest scholarship and leadership initiative of its kind in Africa. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program prepares African single parents who are committed to giving back with the skills and mindsets they need to pursue their aspirations and enrich their communities. This changing program is more than just a scholarship because it offers;
- Mentoring.
- Leadership skills development, tutoring.
- Internship opportunities.
- And ultimately career services in addition to covering tuition and basic living expenses.
Eligibility
- The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program offers scholarships at secondary, undergraduate, and master’s levels. However, there is no scholarship available for Ph.D. students at present.
- You must not be older than 29 if you intend to apply for an undergraduate (bachelor’s) degree.
- However, for a graduate (master’s) degree, candidates must not be older than 35 years old at the time of application.
- You must have applied to a University and also meet the admissions requirements of the University.
- You must be academically strong and have demonstrated a commitment to making a difference in the lives of others.
- You must write an excellent scholarship application to the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program.
Ultimately, you can apply for any course of your choice be it Master of Business Administration(MBA), Nursing, Law, Medical related courses, and so on.
The Mandela Mandela Scholarship Fund
The Mandela Mandela Scholarship Fund scholarship combines both financial support and leadership programs. The main motive is to challenge you, grow you, and connect you to young African changemakers – just like you.
The scholarship aims to keep Nelson Mandela’s legacy alive. This is achieved by equipping young African leaders with the competence and courage to transform the continent into a place where everyone has equal opportunity to thrive.
Furthermore, the Mandela Mandela Scholarship fund offers comprehensive funding for the core costs associated with your studies.
Eligibility
If you intend to apply for this unique Scholarship for African single parents then you must;
- Be below 30 years of age
- Have completed your first degree because the Mandela Mandela Scholarship is only for postgraduate study (Honours and Masters).
- Graduate with a second-class upper or have a minimum of 70% in your first degree.
- Have excellent academic results and believe that your education should also benefit others.
- Be ready to study in South African universities.
- Complete SAQA verification if you are an applicant from outside South Africa.
How to Apply
You are to apply online and access their application platform through our website. However, the application timeline runs from March to November of every year, for the following year’s intake. Hence applications open on 14 March 2024 and close on 21 April 2024.
Note that applications for 2024 are closed and applications for 2025 will be opened by March 2024.
The African Leadership Foundation’s Anzisha Scholarship
The African Leadership Foundation’s Anzisha Scholarship is also one of the scholarships for African single parents you can access.
The Anzisha Prize is a three-year fellowship for young African entrepreneurs. However, you must be between the age of 15 and 22 years old before you can be considered to qualify for the scholarship.
The main aim of the foundation is to help you identify, and equip you with tools and resources to run successful businesses.
If you intend to apply for the African Leadership Foundation Anzisha Scholarship then the application Timeline for 2024 is as follows;
- Applications Open – 10 August.
- Applications Close – 30 October
Note that the Africa Leadership Foundation has 3 operational arms. They are:
- Africa Leadership Forum
- AlF Centre for Gender Equality & Research
- ALF Centre for Entrepreneurship & Digital Empowerment
- The OPEC Fund for International Development Scholarships
The OPEC Fund for International Development Scholarships can also be accessed by African single parents. The Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Fund Scholarship Award is to support outstanding young individuals from developing countries.
The scholarship aims to help you pursue graduate studies in a development-related field. Also, it aims to help you provided you are highly motivated and driven individuals to overcome the challenge of raising funds for graduate studies.
Eligibility
To qualify for the OPEC Fund for International Development Scholarships you must;
- Be a graduate of an undergraduate degree or on the verge of completing your undergraduate degree from an accredited college/university.
- Be between the ages of 23-32 at the time of submitting your application form.
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 rating system or its equivalent.
- Has secured an admission to pursue a Master’s degree in a relevant field of development, from any recognized university/college in the world.
- Be from a developing country (except OPEC Member Countries).
- Be studying in these fields (s) of Study:
- Energy Studies
- Economics of Development (Poverty Reduction, Sustainable Development)
- Environmental Studies (Focusing on Desertification)
- Other related Science and Technology
Host School(s)
You can study at any recognized university/college in the world
The World Bank’s Robert S. McNamara Scholarships
The World Bank’s Robert S. McNamara Scholarships is one of the scholarships for African single parents. It aims to award fellowships to young researchers to study in the fields related to economic development.
Eligibility
To be considered eligible for the World Bank’s Robert A. McNamara Scholarship as an African single parent you must be:
- Nationals of World Bank WBG member countries. However, there is a preference for nationals of developing countries;
- Fluent in the English language.
- A Graduate of master’s level studies or you must be currently pursuing a PhD in Economics or a related field.
- Not more than 35 years of age (by June 30, 2024).
- Able to relocate to Washington, D.C. for the duration of the fellowship.
How to Apply
You must apply online and submit the following;
- A revamped CV
- A statement of purpose, which must describe your research interests and professional objectives. Also, you must discuss your qualifications as a development researcher.
- Contact details for a reference who can provide a letter of recommendation. However, letters will only be requested for shortlisted candidates.
- A writing and code sample (optional)
Note that fellowships will be awarded based on;
- Application materials.
- Knowledge of relevant economic methods.
- And also demonstrated skills in required statistical software.
Ultimately, the applications for the next fellow will be open from February 1 to February 28, 2024.
The Aga Khan Foundation Scholarships
The Aga Khan Foundation Scholarship is one of the outstanding scholarships for African single parents. The Aga Khan Foundation funds only postgraduate studies.
However, you study both master’s and PhD programs in any country provided the university is a recognized institute of higher learning.
Field of Study
Note that the foundation gives priority to requests for any Master’s level courses be it Dental, Law, Medical, MBA, and so on. Also, it is willing to consider applications for Ph.D. programs.
Eligibility
You must;
- Have completed your undergraduate degree program.
- Be a national of the following countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Canada*, Egypt, France*, India, Kenya, Kyrgyz Republic, Madagascar, Mozambique, Pakistan, Portugal*, Syria, Tajikistan, Tanzania, Uganda, and the USA*.
- Not having a means of paying your tuition.
- Know that preference is given to students under 30 years of age.
Note that applications for short-term courses are not considered.
The Beit Trust Scholarships
The Beit Trust Scholarship is also one of the scholarships for African single parents. In 2023, the Beit Trust Scholarships awarded 21 Scholarships at British and South African universities. It is worth noting that the Beit Trust Scholarships are for Postgraduate degrees only.
That is they do not provide scholarships for undergraduate work. Also, their postgraduate focus is on Masters Degrees. However, they may consider extending support to the Ph.D. level for their outstanding scholars.
Eligibility
You must;
- Be a student and nationals of Zambia, Zimbabwe, or Malawi, or hold permanent residence, live there, and/or intend to return to their country after their studies.
- Have relevant experience of work after completion of a first degree because it will count towards the award of a scholarship.
- Have completed 18 months of internship, and a one-year, preferably rural, posting in Zambia, Zimbabwe, or Malawi if you are a Medical doctor or a Veterinary doctor.
- Have graduated with First Class/Distinction or Upper Second Class Honours degrees (or equivalent) at the undergraduate level.
Note that they do not consider applicants for MBAs.
The Rhodes Scholarships
The Rhodes Scholarship is an international postgraduate award for students. Though you are to study at the University of Oxford, in the United Kingdom it allows African single parents to study for free.
Applications for the next round of Rhodes Scholarships open in June 2024.
Eligibility
- If you are from one of the Rhodes eligible countries then you must apply for the Rhodes Scholarship for that country. Regardless, if you are not from Rhodes-eligible countries then you may apply for the Global Rhodes Scholarship.
- You must be age 18, but not yet 24, by October 1 of the application year or be up to a maximum age of 28 if the first undergraduate degree was earned within the last 2 years.
- The Gates Cambridge Scholarships
The Gate Cambridge Scholarship is one of the postgraduate scholarships for African single parents. One of the unique features of the scholarship is that it covers the full cost of studying in the UK, that is the tuition fees.
It funds other types of costs such as self-maintenance costs, travel costs, academic development grants, allowances for family, maternity/ paternity, and even hardship finances for unforeseen issues securing the positive mindset of the students while studying.
Eligibility
- You must be ready to study the courses for which the scholarship is applicable, M.Sc, M.Litt, Ph.D., and most of the one-year PG courses.
- Must have completed your undergraduate degree.
- Must submit a Proposal of Research if you are applying for a Ph.D. program)
Note that the application process begins in September of every year and the deadlines vary depending on the course and the scholarship type.
The Clarendon Scholarships
The Clarendon Scholarships always offers over 200 new, fully-funded scholarships every year to outstanding graduate scholars.
Besides, the scholarship provides an opportunity to join one of the most active, internationally diverse, and multidisciplinary communities at Oxford.
Eligibility
You must have;
- Outstanding academic record
- Highly motivated
Importance of Scholarships for African Single Parents
Scholarships for African single parents are essential because they help them with the provision of financial support to pursue higher education or career advancement. Furthermore, these scholarships relieve the burden of tuition and other fees.
Likewise, it enables African single parents to improve their skills, secure better job opportunities, and create a brighter future for themselves, their children, family, and the society at large.
Conclusion
Being a single parent in Africa is not easy, especially with the stigmatization the society makes them pass through. But, these difficulties can be reduced if not eradicated with the presence of different scholarships and grants in their pursuit of education and career advancement.
The financial aid provided does not only give the much-needed assistance it also empowers them to create a brighter future for themselves, their families, and the society at large.
Hence, if you are a single parent and wish to secure your desired future then one of the top scholarships for African single parents in this post is for you.
