Scholarships for International Students from Africa
The number of African students studying in the U.S. has increased over the past couple of decades, meaning more students from Africa are searching for funding sources, including scholarships, to pay for college.
According to Institute of International Education’s Open Doors data, 42,518 international students from sub-Saharan Africa studied in the U.S. in the 2021-22 year. The highest numbers of African students came from Nigeria, followed by Ghana and Kenya.
If you’re a student from Africa looking to earn your degree in the U.S., you may be on the hunt for international scholarships. Scholarships for Africans offer funding you can put toward tuition, fees and other expenses without having to pay them back.
Here are some examples of study abroad scholarships for African students that can help you cover the costs of your university education.
Scholarships for African college students studying abroad
1. Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
Launched in 2012, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program has supported almost 40,000 young people in Africa to pursue higher education. It partners with universities and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to provide scholarships for African students who are academically strong and committed to making a difference in the lives of others. Undergraduates must be 29 or under at the time they apply, while graduate students must be 35 or under to qualify for this program.
2. Zawadi Africa Education Fund Scholarships
The Zawadi Africa Education Fund helps connect academically gifted female students with scholarship opportunities so they can pursue higher education in the U.S., Uganda, Ghana, South Africa or Kenya.
To apply for this program, you must be a woman who has completed her secondary school examination and has demonstrated academic excellence and leadership qualities. The scholarship committee also looks for students who have financial need and have overcome difficult odds to excel academically.
Accepted students will take part in a rigorous nine-month coaching program that helps them apply to partner schools offering scholarships.
3. International Association of Black Actuaries Scholarship
This scholarship is available to Black students of African descent originating from African nations, the U.S. or Canada who are planning to study actuarial science. To be eligible for this scholarship, you must have a grade point average of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale, have a math SAT score of at least 600 or a math ACT score of at least 28, and show an interest and familiarity with the actuarial profession. Winners of this scholarship will receive between US$1,500 and US$5,000 per year to put toward their studies.
4. Margaret McNamara Education Grant (MMEG)
A nonprofit public charity since 1981, MMEG provides education grants up to US$15,000 to exceptional women from developing countries. To date, it has provided US$4.8 million in awards to 531 grantees from 79 countries around the world. To qualify for an MMEG grant, you must be a woman at least 25 years old from an eligible country, who plans to work in or with a developing country to improve the lives of women and/or children after earning your degree.
5. AAUW International Fellowships
The American Association of University Women (AAUW) offers international fellowships between US$20,000 and US$50,000 to women pursuing graduate study in the U.S. who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The AAUW looks for women with a record of academic achievement and a commitment to women and girls. It also prefers students who plan to return to their home country after graduation to become leaders in the arts, science, business, government, academia or community activism.
6. Aga Khan Foundation’s International Scholarship Programme
The Aga Khan Foundation offers international awards to students pursuing their master’s or doctorate degree.
The scholarship looks for students under 30 from the following countries:
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- Afghanistan
- Bangladesh
- Canada
- Egypt
- France
- India
- Kyrgyz Republic
- Madagascar
- Mozambique
- Pakistan
- Portugal
- Syria
- Tajikistan
- Tanzania
- Uganda
- U.S.
(Students residing in Canada, France, Portugal or the USA must be originally from one of the other listed countries.)
To qualify for this award, you must have financial need, as well as an excellent academic record, strong professional achievements, extracurricular involvement, volunteer contributions and leadership skills. This award is a partial scholarship – half grant and half loan, meaning you’ll have to pay back half the amount over a five-year period at a 5% rate.
Empower your future with more scholarship awards
While this list contains some great opportunities for scholarships for African students, it’s only the start. Use scholarship search engines, like the InternationalStudent.com scholarship search tool, which can filter results based on where you’re from. You can also check with your school to see if it offers awards to international students.
Also, explore the MPOWER Financing Scholarships page to (check out eligibility and find scholarships specific to international students from Africa or other countries.
Scholarships and loan tip for African students
Scholarships can help reduce the cost of tuition so you don’t have to pay as much out of pocket. It’s worth applying early and often to scholarship programs so you can obtain money for college or graduate school.
If scholarships don’t cover the full cost of tuition, though, you’re not out of options. You could consider a student loan to fill the gap. Keep in mind, though, that you’ll need to pay back student loans, both the amount you borrow and additional interest charges.
If you’re on the hunt for international student loans, MPOWER Financing can help. Learn more about MPOWER’s fixed-rate student loans for international students, no cosigner or collateral required.
