South Africa has a good number of scholarships for international students who want to kickstart their careers or gain further exposure in their relevant fields.
This support is often directed to exceptional students with limited resources to pursue quality education. Notwithstanding, anyone can apply provided your country is eligible for the one you are applying for.
In this article, we will be providing you with the best scholarships you can apply for as an international student. This application can be completed online and from anywhere.
Benefits of Studying as a Student in South Africa
South Africa is one of the most visited countries in Africa and this has to do mostly with the sheer number of opportunities one can find there. Aside from that, it is also a perfect location for dreams to meet opportunities.
Education is also top-notch there and you will also find great academic programmes along with diversity in culture. The country has 11 official languages including English. Relating with people is even much easier especially since English is the most spoken in the country.
The University of Cape Town and the University of the Witwatersrand are the top ranking citadels in Africa and both are in Johannesburg. You will also find other institutions that are close in terms of ranking in the country. As an international student in South Africa, there is a strong possibility that you are going to have one of the best study abroad experiences.
The economy is also growing at a good acceleration. You can get an internship or part-time job easily. If you also decide to stay back after your education, South Africa is a good place to build and create a bigger future due to the many opportunities.
A very beautiful place to be and one of Africa’s most industrialized nations. The country has its hands on almost every sector including agriculture, banking, and financial services. If you are planning on starting a long journey, populous places like Durban Cape Town, and Johannesburg would be ideal for your rapid growth.
It is also very important to invest your scholarships in a program that will induce opportunities in South Africa or any other place you choose to be after your study destination.
Top Scholarships in South Africa for International Students
1. Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Fully funded + several other allowances
- Eligible Degree: Postgraduate
- Eligible Countries: All commonwealth countries
The Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships (QECS) invites all eligible students to apply for Scholarships. The students must be Citizens and individuals in Commonwealth countries and must be willing to continue their studies in South Africa or any other low or middle-income Commonwealth country.
The support will cover your full tuition fee, living expenses, a return ticket to the country of study, an arrival allowance, and an optional research support grant. This is a way of ensuring that you have no financial challenges on your pathway to your goals.
The host institutions in South Africa for the Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships include the University of Johannesburg, the University of Pretoria, and the Tshwane University of Technology.
2. Canon Collins Postgraduate Scholarships for Africans
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: R20,000 to R100,000
- Eligible Degree: Postgraduate
- Eligible Countries: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, & Zambia
Canon Collins Postgraduate Scholarships are available for Students from eligible African countries who want to study in South Africa. This is made possible with the support of Ros Moger and Terry Furlong group. This partnership was formed to develop exceptional students into becoming better versions of themselves.
As a beneficiary, you will get R20,000 to R100,000 to study either as a part-time or full-time student. Those who wish to study by distance learning are also encouraged to apply but more priority may be given to both FT and PT applicants.
The scholarship will only be for the following programs – Justice which includes law, economics, and politics, humanities which includes arts and literature, and education policy and practice.
As a way of building great leaders of tomorrow, Canon Collins also conference years which all beneficiaries are expected to attend.
3. Bertha Scholar Programme
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Fully funded
- Eligible Degree: Postgraduate (MBA and MPhil)
- Eligible Countries: African countries
Bertha Scholar Scholarship is for emerging leaders from African countries who want to run MBA and MPhil in South Africa. Applications are expected from all qualified students for this program.
These scholarships are for those who want to bring about great changes in their environment. Innovators, entrepreneurs, gifted thinkers, change makers, and candidates from similar fields provided their values and responsibilities align with the award.
Only 8 Students will benefits from this scheme, full MPHIL (Master of Philosophy) scholarships for 5 African Students and 33 full MBA scholarships. The slot may also be increased in subsequent years as it is normally done. It used to be 5, but we now have 8 students poised to get the offer.
4. ANGUS-SAWISE Scholarships in Science and Engineering for African Women
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Fully funded
- Eligible Degree: Undergraduate
- Eligible Countries: Sub- Saharan African countries
Every year, one Sub-Saharan black woman who met the requirements is offered the ANGUS-SAWISE Scholarships. To get this support, you must have completed your study with at least 70% of the total grade. This scholarship is only for one year and is normally given to a female student at BSc Honours or equivalent in any discipline that relates to science or technology in the 4th year of tertiary education.
South African students are also welcome to apply for this scholarship and they may even get the edge provided they prove to be better than fellow applicants.
5. Scholarships for LLM/MPhil
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount: Grants worth up to US$2,500 + a stipend worth $500 + Data bundles worth $150
- Eligible Degree: Postgraduate
- Eligible Countries: Women in African countries
Students from African countries are invited to apply for Scholarships. The LLM/MPhil in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa is offering one-year postgraduate scholarships for 25 to 30 successful students.
They will be taught and guided by established lecturers in the field of human rights. The first 6 months of their studies will be in the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria in South Africa, and then proceed to one of the 12 partner universities in Africa. There will be two semesters and runs from January to December
It is impossible to determine if the scholarship will be full or partial funded as this will depend on access to funds at the time. It is also expected that fund will cover other expenses such as accommodation, and official programs except for the tuition which may be full or part payment.
6. Mawazo Fellowship Program
- Scholarship Link
- Scholarship Amount:
- Eligible Degree:
- Eligible Countries: Women in African countries
If you are a woman who is currently undergoing Ph.D., you might want to take advantage of the Mawazo Fellowship Programme aimed at providing support to women.
Beneficiaries will not only get funding but also mentorship and virtual on-demand training. The group’s mission is to build women who are capable of bringing about change that could command great progress in Africa.
The offer is only available to 40 successful applicants running their Ph.D. at an accredited university in Africa. While this offer may be tailored for Ph.D., those working in thematic areas like Agriculture, Business, Education, Climate change, and Energy are also encouraged to apply. You can find the full list on the Scholarship link.
