The Mandela Rhodes Scholarship 2025 for African Students

The Mandela Rhodes Scholarship combines financial support with a leadership programme that will challenge you, grow you, and connect you to young African changemakers - just like you.

The leadership development programme

Our programme is built on our founding principles of reconciliation, education, entrepreneurship, and leadership, and a belief that leadership begins with inner transformation. We aim to keep Nelson Mandela’s legacy alive by equipping young African leaders with the competence and courage to transform the continent into a place where everyone has equal opportunity to thrive. Our programme is delivered primarily through a series of week-long residential workshops which you will attend during your time in residence.

 

• Table of Content
• About Mandela Rhodes Foundation
• MRF Mandela Rhodes Scholarship
• Aim and Benefits of MRF Mandela Rhodes Scholarship
• Requirements for MRF Mandela Rhodes Scholarship Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for MRF Mandela Rhodes Scholarship
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Mandela Rhodes Foundation

The Mandela Rhodes Foundation is one of Nelson Mandela’s three official legacy organisations, founded in 2003 in partnership with the Rhodes Trust. Our purpose is to build exceptional leadership capacity in Africa. We find, fund, and empower young Africans who aspire to use their talents to serve their societies and our continent. We do this by providing a postgraduate scholarship for young leaders to study in South Africa and participate in a residential Leadership Development Programme. Our programme is built on Nelson Mandela’s belief that leadership begins with inner transfo... continue reading

MRF Mandela Rhodes Scholarship

Application Deadline	21 Apr 2025
Type	Postgraduate
Sponsor	Mandela Rhodes Foundation
Gender	Men and Women

Aim and Benefits of MRF Mandela Rhodes Scholarship

Covered costs are:

• Tuition and registration fees as set by your university or institution
• A study materials allowance as set by the MRF
• Accommodation and meal allowances as set by the MRF
• A medical aid allowance as set by the MRF
• A personal allowance as set by the MRF
• Research and conferencing grants can be made available on request
• Economy-class flights for international scholars from their home countries to their institutions at the start and end of their studies

Requirements for MRF Mandela Rhodes Scholarship Qualification

1. I can study at a postgraduate level in English. Take this free test if you're unsure.

2. I am a citizen of an African country

3. I am between the ages of 19 and 29 in the year of applying

4. By 1 Jan 2026, I will have an undergraduate degree with excellent academic results (above 70% or upper-second class Honours)

5. I aspire to be an ethical leader and I am committed to using my talents to advance equality, freedom and human dignity in Africa

6. I admire Nelson Mandela’s ability to bridge divides and bring people together around our common humanity

7. I am prepared to reflect deeply on my own leadership and undergo a process of personal change and growth

Interview date, Process and Venue for MRF Mandela Rhodes Scholarship

We look for young leaders who aspire to the principles below and who have demonstrated the potential to live them out.

Leadership

Do you aspire to be a visionary leader who has moral authority? Do you see leadership as more than just personal ambition - as a way to pursue the advancement of equality and freedom, human rights and human dignity? And do you want to guide and inspire others to reach their full potential?

Reconciliation

Do you believe that reconciliation - combined with reparation - is the key to harnessing an imperfect past to develop a more just world? And are you prepared to start the process by looking at your own internal landscape?

Education

Do you have excellent academic results but believe that your education should not only benefit you but make a difference for others? And do you agree that intellectual excellence must be accompanied by character and a rounded personality?

Entrepreneurship

Do you want to see Africa take its rightful place as an equal and competitive presence in the global world? Have you demonstrated individual effort, innovation and creativity to this end?

Read the Characteristics sought in a Mandela Rhodes Scholar.

Are you ready to grow?

To benefit from our programme you must be curious about doing the personal, internal work of leadership. This means a commitment to developing self-awareness by engaging with difficult parts of yourself, an openness to learning from the diversity and differences in your cohort, and a willingness to explore and embrace complexity within yourself, others, and the systems around you.

For scholars from outside South Africa...

Important: Applicants from outside South Africa may need to complete SAQA verification to start their studies at a South African university. Please see the relevant FAQs and the information under "Step 3: Get your documents ready" below.

Application Deadline

April 21, 2025

How to Apply

Interested and qualified? Go to Mandela Rhodes Foundation on mandela-rhodes.embark.com to apply

Our applications timeline runs from March to November of each year, for the following year’s intake. Applications open on 17 March 2025 and close 21 April 2025. You will apply online, and access our application platform through our website.

Applications are open

Applications for 2026 will close 21 April 2025

Step 1: Check the timeline

Step 2: Check programme requirements

Step 3: Get your documents ready

For more details visit: The Mandela Rhodes Funds website.