African students have a number of scholarship opportunities to choose from when pursuing higher education.
According to the New York City-based Africa-America Institute, a nonprofit think tank dedicated to promoting education and training programs for Africans, enrollment in higher education institutions in Africa is growing at a faster clip than anywhere else in the world. Despite these promising statistics, a college degree remains an elusive goal for many Africans, particularly for those wanting to study abroad. As institutions and governments recognize the need to nurture the intellectual capital of the continent, however, they are developing more scholarship opportunities to enable African students to attend and complete university and, in many cases, graduate school as well.
Namibian Government Scholarship and Training Program
Administered by the Africa-America Institute, the Namibian Government Scholarship and Training Program offers scholarships to promising students from that country to study in the United States, Europe and South Africa. The scholarship committee has identified critical fields of study that Namibia needs in order to pursue development, including engineering, tourism, financial services, agriculture, mining, and others.
Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program
Intended for exceptional post-baccalaureate students from designated countries around the world who demonstrate strong potential for leadership and a commitment to social issues, the Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program offers funding to pursue graduate studies in any field of study, so long as it is related to one of the Foundation's three grant-making areas: asset building and community development; knowledge, creativity and freedom; and peace and social justice. Fellows receive not only funding to cover their expenses, they also comprehensive training and mentoring throughout their education in order to acclimate successfully into their host country's culture. In addition, recipients are given considerable support following the end of their fellowship, when they return to their respective countries.
Fulbright Foreign Student Program
Administered by the Institute of International Education and sponsored by the U.S. Department of State, the prestigious Fulbright Foreign Student Program provides scholarships and fellowships for non-U.S. nationals to study in the United States each year. More than 1,800 new recipients enroll in U.S. universities each year from nearly every region of the world, including Africa.
The Leakey Foundation Franklin Mosher Baldwin Memorial Fellowship
The U.S.-based Leakey Foundation offers the Franklin Mosher Baldwin Fellowship to citizens of developing countries with a demonstrated interest and intention to pursue advanced research and/or specialized training in any field of study related to human origins research. This may include primate behavior, genetics, paleoanthropology, and others. The fellowship provides support for no more than two years of study/research.
AAUW International Fellowships
The AAUW (formerly the American Association of University Women) offers International Fellowships to women from outside of the United States who would like to pursue full-time graduate or postgraduate study at U.S. academic institutions. A few fellowships are also offered for study at non-U.S. universities.
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