High School Scholarships for African Students
Fully funded secondary-school and boarding-school programs that take African students aged roughly 13–19 to leading schools in Africa, the US, the UK, Europe and beyond. Most cover tuition, boarding and travel.
Featured programs
Ten of the most established scholarship pathways for African secondary-school students.
- UWC International
United World Colleges (UWC)
Apply through your country's UWC national committee for a two-year IB Diploma at a UWC school in the US, UK, India, Costa Rica, East Africa and more.
Open to: All African countriesWhere: 18 UWC schools worldwideFunding: Full or partial (80%+ of selected students)Ages: 16–19 (IBDP) - African Leadership Academy
African Leadership Academy (ALA)
A two-year pre-university programme combining Cambridge A-Levels with Entrepreneurial Leadership and African Studies.
Open to: All 54 African countriesWhere: Johannesburg, South AfricaFunding: Need-based aid up to full scholarshipAges: 15–19 - Beacon Changemakers
Beacon Scholarships
Up to 8 awards annually for nominated secondary-school students with leadership potential and academic excellence.
Open to: Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, South AfricaWhere: Leading boarding schoolsFunding: Full (tuition, boarding, travel)Ages: 13–18 - SEED Project
SEED Project
Sends talented South African students from under-resourced communities to top US boarding schools to complete high school.
Open to: South AfricaWhere: US boarding schoolsFunding: Full (tuition, boarding, travel)Ages: Grades 9–11 - Aga Khan Academy
Aga Khan Academy Mombasa Scholarships
Six merit-based scholarships annually for Kenya's top secondary candidates, with full aid available based on need.
Open to: KenyaWhere: Mombasa, KenyaFunding: Up to 50% tuition + means-blind aidAges: Secondary IB - Rockport School, Northern Ireland
Rockport African Friendship Scholarship (RAFS)
Round Square member school funding exceptional young Africans for a formative academic year in Northern Ireland.
Open to: South Africa, ZimbabweWhere: United KingdomFunding: Full scholarshipAges: Secondary - Angola Brilliant Minds
Angola Brilliant Minds National Scholarship
National pathway taking Angolan talent through UK boarding school and on to university — with a commitment to return.
Open to: AngolaWhere: United KingdomFunding: Full (secondary + university)Ages: 14–16 - American International School of Cape Town
AISCT High School Scholarship
Merit-based aid for academically talented South African students to attend AISCT.
Open to: South AfricaWhere: Cape Town, South AfricaFunding: Merit-based up to full tuitionAges: High school - AIS Lusaka
American International School of Lusaka Scholarships
Competitive awards for Zambian secondary students with strong academics and demonstrated need.
Open to: ZambiaWhere: Lusaka, ZambiaFunding: Partial to full tuitionAges: High school - English-Speaking Union
ESU Secondary School Exchange
Gap-year placement at leading US independent boarding schools, with tuition and boarding hosted by the school.
Open to: ESU branches (incl. African chapters)Where: United StatesFunding: Tuition + boarding waived by host schoolAges: 17–18 (gap year)
How to choose a program
- Age fit. Most programs admit students aged 13–16; UWC and ESU also offer 17–19 / gap-year entry points.
- Country eligibility. Some are pan-African (UWC, ALA), others are country-specific (Angola Brilliant Minds, SEED, USAP-style pathways).
- Curriculum. UWC and Aga Khan are International Baccalaureate; ALA is Cambridge A-Levels; RAFS and ESU place students in UK/US national curricula.
- Total cost covered. Confirm whether travel, boarding, visas and pocket money are included — not just tuition.
More for younger students
After secondary school, browse our undergraduate guides to plan the next step.