Masters
The Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF)
The Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF) -, Post a Comment
- Provider
- Various
- Host country
- United States
- Deadline
- 15 March 2026
- Region
- Americas
About this scholarship
[africaindex](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/author/africaindex/)
[September 12, 2018September 20, 2018](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/2018/09/12/)
The application period for the 2019 Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF) is now open. The fellowship commonly referred to as Young African Leadership Institute Fellows is funded by the United States Government through their State Department and was initiated under former President Barack Obama and continued under current President Donald Trump.
The application will close on October 10, 2018. No applications will be accepted after this date. Don’t wait until the last minute to complete your application. Prepare early and take the time to thoughtfully compose your answers before you fill out and submit your application.
The department has put together a publication with advice from former Fellows on successfully navigating the application process. It can be accessed at [The Fellowship Application Insider](https://yali.state.gov/the-fellowship-application-insider/)
YALIVoices: Apply to be a Mandela Washington Fellow - YouTube
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### Application and Selection Process
The Mandela Washington Fellowship is conducted as a merit-based open competition. After the deadline, all eligible applications will be reviewed by independent readers. Following this review, chosen semifinalists will be interviewed by the U.S. embassies or consulates in their home countries. If selected for an interview, applicants must provide a copy of their passport (if available) or other government-issued photo identification to verify eligibility.
#### Who is eligible to apply?
Applicants will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, gender, religion, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation, or gender identity. The Mandela Washington Fellowship is open to young African leaders who meet the following criteria:
- Are between the ages of 25 and 35 at the time of application submission, although exceptional applicants ages 21-24 will be considered.
- Are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States.
- Are eligible to receive a United States J-1 visa.
- Are not employees or immediate family members of employees of the U.S. Government (including a U.S. Embassy or Consulate, USAID, and other U.S. Government entities).
- Are proficient in reading, writing, and speaking English. Applicants who are deaf should consult the Application Instructions for more information.
- Are citizens and residents of one of the following countries: Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Republic of the Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The U.S. Department of State and IREX reserve the right to verify all of the information included in the application. In the event that there is a discrepancy, or information is found to be false, the application will immediately be declared invalid and the applicant ineligible. Applications not meeting the above technical eligibility requirements will not be forwarded to the selection committee. If you do not meet the technical eligibility requirements for this program, we invite you to visit [exchanges.state.gov](http://exchanges.state.gov/non-us) for information on other U.S. Department of State exchange opportunities.
#### What are the criteria for selection?
Selection panels will use the following criteria to evaluate applications (not in order of importance):
- A proven record of leadership and accomplishment in public service, business, or civic engagement.
- A demonstrated commitment to public or community service, volunteerism, or mentorship.
- The ability to work cooperatively in diverse groups and respect the opinions of others.
- Strong social and communication skills.
- An energetic, positive attitude.
- Demonstrated knowledge of, interest in, and professional experience in the preferred sector/track.
- A commitment to return to Africa and apply leadership skills and training to benefit the applicant’s country and/or community after they return home.
#### Application Information
The application will collect basic information and will include questions regarding the applicant’s professional and academic experience, including educational background; honors and awards received; extracurricular and volunteer activities; and English language proficiency. We will also request a résumé (with dated educational and professional background) and personal information (name, address, phone, email, country of citizenship). Additional elements, such as letters of recommendation or university transcripts, are OPTIONAL and may supplement your application.
# **[APPLY HERE BY OCTOBER 10, 2018](https://yali.state.gov/mwf/apply/)**
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In[Barack Obama](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/tag/barack-obama/), [Donald Trump](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/tag/donald-trump/), [Exchanges](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/tag/exchanges/), [Fellowship Application Insider](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/tag/fellowship-application-insider/), [Mandela Washington Fellows](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/tag/mandela-washington-fellows/), [MWF](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/tag/mwf/), [United States State Department](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/tag/united-states-state-department/), [YALI](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/tag/yali/), [Young African Leadership Institute](https://scholarshipsforafricans.com/tag/young-african-leadership-institute/)
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Eligibility criteria
Always cross-check eligibility against the sponsor's official site before applying — sponsor rules can change between intakes.
- Citizen or permanent resident of an eligible African country
- Currently applying to or enrolled at the Masters level
- Willing to study in United States
- Strong academic record — typically a minimum GPA equivalent to a UK 2:1 / US 3.3
- English-language proficiency demonstrated by IELTS, TOEFL or an MOI letter
- Two academic or professional references able to speak to your potential
Required documents
A planning baseline drawn from how 90%+ of African scholarship sponsors structure their checklist. The sponsor's portal is the source of truth for any single application.
- Valid international passport (bio page scan)
- Most recent academic transcripts (sealed or e-verified copies)
- Curriculum vitae / résumé (1–2 pages, reverse-chronological)
- Personal statement or motivation letter (500–1,000 words, tailored to the sponsor)
- Two to three reference letters (academic for students, professional for working applicants)
- Proof of English proficiency (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo) — Medium-of-Instruction letter may substitute for Anglophone-Africa graduates
- Passport-sized photograph meeting ICAO biometric standards
- Research proposal or statement of purpose (500–2,000 words for PhD)
- Published or unpublished writing sample (PhD and research-led Masters)
- Country-of-origin proof (national ID or birth certificate) — required by many Africa-focused funders
Deadline timeline
Working backwards from the sponsor's stated deadline (15 March 2026). Dates assume a smooth, single-attempt timeline — start earlier where you can.
- 12 months out20 Mar 2025
Register for tests (IELTS/TOEFL/SAT/GRE), shortlist 3–5 universities, identify referees.
- 6 months out16 Sept 2025
Sit your tests, draft a personal statement, request transcripts and confirm reference letters.
- 3 months out15 Dec 2025
Finalise essays, upload supporting documents, complete the online application portal.
- 1 month out13 Feb 2026
Final review, double-check uploaded files, submit a week before the deadline to avoid portal issues.
- Application deadline15 Mar 2026
Submit by 23:59 in the sponsor's stated time zone — usually local to the sponsor, not your country.
Editorial verification note
The application deadline is 15 March 2026. Applications are still open.
Last checked 5/8/2026
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for the The Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF)?+
Applicants must be eligible African nationals applying at the Masters level, meet the academic and English-language requirements set by Various, and be able to relocate to United States for the duration of the programme.
Is the The Mandela Washington Fellowship (MWF) fully funded?+
Funding model: Funding type varies — check the official site. Where listed as fully funded, the award typically covers tuition, monthly stipend, health insurance and round-trip airfare. Always confirm the latest funding breakdown on the sponsor's official page.
When is the application deadline?+
The application deadline is 15 March 2026. Submit at least one week early — sponsor portals frequently slow or fail in the final 24 hours, and late submissions are not accepted under any circumstances.
What documents do I need to apply?+
At minimum: passport bio page, academic transcripts, CV, personal statement, two to three references, and an English-language test score (IELTS, TOEFL or Duolingo). Research-led Masters and PhD applications also require a research proposal and a writing sample.
How can I improve my chance of winning?+
Apply early, tailor every essay to the specific sponsor (do not recycle a generic statement), secure at least one reference who knows your work in detail, and apply to two or three additional scholarships in parallel — never rely on a single application.