Wesleyan African Scholars Program
Up to 10 fully funded four-year undergraduate scholarships annually for citizens of Africa's 54 countries to study at Wesleyan University.
- Provider
- Wesleyan University
- Host country
- United States
- Deadline
- January 1 (annually)
- Region
- Americas
About this scholarship
Eligibility criteria
Always cross-check eligibility against the sponsor's official site before applying — sponsor rules can change between intakes.
- Citizens or permanent residents of one of Africa's 54 countries, completing secondary school before the next academic year. Must demonstrate financial need. Not open to dual U.S. citizens, U.S. permanent residents, or transfer students.
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
- Standardised test scores where required (SAT or ACT for many U.S. universities)
- Secondary-school leaving certificate (WAEC, KCSE, NSC, EGSECE or equivalent)
- Financial-need declaration or family-income statement (sponsor-specific template)
- 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 (January 1 (annually)). Dates assume a smooth, single-attempt timeline — start earlier where you can.
- 12 months out7 Jan 2000
Register for tests (IELTS/TOEFL/SAT/GRE), shortlist 3–5 universities, identify referees.
- 6 months out5 Jul 2000
Sit your tests, draft a personal statement, request transcripts and confirm reference letters.
- 3 months out3 Oct 2000
Finalise essays, upload supporting documents, complete the online application portal.
- 1 month out2 Dec 2000
Final review, double-check uploaded files, submit a week before the deadline to avoid portal issues.
- Application deadline1 Jan 2001
Submit by 23:59 in the sponsor's stated time zone — usually local to the sponsor, not your country.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for the Wesleyan African Scholars Program?+
Applicants must be eligible African nationals applying at the Undergraduate level, meet the academic and English-language requirements set by Wesleyan University, and be able to relocate to United States for the duration of the programme.
Is the Wesleyan African Scholars Program fully funded?+
Funding model: Fully Funded. 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 January 1 (annually). 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.