About this opportunity
The Scholars Program at African Leadership University is aimed at enabling the most promising young leaders from across Africa to access an ALU education, despite financial adversity or economic hardship. The provider states that the program implements a full scholarship programme and places particular emphasis on young women, refugees, and differently-abled young Africans.
The partnership has a long record. Since its inception ALU has enrolled 768 Mastercard Foundation Scholars into its programs, and the provider publishes the shape of that cohort: 68% of this figure are young women, 19% (147) account for refugees/ displaced young persons, and ~1% for young persons with disabilities.
The page adds that ALU has enrolled Scholars from 32 countries, which is what makes the route genuinely continental rather than a single country scholarship, and it is why an applicant from Nigeria reading this is inside the intended audience. ALU frames the scholarship as development, not only tuition.
The programme page records that since its inception ALU has made great strides toward ensuring the development and placement of young Africans into dignified and fulfilling work, and ALU itself is described by the provider as a university built to educate the next generation of ethical and entrepreneurial leaders, organized around the Sustainable Development Goals. Timing comes from the ALU apply page, which prints the current intake line as January 2027 Applications closes 30 November 2026, the same date the Mastercard Foundation programme lead listed for the African Leadership University, Rwanda round when the call surfaced in feed.
One warning travels with the application, because fraud around university admissions is common. The provider states that ALU does not charge any fees or rewards for application services, nor authorizes any agents or individuals to act on your behalf, and that applicants must complete and submit their own applications, so anyone demanding payment to assist with the ALU
Application steps
should be reported instead of paid.
What you receive
- A full scholarship under the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at ALU
- An ALU degree programme built around ethical and entrepreneurial leadership and the Sustainable Development Goals
- Development support and pathways toward dignified and fulfilling work, as stated by the provider
- A scholars community drawn from 32 countries of origin
Who can apply
- Open to the most promising young leaders from across Africa seeking an ALU education despite financial adversity or economic hardship
- Particular emphasis on young women, refugees and differently-abled young Africans, as stated on the programme page
- Applicants must meet ALU admission requirements, since the scholarship runs through the university application process
- Scholars are drawn from across the continent, evidenced by the 32 countries of origin the provider lists
Who should not apply
- Scholarship places are limited relative to applications, so meeting the criteria does not guarantee an award
- Third party agents are excluded: the provider states it authorizes no agents or individuals to act on your behalf and charges no fees for application services
Documents to prepare
- Your ALU application details for the January 2027 intake
- Academic records for the programme you are applying to
- Supporting material requested inside the ALU application portal
How to apply
- Open the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program page at African Leadership University
- Start your own application through the ALU portal, without paying any agent, because ALU charges no application service fees
- Complete the intake questions for the January 2027 cohort at the ALU Rwanda campus
- Submit before the application closes on 30 November 2026
Sources and verification
Related opportunities
- Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program postgraduate intake at the University of Cape Town
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the University of Cape Town keeps its postgraduate round open to citizens of an African country applying for an eligible taught postgraduate programme, with undergraduate applications already closed. Postgraduate applications close 31 October 2026, and the programme pairs the scholarship with mentoring and leadership development.
- SALTO PI Call for Experts on the P² Dossiers, 2026
SALTO PI is looking for three to six sectorial experts and contributors from anywhere in the world to research and draft the P² Dossiers, a set of practical publications on participation in democratic life and civic engagement. Each assignment carries a fixed gross fee of EUR 1,250 for one sector or EUR 2,500 for two sectors, the work is remote and in English, and applications close on 6 November 2026.
- Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at the African Leadership College of Higher Education, Mauritius
ALCHE, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, offers full ride scholarships covering tuition and additional financial support to deserving and talented students across the African continent who demonstrate financial need, academic excellence and leadership potential. International students apply by 14 November 2026 for the February 2027 intake, with Mauritian citizens running to 23 January 2027.
- UNESCO Research Continuity Grants for African Scientists Whose Work Was Interrupted by Crisis
UNESCO is offering six institutional research continuity grants of up to USD 2,000 each to African nationals working at recognised universities and research institutes whose natural science research was interrupted by armed conflict or a natural or biological hazard. Applications close on 15 November 2026 at 23:59 Paris time.
Questions applicants ask
Does ALU charge an application fee for the scholarship?
No. The provider states that ALU does not charge any fees or rewards for application services and does not authorize agents to act on your behalf, and that applicants must complete and submit their own applications.
Is the scholarship open to Nigerian applicants?
Yes. The programme is described as open to the most promising young leaders from across Africa, and the provider records that ALU has enrolled Scholars from 32 countries.
When does the January 2027 intake close?
The ALU apply page prints the intake line as January 2027 Applications closes 30 November 2026.
Important disclaimer
Nextali researches and curates useful opportunities to make discovery easier. Before applying, verify every timeline, requirement, fee and application link on the official provider website. Do your own research into the organisation, its background and the authenticity of the offer. Nextali does not guarantee selection, funding or the conduct of third party providers.
