Masters Degree Scholarships for African Students in 2020

Masters Degree Scholarships: Trying to secure a Masters’ degree scholarship (especially abroad) can be tricky. This is not un-associated with the incessant cyber-fraudulent act going on which tends to confuse students as well as bring to bear some level of mistrust.

As a result of the cyber-scam, some students may run into the problem of applying for scholarships that cater only to undergraduate students or that are only offered to students pursuing a doctoral degree.

However, fear not as there are actually many legit scholarships that were created with Master’s students in mind. This article therefore provides pertinent information concerning a legal and legit scholarship provided for students.

What you need to Know about Scholarship

A scholarship is an award of financial aid for a student to further their education. Scholarships are awarded based upon various criteria, which usually reflect the values and purposes of the donor or founder of the award. Scholarship money is not required to be repaid by the student.

In other words, scholarships are financial aid awards designed to help students pay for their education. Sometimes a scholarship is a one-time check; however, some scholarships are renewable and provide money for students each semester or school year.

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Where Does the Masters’ Degree Scholarship come from?

Masters’ degree scholarship comes from a variety of different sources. Including clubs, organizations, charities, foundations, businesses, colleges and universities, the government and individuals. Also, colleges and universities offer financial assistance in the form of merit aid as well.

Some Types of Masters Degree Scholarship

Some of the most common scholarships may be classified as:

• Merit-based

This type of scholarship is based on a student’s academic, artistic, athletic or other abilities, and often factor in an applicant’s extracurricular activities and community service record.

• Student-specific

This a type of scholarship for which applicants must initially qualify based upon gender, race, religion, family, and medical history, or many other student-specific factors.

• Career-specific

Career-specific scholarship is a type of scholarship colleges or university awards to students who plan to pursue a specific field of study. It is often regarded as the most generous awards to students who pursue careers in high-need areas such as education or nursing.

Many schools in the United States give future nurses full scholarships to enter the field, especially if the student intends to work in a high-need community.

• College-specific

College-specific scholarships are offered by individual colleges and universities to highly qualified applicants. These scholarships are given on the basis of academic and personal achievement.

• Athletic

This scholarship is awarded to students with exceptional skill in a sport. Often this is so that the student will be available to attend the school or college and play the sport on their team.

Although in some countries, government funded sports scholarships are available, allowing scholarship holders to train for international representation.

• Brand Scholarships

These scholarships are sponsored by a brand that is trying to gain attention to their brand, or a cause. Sometimes these scholarships are referred to as branded scholarships.

• Creative Contest Scholarships

These scholarships are awarded to students based on a creative submission. Contest scholarships are also called mini project based scholarships where students can submit entries based on unique and innovative ideas.

Some Masters’ Degree Scholarship for Africans

Below are some masters’ degree scholarship for African;

1. Chevening Scholarships

This scholarship enables outstanding emerging leaders from all over the world to pursue one-year master’s degrees in the UK. This scholarship is opened for people who have the passion, ideas, and influence to provide the solutions and leadership needed to create a better future.

Since 1983, Chevening has brought over 50,000 exceptional professionals from around the world to study in the UK through scholarships and fellowships funded by the UK government. This unique opportunity has helped to elevate careers and build intercontinental bridges.

• Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for a Chevening Scholarship you must be a citizen of a Chevening-eligible country or territory, return to your country of citizenship for a minimum of two years after your award has ended.

Also, you must have completed all components of an undergraduate degree that will enable you to gain entry onto a postgraduate programme at a UK university by the time you submit your application. This is typically equivalent to an upper second-class 2:1 honors degree in the UK.

You must have at least two years of work experience, must have applied to three different eligible UK university courses and have received an unconditional offer from one of these choices by 16 July 2020 and meet the Chevening English language requirement by 16 July 2020.

· The Eligible types of work Experience

The types of work experiences that are eligible for Chevening can include:

• Full-time employment.
• Part-time employment.
• Voluntary work.
• Paid or unpaid internships.

Work experience can be completed before, during, or after graduating from your undergraduate studies, however, any mandatory employment that counted towards your undergraduate or postgraduate course would not be eligible.

· Value of the Scholarship

A full Chevening Scholarship normally comprises: Payment of tuition fees, economy travel to and from your country of residence by an approved route for you only, an arrival allowance, the cost of an entry clearance (visa) application for you only as well as departure allowance.

Also, other values are: A contribution of up to £75 for TB testing, where this is required, a travel top-up allowance, a monthly personal living allowance (stipend) to cover accommodation and living expenses.

The monthly stipend will depend on whether you are studying inside or outside of London. These rates are subject to annual review. Stipend payments will be made to you on or around the 21st of the month for the following full month.

Where you arrive in the UK or leave the UK partway through the month, the stipend for that month will be adjusted as appropriate.

• How to Apply

To apply or get more information, you can read the application guidance, and then apply via your country/territory’s page at www.chevening.org/apply

2. The Holland Scholarship

This is scholarship is for international students from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) who want to do a bachelor’s or master’s in Netherlands. It is financed by the Dutch Ministry of Education, Culture and Science as well as several Dutch research universities.

The scholarship amounts to € 5,000. You will receive this in the first year of your studies. Please note that this is not a full-tuition scholarship. The grant is awarded for one year and can only be received once.

· Application Criteria

To apply for this scholarship, your nationality must be non-EEA. Also, you are to apply for a full-time bachelor’s or master’s programme at one of the participating Dutch higher education institutions.

You must meet the specific requirements of the institution of your choice. You can find these on the website of the institution. Also, to be eligible for this scholarship, it is required that you do not have a degree from an education institution in the Netherlands.

· How to Apply

Find your programme in the overview of participating research universities or in the overview of participating universities of applied sciences. You will find detailed information about the application procedure and deadlines in the links provided in both lists.

The university will contact you to let you know if you have been awarded a scholarship.

· Deadline

You can now apply for the 2020-2021 academic year. The deadline for application is either 1 February 2020 or 1 May 2020. Please check the website of the institution of your choice to confirm the correct deadline.

In a Nutshell

As an African hoping to further your studies abroad, the above discussed scholarship schemes provides you the ample opportunity to do so.

While applying for these scholarships, please do well to watch out for fraud. If there is any unnecessary charges associated with the registration process be wise enough to withdraw.