What is the most prestigious scholarship for South Africans?

The Rhodes Scholarship (Oxford), Chevening (UK), and Fulbright (USA) are considered the most prestigious. SA has a strong historical connection to the Rhodes Scholarship.

Can I apply for multiple scholarships at once?

Yes, and you should. Most scholarships do not restrict you from applying to others. Apply broadly to maximise your chances.

Do I need work experience for scholarships?

It depends. Chevening requires minimum 2 years. Fulbright and Commonwealth value it but do not always require it. Rhodes has no requirement.

Scholarships Guide

Scholarships for South Africans to Study Abroad 2026

Q: Are there scholarships for undergraduate study abroad?

Fewer fully-funded options exist for undergrad. Japanese MEXT, Korean KGSP, and Chinese CSC offer undergraduate scholarships. Some US universities offer merit-based aid.

Studying abroad does not have to be unaffordable. Dozens of fully-funded and partially-funded scholarships are available specifically for South African students. This guide covers every major scholarship programme, eligibility criteria, what is covered, application deadlines, and tips for a strong application.

Top Fully-Funded Scholarships

Chevening Scholarships (UK)

What: Fully-funded Masters degree at any UK university. UK government's flagship scholarship programme.

Covers: Tuition fees, monthly stipend (GBP 1,133-1,516/month), return flights, visa, departure allowance, arrival allowance.

Eligibility: SA citizen, 2+ years work experience, unconditional offer from 3 different eligible UK universities, return to SA for at least 2 years after.

Duration: 1-year Masters programmes only.

Deadline: Usually early November each year (for September start the following year).

Competitiveness: Very competitive. SA typically receives 25-40 awards per year from hundreds of applications.

Value: GBP 40,000-60,000+ total
Level: Masters only
Open to: SA citizens
Website: chevening.org

Commonwealth Scholarships (UK)

What: Fully-funded Masters or PhD at UK universities. Funded by the UK Department for International Development.

Covers: Tuition, living stipend, return airfare, thesis grant, study travel grant, warm clothing allowance.

Eligibility: SA citizen, typically need a first-class or strong upper-second degree. Must be nominated by a national nominating body (DHET in SA).

Deadline: Usually December each year. Check the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission and DHET websites.

Note: Split-site PhD scholarships also available (12 months in UK as part of SA-based PhD).

Value: GBP 50,000-100,000+ | Level: Masters & PhD | Website: cscuk.fcdo.gov.uk

Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA)

What: Fully-funded graduate study (Masters or PhD) at US universities. The US government's premier exchange programme.

Covers: Tuition, living stipend, health insurance, return airfare, book allowance.

Eligibility: SA citizen with a completed undergraduate degree. Strong academic record and leadership potential.

Deadline: Usually March-May each year (for programmes starting the following August).

Note: Must demonstrate intent to return to SA. J-1 visa includes 2-year home residency requirement.

Value: USD 60,000-150,000+ | Level: Masters & PhD | Website: fulbright.org.za

DAAD Scholarships (Germany)

What: Fully-funded study and research at German universities. Largest academic exchange organisation globally.

Covers: Monthly stipend (EUR 934 Masters, EUR 1,300 PhD), tuition waiver, health insurance, travel allowance, study allowance.

Eligibility: SA citizen, completed Bachelor's (for Masters) or Masters (for PhD). Maximum 6 years since last degree.

Deadline: Usually October-November (varies by programme). Some rolling.

Bonus: Most German public universities are already tuition-free, so DAAD stipend covers living costs generously.

Value: EUR 30,000-60,000+ | Level: Masters, PhD, Research | Website: daad.de

South Africa-Specific Scholarships

Mandela Rhodes Scholarships

What: Postgraduate study at SA universities (with some international partner options). Combines academic study with leadership development.

Covers: Full tuition, living allowance, personal allowance, leadership programme costs.

Eligibility: African citizen under 30, completed undergraduate degree, strong academic record and leadership.

Website: mandelarhodes.org

Canon Collins Trust

What: Masters and PhD scholarships at UK and SA universities for Southern Africans committed to social justice.

Covers: Tuition fees, living costs, return airfare (for UK studies).

Eligibility: Southern African citizen, commitment to social development. Priority fields: education, humanities, social sciences, law.

Website: canoncollins.org.uk

Allan Gray Orbis Foundation

What: Fellowship programme including undergraduate study at SA universities plus entrepreneurship training.

Covers: Full tuition, accommodation, living costs, mentorship, entrepreneurship programme.

Eligibility: SA citizen, strong matric results, entrepreneurial mindset.

Website: allangrayorbis.org

Country-Specific Scholarships

Scholarship	Country	Level	Value	Deadline
Chevening	UK	Masters	Full (GBP 40-60K)	November
Commonwealth Shared	UK	Masters/PhD	Full	December
Rhodes Scholarship	UK (Oxford)	Masters/PhD	Full (GBP 18K+ per year)	July-August
Gates Cambridge	UK (Cambridge)	Masters/PhD	Full	December/January
Clarendon (Oxford)	UK (Oxford)	Masters/PhD	Full	January
Fulbright	USA	Masters/PhD	Full	March-May
Hubert Humphrey	USA	Professional dev	Full	May
DAAD	Germany	Masters/PhD	Full	Oct-Nov
Erasmus Mundus	EU (multiple)	Masters	Full (EUR 1,400/month)	Jan-March
Australia Awards	Australia	Masters/PhD	Full	April-May
Vanier Canada	Canada	PhD	CAD 50,000/yr x 3yrs	November
Holland Scholarship	Netherlands	Bachelors/Masters	EUR 5,000 (partial)	Feb-May
Swiss Government	Switzerland	Masters/PhD	Full	Aug-November
Japanese MEXT	Japan	All levels	Full	April
Korean KGSP	South Korea	All levels	Full	Feb-March
Chinese CSC	China	All levels	Full	Jan-April

Application Tips

Do

Start researching 12+ months in advance
Apply to multiple scholarships simultaneously
Get strong academic and professional references
Tailor each application to the specific scholarship's values
Demonstrate leadership and community involvement
Show clear plans for how you will use the qualification back in SA
Proofread multiple times

Do Not

Submit generic personal statements
Miss deadlines (most are absolute)
Ignore the "return to home country" requirement
Underestimate the competitiveness
Apply without meeting minimum criteria
Forget to check if you need IELTS/TOEFL scores

Frequently Asked Questions

The Rhodes Scholarship (Oxford), Chevening (UK), and Fulbright (USA) are considered the most prestigious. The Rhodes Scholarship is the oldest international scholarship (since 1902) and Cecil John Rhodes was South African, so SA has a strong historical connection. Mandela Rhodes is uniquely South African and highly regarded.

Yes, and you should. Most scholarships do not restrict you from applying to others. However, some (like Chevening) require you to declare other applications. If you receive multiple offers, you will need to choose one. Apply broadly to maximise your chances.

It depends. Chevening requires minimum 2 years work experience. Fulbright and Commonwealth value professional experience but do not always require it. The Rhodes Scholarship has no work experience requirement. PhD scholarships focus more on research experience and publications.

Fewer fully-funded options exist for undergrad compared to postgrad. The Japanese MEXT, Korean KGSP, and Chinese CSC offer undergraduate scholarships. Some US universities offer merit-based aid to international students. The Allan Gray Orbis Foundation funds undergraduate study at SA universities. Holland Scholarship covers partial costs in the Netherlands.

Quick Links

Upcoming Deadlines

Fulbright SA: March-May 2026

Japan MEXT: April 2026

Australia Awards: April-May 2026

Rhodes Scholarship: July-Aug 2026

DAAD: Oct-Nov 2026

Chevening: Nov 2026