Africa Outstanding Achievement Scholarship

Africa Outstanding Achievement Scholarship is sponsored by The Bseisu Foundation (administered by partner universities). Scholarship awards of £5,000 are available for select students from the Middle East and North Africa, including Lebanon. To be eligible, students must be starting an undergraduate course in September 2026 and be classed as domiciled from one of the listed countries.

SCHOLARSHIPS - The Beit Trust Beit Trust Postgraduate Scholarships In 2026, the Trust awarded 19 scholarships at British and South African universities, with the help of generous academic partnerships with leading institutions. Beit Trust Scholarships are for postgraduate study only. We do not fund undergraduate degrees, and our postgraduate focus is on Master’s programmes.

We do not offer scholarships for Ph. D. research ab initio .

Only in exceptional cases, and for Beit Scholars of outstanding merit, will the Trustees consider extending support to Ph. D. level.

The next round of Beit Scholarships will be awarded for: UK Partner Universities: Academic year starting September 2027 South African Partner Universities: Academic year starting January 2028 The next application window will open during September 2026.

Beit Scholars, past and present, with the Beit Chairman and Scholarship Manager: Glasgow 2025 By Act of Parliament, the Beit Trust supports only applicants who: Are nationals of Zambia, Zimbabwe, or Malawi. Are permanent residents of one of these countries. Live in and/or intend to return to their country after completing their studies.

The Trust cannot consider applications from those who have already begun a course. Please read this section carefully. It will significantly affect how your application is assessed.

The Beit Trust supports applicants who meet specific criteria, and understanding these will help you determine your eligibility and strengthen your application. Your application will be evaluated based on the following: Preference is given to applicants with a Distinction or Merit (Upper Second Class) in their undergraduate degree.

Applicants with a Lower Second Class or Credit/Pass degree are not excluded, but will face strong competition. The Trust recognises that some medical degrees are not graded in this way and will take this into account. Postgraduate Qualifications Applicants who already hold a postgraduate degree are generally not considered, except in exceptional cases.

The Trust aims to support candidates who have not yet had the opportunity to pursue postgraduate study. Professional Work Experience Relevant work experience in your proposed field of study is highly valued. As a guideline, at least three years of professional experience, supported by a positive employer reference, can significantly strengthen your application.

Work experience is also considered an indicator of leadership potential in your field. The application form includes a section on voluntary work as evidence of community engagement. While not essential, voluntary work can enhance your application.

However, it is not a substitute for professional experience. The Trust places strong emphasis on leadership as a sign of your potential to contribute to the economic and social development of your country. Examples of leadership in academic, professional, or community settings would help you.

References help provide a well-rounded view of your capabilities. Referees are most effective when they can offer evidence-based examples of your leadership, achievements, and professional potential. Your proposed course of study should align with the Trust’s focus on developmental disciplines, such as: These categories are not exhaustive, but the Trust does not support MBA programmes.

Your stated intention to return to your home country after your studies is a key consideration. You must apply to one or more of the Beit Trust’s partner universities, listed in the next section. Applying to multiple partner universities may improve your chances of selection.

Medical and Veterinary Applicants At least one year of in-country posting Experience in rural practice could strengthen your application. Beit Joint University Partnerships The Beit Trust has partnership agreements with the universities listed below. These partnerships enable cost-sharing, allowing the Trust to support more scholars.

1. All applicants must apply to one or more of the listed Partner Universities. 2.

Applicants for UK Partner Universities must have an offer before applying to the Beit Trust. 3. Applicants to South African Partner Universities: see below under How to Apply.

One-year taught MSc in the UK. Two-year taught MSc in South Africa. Four-year MMed in South Africa (no more than one award per year, so highly competitive).

All programmes include a research component. Applicants should hold an Honours degree (First or Upper Second Class or equivalent) at undergraduate level. Please note the following about these three Partner Universities: St Andrews: Computer Science Department only.

Strathclyde: Engineering disciplines only. Cambridge: Apply before their published application and funding deadlines. (Click university logos for postgraduate admissions info) What the Beit Trust Scholarship Covers Full tuition and academic fees, paid directly to the university.

UK Visa and Health Surcharge, TB test and Biometric costs. Additional allowances for Arrival, Laptop, Departure. Economy-class flights to and from your study destination.

We do not provide support for spouses and dependents. Submit only one application, via the link below. Apply to more than one Partner University to improve your chances.

Your application may include up to four degree courses, at UK and/or South African Partner Universities. If applying to both UK and South African Partner Universities, please wait until you have received your UK offer(s) before submitting. Only when you have the UK offer(s) should you add your South African options, and submit together.

Upload all required documents, as listed below. For UK Partner University applications: Apply directly to UK Partner Universities, via their websites. Inform the university you are also applying for Beit Trust funding.

Once you have received all offers, apply for a Beit Scholarship via the application link below, before the closing date. Conditional offers are acceptable.

For South African Partner Universities Due to South African Partner University applications opening after the Beit Trust scholarship deadline, you may apply without a confirmed university offer but must provide a PDF list of the universities and courses you intend to apply to, where the application form asks for the university offer.

You must provide a SAQA Certificate of Evaluation to verify your foreign qualifications, which must be equivalent to an NQF8 for Master’s study. For detailed instructions on how to obtain this certificate, please visit: https://www. saqa.

org. za/services/evaluation-of- foreign-qualifications/ . Allow up to 90 days to receive the certificate.

The cost is approximately R2,500. Apply via the online application link, below. If awarded a scholarship, you must then apply directly to the South African Partner University/s.

If you do not receive an offer, the scholarship will be withdrawn. You must upload all documents in one sitting. You cannot save and return to the application form later, but you can preview it before filling it in.

Offer letter from UK Partner University/s; and/or your list of proposed course(s) at South African Partner Universities Degree certificates and transcripts Other academic certificates (e.g. awards, prizes, or other achievements) I f applying to South African Partner Universities, you must obtain a SAQA Certificate of Evaluation for your undergraduate degree, unless you are applying for an MMed Personal Statement (max 300 words) on how your studies will benefit your country Clear recent photograph (not a passport photo) Copy of valid passport, showing issue/expiry dates and sufficient blank pages Three references: Academic, Character, Employer (the latter, if applicable).

Send referees the reference link once you’ve submitted your application – you will receive this automatically. If referees cannot use the link, you may download and forward the appropriate form to them: Download Academic Reference Form – Download Character Reference Form – Download Employer Reference Form Completed reference forms should be emailed directly to: scholarships@beittrust. org.

uk Shortlisting is based on merit, eligibility, and alignment with Beit Trust criteria. Interviews usually take place during the month of April each year. I nvitations to interview will be sent two weeks prior to the scheduled date.

Interviews are essential and will be held in person, in Lusaka, Harare and Blantyre. Not all interviewees will be awarded scholarships. The next application window will open during September 2026.

FAQs – Beit Scholarship Applications Does an applicant without a Distinction stand any chance of being considered for the scholarship? If yes, under what circumstances? A Masters Course is academically demanding, and the Beit Scholarship process is competitive.

Our Scholars must be equipped to cope with a rigorous workload whilst studying in a foreign country. That said, every application received will go through the same sifting process and be read thoroughly and completely. There will be occasions when a strong and relevant work record and employer’s reference will add substance to a degree that is not a Distinction.

Can you apply for the scholarship whilst waiting to receive confirmation of admission from from a UK University? You may apply as soon as you have a confirmed university offer. If you have not had an offer before our deadline date of 13 February 2026 , it is better to wait for confirmation before submitting.

Applications will remain open until close of business on this date and no preference is given to earlier applications. If you have not received a reply from the University/s by the closing date, but you think an offer is imminent, you may then submit your application online.

If you have applied to and are awaiting a reply from Oxford, Cambridge or Edinburgh, who often take longest to respond, we will wait for you if you apply by 13 February 2026 In this instance, please upload proof of your university application/s where you would have uploaded a copy of your offer/s; and let us know the reason for delay in the last question on the application form, where you are able to provide any additional information or special circumstances (e.g. applying to Oxford, Cambridge or Edinburgh).

Your references may be submitted after the deadline date, provided they are promptly received. However, if you are concerned about delays by your referees, you may direct them to our website https://beittrust. org.

uk/ beit-trust-scholarships/ where they can download a pdf version of the relevant reference form, complete and email it directly to scholarships@ beittrust. org. uk The scholarship says scholars have to return home upon completion of their studies.

How is it that some alumni have remained in the UK? A two-year graduate work visa is available in the UK , which gives our scholars the opportunity to obtain valuable work experience, which should enhance their prospects of employment on return to their countries, and boost their capacity to contribute to national development.

We support these applications provided the scholar enters into employment relevant to their academic background and/or profession; and that they intend to return home on completion of the visa to deploy the skills and knowledge they have acquired. This latter conditionality is fundamental to the Beit Scholarship programme. What is the Selection Board looking for in a Personal Statement?

Read what it says in the rubric on the scholarship application form. Less is more, and your Personal Statement should be no more than 300 words. What we seek is this: Why you think the discipline is important.

How it will help develop your country. You may say something about why you were attracted to or qualified for the discipline, but the statement should be less about you and more about how it will benefit the county and its people. In terms of the selection criteria, does academic excellence weigh/score higher or at par with professional work experience?

Ideally, we look for a balance of the two, but much depends on the specifics of the individual application. But an application without some relevant work experience would need to be academically outstanding to prosper. What other qualities or inputs are considered apart from academic excellence and work experience?

We look for evidence of leadership potential in your academic or professional field, or via community engagement. This can manifest itself through activities which you have initiated, or in which you have demonstrated leadership/taken responsibility. Your referees’ feedback might highlight and describe such activities, and will carry weight.

So will your personal statement , which should express a clear sense of how you consider your postgraduate degree will help you add value to your country’s development and the wellbeing of its people. Who can be my character referee? Any adult person, who is not related to you, who knows you in a personal capacity, and has done so for a reasonable time.

Is it mandatory to have the three years’ experience after undergraduate studies? Preferable but not mandatory, depending on the merits of your application. See the answer to Q5 above.

Does volunteer work count as professional experience? Volunteer work that is or has been sustained, and which has added value for the people or communities involved, will receive its full weight in terms of consideration. If I have been unsuccessful the first time, can I apply for the scholarship again?

How many times can I apply for the scholarship? What if I am asked to pay an application fee by a Partner University This request is normally encountered in applications to Glasgow and Edinburgh (although not always). Please state that you will be applying for a Beit Trust Scholarship, which would be jointly funded by the Partner University to which you are applying.

They have in the past then waived the demand for the upfront payment of a fee. What if I am asked to take an English Language Test? If you are shortlisted for interview only, and hold a conditional offer which includes taking an English Language Test, please alert the Trust at scholarships@beittrust.

org. uk , as it may not be a requirement in the jointly funded partnership agreement with that University.