Nelson Mandela – African Leaders of Tomorrow Fully-funded Scholarship, Canada 2017/2018

Brief description: The African Leaders of Tomorrow (ALT) Scholarship Program commemorates the late Nelson Mandela’s commitment to social justice and equity. It supports young African professionals to become leaders in public policy and administration.

Application Timeline: 

• The 2017 Competition opens Today, 9th September 2016.
• Deadline to complete the Initial Questionnaire receive link to application form:  14th October, 2016
• Selection process: 14th October to 31st December, 2016
• Pre-selected candidates notified by email: January 2017
• Admission to universities: January to March 2017
• Pre-departure process (visa, accommodation, pre-departure orientation): February to July 2017
• All other candidates notified of results: June 2017
• Orientation session in Canada: Mid- August 2017
• Start of study programs: End of August/beginning of September 2017

Offered annually? Yes

Eligible Countries: Countries in sub-Saharan Africa

To be taken at (country): Canada

Eligible Fields of Study: Public Administration, Public Policy or Public Finances

About the Award: The Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) administers the International Scholarships Program (ISP) of Global Affairs Canada. The ALT Scholarship Program by the CBIE grants full scholarships based on merit to women and men from sub-Saharan Africa to pursue a Master’s degree in public administration, public policy or public finances in Canada. 

The African Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship Programme has two components:

• An academic component
• A professional component

Offered Since: 2015

Type: Masters

Eligibility: You must meet ALL the requirements to be eligible:

• Be a citizen AND resident of sub-Saharan Africa;
• Be between 22 and 35 years old (at the beginning of the study program);
• Have completed a university degree meeting the minimum academic requirements for admission into a Master’s degree in Canada;
• Have a minimum of two years and a maximum of five years of full-time work experience in the public sector, civil society sector or a research institute in Africa;
• Be fluent in  French or English;
• Meet all the academic requirements of the study program of choice.

You are not eligible if:

• You are a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident or you have applied for permanent residency in Canada.
• You are already enrolled in a degree or any program of study at a Canadian university.
• You are currently employed by the Government of Canada.

Selection Criteria: Eligible candidates with complete files will be assessed against the following criteria by a national selection committee:

• Academic merit;
• Professional experience;
• Relevance and merit of the case study;
• Recommendation letters;
• Demonstrated leadership capacity; and
• Potential contribution to public administration and public policy upon the candidate’s return to his/her home country.

In awarding the scholarships, considerations will be given to gender equity and equitable representation from across sub-Saharan Africa

Number of Awardees: Not specified

Value of Scholarship: Fully-funded

Duration of Scholarship: The African Leaders of Tomorrow Scholarship Programme funds studies in a Master’s degree programme in public administration, public policy or public finance for a maximum period of two years (24 months). There are no other eligible programs.

How to Apply: Eligible candidates must fill out an online application form and upload the following documents to the form:

• A CV or resume
• All official transcripts and diplomas for every university program completed or in progress (with official translation if the transcripts are not in English or French)
• An abstract for a case study
• A 500 to 750 word letter of intent to explain why you want to study in public administration and how you will use the training on return to your country
• Three reference letters (two academic and one professional). If you are currently employed, one of the support letters should be from your employer
• A copy of your valid passport or a copy of the application form for a passport if you do not have a valid passport along with a national identity card
• Language test results if you have never studied in the language of instruction at the Canadian university where you want to study (English or French) (g. TOEFL, Alliance française)

Visit Scholarship Webpage for details

Award Provider: The Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) manages the ALT Scholarship Program in partnership with the Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) and in collaboration with the African Association of Public Administration and Management (AAPAM) and the Canadian Association of Programs in Public Administration (CAPPA).

Important Notes: During the application process you select three choices of universities and programs. You should consult the admission requirements and the program description to ensure that it meets your interest and qualifications.  At this time, you do not need to apply to the university separately.