Fully Funded Beit Trust Postgraduate Scholarships in South Africa & United Kingdom 2025/2026.

The Beit Trust Postgraduate Scholarships are prestigious awards that offer exceptional opportunities for African students to pursue postgraduate studies at select universities in the United Kingdom and South Africa. Established in 1902 by Alfred Beit, a prominent philanthropist and financier, the Beit Trust has a long history of supporting education and development in Southern Africa.

One of the distinguishing features of the Beit Trust Scholarships is their focus on academic excellence and leadership potential. These scholarships are designed to identify and nurture high-achieving individuals who exhibit a strong commitment to making a positive impact on their home countries and the African continent as a whole. As such, the trust places a significant emphasis on selecting scholars who possess both outstanding academic credentials and a clear vision for contributing to their communities and regions.

Recipients of the Beit Trust Scholarships have the opportunity to pursue a wide range of postgraduate programs, including master’s and doctoral degrees, at top-tier universities in the UK and South Africa. These universities are carefully chosen for their academic excellence and their commitment to supporting Beit Trust scholars in their academic and personal development.

Eligibility Requirements For The Beit Trust Postgraduate Scholarships

1. Academic Capability: we look first at those with a Distinction or Merit (Upper Second Class) in their undergraduate degree. Those with Lower Second Class or Credit/Pass degrees, while not ineligible to apply, will struggle to beat the competition. We understand, however, that some medical degrees are not graded in this way.
2. Those who already hold a postgraduate degree are likely only in the most exceptional cases to be considered for a Beit Postgraduate Scholarship. The Trust usually decides to offer the opportunity to worthy candidates who do not already have a postgraduate qualification.  
3. Professional Work Experience: important in the award of a scholarship. This should be relevant to the proposed field of study. As a guide, at least three years’ work experience, backed by a positive employer’s reference, can boost an application. The Trust values work experience in itself, but also as an index to leadership potential in your chosen field.
4. Voluntary Work: our application form asks about this, as evidence of pro bono engagement with your community. This is not however essential, and is not in itself a sufficient alternative to professional work experience.  
5. Leadership Qualities: these are important to the Trust, as an indication of your ability to contribute to economic and social uplift, to the benefit of the people of your country.
6. References: these help us make a rounded assessment of you on paper. Referees are most effective when they can point to evidence-based examples of leadership, achievement and professional potential beyond the ordinary.
7. Relevance of your course of study: the Trust’s focus is on developmental academic disciplines: i.e. those which contribute to the advancement of Zambia, Zimbabwe and Malawi in fields such as medicine, health, engineering, education, economic growth, agriculture and conservation. These categories are not exhaustive. If you have a question about the developmental nature of your degree choice, please email us before applying at scholarships@beittrust.org.uk
8. The Trust does not consider applications for MBAs.
9. Return to your own country: your stated willingness to do this is important.
10. Choice of university: you must apply only within our partner universities, listed in the next section. Applying for more than one provides a better chance of selection.
11. Doctors and Vets should have completed 18 months of internship and at least a one-year posting in country. Experience in rural practice is especially welcome.
12. The Trust cannot consider applications from those who have already begun a course.

Scholarships Worth

• Fees, tuition costs and related academic expenses. These are paid by the Trust direct to the Partner Universities.
• A personal allowance, index-linked in accordance with guidance from an independent authority, covering maintenance support.
• Other allowances are paid for arrival, a laptop and departure.
• Economy Class tickets are provided for the initial journey to the place of study, and on final return.
• No allowances are paid for spouses and other family members or dependants.

Application Procedure:

Please ensure you have all the documents below ready to upload electronically.  Once you start the application process, you must complete it, as you will not be able to save answers and return to it later. You will, however, be able to scroll through the form before you begin to fill it in. You will be required to upload the following documents with your application:

1. A signed Medical Certificate Form from your doctor.  This will need to be completed before you begin the application process below.  Please download the form here: Medical Certificate Form
2. A copy of your offer letter from a UK Partner University/s; or a PDF document detailing the university/s and course/s you will apply to at a South African Partner University/s.
3. Degree results (incl. certificates of importance and full transcripts).
4. Curriculum Vitae (CV).
5. A personal statement to explain in your own words (no longer than 500) how you think a postgraduate degree will benefit your country and its development.
6. A clear recent photograph of yourself: not a passport photo, but something that shows you to your best advantage.
7. A clear copy of your valid passport, showing date of issue and expiry.  Please ensure it is valid for the duration of your proposed studies; and that sufficient blank pages are available to accommodate visa and travel stamp requirements.

Application Deadline: 7 February 2025.

For More Information,

Visit the Official Website