Yale Young African Scholars (YYAS) is an intensive academic and enrichment program designed for African secondary school students planning to pursue tertiary education and who wish to make meaningful impact as young leaders on the continent.
Participants will enhance their academic skills, receive guidance on university admissions and career path options, and join a network of young leaders from across Africa.
Scholarship Summary
- Host: Yale University
- Category: High School Scholarships
- Eligible Countries: African Countries
- Reward: Full Sponsorship | Accommodation | Meals
- No IELTS Required
- Deadline: January 20, 2025
Scholarship Details
Yale Young African Scholars (YYAS) is a proud member of the HALI Access Network and continues to enjoy support from The Whitney and Betty MacMillan Center for International and Area Studies at Yale. YYAS was modeled off its sister program, Yale Young Global Scholars (YYGS), and continues to operate under its umbrella.
Across both programs, participants will enhance their academic skills, receive university admission and financial aid application guidance, and join a network of young leaders from across Africa. Students may attend only one session, but they can indicate their preferred session(s) on the YYAS application form.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must:
- Be between the ages of 14-18 years old on the program dates in 2025 in order to be considered (i.e. born between 18 August 2006 and 17 July 2011).
- Be able to participate in a rigorous academic curriculum conducted in English.
- Be a citizen or permanent resident of an African country. YYAS will also accept applications from refugees living in an African country.
- Be currently enrolled in a school in an African country.
- Be a current 10th or 11th grade student (or the international equivalents).
Scholarship Benefits
Successful applicants of the scholarship will receive:
Free tuition
Free housing
Free meals
Free academic materials
Duration of Program:
- YYAS Online College Prep Workshop (6 days): 17 – 22 July 2025
- YYAS Residential Leadership Summit (Kenya; 9 days): 9 – 17 August 2025
Required Documents
To apply for the scholarship, applicants must prepare:
- Activities list
- One 400-word essay and one 200-word response
- Two “fast take” responses (280 characters each)
- Official school transcript
- One Recommender (who will complete the YYGS Recommendation Form* ONLY)
- Application fee ($70 for Early Action and $85 for Regular Decision)
- You must click the Submit Application button on the “Review” page for your application to be considered.
- OPTIONAL: English fluency test scores (TOEFL or DuoLingo)
- OPTIONAL: Need-based financial aid
How to Apply
To apply for the scholarship, applicants must:
Visit the program’s webpage
To apply for the scholarship, click HERE
To receive more scholarship updates, click HERE
