Deadline: March 31, 2016
The 2016 Yale Young African Scholars application is now available! The Yale Young African Scholars Program (YYAS) is a high-intensity academic and leadership program designed for African secondary school students who have the talent, drive, energy, and ideas to make meaningful impacts as young leaders, even before they begin their university studies.
This free program brings together students from across Africa in this seven-day, residential program and helps prepare them for the demanding application process of attending university in the United States. YYAS is an official program of Yale University, in proud partnership with the Higherlife Foundation.
Program Details
- Ghana: 29 July – 4 August
- Rwanda: 9 – 15 August
- Zimbabwe: 20 – 26 August
On-site accommodation is mandatory, and will be provided for all students, along with three meals a day. There is no cost for students to participate in the program.
- Applicants must be in their second-to-last year of secondary school
- Applicants must be between the ages of 14 – 18 at the time of the program
- Applicants must be an African national currently residing in an African country.
- Successful applicants will demonstrate high academic achievement, leadership potential, and strong interests in the program content, in addition to pursuing an undergraduate degree in the United States.
- Applicants should also be able and willing to work openly and effectively with peers.
- All applications will be reviewed holistically, and there are no minimum grade or standardized exam score requirements. However, a high level of English proficiency will be expected.
Eligibility by Country
PLEASE NOTE: The countries listed below are just a few examples of our eligibility requirements, based on the volume of applications we receive from these countries. Students from all other African countries are still eligible and encouraged to apply. If you have any questions about your eligibility please email [email protected].
- Zimbabwe: Lower 6th students (11th grade equivalent) who have already taken their O Level exams are eligible to attend YYAS. The YYAS application, which comes out in September of their Form 4 year and is due in March of their Form 5 (Lower 6th) year, requires that students submit their O Level exam scores with their application.
- Kenya: Form 3 students (11th grade equivalent) are eligible to attend YYAS. The YYAS application will be released in September of their Form 2 year and due in March of their Form 3 year.
- Ghana: Students who have completed one year of Senior Secondary School (SSS1) and have two years remaining (rising 11th grade equivalent) are eligible to attend YYAS. The YYAS application will be due in March of your SSS1 year.
- Rwanda: Form 2 students (11th grade equivalent) are eligible to attend YYAS. The YYAS application will be released in September of their Form 1 year and due in March of their Form 2 year.
- Nigeria: Students who have completed one year of Senior Secondary School (SSS1) and have two years remaining (rising 11th grade equivalent) are eligible to attend YYAS. The YYAS application will be released in September of their SSS1 year and due in March of their SSS1 year. Following YYAS, they will enter SSS2.
- Ethiopia: Current Grade 10 students are eligible to attend YYAS. The YYAS application will be released in September of their Grade 10 year and due in March of that same academic year. Following YYAS, students will enter Grade 11.
PLEASE NOTE: The countries listed above are just a few examples of our eligibility requirements, based on the volume of applications we receive from these countries. Students from all other African countries are still eligible and encouraged to apply. If you have any questions about your eligibility please email [email protected].
How to Apply
To apply, students must submit the following:
- Completed application form – The application can be found online here and must be filled out by the applicant.
- One teacher recommendation letter – The recommendation letter must be written and submitted by a teacher through a link that will be provided via email. Alternatively, the teacher may email the letter to [email protected] and we will upload it to the student’s application. Applicants should ask a teacher at their school who knows them well and has taught them in an academic subject to write the recommendation letter.
- Applicant’s official transcript – The student may upload their own transcript (or for Zimbabwe, their O-level exam results) to their application. A student transcript is an official document provided by the school and includes the applicant’s list of courses and grades received.
For more information, visit Yale Young African Scholars Program.
