Apply Now: Yale Young African Scholars 2027 Opens
Applications are now open for the 2027 Yale Young African Scholars (YYAS) Programme.
This is an intensive academic and leadership programme designed for secondary school students across Africa who are preparing for university and interested in making a meaningful impact in their communities.
Organised by Yale University, the programme will offer both an online College Prep Workshop and a Residential Leadership Summit in 2027. Participants will receive guidance on university admissions and financial aid applications while developing academic, leadership, innovation and 21st-century skills.
The YYAS College Prep Workshop will take place online from July 15 to 20, 2027, with approximately 240 students expected to participate. Students selected for the online programme will need access to a mobile phone, tablet or computer and reliable internet connectivity.
The YYAS Residential Leadership Summit will take place in Rwanda from August 7 to 15, 2027, with approximately 110 students expected to be admitted. The nine-day programme will combine university preparation with leadership, innovation, design and other skills.
There is no tuition fee for either programme. Participants in the residential summit will also receive free accommodation, meals and academic materials.
Travel Grant Available
YYAS has announced a limited number of need-based travel grants for students admitted to the Residential Leadership Summit who live outside Rwanda. The grants are intended to assist with international travel costs.
However, students remain responsible for securing and funding or fundraising for required travel documentation, including passports and visas. Applicants who do not receive a travel grant must be prepared to arrange and fund their own transportation to and from Rwanda.
YYAS also plans to provide transportation from Kigali International Airport to the programme venue for eligible students travelling from outside Rwanda by air.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:
- Be 14 to 18 years old on July 15, 2027.
- Be able to participate in an academically rigorous programme conducted in English.
- Be a citizen or permanent resident of an African country. Refugees living in an African country may also apply.
- Currently attend a secondary school in an African country.
- Be in Grade 10 or Grade 11, or an international equivalent.
- Meet YYAS’s specified secondary-school graduation timeline.
Students in their final year or term of secondary school, those who have already graduated from secondary school, and university students are not eligible.
YYAS says its typical participants demonstrate strong academic performance, leadership potential, communication skills, persistence, maturity and an ability to work collaboratively with others.
Application Deadlines
Interested students can apply through either of two application rounds:
Early Action
- Deadline: October 20, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET
- Admission decisions: December 18, 2026
- Offer acceptance deadline: January 5, 2027
Regular Decision
- Deadline: January 20, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. ET
- Admission decisions: March 20, 2027
- Offer acceptance deadline: March 25, 2027
Students may indicate their preferred YYAS session(s) during the application process, but they can ultimately attend only one session.
Eligible students, particularly those with limited access to university guidance and financial resources, are encouraged to apply.
How to Apply: Interested applicants should visit the official Yale Young African Scholars programme page for eligibility information and the application portal.
Apply for Yale Young African Scholars 2027
