Scholarships and Opportunities

Applications for the Development Bank of Nigeria's Entrepreneurship Training Programme 2023 are open. This training aims to equip MSMEs with business skills, improve their credit access capacity, and enhance funds utilization, trade, and market access. The programme includes virtual and physical training, followed by a pitching session, where 25 businesses can receive N500,000 in grant funding. Eligible applicants must be Nigerian business owners aged 18 and above, running a profit-oriented business based in Nigeria.

Applications for the Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship Program 2023/2024 are now open. This scholarship, funded by the Canadian Government, is aimed at helping Canadian institutions attract highly qualified doctoral students from various fields. The program provides a scholarship valued at $50,000 per year for three years. Applicants must be nominated by a Canadian institution and be pursuing their first doctoral degree. The deadline for applications is November 1, 2023.

Junior Achievement Nigeria's Venture in Management Program (ViMP) 2023 is now open for applications. Aimed at NYSC members, ViMP offers an intensive one-week session that prepares attendees for a career in business management and entrepreneurship. The program features case studies, panel discussions, and lectures from facilitators from the Lagos Business School. Applicants must be serving Youth Corps Members, or recently finished, 27 years or younger, and possess excellent academic records. Deadline is July 18, 2023.

FirstBank is inviting applications for its 2023 Management Associate Programme (FMAP) Francophone. Applicants must have a minimum of a second-class upper division degree, post-graduate degree, up to 3 years work experience, and not be older than 32 years. The programme offers continuous learning opportunities, remuneration, perquisites, and benefits, with several talent management initiatives, equal opportunities, and performance recognition schemes. The application closes on 17th July, 2023.

The 2024 Rhodes Scholarship offers a fully funded postgraduate study opportunity at Oxford University for talented students worldwide. Rhodes Scholars are outstanding individuals who exhibit high academic performance, leadership potential, and commitment to service. The scholarship covers university fees, application fee, living stipend, visa fees, and flights to and from the UK. Eligibility varies by region and selection is inclusive of all backgrounds and identities. The application deadlines vary by country. Interested applicants should refer to their specific country/region guidelines.

The Civic Changemakers Fellowship Programme 2023 is a three-month training for community champions seeking to tackle civic and governance challenges. Provided by TransparencIT, the program empowers changemakers to enhance civic participation, governance, and social justice in their communities, with a strong focus on the Sustainable Development Goals. Participants will gain mentoring, networking opportunities, and professional development, and learn how to leverage technology for advocacy. The programme is open to Nigerians aged between 18 and 35, and applications close on June 30, 2023.

GE’DA Digital Fellowship 2023 is an intensive 6-month program aimed at equipping founders and executives of African nonprofits and social enterprises with leadership skills and readiness for impact investment. The fellowship, targeted at individuals working on any of the 17 SDGs, offers an opportunity to gain mentorship, win part of a $3,000 grant, and solve global challenges. Applicants must be aged between 22 and 50, and leading mission-driven enterprises. The deadline for applications is July 14, 2023.

Ghent University's Africa Platform is accepting applications for its Short Stay Research Fellowships 2023. This opportunity is open to postdoctoral researchers from specified African countries affiliated with an African higher education or research institution. The fellowship includes a grant of €1,000, a return flight ticket, and access to Ghent University facilities. The research stay, which can be taken up in 2024, aims to facilitate and foster academic collaboration between Ghent University Association and African institutions. Deadline: October 1, 2023.

Africa No Filter’s Kekere Storytellers Fund offers micro-grants to African storytellers creating unique content that redefines Africa beyond stereotypes. Eligible applicants include content creators, journalists, and artists under 35 years old, based in Africa or the Diaspora, and with at least 5000 followers across various social media platforms. The fund aims to support projects that portray Africa as innovative, evolving, and creative, thus challenging the usual narratives. Funding ranges from $500 – $2000.

Applications are now open for the Orange Knowledge & MENA Scholarship Programme until August 22, 2023. The scholarships, funded by the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, provide an opportunity for professionals to participate in The Hague Academy’s two-week courses in the first half of 2024. These practice-oriented trainings are designed for those involved in inclusive and sustainable development at the local level. Eligible courses include a range of topics, such as Fiscal Decentralisation & Local Finance, Migration & Local Governance, and Gender Responsive Governance.

Applications are open for the School Enterprise Challenge 2023, an entrepreneurial program designed to provide young people with business skills. Participating students launch and run their own sustainable, profitable businesses and reinvest profits into the business or a social cause. This free educational program features step-by-step lesson plans and offers networking opportunities, while participants can compete for 26 prizes, totaling up to $20,000. Schools of all levels worldwide are eligible. Apply by November 23, 2023.

Applications are now open for the Helmut-Schmidt-Programme Master’s Scholarships 2024, aimed at future leaders from developing countries committed to promoting democracy and social justice in their home nations. The programme, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office, provides an opportunity to pursue a Master’s degree in courses relevant to social, political, and economic development. Recipients will receive a monthly scholarship, health insurance, travel allowances, a study and research grant, rent subsidies and family supplements, and a mandatory German language course. Apply by July 31, 2023.

The Yale Drama Series Playwriting Competition 2024 invites applications from emerging playwrights globally. The annual competition rewards the winner with the David Charles Horn Prize of $10,000, a publication contract with Yale University Press, and a celebratory event. Submissions must be original, unpublished full-length plays with a minimum of 65 pages, written in English. The competition welcomes electronic submissions, with the application window open between June 1, 2023, and August 15, 2023.

The ACU Routledge/Round Table Commonwealth Studentships 2023 offers funding for PhD research projects on Commonwealth-related themes. Two studentships are available annually, one for UK-based students, and one for Commonwealth students outside the UK for short study placements. The studentship covers up to £5,500 and demands an article and a podcast as post-studentship requirements. Applicants must download and complete an application form and return it, alongside a current CV, by July 28, 2023.

Applications are open for the Future is Female Mentorship Program 2023, a Public Relations (PR) and communications program dedicated to the needs of African female tech founders. The program provides insights into PR, communications planning, media relations, and business storytelling, aimed to increase startup visibility and investment. Features include masterclasses, virtual sessions, media relation insights, and more. Previous editions saw a significant increase in applications and press coverage.

The Ashesi-ETH Masters in Mechatronic Engineering 2023, a collaboration between ETH Zurich, Ashesi University, and industry partners, invites applications. This program prepares graduates for careers in multidisciplinary fields like robotics, automation, manufacturing, and more. Participants will gain competencies through industrial internships and Master project work, guided by industry and academic experts. Graduates will receive job offers from world-leading industry partners. The program covers tuition, accommodation, health insurance, and offers a monthly stipend.

ProvidusBank, in collaboration with the Enterprise Development Centre, presents the 2023 SME Program. Designed for Nigerian business owners, the initiative aims to build strategic skills for sustainable growth and profitability. Participants can expect to develop growth plans, enhance leadership skills, define business value propositions, implement sustainable structures, develop market strategies, and enjoy one-on-one business advisories. The program fosters a conducive environment for networking and idea exchange among ambitious entrepreneurs

The Banting Postdoctoral Fellowships Program 2023/2024, funded by the Government of Canada, invites applications from top-tier national and international postdoctoral talents. The program aims to develop leadership potential and position fellows as future research leaders. The fellowship offers $70,000 (taxable) per year, with approximately 70 fellowships awarded annually. Eligibility extends to Canadian citizens, permanent residents, and foreign citizens meeting specific conditions.

The Schwarzman Scholars Program 2024-2025 invites applications from future global leaders. The program fosters a diverse cohort of scholars, providing a comprehensive scholarship including tuition, room & board, health insurance, travel costs, and a personal expenses stipend. Applicants must be current undergraduate students or recent graduates aged between 18-29, with strong English language skills. The application includes essays, academic records, letters of recommendation, a video introduction, and more.

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) of India and UNESCO-TWAS offer a postgraduate fellowship for scholars from developing countries who aim to conduct research in emerging science and technology fields. The fellowships are tenable in CSIR laboratories and institutes in India for up to four years. Applicants should hold a Master's degree in a relevant field and be willing to register at a university in India if necessary. The application deadline is September 15, 2023.