Stanford Africa Fellowship
Application Process and Timeline
1. Apply to the Stanford Africa MBA Fellowship Program (13 June 2014)
The fellowship application opens on 1 April 2014 and the deadline to apply is 13 June 2014. There is no fee to apply for the Stanford Africa MBA Fellowship at this stage.
Stanford Africa MBA Fellowship Application materials include:
- Educational history
- Self report your grades from college or university.
- You may also submit the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) and/or the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), if available. These are optional at the fellowship application stage. If you are selected as a finalist, you’ll be required to take one of these exams as part of your application to the Stanford MBA Program.
- Awards and honors (academic, professional, or personal)
- Employment history
- One-page resume or curriculum vitae (CV)
- 250-word essay addressing how you plan to make an impact in Africa
- Individual financial information
2. Finalists announced (11 July 2014)
Up to 50 finalists will be selected for the Stanford Africa MBA Fellowship.
3. Finalists apply to Stanford MBA Program (Round 1, October 2014)
Stanford Africa MBA Fellowship finalists must apply to the Stanford MBA Program in Round 1 to be eligible for the fellowship.
Stanford Africa MBA Fellowship finalists must submit the Stanford MBA Program application, including GMAT or GRE scores, and if applicable, one of the English language tests (IELTS, PTE, or TOEFL).
4. Receive an offer of admission (December 2014)
Stanford GSB will select up to eight Stanford Africa MBA Fellows each year from among the finalists.
5. Enroll in two-year Stanford MBA Program (September 2015)
6. Successfully complete the two-year Stanford MBA Program (June 2017)
7. Within two years of graduation from the Stanford MBA Program, return to Africa (June 2019)
Work in Africa – in a business, government, or non-profit organization – for at least two consecutive years.
Fellowship Eligibility and Requirements
Stanford Africa MBA Fellows must first be selected as finalists through the fellowship application process. Stanford will select up to 50 Stanford Africa MBA Fellowship finalists based on:
- Merit
- Commitment to developing Africa
- Financial need
If you are not selected as a Stanford Africa MBA Fellowship finalist, you remain welcome to apply to the Stanford MBA Program in any application round and you will remain eligible to receive other forms of financial aid.
Merit
We evaluate three criteria when considering candidates for both the Stanford Africa MBA Fellowship and the MBA Program: intellectual vitality, demonstrated leadership potential, and personal qualities and contributions that will add to the class. To learn more about the requirements and qualities we seek in candidates in the Admission section of our website.
Commitment to Developing Africa
You must be a citizen of an African country. Dual citizens are eligible for the fellowship as long as you hold citizenship of an African nation. Residents of an African country who do not have citizenship belonging to an African country are ineligible at this time.
You must have completed, or be in the final year of completing, your university studies. If you studied at an undergraduate or graduate institution in Africa, we especially encourage you to consider applying for the Stanford Africa MBA Fellowship Program. African citizens who studied in countries outside of Africa are also eligible for the fellowship.
Stanford Africa MBA Fellows must return to work in Africa, within two years of Stanford MBA graduation, for a period of at least two years. Stanford MBA students pursue a wide variety of careers after graduation. As a Stanford Africa MBA Fellow, you will devote the management and leadership skills learned at Stanford to developing the African economy. As such, we expect Stanford Africa MBA Fellows to work for African organizations with significant operations and impact in the region. Please read our Frequently Asked Questions below for more information.
Financial Need
Stanford will determine your financial need based on personal financial information you submit in the Stanford Africa MBA Fellowship application. After you are selected as a finalist and admitted to the MBA Program, you will complete Stanford’s financial aid application process, which requires information about your assets and income, including copies of your tax returns. For more information visit the Financial Aid section of our website.
All Stanford MBA students, regardless of citizenship, are eligible for financial assistance (including need-based fellowships) based on your demonstrated financial need. For international citizens, Stanford GSB offers a loan program that does not require a US co-signer.
Stanford Africa MBA Fellows receive financial support for the cost of Stanford MBA tuition and associated fees for the two-year course of study. You may be eligible for additional financial assistance if your level of need exceeds the amount of the fellowship (approximately $145,000 USD). Read more about the cost of attendance.
If you are not selected as a Stanford Africa MBA Fellow finalist, you may still apply to the Stanford MBA Program and be eligible to receive financial aid. Your financial aid package will be based on the need you demonstrate in your financial aid application and typically includes a combination of fellowships and loans.
