Mandela Rhodes Scholarship 2027: How to Apply

Key facts

Status: Applications open Closes 14 April 2027
Provider: Mandela Rhodes Foundation
Study level: Postgraduate, Undergraduate
Academic year: 2027
Applications open: 9 March 2027
Last checked: September 2026

The 2027 intake is closed.

Written by Keagan HendricksStaff Writer (Unisa Alumnus)

Reviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

Open · closes 14 April 2027 · 188 days left Latest update ↓

The Mandela Rhodes Foundation was created in 2002 by Nelson Mandela and the Rhodes Trust to develop leaders for Africa. Its scholarship brings young Africans from across the continent to South African universities for honours or master’s study, fully funded, and wraps it in a leadership programme that is as demanding as the degree.

About the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship

Levels: honours and master’s study at recognised South African universities, in any field.
Covers tuition and registration fees, a study materials allowance, accommodation and meals, a medical aid allowance, a personal allowance and economy-class international travel.
Not covered: university application fees, SAQA verification, visa and passport costs.
Scholars take part in the foundation’s leadership development programme throughout the year.

Mandela Rhodes Scholarship eligibility requirements

Citizen of an African country, aged 19 to 29 in the year of applying.
An undergraduate degree with excellent results, above 70% or an upper-second honours, completed by 1 January of the scholarship year.
English proficiency at postgraduate level.
A plan to study at a recognised South African institution, and demonstrated leadership.

How to apply

Open the application at mandelarhodes.org when it opens on 9 March 2027.
Arrange three recommendation letters early; the application cannot be submitted without them.
Upload your academic transcripts, essays and a scan of your passport or ID, and submit before 23:59 on 14 April 2027.

Closing date

14 April 2027 at 23:59 for the Class of 2028. The 2027 intake is closed.

Contact details

Mandela Rhodes Foundation, Cape Town: www.mandelarhodes.org

Postgraduates should also apply to the Rhodes Scholarship, the DSI-NRF postgraduate scholarship and the Canon Collins RMTF scholarship.

FAQs

1. When does the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship close? +

The 2027 intake is closed. Applications for the Class of 2028 open on 9 March 2027 and close on 14 April 2027 at 23:59 South African time, with final notifications by the end of October 2027.

2. What is the Mandela Rhodes Foundation? +

A foundation created in 2002 by Nelson Mandela and the Rhodes Trust to build exceptional leadership in Africa. Its scholarship funds postgraduate study at South African universities together with a leadership development programme.

3. What does it cover? +

Tuition and registration fees, a study materials allowance, accommodation and meals, a medical aid allowance, a personal allowance and economy-class international travel to and from South Africa. University application fees, SAQA verification, visa and passport costs are not covered.

4. Who qualifies? +

Citizens of any African country aged 19 to 29 in the year of applying, with an undergraduate degree completed with excellent results (above 70% or an upper-second honours) by 1 January of the scholarship year, postgraduate-level English, and a plan to study at a recognised South African institution.

5. Which levels? +

Honours and master's study at South African universities, in any field.

6. How do I apply? +

Online on the foundation's platform, with three recommendation letters, academic transcripts, essays and a scan of your passport or ID. The application cannot be submitted without the letters.

Update note (checked September 2026): Applications for the Class of 2028 open on 9 March 2027 and close on 14 April 2027 at 23:59, according to the Mandela Rhodes Foundation’s apply page. Source: mandelarhodes.org.

Checked the requirements and closing date? Apply directly with the provider.

Apply on the provider’s website

About Mandela Rhodes Foundation

Non-profit organisation (leadership and postgraduate scholarships)

The Mandela Rhodes Foundation brings together two names that few people expected to see side by side. Nelson Mandela and the Rhodes Trust of Oxford created the foundation in the early 2000s, the first time the Rhodes name…

Read the full Mandela Rhodes Foundation profile →

Website: mandelarhodes.org

Student funding in numbers

2025811 011students funded by NSFAS580 000 at universities, 231 000 at TVET colleges, on a budget of R48.7 billion.

20261 026 091students approved for NSFAS funding609 403 first-year applicants qualified and 416 688 continuing students met the progression criteria, out of 893 847 applications.

2027 projectedR53.4bnbudgeted for NSFASThe allocation rises from R48.7 billion in 2025 to R51 billion in 2026 and R53.4 billion in 2027. Student numbers for 2027 are not published yet.

Figures from the Minister of Higher Education’s Budget Vote of 3 July 2025 and the NSFAS statement of 2 January 2026. NSFAS is the largest funder, not the only one – we track the rest.