Mandela Institute for Development Studies (MINDS)

The Mandela Institute for Development Studies (MINDS) describes itself as an Africa-wide think tank and leadership platform that works to strengthen governance, advance dialogue and develop the next generation of African leaders. MINDS was established in 2010 and has built a pan-African network of scholars and leaders.

Registered name

Mandela Institute for Development Studies (MINDS)

Type

Pan-African think tank and leadership platform

Fields funded

Postgraduate study in another African country

Website

minds-africa.org

A scholarship that sends you across a border

The MINDS Scholarship Program for Leadership Development funds postgraduate study on the African continent, but outside the scholar’s country of origin. A South African scholar therefore studies in another African country, and a Kenyan or Ghanaian scholar might study in South Africa. MINDS designs the scholarship this way to build leaders who understand more than one African country.

Who MINDS looks for

MINDS seeks applicants with a pan-African outlook, demonstrated leadership ability and an excellent academic record. The MINDS application form sets clear screening rules: applicants must be African nationals, and they must be between 18 and 45 years old at the time of application. MINDS then checks the applicant’s university admission and academic record.

Unlike most scholarships, the MINDS Scholarship Program is open throughout the year, so applicants do not need to wait for a single annual deadline. Applicants still need an offer, or a realistic plan for admission, from a university in another African country.

What else MINDS does

MINDS publishes commentary on African leadership, such as a 2026 piece on accountability in an age of global uncertainty, and MINDS scholars take part in service activities, including Mandela Day projects. Reading this material before applying helps you understand the leadership values MINDS expects scholars to share.

Researching further

The MINDS website includes an eligibility questionnaire that walks through citizenship, age and university requirements. Complete it honestly before writing a full application. Then research the university you want to attend, its fees and visa requirements, because MINDS funding does not remove the need to secure admission and a study permit in the host country.

MINDS also convenes dialogues and publishes research on governance and regional integration. Scholars who engage with that work during their studies build contacts across the continent, which is the network MINDS set out to create when the institute began in 2010.

Graduates considering further study can compare MINDS with other funders on our Postgraduate Bursaries page.