University scholarships: the basics

Who can apply

Secondary school students applying for undergraduate studies from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, and South Africa who are nationals of and ordinarily resident in those countries.

Selection criteria

• Proven record of academic excellence
  Grades should be in the top 10% of the year group, and predicted at least AAA at A-Level or 36-38 points in IB.
• Achievement in sports, music, or drama
  Certification of outstanding achievement.
• Social influence and communication skills
  Have held positions of responsibility, demonstrating confidence and leadership.
• Citizenship
  Tangible evidence of community service and involvement
• English proficiency
  Able to converse fluently and write proficiently in English.
• Financial need
  Can demonstrate financial disdvantage within the scholarship eligibility threshhold.
• Potential to contribute fully to university life
  Keen to get involved in societies, clubs and other activities, and galvanise others.
• Intention to return home to a leadership role
  Ambitious to change policies and processes in home country, and contribute to its development.
• Changemaker qualities
  Can demonstrate the capacity to initiate change and to lead, inspire, and take others with them.

The scholarship covers full tuition fees only. Recipients are responsible for covering maintenance costs (living expenses, compulsory UK government surcharges, and airfares). Award recipients must open an Education Fund bank account and deposit a minimum balance.

Selection process

1. Nomination by your current school head.
2. Completion of UCAS application.
3. Offer of admission from a Beacon Partner University.
4. Eligibility Assessment Form.
5. Interview and assessment by Beacon.

Deadline: Nominations and Applications for 2025/26 entry are currently open.

The model

The scholarship covers full tuition fees only. Scholar families are responsible for maintenance (living) expenses, including:

• Accommodation
• Subsistence
• Compulsory UK government surcharges
• Airfares to and from their home country

Current estimated annual Living Expenses: £15,000 ($20,000).

Financial need

• Parents and sponsors are means-tested to ensure financial need.
• Gross Household Income (GHI) should be below $100k per annum.
• Applicants must re-apply annually for continuation.

Assessment

Applicants must:

• Obtain an offer from a UK Beacon Partner University.
• Apply for a Beacon Scholarship for University.

Scholarship awards are made on the strength of four key leadership criteria:

1. Academic performance
   Candidates need to be in the top 10% of their peer group and predicted to achieve at least AAA at A-Level, or 36-38 points in the IB.
2. Extracurricular achievement
   Evidence of excellence in sport, music or drama.
3. Social influence and communication
   Popularity amongst peers, and the ability to motivate others.
4. Citizenship
   Selfless contribution to local communities or civic groups.

Following a Beacon Scholarship award, scholars are rigorously assessed and monitored against these four leadership criteria.

Mentoring

Scholars set targets in each of the leadership criteria using a framework called a ‘Target Sheet’. Progress against goals in the Target Sheets are reviewed and approved four times a year by trained Target Sheet Mentors (TSMs).

Information from Target Sheets is used to compile a Summary Performance Evaluation (SPE) at the end of every academic year, which includes guidance for leadership development and setting targets for the next academic year.

Each new Beacon Scholar for University is paired with an Away and a Home Country Mentor, and a current university scholar (a ‘Buddy’) for cultural acclimatisation, university knowledge and networking.

Annual scholar reviews

The Beacon Equity Trust conducts annual reviews of scholar progress to assess scholarship renewal. These reviews take into consideration:

• Target Sheets
  Evaluation of progress against self-set goals.
• University Grade Transcripts and Tutor Reports
  Academic performance and engagement.
• Leadership Programme Performance Feedback
  Participation and development in leadership workshops.
• Disciplinary Record
  Includes breaches of either university or Beacon Codes of Conduct

Annual renewal

Parents/sponsors must apply annually for scholarship renewal by the Closing Date for Scholarship Continuation.

Financial requirements

• Disclose changes
  Parents/sponsors must report any material changes in financial circumstances since the initial award. For changes in circumstances or new educational stages, a fresh Financial Disclosure is required.
• Education Fund
  A condition of Continuation is the establishment and maintenance of an Education Fund sufficient to cover living expenses in the next academic year.
• Bank statement
  A bank statement evidencing the balance in the Education Fund must be submitted annually.

Sponsored scholars:
Two years’ of the sponsor contribution towards living costs must be held in the Education Account.

Scholarship withdrawal

The Beacon Equity Trust reserves the right to withdraw a Beacon Scholarship in the event of:

• Repeated failure to meet key leadership and performance targets.
• Improved financial circumstances of the scholar’s family.
• Failure to provide required documentation, such as bank statements.
• Failure to adhere to the terms and conditions of the Scholarship.