The Beit Trust invites applications for its prestigious postgraduate scholarships, supporting exceptional students from Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi to pursue master’s-level study at leading universities in the United Kingdom and South Africa. In 2025, the Trust awarded 21 scholarships through partnerships with top institutions. The next cohort will commence studies at UK partner universities in September 2026 and South African partner universities in January 2027.
The Beit Trust Scholarships are strictly for postgraduate study. The programme funds Master’s degrees only and does not support undergraduate or PhD research at the initial application stage. In rare cases, PhD extensions may be considered for outstanding Beit Scholars.
The deadline for applications is 13 February 2026 at 17:00 CAT.
Eligibility Requirements
By an Act of Parliament, the Beit Trust supports only candidates who:
- Are nationals of Zambia, Zimbabwe, or Malawi, and are permanent residents of one of these countries.
- Reside in and intend to return to their home country after completing their studies.
- Have not yet started the course for which they seek funding.
The Trust cannot consider applications from individuals who have already commenced their studies.
Selection Criteria
Applications are assessed on merit and alignment with the Trust’s mission to foster development in southern Africa.
1. Academic Achievement
Preference is given to candidates with a Distinction or Merit (Upper Second Class) in their undergraduate degree. Applicants with a Lower Second Class degree are not automatically excluded but face stronger competition. Medical degrees that are ungraded are assessed accordingly.
2. Postgraduate Qualifications
Applicants who already hold a postgraduate degree are normally not eligible, except in exceptional cases where further study would have significant developmental impact.
3. Professional Experience
Relevant professional experience—preferably a minimum of three years—is highly valued. Applicants should demonstrate experience aligned with their proposed field of study and provide a positive employer reference. This experience should also reflect leadership potential in their professional or community roles.
4. Voluntary Work and Leadership
While voluntary work is not mandatory, evidence of community engagement strengthens an application. The Trust places particular emphasis on leadership qualities, viewing them as essential indicators of an applicant’s ability to contribute to national and regional development.
5. References
Three references—academic, character, and employer (if applicable)—are required. Referees should provide evidence-based examples of the candidate’s academic ability, leadership, and integrity.
6. Course Relevance
Applicants must choose fields aligned with the Trust’s developmental focus, including:
- Medicine and Health
- Engineering
- Education
- Economic Growth and Development
- Agriculture
- Conservation
MBA programmes are not eligible for funding.
7. Commitment to Return
A firm commitment to return home after completion of studies is essential, as the scholarship seeks to enhance the capacity of southern African countries.
8. Medical and Veterinary Applicants
Medical and veterinary applicants must have completed 18 months of internship and at least one year of in-country posting. Rural practice experience is an advantage.
Partner Universities
The Beit Trust has joint partnerships with the following universities:
United Kingdom:
Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Oxford, Blavatnik, St Andrews (Computer Science only), and Strathclyde (Engineering only).
South Africa:
Rhodes, Stellenbosch, and Cape Town.
Applicants must apply to one or more of these partner universities. For UK universities, an offer of admission is required before submitting a Beit application. For South African universities, candidates may apply for the scholarship before receiving an offer, but must list their intended programmes and institutions.
Scholarship Coverage
The Beit Trust Scholarship provides comprehensive financial support, including:
- Full tuition and university fees.
- A living allowance.
- Coverage of visa, health surcharge, TB test, and biometric costs.
- Arrival, laptop, and departure allowances.
- Economy-class flights to and from the study destination.
Note: The scholarship does not cover spouses or dependents.
Application Process
Applicants should submit a single online application, attaching all required documents in one sitting. These include:
- Degree certificates and transcripts.
- A concise Curriculum Vitae (CV).
- A 300-word personal statement outlining how their studies will benefit their country.
- A clear recent photograph and valid passport copy.
- Three completed references (academic, character, and employer).
Applicants to South African universities must also provide a SAQA Certificate of Evaluation, verifying equivalence to NQF Level 8 (required for Master’s study).
Selection and Interviews
Shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews in April 2026, held in Lusaka, Harare, and Blantyre. Not all interviewees will be awarded scholarships.
Application Deadline:
13 February 2026 (17:00 CAT)
VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY
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Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the awarding organization. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.
