Yale Young African Scholars Program 2027 is an intensive academic and enrichment program for African secondary school students preparing for tertiary education and leadership. The Yale Young African Scholars program offers online and residential options to enhance academic skills, university admissions guidance, and leadership development.
The program is administered by Yale Young African Scholars (YYAS) and includes a YYAS Online College Prep Workshop and a YYAS Residential Leadership Summit. In 2027 the residential summit will be hosted in Rwanda and both program options are tuition-free.
Yale Young African Scholars Benefits
- There are no tuition costs for participation in either program.
- The YYAS College Prep Workshop (online) is entirely free of charge.
- The YYAS Summit is tuition-free ($0) and provides free housing, meals, and all academic curriculum materials to all participants.
- Students who successfully finish the program will receive a pdf YYAS Certificate of Completion that can be added to college and university applications.
- There are a limited number of need-based Travel Grants available for students who are offered admission and live outside of the host country.
Yale Young African Scholars Eligibility Criteria
- Yale Young African Scholars(YYAS) is an intensive academic and enrichment program designed for African secondary school students who plan to pursue tertiary education and wish to make meaningful impact as young leaders on the continent.
- The YYAS College Prep Workshop (online) is open to students across all countries in Africa.
- The YYAS Residential Leadership Summit is open to students across all countries in Africa.
- To participate in the online workshop, students must be able to access Zoom on their own mobile phone, tablet, and/or computer with reliable internet for the duration of the program.
- For the YYAS Summit, all students must be able to travel to and from the host country and coordinate and pay/fundraise for any required travel documentation (such as passport, travel visa, etc.).
- Admissions preference will be given to high-achieving, low-income (i.e. “HALI”) students who do not have university guidance in their schools or communities.
How to Apply for Yale Young African Scholars
- All eligible students are encouraged to apply; students may attend only one session, but they can indicate their prefered session(s) on the YYAS application form.
- All applicants will automatically be reviewed for Travel Grant eligibility, and each offer of admission for the YYAS Summit will include information about whether or not a Travel Grant was provided.
- Students and families can choose whether to accept or decline an offer of admission that includes a Travel Grant.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are the most frequently asked questions about the Yale Young African Scholars Scholarship. These answers cover program dates, eligibility, benefits, travel support, and how to apply.
What is the Yale Young African Scholars program?
Yale Young African Scholars (YYAS) is an intensive academic and enrichment program for African secondary school students who plan to pursue tertiary education and wish to make meaningful impact as young leaders on the continent. It offers online and residential sessions focused on college preparation and leadership.
What program options are available in 2027?
In 2027 YYAS offers a YYAS Online College Prep Workshop (6 days: 15 – 20 July 2027) and a YYAS Residential Leadership Summit in Rwanda (9 days: 7 – 15 August 2027). Students may attend only one session but can indicate preferred session(s) on the application form.
Is there a cost to participate?
There are no tuition costs for participation in either program. The online workshop is entirely free of charge. The residential summit is tuition-free ($0) and provides free housing, meals, and all academic curriculum materials to participants.
Are travel expenses covered?
For the YYAS Summit there are a limited number of need-based Travel Grants available for admitted students who live outside the host country. All applicants are automatically reviewed for Travel Grant eligibility, but students who do not receive a grant must coordinate and fundraise for travel expenses themselves.
Who is eligible to apply?
YYAS is designed for African secondary school students across all countries in Africa who plan to pursue tertiary education. The program gives preference to high-achieving, low-income (HALI) students who lack university guidance in their schools or communities.
What are the attendance expectations?
Given the limited duration of both programs, YYAS has strict attendance expectations where students are unable to miss even one day of the program. Students who successfully finish the program will receive a pdf YYAS Certificate of Completion.
What are the technical requirements for the online workshop?
To participate in the YYAS College Prep Workshop online, students must be able to access Zoom on their own mobile phone, tablet, and/or computer with reliable internet for the duration of the program.
Can students indicate multiple session preferences?
Students may attend only one session, but they can indicate their preferred session(s) on the YYAS application form. Admissions offers will specify session placement and any associated Travel Grant information for the residential summit.
Will participants receive a certificate?
Students who successfully finish either the online workshop or the residential summit will receive a pdf YYAS Certificate of Completion that can be added to college and university applications.
How are Travel Grants awarded?
All applicants will automatically be reviewed for Travel Grant eligibility. Each offer of admission for the YYAS Summit will include information about whether or not a Travel Grant was provided, and students and families can choose whether to accept or decline that offer of admission.
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