Nyerere Scholarship

The Centre of African Studies is delighted to announce the Nyerere Scholarship for an applicant to our MSc in Africa and International Development.

The Nyerere Scholarship provides funding for a talented Tanzanian graduate to follow in Julius Nyerere’s footsteps and study at the University of Edinburgh. The successful candidate will receive funding for a one-year postgraduate scholarship in the multidisciplinary MSc in Africa and International Development programme. Applicants must be Tanzanian citizens domiciled in Tanzania, who have graduated from the University of Dar es Salaam within the last three years (i.e. 2022-2024) or will be graduating from the University of Dar es Salaam in 2025. 

Launched in 2020, the Nyerere Scholarship has been awarded four times to academically-gifted candidates. The scholarship was initiated by Prof D. Bryceson, a graduate of the University of Dar es Salaam, to commemorate the scholarly legacy of President J.K. Nyerere, who began his Masters degree in 1949 at the University of Edinburgh.

The scholarship will cover Tuition Fees and an annual stipend at the UKRI rate (amount to be advised; for reference, this is £19,237 in 2024/25). The annual stipend will be paid in monthly instalments following full matriculation. Payments are made into the awardee’s UK bank account.

Awards are made for one year only. 

The award cannot be held alongside any other scholarship funding.


The award will be made to a Tanzanian citizen domiciled in Tanzania who has graduated from the University of Dar es Salaam within the last three years (i.e., 2022-2024), or will be graduating from the University of Dar es Salaam in 2025, and who is accepted on the full-time MSc Africa and International Development programme.


The scholarship will be awarded on the basis of academic excellence. Candidates must have, or expect to obtain, the equivalent of a UK first class or 2.1 Honours degree at undergraduate level in a Humanities or Social Science subject.

In order to gain access to the scholarship application system, applicants must have first applied for admission to the full-time MSc Africa and International Development programme. Please note that, following the submission of an application for admission, it takes time for all system checks to be completed and for access to be granted. Therefore, please submit your MSc application at least two weeks in advance of the scholarship deadline to allow you access to the scholarship application form before it closes.

Application Process

  1. Submit your application to the MSc programme following the application process guidance. Please ensure you include your: CV, degree certificates, final/interim transcript(s), transcript grading scale(s), English language evidence, and academic references. 
  2.  Submit your application to the scholarship through the online scholarship application system (see Applying section below).    This involves completing the following in your Personal Statement (up to 500 words/3500 characters including spaces): 

(i) - List two books that you have read in the last five years which have had an impact on you. List the title and author of the books, and explain briefly what each book is about and why it has made an impression on you. 

(ii) - Why do you wish to do further studies? How would a MSc in Africa and International Development facilitate your career goals? 

(iii) - What do you think is one of the most pressing problems in Tanzania that needs research? How would you go about researching it? Who would be interested in or benefit from your findings? How and why? 

(iv) - What are Tanzania’s major advantages in global development? Why and how are they advantageous? Who benefits from them? 

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is not permitted in answering any of the above questions. Answers may be screened to identify use of AI. Applicants who are identified as having used AI will not be considered for the scholarship.

 

References submitted to the Africa and International Development programme will be used to assess your scholarship application. Please ensure that these have been uploaded to your application by the scholarship deadline.

Please note: The Nyerere Scholarship cannot be held alongside any other scholarship funding. This scholarship does not cover airfare and visa application costs.


The scholarship deadline is 23:59 GMT, Tuesday 28th January 2025. 

Eligible applicants should complete an online scholarship application.

In order to gain access to the scholarship application system applicants must have applied for admission to the University of Edinburgh.  Please note that, following the submission of an application for admission, it can take up to five working days for all system checks to be completed and for access to be granted.

The online scholarship application form is located in EUCLID and can be accessed via MyEd our web based information portal at https://www.myed.ed.ac.uk

When logging in to MyEd, you will need your University User Name and password. If you require assistance, please go to http://www.ed.ac.uk/student-systems/support-guidance

Frequently Asked Questions

Scholarships System FAQs for Applicants (511.17 KB PDF)


The CAS Selection Panel will meet in February to review the scholarship applications. All scholarship applicants will be contacted with the outcome by the end of March 2025.


If you have any academic questions or those relating to the MSc in Africa and International Development, please contact:

Dr Thomas Molony: Thomas.Molony@ed.ac.uk  

If you have any administrative or application process questions relating to the Scholarship, please contact:

Toni Jenkins: pgresearch.sps@ed.ac.uk


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