Mandela Scholarship supported by FirstRand Empowerment Foundation
Full Masters tuition and £16,440 maintenance for South African nationals committed to South Africa's development.
Am I eligible?At a glance
Study level
Master’s
Destination
United Kingdom
Funding
Full tuition fee waiver and £16,440 cash maintenance, paid monthly.
Eligible applicants
South Africa
Photo: Ввласенко, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Overview
Mandela Scholarship supported by FirstRand Empowerment Foundation is offered by University of Sussex for Master’s study in United Kingdom. Details were checked against the provider’s official page on October 11, 2026.
Application checklist
What you’ll need
The confirmed essentials for this application. Always check the official source before applying.
- University admissionAn offer of a place at the University of Sussex
- Official application form or online applicationRequired
What this scholarship covers
Full tuition fee waiver
Included
£16,440 maintenance
Included
Full tuition fee waiver and £16,440 cash maintenance, paid monthly. Award components, amounts, and exclusions can change by intake, programme, nationality, or host institution, so confirm them on the official provider page.
Are you eligible?
Eligibility review
Checked against the official criteria on October 11, 2026
International students
Conditional
Domestic students
See official criteria
Scholarship scope
University-specific
Last eligibility check
October 11, 2026
Who can apply
- Citizenship
- South African nationals assessed as 'Overseas' for fees.
- International eligibility
- Open to citizens of South Africa.
Academic requirements
- Academic recordRequired
- A good undergraduate degree from an African university, equivalent to a UK upper second
- Minimum grades / GPANot published
- No fixed minimum grade is listed for this scholarship. Check the provider’s current call for academic requirements.
Study restrictions and coverage
- Universities
- University of Sussex
- Countries
- United Kingdom
Official eligibility summary
Full Masters tuition and £16,440 maintenance for South African nationals committed to South Africa's development.
Applicant profile
- South Africa
Study route
- Master’s study in United Kingdom
Current-cycle criteria
- Full Masters tuition and £16,440 maintenance for South African nationals committed to South Africa's development.
What to confirm for this cycle
Scholarship details can change from one application cycle to the next. Check these points on the official page before you apply.
- Current eligibility rules
- Current funding and benefits
- Current deadline and application route
Required documents
- Academic and identity documents requested in the current call
- Admission, language, or recommendation evidence where required
How to apply
- 1
Apply to Sussex for an eligible full-time Masters by the deadline and receive an offer by early April.
- 2
Apply through the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation's website.
- 3
FirstRand interviews; FirstRand and Sussex select the scholars.
Application timeline
Application cycle
2026 entry: applications closed on February 19, 2026. Sussex runs its awards for each year of entry; the 2027 round is not yet published.
The listed deadline is February 19, 2026. Confirm it on the provider’s official page.
Always confirm the latest deadline on the official provider website.
Official source
University of Sussex
Official scholarship source
Last checked October 11, 2026
Your next steps
- 01Read the official programme guidance.
- 02Confirm eligibility, funding, and the deadline.
- 03Check the current application cycle.
- 04Apply through the official provider.
Frequently asked questions
When is the next deadline?
The listed deadline is February 19, 2026. Confirm that it remains current on the official provider page.
Why do some details vary?
Scholarship conditions can differ by intake, study programme, nationality, and host institution. The official provider page is the source of the current rules.