The Mo Ibrahim Foundation Scholarship for African students at the University of Birmingham is a two-year program designed to provide African nationals with an opportunity to pursue a one-year MSc program and a one-year integrated internship. The Mo Ibrahim Foundation aims to make governance the center of Africa’s development.
The internship program is divided into two parts. The successful applicant will spend the first six months at the Institute of Development Studies (IDD) working on research alongside academics and the Governance and Social Development Resource Centre (GSDRC). The next six months will be spent at the Mo Ibrahim Foundation in London, working with the team on various initiatives, including the Now Generation Forum – a new forum designed for emerging leaders and young professionals in Africa.
To be eligible, applicants must be African nationals residing in an African country, under the age of 30, and have a first-class honors degree or its equivalent from an approved university. Applicants must also demonstrate proficiency in written and spoken English with evidence of a minimum level of 6.5 in IELTS or 580/93 for TOEFL. Preference will be given to scholarship candidates residing in Sub-Saharan Africa.
The scholarship covers full tuition fees, airfare to and from the UK, a monthly stipend of £950 for 18 months, and an arrival allowance of £950. The remaining six months of the internship program will be funded directly to the successful candidate by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation.
The MSc program includes compulsory modules on International Development, Development Policy and Politics, and a dissertation. Students can choose between Governance and State-building or Democracy, Dictatorship, and Development for their core module, and can also select any module from across the School of Government.
The application process involves submitting an online application through the University’s online application system by March 31, 2023. Along with the required documents, applicants must also submit a 500-word statement and a CV explaining why they are the best candidate for the scholarship. The application ID number must then be sent to Debra Beard with “Mo Ibrahim Scholarship” in the subject line.
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation Scholarship is an excellent opportunity for African students seeking to pursue a Master’s degree in International Development at the University of Birmingham while also gaining practical experience through an integrated internship program. It is a highly competitive scholarship that covers tuition fees, airfare, and a monthly stipend for 18 months, making it an attractive option for African students seeking to further their education in the UK.