Mo Ibrahim Foundation Scholarship – African-Funded Master’s in Governance & Leadership (SOAS, LBS, Birmingham)
The Mo Ibrahim Foundation Scholarship is an African-founded and African-funded award — established by Sudanese-British entrepreneur Dr Mo Ibrahim specifically to develop future African leaders in governance and development. Unlike most scholarships on this list, this one is run BY an African institution FOR African students, with a small number of highly targeted awards at specific partner universities rather than one large open programme.
Where it’s offered: The flagship award is at SOAS University of London (any full-time one-year taught Master’s), with additional Mo Ibrahim-funded scholarships at the London Business School (MBA), the University of Birmingham (MSc in Governance and State-Building), and a PhD track in Governance for Development in Africa. Each has its own separate deadline and application route — check the specific host university’s page rather than assuming one universal process.
What it covers (SOAS award): Full tuition fees plus a living allowance, drawn from a total award value of roughly £45,479 — tuition is deducted first, with the remainder paid directly to the student to cover living costs.
Detailed Eligibility Checklist
- African national, domiciled or a permanent resident in an African country — preference given to applicants from Sub-Saharan Africa
- Hold (or be on track to hold) a strong undergraduate degree — typically a UK 2:1 equivalent or above; some tracks specifically prefer First Class Honours
- Secure an unconditional offer from the host university (e.g. SOAS) before the scholarship selection process concludes — university admission and scholarship award are separate steps
- Demonstrate a clear, genuine interest in governance and/or development issues affecting Africa — this is weighted heavily, not a box-ticking exercise
- Strong English proficiency (commonly IELTS 6.5 or equivalent) if English is not your first language
Why This One Rewards a Specific Kind of Applicant
Because the Foundation exists specifically to strengthen African governance and leadership, generic “I want to study in the UK” motivation statements perform poorly here. Reviewers are looking for applicants who can point to a specific governance, policy, or development problem they care about and connect their proposed Master’s directly to working on it — the Foundation’s own guidance explicitly discourages generative-AI-written statements, since they tend to read as generic rather than specific to your actual experience.
Step-by-Step Application Process (SOAS track)
- Apply for admission to any full-time one-year taught Master’s programme at SOAS as a new student for the relevant intake.
- Secure an unconditional offer before the scholarship deadline (mid-June for a September start).
- Submit your scholarship application with a personal statement connecting your background and goals to African governance or development.
- Shortlisted candidates are contacted directly; unsuccessful applicants are notified once all awards are allocated.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can non-African students apply? Some individual tracks are technically open to international students with African development interests, but nearly all funded places are reserved for, or strongly prioritise, African nationals — check each specific track’s stated eligibility.
Is this the same as the SOAS Mo Ibrahim Foundation Scholarship I might see referenced elsewhere? Yes — SOAS is the primary, most consistently offered Mo Ibrahim Foundation award; the London Business School and Birmingham awards are smaller, separate tracks with their own cycles.