The Standard Bank Africa Chairman’s Scholarship for Study in the UK

With a heritage of over 155 years, Standard Bank are a leading integrated financial services group on the African continent.  They also have on-the-ground presence in 20 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, where they also trade as Stanbic Bank.

Through this commitment, Standard Bank aims to champion those African leaders who will actively build a future for Africa; led by Africans. This is because Africa has a critical role to play in shaping the 21st Century. The continent is also increasingly interacting with the rest of the world on its own terms.

These leaders will exercise global influence through visionary leadership. Nine students will be carefully vetted and selected to complete their Masters studies at the prestigious institutions of Cambridge, Oxford and The London School of Economics and Political Science in the United Kingdom. Each specialising in their unique areas of expertise, these individuals will also represent the best and brightest Africa has to offer, introducing thoughtful challenge amongst their peers as they grow in courage, fair-mindedness and integrity. Their stay and studies will be fully-funded and backed by Standard Bank as part of our commitment to enable and also empower them to become effective leaders in Africa.

On completion of their studies, scholars will also become a member of the Standard Bank Africa Chairman’s Scholarship Alumni Network, which brings together professionals, activists and thinkers who share their passion for Africa’s wellbeing. Find out more about the Alumni Network here.

Qualifying criteria for the Standard Bank Africa Chairman’s Scholarship

The Standard Bank Africa Chairman’s Scholarship is available to graduate students who are and will ordinarily remain resident in one of the African countries in which Standard Bank is present. Prospective candidates must demonstrate an exceptional academic track record and will need to have successfully qualified on their own merit in their application for a one-year Master’s programme at either of the following partner university institutions: Oxford, Cambridge and London School of Economics and Political Science. All candidates are to apply directly to the universities.

A preference will be given to students commencing a course of study in one of the following programmes:

University of Oxford

MSC programme provided by the Mathematical, Physical and Life Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities divisions at the University.

London School of Economics and Political Science

MSc Environmental Economics and Climate Change, MSc Public Management and Governance, MSc Finance, MSc Risk and Finance; and MSc Finance and Private Equity, MSc Real Estate Economics and Finance, MSc Law and Accounting, MSc Economics and Management; MSc Management Information Systems and Digital Innovation, MSc Management and Strategy, MSc Financial Mathematics, MSc Economics and Philosophy, MSc Environment and Development

University of Cambridge

MPhil in Economics, Mphil in Education, Mphil in Engineering for Sustainable Development, Mphil in Finance, Mphil in Management

What the Standard Bank Africa Chairman’s Scholarship covers

The scholarships will provide the tuition and college fee in full, and a maintenance grant (i.e. living costs incurred in the college such as rental of college accommodation, food taken in college, etc.) commensurate to the national minimum doctoral stipend of the UK Research Councils.

How to Apply

You need to apply for your programme of choice as well as funding. Application dates vary for each institution. Please therefore refer to your University of choice for application dates.

Applications should be directly through each University website, as follows:

• Oxford applications
• London School of Economics and Political Science applications
• Cambridge applications