2024/2025 Beacon Scholarship for University in the United Kingdom

SCHOLARSHIP AVAILABILITY – UNIVERSITY

Up to 6 new Beacon Scholarships for University for a 3-4 year undergraduate degree are available each new academic year, spread across 7 Beacon Partner Universities. Candidates must be Nominated by their current School Head and once they have obtained an offer of admission to their choice of university, eligible candidates will be invited to apply for a Beacon Scholarship for University.

Note: Beacon Scholarships are only available to students from KENYA, UGANDA, TANZANIA and ZAMBIA.

Please read carefully the Eligibility Criteria and all other requirements before registering (Note: study for a course of Medicine, Dentistry or Veterinary Sciences is excluded). There is strong competition for these scholarships, and shortlisted candidates will be required to attend an interview, and a leadership assessment workshop with other candidates.

1. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

To begin the process of application, a candidate must first register and download: a Nomination Form which must be completed by the Head of their current secondary school; and, an Eligibility Assessment Form which must be completed by the candidate and their family, and sent to Beacon when offers from Beacon Partner Universities are received. The Nomination Form requires an endorsement that the candidate has strong academic and leadership potential, is a ‘Changemaker’, and has the capability for successful completion of an undergraduate programme of study at a world-class university.

When the candidate has received an offer for entry into a Beacon Partner University, they should send evidence of all offers, and their completed Eligibility Assessment Form, to Beacon; upon satisfactory receipt of these documents, eligible candidates will be sent a full Beacon Scholarship Application Form and later, if appropriate, a Financial Disclosure Form.

Applications are then evaluated by the Beacon Equity Trust for evidence of leadership potential using the following criteria:

(a) Academic Excellence

Applicants must obtain an offer of a place in at least one university participating in The Beacon Scholarship for University programme. Grade requirements for entry into Beacon Partner Universities are high, and vary by course. Successful university entry is contingent on obtaining the required grades in the university offer. As a general guide, predicted or actual grades should be the minimum required for a candidate’s chosen course of study at their first choice university.

(b) Achievement in Sport, Music or Drama

An applicant must demonstrate that they are more than just an active participant in sport, music or drama, with some formal level of proficiency or accreditation.

(c) Social Influence and Communication

The applicant must have held a position of responsibility in their school, or failing that provide some evidence of confidence amongst peers. They will be expected to undergo an interview which will give an indication of their aptitude and personality traits, and to participate in practical assessment exercises to establish their ability to form and develop relationships among peers.

(d) Citizenship

An applicant must show through examples that they have helped those less fortunate than themselves, or have done work in the community, and are seen as role models. Unselfishness, kindness and concern for others are key criteria for The Beacon Scholarship and Scholars will be required to show continuing evidence of their efforts in these areas.

(e) ‘Changemaker’

Applicants will also need to demonstrate, with examples, that they are a ‘Changemaker’, ie that:

1. They have the capacity to ‘take people with them’ and
2. They are already making a difference now, not at some future point in time.

(f) Other Factors

In addition to the above, other factors to be taken into account include:

• Capacity to study independently overseas (which necessarily involves consideration of the applicant’s competence in English)
• The applicant must be a national of, and ordinarily resident in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, or Zambia
• Financial need – see below
• The likely contribution of the candidate to all areas of university life
• Demonstrate an intention to return to their home country in a leadership position, if possible after gaining international experience in their chosen field
• Commitment to make a contribution to the development of their home country

Visit scholarship webpage for details