Yale Young African Scholars Programme
- Organization: Yale University
- Type: Workshop
- Location: Global
- Deadline: January 20, 2027
- Funding: Partially Funded
Yale Young African Scholars (YYAS) is a Yale University programme for African secondary school students in grades 10 and 11 who plan to go on to university and want to lead on the continent. In 2027 it runs as a six-day online College Prep Workshop (15 to 20 July) and a nine-day residential Leadership Summit in Rwanda (7 to 15 August), and each admitted student joins one of them. There is no tuition for either, and preference goes to high-achieving, low-income students without university guidance at school. **What you get:** - No tuition for either programme; the online workshop is entirely free of charge - At the Rwanda Summit, free housing, meals and all academic materials - Free airport transport from Kigali International Airport to the host school for students flying in from outside Rwanda - A limited number of need-based Travel Grants for Summit admits who live outside Rwanda; every applicant is reviewed for one automatically - Guidance on university admissions and financial aid, including sessions with university representatives from North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia - A YYAS Certificate of Completion to add to university applications - Access to the post-programme Pathways support (Launchpad and Compass) and a network of young leaders from across Africa **What you'll do:** - Take college-level seminars taught by Yale students on topics relating to Africa and the UN Sustainable Development Goals - Join small-group workshops led by Yale instructors, and career panels with professionals and alumni - Design a social impact project with peers to take back to your community - At the Summit, also work on leadership, innovation and design, and visit companies and social impact organisations in an African capital - Attend every day of your programme; YYAS does not allow missed days **Key dates:** - Early Action applications close 20 October 2026, 11:59 PM ET; decisions by 18 December 2026 - Regular Decision applications close 20 January 2027, 11:59 PM ET; decisions by 20 March 2027 - Online College Prep Workshop: 15 to 20 July 2027 - Residential Leadership Summit, Rwanda: 7 to 15 August 2027 **More information:** - Eligibility: https://africanscholars.yale.edu/admissions/eligibility - Timeline and deadlines: https://africanscholars.yale.edu/admissions/application-timeline-deadlines - 2027 FAQ: https://africanscholars.yale.edu/program/yyas-faq - Sample 2027 application (PDF): https://africanscholars.yale.edu/sites/default/files/files/2027%20YYAS%20Application%20-%20SAMPLE.pdf
