Yale Young African Scholars (YYAS) 2027

About this opportunity

Yale Young African Scholars (YYAS) is an intensive academic and enrichment programme run by Yale University for African secondary-school students who plan to go on to university and want to make an impact as young leaders on the continent. Participants work on their academic skills, get guidance on university admissions and career options, and join a network of young leaders from across Africa.

In summer 2027 YYAS offers two programmes — an Online College Prep Workshop and a Residential Leadership Summit held in Rwanda — and students can be admitted to only one of them. There are no tuition costs for either programme. YYAS is not a university scholarship: it does not pay for undergraduate or graduate study.

To apply you must be 14 to 18 years old on 15 July 2027, a citizen or permanent resident of an African country (refugees living in an African country can also apply), currently at school in Africa, and in 10th or 11th grade or the equivalent. Students in their final year of secondary school, school leavers and university students are not eligible. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis in two rounds: Early Action closes on 20 October 2026 and Regular Decision on 20 January 2027.

Purpose & benefits

• A place on either the Online College Prep Workshop or the Residential Leadership Summit in Rwanda (summer 2027).
• Academic skills sessions, university admissions guidance and career advice.
• Membership of a network of young leaders from across Africa.
• No tuition costs for either programme.

Eligibility

You must:

• be 14–18 years old on 15 July 2027;
• be a citizen or permanent resident of an African country (refugees living in an African country can also apply);
• currently attend school in an African country;
• be in 10th or 11th grade (or the international equivalent), graduating within the window set on the official page;
• be able to take part in a rigorous curriculum taught in English.

Students in their final year, school leavers, university students, and previous YYAS/YYGS participants are not eligible.

• Nationality: Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Comoros, Congo - Brazzaville, Congo - Kinshasa, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé & Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
• Where it takes place: Rwanda.

Citizenship requirements

Citizen or permanent resident of an African country, or a refugee living in an African country.

Residency requirements

Must currently attend school in an African country.

Required qualifications

Current 10th or 11th grade student (or equivalent) at a school in Africa; strong English.

Who should consider applying

Ambitious Nigerian and other African students in SS1–SS2 (or equivalent) who want help preparing for university and to build a network of peers across the continent.

Important restrictions

• Not a scholarship for undergraduate or graduate study.
• You can be admitted to only one of the two programmes.
• Final-year students, school leavers and university students cannot apply.
• YYAS and YYGS alumni cannot apply again.
• Recommendations from parents, relatives, family friends or paid tutors are not accepted.

How to apply

1. Check the eligibility rules and the list of required components on the official site.
2. Preview the sample blank application and gather contact details for a parent/guardian, a teacher and a school official.
3. Start the online application, write your essay and short responses, and upload your transcripts.
4. Your teacher submits the recommendation through the online form sent to their email.
5. Submit before 11:59pm US Eastern Time on 20 January 2027 (Regular Decision) — or 20 October 2026 for Early Action.

Documents you'll need

• Online application form (one 400-word essay and two short responses)
• Official transcripts or grade reports for each year of secondary school
• One teacher recommendation, submitted by the teacher online

How applicants are selected

Applications are reviewed holistically, with no minimum grade or test score. Early Action decisions are released by 18 December 2026 and Regular Decision decisions by 20 March 2027.

Preparing a strong application

• Ask your teacher for a recommendation early — it must come from a teacher who knows you well.
• Collect official transcripts or grade reports for each year of secondary school (usually the equivalent of grades 9, 10 and 11).
• Draft the 400-word essay and short answers offline before you start the form.
• Keep a note of your login email and password so you can come back to the application.