Yale Young African Scholars Programme 2024 for African Students. Yale Young African Scholars(YYAS) is an intensive academic and enrichment program designed for African secondary school students who plan to pursue tertiary education and wish to make meaningful impact as young leaders on the continent.
Across both programs, participants will enhance their academic skills, receive university admission and financial aid application guidance, and join a network of young leaders from across Africa. Following the program, students will be paired with mentors who will help advise them throughout the university application process.
Eligibility
- Age: You must be between the ages of 14-18 years old on 18 July 2024 in order to be considered. Please note that a typical YYAS student is between the ages of 16-17.
- English: You must be able to participate in a rigorous academic curriculum conducted in English.
- Citizenship: You must be a citizen or permanent resident of an African country. YYAS will also accept applications from refugees living in an African country.
- School location: You must currently attend school in an African country.
- Grade Level: You must be a current 10th or 11th grade student (or the international equivalents).
- Graduation date: If you attend school in the Northern Hemisphere, you must be graduating secondary school by earliest May/June 2025 and no later than May/June 2026. If you attend school in the Southern Hemisphere, you must be graduating secondary school by earliest November/December 2024 and no later than November/December 2025.
Application Deadlines
YYAS applications will be read and reviewed on a rolling basis. In fairness to all applicants, admissions decisions will NOT be made nor released until ALL applications from your respective applicant pool have been reviewed. Please know that we will release decisions as soon as possible, and decisions will be released no later than the decision release dates listed below.
Applicant Pool #1: Early Action
| Application Deadline | 11:59 PM ET on 10 November 2023 |
| Decision Release | Notified of Admission Status by 11:59pm ET on 20 December 2023 |
| Deadline to Accept or Decline YYAS Offer | 11:59 PM ET on 8 January 2024 |
Applicant Pool #2: Regular Decision
| Application Deadline | 11:59 PM ET on 25 January 2024 |
| Decision Release | Notified of Admission Status by 11:59pm ET on 28 March 2024 |
| Deadline to Accept or Decline YYAS Offer | 11:59 PM ET on 8 April 2024 |
Application Requirements
The following list describes the typical YYAS requirements, although the most up-to-date and accurate information is always in the application.
The following three (3) components are required of all applicants:
- Completed application form – The application can be found online and must be filled out by the applicant. Students will be asked to complete one 500-word essay and two short responses, and must provide information on their extracurricular activities and the school that they currently attend.
- Official transcript or grade report(s) – A student transcript is an official document provided by the school and includes the applicant’s list of courses and grades received. Students must upload their official transcript or grade report(s) for each year of secondary school. National exam scores, if available, should also be submitted but are not required. If a student has changed secondary schools at any point, they must include records both from their previous AND their current school. Please refrain from uploading certificates or transcripts from primary school.
- One (1) teacher recommendation – The recommendation must be filled out via the Online Recommendation Form that will be sent to a teacher’s email after the student provides their contact details. An email will be sent with a link to the Form and instructions on how to fill it out. The recommendation must be written and submitted by a teacher who knows the student well. Recommendations from parents/guardians, siblings, relatives, family friends, and/or paid private tutors/counselors will NOT be accepted.
We place great importance on these recommendations because we understand that students come from a wide variety of backgrounds and education contexts. We appreciate teachers taking the time to write recommendations for their student(s). To ensure sincerity, we ask that teachers please refrain from sharing their recommendations with students.
Be sure to click the “SUBMIT” button on the last page for your application to be considered.
YYAS reviews all applications holistically, and there are no minimum grade or standardized exam score requirements. However, a high level of English proficiency will be expected.
Decision Notification: Applicants will be notified electronically of admissions decisions by mid-April.
