2015 African Leaders of Tomorrow (ALT) Scholarship Program for Study in Canada (Fully Funded)

Application Deadline: April 26 2015

The African Leaders of Tomorrow (ALT) Scholarship Program commemorates the late Nelson Mandela’s commitment to social justice and equity by supporting young African professionals to become leaders in public policy and administration. The ALT Scholarship Program will grant scholarships to young African women and men to pursue a Master’s degree in public administration, public policy or public finance in Canada.

Scholarships will be awarded based on merit to young professionals from a range of sub-Saharan countries. The Canadian Bureau for International Education (CBIE) in collaboration with The Institute of Public Administration of Canada (IPAC) will implement the ALT Scholarship Program with the objective of contributing to a strong and effective public sector in sub-Saharan Africa.  Special consideration will be given to equitable representation across the continent and to the advancement of women leaders.

This program is undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada through the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development (DFATD), and The MasterCard Foundation.

Eligibility Criteria:

Candidates must meet all the eligibility requirements:

• Be a citizen and resident of Senegal or South Africa (we can include a note about 2015 and 2016 competition).
• Be between 22 and 35 years old
• Have completed a first academic degree with a minimum average of B
• Have two to five years of work experience in the public sector, civil society sector or research and academic institutions in Africa
• Be fluent in  French or English
• Meet all the academic requirements of the program of study of choice

The ALT Scholarship Program has two components:

• An academic component where the recipient of the scholarship will complete a one to two year Master level program in public administration, public policy or public finance at a Canadian university;
• A professional development component where the recipient of the scholarship will carry out a comprehensive professional development plan which will include the development of a case study focusing on their home country, as well as exposure to Canadian knowledge, innovation and best practices in public administration and policy through mentoring, webinars and networking events.

Program of Study:

• The ALT scholarship allows studies in a Master degree program in public administration, public policy or public finance only and for a maximum period of two years (24 months). There are no other programs of study that will be eligible.
• In the application process candidates will be required to select  three choices of university and programs. Please consult the list of university and programs eligible and research them before applying. Interested applicants should consult the admission requirements and the program description to ensure that it meets their interest and qualifications.

Scholarship Worth:

The ALT scholarship includes:

• International airfare
• Tuitions
• Monthly living allocations and instalment allocation
• Fixed allocation to cover purchase of books and attend conferences in Canada
• Health insurance coverage
• Fees for study permit

Application Procedure:

Candidates are required to fill out an electronic application form and submit the following documents to be eligible:

• A CV or resume
• Official transcripts (with official translation if the transcripts are not in English or French)
• An abstract for a case study
• A 500 to 750 word letter of intent to explain why they want to study in public administration and how they will use the training upon their return to their country.
• Three reference letters (two academic and one professional). If the candidate is currently employed, we recommend that one support letter from their employer.
• A copy or their passport or national identity document
• A copy of the application form for a passport if the candidate does not have a valid passport
• A copy of the result of the language test if appropriate (TOEFL, Alliance française)

If you meet all the eligibility criteria and are interested in applying, please contact [email protected].

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage African Leaders of Tomorrow (ALT) Scholarship Program