Open · Deadline 20 January 2027
Yale Young African Scholars (YYAS) 2027 for secondary school students
- Deadline
- 23:59 America/New_YorkApplicant Pool #1: Early Action Application Deadline 11:59 PM ET on 20 October 2026 Decision Release Notified of Admission Status by 11:59pm ET on 18 December 2026 Deadline to Accept or Decline YYAS Offer 11:59 PM ET on 5 January 2027 Applicant Pool #2: Regular Decision 11:59 PM ET on 20 January 2027
- Funding
- Partial fundingTuition · Accommodation
- Host country
- RwandaRemote
- Who can apply
- All African countriesAge limit: up to 18
- Language
- English
- Funder
- Yale Young African Scholars
Apply on the official site (africanscholars.yale.edu)
Verified on 26 September 2026 against africanscholars.yale.edu · How we verify
Secondary school students in 10th or 11th grade across Africa can join an online college-prep workshop or a residential summit in Rwanda, with no tuition costs. Final deadline: 20 January 2027.
Yale Young African Scholars (YYAS) is an academic and leadership programme for secondary school students in Africa who plan to go on to university. In 2027 it runs as an online College Prep Workshop and as a Residential Leadership Summit in Rwanda, between 15 July 2027 and 15 August 2027. Each student attends one of the two options.
Who can apply
YYAS is for students who are currently in 10th or 11th grade, or the international equivalent, at a school in an African country. You must be a citizen or permanent resident of an African country, and refugees living in an African country can also apply. Applicants can be no older than 18 on the first day of the programme and must be able to follow a demanding curriculum taught in English. Students in their final year of secondary school, school leavers and university students cannot apply. Preference goes to high-achieving students from low-income families who have no university guidance at their school.
What it offers
Neither option charges tuition. Both prepare you for university and financial aid applications, and the summit adds leadership, innovation and design sessions. The summit also provides free housing, meals and all curriculum materials. Students who complete either option receive a certificate of completion to add to their university applications.
Deadline
There are two rounds. Early Action closes at 11:59 PM ET on 20 October 2026, and decisions arrive by 18 December 2026. Regular Decision closes at 11:59 PM ET on 20 January 2027, the final deadline. Applications are read as they come in, but no decisions are released until the whole round has been reviewed.
Before you apply
For the online workshop you need your own phone, tablet or computer with reliable internet to join Zoom sessions. Attendance is strict in both options and no day can be missed. If you choose the summit, plan how you will travel to Rwanda. Talk to a parent, teacher or school official early, because the form asks for their contact details.
Questions and answers
Who can apply for Yale Young African Scholars?
All African countries.
What does Yale Young African Scholars cover?
Tuition, Accommodation.
When is the deadline for Yale Young African Scholars?
20 January 2027 (America/New_York).
Am I eligible?
Answer a few questions and get an assessment based on the official requirements.