Mo Ibrahim Foundation Scholarship at SOAS London 2026/2027 — Full Guide and How to Apply

If you are an African student who wants to earn a world-class Master’s degree in London — fully funded — then this is an opportunity you cannot afford to miss. The Mo Ibrahim Foundation Scholarship at SOAS University of London is one of the most prestigious and generous scholarships available to African students pursuing postgraduate education in the United Kingdom.

This scholarship does not just cover your tuition. It provides a total package worth £45,479 — covering your full tuition fees plus a maintenance stipend to take care of your living expenses in one of the world’s most exciting and expensive cities. And this year, two of these awards are available for the 2026/2027 academic session.

The deadline to apply is 17 June 2026 at 12 noon UK time. That means the window is open right now — but it will close very soon. If this scholarship sounds like something you qualify for, you need to act immediately.

This guide gives you everything you need to know about the Mo Ibrahim Foundation Scholarship at SOAS for 2026 — who can apply, what it covers, which programmes are eligible, how to apply step by step, and practical tips to make your application as strong as possible.

Read carefully from start to finish. This could be your ticket to London.

About the Mo Ibrahim Foundation

Before we dive into the scholarship details, it helps to understand who is behind it and why this scholarship exists.

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation is an African organisation founded and funded by Dr Mo Ibrahim — one of Africa’s most successful and respected entrepreneurs. Dr Ibrahim is a Sudanese-British billionaire who built Celtel, one of Africa’s first major mobile telecommunications companies, into a business serving millions of Africans before selling it in 2005 for over $3 billion.

After exiting the telecoms business, Dr Ibrahim dedicated his focus and resources to one of Africa’s most pressing challenges: governance. He founded the Mo Ibrahim Foundation in 2006 with a clear mission — to strengthen leadership and improve governance across the African continent.

The Foundation runs several major initiatives including the Ibrahim Index of African Governance (the most comprehensive annual assessment of governance in African countries), the Ibrahim Prize for Achievement in African Leadership (the largest individual award in the world), and several fellowship and scholarship programmes that invest in the next generation of African leaders.

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation Scholarship at SOAS is one of these investments. It was established to support outstanding African students who are committed to contributing to Africa’s governance and development — giving them the academic foundation and global exposure they need to make a real difference.

About SOAS University of London

SOAS — the School of Oriental and African Studies — is one of the most distinctive and globally respected universities in the world. Located in Bloomsbury, Central London, SOAS is part of the University of London and is uniquely dedicated to the study of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.

There is no other university in the world quite like SOAS. It has the largest concentration of academic expertise in Africa-focused studies anywhere in the UK, and its faculty includes some of the world’s leading scholars in African politics, economics, development, law, governance, history, and culture.

SOAS is consistently ranked among the top universities in the UK for the quality of its research and teaching. For any African student interested in governance, development, international relations, economics, law, or social sciences — SOAS is arguably the best university in the world to study at.

The university is located in the heart of London — one of the world’s greatest cities and a global hub for politics, finance, international development, and diplomacy. Studying at SOAS means being at the centre of global conversations about the issues that matter most to Africa and the developing world.

A Master’s degree from SOAS carries enormous weight and credibility — in Africa, in the UK, and internationally. Earning that degree on a fully funded scholarship from the Mo Ibrahim Foundation is a remarkable and life-changing combination.

Mo Ibrahim Foundation Scholarship 2026/2027 — Key Details

Here is a clean, clear summary of all the essential details of this scholarship straight from the official SOAS scholarship page:

Item	Details
Scholarship Name	Mo Ibrahim Foundation Scholarship at SOAS
Host University	SOAS University of London
Location	London, United Kingdom
Study Level	Postgraduate (Master’s degree)
Number of Awards	Two (2) awards available for 2026/27
Total Value Per Award	£45,479
What It Covers	Full tuition fees + maintenance (living) stipend
Eligible Programmes	Any full-time 1-year taught Master’s degree starting in 2026/27
Application Deadline	17 June 2026 at 12 noon UK local time
Start Date	September 2026
Results Notification	Mid-July 2026 (earliest estimate)
Official Apply Link	https://www.soas.ac.uk/study/student-life/finance/scholarships/mo-ibrahim-foundation-scholarship

What Does the Mo Ibrahim Foundation SOAS Scholarship Cover?

The scholarship provides a total package worth £45,479 per award. Here is how that amount is split:

Tuition Fees: Your full tuition fees for the one-year Master’s programme at SOAS will be paid directly from the £45,479 award. SOAS will deduct the tuition fee amount from the total award value on your behalf.

Maintenance Stipend: Whatever is left after tuition fees have been deducted is paid directly to you as a maintenance stipend — a monthly living allowance to cover your accommodation, food, transport, and other living expenses in London.

To give you a practical sense of how this breaks down: if your Master’s programme at SOAS costs, for example, £22,000 in tuition, you would receive approximately £23,479 as your maintenance stipend for the year — which works out to roughly £1,957 per month for a 12-month period. This is a meaningful amount that, combined with careful budgeting, can genuinely cover living costs in London.

Please note: This scholarship does not cover pre-sessional English language programmes. If you need to attend a pre-sessional language course before starting your Master’s, the scholarship will not fund that. You must either not require it or arrange separate funding for it.

Who Can Apply? — Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for the Mo Ibrahim Foundation Scholarship at SOAS for the 2026/2027 academic year, you must meet ALL of the following criteria:

1. You Must Be a New Admission Starting in September 2026

This scholarship is exclusively for newly admitted students starting their Master’s programme at SOAS in September 2026. It is not open to students who are already enrolled at SOAS or who are deferring from a previous year.

2. You Must Be an Overseas Fee Status Applicant

Your fee status must be classified as Overseas (also called International) by SOAS. This means you are not eligible if your fee status is classified as Home (UK-resident) or Islands (Channel Islands or Isle of Man). Most African students applying from Africa will naturally qualify as Overseas fee status students.

3. Minimum Academic Qualification — 2:1 Bachelor’s Degree

You must hold a minimum 2:1 (Second Class Upper Division) Bachelor’s degree from a recognised UK university, or an international equivalent from a university outside the UK.

In Nigerian terms, this means you need at least a Second Class Upper (2:1) degree from your undergraduate institution. A Second Class Lower (2:2), a Third Class, or a Pass degree does not meet this requirement. A First Class degree is obviously also eligible.

If you graduated from a university outside the UK with a grading system different from the UK honours system, SOAS and the selection panel will assess whether your qualification is equivalent to a UK 2:1. Generally speaking, strong results from reputable universities in Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and other African countries are accepted as international equivalents.

4. You Must Have an Unconditional Offer from SOAS

You must hold an unconditional offer of admission for your chosen Master’s programme at SOAS by the time the scholarship selection panel meets. A conditional offer (where conditions like document submission or final results are still pending) is not sufficient at the time the panel meets.

This is a very important practical point: you must apply for your Master’s programme at SOAS FIRST, before or at the same time as applying for the scholarship. The scholarship application cannot be submitted without first having applied for a course, because you need your SOAS admissions portal credentials to access the scholarship application.

Applications for admission at SOAS can take up to 4 to 6 weeks to process depending on the time of year. This means if the scholarship deadline is 17 June 2026, you should ideally have submitted your SOAS Master’s application by early April or latest by early May 2026 to give yourself enough time to receive your offer before the scholarship deadline.

5. Preference Given to African Residents Interested in Governance

While the eligibility criteria above are strict requirements, the selection panel also applies the following preference criteria when comparing qualified candidates:

Preference for applicants ordinarily resident in Africa — meaning you currently live in Africa (not in the UK, Europe, or elsewhere). Applicants from Sub-Saharan Africa are particularly prioritised.
Preference for candidates demonstrating a strong interest in governance and/or development in Africa — your personal statement, your research interests, your academic background, and your career goals should all reflect a genuine and informed interest in African governance and development

These preferences are not disqualifying if you do not fully meet them, but they are important scoring factors. If you are currently living in Africa and your work or academic focus relates to governance, public policy, development, or social change in Africa — your profile is strongly aligned with what the Mo Ibrahim Foundation is looking for.

Which SOAS Master’s Programmes Are Eligible?

This is one of the most exciting aspects of this scholarship — it is open to any full-time, 1-year taught Master’s degree programme at SOAS beginning in the 2026/2027 academic year. There is no restriction to one specific course.

This means you can apply for the scholarship while studying any of SOAS’s world-class Master’s programmes, including:

African Studies and Governance:

MA African Studies
MA African Politics
MA Development Studies
MA Environment, Politics and Development
MA Globalisation and Development
MA Human Rights Law

Economics and Finance:

MSc Economics
MSc Finance
MSc Financial Economics
MA Development Economics

Politics and International Relations:

MA International Studies and Diplomacy
MA International Development
MA Global Diplomacy
MA African Politics (again, highly relevant)

Law:

LLM Law
LLM International Commercial Law

Social Sciences:

MA Anthropology
MA Sociology
MA Gender Studies

History and Area Studies:

MA African History
MA History of Art and Archaeology

Languages and Culture:

Various MA programmes in African, Asian, and Middle Eastern languages and cultures

And many more. The full list of eligible programmes is available on the SOAS website at https://www.soas.ac.uk/study/find-course

Please note that the scholarship does not apply to research degree programmes (like MPhil or PhD), part-time programmes, online programmes, or programmes lasting more than one year. It is strictly for full-time, one-year taught Master’s degrees.

How to Apply — Step by Step

The application process for this scholarship has two sequential steps — and both must be completed correctly and on time. Here is exactly what you need to do:

Step 1: Apply for Your SOAS Master’s Programme

Before you can even apply for the scholarship, you must first submit an application for admission to a Master’s programme at SOAS. This is because you need your SOAS admissions portal login credentials to access the scholarship application form.

Here is how to apply for a Master’s programme at SOAS:

Go to the SOAS admissions page for taught Master’s programmes: https://www.soas.ac.uk/admissions/pg/howtoapply/
Find the programme you want to apply for using the SOAS course finder at https://www.soas.ac.uk/study/find-course
Complete the online admissions application. You will need to upload your academic transcripts, degree certificate (or predicted result letter), English language qualification (if required), personal statement, and a reference letter
Submit your application and await your decision

Do this as early as possible. Complete applications can take up to 4 weeks to process, and in busy periods it can take up to 6 weeks. If you submit your Master’s application too late and have not received your offer by the scholarship deadline, you will not be eligible.

Aim to have your SOAS programme application submitted by early April 2026 at the latest to be safe.

Step 2: Apply for the Scholarship via the SOAS Admissions Portal

Once you have applied for your Master’s programme (and ideally received your unconditional offer), you must apply specifically for the Mo Ibrahim Foundation Scholarship through the SOAS admissions portal.

The scholarship deadline is: 17 June 2026 at 12 noon UK local time (strictly)

To apply for the scholarship:

Log in to the SOAS admissions portal (you will use the login credentials from your programme application)
Navigate to the scholarship application section
Complete the scholarship application form — which includes a personal statement explaining your interest in governance and development in Africa, your academic background, your career goals, and why you are a strong candidate for this award

Very important rule about your personal statement: SOAS has been very clear that applicants must NOT use generative AI tools to write their scholarship application statements. This is a strict rule. You may use AI tools to check grammar and spelling, or to help plan the structure of your statement — but the content and writing must be entirely your own. Statements identified as AI-generated will be disqualified.

Late or incomplete applications will not be considered under any circumstances.

Documents You Will Need

While the official scholarship application form on the SOAS portal is relatively streamlined, you will need to have the following documents ready as part of your overall SOAS application process:

For your SOAS Master’s Programme Application:

Academic transcripts from all universities you have attended
Degree certificate (or letter of expected graduation if not yet issued)
Two academic or professional reference letters (usually required by SOAS departments)
Personal statement for your Master’s programme application
English language test results (IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent) if applicable — check your programme’s specific requirements
Copy of your passport (ID page)
CV/Resume

For the Scholarship Application (via SOAS portal):

Scholarship personal statement (written entirely by you — no AI)
Your programme application information will also be reviewed by the scholarship panel

How the Selection Process Works

Once the scholarship application deadline closes on 17 June 2026, the Mo Ibrahim Foundation and SOAS convene a selection panel to review and compare all eligible applications.

The panel assesses candidates on the following basis:

Academic Merit: Your academic performance is the primary assessment criterion. A strong academic record — ideally a First Class or strong 2:1 degree — from a recognised university will carry significant weight. The panel will review your transcripts and degree grade carefully.

Personal Statement: Your scholarship personal statement is your opportunity to demonstrate your commitment to Africa’s development, your understanding of governance challenges on the continent, and your plans to contribute after your studies. A well-written, genuine, and specific personal statement can make a significant difference.

Alignment with Foundation Values: The Mo Ibrahim Foundation is specifically invested in governance and development in Africa. Candidates whose academic background, career goals, and personal statement clearly align with these themes will be prioritised by the panel.

African Residency: Candidates who are currently resident in Africa — particularly Sub-Saharan Africa — will be given preference over candidates already living outside the continent.

Results Timeline:

Shortlisting and final award decisions are expected to be completed by mid-July 2026 at the earliest
Successful candidates will be contacted first once awards are allocated
Unsuccessful candidates will be notified after all awards have been given out

Tips for a Winning Application

Here are honest, focused tips to help you put together the strongest possible application:

Apply for your SOAS programme as early as possible. This is the most critical practical step. Do not wait until May or June to submit your programme application. Apply in February, March, or April at the latest. You need your unconditional offer in hand well before the scholarship deadline of 17 June.

Choose a programme that aligns with the Foundation’s mission. While any full-time, one-year Master’s programme is technically eligible, your chances of being selected are significantly higher if your chosen programme relates to governance, development, economics, political science, law, international relations, or African studies. The selection panel will look at the alignment between your programme choice and the Foundation’s focus on African governance and development.

Write your personal statement entirely in your own words. SOAS has explicitly prohibited the use of AI tools to write the scholarship statement. Beyond avoiding disqualification, writing your own statement allows you to express genuine passion, real experiences, and authentic goals — which are exactly what the panel is looking for. A personal statement that reads as genuine and specific is always more powerful than one that sounds polished but generic.

Be specific about your connection to African governance. Do not write vague statements like “I want to contribute to Africa’s development.” Tell the panel exactly what aspect of governance or development in Africa you care about most, why you care about it, and what you plan to do with your Master’s degree to address it. The more specific and genuine you are, the better.

Demonstrate your academic excellence. Your degree grade is the first thing the panel will look at. If your grade is 2:1 (Second Class Upper) or First Class, clearly state this and highlight your academic achievements — strong grades, academic awards, research work, or relevant publications.

Show your post-graduation commitment to Africa. The Mo Ibrahim Foundation believes in investing in people who will return to Africa and use their education to improve the continent. Make it clear in your personal statement that you intend to come back to Africa and contribute — and explain specifically how you intend to do that.

Use your reference letters wisely. Make sure your referees know why you are applying for this specific scholarship and what the Foundation values. A reference letter that specifically speaks to your interest in governance, development, and Africa will serve you much better than a generic academic reference.

Contact SOAS early if you have questions. For questions about your programme application, email mastersadmissions@soas.ac.uk. For questions specifically about the scholarship application process, email scholarships@soas.ac.uk. Do not wait until close to the deadline to reach out.

Career Opportunities After a SOAS Master’s Funded by Mo Ibrahim Foundation

Earning a Master’s degree from SOAS funded by the Mo Ibrahim Foundation opens extraordinary career doors. Here is a range of what previous SOAS scholarship graduates have gone on to pursue:

International Development and Policy: Working with major development organisations like the World Bank, African Development Bank, UNDP, DFID/FCDO, or the African Union — contributing to policy development and programme design across Africa.

Governance and Public Service: Returning to Africa to work in government — in ministries, policy units, government advisory roles, or as future public leaders.

Civil Society and Advocacy: Leading or working in NGOs, think tanks, and civil society organisations focused on democracy, human rights, transparency, and accountability across Africa.

Diplomacy and International Relations: Pursuing a diplomatic career as an ambassador, attache, foreign service officer, or negotiator representing African nations on the global stage.

Research and Academia: Pursuing doctoral studies and becoming a researcher or lecturer who shapes the academic and policy conversation on African governance and development.

Private Sector Strategy: Working in consulting firms, financial institutions, investment banks, and multinationals that operate in Africa, bringing a deep understanding of governance, risk, and development to their strategic decision-making.

Journalism and Media: Working as a policy journalist, documentary filmmaker, or media professional covering African governance, politics, and development with academic depth and credibility.

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation’s network of alumni and scholars is also a powerful professional community in itself — giving you connections to some of the most influential voices in African development and governance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What is the Mo Ibrahim Foundation Scholarship at SOAS? It is a fully funded scholarship worth £45,479 for African students to pursue a full-time, one-year taught Master’s degree at SOAS University of London. It covers tuition fees and provides a living stipend. Two awards are available for the 2026/2027 academic year.

Q2: What is the deadline to apply? The scholarship application deadline is 17 June 2026 at 12 noon UK local time (GMT+1). Late applications will not be accepted under any circumstances.

Q3: Do I need to be from a specific African country to apply? No. The scholarship is open to students from any African country. However, preference is given to candidates who are currently resident in Africa — especially in Sub-Saharan Africa — and who demonstrate a strong interest in African governance and development.

Q4: What is the minimum academic qualification required? You must hold a minimum 2:1 Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) from a recognised university. In Nigerian terms, this is a Second Class Upper Division degree.

Q5: Can I apply for a two-year or part-time Master’s programme? No. The scholarship is only available for full-time, one-year taught Master’s degree programmes starting in September 2026. It does not cover two-year programmes, part-time programmes, research degrees (MPhil/PhD), or online programmes.

Q6: Can I use AI to write my scholarship personal statement? No. SOAS has explicitly stated that applicants must not use generative AI tools to write their scholarship statements. Doing so may result in disqualification. You may use AI for grammar checking or structural planning, but the writing must be your own.

Q7: How many scholarships are available? There are two (2) awards available for the 2026/2027 academic year. This makes the scholarship highly competitive — but also means that if you are selected, you are among only two students chosen from all applicants worldwide.

Q8: How does the selection panel decide who gets the scholarship? The panel assesses candidates based on academic merit (degree grade and transcripts) and personal statement quality. Preference is given to candidates resident in Africa and those with a clear interest in African governance and development.

Q9: When will I know if I have been selected? Results are expected to be communicated by mid-July 2026 at the earliest. Successful candidates are contacted first, followed by notification to unsuccessful candidates once all awards have been allocated.

Q10: Where do I apply? Apply through the official SOAS admissions portal at: https://www.soas.ac.uk/study/student-life/finance/scholarships/mo-ibrahim-foundation-scholarship

For admissions questions: mastersadmissions@soas.ac.uk For scholarship questions: scholarships@soas.ac.uk

Final Words

The Mo Ibrahim Foundation Scholarship at SOAS London is one of the most prestigious, most relevant, and most meaningful scholarships available to African students today. It was created by one of Africa’s greatest business minds, hosted at one of the world’s most Africa-focused universities, and designed to fund the next generation of leaders who will strengthen governance and drive development across the continent.

This is not just a scholarship. It is a statement of belief in your potential to change Africa.

But the window is closing. The deadline is 17 June 2026 at 12 noon UK time — and you must have already applied for your SOAS Master’s programme to be eligible. If you have not started your programme application yet, do it today.

Write your personal statement from the heart. Show the panel who you are, what Africa means to you, what problem in governance or development you are committed to solving, and how a SOAS Master’s degree will equip you to do it.

Two scholarships. Countless qualified applicants. Your job is to be unforgettable.

Apply for the scholarship here (official SOAS page): https://www.soas.ac.uk/study/student-life/finance/scholarships/mo-ibrahim-foundation-scholarship

Find and apply for your SOAS Master’s programme here: https://www.soas.ac.uk/study/find-course

We wish you the very best. Share this guide with every African scholar you know who deserves this opportunity.

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