Administered by the Yale Young Global Scholars Program and building off that model of interdisciplinary academic curriculum, YYAS participants will attend lectures led by prominent Yale faculty, seminars developed by Yale student instructors, and experiential exercises designed to augment their leadership skills. Participants will engage in robust intellectual exchanges crucial to understanding Africa’s most pressing challenges and opportunities. In addition to the introduction to university application processes, Yale student-led courses and leadership training, YYAS also offers students standardized test preparation sessions at no cost.

Participants will enhance their academic skills, receive guidance on university admissions and career path options, and join a network of young leaders from across Africa. Following the program, students will be paired with mentors who will advise them throughout the university application process. There is no tuition cost for students to participate in YYAS.

Benefits of Yale Young African Scholars (YYAS) Programme

To make the program accessible to students of all financial backgrounds, there is no cost for students to participate in YYAS.

Requirements for Yale Young African Scholars (YYAS) Programme

Age: You must be between the ages of 14-18 years old on 17 July 2025 to be considered (i.e. born between 18 July 2006 and 17 July 2011). 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 2026 and no later than May/June 2027. If you attend school in the Southern Hemisphere, you must be graduating secondary school by earliest November/December 2025 and no later than November/December 2026.

If you are currently in your final year or term of secondary school, have already graduated secondary school, or are a university student, then you are NOT eligible to apply.

If you are a YYAS or YYGS alumnus/a, you may NOT apply for YYAS. (*However, if you are a YYAS alumnus/a, you can apply to YYGS if eligible.)

Selection Process

A typical YYAS participant has:

Excellent academic records

Demonstrated leadership potential

Strong written and verbal communication skills

A desire and ability to work cooperatively with peers

Persistence and determination when facing challenges

High standards of personal and professional conduct

The ability to read, analyze, and reflect on large quantities of difficult material in English

Interest in engaging in discussions about intellectual, moral, and political issues in Africa

Duration of Program: 

College Prep Workshop (online; 6 days): 17 – 22 July 2025

Residential Leadership Summit (Kenya; 9 days): 9 – 17 August 2025

Application Deadline

January 20, 2025

How to Apply

For more details, visit Yale University website