MO Ibrahim Scholarship is an attractive scholarship scheme that enables students to pursue their higher education at selective institutes in the UK.
The scholarship has gained increased attention because of the causes that it supports.
MO Ibrahim Scholarships are targeted at African students to develop them into future leaders.
Follow the article till the end to know more about the scholarship, its benefits, eligibility criteria, documents required, application procedure, deadline, and other additional information.
If you want to study in the UK, check our ultimate UK study visa guide.
MO Ibrahim Scholarship
1. Benefits of the MO Ibrahim Scholarship
2. Eligibility criteria for the MO Ibrahim Scholarship
3. Universities offering the MO Ibrahim Scholarship
4. Documents required for the MO Ibrahim Scholarship
5. How To apply for the MO Ibrahim Scholarship?
6. Deadline for MO Ibrahim Scholarship
7. Faqs (Frequently asked questions)
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1. Benefits of the MO Ibrahim Scholarship
The students availing the MO Ibrahim Scholarship may be enrolled in different programs. The benefits offered under the scholarship may differ from institute and program to program. Nevertheless, the following is the list of the accumulative benefits offered by the MO Ibrahim Foundation Scholarship:
- Opportunity to work at the executive offices of the AfDB (Abidjan), ECA (Addis Ababa), or the ITC (Geneva) having a stipend of $100,000
- Direct mentorship from the heads of the organizations
- Membership of the New Generation Network (NGN)
- Mission travel coverage
- Travel Insurance
- Full tuition fee coverage
- Living allowance
- Airfare
- Arrival Allowance
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2. Eligibility Criteria for the MO Ibrahim Scholarship
The MO Ibrahim Scholarship for international students requires the applicants to meet the eligibility criteria provided so that the students with the potential to become future leaders and contribute toward the betterment of Africa are chosen for the scholarship.
The eligibility criteria for the scholarship are as follows:
- Be below the age of 30 years at the time of application
- The applicants must have English as their first language or provide proof of their English Language Proficiency through English Language Proficiency Tests
- Candidates must be African nationals which should show on their domiciles
- The candidates not being African nationals must be permanent residents
- Preference will be given to applicants from Sub-Saharan Africa
- The applicant should have a first-class honors degree or an equivalent from an approved university
- Must select the degree level or program for which the scholarship is offered at a particular university
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3. Universities Offering the MO Ibrahim Scholarship
The MO Ibrahim Scholarships for international students are only offered at limited universities in the UK.
Here is a list of universities offering the scholarship along with the other details of the scholarship being offered at these universities.
3.1. London Business School
The London Business School is one of the most prestigious universities in England. Each year, one African national is provided an opportunity to study at the London Business School.
The student is allowed to pursue an MBA program at the institute. The value of the scholarship is full tuition fee coverage. However, you must demonstrate financial need to be eligible for the scholarship.
official website of London Business School
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3.2. University of Birmingham
One African national or permanent resident is allowed an opportunity to study at the University of Birmingham through this scholarship.
This scholarship is for students undertaking MSc in Governance and State-Building.
This is a two-year program that also includes a six-month internship at the Foundation Secretariat.
The benefits offered under this scholarship include full tuition coverage, a monthly stipend of £950 for 18 months, an arrival allowance of £950, and airfare to the UK.
official website of the University of Birmingham
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3.3. School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)
A student pursuing a PhD program is offered a scholarship every year to study at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS).
The student must take up Governance for Development in Africa Initiative.
This is because the purpose of the scholarship is to inform the future of Africa concerning its socioeconomic, political, and legal conditions.
official website of the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS)
3.4. Chatham House
Chatham House is the Royal Institute of International Affairs. Each year, one fellowship to a student from one of these areas is provided to spend ten months at the Chatham House:
- Cameroon
- Côte d’Ivoire
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Ethiopia
- Mozambique
- Nigeria
- Senegal
- Sierra Leone
- Sudan
- Uganda
- Zambia
The purpose of the program is to help students at the early stages of their careers complete their research projects under the guidance of proven experts.
The topics of these projects are chosen by the students themselves.
official website of Chatham House
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4. Documents required for MO Ibrahim Scholarship
The applicants are required to submit various documents during or after the admission application process.
The documents required to apply for the MO Ibrahim Scholarships for international students include:
4.1. Application form of MO Ibrahim
4.3. Passport & National ID card
4.4. English Proficiency Proof (IELTS/TOEFL)
4.6. University admission letter
4.7. Hope certificate (If applicable)
4.9. Statement of Purpose or Motivational Letter
4.11. Proof of Previous Work Experience
4.13. Acceptance from Supervisor
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4.1. Application Form for MO Ibrahim Scholarship
The application procedure for the MO Ibrahim Scholarship differs from university to university.
Some universities will require the applicant to fill out an application form to be considered for the scholarship scheme.
& Other universities like London Business School will consider the eligible students automatically.
Here we will use the example of “University of Birmingham” which offers MO Ibrahim Scholarship. The application form for this scholarship consists of 11 steps.
Before starting the application procedure, you must create an account on the university’s online application portal for which you can use this link.
The application form will require you to first fill out your personal details. This is followed by adding additional personal information.
You will also be required to fill in your contact details and education.
The application form will then lead you to your professional/work experience followed by the personal statement.
You will also have to attach a copy of your passport.
In the next step, you will have to index details about your referees.
The next two steps are filling out application information and funding details.
After you have filled in all these fields, you can proceed to submit the application form.
4.2. Academic documents
This includes all your certificates & academic record like
A: Bachelor’s transcript & certificate
B: Master’s transcript & certificate (if the student is applying for 2nd Masters or fellowship)
C: Metric & FSC transcripts (10-12th Grade) (A level) (DMCs) and certificates (Supporting academic documents)
D: Course summary (to explain your courses & how your previous courses & studies resemble your future studies in which you are applying)
NOTE:
In order to apply for MO Ibrahim Scholarship for International Students, You do not need the academic documents to be attested by a higher authority. However, after getting shortlisted you must attest it from respective boards & ministries.
The respective university must attest university documents.
4.3. Valid Passport, Birth certificate, NIC & Domicile
The photocopy of your passport, birth certificate, National ID card & domicile is very important for the MO Ibrahim scholarship because it’s one of the eligibility criteria.
4.4. English Proficiency proof for MO Ibrahim scholarship (IELTS/TOEFL)
The courses in Uk are taught in English so the applicants are required to fulfill the English language criteria of their selected Host universities.
They must submit their English language certificate, which could be in the form of IELTS, TOFEL or PTE.
An example of the University of Birmingham can be used here because the university offers the MO Ibrahim Scholarship & requires a minimum of 6.5 bands in the IELTS or 580/93 in TOEFL. You can also provide PTE Academic test results.
You can also check out other available options to prove your English Language Proficiency here.
The students whose mother tongue is English are exempted from this criteria.
4.5. Recommendation letters / Letters of References
The applicants must provide 2-3 letters of recommendation from the previous university, (Depending upon courses).
It is advised to provide a letter of recommendation from the HOD (Head of the department or Relevant course head) who should be a PhD.
The referees need to write their contact details (Email, phone number) at the end of the letter.
The letter must include an official letterhead, signature, and official stamp and must be of the current date.
Ask your Referees to write about your academic achievements & discuss their confidence in you that you are fully compatible with the project or course you wish to pursue.
The referees must also mention how long they know the applicant & when was the last time they came in contact with the applicant.
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4.6. University admission letter for MO Ibrahim scholarship
Applicants must select a university offering courses related to their interests and background.
Remember, In order to get MO Ibrahim scholarship, the applicant must get the admission letter first.
They must have knowledge of the institutions and courses offered by these institutions.
Applicants can read this part of the blog for more explanation.
4.7. Hope certificate (If applicable)
If the final transcript isn’t ready then students can apply with a Hope certificate from their university.
However, they must be graduated before their arrival in the UK. (Please make sure you contact your university in this regard )
What is Hope’s certificate?
In simple words, It is a certificate based on the previous semester’s performance, that indicates that the candidate will pass the final exams with excellent results.
4.8. Research proposal (for PhD and Masters by Research)
If the applicant is applying for a PhD, their proposal must meet the requirement of their country’s development.
Your research proposal should be a brief description of your research goals and objectives, the methods with which you wish to process that research, the outcomes you desire, the timeline and budget you have estimated, and the area of study you wish upon exploring.
It shall be a brief document yet explain the entire vision to the reader so that those analyzing your application could know of your objectives and grant you the scholarship if they match the program’s criteria and eligibility.
Taking help from an external party is strictly prohibited and violation in this regard could lead to your disqualification no matter how incredible your proposal is.
4.9. Statement of purpose or Letter of Motivation for MO Ibrahim government scholarship
Remember, SOP or LOM can be asked during university admission.
Technically SOP or LOM are the same things.
It’s a Short biography to tell the panelist about yourself:
Letter of motivation or SOP could be a tricky part while selecting your course in UK universities.
In this letter, you are asked to write about your personal and professional reasons why are you applying for a course & scholarship.
The maximum length of this letter is three pages, But for MO Ibrahim scholarship the limit is 500 words.
How to write a perfect letter of Motivation
If you are interested in writing your LOM on one page concisely, then follow this exact method.
LOM consists of three parts.
4.9.1. Introduction (one paragraph)
4.9.2. Body (3 paragraphs)
4.9.3. Conclusion (1 paragraph)
Let’s explain these three things one by one.
4.9.1. Introduction:
Introduction is the gateway to the rest of the letter. Try to capture their interest in first few sentences. Be original & creative.
Make it personal & full of enthusiasm.
TIP: Try to initiate a story about yourself relevant to the scholarship you are applying & then expand it to the first paragraph of the body.
4.9.2. Body:
In the first paragraph of the body, try to tell about your relevant academic & experienced background to the course.
And your professional goals attached to the UK & university. Share your expectations of the scholarship.
In the 2nd paragraph be more precise & focus on the specific achievement related to the scholarship & course.
In the 3rd paragraph expand on what you are currently doing & the interesting things you look forward to.
4.9.3. Conclusion:
Tell them why you are the best candidate for the Course/scholarship. Don’t sound needy or use pompous language instead focus on why you deserve it.
Tell them how this scholarship will help you or the future of your community.
4.10. CV
The Cv must contain all the latest & relevant information about your occupation & interests.
A perfect CV must be hand signed.
Europass CV can be easily made here.
4.11. Experience letter
Applicant must provide an Experience letter of the previous jobs & Internships.
Try to customize the work experience letter with future studies.
Mention your job descriptions, work projects & the skills you learned through time.
The letter must be signed & verified by the Head or CEO of the company.
The work experience could be Paid,
Unpaid,
full-time,
part-time, or voluntary.
It could be done before, during, or after graduation.
4.12. Portfolios or workshop
It’s optional. But students can attach portfolios or workshops to support their cases for university admission or scholarship.
4.13. Acceptance from Supervisor
For PhD applicants, it is needed to acquire acceptance from the supervisor whom they are interested to work with.
It can be a letter or email communication (as evidence).
5. How To Apply for the MO Ibrahim Scholarship?
But we are here to erase all confusion so you can complete your application for the MO Ibrahim Foundation Scholarship without any hassle.
Follow the steps below to complete the application:
5.1. Select the university & program
5.2. Check the requirement of the MO-Ibrahim scholarship of your specific university
5.3. Access & fill out the application form
5.1. Select the university and program you want to apply for
It is first important to select the university that you want to apply to for the MO Ibrahim Scholarship. You can find out the list of the four institutions offering the scholarship in the section above.
For example, if you are looking for a scholarship at the University of Birmingham, here’s how you can find the scholarship page and choose your preferred program:
Search MO Ibrahim Scholarship for the University of Birmingham > Open the official scholarship page provided by the university > Download the PDF > Review the programs offered under the scholarship scheme at the university.
You can follow the same process to check out the degree level at which the scholarship is available and the programs offered by other universities.
You can check out the funding opportunities at the London Business School here.
5.2. Check out the requirements for the scholarship:
The application procedure for all universities may differ. Therefore, you must check out the application requirements of the university that you are applying to for the MO Ibrahim Scholarship.
For example, the London Business School does not host applications for the MO Ibrahim Scholarship.
It is categorically mentioned on the scholarship page that there is no need for applications as the students will be automatically considered for the scholarship.
Other universities might require you to fill out an application form. The University of Birmingham requires you to fill out the application form.
You must also check out the eligibility criteria given on the scholarship pages of all these universities to ensure that you are eligible for the scholarship.
5.3. Access and Fill out the MO Ibrahim Scholarship Application Form
If your chosen university requires you to fill out an application form, you have to access it through your university’s page.
To apply for MO Ibrahim Scholarship at the University of Birmingham as an example, follow the instructions below:
Open the MO Ibrahim Scholarship page on the University of Birmingham official website> Scroll Down and Click on Apply Online> Click on Apply Now on the following page> Click on New User to Create Your Account on the Portal> Fill the application form by following the instructions provided in the previous section> Submit Your Application.
check the screenshot
6. Deadline for MO Ibrahim Scholarship
The application deadline for the MO Ibrahim Scholarship is set for 31st March 2023 for the ongoing intake session.
7. FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
Q. Can I get the MO Ibrahim Scholarship in my desired subject area?
Ans. The MO Ibrahim Scholarship is only offered in limited disciplines. These disciplines may vary from university to university. You don’t have the choice to choose which subject you want to take up.
Q. What is the duration of the MO Ibrahim Scholarship program?
Ans. The scholarship is offered for a full MBA or MSc program according to the availability of the scholarship in a particular university.
Q. Can I get the MO Ibrahim Scholarship in any university other than the four institutes?
Ans. No, this scholarship is only offered at these four institutes for selective subjects and degree levels.
Q. How to check if I am eligible for the scholarship?
Ans. The general eligibility criteria are given above in the blog, but You can check the eligibility criteria for the scholarship according to every university by opening the scholarship page on their official website.
Q. Is there any chance of the scholarship being revoked during the program?
Ans. The scholarship may not be revoked in usual cases. However, the university and the organization employ a no-tolerance policy toward disciplinary issues. In case of disciplinary issues, your scholarship might be revoked.
Q. Which countries are eligible for receiving this scholarship?
Ans. Students from African countries are eligible for the scholarship. However, at some universities, there might be a smaller list of African countries that are eligible for the scholarship.
We try to cover each & everything, but if you still have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.
