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A Nomination from your current school head is required as the first step in the application process. This can be downloaded when you Register.

Make sure to check the website for the latest deadlines and instructions.

Who can apply

Students aged 13-18 years old looking to start or continue secondary school studies who are nationals of and ordinarily resident in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia or South Africa (RSA). Candidates should normally select Beacon Partner Schools located in their country of citizenship. Applicants from South Africa must be from a previously disadvantaged community.

Selection criteria

• Academic excellence
  Grades in the top 10% of year group.
• Achievement in sports, music, or drama
  Certification of outstanding achievement.
• Social influence and communication skills
  Have held positions of responsibility, demonstrating confidence and leadership.
• Citizenship
  Tangible evidence of community service and involvement.
• English proficiency
  Able to converse fluently and write proficiently in English.
• Financial need
  Can demonstrate financial disdvantage within the scholarship eligibility threshhold.
• Potential to contribute fully to school life
  Keen to get involved in societies, clubs and other activities, and galvanise others.
• Intention to return home to a leadership role
  Ambitious to change policies and processes in home country, and contribute to its development.
• Changemaker qualities
  Can demonstrate the capacity to seek change and to lead, inspire, and take others with them.

The scholarship covers two-thirds of tuition fees (and boarding fees where applicable) for a Beacon Scholar. Recipients must open an Education Fund bank account and maintain a minimum balance in it.

Selection process

1. Nomination by your current school head.
2. Application form with supporting documents.
3. Interview and assessment workshop.

Deadline: Nominations and Applications are currently open.

School fees

School fees for young people with leadership potential are split three ways: 1/3 Beacon Partner School, 1/3 Parents, 1/3 The Beacon Equity Trust (BET).  Parents are means-tested to ensure financial need. Gross Household Income (GHI) should be below $80k per annum. Applicants must re-apply every year for continuation.

Assessment

Scholarship awards are made on the strength of four key leadership criteria:

1. Academic performance
   Candidates need to be in the top 10% of their peer group.
2. Extracurricular achievement
   Evidence of excellence in sport, music or drama.
3. Social influence and communication
   Popularity amongst peers, and the ability to motivate others.
4. Citizenship
   Selfless contribution to local communities or civic groups.

Following a Beacon Scholarship award, scholars continue to be rigorously assessed and monitored against these four leadership criteria.

Scholarship Availability – School

Generally, there will be a maximum of one new Beacon Scholarship available each year at a Beacon Partner School. Beacon Scholars will continue to be supported for each subsequent year of their secondary education up to their final year, subject to performance.

It is unlikely that there will be more than three Beacon Scholars in a Beacon Partner School at any given time.

School Scholarship 2025-26 Calendar

Key dates

15 December 2025	CLOSING DATE – New Scholarship Nominations for 2026-27 academic year
15 January 2026	CLOSING DATE – New Scholarship Applications for 2026-27 academic year
20 June 2026	CLOSING DATE – Scholarship Continuation Applications for 2026/27 academic year

Applying for a school scholarship

Eligibility

Open to candidates aged 13-18 years old looking to start or continue secondary school studies who are nationals of and ordinarily resident in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, or Zambia. Candidates must first be nominated by their current school head.

Application process

1. Nomination
   School heads nominate eligible candidates.
2. Application
   Candidates receive an application form and gain admission to a Beacon Partner School.
3. Evaluation
   The Beacon Equity Trust assesses candidates for academic ability, leadership potential, Changemaker qualities, and financial need.

Key requirements

• Academic excellence
  Grades in the top 10% of year group.
• Achievement in sports, music, or drama
  Certification of outstanding achievement.
• Social influence and communication skills
  Have held positions of responsibility, demonstrating confidence and leadership.
• Citizenship
  Tangible evidence of community service and involvement.
• English proficiency
  Able to converse fluently and write proficiently in English.
• Financial need
  Can demonstrate financial disdvantage within the scholarship eligibility threshhold.
• Potential to contribute fully to school life
  Keen to get involved in societies, clubs and other activities, and galvanise others.
• Intention to return home to a leadership role
  Ambitious to change policies and processes in home country, and contribute to its development.
• Changemaker qualities
  Can demonstrate the capacity to seek change and to lead, inspire, and take others with them.

Financial requirements

• Income limit
  Gross Household Income (GHI) should be below US$80k per annum.
• Fee contribution
  Parents/sponsors must contribute one-third of tuition fees (and boarding fees, if applicable).
• Education Fund
  A bank account must be set up with a minimum balance of the 1/3 parental share of fees for the first year.

Pre-payment: Subsequent years require pre-payment of the 1/3 parental share of fees from the Education Fund to the Beacon Partner School before the Closing Date for Scholarship Continuation Applications.

Timeline

1. Registration
   Candidates register on The Beacon Changemakers website and download a Nomination Form.
2. Nomination
   School Heads submit Nomination Forms for eligible candidates.
3. Application
   Suitable and eligible candidates receive an Application Form.
4. First Shortlist
   Beacon reviews applications and shortlists candidates for interview and assessment. Parents are advised to register with first choice school.
5. Interviews and Assessments
   Shortlisted candidates assessed by Beacon with individual interview and group assessment.
6. Final Shortlist
   Beacon compiles final shortlist of candidates.
7. Financial Disclosure
   Parents/sponsors of candidates on the final shortlist are sent financial disclosure forms for completion.
8. Partner School Assessment
   Final shortlisted candidates advised to visit and register with selected Partner School to be assessed.
9. Recommendation
   Once Financial Disclosure is completed, Beacon recommends candidates to School Partners.
10. Award
    Award Letter sent to candidates and their parents/sponsors.
11. Acceptance
    Award Acceptance Form completed by scholars and their parents/sponsors.
12. Fee Deposit
    Scholars pay fee deposit to Beacon Partner Schools.
13. Mentorship
    School Mentors assigned to Beacon Scholars by Schools.

Download Application Form Here

Indicative Process Timeline – School Scholarship

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