The RAU Africa Agricultural Leadership Award is a tuition-support scheme created by the Royal Agricultural University (RAU) in Cirencester, England, for African students beginning a taught MSc. It exists to back the next generation of African leaders working in agriculture, food systems, sustainability, and rural innovation.
For African applicants, the appeal is practical. The award provides layered tuition support worth up to £4,500 for one academic year, with the exact amount depending on your country and your field of study. It won’t cover everything, but it can meaningfully reduce the cost of studying at a respected specialist agricultural university in the UK.
Applications are rolling, tied to intakes in September 2026 and January 2027, so there’s room to plan your MSc application and scholarship form around your offer.
Scholarship benefits
- Baseline tuition contribution of £2,000.
- An extra £1,000 for students from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, Uganda, South Africa, or Zimbabwe.
- An additional £1,000 where your study focus aligns with food security, sustainability, ecology, or resource management.
- An early-payment bursary of £500 if fees are paid within two weeks of an unconditional offer.
- Maximum package of £4,500 toward tuition for one year.
- Multiple awards are available, with each recipient receiving between £2,000 and £4,500 depending on eligibility.
Eligibility checklist
✔ Be a full-time, fee-paying African student.
✔ Hold an offer for an RAU taught MSc starting in September 2026 or January 2027.
✔ Meet RAU’s academic entry requirements (typically a degree equivalent to a UK 2:1).
✔ Satisfy UK visa requirements.
✔ Demonstrate leadership potential and a clear link between your studies and agricultural challenges in your home region.
✔ Be applying in an eligible field such as Sustainable Agriculture, Food Systems, Agri-business, International Rural Development, or Ecology, Resource Management and Climate-Resilient Farming.
Application tips for African students
- Apply for your RAU MSc place first — the scholarship is only available once you hold an offer, so secure that early in the cycle.
- Have your degree transcripts and certificates certified, and translated into English if needed, before you start the scholarship form to avoid last-minute delays.
- In your application, draw a clear, specific line between your MSc focus and a real agricultural problem back home — vague ambition is forgettable, concrete plans are not.
- Lean into the country-specific and field-alignment top-ups: if you’re from one of the seven named countries or your research touches food security or sustainability, make that explicit.
- Budget for the early-payment bursary — if you can pay your fees within two weeks of an unconditional offer, you unlock an extra £500.
- Begin gathering proof of funds and preparing your UK student visa documents early, since meeting visa requirements is a stated condition.
- Because applications are rolling, apply as soon as you can rather than waiting for a final cut-off; earlier applicants give themselves more time to sort offers and payments.
How to apply
First apply for an MSc programme at RAU, then complete the online scholarship application form. You should receive eligibility confirmation within two weeks, with final selection made after you accept your offer and pay your deposit. Full details and the application route are on the official page: RAU Africa Agricultural Leadership Award.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for this award?
Full-time, fee-paying African students who hold an offer for an RAU taught MSc starting in September 2026 or January 2027 and meet the university’s academic and UK visa requirements.
How much is the scholarship worth?
It is a tuition contribution ranging from £2,000 up to £4,500 for one academic year, built from a baseline award plus country-specific, field-alignment, and early-payment components.
Which students get the extra funding?
Students from Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, Rwanda, Uganda, South Africa, and Zimbabwe qualify for an additional £1,000, and a further £1,000 is available for study focused on food security, sustainability, ecology, or resource management.
What is the deadline?
Applications are rolling, linked to entry in September 2026 or January 2027. There is no single fixed date stated, so apply as early as possible.
Does the award cover living costs?
No. It is a tuition fee contribution only, covering up to £4,500 toward fees for one year, not living expenses.
How long does the funding last?
One academic year, matching the duration of the MSc.
Agriculture is a huge sector in African and getting an Agriculture degree at RAU is fantastic.