Yale Young African Scholars Program 2026

October 9, 2025

The Yale Young African Scholars (YYAS) Program 2026 is a prestigious and intensive academic and leadership enrichment program tailored for African secondary school students aged 14 to 18 who aspire to pursue tertiary education and become impactful young leaders across Africa.

The program offers two transformative tracks: an online College Prep Workshop and a Residential Leadership Summitin Kenya, both designed to enhance academic skills, prepare students for university admissions and financial aid applications, and build a pan-African network of future leaders. Students can apply for either or both sessions, with the residential summit providing travel grants and covering all tuition, housing, and meals — making this an unmissable opportunity for motivated African youths.

Program Details

YYAS College Prep Workshop (Online): This free, 6-day online workshop will admit about 240 students across Africa. It focuses on career exploration, university application preparation, and the transition from secondary school to university. Students must have reliable internet access and attend all sessions to earn a Certificate of Completion recognized by universities.
YYAS Residential Leadership Summit (Kenya): This tuition-free, 9-day residential program will admit approximately 110 students from across Africa. Held on a school campus in Kenya, it combines college prep with leadership development, innovation, design thinking, and 21st-century skills training. Travel grants, accommodation, meals, and academic materials are fully covered.

Name of Organizer

Yale University

Requirements/ Eligibility Criteria

In order to apply to YYAS, applicants MUST fulfill all of the following requirements:

Age: You must be between the ages of 14-18 years old on the first day of the program (July 16) in 2026 in order to be considered. 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 2027 and no later than May/June 2028. If you attend school in the Southern Hemisphere, you must be graduating secondary school by earliest November/December 2026 and no later than November/December 2027.