Beit Trust Postgraduate Scholarships 2027

Who can apply

A national of, or permanent resident in, Malawi, Zambia, or Zimbabwe, who lives in and/or intends to return to one of these countries after study
Applying for a one-year taught Master's at a UK partner university, or a two-year taught Master's or four-year MMed (capped at one MMed award a year) at a South African partner university; PhD support is only ever considered for existing Beit Scholars of outstanding merit, not for first-time applicants
Has not already begun the course being applied for
Preference goes to a Distinction or Merit (Upper Second Class) undergraduate degree; a Lower Second or Credit/Pass degree is not excluded but faces strong competition
Generally not open to applicants who already hold a postgraduate degree, except in exceptional cases
Around three years of relevant professional experience with a positive employer reference strengthens an application, as does demonstrated leadership and community engagement
Must apply to one or more of the Trust's partner universities directly; UK-route applicants need a university offer, conditional offers accepted, before applying to the Trust
Interviews are mandatory and held in person in Lusaka, Harare, or Blantyre, usually in April
Medicine and veterinary applicants additionally need 18 months of internship and at least one year of in-country posting; rural practice experience can strengthen an application
St Andrews accepts Computer Science applicants only; Strathclyde accepts Engineering disciplines only; Cambridge applicants must meet that university's own separate deadlines

Master’s only, with a very narrow exception for PhD-level support

This funds Master’s study only. The Trust is explicit that it does not fund undergraduate degrees and does not offer PhD scholarships from scratch; a doctorate is only ever considered later, for an existing Beit Scholar of outstanding merit, not for anyone applying for the first time. In 2026 the Trust awarded 19 scholarships across its British and South African partner universities, a useful benchmark for just how selective this is.

Eligibility runs on nationality and return intent, not where you’re studying now

Eligibility runs on nationality and residence rather than where you happen to be studying now: you need to be a national of, or permanently resident in, Malawi, Zambia, or Zimbabwe, and you need to already intend to return there after your studies. Academically, a Distinction or Merit (broadly, an Upper Second) is preferred, but the Trust says a Lower Second or a Credit/Pass degree isn’t automatically ruled out, just up against much stronger competition, and it explicitly accounts for medical degrees that aren’t graded the same way. Every applicant should also hold an Honours degree, First or Upper Second Class or equivalent, at undergraduate level, since all supported programmes carry a research component.

Some partner universities only accept specific subjects

Not every partner university is open to every field. St Andrews only accepts applicants to its Computer Science Department, and Strathclyde only accepts Engineering disciplines; Cambridge applicants need to work to that university’s own, separate application and funding deadlines rather than the Trust’s. Check your intended university’s own restrictions before assuming any developmental-discipline course qualifies everywhere on the partner list.

Medicine and veterinary applicants face an extra bar

If you’re applying in medicine or veterinary science, there’s an additional requirement beyond the general academic bar: 18 months of internship and at least one year of in-country posting completed before you apply. Experience in rural practice is noted as something that can further strengthen this kind of application specifically.

The application route depends on which country you’re aiming for

The application route depends on which country you’re aiming for, though it’s a single application either way: one submission can include up to four degree courses across UK and/or South African partner universities. For the UK partner universities, you apply to the university first and only bring an offer, conditional offers count, to the Trust afterward. For the South African partner universities, the order flips: because those universities’ own application windows open after the Trust’s deadline, you can apply to the Trust with a list of intended courses instead of a confirmed offer, but you’ll also need a SAQA Certificate of Evaluation confirming your undergraduate degree is equivalent to an NQF8, which the Trust says can take up to 90 days and costs around R2,500. If you’re applying to both UK and South African universities together, wait until you have your UK offer(s) in hand before adding the South African options and submitting. Applying to more than one partner university is allowed and said to improve your chances.

Full coverage for the scholar, none for family

Coverage is genuinely full: tuition, a living allowance, UK visa and health surcharge costs, arrival and departure allowances, and return flights, but it stops at the scholar; the Trust does not support a spouse or dependants. Interviews are mandatory and held in person only, in Lusaka, Harare, or Blantyre, usually in April, so a remote-only applicant isn’t accommodated.

Beit Trust Postgraduate Scholarships