Celebrating 15 years of success - 2008 to 2023 - with scholarships provided to 1,720 students
Our Work - Overview
The aim of the Tertiary Education Scholarship Trust (TEST) for Africa is to aid the social and economic development in the countries it operates in by enabling academically gifted students, who would otherwise miss out on a tertiary education due to financial constraints, to receive an undergraduate education. In return, scholars are required to make a personal pledge to work in their country after graduating, so that - as well as the education benefiting the individual and their family - there are social and economic benefits for their country. Awards are based on need, aptitude and long term commitment to making a social and economic constribution to their country after graduating. As the Trust relies entirely on charitable donations, the number of scholarships available is limited by available funding. TEST for Africa operates in Ghana, Malawi, Uganda and Tanzania, with a local charity and trustees in each country.
Students being sponsored include 148 in Ghana, 67 in Malawi, 38 in Uganda and 113 in Tanzania, with some great case studies at 'Our Scholars'.
The Trusts in each country provide full and partial scholarships for undergraduate study in a wide spectrum of academic and practical subjects which, in the opinion of the local Trustees, are best oriented towards the social and economic development needs of their countries and their communities. Awards are means tested and are biased towards females (60:40) and are biased towards candidates from the poorest regions of their countries. Awards are also available to handicapped students. Scholarships are offered to both new and to continuing students, and are reviewed annually against both need and academic performance. Recipients of scholarships are required to provide a personal bond that they will remain in their country of origin for 5 years after graduating (or if a graduate goes on to do post-graduate study or research outside their country, 5 years after completion of that). Award recipients are also expected to work in their local communities or help with fundraising for the Trust during vacation times.
More information on the operation in each country can be found under 'Our Work', Ghana, Malawi, Uganda, Tanzania and for case studies see 'Our Scholars'. Our lastest newsletter is here.
Scholars graduating with First Class Honours degrees are invited to apply for the Norman & Ivy Lloyd Scholarship at Linacre College, Oxford University which provides the successful candidate with full funding for one year’s Master’s degree studies in a subject of their choice.
All Trustees of both TEST for AFRICA and their network of local charities, as well as local Universities and Polytechnics provide their services pro-bono, and consequently TEST for AFRICA Trustees guarantee that 100% of all donations received are disbursed for the education of the scholars. Each charity in TEST family commits to full transparency, including publishing Annual Reports which are available here.
TEST for GHANA is currently organising both a job counselling programme and the formation of an alumni association, which members of the TEST African family will eventually follow as part of their evolution.
The ultimate aim of TEST for AFRICA is to provide support to enable the local TEST charities to become self-sustainable.
TEST for AFRICA was formed by a group of graduates from Linacre College, Oxford University together with the late Jennie Travers, who’s late husband John pioneered the formation of the charity Schools Around The World at his company, Cushman & Wakefield.
