Yale Young African Scholars for Ghanaian students (2026-27)

What is Yale Young African Scholars?

It is a free, short programme from Yale University that prepares African secondary students for university. YYAS calls itself a college access programme. Over a week, you take university-style seminars taught by Yale students, hear from admissions officers and get guidance on applications and financial aid.

It is not a degree scholarship. It pays for no university fees. What it gives you is the knowledge to apply well, a network of students from across Africa, and a certificate you can add to your applications.

For 2027 there are two versions, and you are offered a place on one:

• Online College Prep Workshop, 15 to 20 July 2027, for about 240 students, on Zoom.
• Residential Leadership Summit in Rwanda, 7 to 15 August 2027, for about 110 students, with extra work on leadership and design.

Who can apply from Ghana?

A Ghanaian student in SHS 1 or SHS 2 can apply for 2027. YYAS is open to students across all African countries, and you must meet every rule:

• Citizenship. You are a citizen or permanent resident of an African country. Refugees living in Africa can also apply.
• School. You attend secondary school in Africa now.
• Year. You are in the equivalent of grade 10 or 11. You must finish secondary school between May or June 2028 and May or June 2029.
• Age. You are 14 to 18 on 15 July 2027. Most participants are 16 or 17.
• English. You can follow a demanding course taught in English.

SHS 3 students cannot apply, and nor can anyone who has finished school. Past YYAS and Yale Young Global Scholars participants cannot apply again. If your expected WASSCE year does not match the 2028 to 2029 window, email YYAS at african.scholars@yale.edu before you apply.

What does it cover?

Tuition, and for the summit, your housing and meals. YYAS says there are no tuition costs for either programme. The online workshop is entirely free. The Rwanda summit provides free housing, meals and course materials.

Your family pays for the rest of the summit trip:

• Passport and visa. Every student arranges and pays for these.
• Flights from Accra to Kigali. YYAS has a limited number of need-based travel grants. Every applicant is reviewed for one automatically, and your offer tells you whether you got one.
• Getting to the campus. YYAS plans a free shuttle from Kigali airport for students flying in.

For the online workshop, the real cost is data and a device. You need Zoom on a phone, tablet or computer with reliable internet for all six days.

When are the deadlines?

For the 2027 programmes, YYAS runs two rounds. All times are 11:59 p.m. US Eastern time, which is the early hours of the next morning in Ghana.

1. 20 October 2026

   Early action deadline.

2. By 18 December 2026

   Early action decisions released. Accept your place by 5 January 2027.

3. 20 January 2027

   Regular decision deadline.

4. By 20 March 2027

   Regular decisions released. Accept your place by 25 March 2027.

5. April to July 2027

   Students on the waitlist hear by email if a place opens.

6. 15 to 20 July and 7 to 15 August 2027

   Online workshop, then the residential summit in Rwanda.

Early action students who are deferred are reviewed again with the regular round, and hear by the end of March 2027.

How do I apply?

Online, in one application, in five steps.

1. Read the sample application. YYAS publishes a blank PDF copy on its How to Apply page. Draft your answers offline first, which saves data.
2. Ask a teacher for a recommendation. It must be a teacher who knows you well. YYAS will not accept letters from parents, relatives, family friends or paid tutors. You enter the teacher's email and YYAS sends them a form.
3. Collect your school reports. Upload official reports for each year of secondary school, usually the equivalent of grades 9 to 11. Leave out primary school records. Your BECE results count as national exam scores: YYAS asks for them if you have them, but they are not required.
4. Write your essays. One essay of up to 400 words and two short responses, plus your activities and school details.
5. Submit, then check your email. A confirmation usually arrives within 24 to 48 hours.

Create only one application. You can tick a box inside it to be considered for Yale Young Global Scholars too. YYAS warns that a second application can stop your decision being released at all.

How are students chosen?

As a whole, with no minimum grades or test scores. YYAS looks for strong academic records, leadership, clear writing and maturity in discussing issues in Africa. It expects a high level of English.

It also says it gives preference to high-achieving, low-income students who have no university guidance in their schools or communities. Write honestly about your school and your circumstances. Your teacher's letter carries real weight, because YYAS says it relies on recommendations to understand different school systems.

Should I do it alongside my US applications?

Yes, if you are in SHS 1 or SHS 2. YYAS comes before your US applications, not instead of them. A July or August 2027 programme fits just before most students apply in SHS 3.

After the programme, alumni can join the YYAS Pathways Program. Its Launchpad stage runs from September to December and supports students while they apply to universities. That is exactly when a Ghanaian SHS 3 student is writing US applications.

Our guide to summer programmes for Ghanaian students compares YYAS with paid programmes. Our SHS 1 planning guide shows where it fits in the years before you apply.

What should I do first?

Check your year and age against the rules above. If you are in SHS 1 or SHS 2, open the sample application this week and ask a teacher for a recommendation. Then aim for the 20 October 2026 early action deadline, and treat 20 January 2027 as your last chance.

If you would like help planning your route to funded universities abroad, you can book a call with us.