APPLY TO THE AAI
The Ashinaga Africa Initiative began in 2014. Its mission is to contribute to sub-Saharan Africa’s expanding role in global development through increasing access to higher education abroad. We support orphaned students who are committed to returning home and initiating change, by providing access to full financial support to study at a university abroad (equivalent to an undergraduate degree). Ashinaga support covers tuition, accommodation, travel costs, and other necessary fees.
How to Apply
Announcement: Change in Application Process for Ashinaga Africa Initiative in Anglophone countries.
We would like to inform you about an important update on the application process for the Ashinaga Africa Initiative.
Starting from August 2024, we will no longer open applications for students in Anglophone countries. Instead, we will be partnering with selected high schools in each Anglophone country to identify and select eligible students. This strategic shift aims to streamline our selection process, ensuring that we can provide more targeted support and better guidance to applicants from the outset.
Applications will continue to be open for students in Francophone and Lusophone countries.
Francophone deadline: 31st August 2025 (12:00 GMT)
Lusophone deadline: 17th October 2025 (12:00 GMT)
Francophone Requirements (2026)
| Requirements (2026) | Applicants must:
Please note that Ashinaga does not support students wishing to study medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, pharmacy or Law with an exception of international law. |
|---|---|
| Required Documents (2026) |
This is a list of the documents you will need to submit as part of your application:
|
| Eligible Countries (2026) |
Applicants must have citizenship and have completed/are completing high school in one of the following countries:
Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Comoros, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa), Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Gabon, Guinea, Equatorial Guinea, Madagascar, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Seychelles, Chad and Togo. |
| Selection Process (2026) | Applications for all countries will be assessed after the application deadline, and successful applicants will be invited to a final assessment. During this assessment, Ashinaga will conduct individual interviews to better understand the personal motivations and career goals in sub-Saharan Africa of the students. Students must bring all original academic documents and identification documents to the interview. Failure to do so may result in dismissal from the application process. |
How to Apply for the AAI
Applications for the AAI are only done online. If you have difficulties filling out our forms, please email us at admissions.fr@ashinaga.org.
There is no application fee, and you must never pay anyone to apply or to apply on your behalf.
- STEP1
- Gather all the required documents.
- STEP2
- Scan or take photos of the required documents in either PDF or JPG format.
- STEP3
- Apply online
- STEP4
- Application complete
FAQ
How many students do you select per country?
Ashinaga takes great care to select and develop our students. We believe in quality over quantity and invest a significant amount of resources in those who are accepted into our programme. As a result of this, to ensure sustainability, we are only able to take about one student per country per year. We cannot guarantee that we will be able to select a student from each country every year.
Why is the scholarship only for orphans?
Ashinaga is primarily an organization that supports the education of young orphans, inspired by the founder’s personal history of losing his mother in a car accident. Through this story, Ashinaga has always focused solely on orphans.
Can exceptions be made to the eligibility criteria?
No, exceptions cannot be made to the eligibility criteria. This is because our program aims to maintain fairness and consistency for all applicants, ensuring that every candidate meets the same high standards and requirements.
How will my university in France be decided?
This will be decided during the Ashinaga Study Camp for students selected for this programme. It will be decided together with the student, but the final decision ultimately lies with Ashinaga. It will depend on numerous criteria, including academic grades, and the availability of the student’s desired course of study.
If I applied last year, can I apply again?
As long as you still satisfy the requirements, you are welcome to apply again.
I do not have one of the required documents. What should I do?
All of the required documents listed are necessary to apply, particularly proof of age and proof of the death of a parent. If you do not have a death certificate, then any other official document can be considered, including a court record, affidavit, or an official letter from a local government official.
What is the registration form for?
The registration form allows us to register applicants in our system, and we will use the information provided to determine if 1) the applicant fulfils all the eligibility requirements and 2) has a strong enough academic record to be considered for the program. Only applicants who are eligible when assessed according to these criteria will be invited to complete the Full Application.
What is assessed during the Ashinaga interview?
Applicants are assessed on their knowledge and aptitude, challenges faced and future planning and initiative. You will be assessed through an examination and interviews.
I have received another scholarship in France. Can I combine it with the Ashinaga scholarship?
No, our financial support cannot be combined with other similar scholarships. If you already have a scholarship covering your living expenses that is equivalent to or greater than ours, we can only offer leadership support.
I have received an admission offer in France for September 2025. Can I still apply?
Yes, you can apply if you have an admission offer from a French university that provides tuition fee exemption. We encourage you to apply in this case.