Yale Young African Scholars 2026/2027: The YYAS 2026 Application is Now Open!
Yale Young African Scholars 2026/2027
Yale Young African Scholars (YYAS) is an intensive academic and enrichment program designed for African secondary school students planning to pursue tertiary education and who wish to make meaningful impact as young leaders on the continent. See an overview of YYAS 2026 and learn how to apply.
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.
If you are currently in your final year or term of secondary school, have already graduated secondary school, or are a university student, then you are NOT eligible to apply.
READ ALSO: Scholarships in USA for International Students 2026-2027
If you are a YYAS or YYGS alumnus/a, you may NOT apply or reapply for YYAS. (*However, if you are a YYAS alumnus/a, you can apply to YYGS if eligible.)
Application Deadlines
YYAS applications will be read and reviewed on a rolling basis. In fairness to all applicants, admissions decisions will NOT be made nor released until ALL applications from your respective applicant pool have been reviewed. Please know that we will release decisions as soon as possible, and decisions will be released no later than the decision release dates listed below.
Applicant Pool #1: Early Action
| Application Deadline | 11:59 PM ET on 20 October 2025 |
| Decision Release | Notified of Admission Status by 11:59pm ET on 19 December 2025 |
| Deadline to Accept or Decline YYAS Offer | 11:59 PM ET on 5 January 2026 |
Applicant Pool #2: Regular Decision
| Application Deadline | 11:59 PM ET on 21 January 2026 |
| Decision Release | Notified of Admission Status by 11:59pm ET on 20 March 2026 |
| Deadline to Accept or Decline YYAS Offer | 11:59 PM ET on 25 March 2026 |
Preview Application
The Yale Young African Scholars (YYAS) team strongly encourages applicants to review the SAMPLE blank application for YYAS 2026 below.
As you read through them, look for:
- Personal, household, and financial information you may need to provide
- Coursework, grades, and letters of recommendation needed from your school(s)
- Essays you will need to write
- Additional information that will help YYAS staff get to know you
If you have any questions, please contact YYAS.
sample* application:
*Please note: YYAS will ONLY accept submissions via our online portal system. You CANNOT complete this PDF and email it to YYAS. Any/all emailed PDF submissions, or applications sent via post or courier, will NOT be accepted.
Complete the Application: How to Apply
| Step 5 | Click APPLY NOW to start your YYAS application. Be sure to write down your email and password to access the application at a later time. |
| Step 6 | Check the “Review” page of the application to see if you are missing any required components, and re-visit any pages that require further information. |
| Step 7 | Once your application is complete, click on the “Review” page. Next click on the “Submit Application” button at the bottom of the page. |
| Step 8 | Check your inbox for a YYAS confirmation receipt that indicates the successful submission of your application. Confirmation emails usually arrive within 24-48 hours of submission, due to occasional delays payment processing. |
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