Education and Opportunity Through Music: Africa Scholars Program

The Africa Scholars Program is designed to create opportunities for gifted African musicians who lack the financial means to study at Berklee. In addition, the program is intended to enhance Berklee's presence in Africa, including holding more auditions there; increasing awareness of Berklee among African musicians; and encouraging the already impressive roster of Berklee alumni from Africa to actively support this scholarship and Berklee.

Founded in 1945, Berklee College of Music is the world's largest independent music college and the premier institution for the study of contemporary music. The college's 3,800 students and 460 faculty members interact in an environment designed to provide the most complete learning experience possible, including all of the opportunities and challenges presented by a career in the contemporary music industry.

Since the college's inception, one of its primary goals has been to foster international understanding through the medium of contemporary music. Young musicians come to Berklee from every corner of the earth to study music, and as a result, Berklee is a uniquely international college. Of all U.S. colleges and universities, Berklee has among the largest percentage of undergraduate students from outside the U.S.—20 percent—representing more than 70 countries.

Through the Africa Scholars Program, Berklee seeks to provide educational opportunities by awarding scholarships to talented musicians who are citizens of any African country and who meet the admissions requirements for Berklee College of Music.

For more details on how to apply to become an Africa Scholar, click here.

Berklee travels the globe visiting more than 40 cities annually seeking those talented musicians who we feel are an excellent match to the college. By participating in a live audition, applicants to the college are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships.

While the vast majority of awards are partial-tuition awards, a limited number of full-tuition awards are available to exceptionally gifted musicians who participate in a live audition. Each year Berklee will select seven of these outstanding entering musicians to receive the Presidential Scholarship, which covers the cost of tuition and housing. Applicants are asked to demonstrate musical merit and potential, exhibited by performance on their principal instrument, including voice.