Early Deadline: 15 October 2024
The African Leadership Academy (ALA) is a pre-university program in Johannesburg, South Africa. ALA seeks to enrol the most outstanding young leaders, aged 15 – 18, from across Africa and around the world. ALA teaches a two-year curriculum in African Studies, Writing and Rhetoric and Entrepreneurial Leadership, as well as Cambridge A-Levels. They have accepted students and alumni from 46 African countries since founding in September 2008 into our growing community. There have been around 20 students from Eswatini accepted into ALA with significant financial aid.
ACADEMICS
African Leadership Academy is an accredited Cambridge International Examinations (CIE) test centre. All students will study the core offering of English, Mathematics, Entrepreneurial Leadership, African Studies and Writing and Rhetoric. Students will then choose a combination of Cambridge-administered IGCSE, AS or A2 electives that can include courses from the Natural Sciences, the Humanities & Languages and Commerce. There is also the choice of an online Computer Programming course.
In the second year, students will continue with the core offering of English, Entrepreneurial Leadership, African Studies and Writing and Rhetoric. They will also select a combination of higher-level courses from the IGSCE, AS or A Levels that can include courses from the Natural Sciences, the Humanities & Languages and Commerce. A continuation program exists for the online Computer Programming course. Students who demonstrate sufficient capability are able to additionally pursue higher challenges through research in the Sciences, the Humanities or Creative Arts.
UNIVERSITY GUIDANCE
The Academy is dedicated and committed to the long-term success of its students. ALA’s team of experienced university guidance counsellors works with its young leaders to help them prepare for and navigate the entire university application process; including identifying schools that fit career goals and interests, preparation for entrance exams and interviews, and identifying and securing scholarships and financial aid. Finally, ALA’s guidance staff work to educate students about all of their options in order to help them make an informed decision when they hear back from universities.
Students from ALA have been accepted to 302 universities in 57 countries across the globe. They have received over USD 172 million in scholarships to attend university.
APPLICATION PROCESS
You must register to apply online: https://www.africanleadershipacademy.org/apply/
Submit your application and receive a confirmation email from ALA admissions. And further updates concerning your application status
Check your email to see if you have been selected as a finalist.
If you are a finalist, submit financial aid documents and letters of recommendation.
Finalist interview with the ALA admissions team. All finalists can apply for financial aid.
Wait for an email from ALA admissions with your final admissions decision.
Arrive at the African Leadership Academy campus in September 2025
ADMISSION CRITERIA
African Leadership Academy admits 130 young leaders yearly. You must be born after September 1 2005 to apply for the ALA Class of 2025. Applicants are evaluated based on the following admission criteria:
Intellectual readiness: ALA students demonstrate academic achievement through strong performance and consistent improvement in their secondary school. They are driven to learn and achieve, and they set high standards for themselves. Their academic performance gives confidence that they can thrive in the rigorous ALA curriculum.
Interdependence: ALA students are interested in engaging with those from different backgrounds and who have differing opinions. We believe that differences should be celebrated as a source of community strength. ALA students embrace differences of opinion, valuing respectful and productive dialogue as an avenue for individual and communal learning.
Ownership: ALA students have a commitment to positive change and aspire beyond success for themselves to lives of significance, in which they are remembered for their impact on others.
Perseverance: ALA students have initiative. They have the courage to do hard things when they set their mind to something that feels important.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
ALA is one of the most prestigious education institutions in the world, with a unique financial model designed to enable us to identify, develop and connect Africa’s future leaders. Everyone who applies and is then admitted to ALA, regardless of financial background or nationality, is eligible to receive significant financial assistance in the form of scholarships and loans towards studying at ALA and accessing membership to our lifelong network. The cost of tuition at ALA is USD $30,900 per year.
Please note that however each family is required to make a small contribution commensurate with the income level of that family, to ensure that they are invested in the education of their child.
Every student will sign the ALA Social Contract – a commitment to contribute to peace and prosperity on the continent for at least 10 years in return for the financial assistance provided by our community.
CONTACT
All questions regarding the application form may be directed to apply@africanleadershipacademy.org. To add any information to your application before the deadline contact the Admissions department: admissions@africanleadershipacademy.org Tel: +27 11 699 3000