The Berklee Africa Scholars Program provides full four-year scholarships covering tuition and room and board at Berklee College of Music for gifted African musicians who lack the financial means to study at the college. Founded by Berklee President Roger H. Brown and his wife Linda Mason, the program has awarded $2.3 million in scholarships since its inception in 2008. Auditions are held in African cities, with past events in Accra (Ghana), Durban (South Africa), and Nairobi (Kenya). The program is best suited for talented African musicians who demonstrate exceptional ability in their audition and cannot afford Berklee's tuition without full financial support. Citizens of any African nation are eligible to audition.
How the Africa Scholars Program Works
The Africa Scholars Program was created to provide opportunities for gifted musicians from the African continent who lack the financial resources to attend Berklee. The program was established and funded by Berklee President Roger H. Brown and his wife Linda Mason. Its goals are to create opportunities for African musicians, strengthen Berklee's presence in Africa, and increase awareness of Berklee among African musicians.
The program awards a full four-year scholarship covering tuition and room and board to one Africa Scholar per audition cycle. The Africa Scholar is admitted to the college and receives the full-ride award. African candidates who audition at A&I (audition and interview) events in other cities are also considered for this award.
In addition to the full Africa Scholar award, musicians who audition in African cities are considered for a host of other scholarships that Berklee awards annually as part of its World Scholarship Tour, where the college visits more than 40 international cities seeking musicians. Berklee has stated it will award up to $1 million in scholarships towards its full-time program through these auditions.
Past Africa Scholar Recipients
Two of the Africa Scholar recipients have been publicly documented:
- Victor Dogah from Ghana: Awarded a full four-year scholarship covering tuition and room and board.
- Elizabeth Mitaru from Kenya: Awarded a full four-year scholarship covering tuition and room and board.
Audition Locations
Berklee has held Africa Scholars Program auditions in the following cities:
- Accra, Ghana: June 15 and 16 (initial auditions in 2008)
- Durban, South Africa: June 18 and 19 (initial auditions in 2008)
- Nairobi, Kenya: June 29, 30, and July 1 (subsequent auditions)
- Mozambique and Kenya: Earlier visits before the formal program launch
Berklee has stated it plans to return to Africa for future auditions. The specific cities and dates vary by year. Check berklee.edu/scholarships/africa for current audition schedules.
Berklee in Nigeria: Tiwa Savage Intensive Music Program
In addition to the Africa Scholars Program, Berklee has launched the Berklee in Nigeria: Tiwa Savage Intensive Music Program in partnership with Afrobeats icon Tiwa Savage. This program runs in Lagos and is separate from the Africa Scholars Program, but it provides another pathway for African musicians to connect with Berklee.
The 2026 program ran daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with applications open through March 20, 2026. There is no cost for accepted participants to enroll, but all participants are responsible for their own travel and lodging in Lagos. Select participants receive guidance on continuing their artistic and professional development through Berklee's in-person and online programs, including scholarship opportunities.
Application Details
How to Apply
- Visit berklee.edu/scholarships/africa for current audition schedules and locations.
- Register for an audition and interview (A&I) event in an African city or any other city where Berklee holds auditions.
- Prepare for the audition with your instrument or voice. The audition includes a prepared piece, improvisation, sight-reading, and ear training.
- Complete the interview portion, which covers your musical background, goals, and financial situation.
- African candidates are automatically considered for the Africa Scholar award and all other Berklee scholarships when they audition.
Eligibility
- Citizenship: Open to citizens of any African nation.
- Financial need: The program targets musicians who lack the financial means to study at Berklee.
- Musical ability: Demonstrated through the audition process.
- Age: Standard Berklee admissions age requirements apply.
- Enrollment: The Africa Scholar must enroll at Berklee to activate the scholarship.
Required Materials
- Completed Berklee admissions application
- Audition registration
- Prepared piece for the audition
- Supporting documents as required by Berklee admissions
Benefits
- Full four-year scholarship: The Africa Scholar award covers tuition and room and board for the entire bachelor's degree program.
- No financial contribution required: The award is designed for musicians who cannot afford Berklee without full support.
- All African nations eligible: Citizens of any African country can audition.
- Additional scholarship consideration: African candidates who audition are also considered for all other Berklee scholarships, with up to $1 million awarded annually.
- Berklee degree: Recipients earn a bachelor's degree from one of the world's most prestigious contemporary music schools.
- Global network: Berklee alumni span every genre and industry role, providing a professional network after graduation.
- Tiwa Savage Program pathway: The Lagos intensive program provides another entry point for African musicians to connect with Berklee.
Real-World Example
A 19-year-old guitarist from Nairobi, Kenya, has been playing for five years and has built a local reputation through performances at Nairobi venues. They cannot afford international tuition. They register for a Berklee audition when the college visits Nairobi (June 29 to July 1).
At the audition, they perform a prepared piece, demonstrate improvisation over a blues progression, complete a sight-reading exercise, and do ear training tests. In the interview, they discuss their musical background, their goals of studying contemporary music, and their financial situation.
Based on their audition performance and financial need, Berklee selects them as the Africa Scholar. They receive a full four-year scholarship covering tuition and room and board (approximately $85,000 per year, totaling $340,000 over four years). They enroll at Berklee's Boston campus and begin their studies in the fall semester.
Even if they are not selected as the Africa Scholar, their audition makes them eligible for all other Berklee scholarships. They might receive a partial merit scholarship that, combined with outside funding, makes attendance possible.
Drawbacks and Things to Consider
- Limited audition locations: Berklee does not visit every African country every year. You may need to travel to a neighboring country for your audition.
- One full-ride per cycle: Only one Africa Scholar is selected per audition cycle. The competition is intense.
- Travel costs: Berklee does not cover travel to audition locations. You must pay your own way to Accra, Durban, Nairobi, or wherever the auditions are held.
- Standard Berklee admissions requirements: You must meet Berklee's academic and musical standards in addition to demonstrating financial need.
- Visa requirements: Accepted students must obtain a US student visa, which requires additional documentation and processing time.
- Cost of living in Boston: While the scholarship covers room and board, Boston is an expensive city. Personal expenses, travel home, and other costs are not covered.
- Limited documentation: The program does not publish detailed statistics on acceptance rates or the number of applicants per cycle.
- Cultural adjustment: Moving from Africa to Boston involves significant cultural and climate adjustment. Berklee provides support services, but the transition is challenging.
Why It Matters for Independent Artists
The Berklee Africa Scholars Program is one of the most generous music scholarships available to African musicians. A full four-year scholarship covering tuition, room, and board at a top-tier music school is rare. For African musicians who have the talent but not the financial means, this program can be life-changing.
If you are an African musician, monitor berklee.edu/scholarships/africa for audition announcements. When Berklee visits your region, register immediately, as audition slots fill quickly. Prepare thoroughly for the audition, as it determines both your admission and your scholarship eligibility.
Even if you are not selected as the Africa Scholar, the audition puts you in consideration for all other Berklee scholarships. Many African students attend Berklee on partial merit scholarships combined with outside funding. The Tiwa Savage Intensive Music Program in Lagos provides another pathway to connect with Berklee faculty and learn about scholarship opportunities.
For more on preparing for music school auditions, read our guide on music production essentials. Use our Streaming Royalty Calculator to understand the financial realities of a music career after graduation.
Related Opportunities
- Berklee College Scholarships for all Berklee students
- Berklee World Tour Scholarships for international students auditioning in 40+ cities
- Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation for Latin music students
- Music Scholarships Directory for the full list of funding opportunities
- Africa Scholars Program for official guidelines and audition schedules
- Berklee in Nigeria for the Tiwa Savage Intensive Music Program
