University of California, Berkley African Legal Impact Scholarship

About the scholarship

The African Legal Impact Scholarship was developed to encourage enrollment of students from Africa seeking advanced legal education in University of California, Berkeley. Because funds are extremely limited, the African Legal Impact Scholarship can only be provided to two outstanding applicants each year.

Eligibility

Applicants for the University of California, Berkeley African Legal Impact Scholarship must meet the following criteria:

• Citizenship: Be a citizen or primary resident of an African country.
• Academic Excellence: Hold a bachelor’s degree in law or a related field with a minimum GPA of 3.5/4.0 or equivalent, demonstrating academic merit.
• Admission Status: Be admitted to the LL.M. professional track program at UC Berkeley School of Law for the 2025/2026 academic year.
• Statement of Intention: Submit a 500-word statement describing post-graduation plans to contribute to legal development in Africa.
• Academic Performance: Maintain a minimum grade of ‘P’ (pass) or higher in all classes during the first semester to retain scholarship eligibility for the second semester.
• Application Process: After admission, submit a scholarship application via UC Berkeley’s portal, including academic transcripts, a CV, two recommendation letters, and the statement of intention.
• English Proficiency: Provide proof of English proficiency (TOEFL iBT 90 or IELTS 7.0, no band below 6.5) if prior education was not in English.

Selection prioritizes two outstanding candidates annually who demonstrate exceptional potential to impact African legal systems.