ASSIST connects exceptional students from with top private high schools in North America through competitive, international, one-year scholarships. Our South Africa-based Program Coordinator guides n families through the application and interview process, and later serves as a valuable guide as they are expertly placed at a member school. ASSIST’s global team also offers comprehensive cultural preparation and support throughout the student’s exchange year.<\/p>\n
ASSIST Scholars from turn their scholarship year into a launchpad for university success, career advancement, and lifelong global leadership.<\/p>\n
ASSIST Southern Africa welcomes applications from current 9th or 10th graders who would like to spend one study abroad year in the United States as 10th or 11th graders on scholarship. Pupils from the sixteen countries of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) must spend at least their 12th grade year back in their home country.<\/p>\n
There are also very limited places for particularly exceptional current 11th and 12 graders who wish to spend the year as 12th graders and post-graduates (Grade 13) but these rarely carry a scholarship. ASSIST then acts as a referral agency and enables direct placement as a tuition-paying candidate.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Candidates should note that due to the difference between the January-to-December school calendar in most Southern African schools, and the August-to-May school calendar in the United States, they will essentially need to spend 2 years in the same grade:<\/p>\n
If a student attends a Cambridge school, they can only apply to ASSIST in their 9th grade year, so that if selected, they complete their 10th grade year in the United States, then return to their school for their AS and A-levels. Also note that there are no Cambridge curriculum and very few IB curriculum ASSIST member schools; applicants should assume that they will enroll in a traditional American-style curriculum.<\/p>\n
Please join Program Coordinator for an information session where you can learn much more about our program and have your questions answered.<\/p>\n
Please email nomvuyo@assistscholars.org<\/a> for more information regarding upcoming information sessions. These are either virtual and a Zoom link to the meeting will be sent upon inquiry or they are in person at a private school in Pretoria East, Gauteng.\u00a0<\/p>\n Schools, parent groups, and community organisations can also request an in-person or virtual information session where there is a critical mass of interested and eligible pupils. Days and times vary to include working hours, evenings, weekends, and public holidays.<\/p>\n Information sessions are conducted in English. Special virtual sessions with a Portuguese translator can be arranged.\u00a0<\/p>\n From time-to-time, ASSIST will be present at a fair. The dates, times and location will be posted here.\u00a0<\/p>\n To invite ASSIST to a fair anywhere in a Southern African country, please email nomvuyo@assistscholars.org<\/a><\/p>\n To apply to the ASSIST Scholar’s Program, you will need to log into ASSIST’s application portal<\/a>. The application for the 26-27 school year is now open <\/b>and closes in mid-December. <\/b>Before that, applicants should fill out the INQUIRE section and expect to receive a notification inviting them to complete their application in August<\/b>: https:\/\/assistscholars.fsenrollment.com\/portal\/new_inquiry<\/a> \u00a0<\/p>\n Between August to December, candidates must complete the application<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow the steps below to apply:<\/p>\n A pre-interview may be requested. The applicant and their parents will all be on the Zoom session or the WhatsApp video call.<\/p>\n If the candidate is invited to a final interview, it will take place via Zoom in January. Interviews are for students only and will be in small groups. Interviews are NOT knowledge tests but opportunities for the ASSIST team in the United States and in Southern Africa to get to know applicants really well. <\/p>\n\t Whilst most applicants from southern Africa will not need to take an English test if they have attended an English-medium school for much of their schooling, various checks including a pre-interview may be requested.\u00a0<\/p>\n If a student does not come from a school where the language of learning and teaching is English, as soon as ASSIST has received the complete documents, they will be checked and a decision will be made as to the invitation to the English test and interview. The English test is a Duolingo test, costs USD 70 and must be taken before the interview. If this cost exceeds an applicant’s financial means, please email nomvuyo@assistscholars.org<\/a> and expect to submit additional family financials.<\/p>\n Decisions about the scholarships will then be made by March at the latest. Applicants and their families will be informed via email.<\/p>\n If you are a 9th grader and do not get accepted, you are welcome to try again during your 10th grade year.<\/p>\n Should you become a winner of an ASSIST scholarship, after formally accepting the offer, communications will come from us from April for visa applications and other preparation for both the orientation and your school.<\/p>\n From May you will receive communications directly from your school. It is important to note that applicants cannot choose their own school. The specialised ASSIST team matches a school with a candidate. The list of our member schools may be found here: https:\/\/www.assistscholars.org\/member-schools\/<\/a><\/p>\n Every ASSIST Scholar receives a scholarship for their year abroad.<\/strong> This scholarship grants each student access to a leading private American high school. In addition, students become lifelong members of ASSIST, forming worldwide connections and joining an extraordinary network of over 6,300 accomplished alumni.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tASSIST Sanderson Scholarships<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t Awards full tuition and room and board at a private North American boarding school or full tuition at a private day school and housing with an American volunteer host family.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\tASSIST Lindfors Scholarships<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t Awards partial tuition and room and board at a private North American boarding school or partial tuition at a private day school and housing with an American volunteer host family. For Lindfors Scholars, member schools fund at least 50% of its tuition, the remaining school tuition and ASSIST program fee is included in The Lindfors Scholarship program fee.<\/p>\n ASSIST is proud to partner with The Davis Scholarship Program. Applicants can apply though ASSIST and be considered for ASSIST, Davis and Kemper scholarships – all through one ASSIST application.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Davis Scholarship Program is unique in that it allows students to study for two or three years at one of the six boarding schools that are part of the Davis International Scholars Program. Davis Scholars graduate with an American high school diploma and may go on to study at a college or university in the U.S. or the U.K.<\/p>\n Davis Scholars receive:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Candidates from countries that are historically underrepresented at US boarding schools are welcome to apply. These include but are not limited to Bulgaria, Colombia, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Georgia, Hungary, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Serbia, Slovakia, Somaliland, Turkey or Southern African countries.<\/p>\n\n\t\t\tASSIST at Fairs\t<\/h3>\n\t
\n\t\t\tApplication Process for 2026\/27 Scholarships\t<\/h2>\n\t
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\n\t\t\tInterviews and English Language Testing\t<\/h2>\n\t
\n\t\t\tDecisions and Final Steps\t<\/h2>\n\t
\n\t\t\tASSIST Scholarships\t<\/h2>\n\t
\n\t\t\tScholarships from Our Partners, Available Through ASSIST\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\tThe Davis Scholarship Program<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tExpand<\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t
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