Ashesi strives to be equitable to all its community members _ students, staff, and faculty. For low income students Ashesi Financial Aid or the MasterCard Foundation scholarship serve as the primary funding sources. Other scholarships that cater for a variety and combination of needs, including laptops, insurance, meal cards, calculators, etc.
The Ashesi Scholarship Fund (or Ashesi Financial Aid , AFA) is used strategically by the University to support full and/or partial scholarships. A partial scholarship can cover between 30% – near 100% of a student’s tuition and housing costs. In contrast, a comprehensive scholarship covers the entire cost of an Ashesi education, including tuition, housing, stipends, health insurance, travel, and a laptop. Sometimes AFA is used for emergency scholarships for students who face unexpected hardship during their time at the University, e.g., a fee paying student loses their father, the breadwinner. In such cases, students who have already paid some portion of tuition or received (partial) scholarships may require additional emergency funding mid-way to supplement housing, meals and other extracurricular expenses. Applicants who qualify to be enrolled at Ashesi, and apply for scholarships, are evaluated on their financial needs and awarded scholarships based on four (4) categories i.e., Extreme Need, High Need, Medium Need, or Low Need. At least 50% of Ashesi students are on either partial or full scholarships, and over 90% are from low or low middle-income countries (LMIC) such as Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Gambia, Kenya, Uganda, Burkina Faso, etc. and benefit from the various supporting schemes.
The MasterCard Foundation has partnered with Ashesi since 2012 to provide scholarships to bright students from low-income families. The MasterCard Foundation Scholarship program provides comprehensive scholarships to students, which covers financial support for fees, books and supplies, transportation to and from home country, accommodation, and stipends.
Needs may be personal and confidence building. At the start of the Ashesi degree program, MasterCard Foundation Scholars undergo personal development and leadership skill-building in a Summer Leadership Program to assist with the transition to Ashesi. The program includes group-building exercises, awareness of acceptable social norms, and life skills like swimming. The annual MasterCard Foundation Scholars Convening is a week-long on the Ashesi campus. During the convening, MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program Partner institutions in Ghana get the opportunity to learn from experts in various fields, interact and build relationships with each other. The themes are intended to be introductions to Skills for Life: Entrepreneurship in the Digital Landscape. During the 3-day programme, scholars are engaged in panel discussions and interactive sessions on Leadership, Digitization etc. led by leading professionals from various industries such as AgriBusiness, Health, Fintech, Hospitality & Tourism, Renewable Energy & Media Industries.
In addition to targeted support programs for low-income students, all Ashesi students including low-income students benefit from the following scaffolding schemes: The International Freshman Mid-Semester Seminar, Counselling and Coaching, Healthcare and Career Services. The International Freshman Mid-Semester Seminar is mandatory for all international freshmen and determines whether they are adjusting appropriately to their new academic and social environment, the Ashesi Experience. The seminar engages students in many forms to give them the platform to share what is working (and what is not) and explore how they can re-strategize to ensure that they succeed academically and socially.
The Counselling & Coaching department, the Office of Student Life & Engagement (SLE), and other departments provide support services to low-income and first-generation students at Ashesi. These departments help students navigate the unique challenges they encounter throughout their education at Ashesi. These services include and are not limited to time-management skills and mental health support through one-on-one appointments, training, workshops, and social gatherings. Additionally, Ashesi students benefit from tailored activities to prepare them for the workplace. Scholars participate in professional development activities including, but not limited to, internship and career fairs, networking opportunities with industry leaders, and one-on-one career coaching that prepare them to pursue their goals upon graduation. The Natembea Health Center also provides high-quality healthcare service for all members of the entire Ashesi Community through health maintenance, management, prevention of disease, and community empowerment through health education. All these services and many more ensure that students from low-income families and first-generation students are well-prepared and able to participate in all opportunities while studying at Ashesi.
