Prodigy Finance has launched its first scholarship round of 2026 targeting African students, offering up to $2,500 each to 10 recipients alongside application fee reimbursements of up to $200 for a further 100 students, all delivered through NovaGrad, the company’s new artificial intelligence (AI)-powered study-abroad planning platform.
The programme, announced in February 2026 under the banner of Prodigy Finance’s new Next Chapter initiative, marks a deliberate shift in how the United Kingdom-based education finance company approaches scholarship delivery. Rather than issuing standalone awards, Prodigy Finance has embedded this round entirely within NovaGrad, an AI platform it built to help international students identify programmes that match their academic profile, estimate costs, build application timelines, and stay organised from first shortlist through final enrolment. Students who do not apply through NovaGrad are not eligible for either component of the support.
The scholarship portion offers tuition and living expense support of up to $2,500 to 10 students who demonstrate strong academic merit, genuine financial need, and a realistic shortlist of target universities. Shortlisted applicants may be asked to submit additional documentation before support is issued. The application fee reimbursement component is broader, covering up to $200 per student for 100 applicants who submit university applications through the NovaGrad platform, with reimbursements processed once applications are verified and accepted.
Applicants can also strengthen their submissions by uploading a short video on social media explaining their motivation for the scholarship and tagging NovaGrad. The company said genuine, well-considered video submissions earn additional points in the selection process, and students are encouraged to mobilise family, friends, and professional networks to share the content.
Sonal Kapoor, Global Chief Business Officer at Prodigy Finance, said African students had consistently demonstrated exceptional ambition and academic strength across the institutions the company has supported over the years. She described the scholarship as a focused opportunity accompanied by the kind of structured guidance that, in Prodigy Finance’s experience, makes the difference between students who receive offers and those who actually enrol. Mariana Alcocer, spokesperson for NovaGrad, said many talented African students still lack the exposure and networks that help applicants from other regions navigate international admissions, framing the programme as a pathway forward for those students.
The timing of the Africa-focused round carries practical significance. Prodigy Finance noted that international admissions timelines have become increasingly compressed, with students often required to respond to offers, secure visas, and confirm financial arrangements simultaneously. The $2,500 award is designed to bridge the specific gap between receiving an offer and being able to confirm enrolment — a stage at which Ghanaian and other African applicants have historically faced the most acute financial pressure.
Prodigy Finance, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in the United Kingdom, has supported more than 45,000 students globally and awarded over $550,000 in scholarships through its various programmes since its founding. Past Ghanaian beneficiaries include students now pursuing postgraduate degrees at institutions in the United States and Europe across disciplines including public health, business analytics, and gerontology.
Applications are open at
