Brandtech Group AI Good Scholarships 2026 (Funded). Apply for fully funded scholarships here. The Brandtech Group AI for Good Scholarship 2026 is a funded leadership opportunity, not a university degree scholarship. It sends five young African AI leaders to the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town, fully sponsored by The Brandtech Group.
Now in its third year, the scholarship targets Africans already using AI to solve real problems, rather than students planning future study. If you’re picturing tuition waivers and student visas, this program works differently, and this guide explains exactly how.
The scholarship sits inside a bigger event: the One Young World Summit, an annual gathering that brings together thousands of young leaders, institutions, and policymakers to tackle major global challenges. For 2026, AI is one of five plenary challenges on the agenda, giving this scholarship extra weight and visibility within the broader Summit program.
Brandtech Group AI Good Scholarships 2026 Details:
| Offered by: | One Young World |
| Scholarship coverage: | Funded |
| Eligible nationality: | African students |
| Award country: | Africa |
| Last date: | 2 August 2026 |
Financial Benefits
The scholarship’s confirmed benefits center on sponsored summit participation rather than a tuition waiver or living stipend, since this isn’t a student scholarship. Official sources don’t list a separate cash stipend, so treat “funded” as covering summit-related costs specifically.
| Benefit | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Summit Access | Full access to the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town |
| Hotel Accommodation | Covered from 2–6 November (inclusive) |
| Return Air Travel | Covered for accepted scholars |
| Catering | Breakfast, lunch, and dinner included during the Summit |
| Ground Transportation | Covered between Summit venues in Cape Town |
| Pencil AI Access | Access to Brandtech’s generative AI marketing platform |
Focus Areas (Instead of Study Programs)
There’s no list of academic programs here, since scholars aren’t enrolling in a course. Instead, applicants align their existing AI work with one or more of five focus pillars, and work outside these pillars is still considered if it uses AI responsibly.
Sustainability & Climate: Using AI as a tool to tackle climate change and support environmental sustainability across African contexts.
Education Access: Applying AI to widen access to education, improve learning systems, or increase educational productivity.
Combating Misinformation & Social Harm: Building AI tools that fight online hate, misinformation, and other social harms while promoting equity.
Health Access: Deploying AI to improve health access, reduce health inequality, or support mental wellbeing.
Active Citizen Engagement: Using AI to strengthen civic participation and community engagement.
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About the Host Organizations
Instead of a university ranking table, here’s who’s actually behind this scholarship and why that matters for applicants.
| Organization | Role | Relevance to Applicants |
|---|---|---|
| One Young World | Global youth leadership organization, London-based | Runs the annual Summit and connects scholars to 17,000+ young leaders worldwide |
| The Brandtech Group | Digital-only marketing and generative AI marketing group | Sponsors the scholarship and provides mentorship plus Pencil AI access |
Eligibility Criteria
This scholarship rewards existing impact, not academic potential. That’s the biggest mindset shift compared with a typical student scholarship application.
- Aged 18 to 30 at the time of the Summit (younger applicants aren’t eligible; older applicants may be considered with strong demonstrated impact)
- A national or resident of any African country
- AI solutions that are demonstrated and operating within Africa
- A documented track record of leadership and responsible AI use, not just an idea or plan
- Understanding of relevant local or global issues connected to your work
- Willingness to engage with fellow scholars and Brandtech Group staff during and after the Summit
It’s worth reading that last point carefully. This isn’t a one-off trip; the scholarship comes with an explicit expectation of ongoing engagement, including post-Summit collective thinking sessions with Brandtech Group. Applicants who see this purely as a free trip to Cape Town are likely to be screened out during selection.
The organizers are also clear that a perfect fit with one of the five pillars isn’t mandatory. Work that uses AI positively and responsibly, even outside those categories, is still eligible for consideration, which opens the door a little wider than a strict checklist might suggest.
Required Documents
The application process runs entirely through the One Young World scholarship portal rather than a paper-based checklist. Official sources confirm the broad expectations below, though the exact document list appears once you start the online form.
| Item | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Online application form (via One Young World portal) | Primary application mechanism |
| Evidence of your AI solution or initiative | Demonstrates real, existing impact rather than a proposal |
| Personal background details | Confirms nationality/residency and age eligibility |
| Statement on relevant local/global issues | Shows contextual understanding behind your work |
Application Process
Step 1: Confirm you meet the age, nationality, and impact-track-record requirements before applying.
Step 2: Visit the official One Young World website and search for the Brandtech Group AI for Good Scholarship 2026 page.
Step 3: Read the five focus pillars carefully and identify which one, or ones, best match your existing AI work.
Step 4: Gather clear evidence of your AI initiative’s real-world impact, since this scholarship is not for future plans.
Step 5: Complete the online scholarship application form in full, including any requested personal and project details.
Step 6: Clearly explain how your work connects to local or global issues relevant to Africa’s AI development gap.
Step 7: Submit your application before the 2 August 2026 deadline; late submissions aren’t accepted.
Step 8: If shortlisted, respond promptly to any follow-up requests from the One Young World or Brandtech Group team.
Step 9: Once selected, coordinate travel and accommodation logistics with the organizing team ahead of November.
Step 10: Prepare to actively engage with fellow scholars, Brandtech Group staff, and post-Summit collective thinking sessions.
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Travel & Visa Guide for the Summit
Since scholars attend a short summit rather than enrolling to study, this isn’t a student visa situation. It’s a short business or visitor visa matter, and requirements vary significantly by nationality.
South Africa allows visa-free entry for many nationalities for short tourism or business stays, but not all African countries qualify, and rules can change. Applicants should check their specific requirement well before the 3–6 November travel dates.
South Africa’s Department of Home Affairs has also been rolling out an Electronic Travel Authorization system for certain nationalities, alongside its traditional embassy-based visa process. Because these systems and exemption lists shift periodically, the safest approach is checking directly with the nearest South African embassy or consulate rather than relying on older blog posts or forum threads.
| Item | Typical Detail |
|---|---|
| Visa Type Needed | Short-term visitor’s visa for business/event travel (up to 90 days), if not visa-exempt |
| Processing Time | Varies by embassy/consulate; apply as early as possible after confirmation |
| Biometrics | Required in person at a South African embassy or consulate for non-exempt nationalities |
| Passport Validity | At least 30 days beyond your departure date from South Africa, with blank visa pages |
| Yellow Fever Certificate | Required only if arriving from a designated yellow fever risk country |
Health Insurance
Neither One Young World nor The Brandtech Group publish specific details on travel or medical insurance coverage for this scholarship. This is a genuine information gap rather than something we’re choosing to omit.
Given that flights, hotels, and meals during the Summit are covered, it’s reasonable for selected scholars to directly ask the organizing team whether travel insurance is included or needs to be arranged personally before departure.
Accommodation & Costs During the Summit
Unlike student accommodation searches involving dorms or private rentals, this scholarship covers hotel accommodation directly from 2 to 6 November, inclusive. Scholars don’t need to arrange or pay for lodging themselves during this window.
Costs outside what’s covered, such as personal spending money, souvenirs, or extending a stay beyond the Summit dates, would fall to the individual scholar. Cape Town’s general cost of living for personal extras runs moderate by international standards.
After the Summit: What Comes Next
There’s no graduate work permit here, since this isn’t a study program. What scholars do gain is entry into a large international network and continued exposure to applied AI tools through Brandtech Group.
Past cohorts have described joining the broader One Young World Ambassador Community, a global network spanning thousands of young leaders across many countries. Selected scholars also take part in post-Summit collective thinking sessions with Brandtech Group, contributing to the company’s ongoing understanding of responsible AI development.
For African AI innovators, the real long-term value tends to be visibility, mentorship, and partnership opportunities that follow from being one of just five global scholars in a given year, rather than any formal employment guarantee.
It’s also worth noting the broader context: Africa has the world’s fastest-growing youth population, but still lags behind in AI development and deployment relative to its size. Programs like this one are partly designed to close that visibility gap, connecting African innovators directly with global funders, technologists, and policymakers who might otherwise never hear about their work.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is this a fully funded university scholarship?
No. It’s a funded scholarship to attend the One Young World Summit as a Brandtech Group delegate, not a degree program with tuition coverage.
How many scholarships are available?
Five scholarships are awarded each year to young African AI leaders.
Can applicants from any African country apply?
Yes, nationals and residents of any African country are eligible, provided their AI solution operates within Africa.
Does my project need to fit exactly into one of the five pillars?
No. Applications that use AI positively and responsibly but don’t fit neatly into a pillar are still considered.
What is the application deadline?
The deadline is 2 August 2026, ahead of the Summit running 3–6 November 2026 in Cape Town.
Do I need a visa to attend the Summit?
It depends on your nationality. Some African travelers are visa-exempt for short stays in South Africa, while others need a visitor’s visa arranged in advance.
Is there an age limit?
Applicants should be 18 to 30 at the time of the Summit, though older applicants with exceptional demonstrated impact may still be considered.
Where do I apply?
Applications go through the official One Young World website, under the Brandtech Group AI for Good Scholarship 2026 page.
Conclusion
The Brandtech Group AI for Good Scholarship 2026 offers a genuine, funded route to global visibility for young African AI leaders already making a real impact. It rewards proven work over academic credentials, which makes it a different kind of opportunity than a traditional study scholarship.
With the 2 August 2026 deadline approaching, interested applicants should apply directly and only through the official One Young World portal, and verify travel and visa requirements independently through official South African government sources well before November.
Official Resources
| Website Type | Official Website | Latest Application Deadline | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official Scholarship Page | One Young World – Brandtech Group AI for Good Scholarship 2026 | 2 August 2026 | Applications Open |
| Host Organization | One Young World | N/A | Official |
| Sponsoring Company | The Brandtech Group | N/A | Official |
| South Africa Visa Information | South African Department of Home Affairs | N/A | Official |
| South Africa Travel Advisory | Official Travel Advisory (for reference) | N/A | Official |
Note: This scholarship funds Summit attendance, not university study, so several traditional scholarship details, such as tuition, stipend amount, and insurance coverage, aren’t publicly itemized by the organizers. Confirm any unpublished details directly through the official One Young World scholarship page before applying.