Margaret McNamara Education grants are awarded to women from developing and middle-income countries who, upon obtainment of their degree, intend to return to or remain in their countries, or other developing countries, and work to improve the lives of women and/or children.
The MMEG mission is to assist women from developing countries who are pursuing their education with the aim of improving the lives of women and children in their countries. We are one of the few organizations who provide financial assistance to such women. In past years, grants of up to US$15,000 have been awarded in the US/Canada program, and US$7,000 in the Africa, Latin America and Trinity programs.
University of the Witwatersrand Information
Founded in 1922, University of the Witwatersrand is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the large city of Johannesburg (population range of 1,000,000-5,000,000 inhabitants), Gauteng. Officially accredited and/or recognized by the Department of Higher Education and Training, South Africa, University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) is a large (uniRank enrollment range: 25,000-29,999 students) coeducational higher education institution. University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study. See the uniRank degree levels and areas of study matrix below for further details. This 97 years old higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations and students' past academic record and grades. The admission rate range is 30-40% making this South African higher education organization a very selective institution. International students are welcome to apply for enrollment.
Eligibility Criteria
General: Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Be at least 25 years old at time of application deadline (see specific regional program application below);
- Be a national of a country listed on the MMEG Country Eligibility List;
- Be enrolled at an accredited academic institution when submitting application; and plan to be enrolled for a full academic term after award of the grant by the Board;
- Not be related to a World Bank Group, International Monetary Fund or Inter-American Development Bank staff member or spouse;
Africa: In addition to the above criteria, an applicant must:
already be enrolled part time (minimum of 2 courses per semester or term) or full time at one of the universities listed below, AND be enrolled for the following academic year (January-December or September to May) at one of the following universities:
- University of the Witwatersrand,
- University of Cape Town
- University of Stellenbosch
- University of Pretoria
- University of the Free State
Applicants applying from eligible countries other than South Africa must already hold a study permit for South Africa.
Estimated expenses should be calculated and expressed in Rand
Application Process
Go to Margaret McNamara Educational Grants (MMEG) on www.mmeg.org to apply
Remember to read the Application Checklist & FAQs before applying, and select the “Africa program” in the first question of the application. If the program name does not appear, the program may be closed to new applications.
Required Documents:
All of the documents listed below are required to complete your application.
Failure to submit a complete application with ALL required documents by the close of the application period will result in ineligibility of the application, i.e., automatic exclusion of the applicant.
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Before starting the MMEG application process, please scan the following documents in digital form (pdf preferred, jpeg or png):
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Identification (ID) card with photo:
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(a) national passport page with photo and date of birth, if studying outside your home country, or
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(b) government/university-issued identity card with photo and birth date;
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Most recent proof of official registration from university (not an acceptance letter);
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Most recent official university transcripts and/or reports
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Visa page or study permit page within current passport (if studying outside home country);
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Second passport page with clear photo (in case of dual citizenship).
You will be asked to upload these documents at specific points in the on-line application form. You will also provide:
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Brief paragraphs describing your personal story, and how your studies, experiences, and future plans are linked to your commitment to women and children in developing countries;
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An estimate of your financial situation, including living expenses, for the coming academic year, and planned strategies to cover funding needs;
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A summary of your thesis (if applicable), including its objective, methodology, and findings, and relationship to career goals.
Two reference letters are required.
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One referee must be a faculty member from your current university. The second referee may be a person (non-family member) who can vouch for your character. At least one of the individuals must have known you for the equivalent of at least two semesters.
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Please contact two people from whom you would like to request a reference letter. After receiving their confirmation, you will be asked to provide in the application form: the email addresses of the two people providing references. They will each receive an email link from the Embark online platform to write their recommendation. When their recommendations are submitted, you will be notified by Embark.
Founded in 1922, University of the Witwatersrand is a non-profit public higher education institution located in the urban setting of the large city of Johannesburg (population range of 1,000,000-5,000,000 inhabitants), Gauteng. Officially accredited and/or recognized by the Department of Higher Education and Training, South Africa, University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) is a large (uniRank enrollment range: 25,000-29,999 students) coeducational higher education institution. University of the Witwatersrand (WITS) offers courses and programs leading to officially recognized higher education degrees such as bachelor degrees, master degrees, doctorate degrees in several areas of study. See the uniRank degree levels and areas of study matrix below for further details. This 97 years old higher-education institution has a selective admission policy based on entrance examinations and students' past academic record and grades. The admission rate range is 30-40% making this South African higher education organization a very selective institution. International students are welcome to apply for enrollment.