Study in Switzerland | Z Zurich Foundation Scholarship 2026

March 23, 2026 10:48 am

Study in Switzerland | Z Zurich Foundation Scholarship 2026

The Z Zurich Foundation has just launched one of the most compelling scholarship opportunities of the year, and it is laser focused on changemakers like you. Twenty five selected scholars will receive full funding to attend the One Young World Summit 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, this November. Beyond the Summit, you gain access to a structured leadership program before and after the event.

This is not a generic leadership award. The Foundation operates across four pillars: climate adaptation, mental well-being, social equity, and crisis response. This particular scholarship zeros in on social equity. They want founders and frontline leaders running early stage, not for profit initiatives that tackle the brutal gap between education and employment for young people in low income and underserved communities across Africa.

Africa’s population is the youngest on the planet, with over 60 percent under 25. However, fragmented education systems, thin labor markets, limited access to finance and technology, and the compounding pressures of climate disruption and conflict keep millions of young people locked out of economic opportunity. The Z Zurich Foundation bets that the people closest to these problems—young leaders already doing the work on the ground—are the ones best positioned to solve them.

The Financial Package: What You Receive

The Z Zurich Foundation Scholarship offers a fully funded opportunity. Scholars cover no core participation costs out of pocket. Here is exactly what the package includes:

Full Travel Coverage: You receive all travel costs to Cape Town, South Africa, for the One Young World Summit taking place from 3 to 6 November 2026.
Accommodation and Meals: The scholarship covers your accommodation and all meals during the Summit. You can focus entirely on the experience without worrying about daily expenses.
Summit Access: You receive full Summit registration, granting you entry to all plenary sessions, networking events, and workshops. You connect with fellow young leaders from around the world.
Pre Summit Program: You participate in a curated Pre Summit Engagement and Preparation Program running through September and October. This prepares you to maximize your Summit experience.
Post Summit Debrief: You join a Post Summit Debrief Session in late November that includes guided reflection and inner development activities. You solidify your learning and plan your next steps.
Peer Network: The scholarship integrates you into a peer network of fellow ZZF scholars and the broader One Young World community. These connections become lifelong professional relationships.

Number of Awards: The Foundation grants 25 scholarships for the class of 2026.

Eligibility: Who Qualifies

The Foundation does not seek polished resumes or big budget organizations. They want early stage leaders whose work is rooted in community level impact and aligned with social equity. You must meet every criterion below:

Age: You must be between 18 and 35 years old by November 2026.
Location: You must hold nationality of and currently reside in an African country.
Initiative Alignment: You must lead an initiative that aligns with the Z Zurich Foundation’s Enabling Social Equity pillar. This specifically means your work focuses on education access, youth employability, youth entrepreneurship, or digital inclusion.
Early Stage Focus: You must run an early stage initiative that is not backed by major corporate or institutional funders. The Foundation prioritizes grassroots efforts.
Registered Entity: Your initiative must operate through a formally registered entity with a clear not for profit mission. You must also have a bank account in the organization’s name.
Leadership Role: You must hold a primary leadership role within the initiative. This scholarship is for founders and lead decision makers, not team members or volunteers.
Commitment: You must commit to full participation in the Pre Summit program during September and October, the Summit itself from November 3 to 6, and the Post Summit debrief session in late November.
Collaboration: You must be willing to actively collaborate with fellow scholars and contribute to peer learning before, during, and after the Summit.

How to Apply

Visit the official One Young World website today, review the full application requirements, and take the first step toward a fully funded leadership experience in Cape Town. Apply before the 4 May 2026 deadline closes. Your moment is now.

Click Here to Apply

The Deadline You Cannot Miss

The application window for the Z Zurich Foundation Scholarship 2026 opened on 16 March 2026. The hard deadline to submit your completed application is 4 May 2026. This gives you roughly seven weeks to put together a compelling application. However, you cannot afford to sit on this opportunity.

The Z Zurich Foundation receives a high volume of applications from young leaders across the African continent each year. Late or incomplete submissions will not receive consideration. If your work sits at the intersection of education, employment, and equity for African youth, this scholarship is built for leaders exactly like you.